thegreenhowards

Isinglass would be better than my attempt, but they tend to only produce things for which they have a drawing, and they don’t have one for the rebuilt D.16 RKBs (I checked before I did my own rather rough attempt).

Switching to the viaduct section, we see the up White Rose headed by A3, 60061, Pretty Polly. This train is in its 1960 formation and Pretty Polly wears the wing deflectors which she carried at that time. I have adjusted the angle of the deflectors following some comments on ‘Coulsdon Works’ , so I hope they’re about right now. The train is formed from loose stock with just the core being dedicated to the train. The core is formed of a Gresley RF/RSO pair - the RSO should be an RSP but I haven’t built that yet! It also features a Doncaster Mark 1 prototype SK, E25457 which is a 7 compartment SK with toilets at each end. It’s based on a replica FO with some windows filled in. Details of the work involved are here https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/135510-coulsdon-works/&do=findComment&comment=3609954 Here is the video. Apologies that the signal comes off rather late. I didn’t notice until I sat down to process the video, by which time I’d put the train away!

Darryl, This is going back a bit, but I’ve finally finished my take on the rebuilt D.16 RKB, E1225E. I started by making a diagram from the photos you sent, for which many thanks again. And then cut and shut bit of Kirk kits to make the sides. Here is the finished coach. The sides are slightly wonky in this cruel close up, but that’s somewhat inevitable given the number of cuts and shuts. I chose E1225E because several of your photos showed it at Bounds Green or nearby, so I assume it was used on the GN. More details of the build for anyone interested are available on my workbench thread, starting here Andy

Spurred on by needing it for a train to run on my Gresley Jn thread, I’ve finally finished the D.16 rebuilt RKB today. Here she is. In cruel close up you can see that the sides are slightly wonky, but I think that’s inevitable (at least for me) given the number of cut and shuts that were required (as a reminder see the original post here https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/135510-coulsdon-works/&do=findComment&comment=3760679). As a layout coach she is OK and certainly looks a bit different to other coaches. Moreover it now enables me to form the correct formation for the 1845 King’s Cross- Cleethorpes. Follow Gresley Junction (link below) to see that running in the next few days. Both the roof and the under frame were educated guesswork from the photos I had available. If anyone knows better then please let me know. Andy

I’d never argue with that choice. I’ve seen it several times and always stay and watch for quite a while. It’s a superb layout. Andy

Today we have the arrival of the 1745 from Broad Street to Gresley Jn. (In reality this terminated at Hatfield). It is formed of a standard inner suburban mark 1 5 set hauled by N1, 69458. This dates it to 1954 or 1955 as the non corridor Mark 1 were only introduced to the GN in 1954 (I think) and the N1 was withdrawn in November 1955. In practice, I believe that the N1s were mainly used on ECS by this stage, so Hornsey must have been short today! I built the N1 from a 3D printed body mounted on a Hornby N2 chassis.

Not really. I’m more focussed on rolling stock and not much of a buildings person, so it took me a couple of years (on and off) to build that Scalescenes building. Having got used to card, I think that if and when I do scratch build something, it will be from card and brick paper.

I like the D16 shot - nice to see a different angle.

Today we feature the 1829 Welwyn Garden City to King’s Cross. This is the return of the 1706 Broad Street to WGC which followers of the thread will remember was hauled by NB type 2, D6106. The question is will it make it back?! And the answer is ‘no’. The driver failed it at WGC and the old order was dug out to haul the return including the errant type 2. So here we see N2, 69546 piloting D6106 at Gresley Jn. I tried a new camera position but I don’t think it worked. The picture is rather back lit I’m afraid, so let’s say it was grabbed by an enthusiast who spotted the unusual working but didn’t have time to get to a better vantage point. The more observant of you will spot a new station building in the background. This is the beginning of my attempt to ‘de-superquick’ the layout. This is a Scalescenes kit, but will be much more unusual, I hope, than its predecessor. Unfortunately I didn’t quite measure it accurately, so, because of the slope of the loft walls, it won’t fit in the old location without my trimming the Copula which would be a shame. So I’m going to wait for the second building and then decide where to place them. In reality, rather than the NB Type 2 failing, it was a case of having tried the DCC consist function, I wanted to practice it again. This time it worked first time and both engines worked smoothly as I hope the video shows.

Well it’s nice to have an excuse to use a K3, so I think I’ll stick with my choice, although I may have to find an Immingham example in future. Didn’t Brits get involved with this traffic for a while in the early ‘60s? Andy

Today it’s the turn of the up Grimsby fish heading by K3, 61826 (SE Finecast). I normally run my kit built locos for a while before weathering them, hence the ex works look. I’m not really sure of the correct traction for this train - probably a B1, but I don’t have any spare at the moment.

Today we have the late running 1735 King’s Cross Newcastle complete with its ex Silver Jubilee triplet dining car. Doing the honours is Gateshead A4, 60001, Sir Ronald Matthews.

Yesterday was a long final day on the railtour, hence no post. Today I’m on my way home, but rather taking the easy way and flying back from Madrid, I’ve taken the Talgo to Algeciras, which I think is mainland Europe’s most southerly railway station and I’m now back on British soil in Gibraltar ready for my flight home. Back in the ‘50’s and hot on the heals of the Baldock train is the 1752 King’s Cross to Cambridge and Peterborough. This is similar to the 1700 service which I posted last week, but this one was definitely double headed, at least some years, with the two engines separating at Hitchin to take the two portions forward. Today we feature B1, 61138 and B17, 61646, Gilwell Park. I have not seen a picture of 61646 on the GN, but she was allocated to Cambridge for a while towards the end of her career and as a scout leader, I had to have Gilwell Park. This is the only service train which I’m aware of which was double headed from King’s Cross. As such putting it together was the first time I’ve used the ‘consist’ function on my DCC controller. It took a bit of getting used to and I had to reprogram the B17 to accelerate more slowly, but once sorted it works superbly and provides easy smooth control of the pair. Only the B1 has a sound chip, so you’ll have to excuse the single exhaust beat.

The weather in Spain was gloomy yesterday and today started foggy, but has now come out with brilliant sunshine. So here is a picture of the superbly restored Alco diesels. Back in the 1950s, it’s time for the 1735 King’s Cross-Newcastle, but that is running late today (i.e. I forgot to run and photo it before I went to Spain!) so today’s image is the 1739 King’s Cross-Baldock which was a standard King’s Cross outer suburban non corridor six set with three Thompson strengtheners (S,S,CL). The video shows the service arriving and departing so as to show off the sound chip in this L1 which I’m quite pleased with (I had to use a B1 sound file and alter the chuff rate to match the smaller wheel diameter on the L1).

Today we feature an up coal train headed by WD 2-8-0, 90158. This is a DJH kit which has been temperamental so has been sat in the ‘to fix’ pile for a couple of years. But I dug it out again last week while I was having a DCC fitting session and did a bit of short circuit eradication and it seems to be working so here she is. It has the worst Portescap ‘whine’ of any of my fleet but she seems to do the job. Sorry about the rather high speed - it’s difficult to control speed and the video at the same time!

Thanks Tony, I was thinking the same thing when I saw Gilbert’s shot. I’m away for a few days but will show Ellen when I’m back. I’m sure she will be chuffed. Andy

Of course they do. They just live in China and get paid peanuts!

Thanks John, I must be up to 20 or 30 PTG tours - probably spend more on them than Bachmann! I’ve known Phil since the ‘80s and agree that he’s very good. He’s leading this tour. Andy

I’m in Spain for a long weekend of rail touring. Today I’m doing a Talgo run from Murcia up to Madrid with a 334 (similar to our 67s). The real fun starts tomorrow with a Class 321 Alco on the PTG rail tour Anyway I took some photos before I left, so back to the 1950s and on Gresley Jn we have another new addition to the fleet in the form of a Dapol NB Type 2. Here we see D6106 standing at Gresley Jn with the 1706 Broad Street to Welwyn Garden City. Whereas I choose to terminate at Gresley Jn those trains timetabled to terminate at Hatfield, anything which ran further north runs through on the down slow. So here is D6106 on a quad art rake. And here is a close up of D6106. I’ve changed the number, removed the ’Eastfield’ shed plates, added the pipes etc. and weathered her, but otherwise standard Dapol. Here is a video of her arriving.

Thanks for your kind words, I’m afraid they’re not for sale! I don’t have any other pictures as the layout is DCC but I haven’t fitted my pre war stock. I tend to just run it on the club layout. I’m away for a few days on a rail tour in Spain but when I return I’ll stick a chip in the V2 and take some video. Andy

This afternoon we have the down Tees-Tyne Pullman headed by a new addition to the Gresley Jn fleet in the form of DJH A3, 60052, Prince Palantine (an eBay acquisition). This set earns its keep as it forms both up and down Tyne Tees Pullmans and (suitably shortened) the up Sheffield/ down Master Cutler Pullman.

Yes, I think I’d heard that. Weren’t some built as 7 and some as 12? I meant short for a 12 set. Sadly it doesn’t get much use as it’s too early for my period. Do you know when the last of the green and cream coaches were painted into Crimson and cream? Andy

Andrew, I agree that the Mailcoach kits made quite good models. I didn’t make this make this rake and I’m aware that its too short, but I suspect they ran in shorter formations from time to time. My experience of Mailcoach kits that I have made (ex streamlined stock) is that they go together well but are an incredible fiddle to paint. I was quite pleased with my (plywood panelled) tourist buffet car. This is based on the RDEB etches. What is wrong with this? I also have a set of Mousa etches for a twin TO in the to do pile. Are they not worth bothering with? My understanding is that all of the Isinglass range is being produced by the new method and that, in theory, he can produce anything of which he has a drawing (which means most LNER carriages). But those not yet listed will need some work to bring them on stream, so if you want something, it’s worth speaking to him. Andy

Thanks, I’ll see what I can do. They’re superglued on so should be easy enough to reposition.

I used superglue for both the discs and the buffer beam detail. It worked well but I’m stuck with inner suburban workings. Will just have to buy another one if I want express or ECS headcodes!