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The locomotive history of Charlie Strong's yard.

Ruston & Hornsby 165DE (1st)

This 165HP diesel arrived in 1975, from a shipyard in the North East of England. It was only recorded working a couple of times, before being shunted into the scrap line. A shortage of motive power at Shelby Group's subsidiary, White Peak Limestone & Tarmacadam Ltd. saw it taken into the Watery Lane workshop for servicing and an overhaul of the brakes. IRS records show it as being seen on  the 10th of August 1976 on the back of a Shelby Haulage low-loader at Stafford Services on the M6. A 19
Ruston

Ruston in A

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Up the Line - 1918

Who Said Hornby Didn't Do 24.5mm Track?

As my posts on this project have been a bit few and far between I think a quick catch up is in order - 7mm scale Dudley trams running on 24.5mm track and starting on the rolling stock first. Although I am quite prepared to hand build the real track I really needed something a bit quicker and simpler for to test out the tram chassis design. At the end of the day if we can't get the trams running properly we will not proceed with the project. Set track would be ideal but unfortunately Hornby don't
KH1

KH1 in Up the Line

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The locomotive history of Charlie Strong's yard.

The Brown Peckett

This W5 Peckett, of indeterminate age, was registered with the British Transport Commission and despite the steam ban arrived at the yard in 1973 under its own steam, via BR metals. It's former workplace was just up the line at Small Heath gas works. It was a regular performer at Strong's and was found to be useful in the winter months, with its Stones turbogenerator and large electric lamps.   In1977 a group of enthusiasts attempted to buy it, but found the frame was bent and it also
Ruston

Ruston in A

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Dave Holt's Blog

Rebuilt Royal Scot, 46109 - Part 7

Progress has slowed recently due to warm weather and some health issues. However, the loco is now complete except for the smoke deflectors and cab side cinder guards. The tender is well advanced, the main outstanding tasks being fitting the axlebox/spring castings and completing the front platform and draw bar. Here we see the current state of play.   Dave.
Northumberton

Stepping Up A Level

Phase 2 of Northumberton involves the track bed up as far as the entrance to the station level (Phase 3). I have already cut the track bed - (see entry "Frames complete - now the track bed). I use an extended 1m straight edge/rule to measure track height from the frame work which was levelled in the early stages.                              I'm rising from 1005mm to 1105mm above floor level. I was able to take the levels where track crossed the frame work from the SCARM software I'm u
West Country Railway

Bishop's Fleming (circa 1986)

The Bishop's Fleming Branch was built opened in 1874 as an extension of the Norton and Letchmouth railway. It was intended to connect to the West Lundy Railway, which planned to extend its line from Chapelford. However, this became financially and legally impossible due to the efforts of rival companies and the Norton and Letchmouth, having invested large amounts of capital into its extension, collapsed into administration in 1876, being purchased by the Fishport, Oakhampstead, and Astleigh Rail
DK123GWR

DK123GWR in Layouts

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Northumberton

Long due progress!

I would be the first to admit to having a bit of a blind spot when it comes to DCC wiring, not the soldering or fitting point motors but my reverse loop and snubbers and all the fine points of building a reliable DCC circuit. I had gathered much research and many many peoples advice but alas in most circumstances something somewhere was taken for granted regarding my DCC knowledge - this is very bad. However, I have success, a fully functioning reverse loop with storage tracks and a separate bus
Korean Railway Modelling

KTX-1: Assessing the parts needed

Here is the visualized diagram for the project: This means that I have to get bodyshells and underfloor parts for 1 R3 trailers, 3 R5, and 6 R6 trailers, as well as 10 articulated bogie parts, underfloor and bodyshell for converting R1 to R8, and motorized bogie and power unit to motorize M2.   I will do this in 2 stages, in which I would acquire 5-6 of the trailers first and test it, and get the rest.   After the testing is finished, I would either request for a r
BrakeCoach

BrakeCoach in KTX-1

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5&9Models' Blog

LSWR and LCDR in Bermondsey?!

Not that these two will ever run at Bricklayers Arms but by request I dug out the old Woodham Wagon Works masters for a LSWR open wagon and made a new mould to produce the kit again. It went together very well and makes a lovely sturdy wagon. Not convinced about my choice of dark brown but I don't think the lighting helped. I'm in the process of reviving two GER open wagon kits as well, 1870 and 1883 versions, but more of that later. The LCDR van or 'covered goods wagon' to give it its proper ti
The locomotive history of Charlie Strong's yard.

Andrew Barclay 14-inch 0-4-0ST Polly Gray

This saddletank was new in 1941 and worked at a munitions factory in North Wales. It was later sold to a gas works, near Worcester and when replaced by diesels in 1961, was stored in its shed. A run-down of the works, just before the coming of north sea gas, saw all the equipment sold for scrap and the loco was acquired by Strong in 1973. It was named Polly Gray and put to work occasionally right up until 1982, when it was presented to the Chasewater Railway. You won't find it there as it is off
Ruston

Ruston in A

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Mattington - 4mm Scale Layout

Rewiring baseboard 1

With the test rig now finally working and doing what it is supposed to be doing I decided to return to the re-wiring yet again of the Mattington layout. Baseboard 1 originally built in 2004, I think this is the fourth attempt I have had at re-wiring it but this time I hope it will be the last. Am installing a CBUS layout control bus alongside the DCC bus but I am re-wiring both of them and adding several more drop downs for the DCC bus as well as wiring in the polarity switches directly into the
barrowroad's Blog

Bristol Barrow Road - ' The Devonian '

It's been a while since I posted anything on this blog however I have been very busy on the layout during the past year completing several small buildings in and around the shed yard and cladding the Barrow Road viaduct with Wills Coarse Stone sheet and making all the scenery along the front of the layout. My latest completed project is the conversion of 11 Bachmann mk1 coaches to P4 using Bill Bedford sprung bogies with MJT frames; Masokits gangway connectors plus other detailing. Her
anroar53's Blog

Summertime Blues (Livery that is !)

Having spent years in my display case in it's original form as 10001 a rainy day saw it 'updated' into a new guise as 34001. The story goes that the Research Department at Derby rescued it and have now used it as a testbed for Traction Motor research. Seen leaving Watford heading a southbound Parcels service.     Looking south through Harrow as a 47 hauls a northbound freight through on the Down Slow Line. A pair of 501s head off for Watford.     Heading
Wenlock's Blog

GWR Dia. U9 1st & 2nd Class Composite 6 wheel Carriage, that turns out to be a U14!

Well it's been a long time coming, but I've finally completed building another coach!  I finished the V9 back in November, so this one's construction has hardly been at a lightning pace  The build follows more or less exactly the same methods as the V9, but with the added faff of having to detail the interior of the compartments.  I used seat mouldings from Slater's Plastikard and plan to add some scratch built picture frames and mirrors along with a few Edwardian passengers, once the painting h
Matts Workbench Blog

Solenoids now working on test rig

I bought several CANSOLs from MERG for powering the solenoids but unfortunately the first one I built had problem with one of PICs. I suspect I have a probably put in something else wrong but it ran hot and probably melted something, Voltage regulator was also very hot. Built a second CANSOL yesterday afternoon and today I tested it. This one ran cold but for quite a while it refused to go into FLIM. I eventually found the problem that one of the PICs wasn't quite seated in its slot, this done t
MattB

MattB in General

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Korean Railway Modelling

Korean Model Railroading - The beginning

While I usually model British trains in N scale, I decided that it would be a good idea if I modelled some rolling stock from my home country, Korea(South), as well.   Sadly, Korea does not have a proper railway model range (yet), since it is hard to get permission to license these models, and all of the designs of Korean rolling stock from 1899 to current day is all copyrighted. However, progress is being made, as many people started 3d modelling and printing their own models(not for
BrakeCoach

BrakeCoach in KTX-1

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The Sayersbridge and Penmouth Railway

Third Board Painted

The third board (the first of the fiddleyard throat boards) now painted. I've included a series of images as the painting progressed for this posting to see the 'effect' in action, so to speak. I won't bother with the later boards as it's just outright repetition really.   First white undercoat, brush painted, underside:   Second white undercoat, brush painted, underside:   Topside, ply delamination repaired and abuttment screw dips filled (with wood fil
Ian J.

Ian J. in General

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MikeOxon's Pre-Grouping Blog

3D-Printed Horses

After reading some recent posts about horse drawn wagons and the like, I started to wonder if it would be possible to 3D-print my own horses.   A look at the 'Cults' website yielded a 3D-printable horse  by David Mussaffi, described as ‘FDM printer ready’, so I thought that this would be a good place to start.  I looked at the file after loading it into my ‘Cura’ slicing software and found that the model was cleverly split into three parts, such that there were flat surfaces to lie on
MikeOxon

MikeOxon in general

9
kit or scratch

kit or scratch

I built the 7mm loco about 20 years ago ad the Patterns I made for the pantograph milling machine are at a 2:1 ration for 7mm which means if I alter the machine ration to 3.5:1 they will work out at 4mm scale.      
The locomotive history of Charlie Strong's yard.

11-ton Hibberd 4wDM

This Dorman-engined Hibberd is believed to have originally been built in 1956 for a cement works in Kent. It was sold to a contractor in 1964 and was used on various tracklifting contracts around the country in the wake of Beeching's closures of unprofitable lines. It was seen in the Camden yard of Alfie Solomons Ltd. in 1967 and by 1974 had turned up at Strong's yard, in Small Heath.   It doesn't appear ro have been very popular with the drivers and spent a lot of time at the end of t
Ruston

Ruston in A

3
5&9Models' Blog

Bricklayers Arms stables update

Well, not being a massive footie fan I decided to amuse myself yesterday evening fitting the cattle yard office and back wall to the baseboard in front of the stables. This has created a more Dickensian alley feel to the forecourt which is what I had hoped would happen. There is still much to do in terms of fitting the cattle docks, weathering the surfaces, adding muck and the assorted figures and of course, cattle.   There are a few final touches, the steps to the office are too clean
The Wednesford Chronicles

Facebook shocker

I know Facebook is about as popular round here as a Garry Glitter-Rolf Harris comeback tour, but it has just reminded me of this little item I posted a while back: "Question for the sparkies out there: I am right in thinking you can't use eco-lighting with dimmer switches? Only I've got this mad idea for the new model railway shed of having three dimmer-controlled lights, orange at each end of the shed and a daylight bulb in the middle, to "mix" to create sunrise to sunset lighting "ambienc

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  • Blog Comments

    • 47137
      Wellwood (provisional version)

      By 47137 · Posted

      I have started the build of Wellwood with an open-top baseboard: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/167222-wellwood/   This has let me break up this prototype and the dustmen have carried it away today. I do think, a flush door would make a good baseboard as long as you don't have many wires or point linkages to install underneath. Minor dropped areas e.g. ponds would be possible by cutting away one skin and scooping out the cardboard inner.
    • MikeOxon
      An Ugly Duckling - 3

      By MikeOxon · Posted

      My secret is out!!! yes, I'm a chocoholic!   Unfortunately, the taste of PLA is not great, so I shall stick to my usual brands   At present, the parts are straight from the printer, Mikkel.  They do slide together pretty closely on their brass tube but I shall probably do some surface fettling before I take it all to the painting stage.   If I were to use this method for a later GWR tank engine, I'd be able to swap over from saddle tanks to panniers just by lifting
    • Annie
      An Ugly Duckling - 3

      By Annie · Posted

      Yum, chocolate boiler.  A very nice piece of design work with the way it all fits together.
    • Mikkel
      An Ugly Duckling - 3

      By Mikkel · Posted

      Uh-oh, nearly missed this, thinking it was your previous post.   That boiler assembly looks very good, in fact almost edible. Is there any filing/sanding when you join the components together, or do they just fit straight away?
    • The Dorset Wanderer
      Sprat & Winkle couplings

      By The Dorset Wanderer · Posted

      Glue the button ceramic ones under the baseboard- just add magnets till it works- that's how I do it on all my layouts.

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