Quote from: EtchedPixels on Yesterday at 02:56:04 PMHad a dig - the kit was it seems an ABS J63 originally on a minitrix chassis and someone has converted it a bit (safety valves, no cylinders, box at front. It's a very old (and hardly fine scale) kit in either form

So apparently there was no J72 kit. My error.

@EtchedPixels

For those interested in the early history of British N gauge, two manufacturers made white metal kits of the somewhat obscure Great Central Class 5A that became LNER Class J63.  The class consisted of only seven locos and all had been withdrawn by 1957. The availability of an outside cylinder chassis may have been one reason these kits were developed.

In 1967, Minitrix produced a kit to fit on their German T-3 0-6-0T chassis.  This was a stop-gap until the RTR Minitrix dock tank became available.  (This was also the first N gauge loco I ever bought and the first white metal kit I ever attempted). 

To allow the motor to fit, the kit has an overscale cab and the general features were more freelance than prototypical in appearance. 

In the 1970s, Beaver made a more prototypical white metal kit.  This was designed to fit the Minitrix dock tank chassis (which had a smaller motor than the German 0-6-0T chassis).  This kit was acquired by Adrian Swain and became part of the ABS range. 

The photo below shows my Minitrix version on the left and the ABS/Beaver version on the right. 

Ian

Quote from: PLD on December 12, 2025, 09:55:48 PM

Quote from: madchadbrad on December 12, 2025, 08:06:57 PMAny evidence that a "non-driving" BT might have been through fitted for push-pull?

Certainly none built motor fitted, and none listed in the known conversions.
I can't see there would be a need for non-driving brakes - The driving trailers were all brakes, and they weren't intended for routes with high demand for luggage space needing a second van in a two/coach train.

Thanks! I asked because I was thinking of expressing interest in an example of each coach type so: BT, 3rd, fitted comp, DBT. I could run them as a standard 4 coach loco fwd train and then discard the BT & 3rd if using them as a push pull set. For my locos that are suitable they would be BR lined maroon; I don't have any pre-nationalisation locos that would fit.

Quote from: PLD on Yesterday at 06:04:43 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on Yesterday at 02:42:24 PMNot sure how "loco in the middle" worked for the LMS system or if it was even possible.

It could be done but was rare.
As I understand it, change over from driving at one trailer to the other involved simply closing one valve and opening another. From what I've read elsewhere didn't the GWR system mean disconnecting one linkage and connecting the other??

I believe so.

Alan

Quote from: EtchedPixels on Yesterday at 02:42:24 PMNot sure how "loco in the middle" worked for the LMS system or if it was even possible.

It could be done but was rare.
As I understand it, change over from driving at one trailer to the other involved simply closing one valve and opening another. From what I've read elsewhere didn't the GWR system mean disconnecting one linkage and connecting the other??

Here's the list kindly provided by Pete

Quote from: Yet_Another on December 12, 2025, 10:16:33 PMThe instructions do cover it. You are supposed to iron them before use.

@Yet_Another Sorry, but I must be a bit thick today as I can't find instructions. They may be useful for whoever I can give them to. Can you point me to them, please?

And as if by magic it has just arrived 

It's threads like this which remind me how old some of you are as I don't remember Co-op dividends at all 

Only just found this thread.  With my Scottish interests a 16XX would interest me.  2 were sent to Helmsdale to run the branch line The Mound to Dornoch when the older 044T broke an axle or something like that.

Quote from: Trainfish on December 12, 2025, 01:32:38 PMIt's supposed to go from A to D. It looked good when it was at B but why on earth is it now at C? 

Well, at least it has made it back to B and apparently now at D which is a 10 minute walk from here:



And it will be delivered by 14:25. It's now 15:20