Sunday, 16 November 2008

4468 - A4 Mallard

This video is of the Mallard which is housed at the National Railway Musuem in York.

LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built at Doncaster, England in 1938.

Mallard was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley as an express locomotive specially built to power high-speed streamlined trains. Its wind-tunnel-tested, aerodynamic body allowed it to reach speeds of over 100 mph (160 km/h). Mallard was in service until 1963, when it was retired, having covered almost one and a half million miles (2.4 million km).

It was restored to working order in the 1980s, but has not operated since, apart from hauling some specials between York and Scarborough in July 1986 and a couple of runs between York and Harrogate/Leeds around Easter 1987. Mallard is now part of the National Collection at the United Kingdom's National Railway Museum in York. On the weekend of 5 July 2008, Mallard was taken outside for the first time in years and displayed alongside her A4 sisters, thus reuniting all four A4s extant in the UK for the first time since preservation.

The locomotive is 70 ft long and weighs 165 tons, including the tender. It is painted LNER garter blue with red wheels and steel rims.

Mallard is the holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (202.7 km/h). The record was achieved on 3 July 1938 on the slight downwards grade of Stoke Bank south of Grantham on the East Coast Main Line, and the highest speed was recorded at milepost 90¼, between Little Bytham and Essendine. It broke the German (DRG Class 05) 002's 1936 record of 124 mph (200.4 km/h).

Model Trains and Model Railroading Help: Scratchbuilt Buildings On John's Layout

Model Trains and Model Railroading Help: Scratchbuilt Buildings On John's Layout: "At 77 years of age my wife and I are working on our first model railway layout. It does not attempt to follow any real railway system but is being made up as we go."

Saturday, 15 November 2008

Overview Of The NMRA - National Model Railroad Association

by Bill Murphy

Model railroading and prototyping is a wonderful hobby that doesn’t really require that anyone share in it with you ” but the enjoyment of seeing others reactions to your special diorama or the ability to pose questions on specifications and historical references to a group of friends for many causes them to seek out other like-minded enthusiasts.

Fortunately there are many clubs and organizations that have sprung up around model railroading, hundreds in the USA alone ” but one of the largest and most prestigious is the NMRA, the National Model Railroad Association, a non-profit educational association designed to promote model railroading, and to influence standards within the industry.

The NMRA has members across the world with over 150 divisions or groups of members spread out in 18 regions. Their yearly convention and the National Train Show continue to build excitement for model train enthusiasts to enjoy. The NMRA has been there for its members for over 70 years and will continue for many more.

The NMRA has set many standards that still exist today. Having been founded in 1935, they still maintain a list of Standards and Recommended Practices available to manufacturers and hobbyists. The Kalmbach Memorial Library, one of the larger railroad reference centers in the world is partially maintained by the NMRA. The Kalmbach Library has more than 5,000 books as well as over 100,000 prototype photos and over 50,000 modeling, prototype and historical magazines, a great resource center for anyone into prototype railroading.

Available resources for members by the NMRA include:

-Being able to access the Kalmbach Memorial Library, an excellent resource on railroads and model railroads

- Fellowship with other modelers and a monthly magazine

-Availability to the Members Aid Program forum where you can discuss information of model trains and also access information sheets for existing train specs

About the Author:

Are you looking for ideas for model railroad scenery? Visit The Model Railroader website at http://www.themodelrailroader.com for lots of helpful ideas and to get your free copy of my report on designing model railways.

Thursday, 13 November 2008

Model Trains Show & Exhibition List For The Weekending 16 Nov 2008

Model Trains Shows And Exhibitions For The
Week Ending 16 November 2008

Date	Event	Address	Time	Adult

15-Nov	Alsager Railway Association - Model Railway Exhibition at Crewe	Victoria Oakley Centre, Merryhill, West Street, Crewe, Staffordshire., CW1 2PZ	10:00 - 17:00	Adult: £4.00 Child £2.00 OAP £3.00
15-Nov	Barry and Penarth MRC	Cadoxton Conservative Club, Vere Street, Cadoxton, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.	11:00 - 17:00	Adult: £2.00 Child £1.50 OAP £1.50
15-Nov	Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society	Town Hall, Market Square, Retford, Nottinghamshire., DN22 6DU	10:00 - 17:00	Adult: £3.00 Child £1.00 OAP £2.00
15-Nov	Pendle Forest MRS	Park High School, Venables Avenue, Colne, Lancashire., BB8 7DP	10:00 - 17:00	Adult: £3.00 Child £2.00 OAP £2.50
15-Nov	Solent MRG - Oaklands Model Railway Exhibition	Oaklands Community School, Fairisle Road, Lordshill, Southampton, Hampshire., SO16 8BY	10:00 - 17:00	Adult: £2.50 Child £1.50 OAP £2.00
15-Nov	Weardale Railway Locomotive Preservation Group - Wear Valley Model Railway Show	St Catherine's Church Hall, Crook, County Durham.	10:00 - 16:00	Adult: £2.50 Child £2.00 OAP £2.00
15-Nov	West Wiltshire Gauge O Group	Paragon Hall, Haynes Road, Westbury, Wiltshire.	10:00 - 16:30	Adult: £3.50 Child £2.00 OAP £3.00
15-Nov	White House MRG - RAIL 2008	The White House Community Centre, 45 The Avenue, Hampton, Middlesex., TW12 0EU	10:00 - 17:00	Adult: £2.00
16-Nov	Alsager Railway Association - Model Railway Exhibition at Crewe	Victoria Oakley Centre, Merryhill, West Street, Crewe, Staffordshire., CW1 2PZ	10:00 - 16:30	Adult: £4.00 Child £2.00 OAP £3.00
16-Nov	Barry Potter Fairs - Buxton	The Pavilion Gardens, St. John's Road, Buxton, Derbyshire., SK17 6XN	10:30 - 16:00	Adult: £2.00 Child £1.00 OAP £1.50
16-Nov	Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society	Town Hall, Market Square, Retford, Nottinghamshire., DN22 6DU	10:00 - 16:30	Adult: £3.00 Child £1.00 OAP £2.00
16-Nov	Burnham and District MRC - North Petherton Model Railway Exhibition	The Community Centre, Fore Street, North Petherton, Nr. Bridgwater, Somerset., TA6 6QA	10:30 - 16:30	Adult: £2.00 Child £0.50 OAP £1.50
16-Nov	Burton Railway Society - BRS RAILFAIR 2008	Burton Town Hall, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire.	10:00 - 16:30	Adult: £3.00 Child £1.00 OAP £2.00
16-Nov	J & J Fairs Ltd.	3 Counties Showground, Malvern Wells, Worcestershire., WR13 6NW	10:30 - 15:30	Adult: £3.00 Child £1.00 OAP £2.00
16-Nov	J & J Fairs Ltd.	Springfields Exhibition Centre, Camelgate, Spalding, Lincolnshire., PE12 6ET	10:00 - 15:00	Adult: £2.00 Child £1.50 OAP £1.50
16-Nov	Pendle Forest MRS	Park High School, Venables Avenue, Colne, Lancashire., BB8 7DP	10:00 - 17:00	Adult: £3.00 Child £2.00 OAP £2.50
16-Nov	Solent MRG - Oaklands Model Railway Exhibition	Oaklands Community School, Fairisle Road, Lordshill, Southampton, Hampshire., SO16 8BY	10:00 - 17:00	Adult: £2.50 Child £1.50 OAP £2.00
16-Nov	Weardale Railway Locomotive Preservation Group - Wear Valley Model Railway Show	St Catherine's Church Hall, Crook, County Durham.	10:00 - 16:00	Adult: £2.50 Child £2.00 OAP £2.00

Thursday, 6 November 2008