Red's Fumbling Bench

[RedGemAlchemist]

Hello. I am RedGemAlchemist, but you can just call me Red. New here, long time reader but only just joined. I've been modelling for years as general (Warhammer 40k) but only now been able to start building a model railway despite having wanted to for years. Well, living out in the middle of nowhere (aka mid Norfolk) gives me plenty of peace to do so (though sharing a house with three cats and my mother doesn't) and I've finally gotten round to at least attempting to build one. 

It's a freelance route, in the vein of my favourite members of this forum. Corbs, Nile and Edwardian have been big inspirations to me and thus that gives you some idea of what I'm probably going to be doing. In other words hacking apart RTR locos, bodging them into something interesting (or in my case probably incomprehensible - I'm a caretaker of an industrial yard, not an engineer) and probably failing to get any work done and procrastinating by going off topic or rambling as I am wont to do. 

So, without further ado, welcome to the badlands of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire and welcome to the Kelsby Light Railway, my probably borderline nonsensical fictional railway.
Here is what I have so far, as I didn't think of actually making this account earlier.

 

KLR No.1 (a slightly modified Triang Nellie, no idea if the chassis works and still not completely painted yet as I don't have the paint necessary to actually do the livery atm, so un-numbered works grey it is at the moment. Yes I know I forgot to remove the sculpted handrails before undercoating it, but I'm not removing them now and ruining a perfectly good undercoat and I personally can live with them just this once.);

and two of these old Hornby four-wheelers which I've painted into... something. Chocolate brown and bronze, which I quite like but I'm not sure about you guys. Judge me kindly please as I'm kind of playing by ear.

EDIT: I've tried but the pictures do NOT want to go the right way up, despite how I edit them. Not the flawless start I'd hoped for.
SECOND EDIT: Fixed it. Apparently converting it to a different file type works.

Edited March 20, 2018 by RedGemAlchemist

[Philou]

I like it - down to earth. Oh and by the way - welcome.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

 

PS: I love the models - Australian possibly ?

Edited February 11, 2018 by Philou

[Edwardian]

Welcome.

 

I look forward to this one!

 

As someone who lived for a number of years in the 'Badlands' of the North Cambridgeshire Fens, I was more than a little amused by your intro. As you appear to hail from East Norfolk, I assume you were brought up never to travel west of King's Lynn without a loaded revolver!

[RedGemAlchemist]

Welcome.

 

I look forward to this one!

 

As someone who lived for a number of years in the 'Badlands' of the North Cambridgeshire Fens, I was more than a little amused by your intro. As you appear to hail from East Norfolk, I assume you were brought up never to travel west of King's Lynn without a loaded revolver!

Wow. Edwardian is replying to my thread. You can't see this but I am grinning like an idiot right now. One of the RMWeb members I admire the work of most acknowledges my existence. My day is officially made.

Also, not quite. That's when you go to Thetford and towards Suffolk. King's Lynn is shotgun territory   

Personally, I like to think that Kelsby and its surroundings exist in the same "universe" as Castle Aching, unlikely as it is, only in (roughly and slightly fancifully) modern day rather than the Edwardian era. Of course this is purely personal opinion and one is free to disagree with my personal canon if and when they wish. Which I expect will be plenty. 

Trying really, REALLY hard not to fanboy at the moment. But I'm failing miserably I expect.

Edited February 12, 2018 by RedGemAlchemist

[RedGemAlchemist]

I like it - down to earth. Oh and by the way - welcome.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

 

PS: I love the models - Australian possibly ?

(Forgot to multiquote)

 

Norfolk, so really they should be facing backwards 

[Edwardian]

Wow. Edwardian is replying to my thread. You can't see this but I am grinning like an idiot right now. One of the RMWeb members I admire the work of most acknowledges my existence. My day is officially made.

Also, not quite. That's when you go to Thetford and towards Suffolk. King's Lynn is shotgun territory   

Personally, I like to think that Kelsby and its surroundings exist in the same "universe" as Castle Aching, unlikely as it is, only in (roughly and slightly fancifully) modern day rather than the Edwardian era. Of course this is purely personal opinion and one is free to disagree with my personal canon if and when they wish. Which I expect will be plenty. 

Trying really, REALLY hard not to fanboy at the moment. But I'm failing miserably I expect.

 

Aw, Shucks!

 

I am sure the Directors of the West Norfolk would be only too happy to consider a through service from the KLR.

 

I was reflecting only yesterday that there has traditionally not been that much standard gauge freelance, with notable exceptions, but that there seemed to be a healthy growth on RMWeb, what with Corbs's and NeilHB's Sudrian Exploits, Nile, and the very promising Great Southern Railway that has recently appeared in the Pre-Grouping section.  It seems that the genre is alive and well and living, as it were, in the folds of the map.  Glad that you are joining the adventure. 

[RedGemAlchemist]

Aw, Shucks!

 

I am sure the Directors of the West Norfolk would be only too happy to consider a through service from the KLR.

 

I was reflecting only yesterday that there has traditionally not been that much standard gauge freelance, with notable exceptions, but that there seemed to be a healthy growth on RMWeb, what with Corbs's and NeilHB's Sudrian Exploits, Nile, and the very promising Great Southern Railway that has recently appeared in the Pre-Grouping section.  It seems that the genre is alive and well and living, as it were, in the folds of the map.  Glad that you are joining the adventure. 

Hmm... I'd expect Kelsby, sitting as it does by along the Cambridgeshire border, may be a way away from the WNR, plus maybe a teeny bit small to be running anything major on it. Still we shall have to see... 

I agree. Imagination and the ability to invent something unique and interesting are in short supply elsewhere, but nice to see they are in some abundance here. Also not really looked at NeilHB's work or the Great Southern Railway, I'll have to check it out. Could be some interesting inspiration...

Thank you for making a young man feel truly welcome.

Edited February 12, 2018 by RedGemAlchemist

[Edwardian]

Hmm... I'd expect Kelsby, sitting as it does by along the Cambridgeshire border, may be a way away from the WNR, plus maybe a teeny bit small to be running anything major on it. Still we shall have to see... 

I agree. Imagination and the ability to invent something unique and interesting are in short supply elsewhere, but nice to see they are in some abundance here. Also not really looked at NeilHB's work on here, I'll have to check it out. Could be some interesting inspiration...

Thank you for making a young man feel truly welcome.

 

Well, don't forget that there was, at one stage, a plan to incorporate the WNR into a major east-west trunk route.  In the end, this didn't come off, and the WNR only got as far west as Bishop's Lynn, via a tramway jointly owned with the GER.  Another key part of the route would have utilised the Isle of Eldernell & Mereport Railway, brief particulars of which are found here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/109574-the-isle-of-eldernell-mereport-railway-1897/&do=findComment&comment=2250790

 

The final link was to be a short railway from Meadeshamstead (on the GN section of the East Coast Mainline) to the IoE&MR, but here things went awry; the Great Eldernell Mere was never drained and the GN refused a junction, so the Meadeshamstead & Guildenburgh line ran just a few miles from Meadeshampstead (Abbey) Station to the steamer quay at Guildenburgh for onward connection across the Mere to Eldernell Mereside. 

 

Funnily enough, I had planned a Nelly-bash for the M&GLR.  The locomotive livery of both the IoE&MR and the N&GLR is blue.  French blue for the former, a light blue for the latter.  WNR locomotive livery is green, which contrasts nicely with both the Ultramarine blue of the GE and the Golden Gorse of the M&GN.

 

Anyway, enough of all that!

 

I'd be interested to know where you place the KLR, of its history and the bit you intend to model.

[RedGemAlchemist]

Well, don't forget that there was, at one stage, a plan to incorporate the WNR into a major east-west trunk route.  In the end, this didn't come off, and the WNR only got as far west as Bishop's Lynn, via a tramway jointly owned with the GER.  Another key part of the route would have utilised the Isle of Eldernell & Mereport Railway, brief particulars of which are found here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/109574-the-isle-of-eldernell-mereport-railway-1897/&do=findComment&comment=2250790

 

The final link was to be a short railway from Meadeshamstead (on the GN section of the East Coast Mainline) to the IoE&MR, but here things went awry; the Great Eldernell Mere was never drained and the GN refused a junction, so the Meadeshamstead & Guildenburgh line ran just a few miles from Meadeshampstead (Abbey) Station to the steamer quay at Guildenburgh for onward connection across the Mere to Eldernell Mereside. 

 

Funnily enough, I had planned a Nelly-bash for the M&GLR.  The locomotive livery of both the IoE&MR and the N&GLR is blue.  French blue for the former, a light blue for the latter.  WNR locomotive livery is green, which contrasts nicely with both the Ultramarine blue of the GE and the Golden Gorse of the M&GN.

 

...

 

I'd be interested to know where you place the KLR, of its history and the bit you intend to model.

Hmm. I had forgotten about that point. Interesting, I will have to think about that.

The KLR has gone through several liveries through the years. The original was just a base pine green. The current livery (ies) are pine green with steel blue, steel blue with white and solid black. No.1 up there will use the pine green.

 

Right... the history and positioning of the KLR is complex. 

I'm finding it hard to find a map that I can use to make it clear where the KLR runs, either now or then. But originally it ran from Kelsby in Norfolk and to Telham Fen in Cambridgeshire. The bit I'll be modelling is the first couple of stops - Starting with Kelsby, then Hewe and finally to Alnerwick just on the Cambridgeshire side. The modern KLR extends a little further, although with the Fens now being protected rebuilding the line past stop 5 (Berkham) isn't really an option. The line is not astonishingly long really, probably about eight miles at its very maximum and about six now. 

The original KLR opened in 1903 to a rather lukewarm reception (there is a story I have written about the opening day which I will probably include later) and was really the brainchild/personal plaything and folly of the local peer, Baronet David Bradleigh (Hewe Hall, the Bradleigh family's home, is clearly visible from the line between Hewe and Alnerwick) and being the community minded sort decided to build a line to serve the local villages. He'd planned to extend it further than Telham Fen but died in 1913 before he got the chance. By this time though his son took over and the locals all had grown to regard the railway with affection. The nicknames for the locomotives (two by this point) even became their official names (one of these - the original opening day locomotive, No.1 "Bulldog" - still exists and still is regularly used on the line despite being over 110 years old).

The railway kept running through the Great War, but when the Grouping happened all hell broke loose as the Bradleighs did not want to give it up. Eventually a deal was made and it became an odd joint ownership between the Bradleighs (who had more than enough money to make it work) and the LNER, who would occasionally dump excess locomotives, usually barely working ones that it was not practical to repair, onto their hands. The KLR would then repair these using whatever they had, not really being in a position to turn down the extra motive power, or dismantle them and cobble them together into something else for the same reasons, and soldier along as always.

In the BR days however, the railway began to suffer and eventually the Beeching Axe fell and hit the line. However, protests led by the Bradleigh family and the locals managed to save the line - just. However, they were now totally on their own, and powered by a fleet of cobbled together and failing locomotives. 

Somehow, the line survived, even struggling past the official death of steam, and continues powered by its little fleet of largely unique, often bizarre self-constructed locomotives, a clumped together collection of stock consisting of whatever the Bradleighs could get their hands on, and a never-say-die, can do attitude that has allowed it to survive - although now assisted in part by English Heritage. Far from being purely tourist, this is still a working railway thanks to the very isolated nature of the villages it serves, often moving around livestock between markets, aggregates to the small quarry in Alnerwick, or odds and ends from all over the place. It remains truly a curiosity amongst the many railways of Great Britain.

 

Whimsical, I know, but a man can dream. I shall be modelling it as it exists now, and the current fleet at that. 

Edited February 12, 2018 by RedGemAlchemist

[Northroader]

This railway sounds like good clean fun in a pleasant setting. I’d be interested in a performance report on your Nellie when it goes onto tracks. I’ve got a couple picked up in the local collectors fair which have decided to go topheavy on a 0n16.5 venture, and it would be nice to hear how you’re getting on with it. Good luck with the line.

Edited February 12, 2018 by Northroader

[RedGemAlchemist]

This railway sounds like good clean fun in a pleasant setting. I’d be interested in a performance report on your Nellie when it goes onto tracks. I’ve got a couple picked up in the local collectors fair which have decided to go topheavy on a 0n16.5 venture, and it would be nice to hear how you’re getting on with it. Good luck with the line.

Thanks a bunch! Northroader too? Getting some real heavy hitters in here, my word.

Good clean fun in a pleasant setting was entirely the idea. And sorry, but it might be a while before I manage to get No.1 tested. Haven't got any track and a teeny bit short on funds at the moment, especially having just bought quite a few bits of stock that are still floating in the ether of the Royal Mail as we speak.

Edited February 12, 2018 by RedGemAlchemist

[Edwardian]

It remains truly a curiosity amongst the many railways of Great Britain.

 

 

 

Perfect!

[BlueLightning]

Just found this, and I must say it wounds like a brilliant idea!! I look forward to seeing your ideas develop!!

[Tony Davis]

Following this with interest, living as I do, in the very badlands that you speak of.

[Edwardian]

Following this with interest, living as I do, in the very badlands that you speak of.

 

A great location on the GE-GN Joint Line with the viaduct and elevated station. 

[Tony Davis]

Sadly no more. Ed, or should I say, Mr Wardian

[Edwardian]

Sadly no more. Ed, or should I say, Mr Wardian

 

Yes, but the end of the viaduct was evident last time I was there.

 

I don't know why, but I do find the name 'Rings End' endlessly amusing!

[Annie]

Nice work on the old Triang 'Nellie'.  Many years ago I converted one of these to an 0-6-0 by using a Triang TT chassis and fitting two rail Hornby Dublo wheels and axles to it.  It wasn't at all difficult to do and the TT chassis fitted like it was meant to go there.  The overall appearance of the conversion was very good and looked quite plausible. Unfortunately someone stole it from me while at the model railway club I belonged to at the time which was very upsetting.  

[Tony Davis]

Yep, still there, looks like Mr. Perna's plans were thwarted; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-22372492

[RedGemAlchemist]

Just got back from the cinema (Black Panther was awesome) and... wow. The amount of support is overwhelming, especially considering I mentioned at the start that I've not got a colossal idea of what I'm really doing and am just playing by ear. 
Well, by ear and with the aid of you guys, several issues of Railway Modeller and Model Rail Magazine and a half-destroyed book on railway modelling from the late 70s, but that's besides the point.
Thank you all so much. Your faith in me, while possibly slightly errant, is certainly motivating. I already have a few plans on my workbench which will be posted about as and when I get the time. Work has been a real pain. It had to be the week I start talking about it online didn't it?

And responding to the past few comments (once again forgot to quote) I am actually familiar with said area around Guyhirn and with said viaduct. I was actually planning to potentially construct something similar for Hewe Station.,, We shall see... 
(By that I mean "I'll consider it and it'll either not happen or look terrible due to my lack of technical expertise...") 
And I've noticed that modifying Nellies seems to be popular on here if Corbs' Pugbash thread and the amount I see on other peoples' workbench threads are anything to go by. Trying to fit an 0-6-0 or 2-4-0 chassis has been a backup option if I, being the rubbish electrician I am, can't get the original Nellie motor to work.

Edited February 13, 2018 by RedGemAlchemist

[Edwardian]

 

...... and a half-destroyed book on railway modelling from the late 70s, but that's besides the point.

 

 

If I can presume to make one recommendation?

 

Iain Rice's Railway Modelling the Realistic Way would be my chosen 'bible'. Covers all the basics, and helps you to think about what you want.  Though giving broad coverage, being Rice, the emphasis is away from top link locos charging round ovals of track, and more concern with now something modest might be done well. 

[RedGemAlchemist]

If I can presume to make one recommendation?

 

Iain Rice's Railway Modelling the Realistic Way would be my chosen 'bible'. Covers all the basics, and helps you to think about what you want.  Though giving broad coverage, being Rice, the emphasis is away from top link locos charging round ovals of track, and more concern with now something modest might be done well. 

Recommendation duly taken note of, thank you. I'll keep an eye out for it if I can find it. The book I have (the St. Michaels Encyclopedia of Model Railways) is pretty concise but it'll be nice to have a different perspective.

 

Anyway, two of my orders arrived while I was at work and I have discovered another old locomotive from my younger days. You see my dad had a train set he built for me and my two brothers. A kiddy thing, Thomas the Tank Engine level, which is where the Nellie which is now "Bulldog" and the two coaches came from, as well as a truck that I have yet to show on here. This GER S69 was part of an attempt in my teenage years to replicate it that never came to fruition. I love the S69 but it's not... well, it's not weird enough. It's not me enough. I have a very odd idea for what to do with it, but as a nice little nod I'll keep its former life as an S69 in its story. I'll attempt at some point to Photoshop a concept of what I plan to call KLR No.2 (name pending, as I have two names but can't decide on which.)

The orders were the remainder of my branch train to go with the two four-wheelers - a Triang LMS suburban brake coach with a badly painted rear panel and those weird half-loop couplings Triang did for a bit, and a Triang horsebox that I will be using as a luggage van. These shall be painted milk chocolate with a black roof to match the other coaches. But first I need to clean the red paint off the rear panel as I swear it's painted in poster paint and it's coming off on my hand as I look it over. Stay tuned. 

[RedGemAlchemist]

Rough Photoshop concept of KLR No.2, which I've decided to name "Wild Rover". 

It's a strange beast. A S69's cab, splashers and driving wheels with a cut-and-shut footplate and a much smaller boiler, giving it a gangly, slightly disproportionate look - which was intentional of course; in keeping with the KLR's story it's meant to look like it was cobbled together from odds and ends. Colours are not accurate obviously, and I won't actually be using a J15 boiler as I don't HAVE a J15 boiler. I'll be cobbling together something from odds and ends, as is my style.

This should be fun to try, even if I fail. If I succeed, I'll have an unusual, fun little 0-6-0 tender locomotive.

Edited February 14, 2018 by RedGemAlchemist

[Northroader]

I can see Edwardian putting that on his list of desirable locos for the WNR?

[RedGemAlchemist]

I can see Edwardian putting that on his list of desirable locos for the WNR?

You're right, the concept mockup wouldn't look out of place on the WNR. My Photoshop skills aren't perfect, but I think I've got the idea across.