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THROWBACK MODELLER November/December 2019 Issue 12 Continuing the Christmas tradition

I believe in Unicorns - now do you?

Bird goes Crackers

A splash of Irish Cream in that?

16MM HERITAGE OWNERS AND OPERATORS Throwback Modeller ASSOCIATION ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 I S S U E 1 2 Welcome to Issue Twelve

A Very Festive welcome to sadly some people are still you all. using these. My only ever email address is as it ap- Another calendar year has pears in TBM, and it the flown past. Like every other, btinternet one. Please check there have been highs and your contact lists and delete lows. To all of you reading any others such as the hot- this, and who help to keep mail ones. Jim Wild. A man very pivotal our hobby so rich in interest in the early days of the hob- and friendship, I hope you I made some errors with the by, and now already so will accept this issue as both last TBM - sorry but it hap- much missed - please share a Christmas card and pre- pens in the best of circles. in this upcoming tribute to sent from both Nigel and Some I am correcting within him, It will be in the Feb. myself, as we wish you a text in this issue, but I must issue of SMT. Equally, I am wonderful time over the apologise to Bill Haywood preparing an article on Mike upcoming Period, and all the for calling him Ron in the Gaskin so again any photos very best for the New Year. Major Custard piece. etc. for that would be very I am not a great one for hav- I am shortly to undergo sur- welcome. ing my photo appear. Nigel gery to replace my collapsed Many of you will be aware of craftily altered last issue's knee with an artificial one. the announcement of an Tail Lamp photo after my As my wife Jean has already additional Show to the 2020 proof reading to containing gone through the procedure calendar, to be held on May one of me. Hmmmm. I think I know only too well what 30th. at the Pavilion in Llan- that you would rather look awaits me! There may be a gollen. The website for this at my favourite shot for period when I do not answer can be found at TBM12 - a Cracker Tram by emails so please bear with Cover shot; Harvey's www.lgrf.co.uk but thus far Tony Bird. It is just lovely, me. The good news is that I B class loco on the there is little information. I and should whet your appe- cannot go back to driving have completed the invita- cover this month, shot tite for the article inside? the lorry for twelve weeks, tion paperwork, and we in- on Arthur Coles' line so once I can sit at the key- One of the downsides of tend to have heritage there board there is a very good 2019 was when my comput- with both the layout and chance that I can catch up a er was hacked. Unfortunate- display as per Exeter. This is bit (!). It reminds me to wish ly everyone on my contacts a wonderful opportunity for everyone suffering ill health list was contacted using fake all those of you in the catch- at the moment (and some of email addresses for me, and ment area, who cannot justi- you know you are especially fy the journey over to Peter- in my mind), borough, to come and sup- a speedy and port both the Show and also thorough Copyright on all mate- us on heritage, as well as return to full rials in this newsletter Gareth Jones' modular lay- fitness as out which will also be there. remains vested in the soon as pos- authors and editor. sible. I won't stop you any longer Reproduction of the from reading on .... hope I have ap- you enjoy what follows? whole or any part is pealed in Have a great Christmas forbidden without SMT for break and best wishes for relevant permissions. memories the new year. and photos of the late DEREK P A G E 3

IT'S ALL THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE

It would help if I paid more fine studies. It was based on were used as attention to what I have! In 'Marchlyn' in original condi- lubricators, one the last issue, I printed a pho- tion with sand boxes on the for each . to of 'The Master' as built by side tanks, as supplied by This loco is well Stanley Jones. Except, whilst Avonside in 1933 for use on known to quite a it was his loco and it was the higher levels of the Pen- few of you and called that, it was a Fred Free- rhyn Quarry. Externally happily still with man model Hunslet. Stanley meths fired, the two small us. built 'The Master' number cylinders had slide op-

two, as illustrated here in erated by slip eccentric another of Peter Dobson's gear. The two sand boxes DEREK P A G E 4 THE LATE JOHN TURNER.

Some of you will have seen I have been involved in find- this photo in SMT, kindly ing homes for two of his Cal- provided by Peter Holland. I edonia models, and a make no apologies for in- cabbed Quarry Hunslet, and cluding it. I am one of those can only say that the engi- people guilty of building a neering was of the highest mental picture of someone, order. only to find that it is totally

wrong, as it certainly was in this case! John is standing DEREK behind some of his models.

HARVEY'S HELPFUL HINTS

Continuing Harvey's input with the vigorously before draining out. Locomotion Railcar piece, I Then rinse thoroughly. thought that it might be good to If you think that Harvey can help have a running you over a problem, then please series as per the title. So, to kick email me. off:-

DEREK Depth Gauge. Not Harvey's own idea, but borrowed. If you don't have a depth gauge, rather than buy one just use a sewing needle pushed through a piece of stout card (postcard?). Push the needle through to the point that it touch- es, and then turn the card over and measure the protrusion with a finely calibrated steel rule. I asked Harvey if there were any ideas about removing and cleaning gauge glasses when they clog up Mike Harrington sent these with scale etc.? Put simply, there photos of his Ogwen before are no easy ways, and being as and after Harveys de-scale small as they are there is a very process real danger of breakage. Harvey prefers to use a liquid kettle de- scaler, which when diluted is poured into the and shaken P A G E 5 I believe in Unicorns

The unicorn is a legendary late too. Hurrah - that he’s always extolling the vir- creature that has been de- ticks all my boxes. tues of making a jig. Given the scribed since the start of antiq- amount of work I needed to do I have a strict “one project at a uity….. on the engine I followed his time” rule - don’t we all? And advice and built a holding jig. My unicorn arrived at the Exe- to be honest it’s a rule I’ve This helped with stripping, ter show. I was offered the never managed to stick to - ha paining and stoving the chas- opportunity to buy a box of sis. Before I bits for a Mike Beeson L&B - I stripped it I had was delighted. Prior to col- done a quick push lecting the loco I knew very test round the little about it. Travelling down sharpest curves Sandra asked some revealing (kinks) in the gar- questions in the car. Is it gas, den. The photo coal or meths fired? I didn’t shows that the know. Is it the late or early cab centre version? I didn’t flange is flanged. I know. Is it a didn’t want to Manning Wardle or the Baldwin? I didn’t know. ha. However I did pack away She quickly es- the NG9 project and carefully, tablished that I cleared space on the work- didn’t know very bench and the day after the much about it at Exeter show the great unicorn all. I recalled strip down began. The box of seeing Mike bits was largely the body and build his L&B superstructure. The 0-6-0 coaches in the chassis (both pony trucks had 1990’s at the been removed and were loose “Stoneleigh” in the box) was fully assembled AGM’s, but I nev- and turned over freely. So er recalled see- ing a loco. I had rebuild an en- tried to do some gine that needed web research in a 15’ radius cor- advance of the ner. Good news Exeter rendezvous but could the chassis ran only find these two photos round the sharp- from Arthur Walker and Dud- est curve in the ley Hubbard showing Mike on garden beautiful- his stand at the 1999 Kew ly, no modifica- show. Incidentally, I’m of the tion required, opinion that the coach ar- phew. During rowed on the back row is a this test I did L&B coach? what’s in the first photo? The note that there wasn’t much chassis is 1/8” brass and pretty I remain grateful to the previ- suck and blow from the cylin- hefty. A lot of the paint had ous owner for offering me the der ports. Stripping one down been damaged over time, so I opportunity. So I didn’t buy a I thought I stumbled on a very was looked at a full strip and unicorn but a box of bits to worn O-Ring until I began to repaint. The front fall plate reassemble a unicorn. So what pick at it. Graphite yarn! I was also green rather than was in the unicorn box? tried to replace it but couldn’t black, never seen that be- get a decent suck or blow. Well, hurrah it’s gas fired, and fore….. My friend Mike Pinder John Brittain was quite clear also a Manning Wardle, and frequently writes in SMT and P A G E 6

with me the graphite had to go and I needed to fit proper O-rings. I’d hesitated as the head grooves were too narrow for a O-ring, and my history with parting tools always ends up with tip of tool firing off across the workshop leaving a mangled piece of metal in the lathe chuck. I really didn’t want to mess this up. I ground up a tool the correct width and profile for an O-ring, a took a deep breath. My cuts were so, so delicate and I flooded the part with GT85/WD40 to give me the best chance. It worked - one whole evening to expand the width of a piston sealing groove. Apart from that there’s been no reassembly traumas yet. I’m now at the point of having re- see a second eccentric on the ning and the additional oppor- built a rolling chassis. It’s all rear . This takes water tunity to appreciate a running painted and looking beautiful. from the side tank, through a model. My desire to fit radio is The large lump in between the conventional axle pump, by- more practical. I’m hoping to leading axle is an oil pump. pass valve and I’m guessing via get to run this at garden The oil reservoir is an adaption a clack into the backhead. meetings and exhibitions of the front sand box. The where I don’t want to be Why the guessing? Well that’s feed runs to the pump cham- bouncing round like Tigger to the challenge to come. This ber and it’s operated off an manually control my unicorn. loco came with a failed boiler eccentric on the front axle that was very complex. I need I’ll close with a couple of re- through the worlds smallest to make a new boiler. The quests; ratchet and pawl mechanism. plan is a conventional single If you look carefully you can Firstly if you know anything of flue boiler. But that’s the job this model’s history I’m keen for the Christmas holiday. to fill in a few more blanks. Meanwhile it’s back to the paint stripper for the body Secondly, more unicorns….. work. I’m keen to purchase a pair of Mike Beeson L&B coaches to More progress to be reported run with the rebuilt Yeo. If you in TBM #13... have one or two to sell please I plan to restore this loco to it’s get in touch. original condition (nearly). I Thanks Nigel. reckon I can fit a radio receiver and battery in the rear of the [email protected] cab and squeeze in a servo

under the cab floor for the regulator. I get manual run- ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/ P A G E 7

Sales, Wants & Solds Salem diesel. This is a large and substantial model, but has not been run for quite a while and needs batteries and Sale items checking over. Offers invited.

Merlin Major. Suddenly I had more models than peo- ple after one. So, some lucky person can buy this lovely loco. We had it on display at Exeter and it looks superb. It has been the subject of a compre- hensive rebuild by Chris Bird, which has included new cylinders and valves and the semi Walschaerts . Otherwise, there is a little wear here and there. It has a whistle and is r/c. To look at this is a delightfully proportioned loco. Priced to sell at £900 and highly recommended.

AVAILABLE IN MAY:

For some time now an enthusiast overseas has been bringing over models. They have always been in superb condition, but for obvious reasons (weight) not many come at a time. The Fowler and Midas are his, and I must admit to being sur- prised that the first of these two has not sold. It is a lovely loco, and with Roundhouse reintroducing the model in 2020 there must be a demand? So, you must register your interest in the following, so that Mamod with tender. This is a loco which carries a lot we can decide what comes this trip, and what stays for a fu- of provenance and gives you the chance to own a ture visit. Otherwise you take a chance! I can organise photos unique piece of history. It was owned originally by of any of these for serious enquiries; Don Boreham, of Meirioneth Society fame. The boil- er is now a silver soldered version, it is gas fired and Roundhouse Dylan. Green/Black, meths and 0-4-0. Dates r/c and comes with the transmitter. I took the photo after the Exeter Show so you can see the current condition. Sensible offers please. Loco is here with me.

from early '80s. I have a small collection of early 27mhz. transmitters and receivers (matched) as well as one 40 mhz. which is exceedingly rare. Again offers please. All the above items are with me.

ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/ P A G E 8

Lady Anne. Black and same details as Dylan. Scorch mark to one side tank. Fell Engineering Kerr Stuart diesel. Will come minus battery Merlin Hunslet 2-6-2. R/C and all servos present, but no trans- (!). These models have a dedicated following and are mak- mitter. Lift off part of body has been stove enamelled light ing surprising money. The first real battery hauler designed blue, whilst rest of loco is in original ex-works green. Sought by Ron Grant to recover a complete train when it failed. after loco. >>Back in the UK now<< Steamlines Shay: This is the Moody River two truck Shay which Tom built in Oswestry in the early '90s under his then business name of Steamlines. It was originally supplied as a kit, and the purchaser then proceeded to put it together rather poorly. As bits were falling off, when the current engineer owner got the model, he dismantled it completely and rebuilt it, replacing the Osmotor with an SVS marine engine which is superior, though the original motor will come with the loco as well. Finished in black with the cab still in its original wood finish, there is also a crew in place. The loco is radio controlled with the same equipment as used by Roundhouse and is 2.4 GHz. I am assured that the loco steams very well. In case you are wondering why I am not bidding for this loco, since it comes from my adopted home town and I love logging locos, it is because I already have one! Offers are invited for this rare, attractive and Regner 45mm tank loco in black. interesting loco.

Merlin Midas. This is an early version, based on the Beck Unstarted Merlin Midas 0-6-0 45mm kit. Manual reversing. Anna but with Tom's Anglicised bodywork (see photo). It is Minus pressure gauge and dome. therefore slip eccentric, gas fired etc. and in a condition that indicates that it has had very little use. Two small dents in the dome are the only real blemish. 45mm gauge. Loco is with me. ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 P A G E 9

Burton/Leech 'Jinty' 0-6-0 in 7mm scale. The actual loco as Wanted items list reviewed by Jack Wheldon in the November 1982 issue of Model Railways. I have a copy of this available on request. Located in the US. Best offer over £300/$350.

ROUNDHOUSE FOWLER: This is as per description and photo in TBM10. The loco is with me, and is currently undergoing If you are minded to thin down your locomotive collection, recommissioning after not having run for quite a time. It is in then consider using this medium. There are no auction site really fine condition and worth considering if you like this charges, no costs for money transactions, and no advertising model. Set to 32mm, you will need the conversion from costs. You also usually get what the market is prepared to Roundhouse to change gauge. pay, as opposed to finding out later that you could have sold for more. So, if you have any of the following to move, then please contact me. A David Hick Association Peckett, or indeed for that matter any DH Hunslet or Peckett. A Roundhouse Carrie with Hackworth valve gear. R/C pre- ferred. Or DJB Robert, which is believed to have utilised the last of the RH Carrie chassis? Suddenly I have two people who both would like to buy a John Brittain coal fired NG G16 Garratt. I am aware that someone I know well bought one very recently, so they do rehome occasionally. A Locomotion Metrovic battery electric loco. A quantity of Bonds white metal chairs, and brass rail to suit 20 packs x 6 items of handrail stanchions. which can be of any length- even short. 2 packs of Tenmille F.AG138 bellcrank sets Any Hugh Saunders loco. Dead or Alive - Any L&B loco, by any heritage manufacturer. IP ENGINEERING CORRIS COACH kit. This is a body only kit, Gas or meths firing, age immaterial, happy to take on me- much along the style of the Locolines range with overlays chanical or cosmetic work being needed. onto wood/perspex. The instructions are with it, and if you Roundhouse L&B loco. fancy an inexpensive but good looking model this may ap- peal? An Archangel Brick, and also a coal fired Jack. A tidy,low mileage Roundhouse Vale of Rheidol, r/c if possi- ble, finished in green. I still have some Archangel caps and bases. Two wants here, and they both came on the same day! One is a Hunslet Jack in 7/8ths. Could be Harvey Watkins, Wilson Garden Railways' by Ray Tustin. This is the first edition pub- or w.h.y. The second is a coal fired Wilson Loco- lished in 1949. I've got a copy and it is worthwhile. Offers motives model. please? A Pearse Locomotives W&Ll Earl or Countess, from the era when Ian himself ran the Company. A Roundhouse Talyllyn No:7 Tom Rolt in 32mm gauge. DISCLAIMER: As always, neither Nigel nor I A returnee to 16mm after a long time away is looking for the take any form of commission for sales or more exotic/old school/quirky locos and rolling stock to ap- finding buyers. We do it for fun. Equally, all pease the memories of what he sold. descriptions and photos are offered in good Accucraft Excelsior -original version and happy with small faith, and we accept no liabilities from our cylinders. involvement. Archangel Snowdon Ranger/Moel Tryfan - two requests. Brandbright/Roundhouse Coffee Pot, with or without roof. ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 P A G E 10

Harvey Watkins Zulu, his incarnation of this South African there. Avonside loco. Archangel Rheidol, must be sound and in good running condi- Cuckoo's Nest Katie. Have you shut one of these away in a tion. cupboard somewhere? Loving home offered. Archangel Brick - any cab profile. Wrightscale Tattoo class loco. Now have two people wanting one.

Wrightscale Excelsior - two requested (similar to this) Accucraft Isle of Man loco. LGB Ziller coaches with the matchboard sides. Sold items Regner Konrad. We have had a good success in the past couple of months. David Taylor Steamcraft double fairlie, American outline but also confusingly named Mountaineer. Some of the sales are brokered without even reaching the 'for sale' part of TBM. This was the case with a really nice Either finished or unmade kits by Triassic, of Talyllyn coaches 1,2,3. Also any Talyllyn coaching stock (except no:4 or the Archangel Jack, which went to the underbidder for the previ- modern post war ). This would include the ex-Corris ous one that was offered. and GVT coaches. Buyer would also consider buying any TR There was the Archangel 'Lady Edith' that is the subject of a separate piece. The Locomotion railcar went for £800 after spirited bidding.

The Brandbright Coffee Pot went for £850 again after more than one person was after it.

The Beck based Forney and parts went for £400.

The track package went for the asking price of £250. goods rolling stock, as well as locos either steam or electric The last five DJB wagon kits sold. traction. Some of the Saltford collection sold (I bought Daisy the steam Any small and interesting steam loco (restricted radius on the line it is wanted for ). outline loco), but the vendor has decided to keep what is left. Accucraft W.& Ll Goods van, but must have the W & L letter- You should expect to pay a three figure sum for any of these ing on the side. models if some come up in the future. Tom Cooper Mini Mule. The Don Pearse coach kit went as part of a package. Roundhouse Pooter. two requests for this model. A lovely little Mamod loco changed hands at Exeter on its Roundhouse Russell Mk.2, r/c and not too worn, hopefully lined out in the current style. way to the young lad mentioned in the last wants. Merlin Little Wonder Large bore Archangel cylinder such as fitted to Brick, Sgt. Mur- phy etc. Alternatively, has anyone replaced the original small cylinder with anything different? Brandbright (Roundhouse) Fiji Fowler. After one came back from the States, we now need another! I still think that this is a model that could be reintroduced. Curious? Find it on the Roundhouse Museum part of their website. Tom Cooper Steamlines Rheidol. Makes a change from the Archangel versions, but the owner just loves the model as is. I have been involved with moving a couple, so they are out ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 P A G E 11

One of the most interesting things was a Merlin prototype Leek and Manifold loco. The man who bought it finally is a great heritage supporter, and reads TBM, yet did not react to the two occasions it was advertised in these pages. Therefore it was put onto eBay, where it rose to around £800 and languished for a while, before hectic bidding finally took it to £1800. To prove I know nothing I had reckoned around £1200!

What was taken to be a Finescale Hunslet was fiercely bid up 21 people to £2050. No surprise about that. In fairness it looked well in the photos.

Another Steamlines Aileen, this time an unstarted kit, went for £499.99 to a known member.

As they are currently in fashion (!) a Locomotion steam driving end railcar went for £545 after 11 bids. It was described as needing attention, but I know the purchaser and after replacing the gauge glass he tells me that it runs well.

Three Roundhouse locos were listed together, as being sold on behalf of a deceased owner. They were all in excellent condition as seen in the photographs. What I take to be a Mk.3 Pooter went for £1739 after 30 bids, a Green Dylan made £950 with 16 bids, and a blue Lady Anne £860 after 14 bids. Pooters make amazing money, and the other two were at the upper end of current sales values, but worth it for condition and the availability of spares. Perhaps I was surprised to see the Dylan surpass Lady Anne as this wasn't always the case, but I have been involved in moving way more of the former. What do you buy for that sort of money new? It also proves conclusively that quality and the right model always sells well!

My old faithful 0-4-0 single cylinder loco with a touch of Snowdon Ranger about it, slid down from no bids at £600 to still not selling for £400. I will miss watching this, but if you do buy it eventually I would love to know more about it.

A BrassWorks electric Double Fairlie was listed as not run for £750, but does not show being sold?

A Cheddar Iver was listed with no price, and may have sold as it is showing out of stock.

The usual clutch of Mamod, or based on such locos saw a Black boxed one with regulator go for £189.99, a red MSS with extras inc. rear bunker for £200 with 19 bids, a red one for £165, and an open cab blue version needed 14 bids to only get to £87 (?).

Finally the insomniacs among you could buy a 1970's Archangel catalogue from over the water for around £10 includ- ing postage to while away the hours dreaming about the contents.

Steam Tramway of Belgium, trains with four wheel and and this can be found for in- ASVI Lobbes-Thuin. This looks stock - and finishing stance in a clip showing his to be a really interesting line, with my beloved curly roof conversion of a Mamod including the rolling stock, brake van. If superbly re- Steam Car into a Morgan though of course I especially stored prototypes are your three wheeler. Magnificent! YouTube love the tram loco! thing, then sit back and enjoy

this. Steam in Wales in 1977. You Finally put in Exeter Garden will pick up four clips, in peri- Tony Bird Cracker. This is all I Railway Show 2019 where od colour (something about put in, to access a whole raft you will get a good idea from this), three of the Festiniog of clips that Tony has posted. the three main clips what it is and one of the Talyllyn. Having read the article, then that makes us and others take a trip through these. You Ffestiniog Railway - Victorian travel long distances to be will find not only the locos, Weekend 2019 - Minffordd there. but also AquaCracker out on Station. Nothing heritage the water, CrackerShay and so about this, but you get a long much more. look at two trains. It begins DEREK with Linda and then Merddin Tony is a superb modeller, Emrys, both hauling heritage with a great sense of humour, ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 P A G E 12

In 2008 the author was trawling the Inter- net to find any information that would Christmas Cracker help in designing a gas fired boiler for a small 16 mm scale chassis that had been constructed. This search found the drawings for a small steam model locomotive named ‘Cracker’ First Cracker - Ernest Glaser which had been designed and built by Ernest Gla- ser and Felix Heufke of the Netherlands in 1996 and 6 free drawings are available on the Internet at:

http://home.iae.nl/users/summer/16mmngm/ Articles_htms/Cracker.htm.

Little did the author know then that he would be associated with building more than twenty of them!

To see how well the boiler and its gas burner would perform it was decided to build one. Cracker is a very simple model having, except for a cab, noth- ing it doesn’t need to work; it has one single acting oscillating cylinder which also acts as a ; there is no regulator - the only way of adjusting its speed is by either altering its load or adjusting its burner, or sometimes both.

It was a very quick model to build taking just over three weeks; a lot of the parts being purchased:

The 24 mm diameter and couplings: IP Engineering.

The bearings: Brandbright.

The gears: Hobby’s.

The No.3 gas jet and gas filler valve. Chuffed to Bits.

Named ‘Claude’ and painted green it was made almost exactly to the plans drawn by Ernest, which is a little unusual for this author.

Claude’s first continuous run on a track was at the garden railway of the Cardiff Model Engineering Society at Heath Park. Claude’s performance was impressive as it kept going very quickly until its water ran out having done about 4 circuits of the track, say 600 feet. The boiler and its burner per- formed really well.

The only real difficulty encountered with the model was lighting the blow-lamp type burner which proved ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 P A G E 13

almost impossible to do via the chimney. The only reliable way was to remove the gas tank and burner from the foot- plate, light it, and then replace it.

As a couple of feet of 35 mm copper tubing was available and the Cracker boiler having used very little of it, it was decided to make another Cracker with a poker burner to the author’s own design. It was later found out that Felix Heufke, having similar problems, had done something similar. The gas tank on the footplate didn’t look very good so the model was lengthened by 10 mm so it could be put under the footplate. This would allow a driver to stand on the foot- plate and it also slightly increased the water capacity. This second Cracker ‘Dougie’ had a full cab and was fitted with a safety valve, regulator, lubricator, pressure gauge as well as a driver. Though more complicated its only ad- vantages where that it would run slightly longer and its speed could be con- trolled; its performance and reliability not being any better that Claude’s.

The next, and the first Cracker with a female name was ‘Jane’. She had a Heywood look and was back to the basic design albeit with a poker burner and frame mounted gas tank. This Cracker was the first to have full depth frames and no separate smoke box, which continued to be the case with most of the subsequent models made.

After this the Cracker modifications went in two different directions: some to the more or less original simple design, whilst in the other direction they had added bells and whistles so to speak.

The next one to be built was one of the more complex models; Cracker ‘Digby’ which had a gauge glass as well as a safety valve, regulator and lubricator. These additions other than being able to control the speed did not affect the overall performance of the models; they were nowhere near as exciting to operate! Most of the Crackers that were made were to the simpler design.

A Wing tank know as ‘Gordon’ that was similar to Jane was made. It has crossed Welsh and American flags on its buffer beam which signifies that it had run in the US of A.

At this point in time some of the younger members of the Car- diff Model Engineering Society expressed an interest in building a number of Crackers. To this end a prototype ‘Donald’ was built and some drawings made. Donald was the first model built where the steam pipe was not connected to the boiler by a banjo fitting; it used an ordinary union. The author being one of the BP&FP (Blunt pencil and fag packet) brigade; where at best somebody with a kind heart would describe his drawings as dimensioned sketches, was fortunate that a friend, Rod Peck, converted them to sensible drawings.

With six Crackers built, the original length of 35 mm OD copper tubing for the had been used up. Sourcing short lengths of 35 mm copper tubing locally proved to be difficult, visiting one copper shop they offered a3-meter length at a very competitive price as it had been ordered in error sometime before. So, enough copper for 20 or more Cracker boiler tubes and end caps was bought!

A start was made making a batch of five Crackers. The boilers were first to be tackled and while this was going on a seventh Cracker was constructed with small modifications; a sort of pre-production prototype; Cracker ‘Beryl’, which had wooden buffer beams. Though internally fired and insulated from the footplate, holding a Cracker could still be ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 P A G E 14

quite hot especially as the small boiler had to be topped up frequently. The types of poker burners used in Crackers up until then had been of various types: slots, small holes, and large holes with or with- out mesh. They all worked quite well but the easiest to make which lit well was a 4 large hole version cov- ered with mesh and used inverted. Beryl was fitted with an experimental aluminium piston rather than the usual stainless steel one. This proved to work well with its light weight making the engine even smoother running, though aluminium was not used again until it had proved its longevity in service.

The lads only worked on their models for a few hours one evening a week, and had started as mentioned on the boilers so it was about six months before they were finished. All of their models worked really well but the author had been very pessimistic about the quality of their work and made them make more components than were really needed. These ‘spares’ spawned two more Crackers -one was fairly conventional except for having a tram body.

With this tram made, there remained a set of frames and buffer beams, a boiler, a pair of cylinders and a few other bits and pieces. Well they had to be made into a twin cylinder ver- sion didn’t they! But what sort? A cylinder ei- ther side would be the obvious answer. The author has always liked Shays though never made one and still hasn’t. So, after considera- ble thought the design used is probably exactly what Lima would have done had they made a single truck Shay; it became known as ‘Crackershay’. A way of mounting two cylinders on the same side of the model was contrived. Instead of having fly cranks the cylinders drove gear wheels that meshed together, with the pins set 180 degrees apart. As the gears rotate in opposite directions the cylinders swing in unison and even together! The boiler was off- set Shay style, with a wooden cab, and this with a stove pipe chimney along with head light, bell, air cylin- der, tender and buckeye couplings set the model off. The model had a safety valve and was so far the only Cracker made that could be reversed. Cracker- shay’s boiler easily supplied enough steam for its two cylinders but as the boiler is the same size as all the others so it didn’t run that long before having to be topped up.

The next Cracker was ‘Edward’. The author is fortu- nate in having an old-style Hardware shop about 150 metres from his home, so bits and pieces are bought from them for modelling and they know that these purchases aren’t often used for their intended pur- pose. On a visit they offered two 35 mm copper ‘T’ fittings that they had found in a draw, so, Edward’s boiler would be made as a ‘T’ just like the original John F Byers locomotive that Cracker was a loose copy ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 P A G E 15

of. With its ‘T’ shaped boiler and its extra water capacity Edward runs at least three times longer than Crackers with their usual size boilers. Like Crackershay, Edward’s boiler is off-set and has a gauge glass, safety valve, pressure gauge, regulator; a lubricator is fitted and with the now proven success of Beryl’s aluminium piston, it has one of these. It is the only Cracker as yet with a wooden clad boiler. There is also an exhaust oil separator in the model’s single wing tank. A number of Crackers were made for sale which at least used up most of the 35mm copper pipe bought. All these Crackers except for one was to Donald’s basis design. The exception was also built to the basic design but had an eight to one gear reduction rather than the usual four to one ratio used; it ran really slowly for a Cracker but needed quite a few extra gears, it had a yellow paint job which made it very dis- tinctive, as built it didn’t have a cab, it later had one fitted by its owner.

THEN THERE WAS AQUACRACKER

A large part of the author’s mod- elling life has been spent making small narrow-gauge steam loco- motives to 16 mm scale for use on garden railways. These narrow -gauge locomotives appeal be- cause they are quirkier than their larger standard gauge brothers. Often, they can be one-offs being designed for specific jobs and in consequence be a bit odd look- ing. Some later in their lives were altered to do other jobs such as being stationary engines to pow- er machinery.

As an example, in the late 1800’s a Wensleydale company that made cheese moved into a factory that had a narrow-gauge railway serving it. The cheese company had little use for the railway and was consid- ering disposing of it. However, one of the directors had heard of the Guinness Brewery’s success in using their small industrial narrow-gauge locomotives that had be placed in converter wagons and used to pull wagons on their standard gauge sidings. The cheese company’s railway was situated by the side on a navigable section of the River Ure, which in turn connected to the Ripon Canal and then to the River Ouse with its connections to York, Hull and beyond.

So, copying the idea being used by Guinness the cheese company decided to diversify and go into the barge towing business and to this end they fitted one of their steam locomotives into a barge thus con- verting it into a tug. For the conversion a 0-4-0WT with a gear drive was used. Other than the fitting of a hinged taller chimney no other alterations were done to the locomotive itself, the power for the propel- ler shaft being taken from a gear wheel already fitted to its leading axle. Like the Guinness locomotives, which could be removed from its converter wagon and placed back on its rails, with the removal of its taller chimney the cheese company’s locomotive could be returned to working on the land. It is unlikely that once in the barge it was ever taken out again so, the W&G Cheese Company entered the tug hire business and maybe even carried their own products.

This seemed a daft enough modelling project, so thoughts were given to designing and making a suitable hull for one of the Crackers built. ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 P A G E 16

A Cracker that had already been built was used as a power source. So, Cracker ‘Gill’ became amphibious. Gill was supported in a barge type hull allowing one of its gears to mesh with a gear driving the propeller shaft. The model performs quite well on the water. However, its small boiler capacity is a bit of a draw- back. Later another drive system for a model boat was designed so that almost any steam (or come to that electric) model locomotive could be used as a power source. The model doesn’t require a gear drive. It is supported by its front buffer beam, and one set of driving wheels rests on and drives some pulleys fitted with ‘O’ rings to give grip for the drive to the gear box. The system works well but as yet has not been fitted in a hull.

The author must apologise, the story of the W&G Cheese Company and its steam locomotives it is a complete fabri- cation, that came about because his young granddaughter gave him some Wallace and Gromit figures to use as a crew, so, this story was made up. It is pure coincidence that the steam loco- motive used was a Cracker which would have gone very well with cheese: would- n’t it Gromit?

CONCLUSION.

It is not known what Ernst Glaser and Felix Heufke’s intentions were in designing Cracker but a good guess would be that it was meant to be a simple locomotive that used the minimum amount of parts and was quick to build. If this was the case, they succeeded.

Cracker when run in will pull five or six light wagons. Its speed is the fast end of slow, the lack of regula- tor doesn’t worry it at all and the cylinder/safety valve works well. However, with the boiler testing regu- lations as they are now, it would sensible to fit a safety valve. Cracker wouldn’t be a bad first loco. With so few parts a result would be seen quite quickly.

The author hasn’t made a Cracker for some years but if he can be of any help to anyone interested in constructing one his email address is:

[email protected]

A Cracker video showing most of the Crackers built can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/RKbZ6QTk4eg

ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 P A G E 17

ASHOVER LIGHT RAILWAY COACH H.& R. WILLIAMS Built in 2018 from DONALD PEARSE KIT from 1985. This was purchased from the closing down sale of BRANDBRIGHT at the Pe- terborough A.G.M. The kit is made mostly of wood. L-shaped pieces of plywood fitted together to form the sides and windows. These were ready scribed vertically to represent the vertical planking. A plywood floor and thin flat ply- wood roof. The window frames and horizontal decorative strips were strip wood. The under- carriage is made of strip brass hori- zontals, with snipped shaped piec- es of aluminium for verticals , held together with 8ba bolts and nails. Longer nails were used to attach the plywood steps. No couplings wheels or bogies were provided. Examining photo- graphs of the coach suggested that bogies fitted were ex World War I type. I purchased a set from Rob at SWIFT SIXTEEN, These look just right and run well. The paint is Rover maroon, lettering from very old phone letter sets, and lining from Halfords. The original coach was made by the GLOUCESTER CARRIAGE & WAGON COMPANY. The cen- My Exeter tre mounted makers plates on the chassis were provided bt NARROW PLANET. The origi- nal coach was one of four, built in 1924 ,by the G.C.& W Co. At a cost of £1,624. Two still exist gem on the Lincolnshire coast railway. (Plus a third one at Golden Valley—Ed) There were two sets of very good instruc- tions provided, one by DONALD PEARSE AND ONE BY MERLIN LOCO- MOTIVE WORKS[BANWY] I understand that IAN PEARSE intends to archive his father's kit building instructions.

ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 P A G E 18

A bit of detective work un- earthed another set of photos of Merlin/Pearse Ashover coaches. This pair are owned by Alastair Campbell displayed with his 1984 Roundhouse 0-4-0 Lady Anne. Built with Archangel bo- gies

DO YOU KNOW THIS LOCO? Detective Derek I was asked at Exeter if I could help identify this loco. A lot of it looks like Sammy/Marmaduke, but then we get to the Hackworth valve gear.... It is gas fired, and approx. 9 1/4" long, and 3 3/8" wide, so quite small. If you know anything about this loco, who owned it etc., or if by any chance you have one the same, please get in touch with me. Many thanks. DEREK P A G E 19 Hooked from an early age. My first [temporary} garden rail- way in Chingford E4. An early Pinniger’s Patch post war Hornby clockwork LNER 101 0-4-0T together with a train of second hand goods wag- ons, I always liked oil tankers. Train of post war LNER 4 wheel NEW FEATURE NEW coaches in the siding. Even then they were a dis- appointment as all the passenger coaches on the nearby Chingford line were Quad Art bogie coaches. Photo by Edward Pinniger Senior I still like clockwork and occasionally we run vin- tage Hornby clockwork trains on the tracks of the Ambledown Valley Railway. Resident pre-war LMS No 2 Special 4-4-2T and visiting No 2 Special 4-4- 0 “County of Bedford” owned by David Lemar. Photo by Dave Pinniger P A G E 20 LOCOMOTION STEAM RAIL- ing so small it is imperative to firm, then the model itself CARS. keep watching that water both statically and then gauge. lighting up before finally run- I am very grateful to Michael ning on his line. It does also Leckenby, of MVL Bridges for showcase some of his excel- this piece. There is a comprehensive lent bridges as well! video that I made about this

loco on YouTube if you Hello Derek & Nigel, search for Locomotion Steam Photos Michael sent of his First, I would like to congrat- Railbus NHLR. battery Locomotion works ulate you on the latest edi- railcar

tion of Throwback Modeller. It's an absorbing read. Well Meanwhile many thanks done to you both. again for keeping the herit- age of our railways alive. My railway has been in exist- ence in one form or another Keep up the good work. since 1983 so I remember

many of those early models and modellers. The biggest Best wishes regret of my life, pre-Ebay Michael Leckenby days, but when the family was growing, was when I sold all my rolling stock - including Derek adds: this video is over a very early Roundhouse La- 20 minutes and highly rec- dy Anne and a Lindale Sam, ommended. Michael goes plus wagons by the late Ron Doing into great detail about the Cushon, for....wait for it....£400. I'm glad that, with the last the Loco- ten years of building bridg- es, my railway is still fully operational and I have con- tinued some great friend- ships with people like Peter motion Angus, Mike Lax and Geoff Lumsdon. However, the reason for contacting you is to say I have a steam powered Lo- comotion Railbus, the two car version with the trailing car, in GWR livery. It had all the problems that have been highlighted in the arti- cle. Now it runs like a dream. It's the smoothest and most controllable loco I think I have ever owned. I think the most effective improvement was modify- ing the gas burner to take a ceramic element. It steams very easily now, is easy to light and maintains good pressure. As was said in the article, with the boiler be- P A G E 21

Irish

Cream

IRISH CREAM: CAVAN & LEI- TRIM MODELLING AT ITS BEST

After recently running a se- ries by David Taylor on build- ing models of Irish rolling stock, he asked me to put a request in TBM for an Arch- angel C&L 'Lady Edith' 4-4-0. There were only three ever built to our knowledge, so it was optimistic. However, Dave Pinniger had one, and decided that he would like to see it go to an appreciative home, so brought the loco to Exeter, and met David who had travelled a long way to be there! As soon as they found out that it happily ran around the tight LGB curves used on David's line, a deal was struck and 'Kathleen' started a new chapter in her life. The first steaming at DT's line was very successful. Following on from the advice given, he attached a train of late Matthew Labine which perb condition. eight of his home built mixed he now owns. You can see Dave Pinniger supplied the wagons, tailed by the bogie from the photos that DT other photos. One is of Neil C&L brake van built by the took that the loco is in su- Ramsay's much used exam- P A G E 22

ple. It has been comprehen- Tube. All I put in is Neil Ram- including the aforementioned sively rebuilt and is shown say and follow the links. brake, if you again go to You with some of his delightful Tube and put in 'Cavan & Lei- Finally, there is a photo of Irish ng stock. You can find a trim coal train'. Matthew Labine's model. We lot of Neil's models running on know where it is now. You can DEREK his line if you go onto You see that running, with a train

MORE DARJEELING DELIGHTS The steam model is an Archan- ing the footplate after cor- gel, originally built to 45mm recting the configuration of the For starters, one photo got gauge. It is going to have a new valve gear and moving the cyl- captioned in the last article but boiler and burner. Graham has inders in against the frame. missed out. So, with thanks regauged it to 32mm, narrow- The wheelsets are still adjusta- again to Steve Herring, the green loco is the original un- More modified A Class as built by Harvey Watkins, with the fig- ures made by his late wife Darj Maureen. Of the two older grey models, and thanks to Graham Stowell for the photos and details, the electric model was built by Frank Norrington, and is now safely in the Meirioneth Rail- way Society collection. P A G E 23

ble to 45mm.

I make no apologies for in- cluding another photo of one of Harvey's B class locos is on the cover this month, shot on Arthur Coles' line. Figures again by Maureen, and the photo via Chris Tilley and Arthur. Superb!

Finally, Dave Shotter built this loco loosely based on an A class. It has a certain char- acter.

Steve Herring tells me that there is another Darj. book worth finding. Called 'The Australian Book' because it was published there by 'A Train Hobby Railway profile' in 1998, its title is: 'The Dar- jeeling Himalayan Railway - A photographic Profile 1962- 1998', and it runs to 50 pag- es.

DEREK P A G E 24

Fowler Resilient

In June 1958 the Model Railway Constructor pub- lished an article by my late father Norman Bryant. This article described his 4mm scale narrow gauge layout, the South Dorset Light Railway, and the final paragraph was; “As can be seen, the line is not yet

Picture 1 was taken, a ⅝in scale model of a Fowler Resilient diesel locomotive was under construction awaiting painting. It was subse- quently painted medium green and was pho- tographed in 1960 with two open wagons (Picture 2).

Some years later my father added more de- tails and a driver and repainted it a darker green as shown in Picture 3. The open wagons and Corris brake van were built on Bassett- Lowke underframes. Pictures 4 and 5 show the mechanism. A 24volt government-surplus motor drives a countershaft via a Meccano spring belt. The are driven from the complete. It may remain so as I have been countershaft by worms and pinions. The greatly impressed by the more railway-like worms, pinions and flanged wheels are also behaviour of the larger scales, in particular, Meccano. Electrical power is from a centre the Gauge 1 Association exhibition lay- out. I now have a garden which lends itself to a railway and I am hoping to lay down a 1¼in gauge, ⅝in scale line of a 2ft gauge pro- totype, but that is a matter for the future.”

By September 1959, when P A G E 25 third rail via a Bassett-Lowke collec- The garden layout was tor. Bassett-Lowke was still trading eventually constructed when these were built. and pictures of the locomotive in action

on it can be and the Association by John found on pages Wenlock. After my father’s death my 12 and 13 of mother sold the house and I re- Special Issue moved the layout. The South Dorset 165 of 16mm Light Railway, however, still exists Today – History and the proposed extra sidings have of sixteen mil not been added.

In the last issue of Throw- back Modeller you show a Be domed Mr Pooter picture of a Pooter, sug- gesting the Dome is unex- pected and the fixing is non- standard. I can confirm that this is absolutely original as supplied from Roundhouse. I attach a picture of mine, which I purchased new in 1986, and has exactly the same dome and fixing. It still runs beautifully and I occa- sionally get questions like “How do you get the burner so quiet” and “how does it run for so long without a boiler top-up”. Ken Garrod

Derek says: I am also grate- ful to John Bonnet and oth- ers for taking the trouble to respond to this. So, if you have any queries...... P A G E 26 Hi Derek, bition. Mr Thornburgh’s Isle of tive to around 16 mm scale in Man Railway locomotive and 1936, so people were building I attach a scan of part of the train was an early example of narrow gauge on 32 mm track article in November 1935 modelling a narrow gauge well before World War II. Model Railway News by J N prototype on 32 mm gauge Maskelyne describing the Best Wishes, track, although the scale was model railway exhibits at the probably less than 16 mm. Bill Jon 1935 Model Engineering Exhi- Stocks built his first locomo- Clockwork Jon corner Bryant goes really historic ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE CEMBER 2019 P A G E 27

castings, clean brass frets, compensated bogies, cast brass couplings etc. Of note is the extent to which whitemetal is used for the framing of the van – it’ll be pretty substantial when fin- ished. He is missing one complete set of door castings if anyone by some miracle has some out there! A long shot if ever David Bailey - L&B 8 Ton Box Van; al parts. It’s a long time since David Andrew Barnard is a partly into produced this one assembling this kit but still has a so understandably way to go. He'd love it if someone he had limited has put one together and can memory of the share some pictures. He got in specifics. It’s a very touch with David Bailey and he detailed kit – kindly provided some printed in- pretty much every- structions – although there’s a thing on the prototype is reflected certain amount of interpretation there was one! The alternative is in the model. Nice whitemetal needed working from the individu- to work the door framing up in plastikard? You can see a couple of shots of the build thus far. Contact me if you have any advice, photos, parts etc. to help Andrew

Nigel responds; It should look something like this when it’s completed An- drew. Mine has DJB scale couplings on one end and Tenmille choppers on the other - which is why both ends have their chopper hooks visible. The build does take a good bit of figur- ing out. I had a great idea to make the side doors slide but sacrificed that for the extra more strength for picking up the finished swing model. The other dodge I used clear- was to re-configure the underside. ance. In your chassis Andrew I can see Andrew, you have yet to fit the channel sorry no sections between the bogie spare stretcher and the headstock. I parts left ended up only fitting one piece of over :-( channel centrally and laying it on its back to allow the bogies a little P A G E 28 Exeter enchantments - under the spell

We had another great Show with lots of support, full run- ning all day on the layout and aClockwork well stocked display. Some photos are attached to give you an idea.corner I have to say that my personal star of the whole Show was nothing heritage, and in fact not even a loco or rolling stock. It was the model of Chelfham Viaduct on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, magnificently constructed by Brunel Models on commission and since delivered and very recently installed on Steve Edwards' line with the help of

Dave Pinniger, who kindly Ziller 0-6-2 model that you can He did a lot of regauging to took the photo. You must ac- see, which Arthur has named 32mm of models that could in cept that there is an awful lot 'Arlington'. their day only be bought in of detail needed to finish the footings and surroundings, but this does not in my opinion detract from the quality of the viaduct itself. We obviously missed Jim Wild - he had been ever present on the heritage layout, and al- ways brought something worthwhile to look at and see running. However, there were all the usual suspects. Arthur Cole, a very early Association member, just surprises us with a broad range of very early models, both steam and elec- tric. I have picked out the LGB P A G E 29

when Rae Hick, David's daugh- ter came along and stood hap- pily watching them. Dave Sheliga has arrived pretty well every year that we have run heritage, bringing along his very early Mamod Clockwork based steam tram and stock. It continues to run sedately and faultlessly. Dave Pinniger corner was rooted in the middle of the layout for quite some time running some real goodies, and towards the end of the 45mm, including a number of seen any in the flesh, Beck Anna rebuilds (one ap- you will begin to un- peared in the last TBM) but derstand how rare this was the first of his LGB they are! My grateful models that I had seen. It is of thanks to Mike Dock- course suddenly a very topical ery, he brought along model, bearing in mind the two so that we could loan of one of the prototypes photograph them for to the W&Ll. Arthur tells me everyone to admire. that he converted it in 1980, You see, as I continu- at the same time completing ally write, in most the repaint and lining himself. cases we are only Now he says it is a bit like reinventing the 'Trigger's broom' and just re- wheel. fuses to wear out, though it Andrew Hobden has new driving wheels, and brought along two has needed new batteries and David Hick locos, and had an upgrade to LED lights. very kindly was run- Keith Skillicorn kindly took the ning them as double photo, as also the one of Ar- headers on the layout thur himself running his utter- ly delightful Archangel Tralee & Dingle 0-4-2T, and most of the others. The display photo I have included, not because I am in the background (!), but to show you the American heavy hauler with an Archan- gel Russell on the back. Again Arthur's modelling, this was fully operational and radio controlled, to the point where the back axles came off as per prototype, and the electric winch could then take the model on and off! In my trilogy about Archangel in SMT, I referred to the W&Ll Pickering coaches that Stewart offered in his early days at Cock Lane. If I mention that Dave Rowlands had never P A G E 30

Clockwork

corner

day Harvey Watkins ran his representations of Merddin box single unit Locomotion r/c Emrys that you will find any- and railcar, which showed as per where except for the wheel at his helpful article in TBM11 diameter over which he has that they can be made into no control. It looks superb in very good runners with a little the flesh so to speak, to the tlc. point that Graham has put off painting it for quite a long Pat Brewer brought along his time (!!) now. I used to own John Singer Shay, quite one of one of these models, and the most imposing and fear- would love to know where it is some models of these locos now if any of you can help that I have seen (and heard!). please? David only built a doz- Finally, Graham White came en. It is 32mm, has double around 1 o'clock. I sold it in with his David Taylor lever regulators as opposed to the late '90s to Ivor Jones, but Steamcraft double Fairlie. It is the wheel type that some had, have since lost contact with easy to see that he has spent a and uniquely had a slight de- him/it. I would love it if you considerable time turning this pression in the boiler barrel at could help. Derek into probably one of the best one end, close to the smoke- ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER/DE C E M B E R P A G E 31

DOWN 1. Smooth paint finish obscures stain on loco. (5) 2. Wrong NT lane eventually leads to Talyl- lyn terminus. (4,7) 3. Disjointed gallery loses point for Barclay loco. (6) 4. Slide crossing with point(s). (4) 5. Disturbed, I riled Hunslet. (6) 6. Alfalfa with a Swiss transport museum. (7) 8. O rest upheld wriggling in first class seats. (11) 11. Gwril loses the Spanish on line to South Wales (1,1,1) 12. The one and only pub is under the wag- on. (7) 15. Become embarrassed by train livery. (6) 16. Ponder with hesitation railway display. (6) 19. Many happy French Christmases! (5) 20. Lazy diesel tickover. (4)

Across 17. Nostalgic Devon railway station built way above flood level. (6) 1 & 4. Train for St Nicholas’s seasonal occasion. (5,7) 18. Proctor’s partner... or nuts about diesels. (6) 7. Guy is a train rebuilt for Ffestiniog station. (3,1,7) 21. O Roly Egg led scrambled life as Welsh politi- cian’s locomotive. (5,6) 9. A little annoyance caused when plants (eg Ling) disrupt running. (9) 22. Go backwards concerning poetry. (7) 10. May hit red signal if indecisive. (6) 23. I’m sad around Merlin loco. (5) 12. Trees drop leaves onto engine house. (4) Chris & Jenny Dowlen 1998 13. Welsh corrie (eg at Croesor). (3) 14. Fire tube found in effluent. (4)

Solution to OILY RAG CROSSWORD NO 10 DOWN (republished in September/October Throwback 1. Oval; 2. Llanberis; 3. Galena; 5. Lyn; 6. Sea Lion; 8. Modeller#11) Clay Cross; 9. Deviation; 11. Nickel Ion; 12. Saloons; 14. Levels; 16. KWVR; 18. Emu (or EMU). ACROSS 1. Oily Rag; 4. Plas; 7. Aha; 8. Caledonia; 10. Blae- navon; 12. Spruce; 13. Falcon; 15. Stovepipe; 17. Orenstein; 19. IoW; 20. Spur; 21. Spooner.

Contact us.. Diary Dates;

16mm Heritage Locomotive Owners and Operators May 30th. at the Pavilion in Llangol- len. The website for this can be Association found at www.lgrf.co.uk but thus How to contact us…. far there is little information. I have *** Derek Wiggins; completed the invitation paper- Email; work, and we intend to have herit- [email protected] age there with both the layout and Phone; 01691 654474 display as per Exeter.

*** Nigel Town; Email; [email protected] No spare space in the car Phone/Text; 07807 969 400 coming back from Exeter….

my L&B trucks that have been “pending” was saying, but David Pinnigar was on for five years now. I enjoyed the Exeter the next table discussing various 16mm show. I now understand why people Heritage matters. I so wanted to join in enthuse about it. I was with the modu- but knew that Sandra wouldn’t appreci- lar layout, tucked away in a corner, but it ate that! was a good vantage point. To my left I Looking forward I can see that 2020 is could see Harvey running his Locomo- going to be a fun year. There’s lots of tion Railbus on the Heritage layout, on new stuff lined up. Derek has men- my right I saw a coal fired TME Hunslet tioned the new show on the calendar. running. I never got the opportunity to I’m always torn on these occasions. I’d enquire who was running it. I’ve heard like to run with team Heritage but also the TME Hunslets can be tricky to fire. love the opportunity to run on the mod- Well, this specific operator, hats off to ular layout. Our modules went to Exeter, you, you’d got it nailed. Over my shoul- only just fitting in the car even with the I love Christmas, it’s so special to me as der though there was a 5” gauge loco on smallest overnight bag we had. everything stops. Going on summer a rolling road. This totally eclipsed any- holiday is good, but at work I then spend thing that an Archangel safety valve For 2020 I’m excited to get the Mike the week before I go pre-empting stuff could do to disturb the peace. Derek Beeson L&B running, maybe even on the and then the week we get back trying to has said the highlight was Chelfham via- Heritage layout, now there’s a chal- catch up. Christmas is different, just duct, this towered over everything in the lenge. about everyone is off work, there’s no show and was Derek’s highlight. Mine Have a relaxing backlog of emails to catch up on, its bril- was different – it was the conversation Christmas , liant. It’s also time and opportunity to at dinner the previous evening. Sandra Nigel Tail crack on with a bit of modelling. I am and I had booked diner for 20:00 in the looking forward to completing a bit Hotel. We had a lovely meal together, more on the Mike Beeson L&B, and may- the conversation flowed and I was trying Lamp be completing the painting on a pair of my best to pay attention to what Sandra TBM #12 Christmas score card Team tram (Derek) - 6 Team L&B (Nigel) - 7

Really struggled with this one. Even on full zoom I struggled to count the Trams on the Exeter display photo. I think I just edged it this month, anyway it’s about time I won one!