Coaching Stock - Part 3

Time to feature some more of our coaching stock and, this time, it is the Lima Chocolate and Cream Mk 1s.

We have eight of these coaches comprising the following types:

BR Mk 1 Gangwayed Full Brake (BG)

We have just the one of Full Brake and its Running Number is W24680. The Catalogue Number is L305345 and this model dates from around 1980.

BR Mk1 Corridor Second Class (SK)

There are two Corridor Second Class coaches in our fleet, both with the Running Number W26070. This one has a Cambrian Coast Express coach board which has never been removed. The Catalogue Number is L305362 and it dates from 1982.

BR Mk1 Restaurant Buffet (RBR)

We just have the one Restaurant Buffet car. Its Running Number is W24760, the Catalogue Number is L305322 and it dates from 1980.

BR Mk1 Corridor Composite (CK)

We have two of these Corridor Composite coaches, both with the Running Number W24624. The Catalogue Number is L305313 and they both date from 1979.

BR Mk1 Corridor Brake Second (BSK)

We also have two of these Brake Second Class coaches. The Running Number is W24528, the Catalogue Number is L305333 and they both date from 1979.

Finally, and with nothing whatsoever to do with the preceding coaches, here we see Class 50 - 50011 'Centurion' - heading north, in charge of a short rake of small oil tankers.

Collecting Seacows

We had left a rake of Seacows, together with a 50T PROCOR hopper wagon in the Ballast Yard a couple of weeks ago so we thought that, this week, it was about time they were collected and put away for safety.

We therefore sent along 37057 'Viking' to do the honours and the photos below show her in performing her task admirably!

In the photo above, Viking has already collected the first few hoppers and is now reversing back into the yard to collect some more.

Here we see the Class 37 slowly inching her way through the cutting and around the bend ...

... and into the yard.

Now we see her reversing on to the two hoppers in the middle siding, the rearmost of which has been loaded with ballast.

A close-up of her coupling up to the two hoppers.

Finally, she couples up to the 50 ton PROCOR wagon ...

... before slowly departing through the cutting and away, much to the relief of the traffic being held up at the level crossing!

Details of the rolling stock are as follows:

Bachmann Class 37 37057 'Viking". Catalogue Nº: 32-781DS. Originally came with factory-fitted sound but has since been reblown with Olivias Trains sound files, which, I must say, are excellent!

Hornby Departmental YCB Seacow Hopper Wagons in Dutch Livery. Catalogue Nº: R6288.

Lima 50T PROCOR Hopper Wagon. Catalogue Nº: L305635.

Mail Order

As we have recently started adding a few items of Royal Mail rolling stock to our fleet we thought that we ought to add the Bachmann Scenecraft TPO Apparatus somewhere on the layout. 

This would then enable future Royal Mail trains to deliver and collect letters and parcels whilst on the move!

The Catalogue Nº is 44-045 and the apparatus comes in three pieces: 

A small hut in front of which there is yellow and black warning sign

A net catcher, to catch the mail bags that are thrown from the train

A post with two arms, holding mail bags ready for collection by the passing mail train.

Sadly this is a non-working item but it does look good and fits in well with our mail coaches.

Coaching Stock - Part 2

Time to feature some more of our coaching stock and, this time, it is our fleet of Lima Blue and Grey liveried Mk1's. 

We do have quite a few of these coaches since it enables us to compile two or three rakes for use on various types of services.

There are four varieties of these coaches in the fleet and they are as follows:

LIMA BR Mk1 CORRIDOR 2ND CLASS (SK)

We currently have six SKs in our fleet, all with the Running Nº M25308 (Catalogue Nº: L305361) although these numbers will probably be changed in the future.

These coaches date from around 1982. 

LIMA BR Mk1 OPEN 2ND CLASS (SO)

At present we only have two SO blue & grey coaches although we do hope to add a couple more in the future. Both coaches are numbered E4630 (Catalogue Nº L305383) and, again, the number on one of them will be changed in due course.

These coaches date from around 1987.

LIMA BR Mk1 CORRIDOR COMPOSITE (CK)

We have eight CKs and all have the Running Nº W43671 (Catalogue Nº L305315). We definitely need to change these so that each coach is differently numbered.

They all date from around 1980.

LIMA BR Mk1 CORRIDOR BRAKE 2ND (BSK)

Finally we have four BSKs all of which are numbered W43281 (Catalogue Nº L305331) and all of which date from 1979.

All of these coaches have been weathered to varying degrees, especially the bogies and all run very well too.

With the exception of adding, maybe, a couple more SO's to the fleet, I think this is as many of these coaches as we need for the services that we run on the layout.

As such they can be seen on expresses, semi-fasts and stopping trains and are also used for seating accommodation on the occasional sleeper service.