Silver Sidelines

The recent appearance in the shops of some Hornby super detail Pullman Cars at half the recommended price had me thinking. When I used to go ‘Train Spotting’ to Darlington I might be lucky and get there in time to see the ‘up’ Tees-Tyne Pullman when it called at Darlington just after 10:00am.   Queen of Scots and Tees-Tyne Pullman Times 1961/62 However I seem to have clearer memories of the down Queen of Scots creeping in from the south towards five o’clock in the evening. The best of the day would be over and the train of elderly Pullmam cars would be headed by an equally old and probably dowdy A3. I would model the Queen of Scots Pullman. Queen of Scots c1961 (Hornby Super Detail Pullman Cars fitted with Roco 40270 couplers and hauled (in the shadows) by Hornby A3 Coronach.) Previously I had used a pair of Hornby Brakes to top and tail my Bachmann Mk1 Pullmans to recreate a Deltic hauled Tees Tyne Pullman. One I made earlier ...

I grew up in Middlesbrough and for a couple of years around 1960 I used to go ‘train spotting’, mostly to Darlington but occasionally up to Newcastle and even sometimes across to Carlisle (age about 12ish!). When it was announced that Bachmann would be producing a green whiskered Metro-Cammell DMU destinations Newcastle/Middlesbrough I would have to buy one. Bachmann Class 101 with whiskers My DMU has arrived and I am delighted. Bachmann Class 101 arrived I might even have travelled on the Prototype. Metro-Cammel DMUs resting at Darlington c 1961 Bachmann Class 101 in the north east Out of the box I would have preferred the units to be coupled together more closely. Using the Bachmann Class 101 drawbar However Alun Hughes (RMweb) suggested that I replace the Class 101 coupling bar with a Class 150 bar (Bachmann part number 36-062) – thank you Alun. Using the Bachmann Class 150 drawbar The improvement is immediate – and yes the DMU...

I was asked this weekend how both my Bachmann Dukedog (9017) and my City performed on gradients. Straight out of the box, the answer is 'With difficulty'. Bachmann Dukedog (9017) on local train 9017 is a recent addition to the layout and after marvelling at the detailing and the super smooth performance I was prepared to overlook the fact that my model seemed incapable of hauling any load uphill. 9017 was relegated to shuttling between two stations on my branch line - on the level. I would investigate further. The front bogie detail Standing the locomotive on a flat surface highlights the likely problem. I haven’t counted the rivets but I am guessing that Bachmann have made a very good attempt at modelling the outside frame to the front bogie with the result that the clearance between the bogie and mainframe is really rather tight. Underside of 9017 showing the mounting for the front bogie Removing the bogie reveals the mounting boss on the unde...