On 09/11/2021 at 19:03, RonnieS said:

 

Local or "pick up" Freights were a feature of the line 

 

 

 

 

 

As Listed by BR(WR)

On 17/11/2021 at 18:38, RonnieS said:

The entrance and exit to the fiddle yard are disguised with Pipe bridges.

 

More Mike Peabody shots . Sort of back to the future! Coal traffic predominated.

Michael Portillo visiting!

More Freight

On 14/11/2021 at 18:14, RonnieS said:

 

The kickbacks I mentioned. A very short freight train, an A E C railcar, an Inspection saloon and an 8 coach race special.

And from inside

I had not done any modelling for ages so in an attempt to recapture my "mojo" I paid a visit to my long time buddy; Tony Wright

Oh Wow!

I hadn't looked at this for ages. Sorry for your wait I'll check and get back to you ASAP.

Here we go

The wagon kits I built during the Lockdown 2 years ago are now (finally) going through the paint shops.

First up 4 grey vans to expand the unfitted van train.

On 19/11/2021 at 15:35, RonnieS said:

 

 

The Diesel era photograph is by Mike Peabody; who also took most of the other Diesel era pics on this thread. The loco shed was owned, post 1947, by the NCB. Both the shed road and the line to the left of it continued  into the Old Mills Colliery complex. There was then a crossover and the lines fanned out into 5 parallel tracks, At least  3 of these were served by overhead loading. Beyond this was a series of crossovers and spurs. A relatively large yard and, as the pit employed 320 people, a productive one.

 

In the early 50s there was a NCB Rushton Hornsby loco stationed here, but later on? I don't know. In a 1959 photograph no (now preserved) 4555 is shunting loaded wagons within the complex. There is a toad brake van in the spurs. In a 1960 Ivo Peters shot a pannier  hauls 16 loaded coal wagons as the "4.15 Old Mills to Bristol goods"

 

A mate just sent me this

On 24/09/2022 at 08:51, RonnieS said:

The wagon kits I built during the Lockdown 2 years ago are now (finally) going through the paint shops.

First up 4 grey vans to expand the unfitted van train.

I have to say it is almost impossible to post because of a  obscured screen! I would never deal with DIGITRAINS because of this, It is the most annoying thing I have come across. However one must try.

Well the lockdown wagons are almost finished just requiring a coat of dirty matt varnish to finish. However the weather is against me as I fear a "bloom" if I spray at the moment.

I have purchased Rob Kinsey's milk train at "mates rates". As a picture is wort a thousand words here goes >>

On 23/11/2022 at 19:33, RonnieS said:

I have to say it is almost impossible to post because of a  obscured screen! I would never deal with DIGITRAINS because of this, It is the most annoying thing I have come across. However one must try.

 

Well the lockdown wagons are almost finished just requiring a coat of dirty matt varnish to finish. However the weather is against me as I fear a "bloom" if I spray at the moment.

 

I have purchased Rob Kinsey's milk train at "mates rates". As a picture is wort a thousand words here goes >>

 

Great! Thanks to Andy or Whoever removed the Digitrains pollution. I can now see what I posted.

On 26/11/2022 at 07:13, RonnieS said:

Great! Thanks to Andy or Whoever removed the Digitrains pollution. I can now see what I posted.

Oh No it's back!

On 08/12/2022 at 22:58, RonnieS said:

Oh No it's back!

Cured again!

A new camera has been acquired. A double edged sword in that it shows the faults more

I think the camera is going to be good with a LOT more practice?

Having far too many wagons I had almost decided to eBay the last few unbuilt kits but a mate sent me a photo of a "Taunton Concrete" wagon at Frome so  back to the workbench!

I always build batches so the last 4 will be done. 

Well! Only 3 got built as the "Taunton Concrete" wagon snapped! I had had it in stock for a while and the plastic had gone brittle. No great loss as I have 3 times as many wagons than I need.

Well I have had a break from this layout as I got involved on  https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/178790-the-bognor-regis-club-american-layout/but I have a few additions planned for soon.

Model Railway couplings are a personal choice. I have chosen (in the main) to go for a simple hook and bar made from 0.5mm wire blackened with a spirit based marker. This is all the fixed rake stock. There are a few dozen or so of the "Sprat and Winkle" magnetic couplings. Here an empty cattle wagon has been dropped off because of a "hot box". It will go to the nearby Marcroft wagon works Radstock for attention.

On 09/11/2021 at 19:06, RonnieS said:

The Bristol and North Somerset Railway had a rather convoluted history. Opened in 1873, it joined an existing branch from Frome to Radstock North.

Passenger stations on the line

Brislington

Whitchurch Halt

Pensford

Clutton

Hallatrow

Farrington Gurney Halt

Midsomer Norton and Welton

Radstock

Mells Road

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Old Mills  was situated between Midsomer Norton and Farrington Gurney Halt

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

The line's main traffic was coal and commuting in and out of Bristol. There was also cattle, stone traffic, profitable parcels traffic and a wagon works at Radstock. Passenger traffic ceased on the line in 1959, with complete closure of the line in 1973 following the closure of the last colliery in the Somerset Coalfield at Kilmersdon. However circa 1966 a connection to the S and D line at Radstock was built!

According to various sources it was a Dotted Red or Dotted Blue route restriction? I think Dotted Red as 42xx and 56xx tanks were noted working the line. In any event later in its history Western Diesels worked some traffic. Therefore route 5?

As a pre-teen I remember reading that that railway modelling was a hobby “where realism and imagination are friends” so taking the alternative history path I have taken liberties.

 

Assumptions (or the tongue in cheek history)

 

Realising that Bristol-Frome was a useful diversion route BR(WR) upgraded the line to Red in 1955. At the same time the connection to the S& D was installed. Unlike reality the connection also allowed traffic from Bath to Bristol. A useful alternative for light engines to and from St Phillip’s shed and empty stock from Green Park to Temple Meads.

Instead of abolishing local passenger traffic on the line it was reorganised and rationalised by replacing the spaced out 2/3 coach trains with more frequent 1 coach autos and single car DMUs. The ex GWR AEC units operated in reality (timetabled as the Bruton Diesel) but the class 122 and the 128 parcels cars are a work of fiction. However, both would have been justified.

It wouuld appear I am not on my own with "pie in the sky" 

Q Wikipedeia 

"Future potential reopening"

Numerous proposals have been made to reopen the railway line in some form, most involving the still-existing branch line from Frome to Radstock. A consultation report produced by Halcrow Group in 2014 outlines the feasibility reinstating service on that branch which was estimated to cost £40 million in 2013. Furthermore, the possibility of opening a heritage railway line has been discussed.

The former line through Bristol via Brislington and Whitchurch has been described by pressure group Transport for Greater Bristol as 'technically feasible' but would require a large land acquisition budget due to most of the old route being built over.

In January 2019, Campaign for Better Transport released a report identifying the line from Frome to Radstock as Priority 2 for reopening. Priority 2 is for those lines which require further development or a change in circumstances (such as housing developments).

After a big rest from Old Mills (trying to catch up on holidays missed during the Pandemic) I am catching up on paused projects. First of these is tender pick ups for a few locos. My first thought was to experiment on a Bachmann Collett goods spare tender using the DCC concepts thingies. Far too much drag............back to the drawing board!

I might try the 9B pencil trick  or Peco electrolube before giving up though?

On 03/04/2022 at 10:18, RonnieS said:

I rather like Collett 2-6-0s, however the Dapol offering is very light-footed. I am scratching my head on how to add a bit more weight. I have 3 of them. One I purchased at full price, one I purchased at bargain price and one was a gift from Tony Wright (part of a bit of "horse trading")

I did add some lead to improve the haulage.  Under the floor of the cab is a void...you can get 10g in there. Also under the DCC facility plug in the smokebox...another 11g.  A Masterpiece crew (being metal) add a bit more. Still spins the wheels a bit at 32 wagons but surefooted on 29.