Silver Sidelines

First a view of my completed version of the Tees Tyne Pullman: I would say that the Deltic hauled train with a mix of Bachmann saloons and Hornby brake coaches compares favourably with this early 1960’s view of the down Yorkshire Pullman passing Hadley Wood - with all grey roofs: As I suspected my attempts to cut and re-glue the Hornby R8220 couplings using instant glue were less than satisfactory.   The couplings are probably nylon and need a more specialist adhesive.   However the ‘instant’ glue was sufficiently strong to hold the two pieces in place whilst I drilled a 0.5mm hole through the joint.   I then ‘borrowed’ one of my wife’s brass dress making pins and crimped this down to fix the two parts of the coupling firmly into place.   The brass pins are easily bent.   The more usual steel dress making pins are much more rigid and not at all suitable. What about a Deltic to haul the train?   It would have to be Bachmann , perhap...

Bachmann are gearing up to launch their new Blue Pullman.   Here I am just getting to grips with my version of the Tees Tyne Pullman: For some time I have been collecting together a rake of Bachmann Mk1 saloons and have also acquired two Hornby Brake Cars.   Stringing the cars out for the first time raised a couple of issues.   Firstly the ride heights of the Bachmann saloons were not all the same and then there was the perennial problem of the ‘gap’ between the coaches. If you have 30 inch or more curves, the gap between the Bachmann Mk1s can be sorted by substituting Hornby R8220 couplings. For use with Bachmann Mk1s the Hornby R8220 couplings need a slight modification, the leading edge of the connector needs to be chamfered as shown above to ensure that the coupling does not get trapped under the coach end. Hornby super detail Pullman Coaches are supplied with alternative R8220 couplings which can be used without modification.   Howeve...