Sedbergh, as a preserved railway

[Eskvalleyboy]

Looking good fella, going back to your wanting trackwork buried in ash, I used ash itself crumbled down to a approx scale, sprinkled on and pva glued.

Hope this helps Chef.

[Firecracker]

5 hours ago, Eskvalleyboy said:

Looking good fella, going back to your wanting trackwork buried in ash, I used ash itself crumbled down to a approx scale, sprinkled on and pva glued.

Hope this helps Chef.

It’s not too bad matey,it’ll do!  I’m thinking along the lines of that, I’ve also got some textured paint from green scene I got on spec. a while back I want to try.  Fun bit is going to get the buried look right on track stuff reliably runs on.  Also (a little personal bugbear I want to avoid) is track that looks good until a track rubber comes along and scalps the texture off either side of the rails.  

 

Anyway, just to show there’s a little progress somewhere this week, here’s a Hornby ex LMS brakevan that’s being gently breathed on (currently standing at a coat of matt varnish to loose the gloss, then MIG washes, their dark, neutral and track wash on sides, roof and chassis, excess removed with a cotton wool bud as usual.  Also a few dabs of the wonderfully named Athonian Camoshade from Games Workshop on the roof, to give the impression of moss and lichen.  The floor in the ends has also been breathed on, to give the impression of bare wood peeking through the worn paint (humbrol 121 and a dark grey wash).

 

Owain

 

 

[Firecracker]

Gawd, having a social life doesn’t half eat into the modelling time!  Anyway, here’s a few bits of progress.

 

Doncaster exhibition came and went, various bits followed me home (mostly books this time, steadily filling the gaps in my collection of Boyd’s writings on narrow gauge railways of Wales.  Also a reprinted copy of Griffiths’ guide to the iron trade of Great Britain (originally published 1873)).  In the railway stuff, there was this kit for a pair of plate layers trolleys.

Once the abundant flash was removed, they went together nicely (yes, I know that axle is bent, it’s being rustified  and abandoned in the long grass behind the trolleys).

Another private owner wagon may have followed me home as well...

The jinty I picked up at Manchester has entered service, with a Zimo decoder and replacement steps, thanks to Bachmann’s spares department.

Finally, the two tank wagons have been breathed on, also the gents for the station (elderly Mike’s Models kit).

Owain

 

 

 

[Firecracker]

A little bit more progress and another milestone passed!  The last section of non-scenic baseboard has disapeared.    The strip at the back of the board opposite the pway yard has been made up to trackbed level with ply offcuts and the base of the cutting side added out of foamcore board.  Basic ground cover of woodlands scenic foam and a trial patch of Green Scene’s textured paint (not final colour, it needs attacking with the airbrush yet).  There’s also a trial of a back scene, to see what height works.

Between this and the signal box there’s going to be a storage dumping ground, as a few bits popped down to trial show (trolleys seen above mounted on two bits of scrap bullhead rail, plus Skytrex piles of sleepers).  Pencil marks show the point rodding runs.  Grey box in the background will be hidden by the back scene and (surprisingly) will be the controls for the North crossover.

 

Owain

 

 

[Firecracker]

And a bit more!  Got bored after a weekend in Cumbria , so broke the airbrush out and made the immaculate ballast a bit less immaculate.  Paints used are MIG airbrush I picked up at Doncaster, a mix of their matt black, dark rust, track rust, dust and earth colours.  Pleased so far, there’s a few bits that need touching up from both sides.  The blacker areas are going to be in front of signals, where locos would stand for a time.  Also the ballast siding is rarely (if ever) occupied by a loco beyond the fuel point, hence the immaculate ballast.  The point rodding and the textured paint have been breathed on into the bargain (interesting discovery - the textured paint softenes rapidly when airbrushing over the top of it).

 

Owain

[Adrian Stevenson]

That looks very effective.

[Firecracker]

31 minutes ago, Adrian Stevenson said:

That looks very effective.

Thanks matey, it’s not too bad!  First time using MIG paints, very taken with them.  Good coverage, good opacity, minimal clogging in the airbrush.  I’m also getting the hang of the airbrush (Paasche Talon), both using and cleaning afterwards.  There’s a few bits to touch up, couple of ‘shadows’ from only spraying in one direction to get rid of, the work on the two boards needs to blend a bit better at the baseboard joint and I’ve missed a few bits on the point rodding.  But all in all, I’m happy.  I want to do a bit more with washes and powders on the really grotty bits and there’s all the rodding  yet to go in on the second board, but it’s not a bad start.

 

Owain

[Firecracker]

With the crap weather, a bit more paint has been blown over the track (the last bit under the bridge requires the copperclad sleeper on the edge of the baseboard being tweaked into the correct alignment before it can be ballasted, hence why it’s been missed).  Getting very pleased with it, think it’s about there.  Whilst the airbrush was out, a bit of shading was blown over the platform and the car park area as well, plus the dead track behind the goods shed got done as well, in a similar style to the ballast siding.

As can be seen In those photos, pways immaculate tellihandler isn't quite as clean any more (using my preferred technique of apply the dirt and remove with a cotton bud on the areas that would be kept clean or that get handled), so this was airbrushed using the same dirt tones as was used on the yard, then the windows, steps and the engine cover cleaned.

Owain

 

 

 

Edited February 24, 2020 by Firecracker

[Firecracker]

A few more little bits - a bit of work in the goods yard, with the junk pile round the back of the platform and the wagon group’s emporium.

The Noch grass master has been out, scatting a bit of the old 12mm woodlands scenics grass about on the cutting sides

Todays testing and development session lead to a bit of a rearrange, the Pway crane reappeared and poses in the ballast siding.

Whilst the class 25 awaits departure with two sea lions and attracts an audience

Finally, the standard mogul has been chipped and kadee’d.  Still awaiting renumbering (but I have finally got the transfers) it approaches Sedbergh with a rake of mk1’s.

Owain

[Jack785]

This is without a doubt the best model of a preserved line I've ever seen. I've just read through the past 9 pages, and I'm absolutely hooked. Everything is incredibly accurate and it is so refreshing to see a model heritage railway where the purpose is not to ''run anything'' but to model it for what it is. As you said fairly early on, Pre-grouping classes from railways across the country hauling pristine, 25 wagon goods workings formed of one specific wagon type just doesn't cut it. I am (nearly!) a guard on one of the railways in the north referenced on here and in terms of character and atmosphere, it is essentially a mirror image. The choice of locos, wagons, yard clutter, figures and attention to detail regarding use/ development of original buildings is impeccable. My only comment would be regarding the P - Way riding van. In real life I have experienced these to be the grottiest of vehicles, more than any other regularly operating vehicle by far. Think boarded over windows, warped doors, corrosion, algae etc. The general consensus with these is that P way gangs often want one for obvious reasons, but don't have the skills or wish to maintain it as that is simply not their field of work, which is fair enough really. Not really gripe, just an idea for a future project? 

Please keep up the good work and keep sharing it with us! Definitely following this one.

[Firecracker]

On 15/03/2020 at 11:05, Jack785 said:

This is without a doubt the best model of a preserved line I've ever seen. I've just read through the past 9 pages, and I'm absolutely hooked. Everything is incredibly accurate and it is so refreshing to see a model heritage railway where the purpose is not to ''run anything'' but to model it for what it is. As you said fairly early on, Pre-grouping classes from railways across the country hauling pristine, 25 wagon goods workings formed of one specific wagon type just doesn't cut it. I am (nearly!) a guard on one of the railways in the north referenced on here and in terms of character and atmosphere, it is essentially a mirror image. The choice of locos, wagons, yard clutter, figures and attention to detail regarding use/ development of original buildings is impeccable. My only comment would be regarding the P - Way riding van. In real life I have experienced these to be the grottiest of vehicles, more than any other regularly operating vehicle by far. Think boarded over windows, warped doors, corrosion, algae etc. The general consensus with these is that P way gangs often want one for obvious reasons, but don't have the skills or wish to maintain it as that is simply not their field of work, which is fair enough really. Not really gripe, just an idea for a future project? 

Please keep up the good work and keep sharing it with us! Definitely following this one.

Wow, thanks!  I’m capped with what you say, that’s exactally what I’m aiming for.  On the pway van, that is being abused at some point, I agree it’s far too clean.   Think similar to their shark and queen Mary vans (sat on the shed line, being overtaken by the DMU on the running line).

To to anyone else who’s following this, apologies for the radio silence, with work, family, this bl**dy virus and everything else it’s slipped a bit.  Fear not, work is still ongoing, here’s the latest batch of Hardies Hobbies figures ready for washes and dry brushed highlights.

And with a start made on the washes, along with various other bits that came in the same order.  Very taken with the various 20/25l drums.

I’ve also today managed to get a decent shot along the full length of the layout, to give an idea of where it’s up to and also how it all fits together.

Owain

[Firecracker]

Right, after a grotty couple of weeks, I’ve recieved a bit of a kick up the Jacksie by a mate running a ‘arty isolation party’ on Facebook.  As a result, various bits, some of which I’ve been putting off for a while, have happened.

 

First up, the standard tank has had a new Zimo decoder fitted.  For some reason, Bachmann motors do not like the Hornby decoders my local supplies, so I’ve started to standardise on the Zimos.  This had been put off for a while, on the basis of ‘it works’ but now the slow speed control is superb.

The two standard 4’s have been renumbered, again, something I’ve been putting off.  First remove the old number, with a thinner soaked cotton wool bud and a cocktail stick (why the moguls numbers came straight off, whilst the 4-6-0’s took a lot more rubbing, I’ve absolutely no idea).

Then add some of messrs Fox’s finest, with Microsol/Microset to get them to bed down (top tip, don’t knock the bottle of Microsol over, your bench will smell of stale cat pee for hours afterwards if you do).

Finished.  I didn’t bother removing the old smoke box door number, just applied the new transfer over the top.

Next, two innocent wagons have been attacked to make them look a bit more beat up.

And finally, the figures seen yesterday have been highlighted and given various washes.  The lady 2nd from the right is going on the footplate of the mogul, preserved railways have female crews as well, so let’s drag this into the 21st century.  She started as a WW2 landgirl.  When I gave the gent two across from her a beard, I didn’t quite realise the resemblance to Bluto that would result, either...

Owain

 

 

 

[Firecracker]

A quick update, the first three days of furlough have disappeared in sorting the house (I think of it as there’s three standards of bachelor house, starting with ‘Ready for inspection Sir!’,, to comfortable bachelor lived in, to ‘what the **** is that smell?!’.  Mines usually in the middle of band 2, however in recent weeks it’s edged too far into 3 for my liking).  Anyway...

 

A quick photo, showing the latest work.  A LMS fish van, found in a box of random crap and I discovered it should be maroon, not bauxite, so repainted.  There’s also the tender off the pug that’s been breathed on, another similar that’ll join the PO wagon rake once it’s been kadee’d  and the NCB wagon seen above after the iron work has had the Typhus corrosion/Ryza rust treatment.

Owain

[Calidore]

More top stuff here Owain Haven't checked in for a while so going back a couple of weeks, but the track weathering at the top of the page is superb. Can almost hear the 4MTs rattling over it through the screen, lovely.

 

Adam

Edited March 26, 2020 by Calidore

[Firecracker]

Wayhay!  We have actual progress.  Spending a little of my furlough catching up on some of the weathering jobs that are overdue.  So the pug and the Ruston have both been breathed on.  The effect is a combination of Mig’s neutral, track, dark and light rust washes, with a bit of typhus corrosion.

Also this brakevan, which I think is from a slaters kit has been attacked with washes and th roof repainted.  It’ll run with the P.O. wagons.

A start has also been made on the Janus, there’s a bit more to do yet.

Owain

[Compound2632]

49 minutes ago, Firecracker said:

Also this brakevan, which I think is from a slaters kit has been attacked with washes and th roof repainted.  It’ll run with the P.O. wagons.

 

 

If there was a preservation society or heritage line that actually had one of those, I'd be off to visit it! (In normal times, of course.) Quite a survivor. Must have been lurking in a back siding at some Royal Navy or Royal Ordnance depot.

[Firecracker]

12 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

 

If there was a preservation society or heritage line that actually had one of those, I'd be off to visit it! (In normal times, of course.) Quite a survivor. Must have been lurking in a back siding at some Royal Navy or Royal Ordnance depot.

I can find photos of two in preservation (or at least I think they’re the same).  One in a very ratty condition at Barrow Hill, the second  is at the Mid Sulfolk Light Railway, but appears to have a replacement steel chassis.  Presumabably mine was rescued from whichever colliery or works the pug ended up at...

 

Owain

 

[Compound2632]

14 minutes ago, Firecracker said:

I can find photos of two in preservation (or at least I think they’re the same).  One in a very ratty condition at Barrow Hill, the second  is at the Mid Sulfolk Light Railway, but appears to have a replacement steel chassis.  Presumabably mine was rescued from whichever colliery or works the pug ended up at...

 

Owain

 

 

These seem rather elusive online. There's a nicely-preserved 6-wheel brake, M.75 of 1912 - is that at Barrow Hill? The MSL one is rather peculiar - I found it given a 1906 date, which is four years after the last lot of Midland 10 ton brakes were ordered. Quite apart from the steel underframe, the bodywork has some oddities though those could be the result of restoration. As it seems to be an original piece of MSL rolling stock, I suspect it is a contractor-built van rather than a second-hand Midland van, though there was quite a market in second-hand Midland rolling stock. The Isle of Wight Central and the Wemyss Private Railway both had examples of these 10 ton vans.

[Firecracker]

14 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

 

These seem rather elusive online. There's a nicely-preserved 6-wheel brake, M.75 of 1912 - is that at Barrow Hill? The MSL one is rather peculiar - I found it given a 1906 date, which is four years after the last lot of Midland 10 ton brakes were ordered. Quite apart from the steel underframe, the bodywork has some oddities though those could be the result of restoration. As it seems to be an original piece of MSL rolling stock, I suspect it is a contractor-built van rather than a second-hand Midland van, though there was quite a market in second-hand Midland rolling stock. The Isle of Wight Central and the Wemyss Private Railway both had examples of these 10 ton vans.

Right, I didn’t know or realise that, every day is a school day.  Here’s the one at Barrow Hill, I can’t find much more about it and I don’t know when the photo was taken (cribbed off Wikipedia commons) so if it’s still around or disintegrated in a cloud of sawdust.  Those springs are rather tired...

Owain

[Compound2632]

That's the real deal. As an historical artefact, it's far more interesting than yet another BR standard anything. Let's imagine it's been transferred from Barrow Hill to Sedbergh and given the TLC it deserves.

[runs as required]

I have only just found Sedbergh as a preserved line and congratulate you on a great project. 

I have always loved that vertical strip of the 'serious' Pennines that runs north from Clapham with the Lune and 'the Little' North Western, the Craven district then around the Howgills up into Westmorland. 

When I was a kid I'd ride out with my dad (having to map read) in his 'firms' Hillman Minx into that far NE corner of his "sales area" from Manchester.  In my teens we went pot-holing around Ingleton, and |I subsequently married a girl claiming to have been conceived beside Sunbiggin Tarn.

These days I am always drawn down to Kirkby Stephen East as a preservation project. 

 

One thing I always look out for with regret for what could have been, when leaving the gorge on the M6, is the Low Gill curved viaduct.

Do you know about 10 years ago the Planners rejecting an application to have a Loco and a Sleeping Car/Dining car train stationed over the viaduct as a static Hotel train.  

I was enthusiastic about the idea but I think the opposition came from objections to the visual impact of road access and parking works and existing tourist accommodation local business. 

I mention it because, though you don't have garage room for the viaduct, parts of the train could be refurbed and back-up stock might be visible  in Sedbergh yard. (Also Lancaster had a long traditio,n beside the Lune, of Waring & Gillow fitting out luxury interiors for hotels and ocean liners.

Best Wishes

dh

[Firecracker]

4 hours ago, runs as required said:

I have only just found Sedbergh as a preserved line and congratulate you on a great project. 

I have always loved that vertical strip of the 'serious' Pennines that runs north from Clapham with the Lune and 'the Little' North Western, the Craven district then around the Howgills up into Westmorland. 

When I was a kid I'd ride out with my dad (having to map read) in his 'firms' Hillman Minx into that far NE corner of his "sales area" from Manchester.  In my teens we went pot-holing around Ingleton, and |I subsequently married a girl claiming to have been conceived beside Sunbiggin Tarn.

These days I am always drawn down to Kirkby Stephen East as a preservation project. 

 

One thing I always look out for with regret for what could have been, when leaving the gorge on the M6, is the Low Gill curved viaduct.

Do you know about 10 years ago the Planners rejecting an application to have a Loco and a Sleeping Car/Dining car train stationed over the viaduct as a static Hotel train.  

I was enthusiastic about the idea but I think the opposition came from objections to the visual impact of road access and parking works and existing tourist accommodation local business. 

I mention it because, though you don't have garage room for the viaduct, parts of the train could be refurbed and back-up stock might be visible  in Sedbergh yard. (Also Lancaster had a long traditio,n beside the Lune, of Waring & Gillow fitting out luxury interiors for hotels and ocean liners.

Best Wishes

dh

Well, thanks!  I grew up just over the hill from Sedbergh, it’s somewhere I always fancied modelling.  One of the initial plans was Low Gill (to other was Barbon, with the deviation and the replacement station as mentioned earlier).  It didn’t happen due to space constrains (to make it interesting, ie other than ‘train runs in, loco runs round and train disappears the way it came’ I wanted to include the WCML and mainline connection).  The viaduct is a lovely structure, I have sketched an arch out in OO to see how it would scale.

 

I did hear about the proposal for the train on the viaduct, if I remember rightly it followed an earlier application for similar on Waterside viaduct a bit further south.

 

Owain

[Firecracker]

Just a quick one, progress with the weathering on the Janus.  Pleased with how it came out.  Effect is MIG washes, little bit of their gunmetal weathing powder, typhus corrosion stippled to various degrees and a bit of Matt black dry brushed.

 

Owain

[TheITGuy]

Here's a photo of the brake van, taken during a memorable trip to Barrow Hill in March 2008....

[Northmoor]

When I used to be a regular attendee at Barrow Hill over 10 years ago, they were very reluctant to move the brake van because of the state of the chassis.  You can see the angle of the nearer axlebox and leaf spring, that's not distortion in the image.