Wentworth Junction

[TheSignalEngineer]

14 hours ago, Michael Edge said:

Back to the car via Mottram, Hollingworth, Tintwistle and Hadfield, only 23 miles but some of it hard work.

Certainly is some hard riding round that area. I lived in Tintwistle for a few years before moving into the next valley south. An interesting ride on that side of Longdendale is to go down past the United Utilities site at Tintwistle which used to be the start of the narrow gauge line up to the Woodhead Dam. At the bottom end of the yard the site of the level crossing can still be seen. Just to the east of that there used to be a bridge across a water channel but that has gone now except for the centre pier. At Vale House Dam you can climb up to the old trackbed and in winter still follow it to Rhodeswood Dam. From there you can ride most of it right up to Torside Dam. Further on there are several parts you can still follow right up to Woodhead Dam at Crowden, although the last section of the concession path is closed at the moment because the steps at the end have collapsed.

Some of my rides direct from home are via Hadfield - Woodhead - Dunford Bridge to Holmfirth or Penistone, via Stalybridge to Diggle, to Stockport via Broadbottom, Godley and the Cheshire Lines then back via Marple.

I tend to do eMTB on the longer runs these days. Today was to Hayfield then via Edale Cross to Edale, Mam Nick, Rushup Edge then Pennine Bridleway to Hayfield, the old Hayfield branch towards New Mills and over Cown Edge back to the A624. 

[John76]

6 hours ago, Michael Edge said:

Thanks, I'd missed that thread entirely - no ideas how!

 

An enlargement of the fastening of the cross beam would be very useful, thanks. Nice to see the "new" colour of the pantographs - much what I thought it would be but they very quickly turned fairly black.

 

These are anchor posts where separate sections of catenary overlap, the wires run up out of contact to these and there will be another pair facing the other way somewhere down the train. I'll have at least one set of these on the layout between the tunnel and Moorend Lane.

Mike

 

I'm assuming you will end up with quite a few anchor posts around the junction itself as well to cater for all the overhead wires for the sidings and going down the colliery branch. 

 

Have you noticed that there were more than one type anchor post as well? The ones along the Worsborough branch were a lot more substantial than the ones used elsewhere. Oh and have you spotted the double facing anchor post that sat along side the Banking siding at Wentworth junction? See below.....

 

John

[Michael Edge]

7 hours ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

Certainly is some hard riding round that area. I lived in Tintwistle for a few years before moving into the next valley south. An interesting ride on that side of Longdendale is to go down past the United Utilities site at Tintwistle which used to be the start of the narrow gauge line up to the Woodhead Dam. At the bottom end of the yard the site of the level crossing can still be seen. Just to the east of that there used to be a bridge across a water channel but that has gone now except for the centre pier. At Vale House Dam you can climb up to the old trackbed and in winter still follow it to Rhodeswood Dam. From there you can ride most of it right up to Torside Dam. Further on there are several parts you can still follow right up to Woodhead Dam at Crowden, although the last section of the concession path is closed at the moment because the steps at the end have collapsed.

Some of my rides direct from home are via Hadfield - Woodhead - Dunford Bridge to Holmfirth or Penistone, via Stalybridge to Diggle, to Stockport via Broadbottom, Godley and the Cheshire Lines then back via Marple.

I tend to do eMTB on the longer runs these days. Today was to Hayfield then via Edale Cross to Edale, Mam Nick, Rushup Edge then Pennine Bridleway to Hayfield, the old Hayfield branch towards New Mills and over Cown Edge back to the A624. 

I live in Barnsley now so I'm not frightened of hills but that sounds a fearsome ride - I don't blame you for taking the ebike on it. 

[Michael Edge]

7 hours ago, John76 said:

Mike

 

I'm assuming you will end up with quite a few anchor posts around the junction itself as well to cater for all the overhead wires for the sidings and going down the colliery branch. 

 

Have you noticed that there were more than one type anchor post as well? The ones along the Worsborough branch were a lot more substantial than the ones used elsewhere. Oh and have you spotted the double facing anchor post that sat along side the Banking siding at Wentworth junction? See below.....

 

John

I can't really put everything in because of the extreme compression of the layout, I'll work out the wire runs through the junction first - bearing in mind the baseboard joints as well. I'll do some structure experiments with the simple bits at each end first when I've worked out the basic construction of all the components, the catenary itself will be soldered up from piano wire.

[TheSignalEngineer]

5 hours ago, Michael Edge said:

I live in Barnsley now so I'm not frightened of hills but that sounds a fearsome ride - I don't blame you for taking the ebike on it. 

Certainly was, only about 30 miles but over 5000 feet of climbs. I can still manage about 3000 feet on an ordinary bike but not over that terrain.

Fortunately three of the big climbs from the Gnat Hole at Glossop to the first summit on the A624, Mam Nick and the climb out of the Sett Valley on the way back were on tarmac but the 4000 feet of off- road descents and the peat seation along Rushup Edge were as bad as the climbs, I've got the marks to show for it.

[Michael Edge]

I rode over Mam Nick (from the Rushup Edge side) last year on a long circular route from Yorkshire Bridge, that was vicious, nice run down Edale but I still had the climb through Bamford to look forward to. The 50 miles or so had already included a lot of climbing between Bradwell and Tunstead, one thing last year's lockdown allowed was lots of cycling so it was easy to keep fit.

[Michael Edge]

Silkstone No.2 tunnel is going to be fixed down and buried in scenery so it has to be fitted with some sort of OLE now.

It's going to have be bullet proof so this is how it's done, three wires fitted through the tunnel wall at contact wire height. Brass washer plates soldered on the outside, these to be buried in epoxy.

Viewed from the inside, two lengths of rail drilled, threaded on the wires and soldered in place with a ramp at each end. The fiddle yard end ramp will remain, I'm not going to wire that up, the other end ramps are temporary.

Just before the rail turns upwards I've drilled small holes in the rails, the eventual contact wire will locate in these, the rest will be cut off when the OLE is complete.

With the tunnel firmly screwed down to the baseboard, time to do some testing. First up was an EM1, this photo demonstrates one snag, there is a strong tendency for the pan heads to tilt  and remain tilted as they run on to the wire. Many years ago we tested this loco under Deepcar's wiring at a Nottingham exhibition and while it ran round OK the heads remained tilted.

Clearance is very tight for the pan head as it emerges from the tunnel mouth but it does just clear - the tunnel mouth looked very big but there's only just enough room even with the pans well down. It's easy to see why two lines of wiring wouldn't fit in Thurgoland tunnel, necessitating a new single line bore there.

The same EM1 on the down line, more clearance here on this side of the curve.

However, clearance is tight again here on the way out but this won't be visible.

The Triang EM2 which doesn't have our pans fitted clears OK but the springs are far too strong.

Test with the EB1 proved OK even though it has its single pan poorly placed in the centre of the loco, this one is being modified to keep the pan head level so more later. An EF1 was also checked to make sure that the huge NER pans will fit - just in case I decide to run one or two as originally intended for the MSW scheme, I don't have an EE1 at the moment so can't check that.

[St Enodoc]

6 minutes ago, Michael Edge said:

this one is being modified to keep the pan head level so more later.

I was going to ask that. Look forward to seeing how you do it.

[Michael Edge]

It's just a lash up at the moment although it does work, difficult to fit on a pan attached to the loco and painted - I'll find something better for production EM1s. Details and maybe a video later.

[Michael Edge]

The Q4 is now finished, weathered and coaled ready too take up its allotted duty which is the colliery trip to Barnsley Junction. This was usually worked by Barnsley locos although the WJ bankers were from Mexborough.

63220 arriving tender first down the hill from Barnsley Junction with the empties, an O4 and the EB1 waiting in the banker siding - the 5 plank open wagon is for ash, when full it will go out on the colliery trip.

Leaving the brake van on the running line, the empties are propelled into the up siding.

With the brake van now on the other end the train is propelled along the branch to the pit.

On its return with the fulls the train loco detaches and waits on the down main while a banker couples on (there will be just enough wiring to do this with an electric loco) to draw the train out.

The usual train will be 14 wagons which just fits into the colliery siding with the EB1, if there are more wagons this operation is done on the up main.

The banker pushes the train up to the Q4 and the whole lot proceeds up the hill.

[t-b-g]

That looks like great fun to operate Mike. The Q4 really looks at home there. Lovely stuff.

[Sandhole]

Lovely work Dave.
I've always thought the 'Tinies' were a handsome beast!
Chris.

[Barry O]

Glad to see it runs ok despite me weathering it!

More new wagons as well.

The layout could easily tie operators up in knots.. no suprises there then.

 

Baz

[Michael Edge]

It's time we had a proper running session with WJ and find out what we can and can't do.

[Barry O]

28 minutes ago, Michael Edge said:

It's time we had a proper running session with WJ and find out what we can and can't do.

Yes, I will have a chat with Red Leader today...

 

Baz

[Barry O]

So a pleasant Friday enjoyed driving trains on Wentworth, as usual alternative methods of operating the layout were explored(!).   Thanks to Mike and Judith for the hospitality. 

 

And the last of teh PO wagons have been delivered for testing... no photos though... I forgot (Doh!)

 

Baz

 

 

[Jack P]

Apologies if you've already seen this Mike:

 

 

A very enjoyable half hour watch!

 

[Barry O]

some more locos for use on Wentworth Junction. Both owned by Mike Edge

A Hornby English Electric 350hp diesel shunter

 

 

and the other side

 

 

based on a photo of tow of these locos at Manvers Main..

 

and an Airfix Brush Type 2 A1A A1A

 

 

and the other side

 

 

Hope these are ok? Second photo now corrected

 

Baz

 

 

Edited July 3, 2021 by Barry O
second photo now corrected

[03060]

(Shhh, the last photo need(ed) changing Barry  ....sorry.)

 

 

But very realistic weathering, I particularly like the 08. 

Edited July 4, 2021 by 03060
Baz kindly changed the photo mentioned.

[Penrhos1920]

1 hour ago, 03060 said:

(Shhh, the last photo needs changing Barry  ....sorry.)

 

And the first one 

[Michael Edge]

3 hours ago, Barry O said:

some more locos for use on Wentworth Junction. Both owned by Mike Edge

A Hornby English Electric 350hp diesel shunter

 

 

and the other side

 

 

based on a photo of tow of these locos at Manvers Main..

 

and an Airfix Brush Type 2 A1A A1A

 

 

and the other side

 

 

Hope these are ok?

 

Baz

 

 

They look good - but what does the other side of the Brush 2 look like?

[Sandhole]

12 hours ago, Barry O said:

some more locos for use on Wentworth Junction. Both owned by Mike Edge

A Hornby English Electric 350hp diesel shunter

 

 

and the other side

 

 

based on a photo of tow of these locos at Manvers Main..

 

and an Airfix Brush Type 2 A1A A1A

 

 

and the other side

 

 

Hope these are ok?

 

Baz

 

 

Glad to see Mike approves of the Airfix Brush Type 2.
This tempts me to repaint my old warrior.
Chris.

[Michael Edge]

I've had it for many years although it's never done much running until now, I also have a Triang one with two power bogies but that one drew far too much current on test. The Airfix one does the colliery trip without any difficulty despite being only powered on one end. I should really have an EE type 3 but the only one I have is a WR loco and that's a Triang one with two power bogies (Q kits Deltic bogies, not the Triang ones).

[St Enodoc]

4 minutes ago, Michael Edge said:

I should really have an EE type 3 but the only one I have is a WR loco and that's a Triang one with two power bogies (Q kits Deltic bogies, not the Triang ones).

Is that the one that runs on Cwmafon?

[Michael Edge]

That's the one.