LNER4479

Look forward to seeing you there, Frank. Quite a list of things to do yet though, including all underframe detail(!), windows, lettering. I might just find time to get the buffers fitted to the brake ends, but we'll see. Of equally importance (to me) is that the set seems to run reliably, important for show running. Should be quite a 'Howlden fest', with Jonathan's 1888 'Flying Scotsman' set also debuting!

Well, as you might expect, it's all 'go' with only days to go before the (Wakefield) show. Top of my list is the Quint set which, whilst not fully complete, I'm determined will be in service. At the end of the last update, all roofs were on. But there's still a lot to do... Door top rain guards... Ventilators and lamp tops... Coach end gear. There's some insanely small parts on the brake etches - but I like small detail! These are the parts for the emergency brake gear. A priceless picture from good 'ol Modellers Backtrack provides the reference source. Just the vacuum brake stand/hose to fit. Roof skylights for the guard's areas. And finally(!), the ventilator hoods. Not all vehicles in the set appear to have these fitted so I've replicated that. Seems to me to be typical of these sets, based on vehicles at the end of a long, hard life, all with a different story to tell. Of course, all of this has been 'times five'. Five bodies ready for painting. Primer and roof colour being sprayed. For the full effect - come and see at the show (or wait for the post-show pictures) Meanwhile - danger! Man at work beneath baseboard. Despite Grantham having been to ten shows now, there's always things still on the 'to do' list. In particular, the South Box operating position has been working on a temporary control box of which Mr Heath-Robinson himself would have been proud. But no longer! Andrew, our electrics / electronics whizz has made a pucker control box, seen here. He has also come up with a more advanced control card for the Veissman signal motors to prevent overloads and shut downs so also took the opportunity to install some of these during a whirlwind 24 hour visit. Hopefully, that will result in less head-scratching sessions interrupting the smooth flow of trains... And there is always scenic enhancements that can be done. Here Tom 'detail' Dewdney is fixing in place some prepared parts to bring to life the previously bare area alongside the depot entrance line. Pictures show this to have been the province of the local p-way gang, with their stock of spare bits n pieces to attend to any bit of trackwork in need of their loving care and attention. There's still some sort of Network Rail depot on this spot to this day. Next report will be of the show itself!

In case you missed it on the 'Grantham' thread, here is the part-built prototype alongside Jonathan Wealleans' recently acquisition (originally built by Mike Edge). Poppy headboard available from Fox transfers.

Latest progress: a spot of test running at the weekend

Been a privilege to have this Single and train running on the layout this weekend. Now part of the Grantham roster and will be running at the Wakefield show in just under two weeks time...

As if you needed any further encouragement to attend the show, see this new (old) train running on Grantham for the first time:

Nope - we was busy rehearsing for Wackerfield in two weeks time; Spalding is NEXT year. Do try and keep up...

Ahoy there! With less than two weeks to go to the Wakefield show, it was a delight to host some of the Grantham team for 'dress rehearsal' running session and general 'fettling' weekend. Happiness is a full layout. Without trying too hard, our intrepid photographer chanced upon this eclectic mix over on the west side of the station. GN types, as always, to the fore but there is a GCR (ROD) interloper in there. One of the purposes of the exercise was to give some of the prestigious sets a thorough try out, for which it was a delight to host Roy Mears and a rather bulging suitcase of stock. We don't often get the chance to give these sets a decent run away from the spotlight of a show, so no apologies for several photos of them coming up. Here, the doyen of the streamliners, with No.2509 herself, bursts out from under the Great North Road bridge and races past South Box. One of Graeme's resin J6s observes from close quarters. Approaching the station, look what's coming the other way? A final shot, at the north end of the station. The ancient J54 pilot provides the typical old-versus-new contrast which was such a hallmark of the era. Returning to the Flying Scotsman set, here it is viewed from the north end of platform 1 & 2, A3 4480 'Enterprise' heads the other way. But the real star of the show is the all new move in the schedule. Coming as it does between moves 9 and 10, it is already irreverently known as 'Move 9-and-three-quarters' and will feature for the first time at the Wakefield show. It's another opportunity to give the 1938 Flying Scotsman set a spin (my No.4467 'Wild Swan' stands in for now; in normal circumstances it will be No.4498 'Sir Nigel Gresley'), paired up with the Stirling Single No.1 and Jonathan's meticulously recreated 1888 demonstration train. We are, of course, seeking to depict the events of 30th June 1938, with Grantham playing the part of Stevenage, where the two trains met. Given that there is almost inevitably a GNR Atlantic knocking about on the layout these days, we took the opportunity to create a generational line up of classic steam ECML motive power. But it's the 1888 train that really repays close examination. Here are two views which I hope goes some way to portraying Jonathan's wonderful work in putting this together. In a slightly different vein, we had a bit of fun trying to recreate a famous Grantham picture with the driver looking out for the 'ready-to-start' signal. Finally, whilst hopefully an enjoyable picture, a touch of genuine reverence as it is of course the milestone 100th armistice anniversary next weekend. The modern 1918-2018 poppy on the top lamp bracket is a delightful touch on another of Jonathan's recent acquisitions. See this loco also running at Wakefield. See you there, if you're able to make it to the show.

For clarification: We run two formations with triplets in them: The 1938 Flying Scotsman set, for which Roy Mears has had bespoke sides made for a triplet of the correct style The 'Junior Scotsman', for which Roy (again) provides a standard Kirk triplet set (ie as per the one you're making Tony) So no apparent call for one. However, one of the things lost in the post-Warley 2016 van theft was my old PC triplet set which was largely valueless but I did have a soft spot for. So, if your current creation doesn't make it 'down under' then it could find a home on Grantham...

I've taken the plunge. Flight tickets booked to enable me to be in the Ogden (Utah) area on 10th May 2019. Always wanted to go to Promontory Point in any case. #4014 planned to be on display in Ogden station 9th-11th May, according to UP website but will be on the lookout for Cheyenne-Ogden move info nearer the time to hopefully see her in motion. Also planning to see #4006 (St Louis) and #4023 (Omaha) as part of the trip. I will then have seen six of the eight surviving Big Boys

Similar-ish experience for me Jamie once in the 1980's with 46229 over the S&C. We were hauled northbound by a cl.45 (technically more powerful) which was down to about 35mph by Stainforth sidings and doggedly stayed at that speed all the way to Ribblehead. I remember my Dad exclaiming 'what's up with this thing? I'm used to going up here at 50mph!', referring to some of 46229's legendary runs on the route. On the way back, with the additional NRM '55 club' vehicles bringing the load up to 14 bogies, @550tons, 46229 did indeed purr up Mallerstang at 51mph! Magnificent loco!

No 40s - but EE Type 4s are tolerated (the ones whose numbers start D2xx). I have to confess that, although I have little time for the under-powered, overweight prototypes that were laughingly regarded as a suitable replacement for a Duchess - pah! - the whistling effect when Barry's one laboured up the hill was quite effective and certainly added something. Bit of a pain in the fiddle yard when it needed to be moved (due to time-consuming DC-DCC start up routine) so we resorted to crane shunting it and all was then well. Ah - talk of the devil, here it is now, staggering over the summit...

Most rude of me not to have acknowledged the rather splendiferous work of our most feathered leader thus far. I blame it on spending rather too much time in the people's republic of Leeds over the last few days plus a nasty outbreak of the audits from which I hope to fully recover in the morning. Muchus grassy-ar$e Mr Ducky. Anyone would think you've made up one of these vehicles before. Horsey trading at its very best and I look forward to reciprocating in the near future

PICTURES FROM AN EXHIBITION A day later than promised... We were afforded prime spot in the 'greenhouse' area, adjacent to the pay booths Backstage, something seems to have amused Paul. A good range of the Shap 1967 fleet can be seen. However, this should be the last time the layout is seen in this form. All being well, next time out we should have a new fiddle yard, more suited to the layout - and a broader range of stock covering 1953-1968 (ish). Out front, Tony's preserved 4498 recreates her RCTS 'Border Limited' railtour of 28th October 1967 A banked freight blasts past the gallery at Shap Wells. Rear end assistance is provided by 75039, one of the final Tebay bankers. A few minutes later, 75039 drops back down to Tebay as the final Jubilee in service, No.45562 'Alberta' steadily ascends the bank with a fully fitted van train. Another railtour, this time headed by preserved 7029 'Clun Castle' has passed under Greenholme road bridge. Ivo Peters and his friend Norman Lockett compare notes. Later in the day, the sun illuminates the fell side alongside Shap summit. Std 4MT 4-6-0 75037 (another one of the last bankers operating out of Tebay), drops off the rear of a EE Type 4-hauled oil train. More interesting lighting catches Barry's distinctive green + blue DMU as it begins the descent of Shap bank. That's all folks! Stay tuned for more Shap / Carlisle news once Grantham is safely back from St Evenage in January...

Reduced formation? The prototype picture looks to have 16-20 transporter wagons on. The true story is that we were all set to have it as a banked train but when we tried it there was daylight between the buffers of the guards van and fastest banker we had to hand! So it ran unbanked for the show. Obviously, the gradient isn't steep enough...

So, layout back home safely after its second show outing. Bit late for a full show report so, for tonight, a few pics of the new train. A wonderful colour picture of a Crosti 9F being banked up Shap Wells on the Ford Halewood-Bathgate car train proved irresistible. Myself and Paul shared the cost of eight of the new Oxford car transporters and then Paul toured the local model shops, buying up Anglias and Cortinas whenever he could find them. Shared out between us, we each spent the last few weeks affixing then to the decks to produce the sight you see below. Arguably a little too colourful compared to the prototype but it ran beautifully and was certainly a popular train at the show. More tomorrow, all being well.

Planning to take some piccies of said train before the hoardes arrive ... But you can get a sneak preview if you nip over to the Leeds show thread in the exhibitions section

Shap summit signalman is limbering up, waiting to signal his first trains... Van collected, packing team due shortly, hoping to be at venue for midday to commence set up See you there

It simply must have had internal steps, as views of both end elevations do not show any exterior staircase. Thanks for reminding me - I might yet carve a hole in the floor to indicate where the steps emerged!

Anyhow... With only a few days to go before Shap is out again at this weekend's Leeds show, there has been the inevitable burning of midnight oil to tackle a few jobs on the 'to do' list. One of these involves the summit signalbox, as captured in this lovely picture by Tony Wright. But can you see the very obvious item on the 'to do' list? Yes - it all looks rather bare inside! Having checked out various options for interior kits, I settled upon the Severn Models brass etch (ref D10). I like working with brass and I felt that a etch might give me a few options - and so it proved. Here is the main thing I have done. The etch provides for levers with a 'standard' catch arrangement. However, Shap summit was an LNWR box, which almost certainly featured the distinctive 'collar' type catches instead. So - a bit of fiddling with a fine pair of pliers resulted in this. Now, just have to repeat it 35 more times. Jumping on a bit, here is a picture from a few hours ago, with all details painted and most stuck down - the others are held with a blob of Blu-tack for now About the best view I can get looking in through the windows. To 'gild the lilly' a little, I have researched as best I can the arrangements of the levers in Shap summit box (courtesy of the SIgnalling Record Society trackplans). The levers are painted accordingly and the ones showed 'pulled' relate to actual moves. In this case, the left-hand-most levers, 1,2,3,4 correspond to a northbound train heading up the bank. The other set, 27,28,32 are for an up train heading into the loop behind the box. This includes the blue facing point lock lever. I guess that's a detail that no-one would ever detect looking at the model at a show but - hey - it's good to know it's there! (before anyone asks, I've only managed to make two out of the three sets of 12 levers so far. The middle set (levers 13-24) will have to wait for another day. All of those will be 'back in the frame' as there's no other move that can reasonably be happening with the above levers pulled.) Finally, the view from the front which at least gives a suggestion of life in the box. Do say 'hi' if you're coming to the Leeds show. Otherwise, we hope to post a suitable report - including that 'new' train that we're keeping under wraps until the show.

Easy, Tiger! Save it for three weeks and two days time...

Blimey - I must have been working fast for the camera to blur like that! As this is a home layout then we don't have to worry too much about weight so an element of brick sh.. er .. 'outside closet' engineering going on here, particularly as the section shown also has to support the weight of another layer on top of it. I like using ply in vertical mode for supporting baseboards so most of the bracing will be in this fashion. The only reason for the 2" x 1" bracing at the back is that the whole arch is out of plywood as there is no scope for intermediate legs for extra support along that axis. Perhaps I'm worrying unnecessarily and over engineering it a tad but I'm sure the reward will be level and true baseboards with consequent benefit for good running in the future.

I can't see a train - all them unsightly masts n wires in the way... The new train is modern image-ish, after a fashion

Looks great, Tony. Many thanks for posting, it's good to see how other builders are getting on. I'm planning to tackle Mike's tender kit myself next.