It couldn't have been a better day yesterday. The sun shone on a very attractive garden which just happened to have a railway winding through it. Great conversation was had with old friends under the shade of a kindly overhanging tree.
It was mainly a day for excellent tank engine runs. As Richard has noted, they just need gas (usually), oil & water & they go. Simples! Sit, watch & they run...No messing with chasing around,repeatedly checking boiler water levels, adjusting how much water is being pumped into the boiler & how much water is by passed back to the tender, not to mention the fine art of wick adjustment for meths powered locos.
Anyway, my Accucraft Prairie glided smoothly round hauling four BR mk 1's. These coaches were then hooked up to test out Richard's new Bowande M7.
The M7 had three runs, the best being it's final run where it seemed as if the driver was determined to break Mallard's speed record and bring it to the Southern! I must say that my heart was in my mouth, fearing for the safely of my mk 1's, but I am pleased to say the track work was well up to coping with such high speeds! Seriously,Richard can be well pleased with the performance of that M7, very smooth & powerful, it looks great too. (Who said just like the real thing?)
Our visitor Richard had brought his German coaches, which had just been fitted with roller bearings to improve the running of the somewhat weighty all metal rake. The German Aster Pacific tasked with pulling the train has been factory fitted with an unusual ceramic wick system. This system may need further adjustment / modification so that a longer run can be achieved in future. My G1MCo Brit also only achieved a short run. I have been adjusting it's wicks on my rolling road to give a 40 minute run, but in real load running conditions I think I will have to adjust the wicks to give a hotter fire and a better performance hauling a reasonable load.
Having successfully clearance tested my L & B bogie coaches through Richard's 'Rockies' (phew!), the afternoon finished with us all pleasantly chatting, while my 16mm L & B Lew ran competently round, hauling L & B bogie coaches & an L & B van. Roger did say there was something rather special about 16mm, like that Southern train, in a garden setting. I quite agree!
A brilliant time was had by all.
Cheers,
Steve