Gresley Junction

[45568]

11 hours ago, 45568 said:

Hi Andy,

               Rather than answer your questions piecemeal and there does seem to be some interest in the conversion, over the next couple of days I will describe the work more fully in the modified RTR thread and place a link to it.

 As you can see, answers from the Antipodes suffer from time difference!!

 

Cheers from Oz,

Peter C.

Here it is Andy!!

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/160392-Hornby-thompson-b1-to-b2-conversion/

Any questions please ask!

Cheers from Oz,

Peter C.

 

[thegreenhowards]

A couple of weeks ago, some of you remember that I said I had one or two trains which are past my nominal cut off date of September 1962 (when the first class 47 arrived). Well this is the main one, the up Flying Scotsman headed by my namesake, D9008, The Green Howards. 

 

 

I have modelled the Summer 1963 formation according to the CWN. While it’s all Mark 1 apart from the Thompson FK with ladies retiring room (third vehicle), I have put some effort into getting the train correct for 1963 including fitting Commonwealth bogies to all the Mk 1s (except the RU which has Gresley bogies and one on the Aberdeen portion which swapped around from day to day) and renumbering the coaches to the numbers in the CWN which were fixed for the train. The Thompson FK with LRR doubles up in my Elizabethan rake but all the other vehicles just serve this train and live in a cassette for the rest of the sequence.

 

 

 

The loco is Bachmann fitted with a Legomanbiffo sound chip and certainly sounds like a Deltic although not quite as bassy as I’d like. I’m looking forward to the Acurascale one when it arrives. Here is the video.

 

 

 

 

 

[Tony Teague]

On 05/12/2020 at 18:13, thegreenhowards said:

That is incitement to a recovering locoholic!
 

 

This may come a little late but......

As a fellow locoholic I just wanted to say that I see little evidence of recovery!

Tony

[thegreenhowards]

1 minute ago, Tony Teague said:

 

This may come a little late but......

As a fellow locoholic I just wanted to say that I see little evidence of recovery!

Tony

It’s a bit like Covid during lockdown, my rate of purchasing has slowed down, just not got into reverse! Not going to shows has certainly helped remove some temptation but sadly there’s always eBay!

[thegreenhowards]

Today it’s the return of the W1. Most locos only get used once during the sequence but I’ll make an exception for the W1 as it’s a ‘special’ engine. It returned on the 1605 KX-Leeds/Bradford/ York which was a semi fast train.

It was a train with an exceedingly complicated set of carriage workings with the stock being shunted together from about 5 different inward workings.  Quite why it needed to be so complicated I have no idea! It was all Mark 1 apart from a Gresley teak (d.167) buffet car in the York portion. 

The most interesting coach was E3084, one of the 1957 Mk 1 prototypes which I built from the Southern Pride kit. It’s the only chance I get to run this vehicle during my sequence as it worked up on 0743 York-KX which  is before the sequence starts. Similar to a normal FO, but with six bays instead of seven.

 

 

Here’s the video.

 

[manna]

G'Day Folks

 

Got to build W1, 2021 may well be the year ! and the train it's pulling is almost my whole mainline coach fleet ??

 

manna

[thegreenhowards]

17 hours ago, manna said:

G'Day Folks

 

Got to build W1, 2021 may well be the year ! and the train it's pulling is almost my whole mainline coach fleet ??

 

manna

You’d better get a move on and beat Hornby to it! I used the Graeme King resin parts. It was pretty a simple conversion.

[thegreenhowards]

This afternoon we have a New England to Ferme Park Class F. I’m not really sure what wagons should be on this train. The description of Class F says ‘non fitted express freight’ which seems a bit of a contradiction in terms...but I suppose it’s all relative. Anyway, I don’t have many unfitted wagons apart from minerals and I can’t see why this would be carrying lots of coal as there are several Class H coal trains per day from New England to Ferme Park. So I’ve put together a mixed goods including some of the lovely GNR brick wagons.

Several of you said you enjoyed the video of my WD 2-8-0, so I’ve given her another airing. Here’s a close up of the loco.

 

For the video, I’ve tried to show off a bit more of the sound chip by having her slow for the signal and then accelerate away. I’m afraid that you’ll have to imagine the signal changing as this one is still manual.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 12, 2020 by thegreenhowards

[thegreenhowards]

Yesterday was very busy so i only got to the loft in the evening only to find that my LED photo floodlight had run out of battery, so no trains yesterday.

 

Today, I feature the departure of, NB type 2 (aka Class 21), D6106 on the 1635 to Moorgate. It looks slightly incongruous on a rake of almost forty year old quad arts, but the quad arts lasted almost as long as the loco! 

The eagle eyed amongst you will have seen this train sitting in platform 4 over the last few moves. I thought I’d feature this train as it departed back south rather than on its arrival. Here is a close up of the loco. It’s their recent Dapol version, renumbered to one of the Hornsey allocation and fitted with a Coastal DCC sound chip.

 

 

Here’s the video of the departure.

 

 

 

[thegreenhowards]

Today I feature the next inner suburban arrival. This is formed of a mark 1 five set and headed by LMS Fowler 2-6-4T, 42374, which was one of two allocated to Hitchin for a couple of years in the mid ‘50s. Here are two photos of the arrival over the run of slips. I’m not sure which angle I prefer - I like the ‘punchiness of the straight line in the first one  but there is a better view of the loco in the second - comments welcome.

 

 

Here she passing under the footbridge.

 

...and finally having ran round the train.

 

[thegreenhowards]

This evening I feature the 1615 KX-Cleethorpes In early ‘60s guise headed by EE Type 3, D6801.

This rake has to double up  as the 1615 and 1845 trains to Cleethorpes. They were quite similar formations but had different catering which I swap over between the trains. Both were led by 2 or 3 SKs before a BSK. I presume the brake set back in the formation was something to do with platform lengths in Lincolnshire.

 

 

The catering on this earlier train was formed of a tourist buffet and a Gresley FO - quite a nice combo I think.

 

 

I also ring the changes a little by having a Gresley BSK on the back - photos often show one or two ex LNER coaches vice Mark 1 in this formation.

 

Here’s the video.

 

 

[Mark90]

Andy,

Just wanted to say that I've become an avid follower of this thread. First class modelling and absolutely full of information. All the discussion of coaching sock and formations has inspired me to aim for something more prototypical in my own modelling (although necessarily truncated as I don't have nearly as much space - yet!). 

Many thanks for sharing your work.

Mark

[davidw]

15 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

This evening I feature the 1615 KX-Cleethorpes In early ‘60s guise headed by EE Type 3, D6801.

This rake has to double up  as the 1615 and 1845 trains to Cleethorpes. They were quite similar formations but had different catering which I swap over between the trains. Both were led by 2 or 3 SKs before a BSK. I presume the brake set back in the formation was something to do with platform lengths in Lincolnshire.

 

 

The catering on this earlier train was formed of a tourist buffet and a Gresley FO - quite a nice combo I think.

 

 

I also ring the changes a little by having a Gresley BSK on the back - photos often show one or two ex LNER coaches vice Mark 1 in this formation.

 

Here’s the video.

 

 

Is the BSK a resided Hornby?

Edited December 17, 2020 by davidw

[thegreenhowards]

12 minutes ago, Mark90 said:

Andy,

Just wanted to say that I've become an avid follower of this thread. First class modelling and absolutely full of information. All the discussion of coaching sock and formations has inspired me to aim for something more prototypical in my own modelling (although necessarily truncated as I don't have nearly as much space - yet!). 

Many thanks for sharing your work.

Mark

Mark,

 

Many thanks for your kind words (and your likes!). As you have noticed prototypical formations is a bit of a passion for me, inspired by the likes of Tony Wright and Gilbert (Peterborough North). I really enjoy the detective work of working out what a formation should be from the CWN, drawings and photos and then seeing if I can put it together. It also creates a focus for the modelling in filling in the missing pieces of stock.
 

Thanks also for your comments on my modelling. I can see all the faults and when I see some of the other layouts featured on here, I sometimes worry that Gresley Jn is not ready to be shown, so it’s good to know that you appreciate it for what it is. I’m afraid that my modelling will never be ‘museum quality’, partly because I don’t have the skill or patience, but mainly because I like large layouts and doing most of the work myself. My aim is always to turn out something that looks good enough in a reasonable amount of time. This means I have to compromise on quality in order to achieve what I want in one lifetime! 

 

I really need an equivalent of the CWN for goods trains as I’m aware they’re not nearly as accurate.
 

Andy

[thegreenhowards]

6 minutes ago, davidw said:

Is the BSK a resided Hornby?

Yes, it’s Mousa D.37A sides on a Hornby donor. One of my earlier conversions (before the Coulsdon Works thread).

[Mark90]

25 minutes ago, thegreenhowards said:

Mark,

 

Many thanks for your kind words (and your likes!). As you have noticed prototypical formations is a bit of a passion for me, inspired by the likes of Tony Wright and Gilbert (Peterborough North). I really enjoy the detective work of working out what a formation should be from the CWN, drawings and photos and then seeing if I can put it together. It also creates a focus for the modelling in filling in the missing pieces of stock.
 

Thanks also for your comments on my modelling. I can see all the faults and when I see some of the other layouts featured on here, I sometimes worry that Gresley Jn is not ready to be shown, so it’s good to know that you appreciate it for what it is. I’m afraid that my modelling will never be ‘museum quality’, partly because I don’t have the skill or patience, but mainly because I like large layouts and doing most of the work myself. My aim is always to turn out something that looks good enough in a reasonable amount of time. This means I have to compromise on quality in order to achieve what I want in one lifetime! 

 

I really need an equivalent of the CWN for goods trains as I’m aware they’re not nearly as accurate.
 

Andy

I'm also a regular reader of Wright Wrights and Peterborough North, and have gone from not really minding about prototypical formations to planning my first foray into kit building coaches - so I understand the enjoyment of it, even though I'm only just starting out with 'serious' modelling. 

 

I greatly admire people who are prepared to show what they're doing on here - even if it isn't 'perfect' or museum quality. It's certainly better than I could do! And there's a lot to be said for compromise too. 

[thegreenhowards]

Tonight we have the 1619 KX- Peterborough which was formed of a steel panelled 5 set with a BG on the front. Tonight it is headed by my latest addition to the fleet, 60800, Green Arrow (Jamieson with Comet chassis). You have seen this loco before when it was numbered 60866 - I’ve since renumbered her.  I’ll leave it to your consciences as to whether you underline both locos! I’ve tended to steer clear of ‘trophy’ locos like this, but there weren’t many choices for a V2 with this tender and valve guides, so here she is. At least most models are in green so mine is a little different. Here are a couple of shots of her approaching Gresley Jn.
 

 

 

 Next a shot of her at rest in platform 2.

 

 

...and now departing Gresley Jn.

 

 

Finally some pictures of the train which is nearly all kit built. Firstly the Thompson matchboard, BG. This is a Comet kit.

 

 

then the first BTK/TK Twin. Mousa sides on cut down Hornby Gresley shorty.

 

 

...and finally a Thompson CK and another twin. The CK is Bachmann with the roof rounded off and offset ventilators added. I think these coaches are not bad if you’re prepared to make a few simple mods - flush glazing will be added at some point. These Thompson CKs replaced the original Gresley 52’6” versions in the early fifties. The twin is Mousa/ Hornby again. 

 

I like this rake- I hope you agree.

 

Andy

Edited December 17, 2020 by thegreenhowards

[thegreenhowards]

This evening it’s the turn of the up Norseman. This train seemed to be different on every day of the week - presumably to fit in with boat times. Sometimes it was a portion on a Newcastle service, I run the 1958 Monday formation which departed Tyene Commission Quay at 11:55 and arrived KX at 17:22., today headed by 60052, Prince Palatine (DJH from eBay). I really must paint those tender wheels!

 

It was a nice short 8 coach rake. Until the mid fifties this was an all Thompson formation but I had to build several catering cars for it and I find maroon much easier than crimson and cream, so I’ve gone for the 1958 formation. Here it is passing through Gresley Jn station.

 

 

The catering core was formed FO/RF/RSP/RSO shown here.

 

 

These are all brass sides on Bachmann donors, the RSO is Comet and the rest Southern Pride.

 

I have also included a Thompson BSK(3). This is not shown in the CWN but Headstock of this parish tells me that they often appeared on this train.

 

[thegreenhowards]

I’ve recently been working on fitting Hunt magnetic couplings to all my loose stock. I’d previously fitted them to a couple of fixed rakes to try them out and found them very successful. So I thought that fitting them to me loose stock would make it much easier to shunt carriages around and couple them together for specific trains. 
 

Suffice to say, that it hasn’t been plain sailing! The Mark 1s worked reasonably well although I hadn’t realised quite how many of the old Bachmann types with cranked tension locks I had. I had to raid my Tees Tyne Pullman set to finish them off. The catering cores are going to be more difficult. I’ve found that when fitting the screw in type Hunt couplings and a standard ‘close’ coupling magnet the coaches are too close together. This means that they either uncouple on curves or put a lot of drag on the train causing the loco to slip. They might manage if I remove the corridor connectors but I’m loath to do that. So I think I will need to order some longer couplings and experiment with them.

 

Does anyone else have any experience with the Hunt couplings to share?

 

I've also taken the opportunity to sort out the storage of my loose mk 1s. Previously, they were mainly on a road in the fiddle yard with the remainder scattered around. I’ve tidied them into four cardboard boxes with separate slots for each coach - one advantage of all those recent amazon deliveries! This is much more efficient and should mean less ‘hunt the missing Mk1’ in future. It also frees up a road in the fiddle yard, so I can decide which rake to put in there. Currently, I’m thinking that my Kirk Gresleys can come out of cassettes and have a permanent home.

 

[great northern]

2 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

I’ve recently been working on fitting Hunt magnetic couplings to all my loose stock. I’d previously fitted them to a couple of fixed rakes to try them out and found them very successful. So I thought that fitting them to me loose stock would make it much easier to shunt carriages around and couple them together for specific trains. 
 

Suffice to say, that it hasn’t been plain sailing! The Mark 1s worked reasonably well although I hadn’t realised quite how many of the old Bachmann types with cranked tension locks I had. I had to raid my Tees Tyne Pullman set to finish them off. The catering cores are going to be more difficult. I’ve found that when fitting the screw in type Hunt couplings and a standard ‘close’ coupling magnet the coaches are too close together. This means that they either uncouple on curves or put a lot of drag on the train causing the loco to slip. They might manage if I remove the corridor connectors but I’m loath to do that. So I think I will need to order some longer couplings and experiment with them.

 

Does anyone else have any experience with the Hunt couplings to share?

 

I've also taken the opportunity to sort out the storage of my loose mk 1s. Previously, they were mainly on a road in the fiddle yard with the remainder scattered around. I’ve tidied them into four cardboard boxes with separate slots for each coach - one advantage of all those recent amazon deliveries! This is much more efficient and should mean less ‘hunt the missing Mk1’ in future. It also frees up a road in the fiddle yard, so I can decide which rake to put in there. Currently, I’m thinking that my Kirk Gresleys can come out of cassettes and have a permanent home.

 

I've cut down some of my corridor connectors, but made sure there is enough left to bridge the smaller gap with the Hunts. In a few cases though, with the MK1 to kit built connections in rakes, I've used the standard length couplings, which seems to do the trick. Like you though I'm still experiencing the occasional problem with uncoupling, though most have turned out to be through my error, such as installing couplings upside down.

[thegreenhowards]

46 minutes ago, great northern said:

I've cut down some of my corridor connectors, but made sure there is enough left to bridge the smaller gap with the Hunts. In a few cases though, with the MK1 to kit built connections in rakes, I've used the standard length couplings, which seems to do the trick. Like you though I'm still experiencing the occasional problem with uncoupling, though most have turned out to be through my error, such as installing couplings upside down.

I managed to install a whole rake upside down. It was only when I got to the next rake which had cranked couplings that I realised which was the right way up!

[thegreenhowards]

Tonight I feature the 1700 Gresley Jn-Ivatt branch DMU. Here it is in Platform 1 where she has been sitting for best part of an hour (several days at the sped this thread moves!).

 

..and passing the gasworks.

 

 

And finally a couple as the four track section finishes and it crosses to the down main.

 

 

 

And finally a video today of the departure sequence.

 

 

 

 

[St Enodoc]

1 hour ago, thegreenhowards said:

Tonight I feature the 1700 Gresley Jn-Ivatt branch DMU. Here it is in Platform 1 where she has been sitting for best part of an hour (several days at the sped this thread moves!).

 

..and passing the gasworks.

 

 

And finally a couple as the four track section finishes and it crosses to the down main.

 

 

 

And finally a video today of the departure sequence.

 

 

 

 

I still like SuperQuick kits and the way you've turned many of them back-to-front is very effective.

 

I propose that they should be listed as Grade 1 heritage buildings.

[thegreenhowards]

6 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

I still like SuperQuick kits and the way you've turned many of them back-to-front is very effective.

 

I propose that they should be listed as Grade 1 heritage buildings.

Thanks John,

 

I built those kits at least 40 years ago and they’ve served a number of layouts and survived the best part of 30 years in a cardboard box in my parents loft so they have a bit of sentimental value to me. But the main reason they survive is that they fill a corner and I’d rather spend my time building trains than buildings!

 

Andy

[thegreenhowards]

This evening we feature the first loaded coal train of the sequence. There was a break in express passengers in the early afternoon from Peterborough which allowed a slow coal train to run and that translates into 1700 at Gresley Jn (aka Hatfield). It is headed by O2, 63954 which I believe still worked these trains from time to time in the 1950s, particularly before the 9Fs started to arrive and as was common on these trains a loaded bogie brick van is first in the formation to provide brake force.

 

 

Here is more of the train.

 

 

But the only was I can show the full length is on a video. So here goes...

 

 

Edited December 20, 2020 by thegreenhowards