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Deneside - BR North Eastern Region


Brian D
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19 minutes ago, 380John said:

Happy birthday Brian, 

 

Layout is looking great, I like the bash of the gantry will be interested to see how it turns out. The Dapol kits still stand the test of time if with a bit of gentle persuasion! I've just finished a Dapol cattle wagon kit this week. I'm pretty pleased with it. Might have been easier if the parts matched the number on the sprue with the ones on the instructions! 

 

All the best, 

John 

 

Thanks John.  The gantry is proceeding slowly.  The Train-tech signal heads are particularly fiddly to solder up connecting wires, assemble, checking the wiring survives the assembly, etc.  Still musing over how to "duct" five wires from each signal head.  I'll try and post some pics tomorrow to show progress/problems/possible solutions.

 

Regards,

Brian.

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More about signals.

 

Firstly, the Dapol signal controlling exit from the colliery branch...

 

IMG_20190604_165942.jpg.05435dbadd2b5cebf5e8502266b96e7d.jpg

 

...has suffered a complete electrical failure so has been returned to Widnes from whence it came.  A replacement has been requested.

 

As promised, here are my thoughts about the signal gantry.  Eventually I want it to look like this...

 

IMG_20190701_181902.jpg.f10ff8df945739faba4010974c0d7a69.jpg

 

...as seen by arriving trains.  The two facing signals will control (via the feathers or not) all arrivals.  The rear facing signal will control all departures (including access to the colliery branch via the feather).

 

These are the signal kits I'm using.

 

IMG_20190701_170656.jpg.759108cef63c59c683ca7f54db3e1ae0.jpg

 

Unfortunately there are no fine wires supplied with the feathers so these were purchased.

 

IMG_20190701_170731.jpg.f094bf9d0b96b68da72a1891de3c2788.jpg

 

So far, only one signal head (including attached feather) has been assembled thus.

 

IMG_20190701_170613.jpg.9e945699c1fcd92e3360cf5d3f1ff526.jpg

 

As you can probably just about see, 5 wires emanate from the signal head and I have been experimenting with this stuff...

 

IMG_20190701_170805.jpg.1c8a2b969705a7f08098c8aaa5fe880c.jpg

 

...to make a duct to contain the wires thus.

 

IMG_20190701_170930.jpg.0e7787619b9f5af57f1f7496b1ca1039.jpg

 

IMG_20190701_171139.jpg.097d05e37659fac4ca76cdf51c641c91.jpg

 

It is proving a challenging build!

 

Regards,

Brian.

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Hi Brian,

Not been on here in a while, but first of all congratulations on your birthday, I have another six years to go before that milestone. I keep an eye on your progress which carries on apace. I have recently managed to start laying some track now on my Cullerbay effort. It is surprising how quick things can move on just by laying a yard of track now and then. Anyway, carry on with the good work.

 

PeteIMG_1560.jpg.b496dd2fce8f550dd17a1df593a04f2e.jpg 

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On 01/07/2019 at 19:00, Brian D said:

 

Unfortunately there are no fine wires supplied with the feathers so these were purchased.

 

So far, only one signal head (including attached feather) has been assembled thus.

 

As you can probably just about see, 5 wires emanate from the signal head and I have been experimenting with this stuff...

 

...to make a duct to contain the wires thus.

 

It is proving a challenging build!

 

Regards,

Brian.

Brian,

 

Wouldn't you be better using enamelled wire (I took some out of an old transformer that was broken) as it is typically finer and maybe wouldn't need a tube for attachment. Just be careful to label each of the wires as they will all be the same colour!

 

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3 hours ago, Toftwood said:

Hi Brian,

Not been on here in a while, but first of all congratulations on your birthday, I have another six years to go before that milestone. I keep an eye on your progress which carries on apace. I have recently managed to start laying some track now on my Cullerbay effort. It is surprising how quick things can move on just by laying a yard of track now and then. Anyway, carry on with the good work.

 

PeteIMG_1560.jpg.b496dd2fce8f550dd17a1df593a04f2e.jpg 

 

Looking good Pete - impressive parallel tracks. 

Best Regards, 

Brian 

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1 hour ago, ISW said:

Brian,

 

Wouldn't you be better using enamelled wire (I took some out of an old transformer that was broken) as it is typically finer and maybe wouldn't need a tube for attachment. Just be careful to label each of the wires as they will all be the same colour!

 

 

Good idea if I had an old transformer to hand but not sure whether this falls within my skill set. When you say enamelled I assume this is just painted wire? Might the paint fall off the wire if bending or rebending it through 90 degrees? 

Regards, 

Brian 

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35 minutes ago, Brian D said:

 

Looking good Pete - impressive parallel tracks. 

Best Regards, 

Brian 

Thank You.  I am using the 4th (21") radius set track curves as a minimum and as a template. then allowing for swing using a pair of Hornby Mk4 coaches, which would be the longest rolling stock on the layout and the little red Peco track spacers it came out reasonably well.

 

Pete 

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1 hour ago, Brian D said:

 

Good idea if I had an old transformer to hand but not sure whether this falls within my skill set. When you say enamelled I assume this is just painted wire? Might the paint fall off the wire if bending or rebending it through 90 degrees? 

Regards, 

Brian 

 

Maybe cannibalise an old point motor, for another source of the same stuff?  The enamelling doesn't tend to come off unless you deliberately scrape it off, it's designed to be there after all!

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 06/07/2019 at 22:16, 31A said:

 

Maybe cannibalise an old point motor, for another source of the same stuff?  The enamelling doesn't tend to come off unless you deliberately scrape it off, it's designed to be there after all!

 

 

I have found an old Seep point motor and removed the top plastic shrouds to reveal the two coils but there seems to be some hard glue like gunge on the coils - see pic below.

 

IMG_20190728_162315rev.jpg.0b64b9689371a6c3195336ada005cb28.jpg

 

I have no idea what this grey stuff is though it is quite hard or at least hard enough to resist a finger nailed attempt to ping it off.  If anyone can suggest how to get it off without damaging the enamel on the coil wire then I would be extremely grateful.  Otherwise I have found a source of enamelled wire on Ebay which offers three colours 0.2 mm diameter.  The wiring I'm currently (whoops - pun time) using is 0.6 mm diameter so somewhat thicker but I'm still wondering whether it's worth the faff using the enamelled wire.

 

Regards,

Brian.

Regards,

Brian.

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...so there will be a slight pause in the signal gantry project until I have firmed up how to proceed.  In the mean time I have switched (whoops, another electrics pun) my attention to the unfinished scenics in Little Easington, i.e. this area...

 

IMG_20190728_162041.jpg.be3758b4e27a2bdd9a037834d9f40fcb.jpg

 

...the perhaps trickiest area is also shown here.

 

IMG_20190728_162128.jpg.b3a8eca65232932f43dde9c45eb6ecfe.jpg

 

A start has been made in infilling the void with expanded polystyrene hot wired to fit at the right hand end of the void.  However, at the left hand end the mainline viaduct needs a wing wall siding on to Seaside Lane and facing the staircase of terraced houses.  This will "contain" the scenic embankment so a start has been made on the wing wall - these are the kit of parts all based on Scalescenes' techniques and textures but the wall size is bespoke to suit the location, the trial and error card former in the above pics used as a pattern for the main wing wall element.

 

IMG_20190728_171015.jpg.531480ea06cbc86cca991c45a0d6877c.jpg

 

I'll post more pics as things progress.

 

Regards,

Brian.

PS  The observant among you will notice that the Dapol signal controlling egress from the colliery branch has now been replaced and appears in the above pics.  Hopefully the replacement will last somewhat longer than its predecessor.

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17 minutes ago, Andrew P said:

Hi Brian, I hate doing Townie bits, hence most of my projects are Rural, but you seem to master that side of things with ease.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing it completed mate.

 

Thanks Andy.  Retired now but for many years I worked as a Structural Engineer, for many years on the drawing board, and inevitably working with Architects on the design of new buildings so I suppose it's in the blood.  I also got involved with bridges later in my career hence the proliferation of bridges on the layout :D

 

Best Regards,

Brian.

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The glue has dried on the wing wall elements so they have been assembled...

 

IMG_20190729_175259.jpg.0826c04d6f38720fcb212e19fb7801fe.jpg

 

...and glued in position.

 

IMG_20190729_180226.jpg.9ef5073faa32ff30d33a20a62840dd61.jpg

 

The void will be filled behind the wall with expanded polystyrene hot wired to fit the space and to provide contours.

 

Regards,

Brian.

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Yesterday the void was filled with expanded polystyrene and some further land form added behind the house backs thus.

 

IMG_20190730_173928.jpg.c8d36c234010f67a97b67ae30a0daac9.jpg

 

I had great fun fitting the various bits of expanded polystyrene into the hole using the Expo hot wire cutter to shape the pieces to fit - I also have the larger bow string head which is interchangeable with the one shown.  I can't recommend this battery powered tool more highly, it's a brilliant and cost effective bit of kit.

 

Today, some items of infrastructure were removed and the whole area was modrocked using plaster bandages acquired cheaply through the internet - see below...

 

IMG_20190731_124408.jpg.a54b5dbbbc51995eff0715a49b54ff08.jpg

 

... and with the infrastructure replaced.

 

IMG_20190731_161035.jpg.0de917d3e0be39ad6a3438d9387b04c2.jpg

 

Despite plastering the area hours ago, it still feels damp so I won't be able to paint it with brown poster paint until tomorrow.  Other tasks (car MoT and service, decking to be painted with decking oil) beckon tomorrow so it might be a few days before the static grass sieve sees any action.

 

Regards,

Brian.

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Well, the car sailed through its MoT no problems and I got one coat of decking oil down yesterday so this morning, before adding the second decking oil coat, I painted the land form with poster colour thus.

 

IMG_20190802_113355.jpg.22308b8345cf01eb856458856547407e.jpg

 

Second coat added and dry enough to walk on to get to the shed, the area was given a substantial coat of PVA glue...

 

IMG_20190802_175438.jpg.1ff25c9508c48e677ecccb2c87ee3208.jpg

 

...before grassing with the static grass sieve.

 

IMG_20190802_181010.jpg.917d68da3b72abb6c2b0135d77f8abc8.jpg

 

I'll allow all this to dry overnight and hoover up the excess in the morning.  All of this work was of course carried out under possession so nothing was arriving or leaving Deneside :sungum:

 

IMG_20190802_181118.jpg.436e6a6070d59204c54ffc9afce7e0b4.jpg

 

Meanwhile, at the colliery, the writing is on the wall for steam it appears.

 

IMG_20190802_125220.jpg.b3d15a1a841d6370c48715b7d44bd259.jpg

 

Seriously, this is a really cheap acquisition from Hattons - a decent model and powerful for less than £50 - check it out.  It will of course need a repaint but it will make a good companion for the Hornby Sentinel shunter in the colliery yard.

 

Regards,

Brian.

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This afternoon, the excess static grass was hoovered up, a short section of pavement added to the nearside of Seaside Lane and the infrastructure replaced thus...

 

IMG_20190803_160903.jpg.d64d4ec7584daa4e96beb52234cd5f5d.jpg

 

...and with passing hopper trains Q6 hauled.

 

IMG_20190803_164542.jpg.f35a40b6d11e7acb15da22e641ba2b96.jpg

 

Meanwhile, back at the colliery, steam has indeed been replaced by diesel.  Here are the new locos posed for the press...

 

IMG_20190803_163222.jpg.ecf523a8a6e083ee71b3b9e42f187fa2.jpg

 

...and here in service.

 

IMG_20190803_171018.jpg.77bb6ce9ca43e92a19b87b55f7348789.jpg

 

The Janus is a sweat runner now the wheels have been cleaned (prior to wheel cleaning it didn't always respond to the controller without assistance from the "hand of God", not the first brand new loco I have had to tweak in this way).

 

Regards,

Brian.

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15 minutes ago, Brian D said:

 

This afternoon, the excess static grass was hoovered up, a short section of pavement added to the nearside of Seaside Lane and the infrastructure replaced thus...

 

IMG_20190803_160903.jpg.d64d4ec7584daa4e96beb52234cd5f5d.jpg

 

...and with passing hopper trains Q6 hauled.

 

IMG_20190803_164542.jpg.f35a40b6d11e7acb15da22e641ba2b96.jpg

 

Meanwhile, back at the colliery, steam has indeed been replaced by diesel.  Here are the new locos posed for the press...

 

IMG_20190803_163222.jpg.ecf523a8a6e083ee71b3b9e42f187fa2.jpg

 

...and here in service.

 

IMG_20190803_171018.jpg.77bb6ce9ca43e92a19b87b55f7348789.jpg

 

The Janus is a sweat runner now the wheels have been cleaned (prior to wheel cleaning it didn't always respond to the controller without assistance from the "hand of God", not the first brand new loco I have had to tweak in this way).

 

Regards,

Brian.

I need to find an excuse for at least one of those Brian, they sit on you Layout beautifully.

 

I do like that corner your developing mate.

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19 hours ago, 380John said:

Looking really good Brian, 

 

Sorry, I may have missed it.... But is your back scene with the cliffs and sea on it something you have made or is it an off the shelf product? 

 

Many thanks, 

John 

 

Hi john,

Thanks for your kind words.

The photo back scene I think you are talking about was made by yours truly.  A couple of years ago I visited Whitby Abbey and took a series of photos from the heights looking down on the town of Whitby on the other side of the river.  These were stitched into a panorama in Photoshop Elements and then imported into TurboCAD as an image wherein I created a mirror image of the panorama.  So what you are seeing is Whitby back to front :)

 

Hope that helps but if you want more info please come back.

 

Regards,

Brian.

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DSCF5728horse.jpg.9db43dab851b7df2d4f6154c47d21ff5.jpg

 

Hard to see in the distance but the line of your cliffs isn't that different to those in the distance seen from Easington Colliery- not entirely coincidental I assume.  The bloke on the horse was wondering who was the idiot wandering around in a short-sleeved t-shirt with a camera on a cold and drizzly day (it was warm and sunny when I left Newark...)

 

Les

 

 

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22 hours ago, Les1952 said:

DSCF5728horse.jpg.9db43dab851b7df2d4f6154c47d21ff5.jpg

 

Hard to see in the distance but the line of your cliffs isn't that different to those in the distance seen from Easington Colliery- not entirely coincidental I assume.  The bloke on the horse was wondering who was the idiot wandering around in a short-sleeved t-shirt with a camera on a cold and drizzly day (it was warm and sunny when I left Newark...)

 

Les

 

 

 

7 hours ago, Two_sugars said:

I must get down to the beach banks again . . . . . 

 

John

 

The last time we got up to Easington was two years ago and I hadn't been around the beach banks since my schooldays so we had walk round and I took these pics, among others.

 

We accessed the path to the coast via this bridge...

 

P1010049.jpg.1459f7d68152704e95c97dda6973e315.jpg

 

...and this was the view looking south towards Teesside...

 

P1010029.jpg.b649c78e599237f9036697428f126f29.jpg

 

...and inland westward to Easington Colliery.

 

P1010036.jpg.6af33247216c640e88fea541043e6fd4.jpg

 

And the last time I gazed down on the beach here it was black.  Looking north towards Hawthorn...

 

P1010037.jpg.68a8f43490499c94db53604849abe02c.jpg

 

...and south again towards Teesside and West Hartlepool.

 

P1010039.jpg.87c16ad90d08fc40abf0812b88d3cd1e.jpg

 

If my memory serves, this is the rock on which the last pylon of the ariel flight was position and whereat the colliery waste was dumped in the sea.

 

 

 

 

 

P1010041.jpg.83b74a7dc1c8e3c7f6aa6a1abacaa6ff.jpg

 

P1010040.jpg.25d107cc2ad954c5fa8ea44362fa6023.jpg

 

An amazing transformation when you compare it to the "Get Carter" ending, although that was filmed further along the coast at Hordern or Blackhall I think but Easington beach was just as black - see link https://youtu.be/nWfrpqGDJig?t=14

 

 

Regards,

Brian.

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Cheers Brian, , , I haven't been down since April/May  . . . I know, it's only a couple of months but i do miss my walks.

 

I usually  come through that bridge to the beach banks and then turn north an walk up passed Shippersey bay to Hawthorne Dene, under the viaduct and just wander.

 

The last pylon wasn't actually on that rock, but a little to the north of it , , about 20 yards.

 

That bridge had the start of the spur that came of the coastal line, and into the station goods yard.

The green area, looking through the bridge was coal heap when Ah Were A lad,

 

I think if a went down onto the beach these days, I would have bother getting back up!

 

It doesn't matter though . . to sit anywhere along there on a warmish day with a breeze coming of the sea usually blows the cobwebs away and lift the mood.

 

John

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