Stubby47's Project #1 - DM Four Mill Something

[Stubby47]

A bit of padding with some wood strip has fixed the siding in place and the transfer of the wagon is now working satisfactorily. 

 

Next is re-grassing.

[NHY 581]

Quel damage!! 

 

 

[Captain Kernow]

1 hour ago, Siberian Snooper said:

 

We used to have a good laugh when those intending to go shopping got into town and found that all the shops were shut and they had also just missed the bus to take them back home. 

 

You weren't loitering with just that intent, were you? 

 

[Stubby47]

Having re-laid the track, re-tested the transfer of the std gauge wagon and generally played for 30 mins or so, it was all working fine.

 

So I started re-grassing the flag areas, stuck down a couple of buildings and started to adress the rest of the missing ground cover.

 

A quick re-test and the shorting problem has returned.... Aaaagggghhh!!!

[Stubby47]

And I've found the problem....

 

It's the loop of track around the back, it needs two isolating fishplates, not one.

 

I didn't need to rip the track up after all.....:(

[NHY 581]

You have my utmost sympathy, Stubbers, my old fruit. 

 

The need to progress the layout often leads to an overlooking of the obvious...........

 

Or in my case, a total ignorance of the witchcraft that is model railway electrics leads to abject bewilderment........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Siberian Snooper]

3 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

You weren't loitering with just that intent, were you? 

 

 

No, I was sitting in the front right hand seat, just behind the wheel!

 

 

[Stubby47]

Defence Munitions: Four Mill Something – a possible history

 

Recent research into the history of the Chacewater to Newquay line has unearthed yet another hitherto unknown and quite interesting story. What most books would lead you to believe is mostly true, but there are sinister undertones involving the Bickford-Smith fuse factory, the War Office and the British Military.

 

In the late 1890s, the War Office saw the potential of establishing a large training camp on the dunes above Perranporth. The camp was split into two, for operational and security reasons. The main part of the camp was positioned on the headland between Ligger Point and Penhale Point. This was the ‘public’ part of the camp, used for basic and advanced training as well as rehabilitation of injured personnel.

The other smaller part of the camp was hidden in the valley to the southwest of Cubert. Here, well away from prying eyes, troops were trained in all sorts of offensive combat, including demolition and sabotage. Local buildings and mine workings were used as makeshift targets, and an old stone building, known locally as  Tinner’s Forge, became the main stores for the necessary supplies.  It soon became apparent that new forms of munitions were required to enable targeted and accurate demolition, so the Bickford-Smith company was approached for assistance.

 

A small factory was built just outside the camp, with a spur line from the GWR’s Treamble branch used to bring in supplies and export the finished hardware.  A narrow-gauge railway was constructed to manoeuvre the munitions and raw materials around the site, including into the old ‘Four Mills’ mine workings which was used for storage.

 

Both during the Great Wwar and World War II, the factory continued to produce ordnance that was not of recognised dimensions. During the Cold War, specialist ordnance was again created for the undercover agents and MI5/ MI6 operatives working in eastern Europe.

 

Whereas the Cornish population were usually keen to avoid any entanglement with government officials, especially the Excise Men, from the outset this 'not seen anything' attitude was encouraged by the War Office, in order to keep the camp and its activities as quiet as possible. In exchange, the Government itself discouraged too much involvement of its officers with the locals' nocturnal dealings.

 

Even today, you won’t find any trace of the railway or buildings on Google earth or ordnance survey maps. Similar to the areas around Perran Sands, RAF Porthreath and the southern part of the Newquay airport complex, some sensitive parts of Cornwall are still kept under very close wraps.

[Clive Mortimore]

I have memories of the real Perranporth camp. We were sent there to be updated as soldiers, playing with rifles, anti-tank rockets etc. Well I was broke and couldn't afford even a packet of fags. My mate was in the state as me. Well by luck we were detailed to pick up the dog ends. We had enough pennies to buy some cigarette papers and a box of matches between us. We emptied all the baccy into a plastic bag. Some the dog ends must have been there for months the baccy was so dry, but what great free smokes they were. 

[Stubby47]

Getting there...

 

[Clive Mortimore]

21 minutes ago, Stubby47 said:

Getting there...

 

Just need a couple of squaddies picking up litter. 

[Stubby47]

I am currently somewhat short of personnel for this layout, both military and civilian. 

Hopefully by the show at Crantock in June this will be remedied.

[St Enodoc]

18 hours ago, Stubby47 said:

Defence Munitions: Four Mill Something – a possible history

 

Recent research into the history of the Chacewater to Newquay line has unearthed yet another hitherto unknown and quite interesting story. What most books would lead you to believe is mostly true, but there are sinister undertones involving the Bickford-Smith fuse factory, the War Office and the British Military.

 

In the late 1890s, the War Office saw the potential of establishing a large training camp on the dunes above Perranporth. The camp was split into two, for operational and security reasons. The main part of the camp was positioned on the headland between Ligger Point and Penhale Point. This was the ‘public’ part of the camp, used for basic and advanced training as well as rehabilitation of injured personnel.

The other smaller part of the camp was hidden in the valley to the southwest of Cubert. Here, well away from prying eyes, troops were trained in all sorts of offensive combat, including demolition and sabotage. Local buildings and mine workings were used as makeshift targets, and an old stone building, known locally as  Tinner’s Forge, became the main stores for the necessary supplies.  It soon became apparent that new forms of munitions were required to enable targeted and accurate demolition, so the Bickford-Smith company was approached for assistance.

 

A small factory was built just outside the camp, with a spur line from the GWR’s Treamble branch used to bring in supplies and export the finished hardware.  A narrow-gauge railway was constructed to manoeuvre the munitions and raw materials around the site, including into the old ‘Four Mills’ mine workings which was used for storage.

 

Both during the Great Wwar and World War II, the factory continued to produce ordnance that was not of recognised dimensions. During the Cold War, specialist ordnance was again created for the undercover agents and MI5/ MI6 operatives working in eastern Europe.

 

Whereas the Cornish population were usually keen to avoid any entanglement with government officials, especially the Excise Men, from the outset this 'not seen anything' attitude was encouraged by the War Office, in order to keep the camp and its activities as quiet as possible. In exchange, the Government itself discouraged too much involvement of its officers with the locals' nocturnal dealings.

 

Even today, you won’t find any trace of the railway or buildings on Google earth or ordnance survey maps. Similar to the areas around Perran Sands, RAF Porthreath and the southern part of the Newquay airport complex, some sensitive parts of Cornwall are still kept under very close wraps.

Nice update Stu. Cornwall certainly keeps its secrets well. There are lots of places that we RMwebbers know are real and yet don't appear on any maps - Porthmellyn Road, St Enodoc, Pentowan, Penhayle Bay, Treheligan Junction...

[Barry O]

Stu, small "specialist Royal Ordnance Factories were located all over Britain at one time.  Problem is, they were so hush-hush no one knew about them. Your history just opens the door a bit for others to peer into a lost "hidden world" of ROFs.

Baz

[Stubby47]

I'm quite enjoying weaving a bit of 'what might have been' into this little corner of Cornwall, though I do keep hearing little snippets of info that make what I thought was all fiction to have more grains of truth.

Slightly scary.

[St Enodoc]

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

Stu, small "specialist Royal Ordnance Factories were located all over Britain at one time.  Problem is, they were so hush-hush no one knew about them. Your history just opens the door a bit for others to peer into a lost "hidden world" of ROFs.

Baz

An old family friend, now long deceased, reckoned he had the cushiest job in the Civil Service - being security manager for some installation or other that was so secret that he was probably the only person who knew it existed.

[Stubby47]

Doors...

 

[Alister_G]

46 minutes ago, Stubby47 said:

Doors...

 

Correct.

 

8/10

 

Al.

[Stubby47]

Layout stacked ready for loading. 

 

Three checklists ticked off - all items present and correct.

 

Doors to be added after set up on Sunday, or before leaving tomorrow if I get chance.

 

Hope someone else turns up...

Edited April 26, 2019 by Stubby47

[Stubby47]

DM4MS will be at the Crantock Village Hall show on Saturday 22nd June.

This location puts the layout very nearly in the real place the fiction is based around.

Edited May 26, 2019 by Stubby47

[Stubby47]

I quite fancy making a model of this grounded van I saw at the Helston Railway over the weekend.

 

[Stubby47]

Tanks.  Liquid.  for the use of.

 

 

I need to add some stays to the upper tank, plus the associated pipework and valves once they are in position.

 

The gap in the end of the large tank will be filled.

[St Enodoc]

On 03/06/2019 at 21:22, Stubby47 said:

I quite fancy making a model of this grounded van I saw at the Helston Railway over the weekend.

 

Have you seen this blog Stu?

 

 

[Stubby47]

Yes, I had, but it's good to have another read. Thanks.

[Stubby47]

Doors added, clearances tested, and tanks in position but now fixed down.  The colonel's landrover has been parked behind the sheds.