Modelling 1960s & 1970s Diesels & Electrics

[Phil Bullock]

Hmmmm D6964 from Stratford was as common as muck to us London boys as were the rest of Stratford's entire allocation. Not sure I saw D828 Magnificent too often either, our pests at 81A were Swift, Tenacious, Temeraire, and Royal Oak. Whilst almost every time I went to Clapham Junction, D817 Foxhound would appear at some point of the day on an Exeter service. As for my last Peak, she was D138 finally bagged at Derby Works. Don't recall my last Brush Four but think it was one from Immingham. But my last Crompton was D6582, last Hymek D7038 and my last Deltic was D9004 the latter eluded me for far too long somehow. Although I most likely saw it beforehand as a speed blur passing in the opposite direction whilst on the ECML going in the opposite direction. Then one happy half term it turned up at last at the Cross, to save my shame finally. Whilst common Westerns in London for me seemed to be Talisman, Trooper, Firebrand and Marquis but I don't recall my last one as they seemed so easy to clear back then as were the Warships. However for London lads trying to get all of your Claytons and Class 26s, that was a real challenge and a half, even though it seemed every weekend all the Claytons were stopped and in long lines at various locations, it was hard to find the ones you wanted, although in the end all you had to do was visit, Millerhill, Haymarket, Polmadie, Glasgow Works and Ardrossan over a weekend to bag all bar two of the survivors by Easter of 1972.

 

The missing pair were at Derby RTC I think by the way.

 

Indeed happy days.

 

Kevin

 

 

Only just dropped on this thread - a bit old but still a goof one to resurrect

 

Wouldn't be at all surprised that D7038 was a late cop - always seemed to be in accidents up this neck of the woods, Hartlebury 1967 and Ashchurch 1969 so must have spent a good bit of time in Swindon works....

 

Phil

[Strathwood]

Only just dropped on this thread - a bit old but still a goof one to resurrect

 

Wouldn't be at all surprised that D7038 was a late cop - always seemed to be in accidents up this neck of the woods, Hartlebury 1967 and Ashchurch 1969 so must have spent a good bit of time in Swindon works....

 

Phil

No doubt all of my visits to Swindon coincided with D7038 being out and about in Gloucestershire or Worcestershire somewhere at the time, in the end, I only bagged it just before it was cut up such was its determination to avoid my attempts clear my Hymeks. Easy to guess which other three Type 3s that eluded me and I suspect a large number of other spotters from the era too.

 

Kevin

Edited December 30, 2017 by Strathwood

[br2975]

 As I only have my notes from 1970, I must have been in the right places at the right time ?

 

My books show I saw D7038 on the following occasions;

 

04/05/1971 Ely Main Line
15/05/1971 Cardiff General
04/03/1972 Bristol
18/03/1972 Cardiff General
02/09/1972 Bristol, Bath Rd. 82A

.

Brian R

[jonny777]

D7038 got about a bit, because I first saw it at Exeter St Davids on 22nd August 1969. 

[Chris M]

This is the first time I’ve seen this thread I’m left wondering what Kevin did about building a new layout. Did a new one get built or is it still a project waiting in the wings? Any chance of an update? My advice would have been stick with n gauge and get yourself a magnifying glass with led light surround for the detail work. That’s what I do so I can still run reasonable length trains in a smallish space.

 

 

This layout is 7ft by 3ft 3ins

 

 

Other classes of loco are available.

Edited January 25, 2018 by Chris M

[BrushVeteran]

I can see this developing into a something of a  thread of nostalgia, certainly for some of us oldies!

 

Although my interest in diesels started from about 1959 I didn't really start taking down numbers until August 1963 whilst I was staying with relatives in Bristol. On Monday 5th August, the week of the Great Train Robbery, I found myself on Temple Meads station for the day and noted the following:-

 

BR/Sulzer Type 4 'Peak'  D17;D30;D32;D46;D96.

BR/Swindon Type 4 'Warship' D816;D820

NBL Type 4 'Warship' D841;D858;D859;D864;D865

Shunters D2145;D3002;D3182;D3503;D3750

NBL Type 2 D6351;D6356;D6357

Beyer-Peacock Type 3 'Hymek' D7001;D7003;D7005;D7011;D7028;D7042;D7046;D7070

 

By the end of the week, on 9th, I had to make my way home to Oxford on my own by train, which provided me with another number taking opportunity with the following being noted:-

 

Bristol  D19;D21;D29;D31;D34;D37;D38;D39;D41;D178

            D800;D803;D804;D807;D809;D811-14;D817;D819;D821-23;D827;D831;D834;D839;D842;D846;D848;D854;D860;D868

            D1012;D1013;D1018

            D6345;D6350;D6353

            D7000;D7002;D7004;D7012;D7015;D7017-20;D7025;D7044;D7047;D7051;D7063;D7071

 

Swindon  D604;  D826;D828-9;D836-8;D845;D847;D857;D870

                D1019;D1024;D1051;D1054

                D6349

                D7014;D7021

 

Didcot   D856;D867;

             D1040;D1050;D1052;D1056,D1058;D1060;D1064

             D3967;D3972

             D6355

             D6523;D6527;D6546

             D7022;D7027

 

Oxford  D1002;D1039

             D3959;D3964

             D6326;D6354

             D6530

             D7013;D7048;D7049;D7079;D7083

 

What would you see these days. With all of these models being commercially still available I can see the attraction in modelling this era. Unfortunately at that time I wasn't interested in steam and often felt myself being a loner on  Oxford station at least until steam had finished. Now you don't see anybody.............................so it is down to modelling!

[Strathwood]

This is the first time I’ve seen this thread I’m left wondering what Kevin did about building a new layout. Did a new one get built or is it still a project waiting in the wings? Any chance of an update? My advice would have been stick with n gauge and get yourself a magnifying glass with led light surround for the detail work. That’s what I do so I can still run reasonable length trains in a smallish space.

 

377716DC-6E40-48E5-9208-D55036DC45BB.jpeg

 

This layout is 7ft by 3ft 3ins

 

 

Other classes of loco are available.

Having collected odds and ends forever and never finding the time in between writing books to actually get something built and running I have fallen into the easy mould of building a small Western Region branchline through station influenced by Staverton to be called Strathwood (off course). This way I can run steam and the odd Class 22 and bubble car to amuse myself in those very odd moments when my long list of things to do is getting shorter than a couple of feet long. Otherwise I have decided I will just end up collecting endless stuff and not get anything done. All that said I am still at the gathering in stage and will make a start on the baseboards during the summer when its a bit warmer in the garage, living in Inverness it tends towards cold at this time of year, besides I have still to get one of my other loves out of the garage first (an MGB).

 

Once I have made a start I will start a regular blog to prove to those interested and to myself I can make some progress at last.

 

TTFN

 

Kevin

[caradoc]

Didcot   D856;D867;

             D1040;D1050;D1052;D1056,D1058;D1060;D1064

             D3967;D3972

             D6355

             D6523;D6527;D6546

             D7022;D7027

 

Oxford  D1002;D1039

             D3959;D3964

             D6326;D6354

             D6530

             D7013;D7048;D7049;D7079;D7083

 

What would you see these days. With all of these models being commercially still available I can see the attraction in modelling this era. Unfortunately at that time I wasn't interested in steam and often felt myself being a loner on  Oxford station at least until steam had finished. Now you don't see anybody.............................so it is down to modelling!

 

When I travelled from Paddington to Oxford last Friday (26th January), IIRC there was one Class 66 stabled at Didcot and another waiting the road north with a car train, and two Class 66 at Hinksey Yard. A far cry from your trip BrushVeteran, and indeed ny spotting days at Oxford which started in 1971 (when 3959 was still one of Oxford's shunters).On the other hand, the passenger service from Oxford now is more frequent that at any time in history; 4 fast trains per hour to Reading, 2 fast trains per hour to Paddington, 2 stopping trains per hour to Didcot (service currently amended due the electrification hiatus), 2 trains per hour to Marylebone and Birmingham, at least one train per hour to Southampton, and for much of the day 1 train per hour to Worcester. It's just a pity the trains themselves are less interesting !

[Strathwood]

A very much delayed update as I have been too busy with, Covid issues, ageing parents' and dealing with the inevitable for us all when the reaper calls finally and claims them, then the dealing with estates etc, not to mention other interests, family matters and work.

 

But having been encouraged last month, to clear out my den, office, junk room called various things by my other half, to then redecorate it and sell on the shabby collection of mis-matched old bookcases, drawers, desks etc. Finally, to turn them into a big and heavy pile of flat pack from Ikea (other websites are available but not as popular it seems) to realise a properly functioning office space at last (does this sound at all familiar, if so, read on).

 

This resulted in a focusing of the mind and ideas around just how much space was realistically left to do some modelling in, as the prospect of moving back into a much bigger home of the type, which was sold over a decade ago, made no sense at all considering our own ages with children having flown the nest. Who needs to move to give them an excuse to fly back home again, especially when herself had already bagged one bedroom of the four as a sewing/craft room and another is my den. The thoughts of starting afresh with a new garden again were likely to preclude any free modelling time at all, so the anchor has been dropped, we stay put.

 

Clearly the ideas of watching the trains go by in the now somewhat confined available free space housing my 1000+ book library, albeit now all neatly shelved, was doomed before it ever really got beyond scraps of paper, a pen and a tape measure. This same fate has also befallen all realistic ideas of either a WR, SR or ScR branch line layouts too. Leaving the possibilities of any one of these three as the sensible winner with what little space is left.

 

A. 1800mm x 400mm London Tram layout (could still be configured as watching the trams go by layout, just...

or

B. 1800mm x 400mm 1950s South West London steam shed layout.

or

C. 1800mm x 400mm 1967-8 Diesel stabling point, could be region neutral with careful design, to allow a wide selection of diesels.

 

Slim pickings indeed.

 

Still sat on the fence after so many years of armchair modelling and daydreaming, for far too long.

 

Before anyone says what about the roof space, we live in Inverness, it tends towards cold here in the winter and much of the rest of the year too, besides the prospect of clambering up and down loft ladders is not one for me, a squirrel I am not. Likewise, for the double garage, which is devoted to one car, my workshop and decades of accumulated crap. Every time I lob stuff out, within a few months, we have to trot off to B&Q or similar, hunting for same widget for household repairs etc which I had thrown out a few months beforehand ... Another recent revelation is once the layout baseboard and surrounds are built, ALL remaining widgets are either being gifted to the kids for their garages and sheds, or the tip. Instead, I will settle for tidiness and freed up space with the reality of only keeping essential widgets hereafter. Next, how does one establish what are the essential widgets?

 

Answers please...

 

Likewise, towards can either ideas A or B every really beat idea C?

 

Kevin

[caradoc]

Not necessarily regionally neutral, but a diesel stabling point based on Ranelagh Bridge or Kings  Cross would make an interesting model, depending whether you prefer the WR or the ECML!

 

[Strathwood]

Hmm, both to be truthful, not forgetting Cambridge Street, Liverpool Street etc either. I have to say it does all attract to relive one's youth and pop back to 1967-8 all over again.

 

Kevin

[sb67]

On 12/08/2023 at 17:09, Strathwood said:

A very much delayed update as I have been too busy with, Covid issues, ageing parents' and dealing with the inevitable for us all when the reaper calls finally and claims them, then the dealing with estates etc, not to mention other interests, family matters and work.

 

But having been encouraged last month, to clear out my den, office, junk room called various things by my other half, to then redecorate it and sell on the shabby collection of mis-matched old bookcases, drawers, desks etc. Finally, to turn them into a big and heavy pile of flat pack from Ikea (other websites are available but not as popular it seems) to realise a properly functioning office space at last (does this sound at all familiar, if so, read on).

 

This resulted in a focusing of the mind and ideas around just how much space was realistically left to do some modelling in, as the prospect of moving back into a much bigger home of the type, which was sold over a decade ago, made no sense at all considering our own ages with children having flown the nest. Who needs to move to give them an excuse to fly back home again, especially when herself had already bagged one bedroom of the four as a sewing/craft room and another is my den. The thoughts of starting afresh with a new garden again were likely to preclude any free modelling time at all, so the anchor has been dropped, we stay put.

 

Clearly the ideas of watching the trains go by in the now somewhat confined available free space housing my 1000+ book library, albeit now all neatly shelved, was doomed before it ever really got beyond scraps of paper, a pen and a tape measure. This same fate has also befallen all realistic ideas of either a WR, SR or ScR branch line layouts too. Leaving the possibilities of any one of these three as the sensible winner with what little space is left.

 

A. 1800mm x 400mm London Tram layout (could still be configured as watching the trams go by layout, just...

or

B. 1800mm x 400mm 1950s South West London steam shed layout.

or

C. 1800mm x 400mm 1967-8 Diesel stabling point, could be region neutral with careful design, to allow a wide selection of diesels.

 

Slim pickings indeed.

 

Still sat on the fence after so many years of armchair modelling and daydreaming, for far too long.

 

Before anyone says what about the roof space, we live in Inverness, it tends towards cold here in the winter and much of the rest of the year too, besides the prospect of clambering up and down loft ladders is not one for me, a squirrel I am not. Likewise, for the double garage, which is devoted to one car, my workshop and decades of accumulated crap. Every time I lob stuff out, within a few months, we have to trot off to B&Q or similar, hunting for same widget for household repairs etc which I had thrown out a few months beforehand ... Another recent revelation is once the layout baseboard and surrounds are built, ALL remaining widgets are either being gifted to the kids for their garages and sheds, or the tip. Instead, I will settle for tidiness and freed up space with the reality of only keeping essential widgets hereafter. Next, how does one establish what are the essential widgets?

 

Answers please...

 

Likewise, towards can either ideas A or B every really beat idea C?

 

Kevin

 

Have you seen this layout?

http://www.cheltmodrail.org.uk/layout.php?LKey=364

Based on Liverpool St but could easily be another region, fantastic micro layout. 

[Strathwood]

Great bit of spotting, thanks.

 

Kevin

[HillsideDepot]

1 hour ago, sb67 said:

 

Have you seen this layout?

http://www.cheltmodrail.org.uk/layout.php?LKey=364

Based on Liverpool St but could easily be another region, fantastic micro layout. 

Thanks - London Road Loco Sidings is my micro 🙂

Loco stabling points are, understandably, popular subjects for layouts, but I was looking for something a little different to the norm. Liverpool Street, with its cramped layout, locos parked across points, and great scenic breaks on 3 sides got my attention and the layout grew from there - even if I moved it to the Western Region! 

 

 

 

 

 

It's not all diesels though, King George V was active on the Western in the 1970s

 

Finally, a 1970's style 110 film shot!

[sb67]

8 hours ago, HillsideDepot said:

Thanks - London Road Loco Sidings is my micro 🙂

Loco stabling points are, understandably, popular subjects for layouts, but I was looking for something a little different to the norm. Liverpool Street, with its cramped layout, locos parked across points, and great scenic breaks on 3 sides got my attention and the layout grew from there - even if I moved it to the Western Region! 

 

 

 

 

 

It's not all diesels though, King George V was active on the Western in the 1970s

 

Finally, a 1970's style 110 film shot!

 

I've long been a fan of your layout. You're right about loco stabling points, I love the way you've taken a recognizable, main line station and turned it into a micro layout! and without compromising the crediblity at all.