bigd

Some of the Gateshead 24s made it to Haymarket and Easrfield, after the Tyne Dock to Consett trains finished in 1974. I took this shot of 24107 at Inverness Lochgorm works.

I think the weight of that machine would have bee problematic on the GE section. If the war had not intervened, I wonder if a 4-4-2 version of the V4 Bantam Cock would have emerged?

A parcel arrived today. Pi had weathered, an added nameplates to mine. I am very happy with the result. I just need to find a track longer than eight inches to test how it runs.

Thanks, an enlightening chat about PO wagons. I found another picture, of my dads, that I thought was worth sharing.

Thanks eastwestdivide and bri.Dolan, I think you are correct, Dearne Valley Colliery. It fits with the maps. We lived in nearby Great Houghton, in the 50s, and early 60s. I remember my father taking me on a walk to a colliery, where I presume he worked. We bought sweets at a local shop, the walked to the colliery. Once there I was allowed to meet the pit ponies, and gave each one a sweet. A small child’s memories! My dad later said we could only do this on a Sunday, as the ponies stayed underground all week, only coming to the surface, after the Saturday morning shift. I suspect that there was no management there, at the weekend, may also have been a factor! This would tie in, with a small, unmodernised colliery.

I have found another set of negatives. There is a wider shot of the same location. This set of negatives are labelled DVWB. I think this stands for Dearne Valley Water Board. So this must be part of a water treatment work, not a colliery. No wonder that nobody was able to identify the location. Your identification of power station coal is interesting, as the same film also has pictures of one. So I need to look for a water treatment works, next to a power station, by a railway, in the Dearne Valley.

Thanks, Oxford Rail appear to have produced a Rickett wagon. https://www.oxforddiecast.co.uk/products/mineral-wagon-7-plank-rickett-3-disc-wheels-or76mw7022

I have been looking through negatives from my father. I have found pictures of a colliery yard, with an ex private owner wagon in it. Would anyone be able to identify the colliery, or the owner of the wagon?. My dad worked as a water engineer at a colliery, before moving to the water board. So I think his interest was in the settlement tanks, not the wagons! We we’re in the Barnsley and Wombwell area.

We said goodbye to our cat Isobel today. She was the matriarch, who would take no nonsense from anyone. She had been suffering from a liver complaint for two years.

I wonder if they will later do the 2-2–2 Patentee locomotive? I think they are very similar. If not, then I may have to do some modelling.

Glenfinnan Viaduct

I see that Springs Branch is host a 769 electro diesel. I saw , at Euxton, that the 5Z40 1249 Springs Branch Stabl Sdg to Blackpool North was using one. Sorry, no photo, I was looking the wrong way, at the time.

It look like the BBC are expecting the services to be operated by APT-P. Has any one told Crewe Heritage Centre? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-51312450

And the Judith Edge brass kit http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/judithedge/kit/114

With the May timetable change Trans Pennine Class 350 units are being routed via Bolton. I caught this one at Buckshaw Parkway. I was hoping to get both the northbound and southbound workings in one picture together, as they are scheduled to pass at Euxton Junction. Unfortunately the southbound train went via Parkside.

I now have some time to document, and sum up the build. I added crossing gates from the Peco kit I put some gauge master flowers in the flowerbed. The Fina sign is made from plastic card and a cocktail stick, with the signs printed from a photograph. I used static grass for the first time here. 2mm grass at the bottom of the fence and wall. 6mm grass under the tree. I was disappointed that the longer grass didn’t stand up. Perhaps I need to do some more try outs, and read round on technique. What could have gone better: The house roof - if I had more time I would have re-done it. Me clumsily putting a finger mark on the sky. The back scene had bubbles. I ran out of time. A granddaughter arriving two months early! What more could I have done: Repaint my Janus model into NCB green, and add Yorkshire plates. Replace damaged parts on my L&Y steam engine, and repaint into NCB livery. Add some detail to the road - street lights, grids, and road markings. Add some people - after all the theme was waiting for a train. What went well: I got off my backside and did some modelling. I tried out some ideas I plan to use on my Bickershaw Colliery layout. I learned how to lay ballast. A healthy granddaughter arriving two months early! Will I do another cake box: If I can come up with an idea that sparks my interest, an fits the new theme - yes.

A bit more progress, this weekend. I have added a hut at the back, made from unused bits of the houses. A Ratio GWR square post signal was put in front. Fencing from a Peco crossing to separate the railway from the road. DJ models Hurricane crossing Kirkhall Lane.

Here is a shot containing the NRMs one.

A snatched shot of my first Pendolino at Buckshaw Village. First Virgin Trains empty stock working with 11-car 390115. Realtime Trains has it as 5P93 1245 Longsight Car. M.D. to Blackpool North.

Thanks for the encouraging comments guys. I have managed to make some progress today. I painted the roadway with some poster paint. I think I should have covered the foamboard with paper first, as it took an age to dry, and is prone to damage. I may redo it anyway. I have stuck a Gaugemaster background on, using PVA. I am disappointed that I have some bubbles in the sky, but I hope they will disappear when the glue dries. The paving stones are Metcalfe The houses are Superquick.

First day electric train. 319361 at Buckshaw Parkway.

I have decide to do a cake box model , as a way of building some modelling skills, before I attempt a full size layout. I have chosen to model the crossing at Kirkhall Lane, in Leigh. This was on the line from Parsonage Colliery to the main line at Hindley Green. I was inspired by Mr Hilton’s picture, in Dennis Sweeneys book ‘The Colour of A Lancashire Triangle’. The waiting for a train rule will we satisfied by a car, and maybe some pedestrians waiting to cross, after the train has passed. I had already got a Janus shunter, and a class 23, that will need a repaint, and in the case of the class 23, a repair. The first question? Will both locomotives fit in a cake box? Just about! So, I better, stop waisting time with Rmweb, and get on with it!

Thanks, I believe so, The earthing straps have disappeared over the weekend from a mast at Buckshaw Parkway.

Well another three months, and some more progress, the wires appear to be complete, and the 25kv supply is now in place, south of Buckshaw Parkway. Will we see switch on this year?