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THE RAMCHESTER CHRONICLES


HSB
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We had a few visitors today for our first pre-Chistmas get-together for two years. Unfortunately operations were marred slightly by a mysterious short on the 4F and derailments of some of the coaching stock which we will need to find the cause of next week!

Here are a couple of pictures I took with the first showing John Drummond-Smith (former proprietor of the much-missed Torbay Model Supplies) bringing a freight train into the station..

 

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Thank you John and Howard for the photos in the above two posts. 

 

As Howard indicated above yesterday was the first time in nearly two years that we were able to meet up in Platform 2 for an "old boys" get together. It was nice to see everyone again and have catch up on what we have all been doing. Two of my l

oldest friends were not able to attend but one of them will call in next week the other is suffering ill health at the moment so it will be some time before he can visit Ramchester.

 

Here are a few photos that I managed to take between bouts of tea making and chats.

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Hon Drummond-Smith about to apply the brakes of the afternoon freight as it draws it train of vans into the run round loop.

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John Farmer watches the departure of the afternoons train to the Midlands and London.

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This is the train that John is controlling in the above photo.

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With all this activity Jinty 47361 sits quietly in the carriage siding awaiting its next turn.

 

It was a good afternoon and was enjoyed by all.

 

Rod

 

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We had another operating session yesterday with guest operator Brian Harrap who was unable to make it last week.

 

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The first time we've had oil tankers in the new oil depot!

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Edited by HSB
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  • 2 weeks later...

We've had three sessions working on Ramchester this week during which I have weathered the three new sidings and added a bit more greenery here and there. Rod has been doing a bit of research trying to find more pictures of oil depots in his collection of books. We could really do with clearer views of the unloading facilities for Class A wagons not half-hidden behind tank wagons or road tankers!

 

Rod and I would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year

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Firstly I hope you all had a nice Christmas and here is wishing you all a very Happy and prosperous 2022.

 

As Howard mentioned above he has been working with his magic paintbrush doing some weathering on the "new" sidings and adding more greenery. I managed to take a photo of him beavering away at this task.

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The Christmas Day Special ran this year as usual and the photos will be posted here in the next few days.

 

Watch this space.

 

Rod 

 

 

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The Christmas Day Special.

 

Hello Everyone.

 

I would like to start this post by wishing everyone who follows this thread A Happy and Prosperous New Year, may 2022 bring you all what you want and hopefully a better year than its predecessor.

 

As I indicated in my last post the Christmas Day Special ran, as usual, under special orders from the MD bringing a present for my dear wife Maggie. This year it was in charge of ex S & DJR  Jinty and consisted of a warwell wagon carrying the present, a LMS milk tanker (actually carrying a supply of booze - and not milk) and the brake van. Our cameraman who had been alerted to the event was on hand to record the arrival of the train into Ramchester. Here are some of his pictures which I hope you will all enjoy.

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The train emerging from Ramchester's famous tunnel as it slows on its approach to the station. The signalman in Ramchester's  box had inadvertently left the limit of shunt signal in a position for a train coming in the opposite direction in the clear position (enquiry pending) but our driver knew  that he was the only train "on line" on Christmas Day and that no engineering works were being undertaken so he proceeded cautiously ready to stop should any emergency arise.

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Cautiously rounding the curve he saw that the signalman was fast asleep having spent Christmas Eve in the pub and was too drunk to get home so he spent the night in his box.

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Having given the signalman several blasts from his whistle and frantically waving his arms the signalman awoke, rubbed the sleep from his eyes an cursed himself for over indulging the night before.

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Finally our driver applied the brakes and brought his train to a halt in Ramchester's loop ready for Maggie to collect her parcel.

 

Oh happy days!!

 

Rod 

 

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14 hours ago, railwayrod said:

The Christmas Day Special.

 

Hello Everyone.

 

I would like to start this post by wishing everyone who follows this thread A Happy and Prosperous New Year, may 2022 bring you all what you want and hopefully a better year than its predecessor.

 

As I indicated in my last post the Christmas Day Special ran, as usual, under special orders from the MD bringing a present for my dear wife Maggie. This year it was in charge of ex S & DJR  Jinty and consisted of a warwell wagon carrying the present, a LMS milk tanker (actually carrying a supply of booze - and not milk) and the brake van. Our cameraman who had been alerted to the event was on hand to record the arrival of the train into Ramchester. Here are some of his pictures which I hope you will all enjoy.

711832126_DSC06549(2).JPG.b0cbc854a57566abc1ce3fe2fce549de.JPG

The train emerging from Ramchester's famous tunnel as it slows on its approach to the station. The signalman in Ramchester's  box had inadvertently left the limit of shunt signal in a position for a train coming in the opposite direction in the clear position (enquiry pending) but our driver knew  that he was the only train "on line" on Christmas Day and that no engineering works were being undertaken so he proceeded cautiously ready to stop should any emergency arise.

1378159697_DSC06547(2).JPG.fb63d5cbd8453320aa2e71a2a671774a.JPG

Cautiously rounding the curve he saw that the signalman was fast asleep having spent Christmas Eve in the pub and was too drunk to get home so he spent the night in his box.

1112984105_DSC06546(2).JPG.cd655f272b74ce2751f0908022a8e2df.JPG

Having given the signalman several blasts from his whistle and frantically waving his arms the signalman awoke, rubbed the sleep from his eyes an cursed himself for over indulging the night before.

576250113_DSC06543(3).JPG.6bb8793ecb6c0b899611a0157fb60528.JPG

Finally our driver applied the brakes and brought his train to a halt in Ramchester's loop ready for Maggie to collect her parcel.

 

Oh happy days!!

 

Rod 

 

 

I look forward to these every year Rod!

 

Paul R

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Thanks, Simon. I had already looked on Google and downloaded the picture of an oil depot. Unfortunately the rest of the stuff on Google all seems  to be about modern day companies who make loading and unloading equipment! As most oil depots would have been fenced off on private property I don't suppose many photographers got inside to take pictures.

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Last week I started to extend the fence which runs alongside the lane to the coal yard. The original intention was to continue with Slater's concrete fence posts which we used on the existing bit but as they don't appear to be listing them anymore I decided to scratch build a wire with wooden posts one instead. Having found pictures of railway fences with quite roughly-made wooden posts I thought I'd try and emulate that. I managed to get most of the wires on today with a short section to finish at our next session.

 

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Edited by HSB
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In an effort to bring everyone up to date here are a couple of photos of the scenic work currently being undertaken by Howard.

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The wooden posts were cut from some wooden sleepers and dyed with Colron wood stain before being "planted" into the ground.

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The "wires" are lengths of cotton thread and will be glued to the posts using superglue. As can be seen only the first post has had the cotton affixed when the picture was taken and next time we meet up he will continue until all have been fixed in place.

 

More anon.

 

Rod

 

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Another update!

 

At Christmas Howard presented me with a Dapol open wagon as a present. This is a really nice model and it is seem here in the first  photo in "as out of the box" condition. It is seem here being hauled by 04 diesel D2227 in the loop at Ramchester.

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During the last couple of sessions I have fitted Bachmann 00 tension lock couplings as in the second photo.

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This wagon will need to be weathered and I will ask Howard to do this when he has completed the scenic work at the coal yard end of the layout.

 

Our next task is to source a supply of chain link fencing so that the oil/chemical sidings can be fenced off from the rest of the yard.

 

More soon.

 

Rod

 

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On 04/01/2022 at 19:24, HSB said:

Thanks, Simon. I had already looked on Google and downloaded the picture of an oil depot. Unfortunately the rest of the stuff on Google all seems  to be about modern day companies who make loading and unloading equipment! As most oil depots would have been fenced off on private property I don't suppose many photographers got inside to take pictures.


Howard,

 

I remain frustrated, I distinctly recall reading a detailed article about rail served oil depots, which I believed must have been in GWRJ, but I’m clearly mistaken as the online indexes are not giving me any leads.  I had hoped to give you a link to at least find the info, but not having any luck.

 

what I can recall is:  high fences, “turn-in” fence posts with chain link on the vertical bit and 3 x barbed wire strands on the dogleg.  Gates across the railway tracks, similarly gates across the roadway.  Significantly wide borders between the tracks and the fence, probably too wide to model to scale, some kind of corrugated iron “shed” to house the pumping gear.  Hoses.  Roadway for the road tankers.

 

I have a feeling that the tanks were underground, so they were not visible (but would have been within the fenced area) 

 

if I do find anything, I’ll let you know

Simon

 

 

Edited by Simond
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7 hours ago, railwayrod said:

Our next task is to source a supply of chain link fencing so that the oil/chemical sidings can be fenced off from the rest of the yard.

 

Hi Rod.

 

I use chain link fencing from KS Laser Designs on my layout.  I'm quite happy with it and would recommend it (usual disclaimer). 

 

I can't seem to copy a link but you'll find the site easily enough by googling it.

 

They do the high fences and gates as described by Simon above - go to 0 Gauge Fencing and Gates page.

 

HTH.

 

 

Rod

 

Edited by Dmudriver
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With regard to chain link fencing I have looked at both the KS Laser Design and the Buzz Models versions on their websites. The latter appear to be slightly better detailed but may not be available at the moment. I have also been looking at the possibility of scratch-building some if I can find a source for suitably sized mesh.

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6 hours ago, HSB said:

With regard to chain link fencing I have looked at both the KS Laser Design and the Buzz Models versions on their websites. The latter appear to be slightly better detailed but may not be available at the moment. I have also been looking at the possibility of scratch-building some if I can find a source for suitably sized mesh.

I seem to mind that Eileen's Emporium had some wire mesh about the right size at a reasonable price.

 

atb

Phil

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Howard and I have had a further session this afternoon to undertake more work on the layout etc. I have been looking at ways to fit TL couplings to my warwell wagon and have tried a couple of ways non of which have proved suitable. In the meantime Howard has cracked on the fence and has now completed fixing the thread to the poles. When he was happy that the glue had dried he went over the thread and weathered the "wires". The first two photos illustrate the before and after his weathering work.

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Before .....

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and after.

 

Later this afternoon he made a start on weathering my new open wagon.

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More soon. 

 

Rod

 

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