MET A stock

Still waiting for the promised photos of New Mills performing at the recent Wigan Show so, in the meantime, something completely different. I was able to divert from a seasonal trip to London to look at the surviving Metropolitan A stock units, due to be replaced by the new Bombardier S stock by the spring of 2012. The A stock is almost 50 years old itself, introduced in 1962 to replace loco hauled services out of Baker Street. The iconic MET electric locos had until that year conveyed trains to Watford and Rickmansworth, steam locos taking over at the latter station for the run out to Aylesbury. However the LT network was truncated to Amersham and Chesham from 1962 with BR inheriting the services out to the county town.

Just before Christmas A stock could be seen on about 50% of MET trains. Above, an Amersham train about to depart from Baker Street.

Journeys end, the buffer stop at Aldgate, the Metropolitan's East End terminus in Whitechapel High Street.

Aldgate station at street level, the lettering above the upper windows reflecting it's Metropolitan origins when it was a through station on that companies route that continued onto the East London line. It later became the eastern terminus for MET services when through trains ceased in 1941.

A Chesham service pulls into the bay at Baker Street.

All Chesham branch services are now through trains to and from Baker Street or Aldgate, the legendary Chesham Shuttle finally expiring ahead of the new winter timetable.

At the time of writing it would appear that new S stock deliveries, a weekly night-time arrival from Derby behind Class 20s throughout the autumn, have been suspended due to 'technical glitches with their on-board computers', so said a driver. A reprieve for the A stock...good news for all fans!

Happy Christmas

Ayr to Stranraer line in 1963

Happy Christmas to all our followers from Himself, Sparky, The Guru and Artistic Director. See you in 2012 at Model Rail Scotland, Narrow Gauge South,RAILEX or the Manchester show..

We're back...

A great weekend in Wigan... super show, top layouts, great hospitality. More on the performance of New Mills in due course but in the meantime, the star of the weekend was undoubtedly..

The Guru enjoyed his lager but apologies to Sparky who, it was suggested in the previous blog, similarly lacked taste. Leffe certainly in the top league!!

The road to Wigan...is here

Yes, off to Wigan this morning. Two vans packed last night after final check of stock and some last minute detailing by Sparky. Soft Northerners seem to be struggling with a little bout of winter weather - we'll show them how to cope! And hoping that they have some decent real ales waiting for us...plus the usual 'extract of cat' for Guru and Sparky who have still yet to graduate to proper beer! Say hello if you visit the show.

Make mine a double bolster..

Himself has made two Parkside double bolsters which are now ready for weathering.
These examples are a development of the 1936 designed LNER plate wagon. First built in 1943, over 1,000 were constructed and the LMS, always quick to recognise superior work, ordered a further 1,000. BR ordered another 400 in 1950. In later life many were converted to Plate or Trestle vehicles and survived into the 1970s.

Surprising that we don't have a ready-to-run version of this widely used short bolster vehicle? Having said that you would be hard pressed to better these kits!