thegreenhowards

Second move of the sequence is the 0915 York/ 0845 Hull to King's Cross. This was a 12 coach mark 1 formation and although not one of the ECML 'glamour' trains, it was one of few trains which included a Thompson kitchen car in the formation, so I wanted to model it. It had the added bonus of being part of the regular turn for the W1. Here is the train lead by the W1, 60700 which is based on a Hornby model and uses Graeme King's excellent resin parts to provide the longer cab and cartezi axle. Two thirds of the train comprises fairly boring mark 1s, but the catering core is interesting, being formed of FO,RK,SO (all Thompson) and then Mark 1 prototype FO E3083 which had a strange window arrangement and seats in twos which swivelled according to the direction of travel. It has been preserved on the Severn Valley Railway. Here is the FO/RK. Both are formed of Southern Pride sides on an old Bachmann donor. And here is the SO/FO pair. Again both are Southern Pride sides; the SO on a Bachmann donor and the prototype FO on an old Triang Hornby Mark 1. And finally here is a link to a video of the train.

Thanks for the link to the video which I've just sat down to watch. Some nice shots, but as Clieve says, it would have been nice to see more of the formations. Having said that there are some interesting views of what I think are Stanier period three coaches at c.7 mins and then again at 20:20. Does anyone have any thought on what service they may have been on?

I think there are 25 on the train; 21 Hornby (renumbered to avoid duplicates), 2 Parkside and 2 Wrenn (repainted).

I've spoken to Andy at Isinglass about 3D printing the Gresley 66 footers and he was quite positive about the idea. If that comes off, I'm sure I could knock one or two up for you.

Gilbert, It's good to see the sleepers again. I hope they're coping with your curves OK now? Andy

We've now run round the whole layout, so I think it's time for the stars of the show - the trains. I don't have a set sequence, but I have a list of trains and try to operate them in rough order through the day. I start the sequence in the middle of the day and run through to the evening to allow me to run a few sleeper trains, for which I have a particular passion. The trains come from anytime between 1948 and the early '60s, but concentrated on the late '50s. I will post a picture of each train and will point out interesting vehicles as appropriate. For some I will also post a video as I think model railways are best when moving. The passenger trains have been compiled from the carriage working notices (thanks to Robert Carroll) and sometimes photos, but the goods and parcels trains are more guesswork as I don't have the equivalent goods working documents. Any constructive criticism would be welcome. The first train is the down Aberdeen fish empties. I believe that this left Kings Cross about midday. V2 60850 on down Aberdeen fish empties. The train is mainly formed of Hornby blue spot fish wagons all renumbered and weathered. There are also a couple of Parkside kits and a couple of old Wrenn vans. The Hornby vans are all coupled using the Roco system in NEM pockets which IMHO gives a big improvement over tension locks and allows quite close coupling as below. Hopefully this shows the Roco coupling to good advantage. and here is a video of the train as it rounds the reverse curve. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsXPBbKS9-U

OK. Now we have the final stretch of the layout. Here we have a general view down the layout with the K1 and the oil tanks crossing from the down slow into the freight loop across the second line of slips. The signalbox on the far side is the LCUT large signal box, but as yet is in a half built state. The coaling stage is Metcalfe and is more GW in outline (shock horror!) but Hatfield had one a little like this in LNER days so I don't feel it's too out of place - it does need some detailing though! This is the diesel depot section with the coaling stage and turntable behind. Here is the tunnel mouth leading into the fiddle yard with A3 'Minoru' emerging on the down fast. The tunnel section is based on the Gasworks tunnel exit from King's Cross with red brick on the far side, yellow in the middle and blue on the nearest section just like at King's Cross. The canal section should be set further back with a road in between, but I had to foreshorten it. The lock is there, but should be a few feet to the left. As you can see only two of the tunnel mouths have track properly laid. Initially I intended that the final tunnel mouth would be boarded up, but I'm now considering extending platform 6 through to the fiddle yard to allow a branch shuttle to enter the station from the south. The loose track emerging from the tunnel mouth is the beginning of this extension. It will probably only be single track, as to put a double track in would mean moving a roof joist! The track plan would change from this: To this: The revision would allow the branch shuttle to run in from the fiddle yard, run round, and return. It would also allow up goods trains to recess and run round for shunting operations. I would assume that there is a connection back onto the up slow beyond the tunnel, so that goods trains can exit via the new connection. I might also add a connection from platform 5, but at the moment, I'm inclined to keep it simpler, as the above seems to offer everything I need operationally. Any views would be welcome. Andy

Now we come onto the station area which is the least developed part of the layout, so if you're offended by half built scenery then you'd better skip over this section! This corner has the station entrance on a gentle (c.5 feet) radius curve. From the back, we have the bay platform (1), then the down slow (platform 2), down fast (no platform), up fast (Platform 3), platform 4, which acts as a terminating platform for the inner suburban train from Moorgate and the beginning of the freight loop and platform 5 (up slow). The rest of the platforms are shown below. In the foreground is the entrance to the goods yard. As you can see, not much has been ballasted, partly because I'm not yet completely happy with the track layout which I will explain in the next update. The town area at the rear is mainly based on Superquick buildings and is basically complete, although I'm sure I will add some detailing in due course. Here is the steam shed and main station building and platforms. In platform 4 is a quad art set (Kirk kit) waiting to return to Moorgate. The next line is the run round loop for the terminating suburban train and also allows goods trains to cross from the down slow to recess for a crew or engine change. It also provides a through route from up goods trains. The final platform 6 on which the front of an N2 can just be seen on the extreme left is currently a terminating platform, although I have plans to extend it 'southwards'. I am building the Scalescenes main station building to replace the Superquick one seen at the back and hope to replace the Metcalfe loco shed in due course (the rails are sticking out of the end until I decide on its exact location). The whole steam shed needs a lot of work as you can see.

Keith, I intend to use Precision labels for the Umber section which will both hide the joins and provide nicely printed crests, lining and car numbers. I've used them before and would agree that his service is very good. Andy

I think you've highlighted the problem. I'm not even trying to match Bachmann with Hornby. Rather Hornby with Hornby using Hornby (aka Humbrol) paint. But even that varies between cars.

Darryl, That's very welcome news. Is it possible to get access to these photographs through the LNER society or directly? Andy

It’s a while since I posted on here, mainly because I’ve been concentrating on my layout. However over the last few days I’ve been trying to sort out my Pullman rakes and I’ve decided I need some different cars. As has been aired elsewhere most of the ECML cars were from the 1928 all steel batch as represented recently by Hornby. However about 1/3 were of the earlier wooden type with under frame angle iron. These were the earlier Hornby super detail type, but while Hornby did five different cars there were, in practice, numerous differences between them. I wanted to build one of the second class Kitchen cars, nos 105/6/7 which were East Coast regulars in the 1950s. These were originally First Class kitchen cars built in 1927 and were converted in 1946. They were notably different to the regular K type wooden vehicles modelled by Hornby with an extra oval window and other windows in different places. I decided to start with an older Hornby (pre superdetail) pantry car and had to cut the side up to rearrange some of the windows. the choice of the older car was partly because it seemed the closest match window wise, partly because there’s not much difference between them apart from the under frame and partly because it was cheap so less of an issue if I mess it up! Here’s the progress to date The top side is the one I’ve been working on - you can see the joins. The middle one is the same model unaltered, and the bottom one is a Hornby superdetail kitchen second, so you can see the difference. My reference pictures are in Ford Pullman Profile No 2 pages 137-141. Still to do are filling and repainting the joins and sorting roof and chassis. I’d welcome any comments on whether I’ve missed a glaring problem with this route. Also does anyone know the best match for Hornby Pullman cream. I’ve tried Humbrol RC416, but it’s too lemony. Andy

Moving on round the layout we come to the first set of trailing slips. These take trains from the station area out onto the down fast or into the headshunt for goods sidings on the down side. Here we have K1 62059 (Hornby) on a rake of oil tanks crossing from the station area (where it has recessed for a crew change) back onto the down fast to continue it's journey northbound. The first point and diamond crossing have been slightly curved to fit in with the sweep round the bend. I've skipped past the area on the right of the K1 which will be an industrial site, but is in the early stages of development. Moving on round the layout the corner is occupied by a gas works Here we have J50, 68989 (Lima body with Jackson Evans detailing and /4 conversion kit on a Bachmann Pannier chassis) on my equivalent of the Barnet gas train. This area of the layout is relatively complete, but I still need to add some pipes to the Gas holder complex. Finally for today we have a general view over the station goods yard with a DJ Models austerity in the foreground.

Hi Les, Thanks for your comment. I held off replying hoping that someone more knowledgeable about signalling would step in. My understanding is that the finial was the mark of the signal manufacturer and not unique to the Southern. There was certainly a similar finial on the one LNER signal kit from MSE that I have built (https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/135510-coulsdon-works/&do=findComment&comment=3663331). But I stand to be corrected as I find signalling a rather confusing subject! Andy

This morning I will describe the first section in the main scenic room. This emerges from a tunnel immediately the other side of the dividing wall and gently curves round the water tank. At this stage the two track section becomes four with two headshunts leading back to the tunnel mouth. A2/2 60506 Wolf of Badenoch (DJH) leaving the tunnel mouth and about to cross to the slow line. The point entering the two track section on the up line (immediately in front of the 'Wolf') is Peco large radius, but has been treated to the 'Graham Nicholas' manipulation to make it a sort of off-set 'Y' point. This keeps the radius on the mainline at c.75". I would really like a much larger radius point and have been tempted to replace it with the code 83 version, but that would have sleeper spacing issues and I'm not sure it would join to my code 100 track. The signal is standard Hornby and is manual. I have just ordered a Heathcote semaphore bouncing servo controller, so it will shortly be automated. In the long term, I anticipate a GNR style gantry over the four tracks at this point built from the MSE kit, but I need to build up my confidence with MSE kits gradually - so far I've just built a single arm kit. The farm scene behind is a another 'father and daughter' creation which fills the corner nicely. This photo is looking the other way. V2, 60850 (Bachmann heavily weathered) heads the down Aberdeen blue spot fish empties round the curve. On the left we have goods holding sidings (in practice a place to dump wagons that I'm not using!) and in the background my industrial area - more of that tomorrow.

I think the problem may be that you have too many books rather than too few! To be fair, I often have the same problem with photos in books, but those three Carter Backtrack articles on LNER catering vehicles are in the ready reference pile which never gets put away.

I'm no signalling expert. My understanding is that the white diamond indicates that the signal is associated with a track circuit, so I would have thought that that could be true next to a signal box, but I'm willing to be corrected.

Today's tour round the layout is the section leading from 'Welwyn' viaduct to the road bridge where the layout dives through a wall and into the other room in the loft. The curve is forced by circumnavigating the water tanks, but I've kept it fairly gradual. Here we have a Baby Deltic on a typical Cambridge semi fast set headed by a Kirk Gresley BSK(3) passing the tail end of an up fish train. The signals are the Dapol type. They are strictly southern in outline and I'm sure that a signal guru will tell me off, but they look like LNER lattice signals to me. They work automatically fired by a Heathcote electronics infra red 'Dapol Signal Sequence' which works very reliably and ensures that the signals go back to danger which is something that I never remember to do! The bridge and retaining wall are from Scalescenes and the 'green' scenic work is again done with my daughter, Ellen. These photos were taken on my iPhone rather than my expensive NikonD80 but I think they’re better. Any views? Andy

Andrew, That's really useful - many thanks. I'm keen to build one, but have no diagram or picture to work of. I've had a look at Robert's Fickr pages and can't see anything. Your observations on E9065E are interesting. Carter (Backtrack Nov 96) suggests that of the three conversions, one went on the South Yorkshireman (as you say), one to the GE and one to the GN to work the Cleethorpes King's Cross train that both Gilbert (PN) and I would like to model correctly. Longworth suggests that E9065E went to the LM in 1953 which doesn't quite fit with your information, but then Longworth isn't always right! E9065 E was also renumbered from E1225E (or Clive thinks to) at some stage. If anyone has any picture I could work of, I'd be most grateful. Andy

Clive, You're most welcome to take up as much space as you like on this sort of question. This sort of debate is one of the reasons I love RMWeb and as Gilbert will testify, I often take up space on his thread asking just such a question. Coming back to the RKB on the 1845 KGX-Cleethorpes. It was a 1953 conversion of a D.16 RT. To quote Carter in Backtrack Nov 1996, "The Eastern Region selected three LNER third class restaurant cars built in 1924 for conversion to RKB (table 3). remodelling was extensive. Most of the interior was given over to the kitchen but left room for four seats...………….Following conversion in 1953 the cars were allocated to the GE, GN and GC lines...………..One the GN the RKB ran in the 6.20am Cleethorpes to King's Cross, returning at 6.18pm." The 6.18pm ran later by 1958 and this was definitely the vehicle. The numbers were E9063E/ E9064E and E9065E however, I do not know which of the three conversions was allocated to the GN. I have the diagram for D.16, but not for the rebuild which I imagine had much more panelling and less windows. As I said earlier, if I had the diagram I think it would be an easy cut and shut from Kirk bits. Andy

Thanks, I'll download it and give it a try. Then I might fire some questions over if that's OK. But more than 5 mins per photo and I'd lose patience so don't expert the earth!

I'm sure you can find an excuse for the GN car - a d.168 must have been in works. I would start building the RKB tomorrow if I could get a diagram or a picture. I have load of Kirk buffet sides (and a few others) lying around and I'm sure it would be possible to cut and shut. I just have no idea what it looked like. The road adjoining the cassettes and kick backs easily takes 12 mark 1s between the points and I can add a loco at the up end of the train (over the kick back point) once it's put together before fouling the point onto the next road. So it's perfect for making up trains as you suggest. I see them mainly being made up from the kick back roads with a few less used items kept in cassettes. But I haven't used it in anger yet, so experience may change my mind.

Believe it or not that is a white background....or at least off-white as it hasn't been painted for 20+ years. It's just the light and the angle of the roof which renders it grey on the photo. Tony Teague did try to teach me photoshopping, but it seemed an awful faff. Maybe once I got used to it, I would find it easier. What's the best free software to experiment with?

Thanks for that reassurance. The viaduct is definitely a 'scale over finesse' item, and it grabs the attention on the layout. The surrounding scenery was done with my 13 year old daughter, Ellen, who loves the creative side ….and the mess that goes with it! It's been fun having something to do together and keeping her involved in the railway.

After an exhausting but enjoyable day at Warley yesterday, it's time for the next instalment on Gresley Junction. I'm going to start with the viaduct section and then work round the layout in the up direction (i.e. anticlockwise). Here is A3 60110 'Robert the Devil' on the up morning Talisman as it was in the Summer of 1957 (before extension to Perth and renaming as the Fair Maid at which stage it got a separate set of stock from the afternoon train). A view of the full length of the viaduct. Close up of the far end. A view through the arches. I'm afraid that I find that life's too short for photoshopping, so what you see is the raw layout, warts and all, with my pictures. As such these pictures highlight the need for a backscene. I think I can sort the sky behind the viaduct by using plain wallpaper up the loft wall and painting it blue. However, the final picture shows how abruptly the river stops. I really need to paint a disappearing river into the backscene, but my skills aren't up to it, so I'm still considering what to do there. It's not seen from normal viewing angles, so not a huge problem. The viaduct is loosely based on Welwyn (aka Digswell) viaduct, although is less than have the size. The steep sides, flat bottom and small river are certainly similar to the valley of the Mimram which runs under Welwyn. I looked at lots of photos before I built it and convinced myself that the brick was yellow as were many early GNR structures. However, a site visit since then, reveals that in fact its mainly red brick with some blue brick, possibly as repairs. I used the Scalescenes kit and each arch had to be printed, glued onto card and put together. As it took a year to build (on and off), I'm not revisiting it! I will weather it in due course and hope to reduce the 'in your face' yellowness of the bricks. That will also give me the chance to repair the defects that I never normally notice, but which the camera has highlighted. Andy