Wright writes.....

[Tony Wright]

12 minutes ago, Barry Ten said:

 

That looks excitingly like a piece of aircraft wing tucked down below the Midland fiddle yard. I presume it isn't, but what is it?

It's not a wing, Al,

 

It's part of a model yacht which elder son Tom was building as part of his Uni degree (20 years ago!). I think it was a design for a 'solid' sail. We're seeing him later, so I'll ask him. 

 

Underneath Little Bytham is a depository for just about anything!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[bbishop]

51 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

And so to February...............

 

 

Originally built for Shap in 1967 mode, I asked Ian Rathbone to repaint SIR NIGEL GRESLY into BR green, with this delightful result. 

 

 

 

Oops?

[Headstock]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

It's not a wing, Al,

 

It's part of a model yacht which elder son Tom was building as part of his Uni degree (20 years ago!). I think it was a design for a 'solid' sail. We're seeing him later, so I'll ask him. 

 

Underneath Little Bytham is a depository for just about anything!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

Good afternoon Tony,

some final thoughts for the year on your freight pictures. The bogie bowplate is a WD design, the NER bought them surplus after the Great War and they became LNER stock at grouping and passed to BR at Nationalization. The kit is itself is basic but good, it lends itself readily to some super detailing. The model is quite nicely finished but it would look even better by adding the distinctive bang plates to the drop sides. 

I ponder over the amount of empty steel carriers plodding around on LB. On the GC, were I know the freight workings much better, there were daily dedicated steel trains, running from the North Eastern and Frodingham. There were also northbound empty steel train stock workings each day. I take it that from looking at LBs freight sequence, dedicated steel trains were not a thing on the ECML? Presumably such loads came in dribs and drabs, hence the proliferation of single steel empties?

And finally, with regard to your fast freight, the most recent upload shows more detail. This isn't a criticism in terms of right and wrong, just an observation. Its a perfectly plausible and practicle looking formation.  A fitted van train is a bunch of vans with stuff in them or not as the case maybe and that is what you get. 

I wouldn't say it was the most typical example of the type for your time period. There are a lot of 'special' vehicles in there, NPC's and a horsebox etc, while most photographs just show 13 ton vans with some 13 ton opens. Many NPC's, such as the ex LNER BY, had very specific daily diagrams of their own to work in the 1950s, some on passenger train workings, until BR scrapped that sort of thing. The train  looks slightly more 1960s, after additional numbers of the 'specials' lost their diagrammed workings and went into general 'parcels' traffic.

 

Enough of train stuff now,

 

Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
 

[swampy]

17 hours ago, Cwmtwrch said:

The Boplate B was essentially war surplus from 1918/19, and BR built a lot of bigger capacity Boplate Es, so how long they lasted on BR is an open question. Assuming it is the Kirk kit it lacks a good part of the substantial internal end bracing, although that is not too difficult to remedy.

A bit of a long shot for finishing off Colin Ashby's kit, but is anybody aware of a photo of the internal bracing/brackets on these? The Tatlow drawing/diagram in the original LNER volume implies wooden ones I think, but the drawing on the HMRS website shows metal triangular brackets with the tops curled inwards, presumably to stop the plate load sliding over the end planks after a rough shunt. They may well have been renewed over their lifetime of course. I don't know of any other plate wagons which had this feature, so maybe it wasn't thought to be a problem. ( I've seen the photos in the new Tatlow volume, and the build on the LNER encyclopaedia website)   

 

Best wishes for Xmas and New year

Pete

 

 

[MJI]

2 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Thanks Robert,

 

Another vehicle to go in the 'For Sale' pile!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

But you have Deltics.

 

I would not worry about a year out of timeframe.

 

Go too far down that rabbit hole and you have to go to exact days.

 

My BR blue layout is a time range.

[Mark90]

I've found the recent exchanges on wagons and freight working very interesting, and it has made me think about my own wagon stock and how I can improve things. 

 

Research seems to be the key (when is it not?) and I'd like to start learning more about this topic. A few people have mentioned books that they've consulted, but I wonder if anyone (Andrew, perhaps?@Headstock) has a recommendation of a good source or sources as a starting point? I'm currently building stock for a layout based on Otley in West Yorkshire in 1950-55, if that makes a difference. 

 

Many thanks, and a Merry Christmas to all on Wright Writes. 

 

Mark

[bbishop]

Ok, from the top and working backwards:

 

British Goods Wagons, from 1887 to the present day - Essery, Rowland and Steel (and "present day" is 1970!)

 

British Railway Wagons, the first half million - Rowland (1985)

 

An Illustrated History of BR Wagons, vol 1 - Bartlett et al (I don't think there was a second volume)

 

Then for pre-nationalisation:

 

An Illustrated History of Southern Wagons - King et al (Four volumes plus Southern Wagons pictorial just by Mike King expanding on the LSWR)

 

LNER Wagons - Tatlow (Five volumes, also including pre-grouping)

 

LMS - Essery (Two volumes)

The pre-grouping LMS scene is fragmented and it would be expensive to acquire more than a necessary selection.  I have mainly purchased second hand at exhibitions.

 

Then there are Private Owners:

 

The Oakwood Press published Private Owner Wagons by Bill Hudson, an excellent introduction to the subject, then for starters:

 

Private Owner Wagons - Hudson (Four volumes)

 

Private Owner Wagons - Turton (Fifteen volumes)

 

also specialist books for an area, a coalfield or a manufacturer.

 

Bill

 

Edited December 24, 2021 by bbishop

[Mark90]

7 minutes ago, bbishop said:

Ok, from the top and working backwards:

 

British Goods Wagons, from 1887 to the present day - Essery, Rowland and Steel (and "present day" is 1970!)

 

British Railway Wagons, the first half million - Rowland (1985)

 

An Illustrated History of BR Wagons, vol 1 - Bartlett et al (I don't think there was a second volume)

 

Then for pre-nationalisation:

 

An Illustrated History of Southern Wagons - King et al (Four volumes plus Southern Wagons pictorial just by Mike King expanding on the LSWR)

 

LNER Wagons - Tatlow (Five volumes, also including pre-grouping)

 

LMS - Essery (Two volumes)

The pre-grouping LMS scene is fragmented and it would be expensive to acquire more than a necessary selection.  I have mainly purchased second hand at exhibitions.

 

Then there are Private Owners:

 

The Oakwood Press published Private Owner Wagons by Bill Hudson, an excellent introduction to the subject, then for starters:

 

Private Owner Wagons - Hudson (Four volumes)

 

Private Owner Wagons - Turton (Fifteen volumes)

 

also specialist books for an area, a coalfield or a manufacturer.

 

Bill

 

Thank you very much indeed, Bill, for this really comprehensive reply. I will no doubt spend the quieter hours tomorrow searching for some of these online. Hugely appreciate your help. 

 

Mark

[APOLLO]

Merry Christmas to all Wrights Writers.

 

Take a step back in time to the Norfolk and Western when steam was king and life was simple.

 

Lay down your soldering iron, fill your glass with your favourite tipple, sit back and listen to the Christmas bells as Train 42 'The Pelican' headed by Norfolk and Western 4-8-4 Class J No. 603 arrives at Rural Retreat, Virginia, eastbound from New Orleans bound for Washington DC shortly before 11pm Christmas Eve 1957. After a very short stop to drop off a couple of passengers she thunders off into the cold dark night as the bells play Silent Night !!

 

Number 603 is heard here in her last days of mainline service with a consist of 18 cars.

 

 

Brit15

[LNER4479]

1 hour ago, bbishop said:

Ok, from the top and working backwards:

 

British Goods Wagons, from 1887 to the present day - Essery, Rowland and Steel (and "present day" is 1970!)

 

British Railway Wagons, the first half million - Rowland (1985)

 

An Illustrated History of BR Wagons, vol 1 - Bartlett et al (I don't think there was a second volume)

 

Then for pre-nationalisation:

 

An Illustrated History of Southern Wagons - King et al (Four volumes plus Southern Wagons pictorial just by Mike King expanding on the LSWR)

 

LNER Wagons - Tatlow (Five volumes, also including pre-grouping)

 

LMS - Essery (Two volumes)

The pre-grouping LMS scene is fragmented and it would be expensive to acquire more than a necessary selection.  I have mainly purchased second hand at exhibitions.

 

Then there are Private Owners:

 

The Oakwood Press published Private Owner Wagons by Bill Hudson, an excellent introduction to the subject, then for starters:

 

Private Owner Wagons - Hudson (Four volumes)

 

Private Owner Wagons - Turton (Fifteen volumes)

 

also specialist books for an area, a coalfield or a manufacturer.

 

Bill

 

Wouldn't argue with any of that; merely add that Bob Essery's 'Freight Train Operation for the Railway Modeller' [Ian Allan] is also valuable reading in terms of how the wagons were used and the rules, customs and practices surrounding said use.

[Chas Levin]

On 22/12/2021 at 11:05, Iain.d said:

 

I will try, if time allows, to upload some different images of the things I have made in the last year, in the next few days, otherwise, I hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas.

 

Take care and kind regards,

 

Iain

Iain, thank you for posting, especially the above close-up which shows those superb fabric curtains to great effect: they look so much better than painted / metal / card / other stuff ones. I shall definitely be using fabric in future curtain production too.

 

Merry Christmas to you too, and to everyone!

[Mark90]

21 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

Wouldn't argue with any of that; merely add that Bob Essery's 'Freight Train Operation for the Railway Modeller' [Ian Allan] is also valuable reading in terms of how the wagons were used and the rules, customs and practices surrounding said use.

Many thanks - I'll add this to my list!

Mark

 

P.S. I look forward to seeing Grantham in action at Doncaster in Feb (Covid willing). 

[Tony Wright]

5 hours ago, bbishop said:

 

Oops?

Since altered!

 

Thanks Bill.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

Onwards to March............

 

B12s featured early in the month.

 

 

I built this from a PDK kit (not this year) and Ian Rathbone painted it. 

 

 

Another one from a while ago; one of only three Coopercraft B12/3s known to have been made which work (the display model never did).

 

 

A 'bit of a fight' making this McGowan B12/3. It cost me very little late last year, so I built/painted/weathered it this one.  

 

Then I took the easy option...........

 

 

 

Bought a Hornby one and just altered its identity, detailed and weathered it. 

 

61530 appeared a little later, when I was taking some B&W shots on the MR/M&GNR bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More redolent of the time, really.

 

 

March also saw the completion of the latest Nu-Cast Partners K2, which Geoff Haynes painted so beautifully for me.

 

 

He also weathered this part scratch-built J6. 

 

Finally, Gordon S donated this DJH J50.

 

 

I completed it and made it work, then Geoff Haynes later weathered it. 

 

It then made £200.00 for CRUK. Gordon lived long enough to know this. 

 

April and so on (maybe) tomorrow.

 

It only remains for me today to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. 

 

 

 

Edited December 24, 2021 by Tony Wright
to add something

[Chas Levin]

11 hours ago, Headstock said:

 

Where's the Popular front for the Liberation of Railway Wagons when you need them?

 

10 hours ago, gr.king said:

He's sitting over there on his own.

 

Popular front for the Liberation of Railway Wagons?! Get off - we're the Railway Wagon Liberation Front...

 

Merry Christmas to all, too

Edited December 24, 2021 by Chas Levin

[davidw]

Happy Christmas to all on WW.

[Jesse Sim]

11 hours ago, gr.king said:

He's sitting over there on his own.

SPLITTER 

[St Enodoc]

6 hours ago, MJI said:

I would not worry about a year out of timeframe.

The Mid-Cornwall Lines is set, notionally, between 1/1/50 and 31/12/59 but can be stretched slightly, to the extent that I have a Mainline RB and also a couple of Mk1 TPOs in service.

 

All the best.

[Iain.d]

5 hours ago, Chas Levin said:

Iain, thank you for posting, especially the above close-up which shows those superb fabric curtains to great effect: they look so much better than painted / metal / card / other stuff ones. I shall definitely be using fabric in future curtain production too.

 

Merry Christmas to you too, and to everyone!

Thanks very much Chas!

[Bucoops]

Merry Christmas all, especially Tony and Mo.

 

Thank you for another year of keeping us entertained and in check. So many hours spent reading instead of doing what was supposed to be done - and all well worth it!

 

I hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable Christmas.

[Dave Hunt]

I don't often post on this forum but I do read it almost every day for its interesting, informative and often inspiring content. Here's wishing all its inhabitants the best possible festive season. Cheers All.

 

Dave

[FarrMan]

14 hours ago, bbishop said:

Ok, from the top and working backwards:

 

British Goods Wagons, from 1887 to the present day - Essery, Rowland and Steel (and "present day" is 1970!)

 

British Railway Wagons, the first half million - Rowland (1985)

 

An Illustrated History of BR Wagons, vol 1 - Bartlett et al (I don't think there was a second volume)

 

Then for pre-nationalisation:

 

An Illustrated History of Southern Wagons - King et al (Four volumes plus Southern Wagons pictorial just by Mike King expanding on the LSWR)

 

LNER Wagons - Tatlow (Five volumes, also including pre-grouping)

 

LMS - Essery (Two volumes)

The pre-grouping LMS scene is fragmented and it would be expensive to acquire more than a necessary selection.  I have mainly purchased second hand at exhibitions.

 

Then there are Private Owners:

 

The Oakwood Press published Private Owner Wagons by Bill Hudson, an excellent introduction to the subject, then for starters:

 

Private Owner Wagons - Hudson (Four volumes)

 

Private Owner Wagons - Turton (Fifteen volumes)

 

also specialist books for an area, a coalfield or a manufacturer.

 

Bill

 

Thanks for this useful guide, Bill. I would add

 

A History of GWR Goods Wagons by Atkins et al,

 

and for inspiration on how to load wagons (and occasionally how NOT to load wagons!),

 

Freight Wagons and loads in service on the Great Western Railway and British Rail, Western Region by J H Russell

 

If it is any use to you, Mark (or anyone else), I am in the process of producing a number of spreadsheets of GWR wagons in number order. It is very much a work in progress, but if it would be of any help, PM me and I will send you the current version. I am doing the same for coaching stock, concentrating on NPCCS (i.e 'Brown Vehicles') first.

 

Lloyd

 

 

[Tony Wright]

Merry Christmas on this actual day to all!

 

What about April?

 

 

I'd completed yet another SEF A4 last year, and Geoff Haynes had painted it for me by April. 

 

60013 was used on 'The Elizabethan' in the summer of '58, so it's most appropriate. 

 

 

I'd also built a DJH 8F last year, which Geoff painted/weathered for me. It's seen with an O Gauge example of his work. 

 

 

He also painted this DJH/Model Loco Black Five I'd built, now the property of a dear friend. 

 

 

 

And he also weathered yet another J6 I'd built. 

 

 

It's always a pleasure to have a John Edgson-built loco on LB. John had scratch-built this B17 many years ago, and Geoff was finally asked to paint it at the beginning of this year.

 

As is well known, I have lots of things to sell, usually after sad news. 

 

 

 

All these Kirk Gresleys went very quickly, some to New Zealand I think. 

 

 

 

Edited December 25, 2021 by Tony Wright
to add something

[dibateg]

Happy Xmas everyone -

 

I had a lovely Xmas present in the form of the buildings for Basford North, made for me by Peter Leyland. They are absolutely superb and now the scene of the layout is set, it becomes instantly recognisable as the GN Derbyshire extension. As Tony says, many layouts are a re collaboration of skills, I'm not sure I would have the time or skills to create these buildings. Basford North was unique in that it was the only stone built station on the line, all the others were brick. I now have to crack on with the scenic work to do them justice. I had a 1962 Morris traveller just like that a good few years ago, I wish I still had it now.

[Steamport Southport]

21 hours ago, Mark90 said:

I've found the recent exchanges on wagons and freight working very interesting, and it has made me think about my own wagon stock and how I can improve things. 

 

Research seems to be the key (when is it not?) and I'd like to start learning more about this topic. A few people have mentioned books that they've consulted, but I wonder if anyone (Andrew, perhaps?@Headstock) has a recommendation of a good source or sources as a starting point? I'm currently building stock for a layout based on Otley in West Yorkshire in 1950-55, if that makes a difference. 

 

Many thanks, and a Merry Christmas to all on Wright Writes. 

 

Mark

 

Worth getting if you are contemplating modelling wagons are the Wild Swan wagon books by Geoff Kent and the Coal Wagons book by John Hayes.

 

https://www.titfield.co.uk/Wild-Swan/Model-Wagons.htm

 

There's also the Iain Rice books

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Getting-Best-Plastic-Wagon-Kits/dp/1871608562/

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Detailing-Improving-Ready-Run-Wagons/dp/1871608422/

 

 

 

 

Jason