Railway Motors

[LongRail]

Gary,

Thanks for the expaination, very helpful.

I stockpiled several Bachmann road rail models for possible use like you have done.

Will you consider making your etch available to buy?

Cheers.

 

Paul, depends on interest, we can always sort something out for you.

[RANGERS]

This uses a cut down EFE Diecast Bedford TK truck cab and wheels, the main bodywork components are from sheet of etched brass. I developed the drawing for this and it was professionally etched by PPD ltd.

etch1.jpg

Bruff c.jpg

 

The running gear/chassis was taken from a Bachmann 46204 Rail Step Van (American HO guage)

Bruff a.jpg

 

The main connection to the chassis utilises a flat brass Chassis mount which is folded to form a saddle. This then sits over the running chassis and has the road wheels and tyres glued to it. This provides a flat surface for the body to mount onto.

Bruff b1.jpg

bruff b.jpg

 

The brass forming the rear cab is folded and soldered together, there is a flat section soldered on top to create the rain strip around the roof, finally a small section of plastic sheet was glued to the roof to complete the profile

The Rear Box van was then folded and soldered together along with the roller shutter door.

There is a brass body support which is folded and soldered inside the box van, this also provides a fixing at the front for the cab to be joined to the box van.

Bruff d.jpg

Bruff d1.jpg

Bruff e.jpg

Bruff e1.jpg

 

 

Bumpers, light bar, grille and steps were then added to the cab front

Lights and Bruff logo were then superglued to the face of the brass sections and the rear box van

Bruff f.jpg

 

Would it be easier to use the Airfix (ex JB Models) Bedford MK kit cab as a basis for the conversion. Plastic must be easier to carve than mazak and I believe the original BRUFF was based on the 4x4 MK.

[Merfyn Jones]

Would it be easier to use the Airfix (ex JB Models) Bedford MK kit cab as a basis for the conversion. Plastic must be easier to carve than mazak and I believe the original BRUFF was based on the 4x4 MK.

 

Not TK or MK.  The Bruff conversions were Bedford TL based. This cab was available from RTI models (now in limbo after the passing of Frank Waller.)

 

 

 

Cab has similarities, looking forward to seeing it painted to see how similar it looks with the etchings on the front

Edited December 19, 2018 by Merfyn Jones

[PhilJ W]

Would it be easier to use the Airfix (ex JB Models) Bedford MK kit cab as a basis for the conversion. Plastic must be easier to carve than mazak and I believe the original BRUFF was based on the 4x4 MK.

 

 

Not TK or MK.  The Bruff conversions were Bedford TL based. This cab was available from RTI models (now in limbo after the passing of Frank Waller.)

 

C948YOR L J 9 9 87.jpg

 

 

Cab has similarities, looking forward to seeing it painted to see how similar it looks with the etchings on the front

The problem with the EFE cab is that in some dimensions it is oversize. The Oxford and the JB/Airfix cab are both more accurate in that respect. As Merfyn said the Bruff was based on the Bedford TL which was a later model than the TK.

[LongRail]

To be honest not much of the original cab is visible once everything is applied. The airfix one has a clear plastic cab which includes the windows as one moulding. I have one of these kits but was concerned over cutting and filling the plastic. Modifying the metal cabs is not to difficult and provides a robust assembly once put together. You would need different wheels as the airfix ones are very large.

[Merfyn Jones]

To be honest not much of the original cab is visible once everything is applied. The airfix one has a clear plastic cab which includes the windows as one moulding. I have one of these kits but was concerned over cutting and filling the plastic. Modifying the metal cabs is not to difficult and provides a robust assembly once put together. You would need different wheels as the airfix ones are very large.

 

Wheels were very unlike anything else, being probably made or heavily modified by BRUFF  to drive the vehicle on 4'8.5" track (or 5'3" as NIR had one or two)

[LongRail]

Mryfen,

 

Wheels are quite a compromise on the model as they are in the wrong plane given the additional set of rail wheel hidden behind and the fact that the rear body partially encloses the road wheels.

 

 

The front hubs have a strange projecting extension them.  I wonder if the front wheels effectively reversed to suit the track centres

 

The following picture is an extract from the Bruff Brochure

 

[PhilJ W]

Mryfen,

 

Wheels are quite a compromise on the model as they are in the wrong plane given the additional set of rail wheel hidden behind and the fact that the rear body partially encloses the road wheels.

 

wheels1.jpg

wheels2.jpg

 

The front hubs have a strange projecting extension them.  I wonder if the front wheels effectively reversed to suit the track centres

Wheels.jpg

 

The following picture is an extract from the Bruff Brochure

Extract brouchure Page 3a.jpg

The track of the Bedford front axle is far greater than 4' 81/2", hence the need for special wheels. The rear axle as with many trucks is designed to take twin wheels and are narrow enough for the inner tyres to sit on the rails or as in the case of the Bruff the outer wheels to be dispensed with entirely.

[LongRail]

Looking at the photographs again I may have been better swapping the front and rear hubs, doubt I would get them off without damaging them now

 

This picture shows the hubs clearly

https://flic.kr/p/eSRLQv

 

Just found this photo of a converted Bruff, interesting  https://flic.kr/p/cbK6WS

[Merfyn Jones]

Looking at the photographs again I may have been better swapping the front and rear hubs, doubt I would get them off without damaging them now

 

This picture shows the hubs clearly

https://flic.kr/p/eSRLQv

 

Just found this photo of a converted Bruff, interesting  https://flic.kr/p/cbK6WS

 

Perhaps leave well alone,

It looks good so far and the advantage of the narrow gauge track helps in this case. Would not work in P4 !

[andye]

Perhaps leave well alone,

It looks good so far and the advantage of the narrow gauge track helps in this case. Would not work in P4 !

 

Merfyn, 

 

I have sent you a PM, after a liitle help please on a registration! 

 

Thanks

 

Andy

[Merfyn Jones]

Merfyn, 

 

I have sent you a PM, after a liitle help please on a registration! 

 

Thanks

 

Andy

 

List sent Andy, hope it makes sense as it was pasted from my list and got jumbled up.

Merf.

[Adam]

Here's one I don't think has been seen before: a Karrier Bantam getting its feet wet -

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127815237@N05/38489871202/in/album-72157648796040956/

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127815237@N05/38465713066/in/album-72157648796040956/

Adam

[andye]

List sent Andy, hope it makes sense as it was pasted from my list and got jumbled up.

Merf.

 

Perfect sense, thank you Merfyn! (reply Pm`ed)

 

Andy

[andye]

I have a new question,  related to railway motors:

 

In the 1980s and early 1990s, when BR looked after its own road vehicles, there were garages where these were maintained. 

 

I remember taking the freight rover to Reading to get it serviced etc , but what were these garages called? i.e. what did the sign above the door say? 

 

I have it my mind that they were "BR / NSE - Road Vehicles Workshop" Can anyone confirm what they were called? 

 

The attached picture of the sign could read "road vehicles workshop"  instead of "infrastructure training school"

 

In later years we took them to Brian Curries, who were just a commercial vehicle outfit, its the in house ones I am interested in. 

 

So if anyone knows what they were called , or even better has any pictures of the signs, that would be great! 

 

Ta in advance

 

Andy

[iands]

I have a new question,  related to railway motors:

 

In the 1980s and early 1990s, when BR looked after its own road vehicles, there were garages where these were maintained. 

 

I remember taking the freight rover to Reading to get it serviced etc , but what were these garages called? i.e. what did the sign above the door say? 

 

I have it my mind that they were "BR / NSE - Road Vehicles Workshop" Can anyone confirm what they were called? 

 

The attached picture of the sign could read "road vehicles workshop"  instead of "infrastructure training school"

 

In later years we took them to Brian Curries, who were just a commercial vehicle outfit, its the in house ones I am interested in. 

 

So if anyone knows what they were called , or even better has any pictures of the signs, that would be great! 

 

Ta in advance

 

Andy

 

On BR(E) we knew them as "Road Motors". I don't know if that was an "official" title, or some colloquialism that got used/adopted by the "end users".

[Merfyn Jones]

From 1968 the work was carried out by National Carriers in most areas, unless anybody knows different. The term 'Road Motors' was used by B R until then.

I can't remember when the work was put out to tender, but it was some years before B R finished, possibly mid 80s ?  Ours were done by Securicor who did work elsewhere too.

Think there was a lot of variation around the country

[iands]

On BR(E) we knew them as "Road Motors". I don't know if that was an "official" title, or some colloquialism that got used/adopted by the "end users".

 

That said, there might be more to it than a colloquialism. Just realised I posted on another thread on RMweb a photo taken a couple of years ago at York station of a bit of local history concerning letter sorting (GPO) for the various railway departments etc. The attached clearly refers to "Road Motor Engineer", so I'm fairly sure it was an official designation/title.

 

[31A]

On BR(E) we knew them as "Road Motors". I don't know if that was an "official" title, or some colloquialism that got used/adopted by the "end users".

 

I've heard that too; this was when I also worked on the ER, in East Anglia.

[Merfyn Jones]

I've heard that too; this was when I also worked on the ER, in East Anglia.

 

Sounds like a national use for the terminology.

[andye]

Thank you for the replies, my memory must have faded. So in the late eighties they must have been regular garages that had contracts to maintain the various road vehicles. 

 

I might just make an NSE sign anyway and exercise some modellers / artistic license! 

 

Andy

[Fat Controller]

Back in the mid-1970s,I worked with a few people who had worked at the Road Motor Garage at Bristol Temple Meads. This was under the arches of the line from Temple Meads towards the Floating Harbour.

[iands]

Thank you for the replies, my memory must have faded. So in the late eighties they must have been regular garages that had contracts to maintain the various road vehicles. 

 

I might just make an NSE sign anyway and exercise some modellers / artistic license! 

 

Andy

Hi Andy,

 

If you suffer from insomnia you may want to visit the RSSB website and look at some historical BR standards. Whilst "Road Motors" may not be mentioned specifically, RV-OG and MP Jul 1991 details road vehicle maintenance contract requirements - by this time BR were outsourcing more and more work, presumably in the run up to privatisation in the guise of "Business Sectors" and the like.

 

If you input "road" into the search box, it brings up numerous documents concerning road vehicles - BR14222 being a useful one for the modeller as it is an official "painting guide" for BR vehicles.

[Merfyn Jones]

I mentioned Securicor as a contractor maintaining the road fleet. A bit of research last night found in the late 80s also,  T N T. and Balfour Beatty.  I recall going to B B at Raynesway in Derby to collect our crew bus after the cab was refurbished (P way had new ones !) A huge place, full of their own fleet and yellow vans.

[andye]

I mentioned Securicor as a contractor maintaining the road fleet. A bit of research last night found in the late 80s also,  T N T. and Balfour Beatty.  I recall going to B B at Raynesway in Derby to collect our crew bus after the cab was refurbished (P way had new ones !) A huge place, full of their own fleet and yellow vans.

 

Now you mention securicor, that rings a bell, that may have been the reading workshop. 

 

I was going through some old photos, and came across this one. Its the old Marylebone Depot Milkdock, after the depot was demolished, but we still parked there for a short while to get the train to aylesbury to the new Turbo Depot. 

 

On the right is E974 BAM, station clean teams van, the escort kombi van(F445 BOK)

 

which is station standards managers (ian Mcneil)s van, complete with chiltern logo on the drivers door, then my maestro van, russ P might appreciate that, and the CBM dayshifts red peugot. 

 

A little bit of history!

 

Andy

Edited January 27, 2019 by andye