Mophead45143

I'm not sure about Armytages or Central Wagon works, but there was certainly activity at Lockoford and on the Brampton branch from photos I've seen in the late 70's. Cameron

A pair of veteran Lima 20's work another unfitted coal train south on the goods lines. These models are one of three pairs that my father through-wired together about 25 years ago when he was hoping to build his own layout based on the same area / era. The electrical pairing up of the two locos, just like the real thing, makes for a very reliable performance with good tractive effort. They run very smoothly and will pull a house down! As such, they are definitely worth revisiting on the model bench to bring them up to detailing / weathering standards so that they can form part of the main loco fleet. The Lima 20's are seen again. Whilst the cabs aren't perfect (flush glazing will help), it can be argued that the curved profile of the bonnet / nose ends on the Lima models is better than that of Bachmann's first attempt at the class 20. Bachmann's latest model however is excellent, and really captures the feel for these locos, which is why they will make up the core of the fleet of Toton and Tinsley based machines. The brakevan at the rear end of a southbound unfitted coal train is about to pass under where the footbridge will be positioned once scenic work is well underway.

45135 '3rd Carabineer' slows for the first stop of it's journey with a Sheffield - St Pancras MML express. This is one of eight 45/1's that will make up the bulk of the St Pancras - Sheffield workings on 'Chesterfield', and like the others, is in need of a visit to the modeling bench to make a proper representation of the 45/1 sub class. 56008 is seen with an empty MGR again, this time crossing from the down fast to the down slow, in order to take the old road via Barrow Hill. 45051 (TO) runs light engine northbound on the goods lines. An 08 from Barrow Hill trundles across the ladder junction with a brakevan, ready to do a spot of shunting in Chesterfield goods yard south of the station, before tripping wagons back to Barrow Hill.

Panning around, 44004 leads its train around the back of the station heading south. As 44004 heads south, ex-works 46046 (GD) heads north with a parcels train towards Sheffield. All my peaks, with the exception of the latest Bachmann models, will need some fettling to correct some details which don't suit the era, nose end grilles for example. Following behind the 44, another loaded coal train heads south behind a pair of the latest Bachmann 20's, the train being made up of a varied rake of 16t, 21t, 24.5t minerals and hoppers. 47328 (TO) leads another empty MGR train north pass another steel coil train.

Now then, time for some pictures of the trains running! As usual, please excuse the photo quality as these are all just taken off my phone which isn't the best. Also, as the lighting for scenic section has not yet been installed, I only have the ambient light of the garage to work with. Also, some have the models shown are yet to be detailed / weathered, and some of those that have were done so long ago that they no longer meet my current standards. Plenty to keep myself busy with as and when time allows! 47143 of Laira has somehow managed to find itself on the 6M60 Lackenby - Brierley Hill steel coils, which in time will see the BAA's weathered and the loads fitted with sheets. A brand new 56008 (Cavelex) leads an empty MGR train (Accurascale) north on the goods lines around the back of the station. 44004, now nameless, works a loaded coal train formed of a mixture of 21t and 24.5t minerals and hoppers south pass the ladder junction on the up goods line.

A few months back I installed backscenes made from 3mm thin hardboard. These have been screwed in position in a curved fashion to try and hide corners. I adopted the Windex method (cheers Pride Parkway!) for helping maintain the tight curve at either end. I am not yet certain which way I will go with doing the backscenes, i.e. paint them or using printed images, but as this is now the next job I need to get thinking! This was an exciting moment, as it really started to look like a proper layout with the scenic area framed by the backscenes.

I'll start with a quick catch up from where we left off a while back. The below photos show some pictures after completion of the track laying and prior to wiring the layout. One of the joins for the lifting section prior to wiring up, showing the securing bolts and copper clad sleepers soldered to the rails. Since this photo was taken I have wired up each rail to a 'D' plug / socket connector to bridge the electrical gap. This can be easily unplugged when the layout is not in use. Above view showing the empty main fiddle yard sidings. As well as wiring the layout, I have also since constructed a fascia around the non-scenic sections to protect trains from being knocked over, and to tidy up the edge of the boards. The scenic section will in time get its own fascia, once the lighting frame is installed above that side of the layout.

Well, time certainly does fly and I can't believe how long it's been since I posted on this thread! With the exception of the as yet to be constructed upper level storage sidings, I completed the track laying in about October 2022. Since then progress has been made, albeit very slowly! Having been very busy outside of the layout and with nothing particular exciting to share (predominantly wiring), I just lost interest in updating the thread. However, things have changed now - TRAINS ARE RUNNING!

Comparing the two pictures already posted having mirrored one around, the Bachmann one looks much closer.

This sums up the 'looks like a class 47 to me argument'. Yes they do, neither of them look like a class 20! But talk about chalk & cheese. They can't both be right. As Hal Nail has suggested, perhaps something between the two, but I'd say Bachmann triumphs overall. Cameron

Option 3, or 1. Not option 2!

Certainly shows up the difference in shape between the two! I think a blue or green FYE comparison would be even more pronounced.

Ran absolutely fine, then a few minutes later it just stopped and smelt like burning! Would only crawl along after that.

And this just goes to show the value of manufacturers interacting on rmweb. Had I not seen this post I would have been returning my second Cavalex 56. Turns out it had this problem on both bogies. Runs like a dream now! The first return was due to an electrical fault which was just bad luck. This model was its replacement.

For the pedants.... Note that in the condition offered (plated over steps/boiler filler/boiler port, plated over nose end doors, yellow safety clips on battery boxes), this blue pair are quite limited on time periods for when they'd run together. 31123 was still steam heat fitted (boiler port present) until at least 1981. Hard to tell when the battery box safety clips were added, but it certainly had them by 1983. It did remain in refurbished condition for some time though, until at least 1990 before receiving an orange cantrail stripe. Possibly 1981 - 1990 for this one. 31293 was still steam heat fitted (boiler port present) until sometime in 1984. During 1985 it had a bump, and eventually reemerged refurbished condition without buffer beam cowling. So this model is only suitable for about a year in it's modelled condition, 1984 - 1985.