Burngullow Lane. - On the main line through Legend Land.

[TrevorP1]

A quick photo to show that I'm not totally overtaken by the dockside distractions of a railway on the dark side.

 

When the mood takes me I've been plodding away with the stone bowstring bridge at the down end. Just lately it's been the road surface. I must admit it's a job I've been putting off but this week various acrylics, real Cornish soil, powders, ground foam and other stuff have been brought to bear on the innocent strip of grey card. 

 

I don't think it's too bad. The patch of sunlight behind the van (a photo of the equivalent place on the real thing) is bit bright but it seems a lot brighter on the photo here than it does in real life.

 

Those who are familiar with the area will know that the signal box is on the opposite side of the line to reality and the bridge should be about a quarter of a mile further west. Plus the disused mine is about two miles behind the camera. In other words it's nothing like the real thing!

 

[TrevorP1]

In the photo post last week I mentioned the impending arrival of the afternoon Truro - St Blazey class K. This would be at 3:50pm if the train was on time. Some time ago I discovered a photo of two goods trains clearly stationary at Burngullow. One had the engine detached and there was a rake of wagons standing on the Drinnick Branch. I resolved to try and find out what was going on and with reference to freight and passenger timetables, plus an estimate of the time of day, I think I've made a pretty good inspired guess. Here it is in model form.

 

The time is around 4:00pm. The signalman is about to be very busy. In this photo 4206, the engine of the 2:50 Truro, has already detached and is backing down to collect the clay wagons. On the down line the 1:15 Tavistock Junction class H has arrived and is backing into the down refuge siding. The driver needs to be quick...

 

 

.... but not sharp as the Truro driver has to be because he needs to pick up the wagons and get his train clear of the up line before the 2:00 Penzance Class C passes at 4:10.

 

 

When the Class C has gone the freight should be able to make to St Blazey or maybe Trenance or St Austell if there is business.

 

 

Meanwhile the reason for sharp working on the down side has arrived, namely the Cornish Riviera hauled by one of those new fangled 'thousands'. When The Riviera has passed, plus any 'reliefs', the Tavistock Junction can get on it's way.

 

I'm always in admiration for the signalmen of the day who oversaw moves like this day after day in locations all over the country.

 

 

 

Early New Years resolution(s)!

• Finish the steel road bridge.
• Signals.
• Point Rodding.

Edited November 16, 2022 by TrevorP1
Auto correct confused by Cornish place name.

[checkrail]

Great stuff Trevor.  Really enjoying seeing it all come to life with such convincing looking trains. 

[TrevorP1]

55 minutes ago, checkrail said:

Great stuff Trevor.  Really enjoying seeing it all come to life with such convincing looking trains. 

 

Thank you, that’s appreciated. I do put some effort into trying to get the trains right. It’s a lot of work as you well know! 🙂

 

[Neal Ball]

Excellent back story Trevor thank you.

[TrevorP1]

A little more work on the clay dry. Originally I finished the clerestory(?) with slates from York Model Making and while these were perfectly OK they obviously needed weathering. I read all sorts on weathering slates but didn't fancy my chances at getting it right.

 

A few days ago whilst looking for something else I noticed sheets of pre-weathered laser cut slates on the @ScaleModelScenery website. Here is the result and I've got to say I'm pretty well pleased. They are not self adhesive like the YMM product but in many ways this makes it easier because it's possible to adjust them once in place, If you've never seen it, the Scale Model Scenery website is well worth a look and not only that they are in Probus, Cornwall just up the road from Burngullow. No connection, just a satisfied customer.

 

The next job on the dry will be to permanently fix the furnace house to the side of the building, then I can finally leave it alone!

 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2022 by TrevorP1

[Chamby]

Nice work again, Trevor!  Some lovely attention to detail on the dries.

 

Co-incidentally I was just writing about Scale Model Scenery on my own layout blog at the same time you must have been.  We had an arranged visit there last week with the Bodmin Club:  Justin and his crew made us very welcome and showed us round their workshop and showroom.  The materials they use are of excellent quality, and their bank of industrial-scale lasers is both impressive and mesmerising!  I came away with quite a few bits and pieces...

[OllyW]

Looking absolutely excellent Trevor! Have bookmarked you and all that. 
 

I’ve seen this layout in the flesh and it’s quite frankly a sight to behold - makes my attempts positively toy like! 

I have purchased a few bits off scale model scenery over the last couple years. At the moment I’ve got a wall kit under construction- only thing is with the little man about it’s taking me about a month to build! 🤦‍♂️🙂

 

Wishing you both a happy Christmas! Will try to catch up in the spring as usual. 

 

Olly. 

[TrevorP1]

2 hours ago, OllyW said:

Looking absolutely excellent Trevor! Have bookmarked you and all that. 
 

I’ve seen this layout in the flesh and it’s quite frankly a sight to behold - makes my attempts positively toy like! 

I have purchased a few bits off scale model scenery over the last couple years. At the moment I’ve got a wall kit under construction- only thing is with the little man about it’s taking me about a month to build! 🤦‍♂️🙂

 

Wishing you both a happy Christmas! Will try to catch up in the spring as usual. 

 

Olly. 

 

Hi Olly. Not sure I deserve such praise but hey, I'll take it! I'm just a good bodger. You must take a look at some of the other excellent work on here.

 

In any case as a professional on the electrical/electronics side I'm sure you'd cry if you saw the wiring!

 

I'm glad to hear you're bringing the little man up properly! All the very best to you, we're looking forward to your next visit. 

 

[TrevorP1]

It's getting near the end of the year now and I've been mulling over what has happened on the layout. At times it has felt that not a great deal had been done but having made a list - nothing like a list! - I realise that it has been good steady progress. In fact I was quite surprised. So...

• Completed 3 etched coach kits.
• Built the ‘upper’ fiddle yard for the china clay trains.
• Bought and weathered or kit-built an LNER CCT, SR BY & Fruit D.
• Built 4 more china clay wagons.
• Built an extra shelf above the main fiddle yard.
• Finished off the barn area at the St Austell end.
• Clay dry 95%  finished.
• Relayed the clay dry siding
• Bashed an RTP signalbox and made the interior.
• Altered part of the main fiddle yard to increase capacity.
• Good progress made on the Penzance end bridge - 95% done.
• Plus lots of little jobs. For instance, being painted on the desk in front of me are two Modelu dogs plus another batch of tail lamps.

Also we've spent the best part of 6 weeks away on various travels and I've made a start on a small dockside layout.

 

Not so bad after all!

 

On the 2023 new year's resolution job list are tarpaulins for the china clay wagons, signals, point rodding, fences and finish the two over bridges. I wonder...

 

Compliments of the season everyone and  wishing you good progress on your own projects.

[TrevorP1]

There's a spot on the farm track at the St Austell end of the layout where I always imagined I'd put 'something' but I had no real idea what. Then just before Christmas I was putting together an order to Scale Model Scenery and noticed they'd just launched a small barn. It's even based on a prototype on the outskirts of Mevagissey, not 20 minutes from Burngullow, so well worth a whirl.  

 

It's a comprehensive kit with everything needed, even included roof beams. Stone texture paper is also supplied and while I would use brick paper (as in the buildings on Mayflower Dock) for me model stonework has to have relief.  My plan has been to use the 4mm MDF shell and cover it with spare odds of Wills stonework from the bits box.

 

 

 

 

Gaps were filled with De Luxe Materials 'Perfect Plastic Putty'. The other day I found out quite by accident that this stuff can be applied and worked neatly into place by means of a damp tissue, at the same time removing excess.  My efforts would probably make a stonemason scream in agony but it doesn't look too bad to me. Grey primer has already gone on and I'll post some more photos as I go.

[vulcanbomber]

Yes I have discovered scale model scenery as well, and are starting to upgrade some of the buildings on Barkham Green with their stuff.

I saw your comment about the pre painted slate tiles and have ordered a pack to replace paper tiles on one the buildings that where starting to peel off

 

Edited January 12, 2023 by vulcanbomber

[TrevorP1]

Some time back (it might have been on the Mayflower Dock thread) I think I mentioned that I was going to experiment making tension locks uncouple using the Brian Kirby system. I ordered some 'hooks' from PH designs and magnets from eBay. Due to the fact that the hooks took nearly a month to arrive as well as the Post Office doing their best to lose the magnets the job was forgotten, until the other day when I came across the bits whilst having a tidy up.

 

The first thing that struck me was that the etched hooks have a longer tail that the Bachmann equivalent. I could see no reason for the extra length so as there were plenty of spares I had a go at snipping it off and shortening it. The tails were pretty close to rail level and were very visible.

 

 

The etched U shaped hole in the PH etches seemed a little big so I also created a couple of hybrids using Bachmann hooks. In the event either worked well. Steel staples are soldered into the holes provided for the purpose.

 

 

With a few couplings modified I glued one of my magnets to a spare piece of track. The result was probably predictable in that it was so powerful that it attracted the steel wagon axles... Time for a rethink! For passenger stock I use Hunt couplings and have never looked back but very occasionally the magnets do come loose or the NEM tails break, resulting in my having a small supply of the magnets. They are too weak to use permanently in the 4 foot but what about a shunters pole? That would have the bonus that it could be used anywhere on the layout.

 

I quickly glued one to the first thing that came to hand - a coffee stirrer - and the result is below. By carefully trimming the end of the stirrer the 'shunters pole' can be rested against the rail to operate the coupling without disturbing the wagon. It took a minute or two's practice but it works very time.

 

 

Obviously the other wagon has to have the tension lock hook removed so it takes a little planning. I accept that this won't work for everyone but with the moves I need it for on Burngullow Lane it's ideal and it doesn't stop the vehicles being used in other trains.

 

I'll use the method more on Mayflower Dock where there will be more uncoupling but with a little forethought and the limited number of vehicles involved it will be fine for my needs. Importantly the wagons can be used on either layout.

 

Edited January 14, 2023 by TrevorP1

[checkrail]

Interesting to read this Trevor and to find someone else using the Brian Kirby modification.  I hadn't come across these hooks before. But in my experience trying to replace a tension lock hook with another one has never worked - it's never been secure again.  So if I'm adapting a coupling to the Brian Kirby system and I knock the hook off I bin the whole thing and start again.  But making the addition to the existing dropper with a staple and superglue is quick and efficient - about a couple of minutes per coupling.  

 

Here are a couple of mine:

 

In the second pic the patch of rust on the rail chair denotes the location of the sub-ballast magnet (Screwfix kitchen cupboard door magnet).

 

I too had loads of trouble with steel axles being attracted by the magnets, causing involuntary re-coupling.  Goods stock which is regularly shunted now has brass axles (delivered from California in Imperial sizes!) and/or some friction applied to the axle (usually with slivers of Plastikard glued to the back of the coupling mount and bearing on the axle.  After lots of trial and error I reckon I now have upwards of 95% reliability.

 

John C.

 

 

[5BarVT]

22 minutes ago, checkrail said:

usually with slivers of Plastikard glued to the back of the coupling mount and bearing on the axle

Thank you for that idea John.  I had been planning on foam and wondering what to use and how to attach.  I think plasticard drag will be easier for me to manage.

Paul.

[TrevorP1]

1 hour ago, checkrail said:

Interesting to read this Trevor and to find someone else using the Brian Kirby modification.  I hadn't come across these hooks before. But in my experience trying to replace a tension lock hook with another one has never worked - it's never been secure again.  So if I'm adapting a coupling to the Brian Kirby system and I knock the hook off I bin the whole thing and start again.  But making the addition to the existing dropper with a staple and superglue is quick and efficient - about a couple of minutes per coupling.  

 

Here are a couple of mine:

 

In the second pic the patch of rust on the rail chair denotes the location of the sub-ballast magnet (Screwfix kitchen cupboard door magnet).

 

I too had loads of trouble with steel axles being attracted by the magnets, causing involuntary re-coupling.  Goods stock which is regularly shunted now has brass axles (delivered from California in Imperial sizes!) and/or some friction applied to the axle (usually with slivers of Plastikard glued to the back of the coupling mount and bearing on the axle.  After lots of trial and error I reckon I now have upwards of 95% reliability.

 

John C.

 

 

 

I take your point about the security of the tension lock hooks John. I'll have to have bash with your method.

[TrevorP1]

Apart from perhaps a bit of ivy here and there, the SMS barn has been finished off. As seen in the photo of it 'plonked' on the layout rafters(?) are included for those who want the 'derelict' look. A bit of extra thought was needed where my use of the Wills cladding has increased the size here and there but nothing insurmountable.

 

I must admit to struggling a little with the doors and so on for which card components are provided. Nothing to do with the kit as such, just my ineptitude with card components. I bottled out completely with the upstairs window and used apiece of corrugated iron instead!

 

It's amazing how much time a small structure like this can take but it's just what I wanted for the location on the layout. I think it will look the part when it's bedded in and with perhaps a couple of farm workers munching on their lunchtime pasty.

 

 

 

[Chamby]

Very nice, Trevor.  You’ve definitely improved the look with the use of an embossed and painted exterior, as opposed to the sticky-backed paper overlays supplied.  

 

I’m looking to build a row of terraced houses, and will probably do something similar using Redutex sheets.

[TrevorP1]

Thank you Phil. It was well worth doing and to be honest not difficult, just a little time consuming. A good use for all those pieces of Wills sheet that were ‘too big to throw away but too small for anything’! As mentioned I found the doors to be the hardest part.

 

[TrevorP1]

Happy St Piran’s Day Folks!

 

 

[Iron Horse]

Hope you are OK Trevor, just missing your updates that's all 🙁

 

[TrevorP1]

32 minutes ago, Iron Horse said:

Hope you are OK Trevor, just missing your updates that's all 🙁

 

 

I'm fine thanks! 🙂  Lot's of 'life' has been going on - most of it good I hasten to add. There have been developments and some potential developments which didn't.  I must get round to reporting but it's just getting round to sitting in front of the 'puter and writing about it!