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THE RAMCHESTER CHRONICLES


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Howard and my friend Peter Martin came round this afternoon as Peter wanted to show us his Minerva Panier tank plus his B set which he had been working on. The B set is a standard Dapol/Lionheart model but Peter has been busy fitting interior lighting and a working tail lamp at each end. The pictures show the train arriving at Ramchester but it is a bit of a mystery as to how it managed to get to Cumbria and we can only assume it must have taken a wrong turn somewhere down south but no one knows for sure. Anyway it arrived at Ramchester full of energy and pulling it two coach train. Here are a few pictures of the event which I hope you will enjoy and perhaps offer some sort of explanation as to what an ex GWR train is doing in Cumbria!

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Our photographer managed to get a photo of the Panier whilst the fireman was uncoupling it from its train.

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Having run round its train and shunting its coaches into the bay platform the driver looked embarrassed and could not wait to leave! He left the station so fast that our photographers photo is a little blurred!!

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To finish off this post here are a few photos ofthe lighting DCC controlled.

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The above are the two ends of the train whilst below are the illuminated interiors.

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I will have to consult with the authorities as I understand that an official enquiry is to take place as to what happened and how the train got as far as Ramchester without being halted by all the signal men along the route. The mystery remains to be solved!!

 

Rod

Rod,

I suspect the Fat Controller was so impressed with his Duck 57XX that he ordered another and it is seen here on the way to the Isle of Sodor, which, as we all know, is just off the Cumbrian coast. Alternatively, 9678 mistook Cumbrian for Cambrian.

 

Regards,

 

Chris

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Howard and I had a get together this afternoon. I asked him to lightly weather my crew which I purchased from the Bristol show and to fit them into my Black 5. This he did but found that the driver I had purchased was for the wrong side to drive the loco so instead it was fitted into the Jinty. The fireman however was fine so this was fitted into the Black 5 and looks OK. Next time I will post some pictures of the crew so fitted. While he was at it he altered the stance of the crew in my 4F one of whom was leaning backwards at a dangerous angle. He is now upright and he too looks well.

 

Just to finish here are a couple of photo of the crew as brought.

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These are from the detailed miniatures stand and whilst not cheap I feel the cost is more than justified.

 

Rod

 

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I have made a start on fitting wire loops to my Victory so that it can enter service properly rather than run light engine to and from the fiddle yard. Pictures of this as work progresses but so far I have drilled two holes in the underside of the chassis block.

 

On my last post I said I would post some pictures of the crew that Howard fitted to my locos that afternoon so here they are.

 

The first one is the Jinty and I think that the driver looks quite happy in the cab. I still have to purchase a fireman for this loco which I will do in due course.

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The next photo shows the fireman standing in the cab of the Black 5 but again I will need to purchase a driver next time.

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The final picture shows the crew of the 4F now standing erect in the cab.

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All for now.

 

Rod

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This afternoon "the gang" came round for an operating session, a chat, and tea plus cake. The railway ran very well as per usual and the locos and stock behaved themselves.

 

Here they are sitting around putting the world to rights as usual and generally discussing all things railways. They are from left to right Brian, John, Howard and with his back to the camera Vic.

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Brian Harrap appears to be really concentrating as he waits for the loco to come along the platform.

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I took the opportunity to give my DB steam locos an airing with impressive results.

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Incidentally if anyone is planning to be in the Torbay area and would like to see Ramchester please do drop me a PM. You will always be welcome.

 

More pictures over the weekend.

 

Rod

 

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As promised here are some more photos of last weeks "jolly".

 

The first two show Black 5 no 44665 about to depart with the early morning train to London.

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Next we see Fowler 4F no 44360 about to take on water.

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Finally for today I could not resist adding a couple of shots of my DB class 50.

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Why is it that they always seem to plant telegraph poles in the "wrong" position!!

 

Rod

 

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As promised here are some more photos of last weeks "jolly".

 

The first two show Black 5 no 44665 about to depart with the early morning train to London.

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Next we see Fowler 4F no 44360 about to take on water.

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Finally for today I could not resist adding a couple of shots of my DB class 50.

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Why is it that they always seem to plant telegraph poles in the "wrong" position!!

 

Rod

German models are so reliable there is absolutely no need for das Fingerpokenmitkursundschweren. 

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German models are so reliable there is absolutely no need for das Fingerpokenmitkursundschweren. 

I found the same with HO Fleishmann 30 plus years ago, and the detail was superb when all we had was Hornby, Lima and Airfix.

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I thought that I would post a few more photos of last weeks get together so here they are.

This was a run made by Jinty on a longish freight entering Ramchester and carrying out some shunting operations.

The first picture shows Jinty 47357 approaching the signal.

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After getting the go ahead from the signal man it enters the yard ready to perform its duties.

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Among its consist are several tank wagons which have to be shunted into the oil siding.

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Next it clears the siding and re-enters the loop.

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Here its shunting has to pause momentarily as the local headed by 4F no 44360 leaves the tunnel and pulls up at the signal.

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And after clearance enters the platform.

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Having completed its shunting duties No 47357 is ready to depart.

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And enters the tunnel.

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This tunnel portal is due to be replaced in the near future.

All for now

Rod

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A little bit more progress on the loco front. My friend Peter Martin very kindly attached most of the bits to my Minerva Victory loco and helped add the wire loops to enable it to couple to my stock. The only bits that have not been added are the tool boxed as we were not sure where they should go. I am also about to order a pair of nameplates from Narrow Planet together with the necessary plates to enable it to be used on BR metals. I will have to look back through this thread to find out what Chris said I needed if I can find the appropriate post.

 

Here are a few pictures of the loco resplendent in most of its bits.

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Here she is doing a bit of shunting in Ramchester's goods yard.

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Back again soon.

 

Rod

 

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A little bit more progress on the loco front. My friend Peter Martin very kindly attached most of the bits to my Minerva Victory loco and helped add the wire loops to enable it to couple to my stock. The only bits that have not been added are the tool boxed as we were not sure where they should go. I am also about to order a pair of nameplates from Narrow Planet together with the necessary plates to enable it to be used on BR metals. I will have to look back through this thread to find out what Chris said I needed if I can find the appropriate post.

 

Here are a few pictures of the loco resplendent in most of its bits.

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Here she is doing a bit of shunting in Ramchester's goods yard.

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Back again soon.

 

Rod

Rod,

You need British Transport Commission Registration plates to run her on BR metals. They are the lower set of oval plates on my Ixion Fowler WD conversion MONTY. Narrow Planet makes them. Here is a direct link to the product: https://narrowplanet.myshopify.com/products/npp-414

 

Regards,

 

Chris

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Rod,

You need British Transport Commission Registration plates to run her on BR metals. They are the lower set of oval plates on my Ixion Fowler WD conversion MONTY. Narrow Planet makes them. Here is a direct link to the product: https://narrowplanet.myshopify.com/products/npp-414

 

Regards,

 

Chris

Hi Chris,

 

Is that the same for all locos, ie even MOD/WD with running rights on BR metals?

 

Lovely seeing all the stock on Rods layout too-superb!

 

Thanks,

 

M

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New visitor to Ramchester.

 

My friend Peter Martin brought along one of his DB models (or should I say three!) in the form of a VT98 rail bus plus centre coach plus driving trailer. Below are some pictures of the 3 car unit running into the station.

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Lovely models with all the usual Lenz features.

 

Rod

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Just a quick post to say that Howard has been working on the new tunnel mouth for Ramchester and here is a picture of it ready for final painting (especially the inside) and subsequent fitting. I think this is quite an impressive structure and will look good when it is finally in place.

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Rod

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In mu post no. 1887 which contained the 4F emerging from the tunnel I realized that I have to do something about the light filtering through the tunnel mouth which to my mind spoilt the stot. So yesterday I began to experiment with some pieces of card and black paper to see what could be done. I cut a length of plastic display material and wedged it in place and laid blck paper over the top. Looking down the line into the tunnel this created a massive improvement so not I will build a blocker and paint the inside matt black which should cure the problem once and for all. The blocker will have to be removable so as to give access to the track for cleaning etc but with what I have in mind it should be possible to make this a sliding fit. When I can get down into Platform 2 again I will take a couple of photos to show what I have in mind. In the meantime I will have to wait until I can clear a path to the shed to allow me to walk down there without slipping onto my back side. Torquay has been hit really badly with the awful weather and I for one cannot remember it being so bad in the 52 years that I have lived here.

 

Once again the sea wall at Dawlish has been closed owing to flooding on the line and the bad weather and just a day after the government  announced that dealing with this section of line is now top priority! I wonder...

 

Glad when it is all over.

 

Rod

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I agree about the 9F and I would like one but there are one or two smaller locos that must come first. I could do with a 2-6-2 or a 2-6-4 tank loco just to name two. As Howard points out the length of freight trains on my layout would be an over kill to be hauled by a 9F  unless of course you know better...

 

More soon.

 

Rod

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Hi Rod,

 

Maybe like many of us, I'm sure we'd like a model of this or that locomotive, I know I certainly would.

 

Having started out in this scale ( daren't mention O Gauge today -Kettering and all that  :jester: ) I have begun my initial planning for a small layout. This obviously leads onto the type and size of stock which I want to run thereby dictating many parameters.

 

Having visited Ramchester and enjoyed it very much I believe that your locos and stock to be correct for the overall size, not to mention the sidings / fiddle yard lengths.

 

If I were to purchase or build some locos that I really like I'm afraid they would have to be put in cases just to admire, and to me that ain't the way to play operate trains !

 

Grahame

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Thanks Brian.

 

Remember if you are visiting in the Torbay area and would like to see the layout you will be made welcome. That goes for anyone else reading this thread.

 

Rod

Pity I don't still live in Buckfast then Rod.

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