Timmy84

Hi all, I hope everyone is OK and surviving lockdown 2.0. I have been tinkering with some more intermodal wagons and containers. I've built up a small collection now that includes the KFAs, Megafrets, FEA-B spine wagons and FIA twin sets. All the wagons and all but a couple of containers have now been weathered. I am looking to build up two rakes. One will be deep sea containers that will form trains from Garston/Seaforth and another shorter rake carrying domestic containers being ferried between Seaforth and Ditton/Arpley. There is some great inspiration on the excellent 8A rail website that covers all things Merseyside and the shorter rake will replicate the picture below. The rake will be loco + 1 x megafret twin + 3 x KFA. The second rake is not quite long enough yet but is currently 1 x FIA twin, 1 x KFA and 2 x FEA-B twins. I note C-Rail are producing the FSA quad sets and one of these will be ideal. The train doesn't need to be mega long as it will likely be 47/57 hauled on occasion. I think from their website you have to pay upfront though which I don't want to do at the moment. I've got a few more shots to upload in the coming days as I can only do 10mb at a time. Tim.

Here's a couple more snaps of the KFAs. Excuse the clean containers - they are next on the list! Tim.

Hi Dave, Yeah a really good point. On the real thing there is often a shade of rust in this area. I attempted to recreate it with some powder which I don't often use and it does create quite a strong effect. I have already sprayed over this to blend it but on the photos it does still look quite prominent. I don't think it's as bad to the naked eye. I will of course be updating on future projects but the layout itself maybe a year or two away as I will have to prepare the garage to house it. Could be up to 18 feet available though so exciting stuff. I also need to thoroughly research building a larger layout in an outbuilding successfully! In the meantime all the stock can appear on Speke East. Tim.

Hi all, So it's been a few months since my last proper update and there have been a few reasons for that. Work has been very busy but in better news, we have secured a house purchase. This should, in the longer term provide space for a much larger layout in the future! This has led me to rethink my stock collection as on a larger layout I will be able to run prototypical longer trains, notably opening up coal as a commodity. This, and the release of the Farish JMAs and announcement of Revolution Cawoods PFAs has led me to commit long term to a Merseyside based stock plan. Whilst there's a few excellent Warrington/WCML layouts about I don't think I have seen a Liverpool based layout and away from the mainline in from Runcorn to Lime Street it is a very different and characteristic scene so I have been enjoying researching and planning. Expect trains emerging from Liverpool Docks, Northern Rail units and perhaps even a bit of the semaphore signalled low level line to Fiddlers Ferry. There's lots of options and in the meantime the stock will compliment Speke East. With the house move new stock will have to be funded by sales and I have a few listings on ebay at the moment for anyone interested. Here's a link that should take you to the right place.... There will be more in the future but I will tweak the collection as time permits. Apologies for the shameless advertising! https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/egglad7/m.html?item=133549762412&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 Anyway - on to some modelling. I have been weathering some Revolution KFAs and I hope that I have done them justice. As with the cargowaggon twins some courage had to be summoned to get started! After careful study of pictures some interesting patterns take shape on the decks of these wagons that I have tried to capture. I have also modelled a mixture of wagons that have had all or part of the sides cleaned and those that are filthy all over, as per prototype pictures. As ever would appreciate constructive feedback as I try new things. They were certainly not just a case of firing dirt at them! Take care everyone. Tim.

Absolutely superb as ever Duncan. Must admit I enjoyed doing my first 47 in the summer, it’s a nice model. Have you gone to the trouble of lowering the body? I haven’t quite been brave enough...

If only our wealth was measured in seacows... I quite like my rake of 10 but is it worth £1500? No. It’s getting harder and harder to get wagons for a reasonable price. I welcome the fact that products are significantly improved but for me one of the biggest pluses in N Gauge is running prototypical rakes so it gets very expensive. I’ve been umming and ahhing over some revolution IPAs which I didn’t preorder but at £25 a deck based on this they are a bargain! I wonder if anyone will put together a long loaded rake with cars on. You could easily spend over £1000. It’s the same for intermodal. Once you add containers it’s crazy money for a proper length train. Tim.

I was reminded of this discussion a few moments ago when I noted a single unboxed Farish seacow on an auction site going for £54 with 6 days left. Has the world gone mad? That’s 100% more than they were new! Sod stocks and shares I should have bought hundreds..! Tim.

The first Sunday working for a while. 66042 leads a rake of HQAs that have been out stabled at Speke East, destined for a worksite at Acton Bridge.

Hi Duncan - just to ensure I am following whats happening here, did the Romanian loco get a Doncaster cab and vice versa? I agree lockdown may be taking it's toll...! Maybe I'll renumber some more EWS 66s. Or maybe not!! Tim

A few snaps of the Marchwood trains. Containers form the majority of the traffic and as you can see any length of train is prototypical! Containers tend to be 20ft and are distinctive in comparison to deep sea traffic you would normally see on intermodals. Military vehicles/VGAs are also relatively common and can be seen at the back of this rake. I have a shot of a consist of 1 x warwell on it's own but can't upload on this post due to 10b limit. I have no idea what the story behind this load is - I've never seen anything like it before or since. Answers on a postcard!

56099 departing Foundry Lane with empty vans. A run round is required at Speke East prior to running low level back to Warrington Arpley. Ready to roll. The 56 will run as far as Bescot, where a 92 will take the train on to Dollands Moor and the Channel Tunnel. Tim.

Hi again - sorry didn't have chance to dig these out last night. Two shots of the Holybourne tanks with load 10 x TEAs so not too long for a tank train. I've got a few examples of Marchwood consists too. If you're interested let me know and I'll post them. Tim.

Hi, I came across this thread randomly and I really like the interiors for the buildings. As an N gauge modeller I’ve not seen anything quite like that elsewhere on rmweb. A couple of thoughts/suggestions on your planned traffic which I hope you will find constructive and helpful. SWT ran peak extras to Portsmouth from Basingstoke (and possibly Totton/Southampton) with 158s and 3 car 159s so there is definitely an excuse for this. FGW 158s are mainly hybrid 3 cars with a 3rd cab boxed in making it easy to model a 3 car as is typical on the Portsmouth and Brighton flows. You are correct to note 150s and 153s operate only as far as Southampton. All these services are booked via Southampton and Swanwick with Botley used only for diversions. If you want to be prototypical concentrate on aggregates. Chichester also has regular flows from the Mendips that pass through Fareham and with a bit of modellers licence you could have services to Botley and Eastleigh diverted via “Collingwood”, perhaps to run round. Both these terminals can accept bottom discharge wagons like your HIAs whereas Fareham and Chichester traffic is unloaded by grab. If Collingwood is going to accept HIAs I would model a small discharge hopper. I think the Holybourne tank train was quite short in recent years so that will be spot on. If you want another narrative in 2007 Portsmouth Dock refurbished a siding near Fratton Depot for potential intermodal traffic which never materialised. Another option... I hope this helps. Tim.

47287 left for Crewe last night under it's own power so lives to see another day! 66623 adds a dash of colour working loaded Metalair PCA cement tanks from Earles sidings to Widnes Tanhouse Lane, running via Northwich and Runcorn necessitating a run round at Speke East. Also on site this morning 56060 undergoing an A exam on the shed and 08873.

Still there..!

Hi, Having spent the weekend stranded at Speke East 47287 remained in situ this morning!

Hi all, I would just like to say how much I have been enjoying everyone's N Gauge exploits during lockdown. Some great stuff going on which inspired me to set up Speke East. There was a bit of drama today when 47287, seemingly on it's last legs, failed shortly after leaving Garston with 4K64 to Basford Hall. It was shoved out of the way onto the reception line prior to being replaced by 66590 which was hastily dispatched from Crewe. The 47 has been dumped in the sidings awaiting attention!.. The 66 is a recent renumber that didn't turn in to an epic project, which was unusual! 37695 was also on site having worked the morning wagonload trip from Warrington Arpley. Tim.

Sad news, but you've achieved more here than most ever will and you get to start all over again, which is exciting. And you don't lose the stock so you've got the WCML ready to go! We're also thinking of moving but Speke East could be carried to the new place in one piece! All the best. Tim.

The wood propping up the Yang Ming container is amazing attention to detail! I like the liner too, all looking excellent. Tim.

No I suppose that’s nice too..! inspirational as always.

Just love the HAAs.

Thanks for the kind comments. I did something slightly different on both sides as per the prototype. The side in the photo just involves respraying the base colour lightly over the decal. Had it been printed lettering I could have got more variation but it was practically invisible on the prototype under the muck anyway. On the other side of the prototype the letters had stencilled white under the sun so was more tricky. In this case I hand painted some white on to the decal before application as best I could, then sprayed rail grey over it and then weathered. It was a bit suck it and see and I’ll post some more pics soon once my wife’s work stuff is off the dining table! Most inconvenient. As is often mentioned by better modellers than me. Spend more time looking at photos than spraying, and keep trying new things! Tim.

Hi all, A quick update on some lockdown projects. Apologies for the snaps taken on my iPad. I’ve not had chance to get Speke East set up for an “official” portrait yet. I had wanted a couple of 56s to add some variety so following my renumbered 56060 In EWS here is 56099 in Transrail. It is presented in a rather mucky state consistent with photos of it online in 2003ish. The roof was resprayed to depict colour variations on the actual loco. The sector logos had to be removed from the donor and this was a nightmare again. Dapol really do cake it on and it is very hard not to damage the colour beneath. In this case it didn’t matter as the lighter Rail Grey is totally wrong on the factory finish so was always going to be redone. Transfers are from Railtec. There is a Fox Immingham Depot Plaque on the other side as per prototype and I have attempted to recreate the scarring left by the removal of its most appropriate former nameplate “Fiddlers Ferry Power Station”! And with outdoor weekend activities largely cancelled a 47 also turned up in the post! The first in my fleet. I was tempted by seeing photos of 47287 working intermodal services for Freightliner in 2004 in some kind of RfD international livery. I considered a triple grey with FL branding which would have been easier but I am glad I went to the effort to recreate this machine in the twilight of its career. RfD logos are near invisible and sector logos long gone. Similarly to the 56 patches of rust remain where Depot plaques have been removed as per photos online. I am happy with the result. The only issue was I failed to note the yellow window surrounds until after I bought the triple grey donor. They are not perfect but nor were they in reality by 2004 either! In comparison to the 56 previous identity fell off the Farish model on the application of t-cut. Finally I was brainwashed by the Revolution Facebook Live update and the result is the very smart KFA seen with the 56 and some new containers. A departure for me as they don’t fit in to future plans but will be great for Speke East forming services from Garston and Foundry Lane. Containers may need some weathering and at the moment I have no plans for a full rake, but the C-Rail pocket wagons do look smart...! Perhaps “West Country” may become Bristol..! Or Merseyside! Who knows but for now Speke is my focus and this stock fits in with the story. Thanks for looking and stay safe. Tim.