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Heaton Lodge Junction


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11 hours ago, 4630 said:

 

Ellesmere Port to Charington Hargreaves oil terminal at Liversedge Spen perhaps?

A Class 50 at Liversedge.... now THAT would be one photo I'd love to see! Anyone got any evidence of a 50 on that working?

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6 hours ago, Crepello said:

Could you represent pulverised MGR coal by using an alternative material to real coal or just put the real thing  into some sort of grinder?

It’s a good point.

I’m told by someone who worked in a power station facility the real coal in MGR’s was much finer than in my HAA.

I smashed up a couple of lumps with a hammer but I think I’ll try a blender now.

Ive used foam board to create a false bottom in the HAA, about 1cm from the top.

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Having stood in the unloading bunker at Ferrybridge I will agree with you. Coal in MGR's was almost dust with most bits only a few mm's orbless in diameter plus a few slightly bigger pieces.  Most coal loads on models are on the large size.  Even by 1900 there were chain fed grates in industrial boilers and domestic coal was only 2 inches or so.

 

Jamie

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49 minutes ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

It’s a good point.

I’m told by someone who worked in a power station facility the real coal in MGR’s was much finer than in my HAA.

I smashed up a couple of lumps with a hammer but I think I’ll try a blender now.

Ive used foam board to create a false bottom in the HAA, about 1cm from the top.

 

Simon

 

Don't put it through a blender as it will end up as dust ..... trust me i've tried it.....

 

I looked around it internet and found a company called EEZYLOADS.CO.UK and went for the N gauge load called SKU AC-N and it works a treat... 

 

Here are a few pictures for you 

 

IMG_5724.JPG.cd8a2b51d3ffd656e0a8d724a08072f3.JPG

 

IMG_5725.JPG.75962ebbf4c7bbb556eaa53ad7f3fe28.JPG

 

Jim

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I can concur that the MGR coal was almost dust. Back when I was a lad in one of the York S&T Electrical Installation gangs, we had a job at Knottingley for a few weeks in the early part of the year in 1975, installing a new 300 pair cable from the Relay Room (behind the station) to the Signal Box (approx. a mile distance). We had one of the S&T Mess & Tool coaches parked up in one of the lines at the MPD for the duration - but it had no "mains facilities" (i.e. no water, no electricity, etc.), only a stove similar to what was fitted in guards vans. Alas, only one 25kg bag of coal for the stove was provided (which didn't last long). Being the trainee, it was my job every morning to fill up the water carrier for the day, and to go "hunting" for coal so we could get the fire going for a brew and to provide some heating in the coach. Every morning I would take the coal bucket and go walking up and down the cess and in the yards looking for coal for the stove. As time went on it got harder and harder to find any decent pieces of coal, most of it was about the size of a 10p piece - or smaller. Occasionally I'd find a decent sized bit, but they were few and far between. Ah, happy days.

 

I wonder what the H&S police would make of "my daily task" these days?

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You could try looking at aquarium suppliers. I use decorative black fish tank grit for a good coal likeness. Different grades can be also found at the garden centre in the flower arranging section. Better value than ‘specialist’ model suppliers. 
 

Best wishes, Chris. 

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MGR wagon coal is only just enough above dust for the weight of it to prevent it being blown out of the wagon in transit, quarter to dust springs to mind, but the old memory might be playing up.

When at the power station it goes through a pulveriser to actually convert it to coal powder/dust before it is injected into the generator.

In 4mm scale actual coal dust is suitable for a load, maybe something a tad bigger for 7mm.

 

Mike.

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Great coverage in the latest Hornby Magazine, Simon!

One can more easily get a picture of the immense scale, and quality, of what you are delivering through seeing the larger printed images.

Many congratulations.

Tony

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Must admit I'm a bit late to this party having only just seen the layout for the first time in Hornby magazine, although I had heard rumours...

 

As someone who used to sit by the long curve at Point of Ayr colliery and 'watch the trains go by' and stand on Prestatyn station looking for the first glint off the nose of a class 40 almost a mile away along the straight line of the North Wales Coast this layout totally chimes wih my memories from the late 70's and early 80's.

 

I've built an N gauge representation of it, albeit much shorter, and am currently playing trains in OO, but I can't wait to see what this looks - and sounds - like in O gauge, especially with this size and detail...

 

Please say you'll be coming to within shouting distance of North Wales at some point - I could argue an essential journey for my mental health if it's near enough!

 

Hope it all continues smoothly...

 

David

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19 hours ago, Joner said:

I too am looking forward to it. Some running  videos maybe? 

 

I want to see some full haa's loads!

Yes I will post videos up within a week or two. The last curve needs wiring, the track cleaning and ready to go!

 

I’m also churning out 5 weathered and loaded MGR’s a day with distressed black stripes.
They look much better now as the stripes were too prominent until I took a fibreglass pencil to them :) 

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On 03/05/2020 at 18:32, HeatonLodge40 said:

I had to buy a 20kg bag of coal since I’ve another 99 MGR’s to fill :)

 

Hi Simon, stunning execution thus far! :clapping_mini:

Good to see Heljan now behind you (presumably amongst others) and I hope the business plan works out for you. 

Um, 20kgs added to 100 MGR’s :blink:!  Not sure how many rakes that is going to make for you, but have either Heljan, JLTRT, your very small select army of devotees or your good self actually tried test running the proposed trains at full weight with the proposed traction?

In 00, perlite stained with black India ink is one way of saving weight!

Or is the load simply a decent excuse to run double or treble headers? :rolleyes:

Take care.

WB 

 

 

 

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There looking really good. Don't envy you doing all those, but it's going to look really impressive when complete. 

I've only got 6 so far but nowhere to run them yet.

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12 hours ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

One Heljan 37 will easily pull 50 empty ones so 36 loaded ones should be fine.

 

Good to know!

 

12 hours ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

It’s labour intensive but the results are excellent.

 

A summary of your entire Heaton Lodge experience, if I might be so bold.

 

I’m very much looking forward to seeing your magnum opus later this year at Warley ( with 2m of baseboard to myself to get a clear view and no backpacks in my ribs), or if that isn’t meant to be, in its own travelling artic-convoy circus some point next year. 

 

Your updates on here are a welcome distraction to the new world order, so on behalf of your readership, thank you for taking the time to share the journey.

 

Phil 

 

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10 hours ago, wandering blue said:

 

Good to know!

 

 

A summary of your entire Heaton Lodge experience, if I might be so bold.

 

I’m very much looking forward to seeing your magnum opus later this year at Warley ( with 2m of baseboard to myself to get a clear view and no backpacks in my ribs), or if that isn’t meant to be, in its own travelling artic-convoy circus some point next year. 

 

Your updates on here are a welcome distraction to the new world order, so on behalf of your readership, thank you for taking the time to share the journey.

 

Phil 

 

Thanks Phil.

 

In all honesty I can’t see a public gathering of thousands of people - as at Warley, being allowed anytime this year. 
The company manufacturing the handcarts needed to transport the layout are also falling way behind schedule.

Alls not lost though, HLJ will eventually be in lots of different locations that I’ll make known later this year.

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