Silver Sidelines

I have been rather preoccupied of late and have not been keeping up with the various forums. I have given myself a break today and for some relaxation I will attempt an answer to the question - Hornby Grange or Bachmann Hall – which is better? First why would you want a Hall or a Grange? The old GWR constructed around 255 ‘Hall’ Class locomotives and then proceeded to build a further 70 or more ‘Modified Halls’. With 6ft driving wheels the Halls were designed to provide a powerful general purpose engine. As such they could be seen all over the BR Western Region on both freight and passenger duties, often deputising for the bigger and more powerful Castle Class. In contrast the ‘Grange’ Class locomotives had slightly smaller 5ft 8in wheels. The Granges were supposedly rebuilds of earlier 2-6-0 locomotives and with their smaller capacity tenders they were designed for fast freight and intermediate passenger work. Construction of the Granges was limited to 80 locomotives and looking...

Following on from my last Post I am showing some more pictures of the Main Junction Station concentrating on the ‘through’ tracks that form the Mainline. The Main Junction – overview with two Bachmann Scots in the centre two way road To help locate the pictures I have turned the track plan presented in my last post from the vertical to the horizontal. The Main Junction – not to scale The preferred through routes I have labelled as Up and Down Main. First some trains passing on the Down Main. Hornby Princess Royal on Bachmann Mk1s approaching on Down Main Bachmann Class 20s on fitted freight passing on the Down Main Now some trains on the Up Main. Bachmann Super D approaching on the Up Main The latest arrival from Bachmann with a ‘Parcels’ at the Up Main When playing trains I think it helps to have lots of places to store whole trains. These arrangements are not unlike the UK railway system in the 1950s and early 60s when there...