Annie's Virtual Pre-Grouping, Grouping and BR Layouts & Workbench

[Northroader]

The SECR was formed in 1899, and the coach livery was rich purple lake, very akin to the previous SER dark claret. There was a policy of economy started in 1911, when the carriages were painted red- brown / light lake, which is presumably the colour of your coaches, as the earlier colour would look much darker. Loco colours were also simplified then, with plain yellow lining out, (yours have the 1899 scheme with fancier lining out) Later on in 1916 locos became grey, and coaches umber brown, and this stayed until SR days. I do like the scenes you’ve conjured up.

Edited September 2, 2018 by Northroader

[Lancaster622]

Thank you Northroader that information is so hard to come by on the web!

[Regularity]

Thank you Northroader that information is so hard to come by on the web!

Really?

I put “secr carriage livery” into google and got the same information from the first site listed.

[Lancaster622]

Yup, I could find info on wagon liveries with a mention of coaches but no dates but nothing at all for locos either

[Annie]

Been busy with playing trains so I forgot to check in here.  I'm exploring the early BR transition era​ in the wilds of Cumbria and the borders with a make believe ex-LNWR secondary route I 'borrowed' from the DLS.  Thousands of years ago when I was teenager my first proper layout was an LMS one located somewhere on the edge of ex-Furness Railway territory so perhaps there's a touch of nostalgia going on. 

 

 

 

[Annie]

Still messing around in the Border country in the early BR era.  Those of a sensitive or nervous disposition might want to advert their eyes.........

 

Normally the northern passenger turn to Avavoyle is firmly in the possession of the two Compounds at Dunleer shed, but yesterday a 2P took the train.  The Compounds normally manage a very briskly timed run and of course there is the glorious sound of a Compound engine at speed.  Not sure why a 2P was assigned instead, - must ask the loco shed foreman.........  

 

 

 

 

 

Avavoyle.

 

 

 

[Annie]

The all expense spared loco servicing arrangements on the wharf at Avavoyle.  ex-LNWR engines in evidence, - an 0-6-2 Coal Tank and a 5ft 6" 2-4-2T.

 

 

 

More Avavoyle.  It's been a bit of a long project rebuilding the town and station since it was full of plonk down buildings from the 'Souf' and originally had a station building from the West Country.

 

 

 

 

[Edwardian]

Lovely station, Annie, full of north country atmosphere. 

[Annie]

Thanks James.  A very clever chap named Mason Taylor has made a lot of buildings for the north country, and the Scottish Borders and lowlands.  He tends to make things in kits of parts to an integrated modular design so that many different kinds of buildings and industries can be represented by assembled the parts in different ways.  I was delighted when he brought out his station building kit as it is absolutely perfect for the Borders section on my rebuild and revised 'Middle Vales' layout.

Nearly all of the shops and houses in the street behind the station are Mason Taylor's models and the shops are made from another of his modular kits of parts.

[Annie]

Well the engine is a pre-group one so I'm not committing too big a crime.  The ex-LNWR 5ft 6" 2-4-2 tank engine is a lovely model and it runs very sweetly.  I have one in LNWR condition as well so perhaps I might give that one some exercise later.  The LNER buildings in the picture are slated for demolition and replacement with something more appropriate.

 

 

The coaches are older models from Paulz Trainz and are a bit generic and simplified as to details, but they look the part.  The layout is the Borders section of a classic TS2004 route 'Middle Vales' which I've done a lot of work on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And arrival at Dunleer which does have proper station buildings.  The 2P is waiting with the 'express' to Avavoyle.

 

Edited September 20, 2018 by Annie

[sem34090]

Long time since I posted here.

 

I figured I'd offer some more news from the train simulator (TS2018) front.

 

Much pre-grouping has arrived. And I've yet to buy any of it...

So, the Caledonian stud has been growing. I can't remember how much I've posted here previously, but I may as well give the whole list.

We have:

CR 4-2-2 No.123

CR Class 812 0-6-0

CR Class 600 0-8-0

CR Class 294 0-6-0

CR Class 721 'Dunalastair I' 4-4-0

CR Class 903 'Cardean' 4-6-0

CR Class 264/611 'Pug' 0-4-0ST...

Which is also available with hugely unrealistic high-speed physics...

In addition to locomotives there are developments on the CR Carriage front. Released by Matrix Trains are these rather nice 45ft Non-Corridors:

From the same source there are some 12w 'Grampians' and some lovely 6-wheelers under digital construction:

So that's it for the Caley for now, as far as I know.

In other news, the LBSCR K has -I gather- been unfortunately cancelled/postponed.

There is also a new LSWR loco on the virtual roster though - the Class 415 'Radial' Tanks have now emerged along with appropriate LSWR coaches (sold separately):

Finally, although not pre-grouping, the GWR 'Dukedogs' have now been digitised, and I include them here as they are very much pre-grouping in outline and in their composure:

Links to all of the above:

http://digitaltraction.co.uk/mainsite/products/dt-caledonian-railway-123-loco-pack/

http://digitaltraction.co.uk/mainsite/products/caledonian-railway-812-class/

http://digitaltraction.co.uk/mainsite/products/caledonian-railway-600-class/

http://digitaltraction.co.uk/mainsite/products/cr-294-class-jumbo-loco-pack/

http://digitaltraction.co.uk/mainsite/products/cr-721-class-dunalastair-i/

http://digitaltraction.co.uk/mainsite/products/cr-903-class-cardean/

http://digitaltraction.co.uk/mainsite/products/caledonian-railway-264-611-class-pug/

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?f=363&t=149160

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?f=363&t=149489&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?f=363&t=149950

http://digitaltraction.co.uk/mainsite/products/lswr-adams-radial-loco/

http://digitaltraction.co.uk/mainsite/products/lswr-carriage-pack/

http://digitaltraction.co.uk/mainsite/products/gwr-dukedog-locomotive/

[Caley Jim]

In addition to locomotives there are developments on the CR Carriage front. Released by Matrix Trains are these rather nice 45ft Non-Corridors:

 

 

 

Again, almost enough to make me want to waste spend time on virtual modelling, however, the end of that Dia. 34 brake third is wrong.  The GA (published in 'Caledonian Railway Carriages') clearly shows that the centre two panels were solid, only the outer two were glazed.   There is also an ongoing discussion as to whether or not the ends of vehicles with a guard's compartment at the end were painted vermilion.   The side lamps above the look outs were definitely red.

 

Jim

 

PS. I've just noticed that it also has two crests.  45ft thirds only had one centrally positioned crest, only the firsts had two, with the monogram in the centre. (and the safety chains should have hooks on the end.

Edited September 25, 2018 by Caley Jim

[sem34090]

I should have noted that the coach pictures are all pre-release ones... I'm not sure whether those points were corrected prior to release.

[PeterR]

Should there be a partition between the seating in the compartments and the luggage area?

 

Nice work though, Congratulations.!.

Edited September 26, 2018 by PeterR

[Caley Jim]

Should there be a partition between the seating in the compartments and the luggage area?

Correct!  There should be full height partitions between all the compartments.  Also the lower section of the look-out had beading (and therefore was also lined) all round.

 

Jim

[sem34090]

Once again, those were taken when the builder, Gordon Mackenzie (Not me!), was still working on them.

[Annie]

Nice TS locos and coaches Sem.  Those Caley coaches are going to be very good once they are done.

 

Caley 812 at work on the Borders section of Middle Vales.  And yes I know it's wearing early 1948-1949 BR livery and not Caley Blue, - so apologies to all who are outraged and offended.  

 

 

 

[Annie]

An elderly Coal Tank pauses while shunting the yard at Avavoyle on Middle Vales.

 

[Killian keane]

The right honourable Kris Wilson is nearly finished this

[Edwardian]

The right honourable Kris Wilson is nearly finished this 20180924120152_1.jpg20180929011822_1.jpg

 

Wonderful

[Annie]

Wow!

[Lancaster622]

Fantastic, where will one be able to obtain this beauty from?

[Killian keane]

Fantastic, where will one be able to obtain this beauty from?

He makes his stuff available through Caledonia works I believe, these waggons come with the long boiler to be released shortly

[sem34090]

WOW!!!

 

I'm unable to keep up with his facebook postings these days, but that is stunning and will have to be bought!

[Lancaster622]

Hello everyone, I chose the right week to take annual leave look what was released this morning on Digital Traction!

 

 

 

 

Taking a bit of getting used to only having a hand brake haha! But my god is it a thing of beauty - tempted to get the Q6 to give it a NER friend