Model Railway - What's your latest acquisition?

[Potterton]

Hi Rana.

Yes, I do remember it. If you google Class 37 police it's on youtube. And yes, you are right. The paint was supposed to be washed off afterwards, but they used the wrong stuff! The attached is a photo of the real loco taken passing through York Station.

[GWR LNER fan 4472]

Couple of little things I got for my birthday - finally a bogie bolster © for carrying my home-made pipe loads (see the 'What's on your workbench?' thread, page 86), some cows, fences, a second TARDIS...I mean Police Box... for the new layout and also a fancy shiny Oxford Rail tanker wagon. Has anyone got any idea why it says BP on one side and Shell on the other? Is this prototypical or is it for versatility with the model? I don't mind either way, it's a beautiful wagon!

[Potterton]

@ GWR & LNER fan 4472

"Oxford Rail tanker wagon. Has anyone got any idea why it says BP on one side and Shell on the other? Is this prototypical or is it for versatility with the model?"

The two photo's below show wagon number 4497 built in 1930, (photographed in 2005 at the Bluebell Railway), with BP on one side, (faded behind the ladder), and SHELL on the other. The drawing is I think self explanatory. Hope this helps.

[GWR LNER fan 4472]

That's great Potterton, thank you! I'm presuming both fuel companies use the same product then? Or at least buy it in the same and perhaps alter it themselves later? I'll do some digging.

Anyway, superb model, would highly recommend :-)

EDIT: Found this on Wikipedia:

"In 1932, partly in response to the difficult economic conditions of the times, Shell-Mex merged its UK marketing operations with those of British Petroleum to create Shell-Mex and BP,^[40] a company that traded until the brands separated in 1975."

So it seems likely Shell and BP shared trainloads of fuel. Makes sense now, thanks!

[Potterton]

Latest arrival to my stud, a Lima Class 101 DMU. Runs like a dream. Needed on my layout to run workers to and from an "off scene" oil terminal. yum

[Rana Temporia]

Tri-ang did a version of the Shell/BP tank wagon using their basic tank model (the UD version without the ladders). Unfortunately they used transfers which don’t last very well. I have had a few of them over the years from multi buys but only one in good condition which is in its original box and probably wasn’t used much.

[96RAF]

Here is the real United Dairies for comparison. I doubt that the fuel tankers would be lined.

[96RAF]

Potterton, do you remember the advert the prototype was used in? I read at the time that it was supposed to be washable paint but when they took it to clean it off it stuck fast so the loco went round like that for a while.

 

 

Bachmann and Heljan also did a Class 47 in police livery. Also done in real life.

The HST vs Police 37 advert and both locos are easily found on Google and YT by searching police livery locos.

[Potterton]

"Bachmann and Heljan also did a Class 47 in police livery. Also done in real life."

Quite right 96RAF. The real one was a Virgin Trains' Class 47 number 47829 unveiled on 25th March 2002. It carried the crest of the British Transport Police and was "launched" by the then BTP Chief Constable Ian Johnston at Birmingham International Station to promote an anti-vandalism and trespass campaign.

[96RAF]

"Bachmann and Heljan also did a Class 47 in police livery. Also done in real life."

Quite right 96RAF. The real one was a Virgin Trains' Class 47 number 47829 unveiled on 25th March 2002. It carried the crest of the British Transport Police and was "launched" by the then BTP Chief Constable Ian Johnston at Birmingham International Station to promote an anti-vandalism and trespass campaign.

 

 

Mine of course is an RAF Police 37 (a real never was loco), complete with blues and twos. Named The 96th Entry.

[Potterton]

@Rania Temporia "Tri-ang did a version of the Shell/BP tank wagon using their basic tank model (the UD version without the ladders). Unfortunately they used transfers which don’t last very well. I have had a few of them over the years from multi buys but only one in good condition which is in its original box and probably wasn’t used much."

Funny you should say that. I had one from the tender age of 5 or 6, (back in the mid 60's) which got kicked across the room one day. (Train set played with on the floor in those days.) Despite losing its filler cap and suffering a missing barrel support bracket at one end I continued to use it and still do! (I'm a sentimental old fool, but it was my first tanker wagon heart_eyes). Despite this the markings are still reasonably intact.

@96RAF "Mine of course is an RAF Police 37 (a real never was loco), complete with blues and twos. Named The 96th Entry."

It might be a never was loco, but I like the livery. smiley

[Rana Temporia]

Potterton, I forgot about the black version! Tri-ang also did a silvery grey one with Shell in red on one side and BP in green on the other. I don’t think there were any other markings although I think it had a red painted chassis. If I can find mine I’ll post some photos although posting photos isn’t working too well from my iPad at the moment.

[VESPA]

A suitcase to carry all the money required to buy an item of model railway.

[Bulleidboy]

A suitcase to carry all the money required to buy an item of model railway.

 

 

I use a credit card - it leaves both hands free to carry the model(s) homegrinning

[westernwill]

A suitcase to carry all the money required to buy an item of model railway.

I use a credit card - it leaves both hands free to carry the model(s) homegrinning

 

 

Ah but when you have paid the money, you can use the suitcase to carry the models home. lol

[atom3624]

Just 'won' a limited edition Class 37 - a BR blue 'large logo' locomotive - from Bachmann.

Ebay photo:

The antenna is plastic, but with care can be straightened a little.

I suspect it's one of the 'opening door' series of Class 37's Bachmann made ~10 years ago.

Surprised me when I realised my EWS one had opening doors - thought it was just Hornby! Might be mistaken.

I had several 'targets' over the weekend:

1. West Coast Railways - Bachmann 47 - went over budget - fair enough.
2. B.R. blue / yellow ends - Hornby 56 - went way over budget - fair enough.
3. B.R. blue / yellow / large logo - Hornby 56 - went way over - fair enough.
4. B.R. blue / yellow ends - Bachmann 37 - weathered - looks good ...
5. Then spotted this. Postage was more than double cost, so made an offer to compensate - accepted - job done.

I had a couple of other 'options' lined up, but purchase has been made now - nothing until Hush Hush and P2 appear now ... have to be good!!

I've 'Loch Lomond' from Accurascale on order, which will be another large logo 37, and not for sale yet ... probably won't appear until next year now.

Will be interesting to compare the 2, with pretty great expectations anticipated of the new boy ... time will tell.

Al.

[atom3624]

Well, the 37 arrived, one day after purchase - which is something of a record for a relatively private seller.

It looks superb - instant fan of the large logo locomotives, so can't wait for the A/S one to arrive, which will be next year sometime.

It runs well, the previous owner had already fitted the etched nameplates - well as well, no marks - and the directional lighting works.

It is one of the 'opening doors' models, which is great - all open / close perfectly.

Only issue is the cab lighting, erm, doesn't, which is a pity. Looks like I'll be fitting lighting again - quite like the lightly lit cab.

There was no detailing left as the snow ploughs had been fitted both ends - I've removed #2 end's and replaced with a tension lock coupling in preparation for 'duties'.

Very pleased overall.

Al.

[VESPA]

I have found a use for the suit cases. They will go in my new collection of Rolls Royces which are cheaper than model railways.smiley Looking at some prices now for locos and coaches, it's time for me to stop buying anything model railway. Crazy prices for retirees with a big pension.

[Stephen in Kerry]

My first acquisition was completed yesterday - all the track parts (from 3 different sources) for my first layout: Trackmat extension 4, in the Track Plans book and the Hornby Select controller.

I'm now gathering locos and rolling stock, and lots of other stuff, including ballast, PVA and Metcalfe building packs.

I've bought 3 locos so far: Hornby R3828 'The Aberdonian' Tornado train pack, Hornby R3705, Ruston 48DS 458957 in John Dewar and Sons red and yesterday I got my favourite so far...

A pre-owned, weathered Bachmann 'Branchline' Class 2MT Ivatt 2-6-0 46520, re-livered to LMS. It was fitted with 17 DCC sounds, all of which work well with the Select.

[Bulleidboy]

I have found a use for the suit cases. They will go in my new collection of Rolls Royces which are cheaper than model railways.smiley Looking at some prices now for locos and coaches, it's time for me to stop buying anything model railway. Crazy prices for retirees with a big pension.

 

 

Rolls Royces? Does that mean you sold the Jaguar(s)?grinning

[atom3624]

Bugatti's still in the garage of course!

Al.

[Rana Temporia]

Being quite serious, if prices for second hand equipment keep going up as fast as they are at the moment this thread could quickly become “What’s your latest sale”. Some very silly prices on online auction sites lately and I need to downsize so as painful as the thought of doing so is, it might be a good time to actually put the effort in.

I might need the suitcases to get the parcels down to the post office as I wave a teary goodbye to some of the models and sets I currently own. tired_face

[threelink]

Well said, RT, about silly prices. I decided that I needed to dispose of some of my surplus items (no-one needs 9 Jinties) so I had a stall at the weekend at a toy and train fair. Poorly attended, but I was astonished at the prices being charged by traders for second hand stuff - double the prices that I had seen at similar fairs only three years ago or so. It got a bit silly because quite a few of my sales were to traders who put my items on their stalls at twice the price I had charged. Small wonder that one of them, who had driven well over 100 miles to be there, was complaining bitterly that his sales for the day totalled £14.50, less than a quarter of the charge for his stall. Whilst I sympathise with those who need to make a living, I have to say that a healthy dose of realism is needed. I charged what I regarded as reasonable prices (about half auction site charges) and, although I brought home roughly half of what I had taken there, I also brought home an obscene amount of cash. Notwithstanding the apparent increase in interest in our hobby resulting from the pandemic, I still fear that the manufacturers and traders will soon price themselves out of a market.

[Stephen in Kerry]

@threelink and @Rana

Most specialist interest areas of seeing huge price increases in recent years. I play the saxophone and some bits of 50 year-old brass, often with lacquer peeling and verdigris evident - but with the right name on them - will cost high 4 figure and even 5 figure sums.

[threelink]

@Stephen in Kerry

Agreed, but what is specialist about toy trains - sorry - model railways? High end museum quality models will always command a premium price, rightly, but I am talking about second hand Triang/Lima/Hornby/Trix/Wrenn and the like. Very few are rarities, some will always achieve a higher price from a collector if mint in a mint box but the rest is just run of the mill. I just cannot see that the sort of high prices one now sees are sustainable in the long or even medium term. If people are priced out of the hobby we will all be the poorer for it, and I don't just mean financially