Fourth and final part of the Lima Class 31 story – just three loco’s left from this era, I originally had over ten. These three are some of the last liveries the class wore.

The 31 was an underpowered plodder, but I have great memories of them on the GE section since 1958. I have seen a few since 2010, mainly Network Rail and DCR, I hope to get round to modelling them sometime – if I do I will add them here and change the heading date..

This is the third part of the Lima Class 31 and again moves on to sectorisation. unbelievably there were still a few unreburbished Loco’s around, but they would all be withdrawn very soon.

These seven Loco’s represent this period when many but not all, had headlights fitted. However by the end of this period all had cab to shore flat aerials fitted, the ‘skinheads’ had plates fitted to hold the aerials. I have sold many during this period.

This is part two of the Lima Class 31 loco post. These seven move on from the original Blue and are all refurbished. Refurbishment saw some body changes and all were reflected in the Lima model. It has to be said that some original, un-refurbished soldiered on during this time.

Another thing I did with my Lima 31’s was to internally blacken the windows as there was no cab interior and the motor could be seen through the engine room windows. Again it would have been nice to make the interiors, but this would have been very time consuming. At this time I also had far more for this era, selling many to help finance other projects.

I still believe that the Lima Class 31 is the best looking model of a 31. Even the old motors do not bother me too much, with careful cleaning and Ultrascale wheels the running can be good after running in. I also fit extra pick-ups to the trailing bogie. The only thing that suffers is the pulling power. I guess a new model Hornby chassis with a Lima body would be almost right. Of course all moulded handrails need to be removed and replaced with brass ones. All of the blue ones on this post also have added LED lights and are weathered.

I have to say that the plastic, fit yourself, cab handrails really need replacing with brass ones, sadly I had neither the time or inclination to do it.  The four loco’s below are what I have left of my Blue 31’s, many have been sold. I originally had most variances covered.

My final Heljan BR Class 47’s are a batch of three ‘roamers’ that can turn up mixed with any local classes on my garage layout. These loco’s have headlights, but no cab to shore radio aerials, so not prototypical beyond 1988. Not weathered ‘yet’

These are my Blue 47’s, I call them my ‘roamers’. Just Blue, No headlights yet, but various Head codes, Battery Boxes and Boiler Ports. All are a bit nondescript and run on all regions with local classes.

Yet again – not yet weathered!

This is a batch of five Class 37’s, they are as running about 1980 -84. Some retain the buffer skirts  and marker dots, others have had them removed and have lenses for marker lights. There is a fair degree of mix and match within this batch. After research I think there are probably at least another eight variances I can model. I would also point out that some have operable boilers, others have blanks,  there is a mix of round and oval buffers. All have been renumbered to East Anglian allocated loco’s  or regular visitors.

I did the same with a batch of Lima super detailed Class 37’s in Blue for an article in Model Rail many years ago. A lot have now been sold, but I still have some. I will try to dig the remaining ones out and do a separate post.

Sadly the Bachmann 37’s still await weathering.

Here is a batch of nine Class 47’s from the sector period. All are detailed as per my other class 47 posts and again research played a big part in deciding which  loco’s to model. On the exposed buffer beam models the Shawplan detail kit has been used. These are all loco’s I saw regularly during this time and were either Stratford based or visitors. Again they all await weathering – I am way behind at present.

Here we have yet another batch of Class 47’s. These are all Eastern region, especially on the GE mainline, just before the 86’s took over. They are all awaiting weathering . The roof detail is changed as required for each prototype.

Here are another six Class 47’s, but this time for Scottish Based Loco’s. These are to the same specification as the WR class 47’s and again are awaiting weathering. The loco’s have been totally researched and photographs in this condition were used to verify livery. I have also ensured that the boiler ports are as prototype.