Quote from: KiwiAlan on July 14, 2026, 07:54:23 AM

Quote from: eddief83 on July 13, 2026, 02:38:56 PMAs someone who models the 1980's its much easier as support coaches didn't have much if any modifications then 

You raise an interesting point. When did the practice of a dedicated, customised support coach actually start, rather than simply attaching a reasonably standard BSK or BCK behind the locomotive?

In the early preservation era and railtour days, my impression is that the support vehicle was often little more than a convenient brake coach for the crew and equipment. The heavily modified support coaches we see today seem to have evolved gradually as main line operations became more professionalised, locomotives spent longer periods away from base, and support crews started carrying significantly more tools, spares and onboard facilities.

In theory I'm modelling the autumn of 1988, so a fairly standard BR Mk1 would probably be the correct answer. However, occasional bouts of time travel permit the appearance of a visiting locomotive, which is how I've ended up down the support coach rabbit hole!

Looking at stream hauled tours by preserved locos in the 60's (Scotsman and Gresley for example) had nothing like a support coach I can tell, perhaps with staff who had experience it was not deemed necessary.

Looking on https://www.nrmfriends.org.uk/post/the-fnrm-s-support-coach it says the first time the NRM used a support coach December 1979 which was an old LNWR Royal Train coach, they acquired a Mark 1 in 1983 which had a kitchen fitted then by removing one compartment so it seems the mid 80's was the start of the change to provide better facilities

The Tale of the Lost Railway (Part Eight)

I quizzed  Giles about  Sir Archibald trying not to appear over inquisitive but I just had to know if it was the same Archibald Hardcastle that I knew from the sea wall.

It became apparent  from his answers that Sir Archibald was indeed my railway enthusiast friend Archie. I was intrigued and rather confused, I needed to know more.

I next, tentatively, broached the subject of the railway tracks  that I'd discovered whilst taking a walk in the area that very afternoon. Giles was, perhaps unsurprisingly, somewhat  dismissive of the subject which led me to think about my similar conversation with Archie on the sea wall just a few days earlier. Archie had appeared similarly reluctant to discuss any possibility that a railway existed in the area.

Giles and I in The Baskerville Arms

I decided that any further railway talk might sound  suspicious. Indeed,  I sensed that I was beginning to tread  on delicate ground  so I changed the subject towards that good old British discussion point of the weather.

Giles soon announced that he had to go. Perhaps he had become bored with my questioning.

The pub was still quite busy meaning that as  soon as the seat opposite me was vacated  it was taken by an old chap who must  have been well into  his eighties. The elderly man was nursing his pint whilst looking at me with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I were 'eves droppin' on you an' Giles talkin' about a railway", he suddenly uttered, "You wanna be careful if you go snoopin' around up thur. If Giles' gamekeeper do catch ee, 'e'll 'ave yer  guts fer garters. All I'll say though is thou 'as ta believe it laddie, thou 'as ta believe. Believe it an'  tis there but doubt it an' 'tis all a but dream". With  that the elderly chap downed the last of his pint and he was gone.

I hadn't uttered a word to the man but his words left me completely non plussed. What on earth did he mean?

Despite what appeared to be a slightly veiled warning I vowed to return to the railway tomorrow in order to walk the tracks in the opposite direction back towards Moretonhampstead . I was intrigued and simply had to find out as much as I could.

The pub was, by now, a little quieter so I ordered another pint and settled back in my chair soon lost in my thoughts as I tried to make sense of everything that had occurred today.


Meanwhile.....
Earlier that afternoon, some two or three miles to the north, a  creamy-white Jaguar 100 sports car, with two well healed gentlemen on board, was approaching the grounds of Baskerville Manor, home of Sir Archibald Hardcastle.

The car was soon followed along the lengthy drive by a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce with at least three bowler hatted passengers.

To be continued..........

Quote from: Newportnobby on July 14, 2026, 08:50:02 AMFor those like me who had to look up SLOA, it's........
"Steam Locomotive Operator's Association"

Or, in the case of my mishap whilst playing trains in the loft the other day,
"Slipped, Landed On A**e".

PW

The famous(?) "Marlow Donkey" (local to me) had the 14xx and I've just acquired the auto coach this week. A 14xx would be wonderful.

Thanks for the replies

The Dapol 14xxs aren't bad little models, especially for their age. With some sympathetic weathering and a few extra details fitted like lamps and lamp irons, they look pretty good. The one thing that lets the BR Green ones down is the awful shade of BR Green that Dapol use on all their models. I repainted and relined this example into a better version of BR lined green.



If you use DCC, I can recommend fitting a stayalive to them. Hardwiring a Zimo MX615 and 1 cap stayalive make a tremendous difference to the smooth running. Both my 14xxs can happily crawl around the layout all day. 

Sadly the likely manufacturers don't confide such things to us

On a happier note, youngest Bealette is off to Sydney Opera House on Thursday to hear the orchestra play the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

All cool with me!

Any ideas if we are going to get a state of the art model of the GWR 14xx.
I had a couple of Dapol ones donkey's years ago sorry to say very poor runners.
We could do with an updated new tooled one.

For those like me who had to look up SLOA, it's........
"Steam Locomotive Operator's Association"