leslie10646

Well, I shot a video (VERY badly) but while I can show it on my Mac, I haven't got a clue how I get it onto this site - instructions please? IF you could have seen it, you would have witnessed the little U Class pulling SIX bogie coaches and a six wheel van - without problem. In real life, they would have taken up to eight bogies on excursions to Bangor and I may try that - however the Bangor line didn't have the 2 ft curves of my layout - that enormously adds to the required tractive effort! My layout is about a scale mile round and she can do that in 50 seconds - that's 75mph scale (not flat out either!)- far more than one was ever timed at. A final thought - why does the layout seem to run better in DC mode (the loco isn't chipped of course!) than DCC? Time for bed! Leslie

Well done, Kieran - a very neat and clever conversion. Never mind my wagons - have you got a rake of bone-shaking six wheelers to go with it? My pal Michael at Smallbrook does a LSWR "road van" which I understand is the spitting image of a BCDR brake van. Leslie

Of course you are Patrick - you've only been married a few years!!!! Have you built a new layout yet? Just ran her round mine BACKWARDS for over half an hour - she's loosening up nicely! Leslie

OK, guys, some shots which I hope show this lovely little engine off. So this is where my day has disappeared to - Professional look? Well packed In the Surrey Sun! Front view By Dundalk Signal Cabin (actually at South end of where Portadown Passenger will be!) With a typical length Irish North train - a K15, a K3 and a six wheel van (all Richard Ellis-Hobbs), with three conflats and six bread containers (guess where they came from?) - have I got it right, John M? She WILL pull these, but slips a bit - still needs to be gently run in! I just couldn't resist running her round with a train. By the way with three of Richard's bogie coaches and two Park Royals from IRFM, she ran well - the better wheel sets certainly helped. When I've run her in a bit more, I'll try more coaches!!! Get your orders in - a delight! Leslie PS Video attempt a disaster - out of focus - maybe I shouldn't use a compact still camera with video facility - I'll try the SLR!!!!

The Express usually seems to have loaded to 4 coaches, while most Irish North passenger trains seem to have been made up with two coaches, bogie or 6 wheel van and a long string of bread containers John Thanks for the video link - great stuff. Well, she'll take four oK - I'm off to try two bogies, a six wheel van and bread containers - I think I can replicate that!!! Leslie

Ok, here goes. Straight out of the box, it ran smoothly - did a full circuit of my 21 x 17 layout, minimum radius 2ft, without a falter. Tried pulling five coaches (with very old, poor-running bogies) tender-first, out of the Portadown loop, to place so I could place her at the front, but she slipped quite a bit - especially as she was going straight onto a 2ft curve. NO WORRIES - try her with three coaches. Flew with three - no slips, perfect. Now four - same again - no problems. Back to five coaches, we've been chimney first throughout all of this - she slipped a bit starting, but ran fine on straight, but curves had her slipping coming out of them, with the train all on 2ft! Now - embarrassing to relate- my VS slips furiously on five of these coaches (a Hornby Schools chassis), so she's doing really well for a handmade engine. I'll try and video it for you - at the very least I'll post a sunshine photo to compare with Patrick's indoor shot - yeah - we get sun in Surrey! Also, I'll try her with more modern coaches and report back. She's one of my 70th birthday presents - makes you want to be 70 again!!!! BETTER than any loco I've had handmade for me - end of ...... A truly wonderful piece of work, so well done Roderick, Rebecca and whoever helps you guys - a masterpiece! If you want a proper Irish steam loco - get your order in! Can't say more than that Leslie

Patrick, you're right - no need for me to post photos - the ones on the website are better than I'd take! It looks super. I'll have to wash my hands VERY carefully tomorrow when the Postie arrives!!!! Now, do I need a second one? ..........

Thanks for that photo link - what a wonderful set of photos! By coincidence, I am writing up journeys made in 1965 out of York Road, so the photos of No.19, No.13 etc there really bring back the memories! Message to the other half dozen steam men on this site - take a look - super shots (even a few diesels!) Leslie

No question, a very nice model - so I've succumbed and there's more money in your bank account as of two minutes ago. Now, where to put them? - every siding is full! Congratulations. Leslie

I can't resist saying that the photo shows a very fine brake van! The kit is still available! The UG is apparently "on time" - ie before Christmas, according a reply from Rebecca yesterday. As for a video - two problems - my track is DCC controlled, so I'd have to wait to have it chipped (I might try disconnecting the DCC and plugging in an old controller); Hhmmm - how do you take video? More important load it onto the site!!!! I'll have a look Worst of all, I don't really want you guys to see my non-layout, which would take prizes for VERY poor track work, no scenery and general inertia. But, I'll see what I can do. Roll on Friday! Leslie

Well, I've just transferred my money to the 00 Works Account - it seems that the loco is ready! I'll report back in a day or two when the box arrives on my doorstep! Leslie

John I won't start with Appocryphal stories that if they ran out of the correct blue that they went to see what the local hardware shop had ......... On a more sensible note - how the blue looks will depend on whether you're looking at it in sunlight, or under the lights over your layout? I suspect the latter will have a lot to do with how any GN loco looks? The proof will come when one of us claps eyes on the final product. I'm waiting for the demand for my cheque! Leslie

The model looks very promising. As for the colour - if you look at the "Construction" section, you can see the bodies, which appear rather lighter. So, it may just be the photography? Anyway, I don't think any two GN engines were really the same blue, for many reasons - including exposure to the sun (when it appears!). I'm waiting for a demand from 00 Works for my money, which I will be very happy to shell out! Leslie

Actually, Patrick, if you go into their website and click on "Construction" you'll find a lot more pics of the U Class, including one of a batch of loco bodies, ready painted and lined. The Underside does show one disturbing feature - the coupling appears to be screwed to the pony truck and is NOT attached through a NEM Box - which would allow the customer to easily change the coupling to one of their own choice. Still, I assume that's "sortable". Like Nelson, I like the website which is informative - even with a nice video of one of their earlier locos. Leslie

Well, Bren, it's a pity you're not going to model the rest of the station, as your work is absolutely terrific. Not many people attempt a major station front like this and you've done a terrific job. There are few comparative models around, but one I know is of the Anhalter station in Berlin, which is part of a model in the Technical Museum in that city. Your work is every bit as good. Don't forget to model Wayne Sleep climbing the front, as per his role in The First Great Train Robbery! Are you going to attempt the train shed? Congratulations Leslie

Loved the tunnel allusion, Boskany - not before Monday, please, as I'm leading a group to Switzerland, via Eurostar! Leslie

Just a quick reply, as I'm on my way to the Embassy to collect my Irish passport. (Dave, don't have a heart attack!!!!). Sorry, Nelson and other young Britons, your elders have voted without thinking of the consequences to their children and grandchildren. My son said everyone in his office is devastated. Maybe like electing a pope, you should not have a vote over a certain age? Meanwhile, never a better day to buy my wagons as the pound has taken a bath and I calculate Euro prices "on the day". Leslie

When I asked if my "U" Class would be ready for my birthday, I was told it was due at the end of June - watch this space!

Hi from one Grandad to another (there's a clue in my site name!) That is one excellent piece of modelling - well done. While I would be the first to adulate the Blessed Oliver, most of the detailed design work was done by Ron Pocklington and John Click - I have given talks on the subject, having met Ron and got the full story. Ron designed a single ended version, but Oliver was too taken up by the issues of the (awful) British diesels which he had forced on him to be interested in taking an interesting idea forward beyond the CC1 prototype. Leslie

Well done Kieran. Looks very nice. How many wagons will she pull? Nice wagons, by the way - oops, I shouldn't have said that, should I? Leslie

A quick look at the Internet shows a slight improvement in share price. The Finance Director has been appointed CEO and they appointed an interim Finance Director to fill his post. James May says save the company - one way to do that is to buy their stuff? However, model railways aren't much of an investment - but if you choose an item which subsequently "in demand" you can always eBay it at a profit! Like Noel, from my great age, I bemoan the tendency of youngsters to have their heads stuck in their mobile phones (attempts to ban them at family meals failed miserably), or their iPads - my 7 year old grandson did, however, leave his alone as we travelled on the narrow gauge in Wales last week - a glimmer of hope. I'm happy to relate that when my younger son helped organise a mass playing of "X Wing" (the board game!) in Birmingham last weekend, there were 200 plus players. Leslie

A rake of 24? How big a house do you own!!!!!?????? If these guys can do three for €110 for or a little more, they would be very good value for what you are getting.

Steam Dreams Emerald Isle "Emerald Isle Explorer" at least gives you steam haulage, for a bit less?

Just to say that I will have good supplies of both my new GNR(I) van kits at Bangor on Stand 10. AND my next wagon, which should prove useful to those modelling "Down South"! A good time to buy with Euros - for example my Bulleid open kit is now just €27. I look forward to seeing lots of you there. Leslie