MET A stock

The word is that the fleet of new S stock trains delivered over the past year to replace the iconic MET 1960s A stock will all be required to return to Derby for 'attention'. Rumours included cracked bogies but it now seems that their 'wiring looms are not MET compatible', whatever that means! The wonders of modern technology! Sadly there is more than enough S stock to compensate for this recall so the few surviving A stock sets will not be required on active service and are now rarely escaping from Neasden. Yesterday the LT Museum announced the A Stock Farewell Tour, planned for Sunday 29th September. The end of an era.

I snapped this unit at Harrow on the Hill earlier this month, now a very rare sighting.
PS These are older than the Rolling Stones...just!

Routemaster Satisfaction

Hard to believe but the LT Routemaster bus is older than the Rolling Stones! Designed in the early 1950s and delivered from 1958 it predates the band by some 4 years. Although finally withdrawn from active LT service in 2005 a small heritage fleet still operate routes 9 and 15 during the day so maybe they can outlive the Stones...but probably not! Enjoyed a trip in this example from Tower Hill to Trafalgar Square last week.

Rugby flyover

Photo courtesy of Andy F

The grade separation, or flyover to you and me, just south of Rugby Station on the WCML was the inspiration for Phill Hutching's model bridge on New Mills. The original track plan for the layout, drawn in 1990 by the Artistic Director on the back of the proverbial envelope, incorporated a flying junction at the north end of the layout to allow trains to move between the upper and lower levels. However, as the project developed it was soon realised that this interchange would seriously interrupt the flow of trains on both levels and reduce our ability to 'keep things moving' at exhibitions. Consequently our flying junction is cosmetic, the trains on the upper cross country line simply returning to or exiting the upper fiddle yard. But it still makes for an interesting feature nicely captured in model form.

The photo above is looking south (up) from Clifton Road bridge at the grade-separated junction of the 'old line' (the main line route to Euston) and the 'loop' (the route via Northampton) south of Rugby station. A Virgin Trains Pendolino on the up main line passes under the down line of the loop.

Super power

Another classic Chris Nervard view. A green Duchess hauling Mk 1 stock on a southbound express from Glasgow meets a down freight hauled by WD 2-8-0 90483.

Southbound Clan

Another loco that performed on home ground when we exhibited New Mills at the Glasgow show was the Guru's nicely weathered 72008 Clan Macleod, captured here by Chris Nevard, heading a southbound Anglo Scottish cattle train. Above, a Standard 5 heads for the flyover with a cross-country parcels..

Coaled Up

The Guru's scale length mineral trains have always been an impressive feature on New Mills but the up train has lacked loads. Not any more! Sparky has burnt the midnight oil in West Hillingdon and created authentic coal loads for the up set which had their first outing at Model Rail Scotland.

He cut dense foam blocks to fit the mineral wagon interiors then profiled their tops to capture that full load look. And for coal he actually used er....real coal. You can't beat it and it shames the synthetic alternatives. Before applying the coal to the foam formers he made sure that it was to crushed to a realistic size for 4mm. Check the contemprary photos...it rarely came in the large chunks that you see regularly modelled, often verging towards the 'fine dust' end of the spectrum.
Now for the iron ore rake!

Model Rail Scotland

A great weekend in Scotland - well 5 days actually when you take in the Thursday night set up and Friday opening. Good to see so many friends from down south - more than we see at local shows which says something about Glasgow's pulling power!
In good company too with the likes of Portchullin (still not seen an otter!), New Hey, Pempoul and the legendary Borchester. A quiet night or two in the Counting House to round things off.
Phill Hutchings scratchbuilt AL4 had its first outing on New Mills, fittingly performing just a few miles from it's North British birthplace. Probably the most unusual bodywork on any of the early electrics but Phill has captured its lines superbly. It behaved impeccably, hauling our longest anglo scottish sets with ease, something the original members of this class found rather challenging!