{"id":3851,"date":"2024-03-03T02:35:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-03T02:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/sunday-variety-38\/"},"modified":"2024-03-03T02:35:03","modified_gmt":"2024-03-03T02:35:03","slug":"sunday-variety-38","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/sunday-variety-38\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Variety"},"content":{"rendered":"
Confused.com (2)<\/span><\/p>\n But the top picture above is something different.<\/p><\/div>\n But nothing like this has ever been used in the UK, hence fbb’s confusion.<\/p><\/div>\n Some of them were poshed-up for front line passenger use …<\/p>\n … but generally, the condensing idea was not very successful and not used very widely. HO models are available, but the biggest financial OUCH of the class is from Marklin with is non-standard “third rail” stud contact.<\/p>\n It is quality but at a price. Slightly more affordable is a similar model from Liliput.<\/p>\n As far as fbb can discover, nobody has offered a condensing tender for an HO model!<\/p>\n Aldridge Old Station, New Route<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n … which runs (still open for freight) in a big loop from the main Birmingham line at Water Orton and on to Walsall. It takes itd name from the fact that it crosses a northern chunk of the fantastic Sutton Park.<\/p>\n In 1957, fbb (aged 12) travelled from Northampton to Streetly at the apex of the park on an excursion train to visit the Jubilee World Scout Jamboree. All he can remember is trudging in boring tedium around ranks and ranks of tents and a whole heap of temporary Coca Cola stalls.<\/p><\/div>\n There is nothing left of the station today …<\/p>\n … but the original two platforms will be reduced to one for the first phase of the full re-opening. The Old Aldridge used to be a reasonably busy stop …<\/p>\n … although the frequency fell well below today’s plans.<\/p>\n Doubtless there is much celebration in the town …<\/p>\n It is likely that main entrance and car parking will be on the north side of the line (on the right in the picture below) …<\/p>\n … on land owned by the NHS.<\/p>\n Weighing Up The Options!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Well, the current kitchen gadget is just a tad more up to date.<\/p><\/div>\n A Bachmann Mark 1<\/span> – definitely higher quality than Hornby<\/p>\n The Dapol “Toplight”<\/span><\/p>\n So only a couple of grams heavier than the Bachmann BUT it is three quarters of the length …<\/p><\/div>\n The reason for the extra weight is that the coach has a metal chassis. Remember when Hornby Dublo coaches were all metal?<\/p>\n There is a growing trend for more metal parts in locos; but fbb thinks these are the first coaches modern-age with a cast chassis.<\/p><\/div>\n You can clearly see the posh first class seats!<\/p>\n