Flaxfield- A bucolic 1950s Suffolk backwater
- Thread starter Flaxfield
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Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Morning all.
The fact that this thread has been a bit quiet as of late isn't a reflection of a lack of interest. Nope.
Blackwater Pier's boards are indeed in storage ( popped on top of Sheep Dip as it happens ) but other things have intruded.
The East Anglian projects are simmering away and one thing that is due to appear quite soon are the GNR vans from Rapido, eminently suitable for East Anglian fruit traffic.
In addition, it seems Bachmann are having a building clear out and the Tollesbury Pier building, described as a ' Light Railway Station ' is shortly to be available from retailers at a reduced price, around the £29.00 mark.
We might well see an extra example added to the 'stash'.
Rob
The fact that this thread has been a bit quiet as of late isn't a reflection of a lack of interest. Nope.
Blackwater Pier's boards are indeed in storage ( popped on top of Sheep Dip as it happens ) but other things have intruded.
The East Anglian projects are simmering away and one thing that is due to appear quite soon are the GNR vans from Rapido, eminently suitable for East Anglian fruit traffic.
In addition, it seems Bachmann are having a building clear out and the Tollesbury Pier building, described as a ' Light Railway Station ' is shortly to be available from retailers at a reduced price, around the £29.00 mark.
We might well see an extra example added to the 'stash'.
Rob
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Morning, all.
In another relatively exciting development of an Eastern nature, though not specifically East Anglian, I see that TMC have announced a commision from EFE of a NER brake van.
It does look rather nice and although this is not a cheap wagon, I've no doubt it will be very well done.
I'm a bit of a sucker for brake vans so one will definitely be joining the fleet.
TMC also indicate that it's the first in a range of NER wagons, with further announcements throughout the coming year.
These, added to the forthcoming GER opens from Rapido, plus the GNR vans, again from Rapido on top of the existing GER vans from Oxford ( subject to further batches being announced ) should provide a very nice pre-grouping basis for a rather varied eastern wagon fleet.
Rob
In another relatively exciting development of an Eastern nature, though not specifically East Anglian, I see that TMC have announced a commision from EFE of a NER brake van.
It does look rather nice and although this is not a cheap wagon, I've no doubt it will be very well done.
I'm a bit of a sucker for brake vans so one will definitely be joining the fleet.
TMC also indicate that it's the first in a range of NER wagons, with further announcements throughout the coming year.
These, added to the forthcoming GER opens from Rapido, plus the GNR vans, again from Rapido on top of the existing GER vans from Oxford ( subject to further batches being announced ) should provide a very nice pre-grouping basis for a rather varied eastern wagon fleet.
Rob
Overseer
Western Thunderer
Good to see EFE are reusing the old GRAFAR brake van tooling, not enough of them were made. Just kidding, there should be nothing in common.
One a more serious note, does anyone have the dates the V4 vans were converted from 3’6” wheels to 3’ wheels? It seems to be early BR but I haven’t seen enough clear photos to be sure. The ‘spotting item’ is timber filler strips added between the top of the springs and the solebar. I am hoping some with larger wheels were still running in the 1950s.
One a more serious note, does anyone have the dates the V4 vans were converted from 3’6” wheels to 3’ wheels? It seems to be early BR but I haven’t seen enough clear photos to be sure. The ‘spotting item’ is timber filler strips added between the top of the springs and the solebar. I am hoping some with larger wheels were still running in the 1950s.
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
This image, and accompanying caption, is on the initial release information. My knowledge of NER wagons is not good so I cannot comment either way re. wheels.
NER V4 brake van No. 61445, built at York April 1923, at Ayr MPD in May 1957.
Rob
Overseer
Western Thunderer
Yes, that photo shows the smaller wheels and the blocks (presumably 3” thick) between the solebars and the spring hangers.
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
I'd be grateful if you can you point me to any reference material that documents the change to 3ft wheels and mods to the solebar etc.
Thanks in advance.
Rob
Overseer
Western Thunderer
I don’t have any written references, only photos in books and online. I plan to build the V4 van which ran on the Dornoch line from early BR to the lines closure. There is an early 1950s photo of Dornoch in the Am Baile collection which seems to show the original 3’7” wheels and BR livery but it’s not clear, while later photos show the blocks below the solebar and smaller wheels. It would be good to know when the change was made, before or after the panniers arrived, before I build the wrong version.
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Morning.
The smaller wheeled variation to the NER V4 appears not to be that common. I've been exchanging messages with someone involved in developing the TMC project who is anxious to get this as correct as possible, based on available information.
If anyone does have credible information which can be verified, then please point me in the right direction.
Rob
The smaller wheeled variation to the NER V4 appears not to be that common. I've been exchanging messages with someone involved in developing the TMC project who is anxious to get this as correct as possible, based on available information.
If anyone does have credible information which can be verified, then please point me in the right direction.
Rob
Overseer
Western Thunderer
It will be good if the history is uncovered. The issue for a rtr model is that there seem to be very few photos of V4 vans in original condition in BR livery. It seems the surviving vans were converted by the early 1950s. This is the only BR period photo I am aware of which looks like it still has the larger wheels, at Dornoch around 1950, a photo in the Highland Railway Society Collection.
76043
Western Thunderer
So in the Acquired volume, pg43 has two NER 10T brake vans, one has the larger wheels and the other doesn't. The larger wheeled one is E91965 and the small wheeled one is E83472. Unfortunately the text doesn't say if either are a V4 or not.
Pg46 then has pic of the LNER version, Diagram 33, which the text claims is an unfulfilled NER order and is identical to those shown on pg43. Not sure about the wheel sizes, but no blocks shown.
Tatlow's LNER pictorial book on pg156 has two views with the larger wheels but not the big rims and a drawing showing 3'7" wheels.
Hope that is some help.
Tony
Pg46 then has pic of the LNER version, Diagram 33, which the text claims is an unfulfilled NER order and is identical to those shown on pg43. Not sure about the wheel sizes, but no blocks shown.
Tatlow's LNER pictorial book on pg156 has two views with the larger wheels but not the big rims and a drawing showing 3'7" wheels.
Hope that is some help.
Tony
I have a side-on photo of E36484 at Dornoch on 6/2/53. (I suspect it's the same vehicle as in the picture posted above). It looks as though it has the larger wheels. There are thin steel plates visible above the spring hangers, presumably to attach them to the solebars, but no obvious thick wooden blocks. Unfortunately it's copyright so I can't post it. Copyright is with HMRS, their ref AFB319. I looked on their website but couldn't find it - I think I must have bought it an an exhibition some time ago.
HTH.
Tim
HTH.
Tim