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THE RAMCHESTER CHRONICLES


HSB
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We stopped at Kidderminster for a cup of tea on the way home from Telford and saw this train of LMS designed coaches just leaving (pity about the loco! :rolleyes: ).

 

 

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Edited by HSB
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  • 3 weeks later...

I've just come back from a few days holiday on the Isle of Man, somewhere I've wanted to visit for a long time. Went up Snaefell, saw part of the Manx Electric (although I didn't get to ride it) and rode the steam railway from Douglas to Castletown. We had a very good tour guide with us and saw quite a lot of the island in the short time we were there.

 

 

'Kissack' photographed at Port Erin

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Laxey

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Some more pictures taken at Laxey. I've reduced the size of these to get more in under the 10MB limit  but it's still only allowing me to post two pics!

 

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Edited by HSB
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Nice photos Howard. My brother-in-law used to drive these trams before he retired, a job he enjoyed.

 

While Howard was galavanting around the IOM Maggie and I visited Norway on a 15 day cruise. Wow what scenery!! Deep fjords and snow capped mountains and we had pretty good weather as well. Had a trip on the Flam Railway up into the mountains which was a spectacular ride - definitely one not to be missed should you find yourself in Norway. Also visited the Northern Cape under blue skies and bright sunshine which according to our guide only 8 percent of visitors to the Cape are lucky enough to experience this on a clear bright day. This is well into the Arctic circle and was covered in crisp snow but wow! When I get to download my pics I will post some on here (The Cape and the Flam Railway). We also saw the Northern Lights on three consecutive nights so I guess we were lucky all round.

 

More anon.

 

Rod

 

Edited by railwayrod
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 As I indicated earlier here are some photos of the Flam Railway. At the station which is at the lower end of the line there is a museum which tells of the history of the building of the line which began in 1924 but took many years to complete. For most of the way it clings to the side of the mountains on a narrow ledge and passes through several tunnels and avalanche shelters. About 80% of the line climbs at an average gradient of 1 in 18 and is one of the steepest adhesion lines in the world. The curves are very sharp and the trains of 7 or 8 bogie coaches are topped and tailed by modern electric locos. The museum is also of interest with displays of equipment, cases of models, and a number of locos as shown in the following pictures. It may take more than one post to incorporate the photos that I have edited so please bear with me on this point.

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Rod

 

 

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Before getting back to the layout I have a couple of shots of the station at Stavanger which is a terminus. In fact it is quite a compact station and while I was there I witnessed a train arriving  whilest I stood at the buffer stop end and a few minutes later the same train departing, I think for Oslo. The station is sandwiched between high walls at the far end which open out at the buffer stop end to give access to a bus station and a few yards away a fairly large lake with a fountain in its centre Here are a couple of photos.

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The buffer stop end.

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The train leaving for Oslo.

 

Rod

Edited by railwayrod
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After Maggie and I returned from our trip to Norway, I am slowly getting back into modelling , I have been working on my goods shed crane, fitting a fine chain around an almost inaccessible spindle several times which took an inordinate amount of time as the chain seemed to have a mind of its own - its own weight pulling it out faster than I could keep it in, derr... Eventually I managed several turns around the spindle and today I fixed the chain with a spot of superglue so it will not now move. As this crane  will be a permanent fixture inside the goods shed and will be difficult to see properly the fact that there isn't quite enough turns around the pulley will not be seen. My next task is to fit the hook on the end of the chain once I have painted it. After that a second chain has to be fitted but this should be much easier as I can get at it very easily.

 

Howard has been around twice this week and he has been busy with his paint brushes and craft tools to continue his work on the signal box fittings. A substantial amount has already been completed but still a bit further to go. Here are a couple of photos of what has been fitted into the box to date.

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It is worth pointed out that the instruments are for a two way box but we decided that if Ramchester ever gets extended or even dismantled the box can be used  again in a through station version without major rebuilding of the interior. There is also enough space to extend the lever frame should that ever be necessary. Anyway I am using modellers licence as my excuse for doing it this way. More pictures soon.

 

Rod

 

 

 

 

 

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Howard and I had another session this afternoon to push on with some of the outstanding work. I am delighted to say that the interior of the signal box is now virtually complete except for the insertion of the signal man. I will post a photo next time. I have cracked on with the goods shed crane and as predicted the fitting of the second chain which is much more accessible than the first one went ahead fairly easily. All I need to do with it now is to fit the hook and pop it inside the shed. Again photos soon.

 

Rod 

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On 06/11/2019 at 20:02, railwayrod said:

After Maggie and I returned from our trip to Norway, I am slowly getting back into modelling , I have been working on my goods shed crane, fitting a fine chain around an almost inaccessible spindle several times which took an inordinate amount of time as the chain seemed to have a mind of its own - its own weight pulling it out faster than I could keep it in, derr... Eventually I managed several turns around the spindle and today I fixed the chain with a spot of superglue so it will not now move. As this crane  will be a permanent fixture inside the goods shed and will be difficult to see properly the fact that there isn't quite enough turns around the pulley will not be seen. My next task is to fit the hook on the end of the chain once I have painted it. After that a second chain has to be fitted but this should be much easier as I can get at it very easily.

 

Howard has been around twice this week and he has been busy with his paint brushes and craft tools to continue his work on the signal box fittings. A substantial amount has already been completed but still a bit further to go. Here are a couple of photos of what has been fitted into the box to date.

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It is worth pointed out that the instruments are for a two way box but we decided that if Ramchester ever gets extended or even dismantled the box can be used  again in a through station version without major rebuilding of the interior. There is also enough space to extend the lever frame should that ever be necessary. Anyway I am using modellers licence as my excuse for doing it this way. More pictures soon.

 

Rod

 

 

 

 

 

A lovely job there especially the LNW style levers in the frame. . Little suggestion, as the station is at the end of a single line, a token or staff instrument may be appropriate in the box, probably near the door. Other than that. superb!

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Thanks Jon. Your comments are very much appreciated. We have a couple of token holders which Howard has painted and these will be installed in the box very soon. The photos above show an interim picture of the box as I have not taken an up to date one yet. I will do so this afternoon and post it very soon. Don't forget your invitation to visit Ramchester when you can.

 

Rod

 

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I fitted the last bits in the signalbox interior this afternoon. Here are some shots taken on the workbench with the lid off.

 

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And one of it back in place on the layout with the roof back on.

 

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A little progress this afternoon with Howard working on my BG - something I have abandoned for a while and me getting the hood on the goods shed crane (picture soon). However I thought you might like to see Daisy Mai the station cat who has taken to sitting on the platform of Ramchester's sometimes very busy station watching the trains come and go. Here is a photo of her just minding her own business.

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A short time later she sits quite contentedly as 4F No 44360 arrives with through coaches from Carlisle.

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I have a feeling that she will turn out to be a "character" but we will have to wait and see.

 

Rod

 

 

 

 

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