Churminster & Stowe Magna, Southern Railway

[Tony Teague]

Tony,

 

Looking like good progress. I’m impressed with the dedication to your quest. One question, why are you considering the SEF T9 chassis? If the Hornby chassis has the correct wheelbase and wheel diameters I would have thought that it would be cheaper and easier (and probably give better running unless you’re a chassis expert).

 

Regards

 

Andy

 

Andy

Andy

 

A good question - could it be over exposure to Tony Wright's anti-RTR crusade perhaps? - No, it is because if I want to move on to build the S11, then I will need smaller wheels with different spacings, set lower within the frames (to achieve the same height), and I could not do this with the Hornby chassis.

So, there is madness in my method!

 

Tony

[thegreenhowards]

Andy

 

A good question - could it be over exposure to Tony Wright's anti-RTR crusade perhaps? - No, it is because if I want to move on to build the S11, then I will need smaller wheels with different spacings, set lower within the frames (to achieve the same height), and I could not do this with the Hornby chassis.

So, there is madness in my method!

 

Tony

Both motivations had occurred to me! If you’re as good a builder as Tony it makes sense, although it would still be more expensive. However, for mortals like myself, and I suspect your good self, cheating always makes sense when there is a RTR option. If I was you I’d build the SEF chassis with the smaller wheels for your S11. You can then test fit it on the L12 to prove the principal, but then revert to an RTR chassis for the L12, so you only have to build one chassis.

 

When Hornby see what you’ve done, they’ll bring it out RTR!

 

Good luck whichever option you choose - I’d be interested to see your progress when you visit.

 

Andy

[Tony Teague]

Andy

Your suggestion is a good one which I will explore.

I haven't yet looked too hard at the S11 as I have been focussing on the L12, but I have a 2nd set of etches and parts for the L12 so I need to explore what else, other than the wheels, needs to be changed.

It may not be very much.

One interesting point is that the differences in size between these models in 4mm is so marginal that unless they are standing next to each other it may be difficult to spot the differences!

 

Tony

[thegreenhowards]

Andy

Your suggestion is a good one which I will explore.

I haven't yet looked too hard at the S11 as I have been focussing on the L12, but I have a 2nd set of etches and parts for the L12 so I need to explore what else, other than the wheels, needs to be changed.

It may not be very much.

One interesting point is that the differences in size between these models in 4mm is so marginal that unless they are standing next to each other it may be difficult to spot the differences!

 

Tony

To any else it may be difficult, but if you build it, you will be able to spot the differences easily - one of the unintended benefits of kit building!

[Allegheny1600]

Hi Tony,

Awesome layout, I love it!

Thanks for sharing, it really does give some wonderful inspiration.

Cheers,

John.

[Tony Teague]

Hi Tony,

Awesome layout, I love it!

Thanks for sharing, it really does give some wonderful inspiration.

Cheers,

John.

John

Thanks - you are very kind, but its good to know that it might give some inspiration to others!

I am just enjoying myself!

Tony

[Tony Teague]

One of the things I most like about our hobby is the great variety that it offers; if I get bored with weathering I can do some wiring, or if I have had enough of signalling, then I can work on the scenery.

 

With Churminster Shed largely complete - OK except for the chimneys! - I have been spending time working over on Stowe Magna shed; although the buildings here were largely put together around 8 or 9 years ago, I had never ballasted or detailed the area, even though the running lines that pass it were long since completed. This picture was taken in 2009 and things had only changed marginally since then.

 

 

Stowe Magna locoshed is made up of four main buildings, starting with a small 2-road, single length, running shed adjacent to the (Heljan) turntable, a large coaling tower, the main 3-road, triple depth maintenance shed, and a single loco repair shed. All of these except the running shed (which is a Scalescenes cast resin building) were made from Townstreet plaster castings and I mention this for a reason!

 

 

The main shed was all but completed some years ago, although it lacked a floor and any detailing - this shot from 2015, but later that year disaster struck!

 

 

The building was hit by a large ar$e which backed into it - and being made of plaster, the nearside wall shattered into 5 main and a number of smaller parts!

 

(It's a war-time layout and so we refer to it as 'bum-damage'!)

 

As a result, the shed looked like this until very recently:

 

 

Fortunately, I had retained all of the bits, but I was reluctant to re-build it in case it befell the same fate again, especially since it is close to the narrowest access point between this and the adjacent baseboard. More recently, however, I have acquired some "low-rise" clear perspex sheets and have started to fit these along that edge of the baseboard to provide protection for both rolling stock and fragile buildings; so I live in hope!

 

And so, having finally got around to ballasting and detailing the shed area, I have finally fitted the shed floor and rebuilt the side wall, with just the end and the roof remaining to be refitted.

 

 

 

 

At present the cracks where the building was damaged are visible, but these areas will soon be repainted.

 

 

So overall Stowe Magna shed is beginning to look a bit more businesslike and more like it would have been "back in the day":

 

 

A few jobs remain, aside from finishing the re-build; I need to add lighting to the main and repair sheds, plus a floor in the repair shed. There is more detailing to do, and I really must do something about that awful coaling tower! I have considered throwing it in the bin (or getting an ar$e to sit on it), but I now think that I will finish building it properly, weather it and see if I can make it blend in. More pictures to follow once it is done.

 

 

Looking at the pictures really makes me want to get this area completed.

 

Tony

Edited November 4, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Allegheny1600]

Brilliant work, Tony.

I do hope the 'ar$e' concerned apologised profusely! I would have been mortified if I ever did such a thing, no matter how accidental.

Cheers,

John.

[Tony Teague]

Brilliant work, Tony.

I do hope the 'ar$e' concerned apologised profusely! I would have been mortified if I ever did such a thing, no matter how accidental.

Cheers,

John.

Certainly did! - Mortified is the right term.

Tony

[Tony Teague]

Jack P. who follows this thread has asked if I would post some pictures of the coaching stock that operates on the Churminster & Stowe Magna Railway; this is a big topic, so I will try to weave some of these in with the progress updates.

 

As with locos, what I found when I started to get stock together for my "major project" was that not much was available RTR - obviously since then the Hornby Maunsells have filled a big gap - but at that stage I had to really look around.

 

So I have built up quite a collection of kit built stuff by Adrian Rowlands / Northstar, Phoenix, Ian Kirk, Roxey, Alan Gibson, Marc Models & Comet - many of which are no longer available.

 

I had to choose to start somewhere, so here are some SR "Pull-Push" sets with a run down of each of their progeny; my apologies for the quality of some of the images which were from 'stock':

 

 

1. Set No.660

 

This is an SR, P-P set comprising driving 3rd class coach No.3505 and composite trailer No.5473, both of which were converted in 1942 from former SECR non-corridoer 'Birdcage' set No.600.

 

 

 

The model was made for me from Roxey Moundlings kits, by Ian Willetts & painted by Larry Goddard.

 

 

2. Set No.36

 

This Set was created in 1939 from former non-corridor LSWR stock & comprises 56' driving brake 3rd No.3070, plus 58' trailer composite No.4749.

 

 

 

The model is a limited run RTR production by Adrian Rowlands under his now defunct Northstar range.

 

 

3. Set No.2

 

This set was converted by the Southern Railway from ex-LSWR non-corridor stock in 1937; it consists of 3rd class 58' trailer brake No.2604, and 56' composite driving brake No.6487. Although I did not take a close up of it, this set is seen running with one of four 'air-control vans' No.2002 which was an ex-SECR 4 wheel utility van that had been fitted with air control equipment so that it could work within a PP train. The van was made by me from a Parkside Dundas kit.

 

 

 

The model is again a limited run RTR production by Adrian Rowlands under his now defunct Northstar range.

 

OK, just in case people are getting bored with PP Sets (yes, there are more!), I thought that I might throw in some non-passenger carrying stock:

 

4. Bulleid Cinema Coach No.1308s & generator van No.1309s

 

These were constructed by the SR in 1939, the Cinema Coach being capable of seating 60 on 15 bench seats and was used for staff training & instruction.

 

The model was available from the now defunct Marc Models range

 

 

I'll post pictures of more of my coaching & NPCS in due course.

 

Tony

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Tony Teague]

After posting pics of some weathered wagons, I was also asked whether I had managed to migrate through coaches to locomotives, so here as a partial response are pictures of a couple of bogie luggage vans and an 'ironclad' coach:

 

 

 

These are from the long-available Hornby BLV which I upgraded using the Roxey Mouldings detailing kit, prior to a complete re-paint, re-number, and finally, weathering.

 

 

 

The 'ironclad' is one of a rake of 6 which forms an 'ocean liner' special and these are from Phoenix kits.

 

I regard the weathering as "work in progress" so any observations are welcome.

 

Tony

Edited November 4, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Tony Teague]

OK, so here is the 2nd episode of the coaching stock story - yet another P-P set:

 

 

This is Set No.733, an ex-LSWR 'Emigrant stock' gangwayed pair, and both are really short!

 

Both coaches measure just 46' 6"; here is the driving brake 3rd:

 

 

And the trailer composite:

 

 

These coaches must be the shortest that I have and were originally built by the LSWR in 1907 and 1901 respectively, and were converted for pull-push operation by the Southern Railway in 1943.

 

The models are again by Adrian Rowlands / Northstar.

 

Tony

Edited November 4, 2022 by Tony Teague

[tender]

Hi Tony, many thanks for posting the photos of some unusual stock. I only became aware of Adrian (Northstar) just before he closed the business but i did manage to get a couple 'left over's' from him.

[Tony Teague]

Hi Tony, many thanks for posting the photos of some unusual stock. I only became aware of Adrian (Northstar) just before he closed the business but i did manage to get a couple 'left over's' from him.

Yes, I think that it's a shame that his range was not sold on to someone else; I have quite a lot of his stuff and it is all really good.

 

Tony

[OnTheBranchline]

This layout makes me feel like I need a few Southern locos on my GWR layout.

[westerner]

As it's near Christmas; "on no you don't"

[Tony Teague]

This layout makes me feel like I need a few Southern locos on my GWR layout.

Delighted to have helped someone see the "Southern light"!

 

Tony

[sidmouth]

looking superb as always Tony . Have a great Christmas 

[Tony Teague]

Happy Christmas to all who follow this thread!

 

 

"HO, HO, HO!" "OO, OO, OO!"

 

[Edited as Father Christmas was out of gauge!]

 

Tony

Edited November 4, 2022 by Tony Teague

[OnTheBranchline]

As it's near Christmas; "on no you don't"

 

Does Thomas count, he's a Southerner, ain't he?

[Tony Teague]

Just to maintain the focus on rolling stock, here is the up Dorchester TPO having just passed through Stowe Magna:

 

 

It seems to be headed today by an alien LMS sorting van, probably added somewhere in the West Country to cope with the Christmas rush:

 

 

I am unsure of the provenance of this vehicle as I picked it up 2nd hand, however, I believe it was painted by Dave Studley.

Behind it sit two Bulleid storage vans, with a single sorting van between them:

 

 

 

These are by Marc Models; bringing up the rear are some CCT's and a bogie luggage van.

 

Whilst we are on Royal Mail vans, and just for completeness, the fleet also includes ex-SECR P.O. Stowage Van No.4954 (d.1207) by Marc Models, which is currently "in works":

 

 

Tony

Edited November 4, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Tony Teague]

Over breakfast, the other half mentioned that she would really like to be doing some gardening, but since it was freezing and there was snow on the ground, that was not possible.

 

Seizing the opportunity, and knowing that I had the materials to hand, I cunningly mentioned that the Station Master at Churminster needed his garden laying out, and that this could be done in the warmth of the kitchen - or indeed the railway room.

 

So after about 4 or 5 hours work, I was presented this afternoon with the completed garden with which I am certain the Station Master (as yet, he has no name!) will be very happy! It looks pretty good to me, especially for a very first attempt at any 4mm modelling.

 

 

 

The garden occupies a very odd shaped plot alongside the station, and is completely enclosed between a substantial retaining wall, the forecourt car park, and the rear of platform 2:

 

 

 

 

 

I will post some further pictures just as soon as it installed in its proper location.

 

Tony

Edited November 4, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Tony Teague]

Have been making slow progress over recent weeks, in so far as I have been constructing a Goods Shed for Churminster. The site is dictated by the trackplan which has already been laid, within the goods yard and between Churminster Station and "Wadley's Brewery" - of which more in due course. Although I decided to scratch build the goods shed, the quality of Geoff Taylors' adjacent station building has filled me with some trepidation - which is why it is taking some time - however there will be some pictures very shortly.

 

In the meantime... a while back I was asked to show some pictures of coaching stock - and I started but then got distracted! So to continue that theme, here now are some shots of sundry catering and non-passenger carrying stock:

 

 

This is No.7850, a 57' ex-LSWR Ironclad Dining Saloon; built by Ian Willetts and beautifully painted & lined by Larry Goddard.

 

 

Next up is No.7869, a 57' Maunsell Southern Railway Kitchen / Dining 1st, not built particularly well by me, from a Kirk kit; looks like the table lamps need straightening up!

 

Then we have No.7848, an ex-LSWR 56' Dining Saloon by Northstar (Adrian Rowlands)

 

 

Last in the dining vehicle sequence is a further 57' Ironclad Dining Saloon, this time in malachite, No.7854, from a Phoenix kit by Marc Models.

 

 

Moving on, we have ex-LSWR 44' Full Brake No.227, built by Ian Willetts from a Roxey Mouldings kit

 

And finally for this batch, Southern Railway 53' Scenery / Elephant van No.4601 built by Chris White from a kit by CRT Kits.

 

 

Still more evidence that I have an awful lot of weathering to do!

 

Tony

Edited November 4, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Georgeconna]

Nice layout, some WWII 'bum' damage too. Must follow from now on

[Jack P]

An excellent run of pictures Tony - you have again succeeded in making me green (malachite or olive?) with envy!