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Gresley Junction


thegreenhowards
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3 hours ago, jwealleans said:

What are the roof boards made of?  If they're rigid enough to be taken off and then reapplied, I'd try a small amount of tacky wax.

Good idea. The majority are Pacific Models. They come printed on thick photo quality paper and I’ve mounted them on double sided tape. They are removable but wouldn’t take regular handling. I will try mounting a couple on thin card or plasticard and then using tacky wax.

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Tonight it’s another cop for the Gresley Jn trainspotters as D206 makes her entrance. This is a Bachmann D211, renumbered to D206 and with a few mods to reflect the pilot batch of EE Type 4s (thanks to Clive for the help on this). I’ve shown her on Coulsdon Works but not in action on Gresley Jn. 

 

She is on the 1830 KX-Leeds/ Halifax/ Hull which was a similar rake to the White Rose but this time the dining pair are the correct way round.

 

E9130A40-87F3-4AB1-B267-54C47F71ACE3.jpeg.d485bfaf543ed54fdbc63d271e68db55.jpeg

 

Here is the video. I’ve replaced the Bachmann sound chip which never worked well (hence it sat in its box for several years!) with a Youchoos Zimo version and now it works well.

 

 

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D206 - my first ever diesel cop, it must have been just about new! I was stopped at Abbots Ripton with Grandad in his Austin 7 Ruby, right where the branchline came through the gate and over the road on its way into USAF Alconbury. D206 was on an up stopper in the station.

Around the same time (it must have been after this of course) I (sort of, not in the ABC) copped my second diesel. This was a deep blue shunter, possibly a Sentinel? It trundled along, under its own power, on the up slow line. I have no idea of its ID, but suspect it may have been on delivery to a firm just south of the present Stevenage station.

 

Stewart

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Tonight we’re back to suburban trains. It’s the turn of the 1820 KX- Baldock headed by L1, 67785.

 

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It was formed of a standard non corridor outer suburban six set with a Mk 1 SLO strengthener on the front. I don’t have a spare SLO so I’ve used a Thompson CL but I hope it gives the right impression.

 

0B546A81-D09F-44B6-8469-D2A313F22419.jpeg.394349d39477d48666e40c6237d49a77.jpeg

 

0345B015-301D-45B3-9AF9-90738A743AA1.jpeg.560d28dd8093c68e5159a03938988bb3.jpeg

 

To see the whole set you’ll have to watch the video. I’m afraid it’s a bit poorly focussed in the distance but the loco comes into focus as it approaches the camera.

 

 

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An up Cambridge working today with short term KX  resident, BR Standard 5, 73157. This is a DJH kit bought off eBay and has been a real nightmare to get working well. It managed to throw its worm gear off within 2 minutes of being put on the track and the valve gear has got mangled on several occasions. Once I got it running OK on DC it was time to try DCC and that identified lots of intermittent short circuits which I’ve had to eliminate one by one with tweaks of pick ups or smears of epoxy. Two burnt out decoders later and I think it’s working OK (touch wood!). Luckily I only use cheap Chinese decoders (LAIS) for non sound applications.

 

4BBF023D-9D3F-4C98-9914-C3036DC58F42.jpeg.c182b47b731fdaacd39985fa0771dc5a.jpeg


I’ve added a few details including these lovely brass tender plaques from Modelmaster - it still needs brakes though!

 

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The train is the 1715 from Cambridge which was formed of a standard corridor outer suburban set with a vanfit added at Baldock. I presume vanfit just means a normal bauxite liveried 4 wheel van. But maybe it should be something longer like a CCT or a d.120 BY - any views?

 

0BFBFEAB-7874-45F1-9E22-3A8F4E155D3A.jpeg.04b81e964e343ad49e73b07b5ca5f12c.jpeg

 

Here’s a video to prove that it does now work.

 

Edited by thegreenhowards
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It’s time for the one through train if the day from Moorgate to Ivatt (aka Dunstable). This is the 1803 from Moorgate and was hauled by an N7, so it’s yet another outing for my one and only N7, 69637.

 

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I’ve been doing some painting of the wall here to give a more realistic sky. The photos show that I need to go back and touch up a couple of bits! I’ve also fitted inserts into the tunnel so you can’t see through from one bore to the next which is definitely an improvement.

 

As you’ve seen lots of pictures of the N7, here is one of the rear of the quad art.

55D4401F-4489-4266-9F90-DE8113672320.jpeg.77ba0ca7b815305af6957b37450cc0a7.jpeg

 

And at rest in platform 2.

 

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The video shows the train leaving Gresley Jn

 

 

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Today we feature the 1835 KX-Hull which also carried a BZ van for Doncaster, a BG for Leeds and the catering portion on the rear also went to Leeds on Mon- Thu. This is the 1958 formation headed by 60048, Doncaster returning to its namesake town.


BCB0CB46-D68E-407F-AB7F-0190572DA36C.jpeg.7ff050d21ba03cfa8d9a546e763b51eb.jpeg

 

469B523C-BB02-4278-B9BE-DE3A1CD4C507.jpeg.dc079a5b393365a369334f4236de776c.jpeg

 

Here is the full train.

 

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The catering portion was formed FO/ RK and I’m pleased to say that the Pacific models coach board stock on with tacky wax worked well for the FO (which is normally part of my 1615 Cleethorpes set and boarded for that).

1668695A-31B7-4920-9F14-BC67590A391E.jpeg.c3461dbf6ccbb631b5797816b485c191.jpeg

 

Some of you have been interested in my experiments with Hunt couplings. I’m getting to the tail end of fitting my stock now with generally the more difficult coaches left. The Thompson RK has heavy duty white metal bogies and had hook and goalpost couplings. I’ve managed to fit the swivelling sort of Hunt couplings (which I think are designed for pre NEM pocket wagons) to the end of the floorpan on this. I mounted the coupling on 3mm of plasticard.
 

765883FD-7931-4813-9451-2FE93C9B76CF.jpeg.e509148a76ec0f3acded7c3caffee8c5.jpegIt worked fairly well but did derail once on the inside of a Peco curved point. I think it will be fine for 36” radius curves (which all of mine are apart from curved points), but I may have to tweak it for certain situations.

 

Edited by thegreenhowards
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Today its an up Cambridge Buffet Express heralded by D16 E2524.

 

020BC230-B933-4994-86D0-5995626D5E4C.jpeg.87675f78f564a11e3073e0dd8e4dba1e.jpeg

 

I’m afraid this whole train is in the ‘to be worked on’ category. D16s did work these trains in the late ‘40s/ early ‘50s - there’s a nice picture of one in Steam Memories 42 (p43). But I don’t have a CWN from that era, so I need to try and work out a formation from photos and copy it. They did tend to have an ex GN buffet car (as here) or a Tourist buffet and I like the all teak and ‘British Railways’ look. But, apart from the buffet (isinglass), the rake is pure Hornby and probably needs a couple of EV vehicles and a BSK to replace one BCK. Any thoughts on the formation would be welcome.

 

Here are a couple more shots.

19AD6E84-0E07-4CC6-BEF8-19CD51581AB4.jpeg.14d8d40effec82e5ec4b4857d948ac99.jpeg

 

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Were the Hornby Gresley coaches sold in this teak British Railways condition, Andy, or did you modify them from the LNER condition ones?

 

I know there are a lot of problems with the Hornby Gresley coaches (having read various contributions on Wright Writes), but the teak / British Railways (pre-Crimson and Cream) fits nicely with my era and I know reproducing teak finish is beyond my abilities. They make for a nice looking rake to my eye. 

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9 hours ago, Mark90 said:

Were the Hornby Gresley coaches sold in this teak British Railways condition, Andy, or did you modify them from the LNER condition ones?

 

I know there are a lot of problems with the Hornby Gresley coaches (having read various contributions on Wright Writes), but the teak / British Railways (pre-Crimson and Cream) fits nicely with my era and I know reproducing teak finish is beyond my abilities. They make for a nice looking rake to my eye. 

They are as supplied by Hornby in limited edition packs. They took some collecting (which I quite enjoyed even though I don’t think of myself as a collector!). Three (BCK/SK/SK) came in a pack with Kingfisher in BR blue. Two (BCK/SK - different numbers) came in the London Olympics pack with an N2. And the buffet, sleeper and FK were done as subsequent individual items. I’m not sure whether they were collectors club specials or main range but I don’t think they sold very well as they were sold off cheap later. I got mine for £25 each. Here is the FK.

EDC3182F-A81C-4F33-A3B2-75E9DF8AA0FF.jpeg.46ceaf26dcb52ecb5601a45a40c957f8.jpeg

It may offend the purists; clearly the teak graining is overscale and the ends are too fat but that doesn’t notice side on which is how they’re normally seen. I think they look good in a rake but probably better not mixed with other coaches. My Isinglass buffet stands out as a bit different. If and when I sort this rake out, it will probably be Hornby at one end and Kirk/ Isinglass at the other to avoid too many transitions.

Edited by thegreenhowards
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1 hour ago, thegreenhowards said:

They are as supplied by Hornby in limited edition packs. They took some collecting (which I quite enjoyed even though I don’t think of myself as a collector!). Three (BCK/SK/SK) came in a pack with Kingfisher in BR blue. Two (BCK/SK - different numbers) came in the London Olympics pack with an N2. And the buffet, sleeper and FK were done as subsequent individual items. I’m not sure whether they were collectors club specials or main range but I don’t think they sold very well as they were sold off cheap later. I got mine for £25 each. Here is the FK.

BF6579D5-7240-4CC7-9A48-87FFFEA08590.jpeg.854f2dad07ef0e2df113b3c465998c45.jpeg

It may offend the purists; clearly the teak graining is overscale and the ends are too fat but that doesn’t notice side on which is how they’re normally seen. I think they look good in a rake but probably better not mixed with other coaches. My Isinglass buffet stands out as a bit different. If and when I sort this rake out, it will probably be Hornby at one end and Kirk/ Isinglass at the other to avoid too many transitions.

Thanks so much for the detailed reply. I might have to see if anything comes up on eBay as I do have a few crimson and cream Gresleys, and some examples of the teaks, as you've shown, might fit quite nicely.

 

From the prototype photos that I've seen, quite a few seem to have lingered on still in teak into the mid 50s (as I'm sure you know). There's something quite appealing, to me at least, about modelling that crossover period when pre-nationalisation liveried (but BR-numbered) coaches were a regular feature in otherwise crimson and cream rakes. 

 

And I agree that, side on, the Hornby Gresleys are convincing enough from a normal viewing distance. 

Edited by Mark90
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53 minutes ago, Mark90 said:

Thanks so much for the detailed reply. I might have to see if anything comes up on eBay as I do have a few crimson and cream Gresleys, and some examples of the teaks, as you've shown, might fit quite nicely.

 

From the prototype photos that I've seen, quite a few seem to have lingered on still in teak into the mid 50s (as I'm sure you know). There's something quite appealing, to me at least, about modelling that crossover period when pre-nationalisation liveried (but BR-numbered) coaches were a regular feature in otherwise crimson and cream rakes. 

 

And I agree that, side on, the Hornby Gresleys are convincing enough from a normal viewing distance. 

The numbering itself is a minefield and I’m sure that the rake I have is too uniform. It could be Gills Sans or LNER shaded letters, at the right or left end of the coach and with or without an ‘E’ suffix. I don’t know whether you follow my Coulsdon Works thread but, if not, you might like to read a few posts from the link below where Headstock of this parish gives a masterclass on early BR coach numbering.

 

Andy

 

 

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, thegreenhowards said:

The numbering itself is a minefield and I’m sure that the rake I have is too uniform. It could be Gills Sans or LNER shaded letters, at the right or left end of the coach and with or without an ‘E’ suffix. I don’t know whether you follow my Coulsdon Works thread but, if not, you might like to read a few posts from the link below where Headstock of this parish gives a masterclass on early BR coach numbering.

 

Andy

 

 

 

 

 

Many thanks - I’ll take a look! 

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Another cop for you tonight! This is 61142 on 1845 KX-Cleethorpes. Here it is passing through on the down fast.

 

15C40C9B-44CD-4AB9-8E2B-0E9290D448B4.jpeg.8bb91dbaa86e112d27e9efa295c7bfce.jpeg

 

I’ve just renumbered this loco from 61138. It still needs weathering and probably some Immingham ‘embellishments’ such as bulled up smokebox door hinges. 

 

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Here is a view from the back of the baseboard. I apologise for the scantily clad out of focus girl in the foreground. I think the difficulty of finding a camera position for this shot has brought home to me how over populated my platforms are!  The trouble is that removing them will leave lots of white marks on the platform!

 

Here’s a view on gasworks curve.

682A969D-E1D7-4C16-9548-64E14AA36C3C.jpeg.6576ce211733518838d5e26d6979fb47.jpeg

 

The most interesting vehicle in this train is the rebuilt D.16 RKB which was a feature of this train through the late fifties but had been replaced by 1960 so is definitely one for the B1 era on this train. I built this from cutting and shutting Kirk sides. It’s accompanied by a Gresley SO.

 

5AA5B762-D3F4-45A1-B976-9F5C40B31D6D.jpeg.3e90b6c7e33bc55fe4ed8bd9d7907e0a.jpeg
 

The video shows the train heading through the station area. I quite like the different view....although it does show up the weakness in my track laying!

 

 

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An engineers’ train today headed by J3, 64140 (Ks).DBFF9060-50E4-42DF-A3C8-326BAA97D1AA.jpeg.69fe9d51212176a365ed09c3bf1f41f8.jpeg

 

The train is mainly a mix of Cambrian and Parkside kits with the Dolphin (2nd wagon) being an A1 kits brass kit which was a real pig to build!

 

29D09074-1818-4A0D-8BA7-B92066143AD5.jpeg.2b7f19212a2db64d359bf732754402d5.jpeg
 

Now a slightly incongruous mix of J3 (withdrawn 1954) and baby Deltic (introduced 1959) but I like the composition.

 

951EA721-1708-4C6E-BB97-8167C33E3C48.jpeg.ebdd632a80c2c512621121232be13183.jpeg
 

...and finally pulling away from the station.

 

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Today I feature the 1640 Doncaster- KX which was a short semi fast working. It was formed of six coaches which seemed to be a mix of Mk 1 and Ex LNER stock but the exact mix varied from year to year. Today it is headed by 60063, Isinglass in its final ‘smoke deflectors’ guise so this must be post August ‘61.

 

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Another photo featuring the baby Deltic in the background. This one is also suspect date wise as I suspect the baby Deltic had been sidelined for rebuilding by the time Isinglass got her deflectors. 

262FB8E9-6E81-4610-99E2-09F9E5BC18D4.jpeg.ea16c2e9885bc3a15e6a2fd80447e1ac.jpeg

 

Only two photos today as the others I took had even worse focus issues than the one above and the train’s now packed away again.

 

 

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We’re back to suburban trains this evening with the 1849 KX- Royston headed by B1, 61027, Madoqua. This was a long term resident of Hitchin, presumably spending most of its life on workings like this.
 

83694724-C7DA-4E1A-9386-3D13F92CA89C.jpeg.24c2453743e8c931141cf1b7c87b9295.jpeg
 

This is my only Bachmann split chassis loco. I have been put off them by horror stories about their longevity and the problems in converting them to DCC. I bought this at a toy fair not realising it was split chassis so it was a bit of a shock when I got it home. But it was was pretty easy to convert - certainly easier than a DJH kit! I think it was virtually unused before I bought it, and it still runs very smoothly. We’ll see how long that lasts, but at a couple of circuits of my loft per year it should outlast me!

 

The train is made up of a a standard outer suburban corridor six set with a couple of strengtheners on the front as per the diagrams.  

 

EA154ACC-DE7E-4753-9F70-E7037AED3B26.jpeg.b7e4be1758fc5b092e5e5459f328a28c.jpeg
 

I think the juxtaposition with the baby Deltic is reasonable in this case. Third time lucky!

B8BD9585-F445-46DD-95DE-CD4A0AD4F41A.jpeg.2ad922f663a784ee85609b12b6f64d43.jpeg

 

Now rounding ‘gasworks curve’

 

3F7A5A3F-5C1B-42FA-A91B-4459DB2FA783.jpeg.84b1e4c9762356322aa468ccd050fe05.jpeg

 

And finally a going away shot.

FC1AA492-1808-4DB4-B687-DDD1A9998B6F.jpeg.90e15e8540ce61cf6d7ea9090df77fee.jpeg

 

 

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24 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

As you've found, there's a lot of mythology around chipping Bachmann split frames.

Indeed. But there’s lots a mythology about chipping anything without a DCC socket - some people even struggle when there is a socket!

 

The only loco to have defeated me so far is a V2 I bought off ‘sir’ with a live open frame motor. I will need to replace the motor at some stage but it’s a shame as it’s such a good runner. I’ve had it pulling 25 coaches at a scale 200 MPH on the club layout!

 

 

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Today it’s time for the 1905 Parcels from KX to myriad destinations. I don’t really understand what this train should look like as for a period in the Summer it was a selection of vanfits and then on 1st September switched to B’s and BG’s. So I’m running one of my standard parcels trains. If anyone knows of a photo of this train, please let me know.

 

Here it is approaching the station.

 

245158FC-2DF1-4195-AE1F-363CD650D1DB.jpeg.cb5c3ead767008ef54f3cce858c6c1c7.jpeg
 

And a broadside shot of Gay Crusader.

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And now on gasworks curve.

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And a video today as it was the only way to show all of the train.

 


 

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Those who follow my workbench thread will have had a sneak preview of tonight’s train, The up Queen of Scots Pullman headed by Copley Hill A1, 60130. 
20210128_121511117_iOS.jpg.3c55bc1436521bf7a672382a766383a9.jpg

I'm ashamed to say that the loco is pretty much straight out of the box with just lamps, crew and coal added. It needs weathering which is on the todo list. However, I’m rather more proud of the train which has taken a fair bit of research and then modelling to produce. I have described the work on my Coulsdon Works thread here for those interested.

 


Here is a going away shot of the rake showing the tailboard. 
 

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The video shows the whole train as it passes.

 


 

Edited by thegreenhowards
Re-inserting photos
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Sorry that there was no update yesterday. I got immersed in laying track on our club O gauge layout which is currently residing in my dining room and ran out of time for a running session. Anyway, I’ve made up for that today and ran several trains, so I have some images in the bank for the next few days.

 

This is the 1233 FX Grimsby Town to KX headed by BRCW type 2, D5309.

 

DD92EBBB-8759-4A1B-B7C0-07EF66B5C5A3.jpeg.7ad802252f6c5fd024245f251738357f.jpeg

 

I’m not sure how realistic the choice of traction is. The steel five set came from Grimsby with the vans added at Peterborough and Spalding and the train was timed a very leisurely 7h37 end to end. Therefore, I’m assuming it was re-engined at Peterborough. Anyway I’ve run out of new B1s to use but I have a couple of these still to come out to play. This one normally sits by my programming track as my DCC chip testing loco, but I put its body back on for its run out today!

 

As many of you prefer coaches to diseasels, here is the rear of the 5 set.

 

48125512-0A51-44EA-B2B9-39B3D8DF60BD.jpeg.abbc10e3ca2821714c7945bd2b72ad82.jpeg

 

0A4C9F09-3F85-40DB-9436-248A20AD91EF.jpeg

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