Jump to content
 

The Ballycrochan LIne


colmflanagan
 Share

Recommended Posts

On 06/02/2021 at 16:09, Hunslet 102 said:

The bus depot fits in nicely with the station, a good addition to showcase a few buses together.

You have captured the colour of the eau de nil on the PD3 superbly, did you mix it yourself?

yes, but I can't remember the formula!  I think it was paint supplied by Jim Poots, and some extra duck egg blue from my own stock. 

Colm   

  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

One of the most pleasurable aspects of our hobby, is spending an hour (or three!) on taking a little corner of the layout which has been quickly set in place when building, but not properly "finished". Though there's always something more to tweak...the "bus station" was one such, but I've recently spent a few hours on two other areas, before beginning work on a loco conversion,which I keep putting off for some reason!

 

At Ardglass (to feature in Railway Modeller sometime in the next year DV) there was a row of cottages which sit half over the controller. I built them from plastic card nearly twenty years ago. At long last i fixed them in place and added gardens etc;  I think they still look quite appropriate.

 

1953905014_cottages2.JPG.156b8b311c6a19d79986f2ed790389f1.JPG

 

And before anyone asks, no there are no chimney pots, in the village I grew up in there was were some very old cottages and they didn't have them!

 

1527885681_cottages3.JPG.b26cf72839ab83334370170068843b91.JPG

Gardens are a bit cramped, of course, but the back windows have nice views of the trains, unless blocked by carriages left on the narrow Gauge siding!

 

2103874548_ardglasscottagegardenend.JPG.13af5af6f420076de91c761355285e3c.JPGThe end cottage has a wee bit more garden with room for a shed and a tree! 

 

The other area is a narrow gauge halt near the Stranraer motive power depot. It was also on a previous layout, though facilities have been improved, there's an ex-bus shelter now. There's even someone waiting for a train!  The"Ballylumford"  station name board, I had lying about for years  from a friends 009 layout. The two 6 wheel coaches come from the same source,  No1 on the narrow gauge is a little Roco continental H0e 0-6-0  - I've made it look a bit more irish/british (I think)  and it's nickname on the line is "Tiny".....after all it's not much bigger than the Wickham trolley in the background.

 

641148028_BLF7coalwater.JPG.2149452389e5722ab8619e552bb3151e.JPG

 

382672697_No1atblf1.JPG.b837a0ecbbdc58ad4d633da17296eb71.JPG

 

2994262_No1atblf2.JPG.cd5a11d8b84314ff7aee485d9f21e391.JPG

 

The final pic is just a crop of one above but I think captures the atmosphere of a narrow gauge railway, stepping back in time. I think mine adds a lot to my pleasure ! The man standing on the platform is a little metal one from an unknown manufacturer -possibly  pre war Hornby Dublo - he's wearing  "Plus 4" trousers, once beloved of golfers.

977090986_No1atblf1cu.jpg.d9d3aa06a301cae53d55ac20dfb7e092.jpg

 

 

  • Like 10
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

A newcomer on test on the Ballycrochan line, No 99 in NCC maroon.    I think they look well in this livery; transfers by railtec and lining HMRS. Name/numberplates Guilplates; dome by Alan Gibson, and top feed by 247 Developments....

Tablet snatchers by Highland Railway Society; they are a little different from the Lochgorm ones I used before, but require no soldering together of tiny bits...! Quite a "cast list"

 

It's mostly new "bits" on the cut down Hornby 4P chassis, with a Bachmann/Mainline LMS tender shortened. I use the orignal smokebox and front end, and the cab roof. 

 

The train is 5 Bachmann LMS panelled 57' coaches; someday i may renumber them, they look well, though not actually correct for NCC.

 

 

  • Like 8
  • Craftsmanship/clever 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

A small project - Northbrook Junction on The Ballycrochan Line

 

Sometimes, no matter how carefully a layout has been planned, something doesn’t work out as expected, and solutions run from a total rebuild if it’s a  major  problem (not advised unless absolutely necessary) - to a  few tweaks here and there on relatively minor things.

The Narrow Gauge line (009) which runs parallel to the Ardglass branch on  “The Ballycrochan Line” is a case in point.

 

2000787883_NorthbtookJctn1.JPG.0b75b4cf58fbaac3ec2e456eed75248f.JPG

Track lifted though island platform still in place.  From Coleraine engine shed end.

  LOWER PIC view from Ardglass end.   The Northbrook Junction panel has the three toggle switches on left

1505962263_Northbrookjctn2.JPG.e855ed22055bf93c83a3b2dc775317af.JPG

 

Originally the narrow gauge was to serve all three main stations, Ardglass and Stranraer (high level) and Coleraine (low level).  The Coleraine line would be a branch diverging at a location I called “Northbrook Junction”. The junction would be a simple transfer island platform, with possibly a station building at low level with a steep pathway up to the platform. The Coleraine branch would curve away and run down towards the Coleraine station building on a relatively steep gradient and curve, and was intended for light trains (e.g my railcar or a few wagons).  The junction track was laid in with this in mind., though I didn’t actually fit the point, leaving that for later.

 

However, as work progressed on Coleraine, it became clear this was NOT going to work – the line would have to run on a very tight descending curve, right across the loading area of the goods shed at Coleraine, about 2-3 inches high. Such an embankment, however steep, would block access to the shed and that was ridiculous. One of the maxims I gleaned early on in railway modelling was that railway companies, while often eccentric, weren’t mad – things have to “make sense”.  Things like blocking the loading doors to the goods shed.

There was no alternative route. So I decided to drop the branch idea entirely. I left the island platform in situ, it was convenient for trains to cross and was wired accordingly, with the point on the bridge electrified as it is difficult to reach. The small control panel at the junction also had the two section switches, allowing cab control operation of either platform to be from Ardglass, or Stranraer.

Then, as I came eventually to look at it again, I realized that there was now no need for an island platform at all; and it was too narrow for any buildings. In short, it was the wrong thing for what was now actually a passing loop. So, what to do?

The solution was to dismantle platform and track, and relay the loop more centrally, thus giving some more space either side of the tracks; I also fabricated a board extension which added a few more inches for a small station building, with a waiting hut on the other side.

 

2014284968_NorthbrookJctn3.JPG.0e53def0ec32d12f8c2983b78b4f9a6c.JPG

New track roughly aligned prior to balllasting and pinning down.

 

The actual track work involved was relatively small; after removing the ballast and lifting the track and platform, I discovered that re-alignment would need just slightly less length of track than before, and so I was able to use it all again just lightly trimmed; I even recovered quite a lot of ballast. Irish narrow gauge frugality - very realistic! The original island platform could be trimmed to provide one new platform - the other yet to be made.

 

665482141_NorthbrookJctn5ballast.JPG.23ff27d8a2e17d969ed26553c7464cce.JPG

 

Track laid and ballasted; old island platform trimmed in rough position on left.   Top view from Coleraine end.  Bottom from Ardglass.

 

1479707556_NorthbrookJctn6.JPG.252823f180599a1bb0f407ecfc4309fd.JPG

 

So, the tracks are down, ballasted, and re-wired (slightly different positions but again, able to re –use the wires!) and trains can now run through again. I’ll post some pictures of scenic progress at Northbrook (as it will now be called) – in due course.

 

 

Edited by colmflanagan
  • Like 6
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Some modest progress at Northbrook.   Ballasting complete, with some weeds....The new platforms are built and edging etc done, still more work to do .

 

2115620782_nbrokplatformslookiingtowardsSTR.JPG.0e76600eabfa4870784945090f2db8e5.JPG

 

1179234995_nov2021nbrookplatforms.JPG.fe49a995f9a674ff6fb7329681564264.JPG

 

No expensive footbridge here, a barrow wooden crossing will suffice. warning notices will be fitted in due course, before the Board of Trade arrive to inspect the line! The new buildings will be on the right hand side.

 

A new shelter has appeared on the Up platform. It's a Peco product, a shed which is part of the "manyways" kits, for a small station shelter. here it' is a even smaller shelter, the door is the station toilet.  Signage needed here too, the wee place looks quite nice , I think.

 

 

 

177327417_Nbrkshelterloo.JPG.4814d0dd737fa35266a708b16a5242bf.JPG

 

And just down the line towards Ardglass, i have done some little details at Nendrum halt. more to come at both locations.

523341051_No2atnendrum1.JPG.8c6ab1957b7ebf180fd976ce7c3aa8bf.JPG

 

No 2 with a short midday train; the shelter has been provided -an ancient Tri-ang well covering I had lurking in a box for about forty years....repainted, and a little peco seat, a tree provides extra interest to the quiet country scene.

And below, the same scene looking towards Nendrum on the hill. the bus will wait until the steam railcar (Eggerbhan repaint)  departs but I doubt if there'll be much traffic!  And, in this picture there's one item which shouldn't be there....or did someone call for a doctor?

 

1686152713_railcarandbusatnendrum.JPG.420839e1272ba403a169f7290a648962.JPG

 

Nendrum will need a bit of fencing - the cottage isn't railway property - a station nameboard, and maybe a person waiting for a train. And that's about it.

 

 

Edited by colmflanagan
  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, colmflanagan said:

Some modest progress at Northbrook.   Ballasting complete, with some weeds....The new platforms are built and edging etc done, still more work to do .

 

2115620782_nbrokplatformslookiingtowardsSTR.JPG.0e76600eabfa4870784945090f2db8e5.JPG

 

1179234995_nov2021nbrookplatforms.JPG.fe49a995f9a674ff6fb7329681564264.JPG

 

No expensive footbridge here, a barrow wooden crossing will suffice. warning notices will be fitted in due course, before the Board of Trade arrive to inspect the line! The new buildings will be on the right hand side.

 

A new shelter has appeared on the Up platform. It's a Peco product, a shed which is part of the "manyways" kits, for a small station shelter. here it' is a even smaller shelter, the door is the station toilet.  Signage needed here too, the wee place looks quite nice , I think.

 

 

 

177327417_Nbrkshelterloo.JPG.4814d0dd737fa35266a708b16a5242bf.JPG

 

And just down the line towards Ardglass, i have done some little details at Nendrum halt. more to come at both locations.

523341051_No2atnendrum1.JPG.8c6ab1957b7ebf180fd976ce7c3aa8bf.JPG

 

No 2 with a short midday train; the shelter has been provided -an ancient Tri-ang well covering I had lurking in a box for about forty years....repainted, and a little peco seat, a tree provides extra interest to the quiet country scene.

And below, the same scene looking towards Nendrum on the hill. the bus will wait until the steam railcar (Eggerbhan repaint)  departs but I doubt if there'll be much traffic!  And, in this picture there's one item which shouldn't be there....or did someone call for a doctor?

 

1686152713_railcarandbusatnendrum.JPG.420839e1272ba403a169f7290a648962.JPG

 

Nendrum will need a bit of fencing - the cottage isn't railway property - a station nameboard, and maybe a person waiting for a train. And that's about it.

 

 

LOVE the tardis!!

 

(We're of an age.......................................................!)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Colm

You are doing a great job there. I also have an Egger articulated railcar which I was planning to make over as an Irish outline one. I still have to lay the track and this is a ten year project so far. (!) Too busy with the normal gauge so far.

Mine runs OK under test. I hear that they are difficult to keep going, being inclined to slip. Do you find this? I am in two minds as to how to use it. I might even convert it to DCC if it is worth keeping faith with.

I did ask a guy with one running on a layout at the Glasgow show and he said I might be better spending my time on a more practical project than getting an Egger railcar to work.

There is someone in the Netherlands who specialises in remotoring Egger models and maybe I need to try him first.

Jim

Link to post
Share on other sites

On 09/11/2021 at 00:39, jhb171achil said:

LOVE the tardis!!

 

Mister Flanagan,

 

Why would a Metropolitan Police 'box' be seen in Ireland (or anywhere else in Britain outside the London area)? Obviously the TARDIS. Ten points for any reader who can remember what TARDIS stands for........

 

By the way Colm, excellent modelling  as always... LM 

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

On 11/11/2021 at 20:15, Glen Arriff said:

Colm

You are doing a great job there. I also have an Egger articulated railcar which I was planning to make over as an Irish outline one. I still have to lay the track and this is a ten year project so far. (!) Too busy with the normal gauge so far.

Mine runs OK under test. I hear that they are difficult to keep going, being inclined to slip. Do you find this? I am in two minds as to how to use it. I might even convert it to DCC if it is worth keeping faith with.

I did ask a guy with one running on a layout at the Glasgow show and he said I might be better spending my time on a more practical project than getting an Egger railcar to work.

There is someone in the Netherlands who specialises in remotoring Egger models and maybe I need to try him first.

Jim

I put a Kato twin axle power bogie under the railcar after the original unreliable power unit fell out onto the track one day after me spending hours tweaking it to run properly... That was the last straw.  Colm

Link to post
Share on other sites

Northbrook station has been "officially" opened and the fist trains have run through it; signalling is still rudimentary -manual staff is exchanged at the station for the sections to Ardglass and Stranraer.   The buildings were peco, the signal box scratch built (and a bit rough close up - well they bought it secondhand from another railway which didn't want it!)

 

IMG_1171.JPG.e34d77352ea381dc1f8c6b40821a8741.JPG

 

IMG_1177.JPG.151e00a912a1b38f9428d0259a68b42d.JPG

3 people waiting and one official - quite a crowd for a narrow gauge railway.  

 

However, the small signal box is ready for the point rodding and signal wires, and this work will be done as soon as possible....

1656536156_IMG_11752.JPG.10926347702358a0731ca4321ac27b93.JPG

 

 

 

No 4 loco is a Liliput model with most of it's European additions removed and the cab remade to look a bit more "british/irish"";

IMG_1180.JPG.cf39df7e79f2ad8783f007b42549a62c.JPG

 

No 5 is a Lynton& Barnstaple kit on a Minitrix "n" gauge chassis -much cruder than the recent exquisite Heljan models -however, tests with one of those showed it would not cope with the gradients/curves on this line- thankfully i had't bought it!  

IMG_1178.JPG.359d87ecd8fbb6be7cc7311d71edfdb0.JPG

 

That's it for a wee while now, got other things to do...

  • Like 5
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Just a short video of the latest acquisition, Rails of Sheffield put this out for order in March 2018 and I got mine yesterday.

 

Aye, 'tis a bonny wee engine.

 

The coaches are GN&SR (Railway Children file livery)  by Bachmann but they look not unlike Caledonian livery.  They are recognisable as the LMS coaches Mainline introduced about 30 or more years ago...still produced by Bachmann with few visible changes.

 

Apologies for the editing, or lack of it.  I have now not got my  well loved "move maker" software, so have had to start learning a new programme which will I am sure,  work well once I get the hang of it.

 

Colm

 

 

  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...