Mol_PMB

I had sight of some early issues of the Irish Railfans' News last night; here are a few snippets on the topic of Park Royals: April 1955: July 1955: January 1956: July 1956: There's also an intriguing paragraph relating to a livery change, this is in the January 1959 journal: This suggests that some dark green railcars and carriages had previously been outshopped with dark green roofs. Sounds unlikely? There are occasional mistakes in the IRN. But there are some colour photos of Park Royals and AEC railcars where the roof colour hints at green under the grime, like these from Ernie. And we've seen that some Park Royals had entirely green ends (as did the AEC railcars). I wonder if some had the entire body painted green when new? I shall need to do some more research before engaging with JHB on roof colours!

I have found an interior layout drawing for one of the older invalid saloons, but not the later Park Royal ambulance cars. Looking at the dozen or so photos of AM14 and AM15 in the IRRS Flickr archive, it is apparent that they were different from each other - both exterior and interior. With all the big windows it's possible to make out some of the interior layout from exterior views, including the positioning of the bunks / stretcher racks and seating areas. The ambulance coaches also had a small catering facility and washroom. The carriage listings give AM14 with 8 seats and 20 stretchers, 2 lavatories, 1 cloak room and 2 gas rings. https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54778604969/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54778715435/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53506776038/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53511463103/ However AM15 had 16 seats and only 8 stretchers, also 2 lavatories, 1 cloak room and 2 gas rings. You can see the bigger seating area through the windows: https://www.flickr.com/photos/152343870@N07/49643717067/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53511628724/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53527291921/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53511297106/ On the subject of the main line Park Royals, this is a scarce colour image of a green one, seen in 1958, with the ends entirely green as well. It still has inward-opening doors but has acquired '2' class digits on them. As an aside, Cultra need to get a tin of black paint to attend to the roof of B113!

Thank you so much for the update! I’m really looking forward to these. Would love to see some more photos. Has this put you off Park Royals for good, or is there still a chance of some of the other variants (main line with toilets, guards compartment, even ambulance?) If those are off the cards I’ll buy some more suburbans for conversion projects.

Seems like we’ve got a fair proportion of the class on this forum!

Wonderful - I have ordered a copy and no doubt it will tell me what I’ve got wrong on the J26!

Message from Richard with the Zoom link for tonight. I’ll be there in person. Dear all, We hope that you're looking forward to Alan's talk this evening. As a reminder, full details are below. For reference, the zoom link to dial into the talk is here and will be live from 18:15 in good time for a start at 18:30 and the payment link, should you wish to make a contribution to branch funds, is here. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82713772388?pwd=wlSH5iJK5nMpkr6nX0eabqHX3vV2Xc.1 https://www.paypal.com/pool/9nKeaPT1BL?sr=accr We're really looking forward to the talk, and hope that you are too. Kind Regards Richard Ellis-Hobbs On behalf of the IRRS Manchester Commitee

Anyone know if this will be stocked by the RPSI?

Wonderful! Thanks for the heads-up.

And I think there was only one vote for the F6, though I could have my arm twisted to add a second vote. Well, let's see how the MGWR coaches and loco turn out, maybe we can encourage some more people to bite?

A withdrawn Bandon Tank was stored in Mallow for a while, but that doesn't really count. If you can find evidence of one working in Mallow or Kerry I'd be interested. An F6 would be more at home in Mallow or Kerry in earlier years.

With the J26, J15 and G2 kits I've already got a shunter and both freight and passenger tender locos. The G2 doesn't fit my region but they're nice locos and worked a few railtours. I'm mostly focused on Cork and Kerry around 1960, which limits the options a lot. The F6 2-4-2Ts were withdrawn a fraction early for me, apart from the Inchicore pilot which is geographically wrong. I do like them but there's an Alphagraphix kit which could be shrunk, so no point me working on one of those. The 4-4-2Ts went even earlier. The last surviving Ivatt 0-6-0T, 201, would definitely fit the bill, but rather duplicates the J26. The J30 is another Alphagraphix kit with potential to be shrunk. The Bandon tank is already available from SSM, but geographically more limited than the GSWR classes. Hmm, I've probably got enough things in the stash already.

Indeed, and the same with axles. I think they are eking out their remaining supply now that Markits is defunct. Another source of this type is 3mm scale models, they list the EM axles. I got my J26 wheelsets from them. They only have smaller wheels though. https://www.3smr.co.uk/wheelstock.html I'm going to see if I can stock up for a couple of potential future projects. Now, what are the chances of the shrink-ray being pointed at the Alphagraphix Ivatt F6?

At least the numbers are all the same size and in line. Not all were so neat - I photographed these mismatched ones back in the day. Prototype for everything!

Thanks Rob, that's good to know you have an emergency stash! Whilst tidying up the machine shop (shed) after making my jig, one of my wall decorations out there has reminded me that I still have some more diesels awaiting attention too.. I acquired this in an ITG fundraising drive a couple of decades ago - I think the money went toward saving 124.

Thanks! It's finished now. This photo shows an EM axle (not yet cut in half) and how it sits in the slot: The axle can be held in place with the straps secured by 6BA bolts. This photo also shows how the square end fits in the slot of the smaller moving blocks. This allows the parts to be pressed together while ensuring that they remain square. The width of the central block also sets the back-to-back. It has taken a full day's work so I hope I use it more than once or twice! But I do like making things, and whether it's a model or a jig there's a lot of satisfaction in producing something that works. I'm sure you find the same. As well as the J26 I have kits for the G2 and J15 in the stash. I seem to have a total of 10 EM gauge axles of this type (i.e. 1 spare for those 3 locos). I also have some spare axle nuts and 'deluxe' crankpins. I'm wondering whether to try and stock up some more before they vanish for ever. Now, are there any other Irish steam locos I might want to build in future? They would probably have to be scratchbuilt probably with a custom etch. Answers on a postcard...

4'6.5" and 3'9"

Steps in machining the jig. Using a 4mm slot drill, make a rebate 10mm x 8mm x 3.5mm deep in the middle. This will locate the sleeve if an oversize sleeve is used: Using a 2mm slot drill, create a slot 3.2mm wide and 3mm deep to take the axle: Clamp the moving blocks into position. I had a 1.5mm end mill which was the only suitable tool for the next stage: Cut slots 1.5mm wide and 2.5mm deep in the moving blocks: Then in tiny increments, widen the slot each side until the square end of the axles will just fit into it: Once I've had a brew I think I'll drill and tap 4 holes in the top face of the main block to assist in holding the axle parts in the slots during the axle assembly operation.

One for the larger scale SLNCR enthusiast: https://ebay.us/m/s55rFE @Galteemore

Less than £250 for a O gauge Peak, with an extra 10% off for the first order. Crazy prices! I paid more than that for an 03 shunter several years ago. https://heljan.com/products/class-45-0-br-blue-unnumbered-o-scale I have no need for a Peak on my O gauge shunting plank though.

A couple of hours machining after work and I have got this far with my jig. There are some more operations to do yet, hopefully tomorrow. The large block will be slotted 1/8” wide so the axle is a snug fit. The smaller blocks will be slotted 1/16” wide so the squares are a snug fit. The idea is that the axle parts can be set up in the tool and then pressed together by squeezing in a clamp.

Excellent - many thanks for the update, sounds good. I look forward to building some more 6-wheelers. I've already acquired a stash of castings for buffers, axleboxes/springs and other oddments.

Just wondering if there’s any update on the progress with these? My main interest is in the MGWR 6-wheel coaches.

And to you!

In the interests of balance, I should add that the bilious green thing ran very well, pulled plenty of people and the driver was clearly enjoying himself. But for me, the Royal Scot and the two Britannias were superior models. My photo of the other Brit was badly timed but it captured the look of a working loco very well:

A slightly damaged but presently cheap A class, a bit of weathering would sort this out: https://ebay.us/m/83gwZ0