Colchester c1950 4mm/OO gauge

[PaulG]

I'm planning to build the early BR period breakdown train allocated to Colchester and looking for any help on a 4mm kit/information for the ex GCR 51842 6-wheel 34’ brake third, 961515 Tool Van,

 

The proposed Oxford Rail crane is of the same type as at Colchester, which saves me building the D&S kit I have had in the drawer for years!.

 

The vehicles used with the Colchester breakdown train were as follows, which may be of interest and the note’s are courtesy of John Watling, GERS:

 

LNER Period
•    Tool Van 961515 ex GE 264 Diagram 219 formerly EX16, built 2/1886, converted 12/1928, withdrawn 11/1942
•    Mess and Tool Van 961520 ex GE 718, LNER 6460, Diagram 518, built 9/1896, converted 2/1940, withdrawn c. 1945.

Early BR Period
•    961515 Tool Van ex GCR 51842 6-wheel 34’ brake third, built Ashbury 1896, converted 10/1945, withdrawn 8/11/1958

•    961520 GER 6-wheel Mess and Packing Van ex GE 945 brake third 62332, Diagram 533, converted 3/1947, no withdrawal date. 

•    961604 Sheldon 15ton crane.

Apparently the GNR crane was rarely used from the mid 1940's onwards and given the impression it was in poor condition and reluctant to steam. It went during 1955, or perhaps a little earlier and to find it at Stratford four or five years later was most surprising but it disappeared soon after. There are photos of the crane at Stratford dated 20 December 1959.

 

•    961568 GER ex double bolster (However, Brian Stevens Colchester book has a photo which shows the vehicle as 961657 which in theory was a GER Diagram 17 high sided wagon!)

 

Post c1955
After the steam crane had gone two carriages appeared:
•    320380, a former GER 10 compartment suburban 3rd, LNER 60396
•    320147 an ex GCR 50ft clerestory, LNER 583 built in 1904.

 

I've only included phots of the vehicles I propose to build
 

Edited November 30, 2023 by PaulG
Breakdown train finished moving on.

[PaulG]

My son run the ex LD &ECR (GCR) photo above through a computer program. I was hoping for LNE blue, but guess its paint it "Stratford brown"!

Edited June 30, 2021 by PaulG

[PaulG]

Although I've been unable to locate any good quality clear photographs of the GE 6-wheel bk3rd used in the breakdown train, I've concluded it probably was painted Stratford "brown",  and here is progress to date. 

 

The roof detail again is unclear, in particular the roof detail over the guards area, but the vehicle appears to have been gas lit and had vacuum brakes only.

 

The roof is not fixed yet , as  glazing yet to complete.

[Suffolk Dave]

It's looking good!

 

[PaulG]

Glazing done, number done all single pressfix digits (!!), just waiting for "Mess & Tool Van" lettering,  then a touch of weathering. 

 

Next is a cut down GER Dia 17 5-plank wagon.

 

Just to clarify my note above, there were two bk3rd carriages and two GER wagons, plus crane.

[Matti8]

Hi, Paul

 

Lovely looking layout. Where can I see more of it?

 

Matti

[PaulG]

11 hours ago, Matti8 said:

Hi, Paul

 

Lovely looking layout. Where can I see more of it?

 

Matti

Hi Matti

 

The layout appeared in Model Rail magazine Summer issue 2019.

 

I'm hoping to build a quarter of a mile of railway at Colchester Essex c1955 from British Railways topographical survey,  produced for the Colchester Station redevelopment.

 

The layout is also included in the Great Eastern Railway Society Model Railway Showcase, under "Layouts" https://www.gersociety.org.uk/index.php/home/modelling/showcase

 

 

Edited July 10, 2021 by PaulG
Link to https://www.gersociety.org.uk/index.php/home/modelling/showcase added

[PaulG]

[PaulG]

Mess and Packing Van completed, just needs "aging "!

 

Work now started on "scratch build " GER double bolster wagon used as the crane runner. I've used C section for the frame, and the floor and sides are copperclad. First wagon I've scratch built!

 

Paul

[PaulG]

I'm slowly progressing the Colchester breakdown train and so far completed the D&S GER 6-wheel brake kit as converted to Mess and Packing Van, which appears to be only have been vacuum braked, and scratch built a GER double bolster wagon as converted to the crane runner, which interestingly from photos had both vacuum and Westinghouse pipes.

 

The next wagon to build is the cut down GER Dia 17 open, and I only have two photos of the wagon, but in one photo (see above in first post)  I have it clearly is labled:

 

"LOCO E 961657 GUARD...............BREAKDOWN.........."

 

Perhaps GUARD TRUCK and BREAKDOWN TRAIN??

 

I'm guessing before LOCO would be 10T (??), and can’t see it being rated any higher, and would that also be dual pipped/fitted?

 

 

Edited September 20, 2021 by PaulG

[PaulG]

I’ve got as far as I can with the wagon, as you can see in the photo. I’ve run out of GER buffers and asked Dan Pinnock if he has some. I guess the lettering is “GUARD TRUCK” and “BREAKDOWN TRAIN”, but it would be good to have it confirmed.

 

Attached is a photo of the progress to date:

D&S kit: ex GER Dia 533 brake3rd 62332 "Mess and Packing Van"
Scratch built: ex GER double bolster 961658 "Crane Runner"
D&S kit much altered: ex GER cut-down Dia17 high sided wagon as 961657  "Guard Truck”
 

The last two vehicles to build/obtain are

ex LD&EC Rly bk3rd  961515 "Tool Van" – Dan Pinnock is help with that.
Hopefully an Oxford Rail Sheldon 15ton crane 961604 or if this fails to "arrive", I have  a D&S kit in stock!

[PaulG]

Oxford Rail Cowans crane model is of the same type that was at Colchester in the 1950s, so I'm keen to obtain the model. 

 

Below is my question to Oxford Rail and their response I received a few days ago, which is very disappointing and I can only guess its due to the Hornby recent takeover of Oxford Rail. I guess it's time to start the D&S kit of the crane I have!

 

Q: I understood that in July 2021 the CAD design was well advanced for the Cowans crane. Can you advise if there has been any further progress and when you hope to get the crane into the shops?
09/09/2021

 

A: This item is still in development - Oxford

 

Paul

[PaulG]

Colchester breakdown train.

 

So far completed GER brake third (D&S kit) used as "Mess & Packing Van", Crane Runner (scratchbuilt) and Guard Truck (much altered D&S kit).

 

 

Just waiting for Dan Pinnock to supply the LD&ECR 6-wheel brake 3rd and Oxford Rail the Shildon crane, to complete the train. If Oxford Rail fail to deliver,  I do have a D&S crane kit in the drawer!

 

Vehicles sitting on the crane Road at Colchester c1955.

[PaulG]

Further to the my last post, not only has Dan resourced the various parts for the LD&ECR 6-wheel brake 3rd, he has also built it for me. Totally unexpected and I'm so pleased and grateful 😀

 

 

Now, to complete the train, do I build Dan's D&S Shildon crane kit or wait for Oxford Rail........🤔

 

[PaulG]

My original photos illustrating the breakdown train have been lost, but these two pages from my Colchester file describe the train.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2023 by PaulG

[jimwal]

 

[jimwal]

Paul,

 

For a bit of inspiration, here's mine built about 30 years ago I believe.

 

I purchased the kit at an Expo EM or Scaleforum when Danny had just produced what was probably the last run of the 4mm crane kits.

 

The jib runner wagon is a Kenline kit so the various elements are apropriately wood or metal.

The crane and other vehicles are intended to represent an example supplied to the Midland Railway. Beyond the crane can be seen a Slaters early Midland all-wood van.

 

Just to decide which ex Midland coaching stock to use as tool and riding vans.

 

[PaulG]

7 hours ago, jimwal said:

Paul,

 

For a bit of inspiration, here's mine built about 30 years ago I believe.

 

Hi Jim

Very nice.

 

Now Dan has built the last carriage, sorting the crane would be good.

 

But I'm currently installing the point rodding and ground signals,  a job I've put off doing for a long time, but the GERS visit on Saturday kicked me into action!

 

[PaulG]

Now just to "weather them" (!!) and build the crane - guessing Oxford Rail crane won't appear.

 

 

961520 6-wheel Mess and Packing Van exGER 945 (62332) brake third, diagram 533, converted 3/1947, no withdrawal date.

 

961657 exGER Diagram 17 high sided wagon cut-down as Guard Truck to right, and 961658 exGER double bolster as Crane Runner, to left.

 

961515 Tool Van exLD&ECR (GCR) 51842 6-wheel 34’ brake third, built Ashbury 1896, converted 10/1945. This vehicle was built for me by Dan Pinnock from various "kits and bits" .

 

Paul

Edited August 14, 2023 by PaulG

[Keith Turbutt]

39 minutes ago, PaulG said:

Now just to "weather them" (!!) and build the crane - guessing Oxford Rail crane won't appear.

 

 

Yes,Paul, please hurry up and build that crane as once you have done that Oxford are bound to issue theirs! Then we can all have one.

 

Keith

Edited August 14, 2023 by Keith Turbutt

[PaulG]

I had a visit from Dan Pinnock on Saturday to view the layout, and he  brought with him an item of rolling stock. One of his Cowans Sheldon cranes😀

 

 

Unfortunately, its on loan, to prove I've built the breakdown siding the correct length,  which fortunately it is and it also seams to fit the crane runner ok.

 

But Dan did take away the crane kit I've had in the drawer for many, many years and offered to build it for me!  What can I say, otherthan very pleased and grateful.

 

I did show him a number of his GER carriage and wagon kits I also have in the drawer, but he "suggested", I build them😆 

 

Keith,

perhaps Hornby will announce progress on the Oxford Rail Sheldon 15ton crane now!

Edited August 22, 2023 by PaulG

[PaulG]

Moving on from the breakdown crane, this part of Colchester c1955 is all but "finished", having made the telegraph poles and 19 ground signals from a mix of Wizard MSE parts and brass insulators. Just need to sort the scenery,  including piles of ash, coal, and general "toot".

 

 

Paul 

 

[PaulG]

The following photographs are extracts showing the two down signal gantries (LNE lattice and GER timber post) that were located at the Ipswich end of the Up platform of Colchester (North) Station.

 

 

 

 

The signals are my next project for my 4mm scale Colchester c1955 model railway.

 

Can anyone advise approximate heights for the landings and signal arms, please. I'm assuming the signal arms are spaced 6ft 6in apart horizontally.

 

So far I've completed the Up Colchester Junction signal gantry, which was fun!

 

 

Many thanks

Paul

[PaulG]

Whilst researching the signals, another project is a McGowan J20 0-6-0, which I acquired part built, and a non runner.

 

The model has been built as a J20 with Belpaire firebox, and compares well to John Gardner's (GERS) drawing. Various details to add, including sprung buffers, snifter valves, pipework, etc but chassis and wiring seam fine.

 

 

Having read Yeadon's Vol 41, RCTS "green bible" Part 5, Locomotives Illustrated No 142 and GERS website, I think my plan will be to model J20 E4687 ex Stratford Works 18th February 1948, and the only member of the class to receive an E prefix with  BRITISH RAILWAYS in full on the tender. It has the "piano" style front end of the frames, as per the kit, and it wasn't altered for working on the Southern; so fairly "standard".

 

Allocated to Cambridge shed February 1944, (so good chance it worked to Colchester)  renumbered 64687 February 1951,  reallocated to March shed in May 1951, rebuilt to Part 1 March 1953, and withdrawn September 1962.

 

 

The photo is copied from Yeadon's and is the only one I've found of the loco as E4687, and you can just make out the tender and loco lettering.

 

Does anyone know of a better photo of the loco in this livery?

 

Any help much appreciated 

Paul

[Harlequin]

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