Diesels come to Pendon! Form an orderly queue!

[Peter Kazmierczak]

As long as model railway enthusiasts (either steam, diesel, electric, whatever) have used a personal deodorant before their visit to Pendon, I

don't see any problems.

[PMP]

I don't think many Drivers who knew the road east of Swindon at that time also knew EE Type 3s.  Sorry to go OT - as it really is OT - but EE Type3s in their early days did work to Swindon but mainly (if not exclusively) on banana trains and i'm pretty sure that back then the chances of seeing a South Wales allocated one east of Swindon was unlikely.  

Once diesel traction took hold, what types did bring the South Wales eastbound coal traffic? I did have a quick look through my books, but there’s a real lack of early diesel common or garden mainline freight images. I assumed that the 37’s would have taken over, but there’s few pictures of it, I’ve found more pics of 47’s on the long unfitted freights. Some of that I think may be down to the ‘nothing to see here’ approach that a good number of rail photographers took at the end of steam.

[Denbridge]

Surely it would not harm the ethos of Pendon if Guy Williams's locos were retired and replaced by newly built ones.

 

I visited last year and my only criticism is that the village in the Vale scene doesn't look to me like a real village. The buildings are not aligned with the road system as I would expect, but laid out in a kind of country park, which makes it look more like a museum of picturesque buildings than a plausible settlement.

i was told by a member responsible for maintenance, way back in 2004 that some of Guys locos were already coming to the point of needing new bearings,possibly wheels and in extreme cases they may require new chassis. There was no suggestion of having to retire them. However, on a visit earlier this year, i was told that due to a lack of skilled modellers, the use of modified proprietary locos may be under consideration. Certainlt some of the running was far below the previous standards.

[APOLLO]

Nice little video of the Madder valley railway working here (on Pendons website). I remember this layout in various model mags back in the 50's / 60's when I was a lad. This and other layouts gave me inspiration. I laid my Lesney OOO push along stuff beside my Tri-ang TT as a narrow gauge line - hardly Pendon stuff - but tons of fun !!

 

https://pendonmuseum.com/about/madder-valley-railway.php

 

This also is interesting. A PDF of MRJ 1994 featuring Madder Valley

 

http://tbmod.com/rm/Madder%20Valley%20MRJ%201994%20dec.pdf

 

A diesel day at Pendon - why not - I occasionally run my Tri-ang Rocket set !!!!

 

Anyway - here's "Lion" at Wigan Wallgate back in 1980 - who dares dare model this  (apart from me !!) ?

 

 

Brit15

Edited August 20, 2018 by APOLLO

[Pacific231G]

As long as model railway enthusiasts (either steam, diesel, electric, whatever) have used a personal deodorant before their visit to Pendon, I

don't see any problems.

That's not something I've ever noticed to be lacking at Pendon, nor I have to say at ExpoEM or the French Railways/SNCF Society winter rendezvous both of which include quite crowded slide shows and presentations. Is the greater discernment of finer scale and specialist modelling accompanied by a higher degree of personal hygiene or is it simply that trying to square the circle of standard gauge stock running on narow gauge track makes people sweat a lot  ?

Edited August 20, 2018 by Pacific231G

[Hroth]

Nice little video of the Madder valley railway working here (on Pendons website). I remember this layout in various model mags back in the 50's / 60's when I was a lad. This and other layouts gave me inspiration. I laid my Lesney OOO push along stuff beside my Tri-ang TT as a narrow gauge line - hardly Pendon stuff - but tons of fun !!

 

https://pendonmuseum.com/about/madder-valley-railway.php

 

This also is interesting. A PDF of MRJ 1994 featuring Madder Valley

 

http://tbmod.com/rm/Madder%20Valley%20MRJ%201994%20dec.pdf

 

A diesel day at Pendon - why not - I occasionally run my Tri-ang Rocket set !!!!

 

Anyway - here's "Lion" at Wigan Wallgate back in 1980 - who dares dare model this  (apart from me !!) ?

 

 

Brit15

 

Now thats what I call a PROPER locomotive engine!!!!

[big jim]

I wonder if the operators have ever, after the doors have been closed to the public of an evening just got a Hornby thomas, Annie and Clarabel out for a circuit of the vale for ****s and giggles coz they could!

[Denbridge]

I wonder if the operators have ever, after the doors have been closed to the public of an evening just got a Hornby thomas, Annie and Clarabel out for a circuit of the vale for ****s and giggles coz they could!

I wonder if the operators have ever, after the doors have been closed to the public of an evening just got a Hornby thomas, Annie and Clarabel out for a circuit of the vale for ****s and giggles coz they could!

I wonder if the operators have ever, after the doors have been closed to the public of an evening just got a Hornby thomas, Annie and Clarabel out for a circuit of the vale for ****s and giggles coz they could!

Lol. They'd all need new EMF chassis first

[Mark]

All

 

Let me turn this around why should we D&E modellers spend a single cent on this venture to a museum which has until now had a very anti D&E policy also if its a true one off then none of the funds raised will do anything to further D&E modelling on a wider scale.

 

In addition maybe many are suffering from Pendon fatigue as the amount of articles in the model railway magazines is ridiculous some of them may as well be *New Track pins put on The Vale* here's a six page special this is to the detriment of all modellers as other articles are pushed out for something that has been covered a thousand times.

 

Dave

 

Personally this is the kind of attitude that made me give up with D&E modellers years ago.  If you want to further the cause of D&E modelling stop this perpetual carping about anti diesel agendas.There are some very good diesel models out there, but nothing comes close to the standards achieved at Pendon! I have no patience for the 'Poor us we're discriminated against brigade because we model post Steam era railways' attitude that seems to prevail in some quarters. Personally I would quite enjoy seeing some Western Region Hydraulics on Pendon for a special event.

 

I model Steam Diesel and Electric. I am also a friend of Pendon and member of the Great Western Study Group all of which have enriched my modelling knowledge and skills. Strangely nobody has told me I can't model diesels in those groups despite the alleged anti-diesel policy. It is not at all unreasonable not to expect to see diesels on a layout set in the 1930's any more than you would expect to see a Great Western Bulldog on a layout set in the 2000's. Or perhaps the owners of that hypothetical layout should be vilified for being anti steam?

 

If you are suffering from Pendon Fatigue get off your backside and create the D&E equivalent with the same attention to detail whilst giving up 50 years of your life for the project. Pendon is special and represents thousands of hours of hard work from some of the best modellers in the country. Choose your era and location carefully because you will surely discriminate against somebody. How about 1970's Western Region Devon and Cornwall. Prototype fidelity says no Deltics, No 20's, No 24's, No 26's No 27's No 40's No HST's Only Cross Country DMU's 119 or 120 and Pressed Steel Sets, Westerns, Hymeks, Warships, Peaks, 50's 47's, 25's etc. How many Diesel era layouts actually only run what appeared in the area and are of the same era? How many layouts have some locos showing headcodes and domino's at the same time? Agreed there are some that get it right, but if you want accuracy then you have to stop playing trains! Pendon was never set up to play trains but to capture a vanishing period of history so grow up!

 

Mark Humphrys

Edited August 20, 2018 by Mark

[Clearwater]

I wonder if the operators have ever, after the doors have been closed to the public of an evening just got a Hornby thomas, Annie and Clarabel out for a circuit of the vale for ****s and giggles coz they could!

Assuming they’ve converted it to EM....

 

At least no one has suggested Pendon goes full on DCC sound!

[big jim]

if they snuck a diesel on pendon on a normal running day, say a great western railcar for example id probably not give it a 2nd thought as i dont know enough, ok anything, about the great western region in the 1930s to make me think "well thats wrong" and have me heading for the door in disgust

 

TBH if they put a 1940s vintage or design GW steam loco on there id not know any different either

[Denbridge]

if they snuck a diesel on pendon on a normal running day, say a great western railcar for example id probably not give it a 2nd thought as i dont know enough, ok anything, about the great western region in the 1930s to make me think "well thats wrong" and have me heading for the door in disgust

TBH if they put a 1940s vintage or design GW steam loco on there id not know any different either

There was a GWR streamlined railcar running on the Vale scene a few years ago.

[big jim]

There was a GWR streamlined railcar running on the Vale scene a few years ago.

so whats the issue with them doing it again or am i missing the point?

 

(i take it railcars were about in the vale in the 1930s)

[johnarcher]

i was told by a member responsible for maintenance, way back in 2004 that some of Guys locos were already coming to the point of needing new bearings,possibly wheels and in extreme cases they may require new chassis. There was no suggestion of having to retire them. However, on a visit earlier this year, i was told that due to a lack of skilled modellers, the use of modified proprietary locos may be under consideration. Certainlt some of the running was far below the previous standards.

Surely there are still modellers with the necessary skills to repair or replace a chassis to appropriate standards? If there aren't wouldn't that lack say something a bit depressing about the state of this hobby?

[tomparryharry]

I wonder if the operators have ever, after the doors have been closed to the public of an evening just got a Hornby thomas, Annie and Clarabel out for a circuit of the vale for ****s and giggles coz they could!

 

How do you know they haven't got a test loco or two?  I'd guess it's a Hawksworth Pacific, Number 8099 "Whimsy Castle".

[big jim]

How do you know they haven't got a test loco or two?  I'd guess it's a Hawksworth Pacific, Number 8099 "Whimsy Castle".

fell diesel

[Pacific231G]

if they snuck a diesel on pendon on a normal running day, say a great western railcar for example id probably not give it a 2nd thought as i dont know enough, ok anything, about the great western region in the 1930s to make me think "well thats wrong" and have me heading for the door in disgust

 

TBH if they put a 1940s vintage or design GW steam loco on there id not know any different either

But they would. You probably wouldn't spot a post war seed drill in one of the barns either - I know I wouldn't- but they (the modellers) would so you won't. I don't think a post war GW design loco would go unnoticed for long and weren't there a few GW designs that were only ever built by BR Western Region?  

 

Of course, after visiting Pendon you could go to Didcot and hear the familiar reassuring sound of the authentic Great Western Westinghouse pumps on any visiting Castles or Kings used for  mainline excursions.

[Horsetan]

Assuming they’ve converted it to EMF....

 

FTFY

[t-b-g]

Surely there are still modellers with the necessary skills to repair or replace a chassis to appropriate standards? If there aren't wouldn't that lack say something a bit depressing about the state of this hobby?

 

I am sure there are and I know one good chap who has offered his skills to Pendon in the loco department. The problem is finding somebody with not only the skills but also the time and the willingness to sacrifice their own personal modelling time, bearing in mind how much time would be needed to keep on top of things at Pendon,

 

I could probably build mechanisms suitable for Pendon but my interests don't include the GWR and I already have so much on (either my own modelling, looking after Buckingham or joint projects with others) and I am no making as much progress as I would like with anything. There is nothing I would be willing to put further behind to devote time to helping the good folk at Pendon.

 

So don't worry about the state of the hobby. There are plenty of us still building models.  

[Phil Bullock]

Once diesel traction took hold, what types did bring the South Wales eastbound coal traffic? I did have a quick look through my books, but there’s a real lack of early diesel common or garden mainline freight images. I assumed that the 37’s would have taken over, but there’s few pictures of it, I’ve found more pics of 47’s on the long unfitted freights. Some of that I think may be down to the ‘nothing to see here’ approach that a good number of rail photographers took at the end of steam.

 

Given the dearth of photos of WR 37s at OOC or anywhere else at the eastern end of the patch I think you are near the mark. Westerns would have played their part too....

 

https://www.rail-online.co.uk/p1039253378/h2DBEA2E9#h2dbea2e9

 

Worth reading the caption on that one!

 

Phil

[Geep7]

so whats the issue with them doing it again or am i missing the point?

 

(i take it railcars were about in the vale in the 1930s)

I was at Pendon a couple of weeks back, and I spied a diesel railcar or 2 in the storage yard.

 

Back to the topic in hand, i'm rather looking forward to this special event. I currently model D&E's in the 1970s, but I also model Steam/Diesel in the 50s/60s, US outline, help operate a 1930's based GWR 7mm club layout, and help operate/exhibit a 1930's based SR EM layout. My main interest is 60's/70's diesels, but doesn't stop me appreciating good modelling, no matter what the era is.

 

When I was at Pendon the last visit, apart from my wife and son, there was probably another half a dozen visitors. If this special event draws in more people, especially those who have never considered visiting Pendon before, i'm all for it.

 

As they say, if we don't use it, we'll loose it.

['CHARD]

fell diesel

 

For Pendon's sake, I hope not.  To have the destruction of the Vale Scene on my conscience for ever is a step too far, even for me.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

i was told by a member responsible for maintenance, way back in 2004 that some of Guys locos were already coming to the point of needing new bearings, possibly wheels and in extreme cases they may require new chassis. There was no suggestion of having to retire them. However, on a visit earlier this year, i was told that due to a lack of skilled modellers, the use of modified proprietary locos may be under consideration...

I would challenge the idea of 'a lack of skilled modellers' in this situation, but propose rather that it is a lack of those people with the necessary skills willing to devote those skills to someone else' vision of a model railway. Typically what goes with the necessary skill level is aspiration to do their own creative thing, their way, and following their interests.

 

So it comes down to either lucking into that 'rare bird' with the skills willing to apply themself to the constraints of a defined task as a volunteer, or - more likely - hiring the service. (It would be a good question which is the most economical path, buying and modifying proprietary models, or purchasing the service for mechanism rebuilds of handbuilt models.)

[Denbridge]

I would challenge the idea of 'a lack of skilled modellers' in this situation, but propose rather that it is a lack of those people with the necessary skills willing to devote those skills to someone else' vision of a model railway. Typically what goes with the necessary skill level is aspiration to do their own creative thing, their way, and following their interests.

 

So it comes down to either lucking into that 'rare bird' with the skills willing to apply themself to the constraints of a defined task as a volunteer, or - more likely - hiring the service. (It would be a good question which is the most economical path, buying and modifying proprietary models, or purchasing the service for mechanism rebuilds of handbuilt models.)

a lack of skilled modellers is just that. Of course those people exist, but apparently not at Pendon, which is sad.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

a lack of skilled modellers is just that. Of course those people exist, but apparently not at Pendon, which is sad.

 

What I was pointing at is recognising reality rather then being sad about the situation. Roye England would have been most unlikely to join in on another person's concept of a model railway. That is what typically goes with the calibre of person required...