leslie10646

4 August 2021: Another Day, Another New Loco ….. (Or How I travelled behind a new Hungarian loco, built in USA – in Oxfordshire! The GW Society imported 6046, ex-USATC 2-8-0 for their Summer Gala on 31 July/1 August. The dates didn’t suit me, so I was delighted when the Society tipped off its members that they would be running her again today. So I took the opportunity to travel behind my 52nd Hungarian steam loco! Built in Philadelphia in 1945 by Baldwin, after service in France in WW2, 4046 was one of 500-odd ex-USATC locos purchased by the Hungarian State Railways (MAV). She became Hungarian (MAV) 411.144. I did see the class at work in Hungary on my visits in 1973 and 1975, but I certainly didn’t have a run with one – any I saw were shunting in goods yards! I must look out a photo, as I certainly photographed one in Kecskemet in 1973. As 411.144, she became a member of the Hungarian National Collection, but was mistakenly marked for scrap! It was then privately purchased and after a change of owner, was restored to working order on the Churnet Valley Railway. It has run on the NYMR, WSR and Nene Valley, where it suffered a damaged cylinder block, which has been replaced. Without a detailed check, I cannot be precise as to the changes made by her new owners, but the original loco would not have had that “BR Standard” look about her! A handsome machine. Appropriately hauling two 1940s GWR bogie coaches (7371 a brake composite - we sat in the luxurious First Class compartment and 536 a corridor third) she toddled up and down the GWR demo line: very slow reversing to Oxford Road in 3'25, 10mph max; 2'48 back to Eynsham, 15 max; second run yielded 3'18 to Oxford Road, max SIX mph and then 2'45 back 11max. Needless to say, that when I watched go by while we picniced, the new driver made a lot more noise and seemed to be going faster! I must seek her out on a proper preserved branch! I should add that MAV was not noted for steam speeds of more than 30mph or so!

I agree with Galteemore that the Park Railway is probably either the railway in the Prater Gardens in Vienna (where the Third Man "Big Wheel" is); or the famous railway in Dresden. As there are other Austrian scenes, the Prater seems more likely. I've travelled on both (actually, I've probably timed both!). JB, these are great pictures - I've pointed McLachlan to them, as he's in Spiez at present and can almost certainly give you chapter and Verse on the ones in Der Schweiz. I know someone who will go into orbit when they see the ancient "Innertkirchen Train" - possibly the last train Sherlock Holmes travelled on - getting off at Reichenbach to seek his foe Moriarty!

My dear JB, you're one of my favourite people, as yu have at least two dozen of my wagon kits built or building!

Terrific stuff, JB. First time I've seen my ex-GSWR 10 ton brake actually on a line. "Yer Man" has done a nice job building it. "Every home should have one" (well, every back of beyond CIE branch line, anyway). That's another Fiver I owe you .........

Very well done, Baseboard Dave - a real work of art. If you ever want a three month working holiday in England, we'll put you up, feed and pay you well, while you relocate Portadown Jct to a hut in the back garden in Reading! Beaumont - I owe you an apology (I think?) - did I not send you the Works Plates for your H Vans? If you send me the numbers of the vans you've got, I'll send you the matching plates. The wagons have been very nicely finished, by the way. Enjoy running your "line". I'm suitably jealous! Leslie

Jubilee under the Juice Wires? Vile evening in the Reading area - I had a long wait, including a torrential rainstorm, at THEALE for the ex LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 Bahamas running 50 minutes late (and in the DARK) tonight. This was the return leg of the semi-regular West Somerset Steam Express. Not great, but maybe worth twenty seconds of your time? Leslie PS heading from Taunton to Paddington MAQ03849.m4v

I must agree with Noel - I have in my possession an official CIE photo (in black and white!) of the Supertrain on Bray Head - and yes, it did look like futuristic. But, that said, a bit late for me from a modelling standpoint. Still contemplating a green "stripped" one! I must sell my hoard of Super Train coaches! It'll help pay for all these goodies!

WCR said: Anyone rolling in money? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114804659568?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338722076&toolid=10001 Ah, WestCorkRailway, it's your fault that when I saw this little engine advertised and then discovered it among the Casserley negatives in my hands, I decided that it "would do" for my 75th birthday present. Older readers will remember that my 70th pressie arrived 5 years late, but well worth waiting for. So, I've got No.5 in CBSCR Green, which even if it looks very GWR, it's a nice little engine (the box is three times the size of it!). It's with Kernow to be chipped, after which I'll post it moving in Portadown Goods yard. Remember what Lord White said - "It's MY railway and I'll run what I want on it"! Except you're a dab hand at kit bashing, I'm afraid that Irish steam locos ain't cheap. I can't suggest that they make a great investment, it's like everything - if you want it enough, you'll get it regardless. Obviously the VAT / postage thing doesn't affect me - modellers in NI can offer to bring it over the border for you in their pockets? It's outrageous what "The Leader" has foisted on us with this Brexit thing. Ah, J, you beat me to it!

Steady on, George! They didn't need chimneys in any case to belch out clouds of black smoke (sorry, exhaust). If the fireman had been doing his job properly, it would have been nice clean white steam ........

Normally, George, I would agree - but have you seen the track on the Trans-Sib? On the other hand, especially for you 21mm Men, they will already have endured a gauge change from Broad Gauge to Narrow Gauge - I'm told it's not painful! The only time i did it personally (going TOWARDS China), I cheated and changed from Narrow Gauge to Broad Gauge by changing trains completely at Brest Litovsk.

Shall I pinch a Chinese one going to Southampton (certainly empty for the UK makes and exports nothing)? - Loads of them through Goring every hour! One careful owner, Guv, yours for just .......

Reading my Modern Railways for June, there is a double page on Transport for Wales plans - which include Loco haulage back on Holyhead to Cardiff and services to Manchester - with BR Mark 4 rolling stock - they've bought an extra THIRTY Mark 4 carriages for haulage with Class 67s. A pity we're not allowed to travel to Ireland at the moment - and not much reason, with exhibitions off and no RPSI trains ........

If IE had been daft enough to buy Hitachi 800s, then they'd be delighted to have them when the cracks in the bogies appeared............ It's not just IE and NIR who run suburban units on express trains - GWR has used the Class 387s to Bristol - arguably a more comfortable ride than the 800s they replaced. Keep safe Cynic of Surrey

I certainly agree, Simon very kindly let me have a good look at his Dromod building when I delivered some of my kits - my jaw hit the floor - stupendous modelling. If you can get a copy of MRJ you'll get a very good idea of just how good it is as their photography is usually spot-on. Saves you a journey to England to see it!

Well, of course, he is - MUCH better locos - Class 37s still flying past my local station taking younger electric friends off to be scrapped!

I've had my grey 121 for quite a while, but didn't trust myself to put the sound chip in (shakey hand after breaking my arm). So, I took a trip to Kernow's in Guildford (they've got 'em on sale there) and the senior assistant put the chip in there and then. Having done that he said - "Have you got a bit of time, I'd like to have a closer look...." He had a jolly good play and pronounced it just brilliant. When I got it home, I was delighted with my 70th Birthday Present (in time for my 75th, but what the heck - well worth waiting for). So, indeed, thanks, Paddy, just unbelievably good!

To help my pal John out, even the Ivory-liveried Cement Bubbles ran with a brake van - NOT John's one, but one of the steel ones - but at a distance........ This one has a Wheel and stripey lookout, so his Version 2 is nearest. Maybe I need two? (that is V1 and V2)? B163 on Cement train at Connolly on Sunday 29 September 1968 when Lance King was in Ireland for an IRRS Special to Kilkenny using the RPSI's No.186 Copyright IRRS Lance King Collection

There are no shortage of real German steam locos in Germany for the film-makers to use - even a streamlined Pacific, dozens of Class 50 2-10-0s like the one shown above (in Austria too) but when realism is low on the list and saving money is more important, a 9F on the NYMR who can let you use the whole railway looks very attractive - good news for NYMR as well, of course! At least the RPSI restored 184 to look the part for Mr Connolly, who DID do his own stuns!

Now, Jon, to be nice to you - Of all the Provincial Wagons kits I have commissioned, virtually everything would been hauled by Silver, Green and the earliest black liveried A Class. I agree that the UTA Brown Van would not have been. Likewise the Spoil wagon (OK with a blue NIR "C Class", of course). I think that the type of van which UTA 2459 is meant to represent regularly worked over the border in UTA days, so would have been hauled by an A Class. The SLNCR types are unlikely to have had "the honour' of such haulage, but I bet someone can produce a pic of one being shunted by an A Class at Sligo, because it happened to be in the way! The Loco Coal wagon and the bread containers were also unlikely to see CIE diesel haulage - the latter because they seldom crossed the border. Maybe I ought to do another run of the GNR bagged cement van? They lasted forever and probably were hauled by every diesel CIE ever had except the "201"s? When the boys do their C Class, the same very much applies - the C Class found their way to Cavan, so most things GNR (I do a lot of those for some reason) would have seen C Class haulage. All available as kits (not too hard to build - plenty of successful builders on this site) and you have the satisfaction of saying "I MADE THAT!!!" Finally, three of Roderick's 00 Works locos would have hauled most of my wagons. (Still open for business) Leslie

Beaumont, I can't believe that you posted this. A "101" is a steam locomotive - just 111 of them (eight numbers were reused, so you could claim 119). This THING (only kidding) is a "Sulzer".

Folks I know you can get around a lot more now, but if you missed the previous talk to Dublin, I'm doing it again next Tuesday evening by Zoom. Although a Club meeting, you should be able to register and attend as a visitor. Details follow. Leslie ---------------- LCGB Bedford Branch Zoom Meeting Tuesday 1st June 7.30pm With Lance King in Ireland – 1958 – 1963” by Leslie McAllister Leslie McAllister offers a first selection of colour photographs taken by the late Lance King in the Republic of Ireland in the last years of steam. Lance was a skilled photographer and left a fine record of steam in the Dublin area and on the fondly remembered branches such as Kenmare, Loughrea, Ballaghadereen, Edenderry, Tullow, Clara and Youghal, Steam and diesel in daily service on the Cork Bandon and South Coast Railway feature, as does the memorable railtour with the last “Bandon tank”. The early days of silver and “black and tan” liveried diesels can be glimpsed along the way. A time of great change You are invited to a Bedford Branch Zoom meeting. When: Jun 1, 2021 07:30 PM London Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvcO6orj8sGNVqXbaHwwdGmO67dN3DtbBQ After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Yes, the OHLE makes "photography" tricky, hence all these videos at stations. Just lovely to hear the Bulleid "chatter" as she went by. When Jarvis rebuilt them, the one thing I think he didn't touch was the brilliant Bulleid boiler - a pal of mine maintained that any fool could make a Bulleid steam! Now, how much would it cost to regauge one? Noel, Rob and Ken would make one of these fly!

There is no doubt that they are handsome engines, as rebuilt. That said, the originals, as the Blessed Oliver first built them were quite brilliant locos, but at quite a cost in fuel and maintainence. The slipping reputation has a lot to do with the fact that several starts were on curves (Waterloo, Bournemouth (going East) and Salisbury (also East), that plus the pull-out regulator meant they needed skilled handling. I must admit to a very personal interest in this one - 97mph at Winchfield in 1967. The smaller West Countries were fleet of foot also and quite remarkable hill-climbers - when you've done 75mph up 1 in 250 with eleven coaches, you know that they were Premiership material. Wonderful t see her out again.

STEAM IN THE SUN today! We are having a very wet and windy May here, but today, the sun came out and steam flew past on the FAST lines, to boot, at Goring. 35028 Clan Line aka Merchant 28, was out on the Belmonds (we've still got'em here) to Bristol, via the GWR Main line. Excuse Linda's enthusiasm, they didn't see steam engines of any description in the Irish village she was born in! MAQ03775.m4v The loco even made Page 2 of the UK's Daily Telegraph today.

Usually up to 2 hours. Joining later than 1930, you may wait a moment until you're "let in". Hope you can make it! Leslie