Corbs

Two cranes (both alike in dignity) on the workbench. The hand crane has a home on the loading dock. The large Dapol crane was in a drawer for ages and I just wanted to get it built so I could work out what to do with it. I have some ideas about motorising it but that can wait for another day. Needs some details, lighting and glazing adding, and a cable. The small crane is mounted on a 2P coin covered in filler and paint, with a hole drilled through the middle.

Very nice!

Alas no sound on these clips, but here is some film from the Wigan area. Shows an 8F going tender first, with the banking 8F pointing forwards. Here's some clips of Shap you may enjoy with bankers in action

A bit of Bertha 9F, 8F and panniers on the Lickey

Another clip Annoyingly I saw the clip you referred to earlier and now cannot find it again! This one shows the summit though Here they are working hard through Bromsgrove Here's a few of the double lickey banker I missed earlier I guess with 1 loco it had to work harder?

An interesting discussion. I have a slightly different problem but often find myself wondering if it's just me. First I'll name and fame a few people. Ullypug and Captan Kernow of this parish, Rod Allcock, Robin who owns the K&ESR layout and is now building a model of Wantage, John who built the EM model of M shed, the Baron and Re6/6, Simon of Hobbiton End are all really nice people and were more than willing to chat to me when they were operating. I was particularly impressed by Robin's ability to carry on operating whilst holding a conversation - something I find more than a little bit difficult! I've not attended hundreds of exhibitions but I have never had a bad experience talking to an operator or exhibitor, everyone has been very nice. My problem is actually the opposite. Sometimes, I just want to walk up to a model or demonstration, just watch the trains go by and let the operators do their thing for a while. The problem is I have this feeling of awkwardness build up (like bringing a pan of water to boil) the longer I stand there, and that I MUST INTERACT, I MUST SAY SOMETHING. When sometimes it's just nice to watch people play trains, and I'd be quite happy to do that. I just feel like I'm being rude by not saying anything or commenting. This is true of layouts but also of demonstrations, sometimes I just want to watch someone at work. The upshot is that I sometimes don't spend enough time looking at stuff as I'd like to. As layout operators, do you find it rude that a member of the public would be quite happy not to interact but to watch trains for a long period of time? Or is it all in my head?

At around 6 minutes into this video, 'Fenella' is attached to the service train on the IOMR along with some extra stock, and becomes the banking loco

Great pics, a really crisp/brisk feeling to them. Here's some more from the AVR (not mine) of the banking locos dropping off as the train comes in to Bitton 47406 Foxcote Manor TKh 4015 At the beginning of this video I shot, there's a clip of Foxcote Manor banking 4015 over the bridge.

When the new housing at Portishead Docks was under construction, you could just drive in. When I was doing my A levels, I made this music video and it was a great space to drive around in. The rails on the dockside were being lifted at the time (in fact the thumbnail shows us driving over the old quayside lines)

That reminded me of this, one of the episodes in the excellent Astley Green and Walkden Colliery series by Gandy Dancer Productions. 'Warrior' and 'Harry' struggle to get a coal train over the canal bridge.

Awesome! Embedding here for ease of viewing. Was this the same trip?

Here's one of mine. At the AVR galas, goods trains are often banked from Avon Riverside to Bitton. I was lucky enough to get a ride in the TOAD while L.150 did some work. Nice and noisy.

If, like me, you love the sight of steam locos helping one another up hills, then this is a thread to share photos and videos of such things. A selection from YouTube, mainly from the preservation era so in some clips the banker's not doing a lot, but bear with it and it shall bear fruit in return. The Shap and Beattock banker in 2001 - Black 5 and Std.4 76079 (this clip has sadly been removed but here is a clip from the same event) The Double Lickey Banker in 2012 - 6201, 7752 and 9600. Also includes nice shots of the panniers working light engine on the mainline. This is one of my favourites - a real steam-on-steam rescue on the national network in 2010. 45407 could not get up Glencruitten on its own, so K4 61994 was dispatched from Crianlarich to assist. At the end of this clip 61994 is off to the rescue. The two locos tackle the incline out of Oban - already setting quite a pace as the banker passes! Finally (for now) one of the best - Bittern slips to a stand with the Torbay Express, the Class 25 cannot get the train moving either, 7827 is taken off the service train at Paignton to assist.

Certainly in the earlier clips it seemed to be along for the ride, in the rain at 2:04 is the best part - working hard! The double lickey banker tour with 6201 and the two Tyseley panniers, in some clips, appears to be the Princess dragging the two smaller locos uphill!

Would that count against suburban services where it is not sustained speed, but periods of fast acceleration and braking?

Great updates chaps. I saw this video on youtube and thought of you - 76079 banking a tour over Shap and Beattock in 2001. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh8fyxr2J3Y

I remember a documentary about suburban services, apparently the turnaround time for steam at Liverpool Street was 3 minutes!

The Barclay didn't last long! Any idea why?

Oly Turner's layout 'Six Quarters' adds something a bit unusual in terms of backscenes - a misty morning type of look. I think it's effective.

Thanks! Yep that's correct, they handily do it for more loco shapes than existed in real life (as only the top link locos were so treated) so it's a very useful sheet.

Thanks guys, planning an industrial brake van and it's a relief not to have to include them!

Right, with the festive season out of the way I should try and crack on with the ex-FR K2. This will become NWR No.102 'Edward Faragher' and is made from a 3D printed kit courtesy of Sparkshot Custom Creations. The blue was sprayed a while ago, but the blasted black won't dry! It's been 2 weeks now so I'm trying to work around it. Last time this happened, lacquering helped set it. I've managed to do the handrails by working carefully. Today I completed the lining on one side. This was exceptionally fiddly, every corner is a separate piece (the sheet from Fox is intended for GWR tender locos). I think I'm going to continue the theme of having 2 livery variations and go for an austerity version on the other side! It's not perfect, there are a few bends but I'm learning as I go and every time I do it, it gets a little better so at least that's a little victory.

Chaps, I have a question about NCB brake vans. Pictured (not my photo) is the NCB van they have at Chasewater. What are the two domed things on the right hand ends? Many thanks in advance.

Check this album out - the Southern Pacific assists with the war effort in 1942 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=ms.c.eJxFVVGOBTEIutFGrFZ7~%3B4ttHkbmlyAiOh23g2OZdardXv75ADcsoisFZBSQcbDAOWT0FdA~%3BDSAWCLAkPmA0QhpxR~%3BRJw0ZUQNow5KMGwOd0ABfwjLNcF8C2523ba06gj4BkSdQCh~_PfTgGXDOy0N6bEtqQAllgv43K4g53l9i9kvLuidZyA2zKK499QSTU1vi73~%3BhiZa738~%3BRiea6ymS39dHheVLoZR1EvT1pm2Gq4ujZWAnsTsazuiT6J~_x4esT9v7tT0jig941Ogdv8IJyFjZZIoWkAOESoKiSr1QswZXYhPQ17Z5MG4KKIrAkUa~%3BiVDTJoahtsn7yA0ZXudXcmrHb2cXaA3tPsCK9uG00SWAPhAtIIcR0sjR2MT6cpWANGZaaNruQ0B59M9lo2q~%3Bhp5lV30ljDDOljxwt3Z3uGfcbajLs2HUx~_BpV8rp47JDt~%3B4wPvQYvJgSiHFqgA3ZZvtH2385JaYS5zmUb4SvmLrhqIR52A4HOH3kPmywNgK1DOP7Eb3vBzBn6XuWAGo0UoxiSbVEaV0XBGC6hLrUMEIMPn3Rn6hzL3iyHmMdMjZfQ5qMZY6GLcBH6SeyhztOS05RGIZ8FG8dIR81GrYaOAOEgDuJuYz9Yv9J1Lad7etXAL~%3BND2hvHV6c1sL~%3BAQeDUkE~-.bps.a.2031299693782683.1073743049.1634742540105069&type=1