LNWR London Road - Locomotives and rolling stock

[t-b-g]

Will both layouts be called "London Road" or will it be pistols at dawn between you and John to keep the name?

 

I look forward to seeing your progress. "London Road" has been a real star on the show circuit for me for many years.

 

Tony

[Jol Wilkinson]

Hi Tony,

 

it will still be London Road but as it won't be going out to any shows it won't really matter. As it is there are another two or three London Road named layouts that appear at shows, on YouTube, etc. AFAIK the LNWR terminus P4 layout built by John Redrup, Eric Ramsey and Stan Owen in the 1980's was the original, or at least the first to appear in public. They chose the name as it was quite a common one for railway stations.

 

I recall being at the Nottingham show with the original terminus some years ago when a lady visitor rather brusquely pointed out that it was nothing like the local station of that name. I refrained from asking if she remembered at first hand the Edwardian era in which the model is set.

 

Jol

[s55evo]

Hi Jol,

Could you detail how you spring the two front axles of your tender. I have several to do and yours all work very well.

Regards,

Tony.

[Jol Wilkinson]

Hi Tony,

 

I use LRM hornguides/bearings for the two front axles and then use some PB wires that are soldered to a suitable location on the frames - a spacer or a piece of pcb - to act as springs onto the bearings. Wire about 25mm long seems to give sufficient spring load to keep the wheels on the rails.

 

The rear axle is "rigid" and I have used PB wire pickups om several; locos , which has worked well.

 

Edited to add that I use this approach is for tenders that have the front end "resting" on the loco drag beam, to increase adhesive weight. This is particularly worthwhile for small pre-group 2-4-0s and 4-4-0s.

 

I can' t provide a photo as all the locos and stock are in store (with Richard M). The build for the new workshop was due to start on Monday next, but that has been postponed owing to the current crisis, so I don't know when I will be able to unpack the modelling tools, etc.

 

Jol

Edited March 25, 2020 by Jol Wilkinson
Additional text

[s55evo]

Thanks Jol, I will give that a try. I hope your building is not delayed for too long.

 

All the best,

Tony.

 

 

[Jol Wilkinson]

An update, long delayed during what has been a rather difficult year. 

 

Firstly, our house move took place in early March.  Despite a apparently satisfactory survey, a number of items soon came to light which required professional (and expensive) action, in addition to those improvements we knew we wanted to undertake. Some of these are still not done, thanks to the pandemic's impact on the local specialist building trades.

 

However, a detached retina in my right eye, which has taken a number of operations to resolve following ongoing complications (and which at last seems to be resolved but I am keeping my fingers crossed) has prevented me from doing any DIY, modelling, etc. All rather frustrating and depressing. Added to dealing with Covid 19 and Hilary having to undergo treatment for skin cancer - now thankfully dealt with, 2020 will forever be a year to forget.

 

The new workshop was built in  April and is currently acting as a store for the two London Road extension baseboards, books, etc. 

 

The only thing I have managed to do is design the underframe for a new LNWR D17 six wheel 20T Brake van, which should be available from John Redrup at London Road Models in the New Year. It features a very nice cast resin body from a master pattern made by Clive Croome (Perivale Wagon Works).

 

To close, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, good health and a better forthcoming year.

 

Jol

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mikkel]

That is one very good looking workshop. Very stylish.  Sounds like it's well deserved.

 

Merry christmas! 

[Jol Wilkinson]

Thanks Mikkel,

 

it was built by a local company  run by two brothers who custom build to whatever size/specification you want (electrics, heating, door/window size and location, etc.).  The interior measurements are 7.0 M X 4.0 M The only downside is that the foil faced insulation panels - floor, walls and ceiling - act like a Faraday cage, so I can't get any radio reception!

 

 

 

 

[micklner]

Jol

      What is it sitting on ? a concrete base or something else . I am thinking of one for next year, having just got rid of a huge Conifer tree .

[Jol Wilkinson]

Hi Mick,

 

it sits on 24 galvanised supports that are set into concrete in augured holes. This shows the base and rear wall going up.

 

 

 

The platform along the front (added when the main building is finished) also has its own supports along the outer edge.

 

[micklner]

Jol

      Thanks for photo , with us having limited rear access, that looks a very good solution !!

 

Mick

[hayfield]

Jol

 

Sorry to hear about your health issues, lets hope for a better 2021 and onwards, I had plans myself for an outside workshop when we moved nearly 5 years ago, as it happens it was added to the house extension. Though the kitchen came off better than the workshop area, but its much warmer in the winter than an outside building.

 

Keep well and hope to say hello when things get back to normal

[Paul Cram]

7 minutes ago, micklner said:

Jol

      Thanks for photo , with us having limited rear access, that looks a very good solution !!

 

Mick

Depending on your ground conditions ground screws are an option. Not good if you have a lot of gravel in your clay though. I built a log cabin using them as the base in the summer.

 

[micklner]

32 minutes ago, Paul Cram said:

Depending on your ground conditions ground screws are an option. Not good if you have a lot of gravel in your clay though. I built a log cabin using them as the base in the summer.

 

Never heard of them, we are sandy soil . I will research them, thanks.

[D-A-T]

Shed envy!

[philip-griffiths]

7 hours ago, micklner said:

Never heard of them, we are sandy soil . I will research them, thanks.

have a watch of this. 

 

[Jol Wilkinson]

Over kill? 24 of those under my building would support nearly 100 tons. You could use fewer but wouldn't want an excessive span between them.

[Paul Cram]

My shed is 6m x 3m and I used 15 most were 750mm some were 550mm because of my ground.

[Natalie]

Hi Jol, 

 

Sorry to hear about both yours and your wife's health issues and trust that they are resolved.

 

I am hoping that you will continue to keep us all updated with the progress of your new layout. It sounds to be very promising indeed. There can never be too many London Roads especially to the superb standard that you build to. 

 

London Road remains one of my favourites of all time with the signalling and point rodding especially being exquisite. Having worked LNWR boxes the fitting of proper stirrup handles to the lever frames is a definite highlight.

 

I have seen and photted the layout many times over the years and would like to thank you and your team for the pleasure that seeing it has bought to me, and for putting up with my presence and often stupid questions. I hope that I haven't been too much of a nuisance dribbling over it at shows.

 

Whilst sad that it will not appear in its current form at shows anymore, I look forward to seeing what John does with his section and hopefully the development of your section.

 

Thanks for your efforts, I've really appreciated them.

 

Best wishes and Merry Christmas to you all.

Edited December 21, 2020 by Natalie

[Chas Levin]

On 19/12/2020 at 10:40, Jol Wilkinson said:

An update, long delayed during what has been a rather difficult year. 

 

Firstly, our house move took place in early March.  Despite a apparently satisfactory survey, a number of items soon came to light which required professional (and expensive) action, in addition to those improvements we knew we wanted to undertake. Some of these are still not done, thanks to the pandemic's impact on the local specialist building trades.

 

However, a detached retina in my right eye, which has taken a number of operations to resolve following ongoing complications (and which at last seems to be resolved but I am keeping my fingers crossed) has prevented me from doing any DIY, modelling, etc. All rather frustrating and depressing. Added to dealing with Covid 19 and Hilary having to undergo treatment for skin cancer - now thankfully dealt with, 2020 will forever be a year to forget.

 

The new workshop was built in  April and is currently acting as a store for the two London Road extension baseboards, books, etc. 

 

The only thing I have managed to do is design the underframe for a new LNWR D17 six wheel 20T Brake van, which should be available from John Redrup at London Road Models in the New Year. It features a very nice cast resin body from a master pattern made by Clive Croome (Perivale Wagon Works).

 

To close, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, good health and a better forthcoming year.

 

Jol

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Jol, glad to hear things are improving; as you say, 2020 will not go down in history as a corker but yours does sound particularly below par...

Merry Christmas to you too, and a Happy Naw Year; let's hope 2021 is an improvement!

[Jol Wilkinson]

Thanks Chas.

 

I've had to look back through this tread to remind myself where I had got to with my model making. The LNWR 6 wheel D17 brake van from the pre-production Modellers World kit will probably go unfinished as the LRM version will be available soon. With a cast resin body and etched underframe it'll be easier  and quicker to build. The 2-4-2T and Renown 4-4-0 locos and three carriages need lining out and final assembly but the main thrust activity will be to get on with building the new layout around the two new London Road boards I kept. This photo, taken in 2013 during construction gives an idea of the start point.

 

 

The new layout will start  at the end of the white platform surface on Tony Sheffield's right and at the overbridge under the camera. It'll curve around to the left with a fiddle yard/loops opposite. I have it roughly drawn out but need to reacquaint myself with Templot before I can finalise the baseboard design and order the plywood.

 

Jol

[Coal Tank]

I look forward to watching its progress 

[MPR]

On 26/08/2010 at 09:00, Jol Wilkinson said:

However, a bit of time went into the Precursor and its now finished, bar painting, etc.

Hi Jol

What wheels would you recommend using for a P4 Precursor these days?

Regards

Martin

[Jol Wilkinson]

Hello Marin, 

6' 9" 20 spoke PIL are what you need so the nearest fit will depend on gauge and preference.

 

I used Sharman P4 wheels, these may still be available for 00/EM ref S356.

 

https://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/products/sharman-wheels/4mm-steam-locomotive-driving-wheels/6-9-7-9/sw-s356

 

Otherwise a  6' 8" 20 spoke wheel (LNER) is probably the nearest, which Markits, Ultrascale and AGW all supply. Ultrascale or AGW for P4, any of them for 00 or EM.

 

Jol

[Jol Wilkinson]

I've changed the topic heading to reflect how I hope things will be going in 2021. 

 

Today we have just moved into Tier 4 in Suffolk, so perhaps I may be a bit optimistic. One thing I'll need when/if I get the go ahead from the eye surgeon is a prescription from my optician for new glasses but that may be one of the things that is "on hold".

 

In the meanwhile a very Merry Christmas to everyone. The wine rack in the workshop is well stocked, so we will give it our best shot.