Grantham - the Streamliner years

[Dr Gerbil-Fritters]

Not as pretty as the Challenger though.

[gr.king]

I see you really were referring to a steam loco, after all, when you spoke of going out to find a Big Boy.

 

That track with over-scale rail and no rail chairs looks awful though....

[manna]

G'day Folks

 

Peco, 100 code ?

 

manna

[Barry O]

No way the biggest.... 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-6-6-6#/media/File%3ACandOLocomotive-1601.jpg

 

A proper job locomotive.. step forward the C & O Allegenhey 2-6-6-6

 

Time one of these was restored to working condition!!

 

baz

[Clive Mortimore]

3 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

Further update posted on the Big Boy thread.

 

In case you can't been be bothered to look, here is the beast, looking rather splendiferous in the early evening Cheyenne sunshine.

 

Them there red thingies on the valve gear, aren't they supposed to point the same way if the Big Boy is to move backwards or the other way? At the moment one set of wheels would rotate clockwise and the other set anti-clockwise.

 

[31A]

Stick to diseasels, Clive!! 

[LNER4479]

5 hours ago, Mallard60022 said:

TW has noticed that the smokebox handrail is too low.

 

They've also left the cylinder covers off and not bothered with the cab window glazing - tut!

 

(up against the clock working to a tight deadline - where have I heard that before?)

 

(see what I did there? 'up against the clock...' ... 'U.P. against the clock'? U.P. ... Union Pacific? Oh forget it!)

[Martin S-C]

4 hours ago, Barry O said:

No way the biggest.... 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-6-6-6#/media/File%3ACandOLocomotive-1601.jpg

 

A proper job locomotive.. step forward the C & O Allegenhey 2-6-6-6

Flippin' heck. "The locomotive was built to power coal trains on the 0.57% eastward climb from White Sulphur Springs, WV to Allegheny, VA. With one at the front and another at the back, 11,500-ton coal trains left Hinton, WV and were at full throttle from White Sulphur Springs (a resort) to the top."

 

- from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-6-6-6#

By my calculations a 0.57% grade is 1 in 17.5.

[jukebox]

2 hours ago, Martin S-C said:

Flippin' heck. "The locomotive was built to power coal trains on the 0.57% eastward climb from White Sulphur Springs, WV to Allegheny, VA. With one at the front and another at the back, 11,500-ton coal trains left Hinton, WV and were at full throttle from White Sulphur Springs (a resort) to the top."

 

- from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-6-6-6#

By my calculations a 0.57% grade is 1 in 17.5.

 

*cough* 1 in 175

 

(1 in 100 would be 1% - 0.57% is almost half that....)

[Martin S-C]

8 minutes ago, jukebox said:

 

*cough* 1 in 175

 

(1 in 100 would be 1% - 0.57% is almost half that....)

Phew! Thank goodness for that.

 

You're quite right of course. I was thinking of the insane hills they have over there like Saluda at 4.7% and Raton Pass at ~3%. I just got my brain in a muddle by thinking 5.7% instead of 0.57%.

[Clive Mortimore]

6 hours ago, 31A said:

Stick to diseasels, Clive!! 

Hi Steve

 

The radius arms are pointing in opposite directions.

[31A]

33 minutes ago, Clive Mortimore said:

Hi Steve

 

The radius arms are pointing in opposite directions.

 

Yes but ....

 

The 'red bits' (expansion links) are pointing in different directions because they're attached via cranks to the driving wheels, which have come to rest in different positions (leading engine, coupling rods down, trailing engine, coupling rods up).

 

But it's the rods attached to them (to the right in the picture) which are moved up or down by the reverser and govern which way the wheels go round (whether above or below the central pivot of the expansion links).  In the Wikipedia article it calls them "radius bars" but I think of them as radius rods.  In the picture both engines are in mid gear (radius rods virtually horizontal & passing through the centre of the expansion links) so the wheels won't go round at all.

 

Which is how a loco should be left when it's unattended.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walschaerts_valve_gear

 

[LNER4479]

Well, playmates. After a long period of activity - with attention focussed on all things LMR - Grantham has emerged from its latest hibernation.

 

Grateful thanks first of all to Jonathan & pressgang and Tom who helped get the basic layout set up on Thursday evening. Behind, it's the turn of the Shap boards to be stacked and stored.

 

By Saturday morning, the layout was functioning with visiting stock emerging. As is often the case on these weekends, we were devoid of the prestige sets so here the rival 10.00 Scottish express (Shap's new 'Royal Scot' set) deputises for the 'Flying Scotsman', albeit with the addition of  Jonathan's new all steel brake van and Jesse's triplet set-to-be.

 

A sign to gladden the hearts of all wagon enthusiasts (ie Jonathan). The rather excellent meat / fish train (depending on which way the wind is blowing) takes centre stage with a chokka full yard behind (all four 'big four' represented).

 

Graeme (Mr. 3279) observes the passage of the Junior Scotsman, and with good cause ...

 

... for this is his latest exquisite creation, given a welcome run out, substituting as a restaurant triplet set.

 

And so to today, with layout now adorned with signals, the customary running session, once round the schedule. Barry and Craig bravely braved the main control panel. Here, the loco change on the afore-mentioned Junior Scotsman proceeds. Jonathan, as per normal, shuns the spotlight in the background.

 

If I be permitted a moment? My new Nottingham Quint set, still devoid of underframe detail and interiors, but having at least gained some lettering on one (this side), stands in platform 5, with Atlantic at the business end, awaiting departure with the 3.0pm service through to Burton - just as per the Cawston photograph that first inspired me to create the set some ten years ago now. Well, you can't rush these things.

 

Layout is now intended to stay set up for a couple of months so there may be the odd update as we make our way through a still sizeable to do list.

Edited August 25, 2019 by LNER4479

[jwealleans]

Yes indeedy,  the first time we've seen the layout since January - and it showed from time to time.  We had a day troubleshooting all the little jobs which there is never time for at shows, then a day running the sequence and ironing out any more faults which became apparent.

 

I had a few new items to bring along and made sure at least some were photographed.  Here is Shotover, complete with ACFI gear, working a down service at the north end of Grantham station.

 

 

This K3 has come my way in return for some carriage building.  It's Bachmann but with cab and chassis by Tony Wright.  

 

 

4466 Herring Gull has also returned to the layout as part of a trade.  This was a Grantham locomotive for much of our period, so it's very much at home.  Here it's on shed with long term resident 4479.

 

 

Most of what photography I did otherwise was across to the up side yards, which was where most of the goods stock starts the sequence of movements.  Here a J2 (Graeme King) awaits the off with a freight to New England.

 

 

Fordson tractor in a rake of loaded wagons; in the background the cattle wagons would be against the cattle dock, were it in place.

 

 

Moving slightly left, over the top of some stabled carriage stock, the photographer has captured a cut of tank wagons with an NER special cattle wagon behind.  Was that kit ever released?  The LNWR van at right angles to the rest shows where the end of the maltings building will be placed.

 

 

Pictures from today, with buildings in place; looking over an O4 awaiting the call to High Dyke and the rear of the shed building, we see a rake of empty wagons with some loaded Appleby Frodingham iron ore hoppers behind.  The south end pilot is also in evidence.

 

 

Lastly the Lee & Grinling maltings building which always repays study, with NER and GN vans and an LBSCR open in front.  There's to be some scenic work in the next few weeks so I imagine those railings will be attended to.

 

 

Finally something else new, but you'll have to look at my thread to find out about it.

 

[Jesse Sim]

Looking good gents, good to see GTSY in full flight again, can’t believe its been three years since I seen it in the flesh. 

 

I hope the triplet set ran beautifully? I would expect nothing less from JW and thanks Baz for the sale. I hope to see you all in November. 

[Chuffer Davies]

Good to get an update at last, we’ve missed you.  Lots of good stuff to be seen as always so thank you.

 

I am interested in the background of the J2 as we can justify a couple on our forthcoming Clayton layout.  As far as I am aware there isn’t a kit available so I am expecting to have to draw up my own etches as I have already done for other items.  Can I ask is this a scratch build or is (was) there actually a kit available?

All the best,

Frank

[gr.king]

Hello Frank,

 

I cobbled the J2 together by adaptation of home made resin J6 parts and placed them on a less than ideally suitable Bachmann K3 chassis that I happened to have, already shorn of its cylinders and valve gear. I didn't like the way that the gear housing shows under the boiler, but it was simply an exercise in quickly making something different from items already on hand. Obviously, amongst other tasks, I had to enlarge the splashers and both partly fill in then file to shape the cab spectacles. The J6 resin parts could be produced again to a reasonably sharp and clean standard, at a later date, if I renew the mould, otherwise I suspect  they would be somewhat ragged if cast again in the old mould. If you love to see scale, thin edges to running plates and cabs you would probably be much happier with etched parts. Much would depend on your preferred construction methods.

 

Graeme King

Edited August 26, 2019 by gr.king
Images and additional text added

[gr.king]

I've given up trying to add a second image above. Here it is instead:

 

[Tony Wright]

14 hours ago, jwealleans said:

Yes indeedy,  the first time we've seen the layout since January - and it showed from time to time.  We had a day troubleshooting all the little jobs which there is never time for at shows, then a day running the sequence and ironing out any more faults which became apparent.

 

I had a few new items to bring along and made sure at least some were photographed.  Here is Shotover, complete with ACFI gear, working a down service at the north end of Grantham station.

 

 

This K3 has come my way in return for some carriage building.  It's Bachmann but with cab and chassis by Tony Wright.  

 

 

4466 Herring Gull has also returned to the layout as part of a trade.  This was a Grantham locomotive for much of our period, so it's very much at home.  Here it's on shed with long term resident 4479.

 

 

Most of what photography I did otherwise was across to the up side yards, which was where most of the goods stock starts the sequence of movements.  Here a J2 (Graeme King) awaits the off with a freight to New England.

 

 

Fordson tractor in a rake of loaded wagons; in the background the cattle wagons would be against the cattle dock, were it in place.

 

 

Moving slightly left, over the top of some stabled carriage stock, the photographer has captured a cut of tank wagons with an NER special cattle wagon behind.  Was that kit ever released?  The LNWR van at right angles to the rest shows where the end of the maltings building will be placed.

 

 

Pictures from today, with buildings in place; looking over an O4 awaiting the call to High Dyke and the rear of the shed building, we see a rake of empty wagons with some loaded Appleby Frodingham iron ore hoppers behind.  The south end pilot is also in evidence.

 

 

Lastly the Lee & Grinling maltings building which always repays study, with NER and GN vans and an LBSCR open in front.  There's to be some scenic work in the next few weeks so I imagine those railings will be attended to.

 

 

Finally something else new, but you'll have to look at my thread to find out about it.

 

Wonderful stuff, Jonathan,

 

In fact, the whole layout.

 

I hope that K3 behaved itself. Ex-Tom Foster I assume? 

 

I think we used the original Bachmann valve gear with a SE Finecast chassis and cab.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[jwealleans]

Thank you, Tony.  The K3 did behave in the main, although when working the coal empties it jibbed at one of the dead frog crossings.  Given I'd only taken it out of the box for the first time on Friday night, stuck the cab on and made a tender coupling, it did well.  I will look at tender pickups as I did intend it to work the coal as well as being cover for the Scotch Goods (although we have two V2s, so that may be overkill).  Yes, it did come from Tom.

Edited August 26, 2019 by jwealleans

[Chuffer Davies]

10 hours ago, gr.king said:

I've given up trying to add a second image above. Here it is instead:

 

Wow, I could never contemplate such a complex conversion(?).  Well done for making it look so convincing.  I think I’ll stick with plan A.  Other than the usual books the only drawing I have uncovered is from the Isinglass range whereas for my previous attempts at etching I have had access to a General Arrangement drawing as a minimum.  I am not looking forward to those curved frames. I need to look at how the other kit designers have approached these.  

Cheers,

Frank

[Michael Edge]

This is how I did the curved footplate for a C1 4-4-2.

Footplate angle is full sheet thickness, footplate is half etched at each side for the angle to sit in, only half sheet thickness is visible at the edges but the whole footplate is stronger. half etched lines across at the bends allow it to be formed easily. The colours are only for visibility when drawing, grey etched both sides, blue from back, tags on front in yellow, back in khaki. This was done for 7mm in .022n/s but would work in 4mm with .015" brass or n/s.

 

 

Finished loco before painting.

[Chuffer Davies]

34 minutes ago, Michael Edge said:

This is how I did the curved footplate for a C1 4-4-2.

Footplate angle is full sheet thickness, footplate is half etched at each side for the angle to sit in, only half sheet thickness is visible at the edges but the whole footplate is stronger. half etched lines across at the bends allow it to be formed easily. The colours are only for visibility when drawing, grey etched both sides, blue from back, tags on front in yellow, back in khaki. This was done for 7mm in .022n/s but would work in 4mm with .015" brass or n/s.

 

 

Finished loco before painting.

Hi Mike,

thanks for showing me your approach.  What a beautiful model you’ve ended up with.  If it’s agreeable with you I might discuss this further at Expo EM in a couple of weeks?

Frank

[gr.king]

What a lovely crisp C1.

 

I imagine I'm not the only one wondering what combination of coupled wheel size and coupled wheelbase was chosen.

[Michael Edge]

Slater's 7878GE on the correct wheelbase - can't remember now whether they fitted without any machining though. We'll be at EM north all weekend and I'll have all our drawings available to look at on the laptop.