Reflections on Peak Forest

[Fordbank]

To Sandhole

Thanks for the encouragement, Chris. It will be critical when the temperature in the garage begins to plummet!

[Sandhole]

To Sandhole

Thanks for the encouragement, Chris. It will be critical when the temperature in the garage begins to plummet!

I feel for you!!!

One of the joys of being a sad fat single old fart is that I am modelling indoors with radiators!!!

Mind you, I have been in a tied cottage with no central heating in deepest Gloucestershire. I do know what true cold is!!!

 Regards,

                  Chris.

[rob D2]

I was there today , hadn’t changed much in the year and a half since last visit

Locos present 66063/98/120/741

60040, 56301

 

Got a few snaps on iPhone but they are rubbish as dun was setting

[Fordbank]

A bit of modelling

 

 

Unless I wished for my limestone hoppers to circulate Peak Forest Revived in only a clockwise direction then they would need sometimes to be loaded.

So time to make some limestone loads. 

And in order to save the cost of separate loaded and unloaded rakes of wagons the new loads should be easy to remove.

To achieve the latter whilst avoiding damage to the fragile loads the decision was made to make the loads capable of being lifted clear of the wagons by using a small magnet.

 

 

The load base was made from 5mm thick expanded polystyrene - an old ceiling tile - cut to 114mm by 29mm. The ends were then trimmed to fit the sloping ends of the hoppers, and a small nick added at half length to fit around the cross bracing in the hoppers.

A magnetic weight was required for removal of the load and one cent euro coins were an appropriate size, magnetic, and plentiful in that bowl on the table by the front door.

To make fitment of the weights neat they were countersunk by heating one up on the gas hob and placing on the polystyrene load base. ( NB not too hot or it will drop straight through!)

An attempt to attach the magnetic weights beneath the load base were unsuccessful as it seems that polystyrene is quite an effective barrier to magnetic waves, and the magnetic force proved inadequate to lift the loads.

 

 

Small heaps of stone were then carved from polystyrene offcuts to mirror the shape of the load. These were then glued to the load base. 

 

 

The shaped loads were now covered in Woodland Scenic light grey ballast using PVA glue.

A whiter shade of ballast would have been preferable as the limestone quarried from Tunstead is of an unusually high purity and is generally a fairly brilliant white. As yet, however, a whiter graded model stone is yet to be found. In reality the appearance of the limestone does indeed vary with different strata being quarried and different ambient light conditions.

For now the Woodland Scenics light grey will suffice.

 

 

A quick rummage in that Alladin's Cave of modelling resources known as The Kitchen Draw yielded a suitable fridge magnet. (NB the magnetic force needs to be carefully balanced by trial and error as too strong a force will make the loads difficult to remove from the magnet without damage.)

 

 

 

The limestone in the hoppers carried from Tunstead to Northwich is of a fairly coarse grade and is probably better represented by the coarse rather than medium grade of Woodland Scenics ballast. The two photos below show the difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[pharrc20]

Looking good Andy. I haven't done any more on my hoppers since the exhibition not had time been away/busy with other project.

But loads on my to do list. Maybe try spray one of the loads with a light grey primer then overspray with white? I was going to use crushed cat litter for my Appleby ones had I got to finish fettling them up.

Cheers Paul

A bit of modelling

 

IMG_5733.JPG

 

Unless I wished for my limestone hoppers to circulate Peak Forest Revived in only a clockwise direction then they would need sometimes to be loaded.

So time to make some limestone loads.

And in order to save the cost of separate loaded and unloaded rakes of wagons the new loads should be easy to remove.

To achieve the latter whilst avoiding damage to the fragile loads the decision was made to make the loads capable of being lifted clear of the wagons by using a small magnet.

 

IMG_5725.JPG

 

The load base was made from 5mm thick expanded polystyrene - an old ceiling tile - cut to 114mm by 29mm. The ends were then trimmed to fit the sloping ends of the hoppers, and a small nick added at half length to fit around the cross bracing in the hoppers.

A magnetic weight was required for removal of the load and one cent euro coins were an appropriate size, magnetic, and plentiful in that bowl on the table by the front door.

To make fitment of the weights neat they were countersunk by heating one up on the gas hob and placing on the polystyrene load base. ( NB not too hot or it will drop straight through!)

An attempt to attach the magnetic weights beneath the load base were unsuccessful as it seems that polystyrene is quite an effective barrier to magnetic waves, and the magnetic force proved inadequate to lift the loads.

 

IMG_5728.JPG

 

Small heaps of stone were then carved from polystyrene offcuts to mirror the shape of the load. These were then glued to the load base.

 

IMG_5731.JPG

IMG_5732.JPG

IMG_5735.JPG

 

The shaped loads were now covered in Woodland Scenic light grey ballast using PVA glue.

A whiter shade of ballast would have been preferable as the limestone quarried from Tunstead is of an unusually high purity and is generally a fairly brilliant white. As yet, however, a whiter graded model stone is yet to be found. In reality the appearance of the limestone does indeed vary with different strata being quarried and different ambient light conditions.

For now the Woodland Scenics light grey will suffice.

 

IMG_5739.JPG

 

A quick rummage in that Alladin's Cave of modelling resources known as The Kitchen Draw yielded a suitable fridge magnet. (NB the magnetic force needs to be carefully balanced by trial and error as too strong a force will make the loads difficult to remove from the magnet without damage.)

 

IMG_5742.JPG

 

IMG_5745.JPG

 

The limestone in the hoppers carried from Tunstead to Northwich is of a fairly coarse grade and is probably better represented by the coarse rather than medium grade of Woodland Scenics ballast. The two photos below show the difference.

 

IMG_5734.JPG

IMG_5746.JPG

[Fordbank]

Loads of PHVs                                                      ( Sorry, just couldn't resist..)

 

And as it's Thursday some more Sulzer traction.........with the new loaded PHVs.

 

 

 

 

 

[Fordbank]

The Completed PHV Loads 

 

Edited November 22, 2018 by Fordbank

[gridwatcher]

Only 13 Andy? You'll be needing another 5!

[Fordbank]

Vive La Difference!

 

A small (thumbnail) celebration of the wonderful variety of traction liveries that have been on view at Peak Forest over the past twelve months:-

 

   

                                   Photo: Adrian Nicholls                                                     Photo:   Ian 10B                                                                                   Photo   Marcus                                                              Photo     Matthew Bailey

 

   

                                  Photo   Jon Gavin                                                              Photo   Matthew Bailey                                                                       Photo Jon Gavin                                                           Photo    Jon Gavin

 

  

                                              Photo    Brad Joyce                                                             Photo Adrian Nicholls                                                                         Photo    Fordbank                                                          Photo     Jon  Gavin

 

   

                                              Photo   Fordbank                                                                 Photo    Matthew Bailey                                                                        Photo    Fordbank                                                        Photo   Dave

 

   

                                              Photo    Mike J                                                                      Photo     Fordbank                                                                                Photo    Mr P                                                                Photo   Phil McC 

 

My thanks to the above photographers for their work in making Peak Forest such an interesting location to follow. ( I've used only thumbnails out of respect for their copywrite. please look them up on Flickr to fully appreciate their artistry.)  Particular thanks to Jon Gavin for creating such a useful archive of Peak Forest over such a long period.

 

[Fordbank]

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

 

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by Fordbank
Restore some photos to this thread.

[Fordbank]

An escape from BR Blue: back to modern times........the mid nineteen nineties.

 

                                                                                                                                                    Photo: Steve Sterland

 

37415 and 37419 head up the gradient from Great Rocks to Peak Forest summit on the Tunstead to Oakleigh Sidings limestone hoppers.

 

 

 

 

37415 and 37419 pass Peak Forest South signal box. Paired class 37s were able to manage the 1 in 90 climb from Tunstead to Peak Forest without the use of a banking loco.

 

 

 

 

37415 and 37419 approach Peak Forest Station. The 985 feet summit lies just beyond the bridge at Peak Forest.

 

 

Thanks to Steve Sterland for a fine photo which, by co-incidence, provides a fine background and context for the model 37s on Peak Forest Revived. 

Plenty of detailing and weathering of the locos still awaits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by Fordbank
Restore some photos to this thread.

[Fordbank]

A Very Merry Christmas to All

                                                                                                               Photo Brian Dean

Edited August 9, 2022 by Fordbank

[joseph benjamin]

I couldn't build Peak Forest without the ICI hopper wagons, I built a rake of 10 Uncommon Kits wagons, more photos on ICI hopper wagon 4mm kit thread, some years ago. Then last year I bought a rake of the Hattons/Oxford Rail wagons, with the hopper internal detail these run empty whilst the Uncommon Kits run loaded with crushed and graded MR limestone ballast. I also used it for the track ballast as at the time nobody did limestone ballast and there's hundreds of tons of spent limestone ballast in Hazel Grove. 

Is it a requirement to own a cat if you model Peak Forest? Unfortunately ours died of old age a couple of years ago.

[joseph benjamin]

Part of Peak Forest road bridge has been rebuilt with engineers blue brick and thanks to Mr J M Bentley I've finally found out why. Back in the late 1950s a glut of coal meant about many thousands of tons of it were stored in Bold Venture quarry all being delivered by road and the passage of all these wagons damaged the bridge. Then in the 1960s the coal was transported to Dove Holes by road and loaded into railway wagons for transport to power stations. Do anybody recall this activity.

[Fordbank]

Part of Peak Forest road bridge has been rebuilt with engineers blue brick and thanks to Mr J M Bentley I've finally found out why. Back in the late 1950s a glut of coal meant about many thousands of tons of it were stored in Bold Venture quarry all being delivered by road and the passage of all these wagons damaged the bridge. Then in the 1960s the coal was transported to Dove Holes by road and loaded into railway wagons for transport to power stations. Do anybody recall this activity.

That's a bit of the history I did not know about. 

Thanks for adding it to the PF thread.

Cheers,

Andy

[pharrc20]

Part of Peak Forest road bridge has been rebuilt with engineers blue brick and thanks to Mr J M Bentley I've finally found out why. Back in the late 1950s a glut of coal meant about many thousands of tons of it were stored in Bold Venture quarry all being delivered by road and the passage of all these wagons damaged the bridge. Then in the 1960s the coal was transported to Dove Holes by road and loaded into railway wagons for transport to power stations. Do anybody recall this activity.

Someone told me about this not so long ago asked me if I had heard of coal traffic to Peak Forest but it transpired it was for storage as you described.

Regarding the bridge the Manchester west side wall went long ago as judged by the metal fencing now in place. The Derby side west wall overlooking the old station buildings now DB traincrew building was struck a few years ago by an artic truck trying to turn from Waterswallows road to cross the bridge. I'm suprised they don't put a width and weight restriction on the bridge really given the amount of trucks that pass over it.

Cheers Paul

[joseph benjamin]

Page 59 of The Buxton line part 2 by J M Bentley has three photos of the coal being loaded into I think 16 ton mineral wagons at Dove Holes station, according to the station master about 40 wagons a day. So I just had to write to J M Bentley who kindly filled in some details. Somebody must remember a fleet of 7 ton Bedford trucks trailing back and forth between Peak Forest and Dove Holes.

[newbryford]

Someone told me about this not so long ago asked me if I had heard of coal traffic to Peak Forest but it transpired it was for storage as you described.

Regarding the bridge the Manchester west side wall went long ago as judged by the metal fencing now in place. The Derby side west wall overlooking the old station buildings now DB traincrew building was struck a few years ago by an artic truck trying to turn from Waterswallows road to cross the bridge. I'm suprised they don't put a width and weight restriction on the bridge really given the amount of trucks that pass over it.

Cheers Paul

 

It could do with a speed restriction as well! 

[pharrc20]

It could do with a speed restriction as well!

Yep a speed restriction as well. Now where did I put that big pile of steaming hot fresh tarmac...? Lol

Paul

[joseph benjamin]

I thought you'd like to see a proper snow plough. 

[joseph benjamin]

Does anybody know when Peak Forest station lost it's name boards? Was it when it closed to passengers in March 1967? 

[Fordbank]

Peak Forest Name Boards

 

 

The above photo is dated 4th October 1965 in my records. The one below, judging by the gas lamp, is considerably older and shows the full name.

 

 

The station names boards may have lasted until the demolition of the Up Platform. The platform had gone by 1975 but I don't know when the demolition took place. I would be interested if anyone knows.

 

Andy

Edited August 9, 2022 by Fordbank

[joseph benjamin]

I agree about the 9F photo date, I suspect that the platforms didn't last long after the station closed in 1968. The pre war station signs were removed at the beginning of the war, as were all station names, place names, road signs etc, it must have made travelling to unfamiliar places interesting to say the least. I wonder if the guard or station staff shouted out the place name which would defeat the object of the exercise.

[joseph benjamin]

Oops, the station closed in 1967, and i think the platforms disappeared soon after. 

[joseph benjamin]

A bit of research reveals the platforms were still intact in May 1968. 

Seeing Fordham's efforts on scenery make my efforts look poor, scenery is not my preferred modelling and I'm easily distracted into building locos and stock. In the last few years I've built 10800, a Fowler 7F, the ex L and Y dynamometer car, 10 ICI hopper wagons and some signals. I'm in the process of completing dynamometer car DB 999500, see photo, then my workbench is clear. There will be no more stock building because some manufacturer will produce a RTR version.