PD and Fatman:
Fatman: If you ever make that trip to the US, you will be pleased to know that your Pionerexpressen Coach has an identical "mate" here in Texas. I purchased mine during a business trip to Denmark sometime in the 90's. My recollection is that I bought it at a "flea" market (in UK this is often called a "Boot Sale") while walking around and paid some inconsequential sum for it. I know very little about the manufacturer, which I assume is "Pioneer" and would love to know more if you have any information.
PD: I took the liberty and did some investigation on your Hornby Junction Signal. Here is what I can make out from your picture
1. It is definitely pre -war. The "lattice work" on the uprights was offered from its introduction in about 1925 until the signal was withdrawn along with the rest of the line for the war in 1939.
2. Your two uprights above the spectacle brace galley are the same size. That indicates that someone may have modified the signal as you mentioned in your post. I have no pictures of any other signal, pre or post war that the two posts were not tall to the left and short to the right.
3. I cannot see the base, but its color is important for dating. There were 3 colors black (early), blue (middle years) and green (common to late pre war and all post war signals)
4. I can see the color of the ladder and the bell cranks , both black . However, again it see a possible modification, as all the illustrations I have show the bell crank at the base and yours appear at the gantry. (Note - my reference states that there were many, many variations to these signals and the position of that bell crank may indeed have been one).
5. I note that the top of your uprights have flat "caps" and not finials. This alone does date the signal to post 1934
6. Finally a GUESS! If the ladder is black as it seems in the picture and the base is green. The flat caps and this combination of colors dates your signal from just prior to withdrawal due to the war in 1939.
7. One more thing. My pictures do not show the combination of chevron (yellow) and stripe (red) flags. Most No. 2 signals have flags of just one type. However, Hornby made a "dual arm" signal (two flags at different heights on one upright post) that almost always had the two different flags. OBTW the "Distant" signal was the yellow chevron and the "Home" signal was the red stripe. Again my reference allows that variations on these themes were numerous, in fact the book claims they were too numerous to completely list.
For your information. My data comes from..."The Hornby Companion Series, The Hornby Gauge O System" by Chris and Julie Graebe, New Cavendish Books, UK, 1985.
Hope this helps you to date your signal. Note, if the base is NOT green, let me know the color and I can most likely quickly date the signal by that alone.
Don
