Hi Dave,

Thanks for clearing that up, I knew there would be a simple explanation! I am right in believing that this special was run on more than one occasion and posible even with a MN?B)

The pictures do look great and nice to see a bit more of the future coaching stock!

Best Wishes

Paul

Paul,

I think it wil be quite a while before a MN appears - got to get the local locos finished first!

The problem with 8 is going to be the length of cassettes and fiddle-yard deck required. The longest "normal" train will be an engine + 3 suburban, or maybe the pick-up freight.. On this basis, 2 cassettes plugged end to end would allow for 6 (or maybe 7) 57' coaches for the wakes specials. Even so, the back-end cassette is likely to overhang the end of the layout and be vulnerable to knocks whilst in postion - and probably even more so for the returning departure (to Blackpool, Fleetwood or Llandidno - or even the east coast resorts, with a reversal at Greenfield?) - I'm thinking of a fold-up temporary extension to the cassette yard to accommodate this.

For the eastward bound services, it would be interesting to co-ordinate the necessary reversal at Greenfield with Coachman, in real time even? We just need to ensure we model the same stock (hint, hint, Larry, it would probably only take you a day or two to build a pair of duplicate rakes), so the train can depart from my layout and arrive/depart on his. The main stumbling block with this idea is that Coach will have built Greenfield, got fed up with it and moved on to the next project before I've even wired up the track on the next board!!

Cheers,

Dave.

Partly a vision of the future seeing as these locos were not rebuilt at the time of its visit to Delph, aka Holt, and partly a nightmare sorting out the 7 chains curve at Ladcastle after the WC had passed!

Anyway I'm suprised at your leaning towards things Bullied and you born on Goddard Street!

No problems with eastbound services. The train engine could be at the Delph end of an excursion and a LYR 0-6-0 could haul the lot to the end of the branch into Moorgate Halt. Except this halt would be a proper station serving Uppermill. The train would be hauled onto the Down main before setting off eastbound correct line with the LYR loco acting as Banker to Diggle....A definite necessity with a greasy Bullied Pacific!!

Incidentally the only rebuilt WC needed at Greenfield is a decent gents toilet!

On a serious note, the layout is coming along well and is beginning to look the part. Is Gravy busy building a great big mill now....?

Cheers,

Larry

PS: I think Vox Mill looks a bit too modern for Delph......

Hi Larry,

How are you?

It all sounds too technical to me when it comes to train formations and the like but very interesting and i suppose just as - if not more important to get right.

Re mill,lol but meeting up with David in the early New year.

Dave, the photos really are inspiring can't wait to get my teeth into my new layout, should be about ready for around 2025.

cheers

Peter

Larry,

Yes, for a Goddard Street lad, I'm at a bit of a loss to explain my liking for re-built Bullieds, only the re-builds, mind. I think it developed later based on aethetics - in my mind they're very handsome, modern looking loco's but not quite as extreme as BR standards. My infatuation even extends to being a part owner of one(35006)! As for 34027's appearance at Holt, it does involve something of a time-warp, as you say! - Modellers' license taken to extremes although, unlike Delph, Holt didn't loose its passenger service in 1955 - lasting till the Beeching era.

Thanks for the suggestions of how east bound excursions could have been worked using two locos. I'd assumed the train engine would haul the stock tender first to Greenfield and run round there (would that have been possible with the track layout?), before setting off east, back past the junction and on up to Diggle.

As I've mentioned previously, I've never liked the look of Bailey's Mill - far too dark and satanic (mind you, isn't that how mills are spposed to be?) - looming over the scene. So, whilst I decide what to do, the next building projects will be the row of houses behind the station and the cottage group at Dobcross (shown in your book) which I've moved near to the station throat, to act as a scenic break where the single line exits to the fiddle yard. As Peter has said, we'll be getting together in the New Year to discuss this in more detail.

Peter,

I see you are now in direct competition with me to see who can take longer to finish his layout!!!!!

Cheers,

Dave.

Hi Dave,

I'm barred due to the heart surgery from doing any lifting, joinery and the like. It's dead frustrating for an active lad (!) but the alyout building will have to wait until I am finally passed 'fit for service' next June.

It often puzzled me why the LMS did not make Moorgate the local station for Uppermill as it is ideally situated for the community, far better than Saddleworth. The trains could have reversed at Greenfield but it would have meant holding up traffic on the mainline, plus it is on a steep incline. Reversal might have had to take place in the safety of the Oldham Branch carriage sidings near Greenfield. Reversal at Moorgate would involve no shunting. Just a couple of crow whistles and off!

__________________________________________________________

Hi Peter,

Glad you are stll performing miracles with plastikard and paint.....I am rather envious of Delph now. But you'll have to have a word with Dave about his strange behavious concerning SR Pacifics, plus its not good form introducing foreigners to Delph, especially from Waterloo.

Interesting ot read you are building a new layout. Will this be a termus like the previous model? Will it be Lanky?

Cheers,

Larry

Hi Dave,

 

I'm barred due to the heart surgery from doing any lifting, joinery and the like. It's dead frustrating for an active lad (!) but the alyout building will have to wait until I am finally passed 'fit for service' next June.

 

It often puzzled me why the LMS did not make Moorgate the local station for Uppermill as it is ideally situated for the community, far better than Saddleworth. The trains could have reversed at Greenfield but it would have meant holding up traffic on the mainline, plus it is on a steep incline. Reversal might have had to take place in the safety of the Oldham Branch carriage sidings near Greenfield. Reversal at Moorgate would involve no shunting. Just a couple of crow whistles and off!

__________________________________________________________

 

Hi Peter,

 

Glad you are stll performing miracles with plastikard and paint.....I am rather envious of Delph now. But you'll have to have a word with Dave about his strange behavious concerning SR Pacifics, plus its not good form introducing foreigners to Delph, especially from Waterloo.

 

Interesting ot read you are building a new layout. Will this be a termus like the previous model? Will it be Lanky?

 

Cheers,

Larry

Larry,

Best wishes for your "fitness to run examination" next JUne - very frustrating, as you say, but it obviously doesn't prevent you working on your wonderful array of coaches!

As you can see, I'm taking unfair advantage of Sue's situation to leave sections of the layout on the lounge floor for extended periods! This has resulted in the replacement of Bailey's Mill by a scale replica of the Vox Mill (- it is a so called modelling amp!!!), as you have noted. This mill dates from the very latest era when mills no longer require windows as all - the necessary lighting is provided by digitally controlled internal lighting systems.

I'm not too keen on low level/table top height exhibition layouts and my intention is to have the track 1400 mm (4'-6") above ground level with the scene set in a "letter box slot" type presentation. Currently the layout is not just low level, it's a ground level presentation - makes roof detail absolutely critical, but obviates the need for any underframe detail! Don't think I'll pursue this arrangement!

I'm imune from Peter's admonishments about re-built Bullieds at Delph, but i do recognise that even if it stayed there for 30 years or more, it still wouldn't be accepted as a local! Perhaps if I added push-pull gear and used it on the Donkey......

And, therin lies a problem; the Delph DOnkey, but the Holt Donkey? Doesn't have quite the same alliterative appeal! Perhaps it would be the Horse, or the Hobit or Hopper? All reasonable suggestions most welcome.

Regards,

Dave.

Hi Dave,

 

I'm barred due to the heart surgery from doing any lifting, joinery and the like. It's dead frustrating for an active lad (!) but the alyout building will have to wait until I am finally passed 'fit for service' next June.

 

It often puzzled me why the LMS did not make Moorgate the local station for Uppermill as it is ideally situated for the community, far better than Saddleworth. The trains could have reversed at Greenfield but it would have meant holding up traffic on the mainline, plus it is on a steep incline. Reversal might have had to take place in the safety of the Oldham Branch carriage sidings near Greenfield. Reversal at Moorgate would involve no shunting. Just a couple of crow whistles and off!

__________________________________________________________

 

Hi Peter,

 

Glad you are stll performing miracles with plastikard and paint.....I am rather envious of Delph now. But you'll have to have a word with Dave about his strange behavious concerning SR Pacifics, plus its not good form introducing foreigners to Delph, especially from Waterloo.

 

Interesting ot read you are building a new layout. Will this be a termus like the previous model? Will it be Lanky?

 

Cheers,

Larry

 

 

Larry,

 

Best wishes for your "fitness to run examination" next June - very frustrating, as you say, but it obviously doesn't prevent you working on your wonderful array of coaches!

 

As you can see, I'm taking unfair advantage of Sue's situation to leave sections of the layout on the lounge floor for extended periods! This has resulted in the replacement of Bailey's Mill by a scale replica of the Vox Mill (- it is a so called modelling amp!!!), as you have noted. This mill dates from the very latest era when mills no longer require windows as all - the necessary lighting is provided by digitally controlled internal lighting systems.

 

I'm not too keen on low level/table top height exhibition layouts and my intention is to have the track 1400 mm (4'-6") above ground level with the scene set in a "letter box slot" type presentation. Currently the layout is not just low level, it's a ground level presentation - makes roof detail absolutely critical, but obviates the need for any underframe detail! Don't think I'll pursue this arrangement!

 

I'm immune to any admonishments from Peter about re-built Bullieds at Delph, but I do recognise that even if it stayed there for 30 years or more, it still wouldn't be accepted as a local! Perhaps if I added push-pull gear and used it on the Donkey......

And, therin lies a problem; the Delph Donkey, but the Holt Donkey? Doesn't have quite the same alliterative appeal! Perhaps it would be the Horse, or the Hobit or Hopper? All reasonable suggestions most welcome.

 

Regards,

 

Dave.

Perhaps one suggestion would be "get a grip on your use of capital letters"! I spotted several errors as soon as I had posted but can't find a way to edit my reply - unlike when you add a comment.

Dave.

hi Dave,

I keep looking at that last photograph and trying to visualise it in a completed stated eg, ballast, scenery etc its going to look superb, the shape of the baseboards will certainly play a big part in the presentation of the layout.

IMHO, I don't think the Vox amp as a backdrop will work somehow...lol

Have you thought about what lighting you would be using, i know its probably one of the last jobs in some respects but there is the theory that if the scenery is coloured whils't under the lighting used for the layout you get a more accurate representation.

In the past i have coloured the scenery and 'buildings' under a different light than what will be used on the layout and to find when all is set in stone and the layout lighting switvhed on, a different colour tone is represented.

Sometimes to our advantage but other times not, it was just a thought and perhaps something to think about.

ATB

Peter

Peter,<BR><BR>Thanks for the kind comments. I just hope I can match expectations with the finished (when will that be?) layout.<BR><BR>I take your point about Vox Mill - far too modern for the period of the layout. Perhaps a Fender Twin-reverb Mill or a Bassman Mill would be more in keeping?<BR><BR>For lighting, I intend to mount a series of spot-lights & maybe some fill-in strip lights behind the pelmet of the "letter box" surround. I must say I hadn't given too much thought to the details at this stage but had a general intention to use "day-light" types and use a similar lamp for illumination during painting/weathering od the scenics. Do you think it's so critical that I need to use the actual display lights for the painting? - Still, quite a while before I reach this stage.<BR>I've just started wiring the station board - all droppers attached (after finding a few un-used holes under the board, despite trying to work in a logical manner I'd managed to miss a few) and connected to the under-board bus-bars. Still got to solder the dropper/bus-bar joints, then it's on to wiring up the tag boards and inter-board/control panel jumpers. No doubt, this will look (and be!) every bit a complicated as the board already wired and commented on by Coachman.<BR><BR>Happy New Year,<BR><BR>Dave.