ISSUE: 8 NOVEMBER 2004 Hornby gets go-ahead to take-over Lima ‘assests’ HORNBY has been given the go-ahead to takeover ‘certain’ assets, including product moulds, of the Italian model maker Lima, which was forced into liquidation in 2003. A decision by the Court by reducing production of Brescia, Italy, to allow costs by outsourcing the liquidators of Lima production to China S.p.a to accept Hornby’s and concentrating on offer of £5.35 million (8 improving sales and million euros), paves distribution channels to the way for the deal, ensure a recovery in sales expected to be complete of Lima’s key European by the end of the year. markets. Hornby intends Lima’s collapse was to maintain Lima’s current product lines. blamed on the high costs Hornby and Scalextric These include the overhead associated brands. with its European based Rivarossi, Jouef, Arnold manufacturing operations Mr. Frank Martin, (N-gauge) and Pocher and recent cash flow Hornby’s chief executive, model ranges. said the company was problems. Mr Martin added that delighted that the Italian they were excited by The bulk of the Court had recognised the the potential for the company’s assets are merits of its offer. detailed product moulds; Lima brands, which A shepherd herds his flock in this finely initially these will be “Now, subject to our alongside Hornby’s detailed scene from Sowters Lane, the Soar moved to Hornby’s site in due diligence, we hope to recently acquired Spanish Valley Model Railway Club’s 009 narrow Margate before dispatch complete the acquisition operation, Electrotren, before the end of the gauge gem, which is profiled in this issue’s to China. will form the platform year,” he said. for expansion into key Layout of the Month feature. Check out pages Hornby has used this outsourcing strategy The Hornby Board is European markets. 5, 6, and 7 for the full story. successfully with its own confident that it has the Long-term the model skills and experience makers are confident to re-invigorate Lima’s that it will also increase brands. their rate of growth in Trix items wanted by museum This will be achieved the USA. ONE of Britain’s national museums working order is not essential. is targeting model railway collectors If you can offer any Trix plastic locos or who may have ‘spare’ Trix items in rolling stock, please email Steve White Inside this issue ... their collection. ([email protected]) at the Trix Twin The Department of Industry at the Rail Collectors’ Association in the first This month’s 20-page edition of Trains National Museums and Galleries of instance. On-line features seven pages of book and Wales would like to acquire some of the • The TTRCA was formed in 1975 to bring stock reviews and a double-page Prototype later plastic Trix products manufactured together modellers who are interested in Profiles feature on ‘Class 20’ locomotives. in Wrexham. the collection and operation of Trix Twin, Three pages are devoted to this month’s star These will be displayed in their collections Trix Express, Trix 00 and H0 gauge of post-war toys manufactured in Wales. electric model trains manufactured narrow gauge (009) layout, Sowters Lane. In between 1935 and 1973. Gifts are most welcome, but if selling addition, there’s a special feature on running please state price required. The association currently has more model railways to time, plus our usual mix of Items should be in good condition, but than 400 members world wide. Club news and Model news. NEWS IN Collett Hall arriving BRIEF THE Model soon near you... Electronic Railway Group’s, meeting on November Bachmann’s long-expected new model Locomotive line-up looks set to get 20 will be held a major boost in time for the Christmas buying rush. at the Model Railway Club’s The company is h e a d q u a r t e r s , optimistic that some Keen House, of its Hall Class, J39, London. Jinties, K3 and Class It will feature 37/0 locomotives will talks on DCC make it to the shops a p p l i c a t i o n s , before the end of the Faller Roadways year. and loco mounted cameras. Their arrival will, however, depend on shipping and customs. SOAR Valley The all new Class 37/ Model Railway 0 models, items 32-775 This manufacturer’s pre-production photograph shows what an Club held their to 32-778, will have a annual bonfire impresssive model Bachmann’s Collett Hall will be. Deliveries are DCC ready sticker on social event on expected before Christmas, subject to shipping and customs, and will the box, indicating they November 4 near are fitted with a DCC undoubtedly be of great interst to GWR modellers—see main story. their club room. socket. This year’s in Model News, page Puffing Billy starter All have a circle of bonfire was far This will enable the 4), which features the set (30-005), The track and controller. bigger than the locos to be easily Coaler (30-010), which named locomotive Recent locomotive last, creating converted to DCC by the comprises a Pannier itself. arrivals include a brace spectacular fitting of an appropriate tank and three wagons, of Prairie tanks, two displays of flames decoder chip. This will not be sold and the Suburban Crab 2-6-0s and a blue leaping high into as a separate item Passenger (30-015). The company is also and a green example of the air. and, say Bachmann, releasing a range of will only be available as The last mentioned the Class 40 (32-475 F r i e n d s — both traditional and part of the set. includes an 0-6-2 tank BR green with indicator including the digital train sets, engine and two Collett boxes/32-476, blue, Editor—and including a ‘Royal Other sets now in coaches in Crimson with indicator discs). families of the club Scot’ set (see picture the shops include the /Cream livery. members joined in A Rebuilt Scot, 46141 the celebrations The North Staffordshire and the site was Regiment in BR early abuzz with activity Green livery (31-228) all night. and an Anglia Railways two-car Turbostar (32- 453) are expected this THE Stowmarket month. Railway Club is Also due in the UK to hold its Club later this month, are P h o t o g r a p h i c three versions of the 45 competition on ton TTA wagon, and an November 16. LMS cattle wagon and Its Christmas Bachmann’s latest Crab 42942 boasts BR Lined Black E/Emblem and its BR equivalent. dinner is planned iappears to be heavily Weathered (32-179) £75.95. for December 10.

IMPRESSED WITH YOUR BALLASTING? MEMBERS of the Gloucestershire However, impressed you are with your finished trackwork it can be done W a r w i c k s h i r e quicker and easier with Tracklay™ underlay—the trains will run quieter as Railway MRC were well. Try it for yourself and see how much time and effort you save. forced to cancel their show planned TRIAL (00 or N) for November 10m 20m 30m 40m 50m £2.95 6, because the PRICESP.&P. INC. 00 £15.60 £30.05 £44.90 £59.35 £63.20 £2 REFUND WITH venue, The Flag 1st ORDER and Thistle, N £11.10 £21.50 £31.40 £41.35 £46.00 Toddington was Debit/credit cards accepted not available. TRACKLAY SALES, 32 THE BANKS BARROW-ON-SOAR, LEICS. LE12 8NL Tel: 01509 620318 Editor’s space...

Warley group WELL another month has passed and I am still counting the cost of the crash back in May. The web site is still not functioning properly and some readers have gets ready for continued to have difficulty down loading the magazine. Needless to say, time spent in the past few weeks on rebuilding the web site from scratch has stretched out 2005 show the deadline for the magazine into the THE high spot of the exhibition calendar—the Warley second week of November. National Model Railway Exhibition—steams into The revised site should be up and the NEC, on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 running in its entirety shortly. I hope December. readers will find all the effort has This year’s exhibition been worthwhile. will feature the largest Fingers crossed, everything will selection of high quality work smoothly from now on. layouts since it began, in a wide range of gauges, including six from IN CASE you haven’t noticed outside the UK. Christmas is nearly on us again and The event—the 37th many modellers will be thinking staged by the Warley about presents (for themselves and Model Railway Club—will others!). be officially opened by long-time railway enthusiast and club A quick look at some of the bargains patron, Sir William on the web at the moment makes one McAlpine. wish for unlimited resosurces, but I In all, some 76 working dare say few of us can claim to have layouts are booked, that. including exhibits from Ireland, Germany, Asbourne Midland (Linton MRC), one of the However, train sets (no don’t mock Holland and France. many quality 4mm/ft layouts booked to appear the thought) can ease the pain as I Among the static at this year’s NEC exhibition, was featured in discovered recently. One web trader models on display will the first issue of Trains On-line magazine. is currently offering a Bachmann be a number from the ‘train set’ at less than the cost of the Gauge 1 collection of represented. Pontefract RMS—modern individual items on their site—and the Peter Waterman. Trade support, as imnage), Halston track was effectively free! Construction befits such a major Junction (Quinborne Demonstrations have event, is significant & Halesowen ARM), Let me know if you find any other long been a feature of with the principal Headingley Depot exceptional buys via the web site the National and this UK manufacturers (Andy Ross), Hogsmede contact form, or e-mail me direct at year’s show continues exhibiting. (Warley MRC Junior editor@trainsonlinemagazine. the pattern, with a The 4mm/ft layouts Modellers), Llanmarth— mixture of basic ‘Shows expected are listed Pant Mawr Yard (Kevin THIS year’s Warley show promises You How’ sessions and below: Gallagher), North Leith practical advice for 18.83mm Gauge: Citadel (Bob and Gareth to be something special and I will the more experienced Charlotte Road (Tim Rowlands), Rhyd y be making my first visit to the NEC in modeller. Rogers and Tony Clafdy (Phil Greaves), many years. The latter Sissons), Millfield Road SE28 (BNHMRS— demonstrations & Seagate Wharf (S & modern image), A glance at the list of 4mm/ft layouts cover such skills as J Wall); Stockshed (Wingfield soldering, painting opposite is surely a great inducement 18.2mm Gauge: Railway Group—modern to those debating whether to go. basic liveries, Finescale image), Thornbury Hill Ashbourne Midland loco construction, resin (Thornbury Hill Owners (Linton MRC), Warleigh casting and scenics. Club), Warmington (Erith I am not sure how much work I will (Warley MRC), The experts talking part MRS—modern image), get done given the expected crowds, Wellington (David include Tony Hill, Martin The Withered Arm but I am sure that the camera will be Amias), Wentworth (J. Welch, Richard Syms Project (Stafford MRC). working overtime collecting material and Barry Norman. Frank Davis). for future issues. In addition to the 16.5mm Gauge: Narrow Gauge: ‘modelling’ themed Bibrook (David Burnett), Borth-y-Gest (C.P. groups attending, such Castlefields (Shrewsbury Holmes), Kinwardine If you happen to notice me—handing as the Double O Gauge Past & Present MRS— & Tree Demonstration out the odd leaflet, perhaps—please Society and the 009 modern image), City (Charles Insley), introduce yourself...I am, I assure Society, more than 20 Road (LT) (Tim Steven), Museum of Transport you, quite approachable really. specialist railway interest Gorcott (Redditch MRC), -Standard & Narrow societies will also be Grimley (Normanton & Gauge, (Robin Brogden). MODEL NEWS

Above: Latest addition to the ever growing range of Comet Models GWR coaches is this superb ‘Super Saloon’ to diagram G60/61, costing £36. Right: Another variation on the 08 theme has been released by Bachmann, this time in BR green livery with ‘wasp stripes’.

Just arrived (right) in time for Christmas... Bachmann’s Royal Scot train set (30-020) features the Royal Scot loco, which will only be available in this set. P.D.K.MODELS (Free list available with S.A.E.) Top quality Brass and Nickel Silver locomotive kits. Suitable for ‘00’ and ‘EM’.

Recent additions to the Comet collection of Southern Railway stock include a Bulleid BRCW Corridor Composite (below) and BRCW Semi-open Brake Third with coupe (above). PDK. 28. LNER/BR B12/3 4-6-0 £85

PDK.27. BR/SR REBUILT WC/BB £99.95

Please visit our website at www.pdk-models.i12.com for details and photos of the fifty loco kits and seventeen tender kits in our range.

The first of Hornby’s ‘new generation’ Gresley teak PO BOX 202, PENRYN, TR10 9ZX. coaches reached the shops this month, though these Tel: 01209 860551 are in the early BR Blood and Custard livery and not the E-Mail: [email protected] varnished teak that will undoubtedly prove very popular. Layout of the month — SOWTERS LANE Rural railway can be found at the end of the lane... YOU could be forgiven for not knowing where to find Sowters Lane, but unlike many layouts this ‘fictional’ world has its foundations firmly fixed in the real world. Of course, to members narrow gauge terminus of the Soar Valley Model has been skilfully Railway Club there isn’t extended and steadily a problem, for Sowters improved by Adrian Lane actually leads to Lambourne, Pat Hearn— their headquarters, the project leader—and though this particular other club members. rural byway has more Although exhibited by in common with a farm members in its original track than a road. form, it was felt that This fascinating 009 it could be made more layout was originally user and exhibition constructed by member ‘friendly’, said Adrian, Steve Forrester, who and initially this was donated it to the club partly achieved by about eight years ago. adding carriage sidings A tank engine, typical of the many that once plied Britain’s narrow It has changed near the halt. gauge railways, takes a breather at the Halt on Sowters Lane, though somewhat since then, Conversion only a handful of passengers wait to join the train. and what was once a However, its terminus origins made it difficult to operate at shows and it was felt that converting it to a ‘through station’ operation would not only make it easier to run, but also make it more interesting for the public. The work took about six months to complete and involved adding an extra board at right angles to the existing run, providing space for additional stock. In addition, the landscape was freshened up and a new backscene was installed. The original point switching was operated via spokes from a bicycle wheel, but this has been replaced with conventional electrical operation and, at a

This beautifully crafted building provides a focal point at the heart of the Sowters Lane. Continued Page 6... Above: There’s a great deal of detail in this view of the Halt and its associated structures, all a testament to the scenic magician’s skills. stroke, eliminated a Sheep feature large source of short circuits! Apart from general in the traffic on the maintenance, no further railway as can be seen changes are planned (at in these views (top the moment). right and right). “In its early days providing sufficient stock Bottom: The carter could be a problem, waits for the diesel to but these days”, said haul its train across Adrian, “we have so the crossing. many members owning 009 models that we can stock it 10 times over.” The layout has regularly appeared on the exhibition circuit since it was given its makeover. “It has a lot to commend it to exhibition managers, and we can put it up on the day of a show and have it running in less than 30 minutes,” explained Adrian. That’s not to say that everything always goes smoothly. A week before the

Continued Page 7... THIS SPACE COULD BE Above: The carriage sidings reveal a busy side to life at Sowters YOURS Lane. Right: The blacksmith is seen hard at work in this delightful FOR cameo. Below: Every picture tells a story and this has all the right AS ingredients, including a courting couple and wishing well. LITTLE club’s own show disaster struck and ‘scenic master’ Adrian found himself in a sticky spot… AS literally. Whilst tidying up the scenery he accidentally knocked over a bottle of PVA adhesive, which £20 fell on to the Halt. Unfortunately, the top came off! “Everything was under • about 1⁄2 inch of glue and it was a case of sponging the whole thing down very quickly,” he said. Contact Surprisingly, the point us to under the ‘gunk’ was saved and is still in reserve it: operation. The point motor was not so lucky and the useless item had to be binned! advertising@ trainsonlinemagazine.co.uk

PPAGE DESIGN ONLINE or for ALL your TELEPHONE/FAX: print and web design needs 01509 237895 www.pagedesignonline.co.uk Telephone/Fax: 01509-237895 REAL railways operate according to a timetable, but when it comes to the model railway things are a tad different. Here COLIN SNOWDON offers a solutiion that should help speed time’s passing... Running to time...? No problem, it’s an illusion OPERATING a model railway with some sense of reality brings with it a host of problems and many people get round this by operating to a sequence. The trains simply run in the correct pattern with no relationship to time at all. For example an hour could be any length of time from 10 minutes to 90 minutes dependent on how difficult the shunting in the yard is. I’ve found that without the rigor of operating to a clock like the real railway then some of the operating skill is lost. With a sequence the next train is never late as it is never 8:15 until the 8:15 arrives. There is no reason to stop what you are doing to run the train in its correct time slot because time never moves until you obey the sequence. Having gone to the trouble of writing a timetable for my son Philip’s layout (Trenton) it seemed quite natural to accept the challenge of operating to a clock.However running to real time as I’ve already stated is not an effective option. Time needed to be speeded up in some way. This is a problem that has been addressed by the railway modelling fraternity before so I looked through Figure 1: Clock fitted with new face the back numbers of the specialist press. What I was looking for was an idea that was cheap and simple and Last but not least. The cheap offended against one of my rules, I able to run without attention from the mechanical alarm clock of the sixties is never use mains supply on a layout. operators.What I found were three the retro masterpiece of the new century This method is a possibility but it is methods which all fell into the following so it isn’t cheap anymore. Always really a project in its own right with its groups. assuming you can find a place that sells own engineering challenges and as such them who wants to go back to being failed to meet my criteria of cheap and A. Interfere with the works of a blasted out of bed by the wild clanging simple. mechanical clock so that it runs of bells? We seem to prefer the more more quickly. gentle approach of the clock radio and so C. Use a computer. the mechanical alarm has disappeared. This usually involves cutting teeth from This sort of article in its earliest form the escapement wheel so that it travels B. Build a clock using an electric started “I wrote the following program further between each tick. The sort of motor, which operates at a faster in Basic for my Sinclair spectrum”. They article that deals with this method starts speed than a normal clock. then progressed to more sophisticated “take a cheap alarm clock” and then computer languages before ending in goes through the alterations. I actually reviews of software to do the job. did this when years ago I changed over This sort of article comes from the era when Lisle Street and the Tottenham This area failed because not everybody to a radio alarm. It isn’t as easy as you has a computer and software is might think. Court Road in London were lined in shops selling military surplus electrical expensive (typically around £40 for this For a start you need to remove components. sort of thing). the teeth evenly or the escapement Unfortunately the supply of redundant Added to this Philip’s layout lives in my jams and removing the teeth doesn’t workshop at the bottom of my garden necessarily make exact multiples of Lancaster bombers has run out and the shops have all gone. I did come across which means the computer has to come time. There are other side effects, the in with the locos at the end of every clock gives out a pronounced tick as it geared motors but these were not clock works and so I would have had to session to avoid naughty folk smashing operates, it needs winding frequently, their way in to remove them. the extra forces involved knock the engineer a way to drive another hand to devil out of the escapement reducing record hours. So there I was back at the start with reliability and once the teeth are off you Said motors were also not cheap and can’t go back if it’s too fast. worked from a mains supply which Continued on page 9... stepped off using the compass. Continued from page 8... Starting at the top again I then time passing no quicker. A cup of tea and bisected the new angle between there a review was needed. What did I want? and the new first division this gave a Easy, to speed up the recording of point which the hour hand would show time. How much? Not a lot really. I’d as the half-hour this distance was again learned from my early experiments with stepped off on the circumference. the cheap alarm clock that between 4 I repeated the process to find the and 6 times was too fast, as shunting quarter hours. The minute hand uses movements can’t be speeded all that these marks to indicate the passage of much. 1.25 minutes for the quarter hours 2.5 If I could double the recorded speed minutes for the half hours and 5 minutes that would mean a full day would then for each hour division. take 12 hours. You can tell by now that I used to work At this point my eye caught the clock in a drawing office. Still the upshot of all on the wall. Battery powered, Quartz this is that by dividing the clock face up regulated hands for hours, minutes and in this way the works indicate that twice seconds and costing less than a fiver. as much time has passed than actually The face divided into 12, as is the way has. of clocks, but what if I divided the face Once you get used to reading each half into 24? of the clock face as a separate hour then Divided it works quite well.At this point Brian Figure 2: the clock fitted with an Roper, the OO Gauge Association Journal additional back plate/switch. I could call each half revolution of the editor, enters the picture. minute hand an hour and one complete revolution two hours. He’d popped over to my place to try from the operators and cost around five out the timetable for the layout and had pounds. The hour hand would need to indicate a good look at the clock. His opinion that an hour would pass in half an hour was that he could do the face on his Addendum by Brian Roper...As Colin hence the face would need to be divided computer and tidy the whole thing has mentioned, I was able to make into 24. So when finished the clock up a bit, so that if people wanted one up a clock face to Colin’s specification would have 00 at the top and 12 at the they could download it and print it with using my computer as well as the old bottom with 6 where 3 normally is, and out having to stab themselves with a fashioned cut and paste method. 18 where 9 would be. compass. The result can be seen in figure 1 (see Things looked good, there was only one page 8). If anyone would like a copy it thing to do and that was to try it, so out His opinion was proved right and in can be downloaded from the group’s web came paper and a compass. less than a day I was able to download site. a clock face, which I printed onto a self- I drew in the centre lines and drew a adhesive sheet. I stuck this to a piece of In addition, I considered that removing circle with the compass then divided the 6 m.m. M.D.F drilled a hole in the centre the battery of the clock when the circle into 12 equal parts. Working from into which I fitted the works and there running session is finished was a the top of the circle I bisected the angle it was. nuisance. So, I obtained another clock between there and the first division on backplate that holds the battery, and the circumference this gave me the first A clock which indicates time at twice fitted a small on/off switch in the circuit. of my 24 required divisions. These were normal speed, needed no attention See figure 2 (above). ©This article was first published in the Spring 2004 Double O Gauge Association Journal and is published here with the permission of the association. Copyright the Double O Gauge Association 2004. For more information visit the society web site at www.doubleogauge.com. REVIEWS...locos...REVIEWS...stock...REVIEWS

Dusty brake hides its age IT IS tempting to dismiss Hornby’s Mk 1 offerings as lacking the detail of more recent models, but it is surprising what a decent paint job will do for an ageing model. Take the weathered lining (yellow/black/ weathered look, though Mk 1 parcels brake yellow) is exceptionally these coaches were (R4204), for instance. fine. often run in a filthy You won’t find fine The BR crest is neatly condition. wire handrails, or applied and despite its The wheels are free masses of under floor small size the letters running, and the bogies detail, but what you do British Railways is pivot freely, though as get is certainly worth a perfectly legible (if you always they are fitted closer look. use a magnifying glass). with the standard large Poor detail work Emergency Hornby tension lock rarely get past the couplings. camera lens unnoticed, So too is the wording The windows are flush so it was especially on the coach sole bar— glazed and bars are rewarding to find that no doubt here where fitted to the inside as the lining and paint the emergency lighting per prototype. detail on this coach was point is located—and Not, perhaps the most exceptional. also that on the coach up-to-date model, The overall maroon sides. but certainly one that The fine finish on this coach is clearly evident finish is even, the The Mk 1 bogies look deserves the modeller’s in these two pictures (above and below), individual door handles the part, while the attention, especially if overall ‘dusting’ gives with lettering and lining well executed, and a are picked out in brass you are running a late paint and the coach side the coach a subtly 50s/60s layout. gentle weathering effect applied.

The absence of separate coach end details (above) betrays the age of the model. REVIEWS...locos...REVIEWS...stock...REVIEWS Bachmann’s 04 diesel gets a lightly weathered look... ONE rarely sees a shunting locomotive in ex-works condition—except on model railway layouts—so it’s nice to see Bachmann redress the balance. True, this attractive appeared to have been little model (31-337B) weathered. has been given only The choice of BR the lightest of dustings, standard green will but it is surprising the undoubtedly appeal to difference it makes. those who remember There is no shortage the locos in 1950/60s of detail either, though and the paint job is the handrails at the rear nicely executed. of the cab are a little on The class, numbered the heavy side and the D2200-D2341, was cab side and front steps largely confined to the boast a fairly ‘robust’ Eastern, North Eastern treatment. and Southern regions As the photographs and can trace its origins show, the lamp irons back to 1947 when are nicely represented the Drewry Company and there is even built a similar 0-6-0 a driver in the cab, demonstrator for the though it’s doubtful LNER. if BR overalls were The final locomotive ever available in that was built in October particular shade of 1961, though none blue! survived long enough The cab side hand in traffic to carry the 04 rails, horn and vacuum prefix. Heavy handrails and brake pipes are included In summary: ‘a lamp brackets add for the purchaser to nice and useful little detail (above). add themselves—all runner’.

Handrails have still to be added (left) to the cab side and vacuum pipes to the front (above) and rear of the locomotive. REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS Midland diesels captured in a time of transition...

THE Midlands has long been the focus of railway activity and was once the home to many non-BR railway equipment manufacturers, including Brush at Loughborough and the Birmingham Railway and Carriage & Wagon Company. Former Midland Railway, LNWR, GWR, GCR, GNR and a number of other pre-grouping companies had main lines running through the area. Suburban services around Birmingham were as complex and intensive as any anywhere and were among the first to be converted to DMU operation. Author Derek Huntriss has drawn together a fascinating collection of photographs taken during the late 1950s and 1960s, using images captured on film by a number of notable photographers of the period. These include Hugh Ballantyne, John Whiteley, M. Mensing and Gavin Morrison. The 85, or so, colour photographs show diesel traction across the region during the period and alongside the inevitable pictures of Classes 25/31/40/45/47 are some unusual and rare images. scrapped long ago. Stations and lineside buildings, too, have The Blue Pullmans, introduced on the Wolverhampton- not escaped the march of time and a detailed look at the Paddington route in 1959 are featured (pages 3/27), as is the content of the photographs can be rewarding. pioneering LMS locomotive 10001, pictured at Nuneaton in May 1963. Lost stations include ‘old’ Snow Hill, Dudley, Nottingham Victoria, while others such as Rugby (Midland) have changed There’s also an unusual picture of former ex-GWR railcar beyond recognition. W22W in carmine and cream livery hauling a non-corridor third at Leamington Spa in1955. At £14.99 this collection of ‘green-diesel era’ photographs is worth every penny and well worth adding to the rail modeller’s The pictures, however, also reflect a changing scene. collection. A number of the routes have now disappeared, or been Diesels in the Midlands, Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN: 0-7110- rationalised, while many of the locomotives themselves were 3017-0. Atlas remains a fascinating and essential reference read THERE is something about an atlas Main line. that makes it compulsive reading Newly electrified routes, such as that and Stuart K Baker’s Rail Atlas from Crewe to Stoke, feature, as do the of Great Britain and Ireland is no virtually complete Light Rail schemes for exception. Dublin and Nottingham. There is an extensive index of locations, This latest version (the tenth—it was first together with a list of locomotive and published in1977) comes some four years multiple unit stabling points, carriage after its predecessor…and what a lot has depots and railways works. happened since then. Fascinating, and rightly regarded as an Recent additions to the rail network in essential work of reference, this is a must this latest edition include the first section have book and at only £14.99 is a snip. of the country’s first purpose-built high- speed line, linking London to the Channel Rail Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland, Ian Tunnel and additions to the West Coast Allan Publishing. ISBN: 0-86093-576-D. REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS Multiple units had major impact on BR scene...

IT is hard today to appreciate the Pressed for time and short of capacity, impact that diesel multiple units had BR used outside builders as well as on the British railway scene. its own resources and a wide range of styles and types evolved over the next Their mass introduction in the late decade, though all possessed a family 1950s transformed services over urban resemblance. and branch line routes, at the same time proving the nemesis of the tank locos that As the title ‘First Generation DMUs’ had for so long dominated the services. suggests, this book concentrates on the first generation of units and lists all of the Their impact was profound, saving classes, their manufacturers, their latter passenger services in some less populated classification and their original regional areas where the economics of steam train allocations. operation were too costly. The book is well illustrated with black and white photographs and supporting They rapidly proved popular with captions and will no doubt be of particular travellers (except when they broke interest to anyone modelling that down as they occasionally did in their transitional steam to diesel period. early days), offering cleaner, lighter accommodation than they were used to. At £12.99 is not an expensive book and can be safely recommended. The MU was not an entirely new idea; Author Kevin Robertson provides the the LMS experimented with them, while reader with a potted history and outlines British Railways Pictorial: First Generation the GWR had a significant number in how the concept came of age under the DMUs, Ian Allan. ISBN: 0-7110-2970-9 operation from the 1930s onwards. 1955 Modernisation Plan. Miscellany offers fresh insight into LB&SC

IF YOU are fan of the pre-grouping is no exception and offers the Southern had substantial goods traffic, though very period then the books in the enthusiast a fresh insight into the different to that of its industrial northern Miscellany series, with their wide operation of this largely self-contained neighbours. coverage of the railway scene, have railway system. Using archive photographs the book a lot to commend them. That is not to say its business approach examines in some detail the stations was an insular one; while running and other buildings on the railway, but This new book by Kevin Robertson powers over the neighbouring LSWR locomotives—on the road, on shed and were limited, those over the SECR were in the shops—dominate and each of the numerous. Even so, with only a handful principal classes has a section to itself. of long-distance exceptions, the company These include the handsome moguls (K had few services that penetrated its class), the various tank engines (A1, D1, rivals’ territories. E1, etc) and Marsh’s H Class Atlantics. But, if the LBSC concentrated on its There are also sections devoted to core services, it didn’t mean that it was rolling stock, signalling, accidents, frightened to take an innovative approach steamers and staff. when circumstances demanded. If you have a specific interest in all It was, for instance, a pioneer in things Southern then you will want to add overhead electrification and introduced it this £19.99 book to your collection. on part of the London suburban lines in More discerning readers, however, 1909 with great success. will probably find the balance between Looking at the pictures on pages 118- structures, staff, environment and locos 119 it looks strangely neat and tidy and biased too much in favour of the last reminiscent of the structures later to be mentioned. found on the Woodhead route. London, Brighton and South Coast Passenger services understandably Railway Miscellany, Oxford Publishing Co. dominated the LBSC’s thinking, but it also ISBN: 0-86093-583-3. REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS Electrics can trace their history back THIS to NER in 1905 SPACE YOU could be excused for thinking that BR main line COULD electric locomotives were introduced in the 1960s, but the history of electric BE traction can be traced back much farther than that. The honour of being YOURS first goes to the North Eastern Railway’s North Tyneside lines…in 1904! The pioneering FOR locomotives belonged to Class ES1, built by Brush in 1905, and remained in operation JUST until displaced by diesel locomotives in 1964. Revised They were joined in £20 1914 by additional locos to Class EB1 (built at Darlington) and in devoted to diesels, this £19.99 price tag, 1922 by the solitary book boasts 4mm/foot it is an essential member of class EE1. • drawings—more than reference work for These and the many 130 in total—of each of those interested in the designs that followed the classes described, development of electric are detailed in Colin together with a brief traction. Contact Marsden and Graham history. Detailed The absence of us to B Fenn’s excellent book modifications are listed colour photographs Main Line for each type, along is the book’s only reserve it: Electric Locomotives, with livery variations disappointment and which has been revised and comprehensive it remains a seminal to include Class 92 and technical specifications. work. Recommended. the Eurotunnel Bo-Bo- advertising@ Exceptionally well Bos. British Rail Main Line illustrated (270 Electric Locomotives, trainsonlinemagazine.co.uk As with the authors’ photographs), and Oxford Publishing Co. companion volume good value for its ISBN: 0-86093-599-0. or PPAGE DESIGN ONLINE TELEPHONE/FAX: for ALL your 01509 237895 print and web design needs www.pagedesignonline.co.uk Telephone/Fax: 01509-237895 REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS Wessex story covers the switchover from steam DIESELS in Wessex is unusual in that none of the pictures it contains has been published before. Even more unusual is the fact that they all belong to one photographer, Tony Molyneaux.

Compiled by co-author Kevin Robertson they tell a story of gradual change from steam to diesel, the switch from diesel- hydraulics to diesel-electrics and the ‘green era’ to blue. The Wessex area covers much of England to the south of the Thames Valley, bounded by the Great Western main line to the north and the English Channel to the south, Naturally, the Great Western Railway and the London & South Western Railway, and, subsequently Western and Southern Regions of BR, dominated the area, and the pictures reflect this. The early demise of steam on the Western led to an influx of Hymeks, Warships and Westerns, and the pictures show a variety of these in action on both passenger and goods workings, sometimes on inter-regional workings. However, the situation on the Southern was different and steam survived until 1967 and the book contains a number of photographs showing steam and diesel double-headed. W21W awaiting the cutter’s torch at Swindon in 1963, still wearing its red and carmine livery, never having been repainted Southern Region DEMUs feature in all-over green livery in BR green. (naturally) in no less than eleven pictures, but there’s a wealth of interest in all the pictures, especially if you have an interest At £14.99 it is modestly priced for a book of colour photographs in ‘Green period’ liveries. and recommended. Saddest picture of the lot, however, is ex-GWR diesel railcar Diesels in Wessex, Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN: 0-710-3010-3. Dorset revisted, but at a price

IT’S eight years since authors Weymouth-Dorset, Upwey-Abbotsbury, Terry Gough and David Mitchell Weymouth-Christchurch, the Swanage put together a selection of pictures line and the Weymouth Tramway. for Past and Present’s first Dorset As always with the P&P series, there volume (number 29). is much in the images to interest the modeller—signal boxes, footbridges, road This, their second volume (number 44), bridges, tunnel mouths, station buildings features more than 230 photographs, and signal gantries (there’s a fine one at which, wherever possible, show locations Yeovil Junction—p117). not previously visited. In addition, there are a number of Inevitably, they have included some photographs from the early 1900s, stations shown in the previous book, but including Abbotsbury, West Bay and with different views, and where possible Yetminster stations. reflecting the changes that have taken place since 1996. The price of this series of books continues to rise and at £15.99 they This book, while following the same are in danger of becoming a luxury format as the rest in the series, is better for those who are not committed to balanced than some previous volumes collecting the whole series. Nonetheless, and has a good mixture of steam and recommended. hauled trains and multiple units. Past and Present: Dorset, a second selection. Past and Present Publishing. The principal lines covered include ISBN: 1-85895-219-0 Club Visitor numbers ‘on Scene the up’ again despite THE Scalefour Society is urging modellers to make a note in their diaries of two the glorious weather major events being held next year, Scalefour North 2005 and Scalefour South West 2005. SOUTHWOLD Model Railway Exhibition, organised by The northern event is being staged Waveney Valley Model Railway Club, saw attendance over the weekend of March 12/13 increase by ten percent—and, as was the case last year, at Wakefield College, Thornes Park, on a glorious weekend! Wakefield W Yorks, while the southern one forms part of the Railwells show The two previous years (August 13/14), which will be held at saw seven percent Wells Town Hall, Somerset. (2002) and twenty-three percent (2003) increases respectively. THE New Forest Model Railway Society is holding its annual Club Open Day on The club carried out a Splitveld Fabriek, from broadcasting and Sunday November 28 at the Village Hall, visitor survey this year, the Netherlands! conceived and co-wrote Highwood Rd, Brockenhurst, Hants. which showed that our the TV comedy Oh Dr furthest travelled visitors The outdoor, passenger Beeching. Club and members layouts will be on came from New Jersey! carrying, live steam show, together with possibly one, or two, railway, operated by Jerry added: “Our now “They regularly holiday well established venue, visiting layouts. Halesworth and District in the UK,” said club Model Engineering St Felix School, has been publicity and PR officer Society was also popular booked for the weekend Jerry Hepworth, “and of August 6 and 7, 2005 THE eighth annual Wilmington Model with visitors. have visited the event and plans are well in Railway Exhibition was held on each year – and they are Most popular hand for another great Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 October. not modellers!” event.” Supported by Hornby, the show is The visitors’ vote for organised by St Michael and All Angels’ The completed forms most popular layout He paid tribute to Church, Wilmington, and all proceeds will be studied in detail resulted in Keighley members, wives, families from the event go to charity. shortly and some of the Club’s 0 gauge layout, and friends who did a comments will be acted Runswick Bay receiving This year’s beneficiaries were the ‘sterling job’ keeping on in order to, hopefully, the award. Demelza House Children’s Hospice, up with the seemingly improve further what we The Railway Children’s Charity and St endless queues! offer to our visitors. Richard Spendlove Michael’s Youth Work. MBE, the club’s special “We could not have put The event featured a range of This year’s event guest on the Saturday, on such a successful demonstrations, videos, displays and featured 21 layouts chose Stump City as his show without the help sales stands along with many layouts and in all the main scales favourite layout. Richard of all those involved in and gauges (and a was a career railwayman all aspects of the event, a large ‘Titanic’ model. few others!), from before turning his hand especially catering,” he around the UK and one, to writing and regional said. THE North Downs Model Railway Circle has just launched its website at http://www.ndmrc.com. Show preview for new ‘teaks’ The site includes details of the Circle’s exhibitions, layouts, where layouts can FOLKESTONE Model Railway Exhibition, held during the first be seen, and some ‘food for thought weekend in October, gave modellers their first chance to see articles’. some of the new releases from Hornby.

Visitors to the company’s Link, and proved to be a great SOUTHWARK MRC is on the lookout for Roadshow were able to see final attraction. production models of the new a new base again! During the weekend, Marketing 61ft 6in Gresley coaches in LNER The club has received notice to quit the Manager Simon Kohler was named varnished teak and BR crimson garage it has been using since it lost its as Honorary Vice President of the and cream, and the three new clubroom last year. Folkestone Club. Class A4 locomotives - North Now it urgently needs somewhere to Eastern ‘Sir Charles Newton’, This was in recognition of the store its equipment and layouts and to LNER ‘Mallard’ and BR ‘Golden many years support given to hold meetings. Contact Ray Blanchard Plover’. the exhibition by Simon, the on 0207 732 9675 if you can help. Roadshow staff and Hornby. Inside the main exhibition, which was organised by the The annual exhibition regularly Folkestone, Hythe & District Model attracts more than 3,500 visitors THE Waveney Valley MRC layout Oulton Railway Club, Roadshow staff and some of the best model Broad North is to appear at this year’s demonstrated two of the recently railway layouts in the area. Warley Model Railway Exhibition. released Live Steam Class A4s— The 2005 event is already being Dwight D Eisenhower and Silver planned for 8 and 9 October. New Brunel wooden viaduct on display on club’s Helstow layout Welsh club open day is a success... WITH eleven layouts on display, this year’s Barry and Penarth MRC October open day was one of its biggest. More than 300 people August 8. enjoyed the event, In the afternoon, which was officially Adrian, son of former ©Barry and Penarth MRC opened by the Mayor club member the and Mayoress of the late Capt. Bill Walker, Vale of Glamorgan, arrived, having driven This superb 4mm to Councillor and Mrs over from Norfolk. the foot model Dare Dare valley viaduct Emlyn Williams. Valley viaduct (above) Surprise They were impressed was completed by a by the skills and Walker’s Ridge, which Barry and Penarth built for an ‘invader’ enthusiasm shown by was created in memory club member and noses of the Taff Vale underneath. club members and were of his father, was fully is now linked up to Railway over the hill particularly pleased to working this year. Helstow. Two curved linking to Swansea Docks. It pieces have been meet the club’s younger A surprise visit was It was displayed for became absorbed into built, which allow members. also made by David the first time at the the Great Western the viaduct to extend Included among the and Ann Baverstock, Aberaeron Show on early on. Helstow in a variety of layouts on display chairman and secretary August 8. The viaduct was straight or ‘L’-shaped was Helstow, which of the Association of The original was dismantled in 1947, formats. features a model of the Model Railway Clubs one of two wooden although the stone Helstow, a portable Dare Valley Viaduct, Wales and West of viaducts built by piers still remain deep OO gauge layout one of the two wooden England. Brunel for the Vale of in the undergrowth depicts an imaginary viaducts built by Brunel Barry & Penarth MRC is Neath line—one of the of the Dare Valley terminus in the West for the Vale of Neath a long standing member few such viaducts built Country Park. Country. line. of the Association and outside Cornwall. The model The name is a This was displayed supports its Bristol The Vale of Neath accurately depicts combination of for the first time at the Model Railway Show in Railway ‘invaded’ the the viaduct spanning Padstow and Helston. Aberaeron Show on May each year. Cynon Valley from the valley, with a the north to take short representation coal from under the of the Taff Vale line Attention all club secretaries Kent show aims for Trains On-line Magazine needs your news, 30 layouts in 2005 views and details of forthcoming events. ERITH Model Railway Society is staging its annual Dartford exhibition over the It remains our aim to expand our coverage of weekend of January 29/30, 2005. The show is once again exhibitors are still being events/shows and general society activities. being staged at Temple added to the line-up Hill Primary School, (see www.erithmrs.org If you would like your club or society St Edmunds Road, for the most up to date Temple Hill, Dartford, listing). (including those whose primary interests Kent. Specialist are railway history) and its activities to be The venue now boasts There will also be a full disabled access to all number of modelling featured in the magazine please contact us parts of the exhibition. demonstrations, loco The event will be even repair services and via the web site contact form, or e-mail the larger than 2004, says static model displays. exhibition manager Paul Along with the increase editor direct at the following address: Plummer, and will feature in layout numbers, up to 30 quality layouts additional ‘specialist’ [email protected] including Anderson Lock trade stands have been (LMS - OO). added to those who Further layouts and regularly attend. PROTOTYPE PROFILES ... 3 Class 20s at work

© All pictures from the editor’s collection.

This 1970 scene at Leicester London Road Station would be impossible to recreate today. Both 20s are in BR green livery and Waiting, then two neither has the full yellow cab/front end treatment. The lead loco is D8070. Also of interest are the two Midland Railway lower came together... quadrant signal arms on a wooden post—a rare survivor from the pre-grouping era. AS time passes and the ubiquitous Class 20s edge nearer their eventual demise they will be remembered not just for their usefulness and their longevity, but for the fact that they surely rank as the most successful of BR’s early diesels. Whether operating singly or, as has been the more usual, in pairs, these Type 1 locomotives have been seen at the head of just about every type of train—passenger, freight and engineers. And, while several have been ‘rescued’ for preservation they can still be found in main line service. The first batch of 20 (D8000-D8019) were built by to an order placed in 1956 and further batches were added until by 1968 more than 200 were in service (D8000-8199 and D8300-D8327). The original production run, which included some constructed by RSH, saw 128 of the 1,000 h.p. locomotives in traffic by 1962. Making heavy weather of their modest load this However, so successful did they prove that when pair of 20s smoke their way towards East Langton. their planned replacements, ‘Standard Type 1’ Clayton locomotives (Class 17—built 1962-65) proved unreliable, further batches of Class 20s PROTOTYPE PROFILES ... 3

A pair of weather-beaten Class 20s head north through Leicester in the summer of 1970. The leading loco appears to be in blue livery, its companion in green with red buffer beam. were ordered. Deliveries began again in summer 1966, adding a further 100 to the class. The first 128 locomotives were constructed with disc type train reporting equipment (numbers 20001-20128), while the later builds (20129- 20228) received four-position headcode boxes. Life extending refurbishment (in the 1980s), however, resulted in some having marker lights instead of either of the above. They were originally finished in all over BR green with small yellow warning panels (see accompanying photographs), though these were gradually extended to cover the whole cab front. Noses, originally green, were also later painted yellow. Standard rail blue was subsequently applied to Twenties were alway common on the Midland main line on the whole class with full yellow warning end panels and noses, though the position of the ‘arrow’ logos freight duties, as seen here at Wistow , south of Leicester varied. in the late 1970s. The two freight tracks were still in During the 1980s sectorisation brought a use, though for some reason the train is on the down new livery (Railfreight Grey) and more recently passenger line. privatisation has seen further changes.

A rake of fitted mineral wagons could often be found behind a pair of 20s on their way to the Leicestershire coal fields or quarries, as seen here approaching East Langton, north of Market Harborough in the 1970s. YOUR GUIDE TO 2004 EXHIBITIONS ALL DATES FOR THIS MONTH CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEB SITE

DECEMBER Beds. Further information: http:// 4-5 (Sat & Sun) www.ebmrs.org.uk/1112.html Warley Model Railway Exhibition, NEC, 25 to 27 (Fri to Sun) Birmingham. Model Rail Scotland, Scottish Exhibition and Darlington MRC - Darlington Model Railway Conference Centre, Glasgow. Club Exhibition, College of Technology, MARCH Cleveland Avenue, Darlington. Telephone: 5 (Sat) 01325 353183. South Hants Model Railway Club exhibition, 11 (Sat) Admiral Nelson School, Portsmouth. 12 & 13 (Sat & Sun) Mirfield Model Rail Show, Mirfield Fire Station Wyre Forest MRC exhibition, Kidderminster. and adjacent halls, Huddersfield Road, Mirfield, 19 & 20 (Sat & Sun) West Yorkshire. Telephone: 01924 490001. Nottingham (Bulwell) MRS, East Midlands Rhyl & District Model Railway Club, Prestatyn Model Railway Exhibition. Charity Model Railway Exhibition, The Epsom and Ewell Model Railway Club Presbyterian Church Hall, Nant Hall Road, exhibition, North East Surrey College of Prestatyn in aid of Glan Clwyd Hospital Special Technology (NESCOT) Reigate Road, Ewell, Care Baby Unit. Telephone: 07746 604749. Surrey. KT17 3DS. APRIL 11 & 12 (Sat & Sun) 2 & 3 (Sat & Sun) Wigan and District MRS show, Robin Park Crawley Model Railway Society exhibition, Arena & Sports Centre, Loire Drive, Wigan, Tanbridge House School, Farthings Hill, . Website: www.wiganmrs.org.uk. Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. RH12 1SR. 18 (Sat) 8, 9 & 10 (Frid, Sat & Sun) Weymouth Model Railway Association, TrainWest, Olympiad Leisure Centre, Christmas Open Day,Upwey and Broadwey Chippenham, Wilts. Memorial Hall, Victoria Road, Upwey, SEPTEMBER Weymouth, Dorset. UK. Telephone: 01305 24 & 25 (Sat & Sun) 784672;E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.weymouthmra.org.uk Halifax MRC Exhibition, North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax. Details contact Geoff Bridge on 30 (Thurs) 01422 371489. OCTOBER Keighley MRC - Keighley MRC Open Day, 22 & 23 (Sat & Sun) Walk Mills, (off Coney Lane), Keighley, West Yorkshire., BD21 5AR. Telephone: 01535 Norbury & South London Transport Club, 644229; E-mail: [email protected]. 70th Anniversary Model Railway & Transport Exhibition, Fairfield Halls, Croydon, Surrey. Details: http://www.fircroft.clara.net or http: 2005 //www.norbury.club.new.net JANUARY 29 & 30 (Sat & Sun) 2006 Pontefract Model Railway Show 2005 New SEPTEMBER College Pontefract. Further details & directions 23 & 24 (Sat & Sun) visit www.nprns.org or Tel 01977 553855 Halifax MRC Exhibition, North Bridge Leisure FEBRUARY Centre, Halifax. Details contact Geoff Bridge on 12 (Sat) 01422 371489. East Bedfordshire MRC show, Biggleswade,