Silver Sidelines

The New Year has heralded a crop of new models. It is also the time of year when manufacturers and retailers clear out old stock. I have given in to temptation and I have purchased a second Hornby Class 52xx tank – ‘5239’ (R3224). My new model has a curved footplate to complement my existing model with its straight footplate. Hornby Class 52xx R3224 ‘5239’ with curved footplate over cylinders It would have been back in August 2013 when I took delivery of ‘5243’, one of Hornby’s first batches of Class 52xx ex GWR tank engines, R3126. It is a good looking engine with some very fine detail but I noted that the buffers were not sprung and the smoke box dart was moulded integrally with the smokebox door. Hornby Class 52xx R3126 ‘5243’ with straight footplate To their credit, Hornby have now provided the latest 52xx models with a separate detailed smoke box dart. However we still await the sprung buffers. The Hornby range includes a number of Class 42xx, ...

My layout is set in the period 1959/1961, give or take couple or years. With the arrival of the New Year I have taken the opportunity to move the time period forward and run a few models from say 1963/1964. I shall call it the British Railways Maroon era. British Rail WR Maroon Hydraulics – Bachmann Magpie and Heljan Western Talisman Western Talisman was outshopped in maroon in August 1962. A year or more would have to pass before any of the Warships were painted in maroon. British Rail WR Maroon Hydraulics – Bachmann Magpie and Heljan Western Talisman Prior to 1956 British Railways mainline coaching stock was supposed to be painted in crimson and cream (blood and custard). Seemingly the Western Region of British Railways did not always comply and the rolling stock for some named trains began to be painted in chocolate and cream. Certainly by the late 1950s when the first diesel hydraulics emerged from Swindon (without yellow warning panels) there wer...