Peterborough North

[great northern]

Time for afternoon cuppa. Well deserved, as I have been on my hands and knees sorting things out under baseboards for a couple of hours. Plenty of progress , but also plenty of dust, so the medication will need a boost later. I did make one important discovery, which will be very helpful shortly. I shan't tell you what though, it's a surprise.

 

Another infrastructure image, now. This area is not quite finished, as Peter Leyland has some gaps to fill in around skylights etc whenever we can get to do these things again.

 

 

[rowanj]

Hi Gilbert. Some time ago, in pre-Covid-19 days, there was a brief discussion here on the "Up" version of the "Scotch Goods". I cant find the posts, offhand, but Railway Memories 28 on Tyneside has a lot of information on freight traffic, and it refers to the return train leaving Niddrie at 6.05 pm.

It also refers to 2 trains a day from Aberdeen to London known as "Scotch Beef". The main train called at Newcastle at 5.pm, with a relief half an hour earlier 9 or half-hour later on Saturday). 

Hope this is useful, though you may, of course, already know this. The info is from the 1960 WTT, but I don't suppose things were much different in 1958. Like the fish trains, they had preference over all trains save East Coast Passengers.

Best wishes 

[great northern]

15 minutes ago, rowanj said:

Hi Gilbert. Some time ago, in pre-Covid-19 days, there was a brief discussion here on the "Up" version of the "Scotch Goods". I cant find the posts, offhand, but Railway Memories 28 on Tyneside has a lot of information on freight traffic, and it refers to the return train leaving Niddrie at 6.05 pm.

It also refers to 2 trains a day from Aberdeen to London known as "Scotch Beef". The main train called at Newcastle at 5.pm, with a relief half an hour earlier 9 or half-hour later on Saturday). 

Hope this is useful, though you may, of course, already know this. The info is from the 1960 WTT, but I don't suppose things were much different in 1958. Like the fish trains, they had preference over all trains save East Coast Passengers.

Best wishes 

Many thanks, that's very helpful. It seems what I thought might be the Up Scotch goods isn't. The two meat trains, according to my WTT, didn't get to Peterborough until the early hours in 1958, and it seems that the Goods will be the same.

 

I've checked my WTT, which is summer 1956, and it shows the Aberdeen fish passing at 1244am, followed by meat at 1259. There was then a7.35pm from Niddrie, and that didn't get to PN until 7.09 am. If I started my sequence a quarter of an hour earlier I could include that one. There is also a FO Q meat from Aberdeen shown through at 1034pm, which is just a bit too late.

[great northern]

Despite the extra image posting, we are still on photos taken a week ago. I can for once remember what they are about without having to check. We begin with Duke of Rothesay moving off with the 1130 Edinburgh. It certainly won't be going that far, probably no further than York. There were some New England duties to Newcastle, but they were on goods trains, I think.

 

 

I am able to inform you that since this was taken those milk churns have been replaced by some proper lamps.

 

On the Up, it was time for a familiar visitor, on its usual duty to Kings Cross.

 

 

You may be pleased to hear that I have had a very good day.

[great northern]

And yet another gloriously sunny day out there. This must be our reward for enduring the winter monsoon. I have plenty to do, so your morning photos will now appear, and follow the progress of 60700. First we have what must be the classic PN prototype view. It certainly seems that this is where most photographers stood to take their images.

 

 

 

But now I have a confession to make. Despite my vow to do it no more, I have zoomed. It was just a sudden uncontrollable urge, guv. Here is the result.

 

 

It actually didn't come out too badly. Here though is what it would have looked like if I hadn't succumbed to temptation.

 

 

It cried out for monochrome, and I'm very pleased with it.

[great northern]

Elevenses time. Here is a picture taken from a first floor window in the hotel. It features a footbridge tower, for some reason not a twin of the one on the Down side.

 

 

[great northern]

Afternoon tea time now, and another shot of the main building, a bit further along to the right of the last one. Still from first floor level, but not from the hotel any more.

 

 

 

 

 

[great northern]

Yet more photos taken this morning, so here is another bonus image.

 

 

Grantham A3 Flying Fox, with the 8.00 Up Newcastle. I did have to look that up, as it was taken eight days ago.

[great northern]

Tonight we have a second look at Flying Fox, taken this time from the safety of the platform.

 

 

Approaching in the other direction is Doncaster A1 W P Allen, and the 1020 KX-Leeds.

 

 

Coming to the end of a day on which it feels like a lot was done, but little achieved. Slightly strange, really.

[great northern]

Wall to wall sunshine yet again, not that I'm complaining. As of now, it looks as though this lockdown will exist in some form or another until a vaccine is available, and that seems to be a long time away. Very important then for me and many others in the same position to have a strategy for occupying a lot of time for the foreseeable future.  So, what can I do to improve and/or enhance Peterborough North? It may have to be things I can do myself, which will put a limit on ambitions. but I'm still interested in perceptions of how I could move forward.

 

Here are our morning images. W P Allen progressed under the roof, but for some reason it was darker than usual under there, and he can't be seen too well.

 

 

He was folowed by fish empties.

 

 

and I didn't get the balance right on this one either, so we will have a third, featuring our only Heaton visitor of the day, Book Law on the 7.43 Up Sunderland.

 

 

I can't find much to grumble about with this one, other than the number of lattices I had to photoshop.

[jwealleans]

You've mentioned loco crews, Gilbert; ModelU are also doing some very good members of the general public if you fancy a scattering along the less well used platforms. 

 

Depending what make they are, taking some of the cars apart, spraying a satin or even matt varnish and filing small flats onto the bottom of the tyres helps.... twist the front wheels slightly so they're not quite perfectly straight on also helps.   Light dusting of powder just to emphasise body seams. 

 

To pick up on a theme from elsewhere, point rodding?

[great northern]

2 minutes ago, jwealleans said:

You've mentioned loco crews, Gilbert; ModelU are also doing some very good members of the general public if you fancy a scattering along the less well used platforms. 

 

Depending what make they are, taking some of the cars apart, spraying a satin or even matt varnish and filing small flats onto the bottom of the tyres helps.... twist the front wheels slightly so they're not quite perfectly straight on also helps.   Light dusting of powder just to emphasise body seams. 

 

To pick up on a theme from elsewhere, point rodding?

That's brilliant Jonathan. I would never have thought of the cars, but, as you say, they are a project in itself. Figures too, as I am beginning to gain more patience at doing things, which will help with the painting. Point rodding is a different matter, I think, as it would be a huge job, complicated by the fact that a lot of it is set in channels. I don't see how I could achieve that without taking track up, which is out of the question.

 

A really big help there, so thanks again.

[thegreenhowards]

9 minutes ago, great northern said:

That's brilliant Jonathan. I would never have thought of the cars, but, as you say, they are a project in itself. Figures too, as I am beginning to gain more patience at doing things, which will help with the painting. Point rodding is a different matter, I think, as it would be a huge job, complicated by the fact that a lot of it is set in channels. I don't see how I could achieve that without taking track up, which is out of the question.

 

A really big help there, so thanks again.

I have to say I agree with you on the point rodding. It looks fantastic when done, but I don't notice its omission. I think it's too big a job for Gresley Jn, even if I ever get the rest of the scenery up to an acceptable standard, so I will live without it.  I would stick to your guns and accept that what you have is a truly remarkable model railway and that it makes up for the lack of point rodding in other ways.

[MrDobilina]

52 minutes ago, great northern said:

Wall to wall sunshine yet again, not that I'm complaining. As of now, it looks as though this lockdown will exist in some form or another until a vaccine is available, and that seems to be a long time away. Very important then for me and many others in the same position to have a strategy for occupying a lot of time for the foreseeable future.  So, what can I do to improve and/or enhance Peterborough North? It may have to be things I can do myself, which will put a limit on ambitions. but I'm still interested in perceptions of how I could move forward.

 

Here are our morning images. W P Allen progressed under the roof, but for some reason it was darker than usual under there, and he can't be seen too well.

 

 

He was folowed by fish empties.

 

 

and I didn't get the balance right on this one either, so we will have a third, featuring our only Heaton visitor of the day, Book Law on the 7.43 Up Sunderland.

 

 

I can't find much to grumble about with this one, other than the number of lattices I had to photoshop.

 

Quit making me jealous! Love these shots. particularly love the long goods rakes.

I'm having to restart my layout (again) due to damage during a move and storage.

[JeffP]

57 minutes ago, great northern said:

That's brilliant Jonathan. I would never have thought of the cars, but, as you say, they are a project in itself. Figures too, as I am beginning to gain more patience at doing things, which will help with the painting. Point rodding is a different matter, I think, as it would be a huge job, complicated by the fact that a lot of it is set in channels. I don't see how I could achieve that without taking track up, which is out of the question.

 

A really big help there, so thanks again.

Gilbert have you ever looked at any of the modelling on P4 New Street?

The vehicles on there are so lifelike.

[jwealleans]

Or the EM Gauge 1970s group.

[great northern]

30 minutes ago, JeffP said:

Gilbert have you ever looked at any of the modelling on P4 New Street?

The vehicles on there are so lifelike.

No, I've never looked at Jim S-W's layout since he threw his toys out of the pram and left here. I try to stay out of controversy, but I didn't like the way that he and some others have since treated Andy Y, so I now have nothing to do with them. It's a shame, as it is a fantastic model, so maybe long enough has elapsed now for me to take another look.

[great northern]

6 minutes ago, jwealleans said:

Or the EM Gauge 1970s group.

That's well worth spending some time on Jonathan, and I will. Thanks again.

[JeffP]

I know what you mean, having been the target of one or two on here and on WT...I come across as abrasive, due, probably to my impatience, and lack of communication skills. I try, but I still ruffle feathers.

I managed to have a fall out with Andy Y too, long time past, and got banned. While working abroad I sneaked back on, behaved impeccably, then messaged Andy to apologise and show him I COULD do it right.

Still here after he forgave me.

Anyway, Jim's model isn't just trains. On one set of pics he has modelled a very nice WMT bus shelter, complete with a crushed Coke can on it's roof! How's THAT for still life?

Best regards. Jeff.

[great northern]

Elevenses photo time again. Trying to come up with different angles, I came up with this. Some bricked up windows to gaze at, if you like that sort of thing.

 

 

[great northern]

I have spent a happy half hour or so looking carefully at prototype pictures. Except when showing it actually exiting one of the signal boxes, point rodding is almost impossible to detect, so there won't be any attempt to do it. Signal cabling? Now that is another matter entirely, but I don't fancy doing that either.

[Clive Mortimore]

38 minutes ago, great northern said:

I have spent a happy half hour or so looking carefully at prototype pictures. Except when showing it actually exiting one of the signal boxes, point rodding is almost impossible to detect, so there won't be any attempt to do it. Signal cabling? Now that is another matter entirely, but I don't fancy doing that either.

The other day I did offer Gilbert the services of Mr Duck, Steve 31A and myself to build his point rodding....he made a good choice in saying "go away , leave me and my train set alone" or words to that effect.

[great northern]

11 minutes ago, Clive Mortimore said:

The other day I did offer Gilbert the services of Mr Duck, Steve 31A and myself to build his point rodding....he made a good choice in saying "go away , leave me and my train set alone" or words to that effect.

I don't think you would have liked it if I had taken you up on it Clive. There's far too much of it, even if most can't be seen. And we'd have to do all the bits of boarding which were put down to stop people tripping over it. There's lots of that too. Let's stick to esoteric buffet cars. There aren't that many of them. And they are bigger and much easier to see.

[great northern]

Tea and image time. An attempt to show you a different angle from higher up.

 

 

[great northern]

One of our cameramen has just sent in a very interesting photo, taken on the forecourt at around 2.00pm today. Two ladies feature, the one on the right being old Mrs Miggins, who has had honourable mention before on here when E. Lincs trains have been held up to allow her to get on board. Today she is half an hour early, so perhaps the Stationmaster has had a word with her.

 

The other lady is one who visitors to Clive's Sheffield Exchange will be familiar with. Yes folks, this is the fabled lady in boots who features in Clive's posts so often. She has come up from Louth for a morning's shopping, and she too will take the 2.33 to get home. Why though is she giving Mrs Miggins a Nazi salute?

 

Both figures are from a box of Dave Shakespeare's stuff that I found the other day while tidying things up. I don't know where Dave got these from, but there are certainly some oddities among them.

 

 

I put the minimum of white tac under these two to be able to keep them upright, and look what the camera has done with it.