westoe kid Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 I'am well into building an n gauge layout based on Harton in the early 80s, I have got a load of pics online and 1 or 2 poor efforts that I took myself, just wondering if anyone has any pics that I might not have seen particularly taking in catenary details (there were 4 differant types). Also I'am having some difficulty sourcing a chassis suitable for the English Electric locos, the Kato shorty is dimensionaly not too bad but wheelbase too short and it isnt a particularly good runner or puller, I was wondering about the Bachmann 44 ton GE switcher but havent been able to find a pic or dimensions of the chassis, help on any of these points would be appreciated! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westoe kid Posted April 7, 2010 Author Share Posted April 7, 2010 For those of you not familier with the system here is a nice pic that I found online of one of the low height English Electric locos, by the way I have the Oakwood Press book on Harton which is a cracking read! [admin edit, image removed to prevent potential copyright infringement. A link to an image on another site is acceptable but not to directly upload a copy of the image] Appologies, here is a link: http://www.geoffspages.co.uk/raildiary/westoe/index.htm A few nice shots on there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted April 7, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 7, 2010 For those of you not familier with the system here is a nice pic that I found online of one of the low height English Electric locos, by the way I have the Oakwood Press book on Harton which is a cracking read! The Bachmann 44ton switcher has a fuel tank between the bogies so that's probably too long. I'm suprised the Kato chassis is a poor runner as they are usually near perfect. Have you looked at Tomix chassis too? If not try Wellington models or Japanmodelrailways who advertise in Continental modeller and online. Good luck especially with the gravity part of the unloading process. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westoe kid Posted April 7, 2010 Author Share Posted April 7, 2010 Thanks for that, I was surprised at the Kato chassis but it seems it is not their usual set up, it has drive to only one bogie with one traction tyre, not up to the gradients I propose, I will check out your suggestions, I could live with the fuel tank if the length was something like and if the motor is not too high on the Bachmann switcher - they are a bit pricey to be "having a go at!". Not too sure of the gravity unloading yet but might just give it a try! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Michael Edge Posted April 7, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 7, 2010 I presume that you are aware that we do the Harton Bo-Bo etch in 2mm scale. Michael Edge Judith Edge kits Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westoe kid Posted April 7, 2010 Author Share Posted April 7, 2010 Hi Michael, Thanks for that, I had no idea, seen the 4mm one and was jealous! Could you drop me some more info and have you any thoughts about a chassis for the beast, think I might stop work on my plasticard project now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Michael Edge Posted April 7, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 7, 2010 The etches are £16 each including postage, you get all the parts from the 4mm kit including non powered bogies and the pantograph (might be a bit flimsy in 2mm though!). We also supply a 2mm scale drawing and the instructions/parts list from the 4mm kit. You can build 13, 14 or 15 from this. Michael Edge 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 From memory the overhead appears very similar to tram wires and I read somewhere that the South Shields corperation tram wires were acquired by the NCB for the system after the demise of the corperation trams. Mark Saunders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westoe kid Posted April 7, 2010 Author Share Posted April 7, 2010 Thanks for that, there seems to be 4 types: 1) Original Siemens (looks continental) 2) BICC which is largely girders with wires strung across. 3) South Shields corporation (tram wires) 4) Tyne and Wear metro (on a short section which ran alongside the metro) All are easily built but I think most of mine are to be South Shields Corporation made from 2 diameters of round brass bar! The yard wiring looks a lot like the stuff on the Southern which the 71 s used. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PaulCheffus Posted April 8, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 8, 2010 Hi Michael, Thanks for that, I had no idea, seen the 4mm one and was jealous! Could you drop me some more info and have you any thoughts about a chassis for the beast, think I might stop work on my plasticard project now! Hi I have a couple of Michael's kits and they are very nicely etched and fit together very well for the part I have built. The sticking point for me now is the chassis and I have come to the conclusion that it will have to be a scratch built one as I can't find anything suitable that would fit. I measured the Kato shorty chassis I have in my Tamper but it was too high for the Harton electric. They are very small locomotives in N or 2mm. Cheers Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampy Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 There are some more photos below. I grew up 100yds from Dean Sidings near West Park Road. Dad (who worked as a C&W examiner in the freight depot between Felling & Gateshead) always said that the West Park Road bridge over the Harton Railway was "the oldest bridge in the country" and that an old building near at Felling was "the oldest station in the country". I think he was wrong on both counts. ( Causey Arch & L&M Manchester station presumably taking the honours) Some more photos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westoe kid Posted April 8, 2010 Author Share Posted April 8, 2010 Hi I have a couple of Michael's kits and they are very nicely etched and fit together very well for the part I have built. The sticking point for me now is the chassis and I have come to the conclusion that it will have to be a scratch built one as I can't find anything suitable that would fit. I measured the Kato shorty chassis I have in my Tamper but it was too high for the Harton electric. They are very small locomotives in N or 2mm. Cheers Paul Thanks for that Paul, I have finally ordered a kit today, but seems to be destined to be static,I thought the Kato might fit but will have to think again, if you come up with a solution let me know, would love to get one at least completed but plenty to go at on the layout at the moment! Cheers, Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westoe kid Posted April 8, 2010 Author Share Posted April 8, 2010 There are some more photos below. I grew up 100yds from Dean Sidings near West Park Road. Dad (who worked as a C&W examiner in the freight depot between Felling & Gateshead) always said that the West Park Road bridge over the Harton Railway was "the oldest bridge in the country" and that an old building near at Felling was "the oldest station in the country". I think he was wrong on both counts. ( Causey Arch & L&M Manchester station presumably taking the honours) Some more photos Thanks for that, nice pics, I wonder whose idea it was to paint coal locos white! I know there was a sighting issue and they were very quiet but there is no wonder they changed their minds! Cheers, Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
montyburns56 Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 I've just come across this video of Westoe in the 80s. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted December 22, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 22, 2019 Love that film , real work for real men not like the call centres that many work in in that area now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishswissernie Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 I have a Westoe album on Flickr which may help: Link https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72157697011219561 Ernie 4 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
montyburns56 Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 (edited) 13 hours ago, Irishswissernie said: I have a Westoe album on Flickr which may help: Link https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72157697011219561 Ernie I'm reporting you to the Mods for posting a link to hardcore industrial porn. Edited December 23, 2019 by montyburns56 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
montyburns56 Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 Some great Christmas card material in this lot.. All by David Ford Feb 1986 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted March 2, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 2, 2021 #sigh# I so miss that railway! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted March 2, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 2, 2021 A few more of my Harton photos to add to those Monty Burn linked to from flickr earlier today. South Shields Crossgate Bridge EE.Baguley No 14 coal from Westoe 21st Feb 86 C7334.jpg South Shields EE.Baguley 13 on headshunt at Harton staithes 14th Feb 87 C8193.jpg South Shields Harton Staithes EE.Baguley No 13 14th Feb 87J8753.jpg South Shields St Hilda sidings EE.Baguley le 2nd April 86 J8528.jpg David 8 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RateTheFreight Posted March 5, 2021 Share Posted March 5, 2021 I’m currently reading the excellent ‘Harton Electric Railway’ by Hatcher and it’s a fascinating system. I’d not heard of it before I randomly stumbled across it through a YouTube video of it in the 80’s. it’s amazing that the company showed such foresight to invest in an electric railway. It looks an excellent system to model albeit as a non kit builder the RTR offerings are slim. I did however think it could be a loose option for my proposed G scale garden railway as the below LGB electric loco if repainted seems to have a passing resemblance to #E2.... Greg 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johann Marsbar Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 I did a long day trip from St Helens Junction back in April 1980 to try and see some of the Harton operations. I remember there weren't many publicly accesible vantage points, so only ended up with a couple of photos.... Really I should have gone back there before it closed, but I never did. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
62613 Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Been under that bridge a few times! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid rover Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Had to go to Westoe for an exam,was at central workshops at Philadelpia at the time Anyway all took on the 6th July 1982 Aplolgies for the quality.could only afford a zenit at the time 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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