Wentworth Junction

[LNER4479]

On 08/06/2021 at 07:39, Michael Edge said:

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

 

On 08/06/2021 at 08:08, Barry O said:

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

 

Baz

You rang?

 

Here's the general set up, with the flexible fiddle yard on the left and the front-of-house operating position on the right.

 

Wentworth is all about bankers. Here's an impressive grouping.

 

From a more aerial viewpoint,  you can see better what's going on. The logical section switching allows for interesting moves like this. The S1, having returned down the bank, crosses back across to the siding area, whilst the Garrat is buffered up and awaits the right o' way to assist another goods train up the bank.

 

A close up of the Garratt. Quite a sight to see in action.

 

And the S2, in the loco siding. Another most distinctive loco which ran beautifully.

 

A most enjoyable day. Thanks Barry n Mike for the invite. And not forgetting the catering manageress. 

Edited July 14, 2021 by LNER4479

[Michael Edge]

Thanks for posting the photos Graham, the layout behaved itself pretty well and I think we may have discovered the best way of working it. 

The (newcomer and seated!) front operator was mainly occupied with the banking and colliery operations in the down direction, fiddle yard operator (Baz) mostly occupied with down trains and colliery trip working while I used the other mainline control position to run most of the up trains (which mostly run through without stopping) and returning bankers. The link system allows any control position access to any part of the layout.

From yesterday's experience it would seem that three operators are ideal but the layout can reasonably be run with two.

[St Enodoc]

1 hour ago, Michael Edge said:

Thanks for posting the photos Graham, the layout behaved itself pretty well and I think we may have discovered the best way of working it. 

The (newcomer and seated!) front operator was mainly occupied with the banking and colliery operations in the down direction, fiddle yard operator (Baz) mostly occupied with down trains and colliery trip working while I used the other mainline control position to run most of the up trains (which mostly run through without stopping) and returning bankers. The link system allows any control position access to any part of the layout.

From yesterday's experience it would seem that three operators are ideal but the layout can reasonably be run with two.

I hope the 'prentice operator is now familiar with the traditional LMRS cry...

[5BarVT]

2 hours ago, Michael Edge said:

The link system allows any control position access to any part of the layout.

Common Link Cab Control.  That takes me back!

Paul.

[St Enodoc]

58 minutes ago, 5BarVT said:

Common Link Cab Control.  That takes me back!

Paul.

It is an excellent system, provided that you remember to TURN YOUR BL00DY LINKS OFF!!!!!

Edited July 15, 2021 by St Enodoc

[LNER4479]

Actually, so paranoid was I with turning them OFF, that I kept forgetting to turn them ON.

 

Whatever, it's an excellent control system.

[Barry O]

He will learn...

 

Baz

[St Enodoc]

3 hours ago, Michael Edge said:

that three operators are ideal but the layout can reasonably be run with two

I suspect it might get a bit hairy with two once the signals are installed.

[Barry O]

Just now, St Enodoc said:

I suspect it might get a bit hairy with two once the signals are installed.

Should be fine.. its who operates the signals   

 

Baz

[5BarVT]

29 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

It is an excellent system, provided that you remember to TURN YOUR BL00DY LINKS OFF!!!!!

That’s why I would have links switched at both ends: ‘I’ can always turn ‘them’ off.  Co-operative to turn on, UDI to turn off.

Paul.

[Barry O]

48 minutes ago, 5BarVT said:

That’s why I would have links switched at both ends: ‘I’ can always turn ‘them’ off.  Co-operative to turn on, UDI to turn off.

Paul.

They already are..

 

System has been in use on Leeds MRS CIO for many years.. and on members layouts for that long... 

 

Baz

[Andy Ross]

Of all the layouts through time, the worst or was it the best for the Link cry was Leeds Victoria in its final form. 

[St Enodoc]

9 hours ago, Trams and Locos said:

Of all the layouts through time, the worst or was it the best for the Link cry was Leeds Victoria in its final form. 

Perhaps all the energy expended in hollering was a way to keep warm in the Corn Exchange...

[Michael Edge]

The B7 has been on test this week.

Seen here crossing Moorend Lane on the part fitted goods which will be it's normal duty on WJ, it did struggle a bit to get up to the starter signal so probably needs a bit more weight. Back in the workshop now for varnishing and glazing then it will be handed over to Baz for the filth to be added.

Followed by the Garratt on the back end.

[Michael Edge]

Work started on the scenery now.

The land falls quite steeply from above the tunnel down to Moorend Lane, the cutting sides are steep and partly exposed rock and it's all covered in trees now. I'm building up the ground with polystyrene blocks first, then carve them to the final shape and add some filler. Then it's into the (very unfamiliar to me) green stuff....

[Michael Edge]

The new O4 on test earlier this week.

Trying it out on the heaviest down train (westbound steel) it needs a bit more weight to get this one up the WJ starter but more problems came in the fiddle yard. The 15mm square motor is very slow running and probably needed a higher gear ratio - the banking locos al run faster and finished up telescoping the back end of the train in the fiddle yard. 63745 may find itself restricted to up trains, should be no problem on Herculaneum Dock next month though.

This and the B7 are now with Barry for a good coat of Mexborough filth.

[Traintresta]

On 30/08/2021 at 10:08, Michael Edge said:

The B7 has been on test this week.

Seen here crossing Moorend Lane on the part fitted goods which will be it's normal duty on WJ, it did struggle a bit to get up to the starter signal so probably needs a bit more weight. Back in the workshop now for varnishing and glazing then it will be handed over to Baz for the filth to be added.

Is this one of your kits?

[Michael Edge]

No, it’s not one of ours, the B7 was designed by Nick Easton for Graham Nicholas (G trains). It does incorporate our GC bogie though.

[Barry O]

So the ex GC locos are weathered

 

 

 

the B7

and

 

 

the 04

 

and I introduce you to another loco for Wentworth..

 

a Hornby K1, renumbered and weathered.. Thanks to Mike Edge for an etched smokebox number plate!

 

Baz

[Traintresta]

3 hours ago, Barry O said:

and I introduce you to another loco for Wentworth..

 

a Hornby K1, renumbered and weathered.. Thanks to Mike Edge for an etched smokebox number plate!

 

Baz

I didn't realise any of the GNR/LNER moguls were regular in this area?

[Barry O]

6 minutes ago, Traintresta said:

I didn't realise any of the GNR/LNER moguls were regular in this area?

They weren't but we have a photo of this one in the area

 

Baz

[65179]

Gorton had 9 or 10 of the Peppercorn K1s  from new (July/ August 1949) to May 1950. Of these 62020 was also apparently loaned/transferred to Brunswick for a couple of weeks. So they may have made it to Wentworth Jct then (although I've only got photographic evidence of them at Sheffield).  Interesting that one reappeared in the Wath/Penistone area later on - presumably a Doncaster one?

 

I've no idea about the Wath branch, but GN locos were still surprisingly common post-war over Woodhead with (apart from the obvious K3s)  J6s, K2s and O2s all being seen regularly for periods (and the last O3s putting in the odd appearance) prior to MSW electrification.

 

Simon

Edited October 19, 2021 by 65179
weeks not months for Brunswick allocation

[Michael Edge]

I have a photo of 62015 (which was at Gorton until May 1950) at Strafford crossing with coal empties - I didn't know about the Brunswick transfer though, I've never seen any photos of K1s in the Liverpool area and I certainly didn't see any there.

There was a big variety of motive power on the Worsbrough in pre-electric days, strangest probably a batch of N2s at Mexborough used for banking. I have a photo of one of these and the Garratt banking a coal train but unfortunately they had been sent away (probably to great relief all round) just before nationalisation. GC 2-6-4T (L3 - we have one of these courtesy of Baz) were another pre-nationalistion try out but again out of period.

O2, K3 and J6 were quite common, I don't think I've seen a K2 though.

[65179]

34 minutes ago, Michael Edge said:

I have a photo of 62015 (which was at Gorton until May 1950) at Strafford crossing with coal empties - I didn't know about the Brunswick transfer though, I've never seen any photos of K1s in the Liverpool area and I certainly didn't see any there.

 

O2, K3 and J6 were quite common, I don't think I've seen a K2 though.

 

Mike,

 

K2s were mostly Colwick and Immingham ones, which might point to them mostly working via Sheffield.

 

Simon

[65179]

9 hours ago, Michael Edge said:

I have a photo of 62015 (which was at Gorton until May 1950) at Strafford crossing with coal empties - I didn't know about the Brunswick transfer though, I've never seen any photos of K1s in the Liverpool area and I certainly didn't see any there.

 

 

@Michael Delamar's topic includes his post about spotting notes recording K1s at Walton-on-the-Hill:

 

 

62048 in 1956 and various Gorton ones when new.

 

Simon

Edited October 19, 2021 by 65179