Model Railway - What's your latest acquisition?

Although this is a clever and in my opinion, better looking design than the simple bar connector, it does seem that the loco and tender are separated very easily. It doesn't take much effort to pull them apart at all, and I'm foreseeing separations when hauling long rakes of coaches. Although this will be a pain, the loco itself will simply come to a stop without the tender attached. I'll try it this weekend and see what it's like.

A second hand Titfield thunderbolt 60th anniversary pack with 1401. Just need the Rapido Lion version.

Indeed I am considering replacing the over complicated end of my colliery branch with a basic model of Monkton Coomb (it was only a loop and siding I think and I'm almost ready for filming!

I've just 'won' a Hornby R3555 Sir WIlliam Stanier FRS.

It's been on the radar for a few years.

Fair price and looking forward to receiving.

There are a couple of recent-tooling Coronations on Ebay, but one in particular looks a little suspicious - initially looking at the (cheap) price drew my attention, and Spidey Sense made me err on the cautious side, so I avoided it.

Al.

Just prior to Sir William Stanier I finally managed to get a perfect example of Ince Castle at a reasonable price - what superb runners Hornby Castles are .... except ....

I'm certain 'somebody' (Sam) may say the gearing's a little high / fast permitting over-scale speeds, potentially compromising slow speed starts, station entries ... except the latter doesn't happen - it's super smooth!

One problem I've encountered is typical of 50% of Hornby steam locomotives with tender pickups - they just don't!! EVERY TIME I have to readjust - now it's running perfectly.

I used Fox Transfers etched brass to rename and renumber her to Clun Castle - been wanting to do this for ages!

Happy.

Al.

Clun Castle was an instant success - just applying the brass plates, once carefully cut out and smoothed, was easy.

Routinely I'm using black-tack at the moment - things can slide slightly on occasion, particularly in the warmer months, but simply require realigning.

Just received R3555 Sir William Stanier - what a beautiful locomotive, and mine's quite a 'smooth operator' as well as being capable of higher speeds.

The one problem I've encountered is if she's a bit late, and making up time - shall we say - then with the draincocks fitted, and as tightly / high as possible, the bogie with the extra side casting on can catch and derail the front bogie on a section I have with a slight 'zig-zag' - express point, then straightened.

I'm not going to remove the drains - just completes 'the look', but also hides this 'extra detail', so I'm looking at ways of possibly fixing it in position, or simply removing it. I've a couple of older streamlined Coronation 'donors', so may use one of their bogies and replace the wheels.

Al.

Al, would 1/8 felt washers behind the front bogie wheels help? It would reduce the side play of the pony truck over the wheel axles. This might help with out going to the extent of swooping the complete bogie.

TBH it's a weird one, and quite honestly a big stuff up by Hornby!

Bogie looks great - with no drains fitted.

Bogie design is a fixed mounting point type, like the A4's, with the bogie which slides side-to-side above the centre point of the bogie, but with drains fitted there's 1-2 mm either side.

It makes it around the track - the smallest radius is 'Express points' the rest 4th radius, at up to perhaps 60-65mph scale speed - perhaps transferring lateral loading to slide the rear drivers / shuffle the chassis - this 'extra detailing' on the bogie pushing against the drains.

Once I crank it, the bogie's off.

I could dry 'angling' the drains outwards slightly, but won't - looks wrong!

I found an older-style bogie without this 'detailing' on, plus an appropriate shoulder screw as it pivots here, and she's perfect - full throttle 110mph+ runs are possible - sorry Officer!!

Beautiful locomotive - runs very nicely.

Al.

The other 'new addition' is an older Coronation in 'as new' condition - R2312 City of Chester.

I've been working on other locomotives but building on this one as well.

I've already fitted wind deflectors on the cab - quite easy to do, but very easy to get very wrong - I won this time!

Interesting version this one - early logo, just 'de-streamlined' tender.

I've one 'glowing firebox' led left, so will drill out the firebox doors to permit light - same as I've done with 'as running now' Duchess of Sutherland.

Pipework 'metal' painted under the running boards, crew fitted, drains to be fitted now.

Already 'run in' so raring to go, and she's a gem!

Al.

@Atom - how is the inability to negotiate Radius 4 and less, at high speed (with optional drain-cocks added) a ‘big stuff up’?

i.e. how does it differ from other set-track compromises like the flangeless/flanged pony truck wheels, or the undersized/full-size streamlined coronation bogie?

(I do not wish to appear critical, I am genuinely seeking to understand.)

Point taken, with a smile!

The problem is there is a cross-piece on the bogie casting, not an extra within the chassis.

This cross piece moves with the bogie, but if/as/when the drains are fitted, it has nowhere to go, except hit the drains.

Perhaps 'big stuff up' is a touch exaggerated, but they could have accommodated the drains as well.

This is why I had to revert to an old-style bogie - works perfectly now - doesn't have this cross-brace thus the bogie is free to move laterally!

Al.