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Elsbridge Tramway Company: Elsbridge Town - NeilHB's layout


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Just a word of warning with the raspberries you need to contain them in a planter with a sealed bottom as with in a few years all you will have is raspberries. We have them in the garden and they were in a raised bed with heavy duty weed suppressant fabric in the bottom and they still managed to escape and force themselves through the patio.

 

Marc 

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Bit more modelling done tonight.

 

I’ve lettered up the scratchbuilt Furness Railway 1-plank open:

 

DE01EA1C-D484-4280-A11F-345406222E64.jpeg.3f5be7f8460204236dd0ab939fdb3f63.jpeg

 

All I need to do now is give the inside a slightly darker wash and it’ll be complete (bar locating some suitable cast number plates for the solebar).

 

I also made the decision to remove the lettering from my Wellsworth & Suddery stock and start again. I’d previously used POWSides letraset LSWR transfers, which whilst nice looking, were a bit rubbish at staying put and not disintegrating. 
 

I found a set of 4mm HMRS Scottish pre-group transfers on eBay, so these were duly purchased. Tonight I made a start on the brakevan:

 

234AD7F9-434D-45D8-A81A-95FA8B553EC9.jpeg.03fffd81bae3fb507043764baa1a7f32.jpeg

 

Much better I think! I’ve used the G&SW lettering for the W&S lettering - I think this looks better than the previous attempt using WSR. 
 

Using the 4mm transfers is a bit of a cheat, but at £7.85 for the 4mm sheet, compared to £22 for the 7mm version, I’m not quite so fussed overall! 
 

 

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Productive couple of hours this morning removing the old WSR lettering and replacing it:

 

18E6B573-C023-4E5D-91F9-2780581AE2E8.jpeg.f872a6cc7a533a865bab0a7dcb39b94b.jpeg

FEFCBB2C-53EC-472A-B6AE-7E9852F4572C.jpeg.a788d283c1f5e13f49f21469743c9db7.jpeg

Same wagon (5-plank) different numbers and lettering style on each side.


2647498E-FF97-4EDA-A3AA-FB4D6712B14B.jpeg.2b62a6b8a1d90b741b4588d4d0e8f26a.jpeg

CDCDD065-D652-4B31-896A-2646E896ACB8.jpeg.4696c9bb2d17bdcc6994dd38fa00e602.jpeg

4-plank open

 

6DF44692-7835-43EA-B47A-4563F4E541E6.jpeg.ddcc547c660847985fd28c9101b8a7a9.jpeg

Nice little train of the current projects - this should look on the layout when they are all finished :) 

 

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6 hours ago, Corbs said:

I like the new style a lot, Neil.


Thanks Corbs, so do I. 
 

I put together a further addition to the rolling stock roster this afternoon, suitably modified of course from what came in the kit box! 
 

19DD341D-57A9-4CE2-A2EA-E6CF424C5058.jpeg.904ed7794bee58bf400a1fa6152b00ac.jpeg

 

7AB0E6C4-014F-4FB4-9DFC-3065EAF847AF.jpeg.2e0f435bf1442e9ec0d0480cc24cfd4f.jpeg

 

North Western Railway 10T 4-plank open. 
 

Can anyone tell what it was supposed to be though? :D 

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Pleased to report that more progress has taken place today on stock for Elsbridge.

 

First up the 10T 4-plank seen above has now been through the paint shop to emerge in NWR freight stock brown, along with a handful of other NW wagons this now awaits the arrival of some suitable transfers:

 

755CD465-B238-44B4-8C6C-6A05716B2925.jpeg.8cbdfe2126cd35f4ab26ca70831d825a.jpeg

Must finish painting the underframe and the interior! 
 

Now for the big new folks, I’m breaking with the Rev. Awdry’s ideas and going rogue! After much discussions with Messers Young and Jones at our virtual model railway/pub meeting on Thursday, the Knapford and Elsbridge Light Railway has now become the Elsbridge Tramway Company. Much more interesting :D 

 

I’ve long had an interest in the Wantage, Brill, Selsey and W&U tramways, with their eclectic motive power and interesting rolling stock. Plus recent research into Belgian stoomtrams (particularly the Sprimont-Poulseur route - think a Belgian stone carrying W&U effectively) has led me to reconsider some of my ideas. 
 

Today has seen former Wellsworth & Suddery Railway “Godred” being sold off and rebuilt by the ETCo:

 

5230F34A-CE20-46DC-AB0F-4AFB0235D3D4.jpeg.f3bd77482ae92cccb64328c1875a47e2.jpeg

Now sporting a lovely shade of Furness Railway Indian Red. I’ve dispensed with the rebuilt cab I’d previously made, and have fitted new side sheets from a Minerva MW K class (that will be getting a new modern style cab).

0D0A0A22-2599-447B-AF34-D2B136B9F831.jpeg.373c36742659f5132bb4cced389151c7.jpeg

I do like the Indian Red colour - it’s so rich (and makes a nice change from Green)

 

1F70C57B-1615-424F-933C-DAA2C7AB2F6D.jpeg.42901cde3ccc4aea0a18b6af9aac3d93.jpeg

I also added a coat of paint to the coffee pot to see what that looked like in ETCo house colours (the boiler will be unpainted wood).

 

CF176E26-B05C-4B52-A831-8C57A222F1D5.jpeg.6192899c93a47a10811b805068553448.jpeg

”Godred” and “Sigrid”

 

Rather pleased with how they’re turning out :) 

 

What do you think folks? 

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ETCo No’s. 1 and 3 are coming along very nicely now:

 

79C517EF-D525-496A-8B67-E41FB032B0BE.jpeg.292b31e36d7e93f068ad084270689cf8.jpeg

 

2679C8E7-F4A3-44A0-AA62-3F5E89DB17EB.jpeg.2937ed15206172c32d8063dcd605385e.jpeg

 

6C44B692-E56A-4048-8DEE-9C88B0490613.jpeg.dce0e206829505b32feb734ba304dd2c.jpeg

 

The cab back and roof are just balanced in place for the moment whilst I work out the right height for them. Also trying out an older EB Wilson style safety valve to see what that looks like - I rather like it. 

 

D8E59640-2AB2-463C-8F67-86D8A809EF07.jpeg.85e2fc3aad82ab889c0c41d4391fab0f.jpeg

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Since the last post there’s been a bit of rethink on ETCo No.1 (coffee pot). I shall just say that there is a cunning plan that is currently being put into motion...

 

However, rapid progress has been made on replacement tramcars for the ETCo. A couple of years ago, I was considering modelling a narrow gauge roadside tramway, so one of my friends with a 3D printer kindly printed me a couple of 4-wheel tramcar kits. That project never got going, and until last weekend the tramcars have been sat in a box. Whilst looking for something else in the garage, I found the box and had a little wave of the brain cells which was very dangerous!
 

The two tramcars have now been repurposed, and converted to standard gauge. 
 

The first one is coming along rather nicely:

 

24A85BDF-7275-4115-83F5-A5E91B0E16D1.jpeg.d809fdd16670adf913dbb57f0d81c642.jpeg

 

It was decided by the Directors of the company that Furness colours would suit the coaches nicely and go rather nicely with the existing motive power (also painted in Furness colours):

 

4B3439FF-7C22-4D22-8094-A4C06433B60A.jpeg.8b17337fcc6827d906d0aeb3c4f29740.jpeg

 

This afternoon after work I made a start on the second tramcar:

 

0531AC90-03D8-48D9-A06E-D417F1ECC2DF.jpeg.1e07587cef475ffeec2ed81106e832b7.jpeg

 

Having glued the body together, and added the beading, I’m about to begin work on the underframe. The first tramcar uses a set of axleboxes that I picked up cheaply at Kettering from the JPL stand (£1 for 4 - couldn’t resist!). From the lettering on the back of them, they appear to be from a Great Central fish van, though no one sells a kit for one in 7mm scale. The same type also appear to have been fitted to GCR Horseboxes as well. 

 

70DBBC4E-F8D2-4CF1-A487-D6B4139AE2C0.jpeg.88969ec129c92170af5df201cbae4f4c.jpeg

 

Does anyone happen to know who might be the manufacturer please? I’ve checked JPL’s eBay store and cannot locate them there, and an extensive trawl through Google has been not much use at all! 
 

Ideally I’d like another couple of sets, so that I can make up another couple of tramcars, all with matching axleboxes etc. so that there is a family resemblance. 
 

Any and all assistance greatly appreciated.  

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It’s now been confirmed that the axleboxes aren’t from JPL. 
 

Can anyone help please with who makes them please? 
 

D0D60F9A-CE12-400D-8736-32C1BAC29EC9.jpeg.337a73faab10e2dbf802acbd017d4b37.jpeg

 

As above, I believe that they are Great Central in origin, possibly from their 4-wheel Fish Van or Horseboxes. 
 

Might D&S do something in their range of kits? Unfortunately I can’t find my copy of their catalogue. 

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I removed the axleboxes previously fitted to the tramcar this morning, as it looks like they were produced by CCW and so no longer available. I then set about cobbling together something suitable from the myriad of spares that I seem to have accumulated over the years.

 

The W-irons are from Slaters Midland wagon kits, with the spring removed and substituted by a much longer one with J-hangers from their Shoc-van/open underframe kits:

 

165D3ED0-3060-4B6D-BA2F-059688A06E26.jpeg.5e3203586182d0c62191c8ae3c01381e.jpeg

 

Much better - and I’ve got enough W-irons to do a couple more tramcars which is good because...

 

997B19A6-A2D6-4C4D-AA5F-755538327B29.jpeg.f06b2d1caf85d474618b61e13d90ce5d.jpeg

 

The second one is now on its chassis. Just the headstocks to go now, but I’ve run out of buffers (and stepboard brackets) so need to place an order with those nice people at Slaters for some more.

 

I also dug out an old project, with a view to creating a tramcar brake/luggage van to run with these. I’d previously used a Slaters Midland 9ft chassis to scratch build a luggage van (about 10-15 pages back I think?) that never got finished as I wasn’t happy with the beading etc. The bodywork was duly removed and consigned to the out of use sidings, and the chassis has been modifed by fitting smaller wheels (Gibson Lowmac wheels to match the tramcars), and I’ve raised the headstock accordingly. 
 

A153F787-4036-4117-B221-F8A1550AAF9B.jpeg.72363f644beccbfab3d0638880fd54b2.jpeg

 

Next task is to sort out a suitable body to go on it. I’m thinking double doors on either side, to allow luggage and milk churns to be loaded en-route. Possibly doors in either end as well to enable the guard to cross into the tramcars whilst the tram is in motion. I suppose something that’s a bit of a cross between Nos.9 and 16 on the Wisbech and Upwell in effect? 
 

What do you think folks? 

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The cunning plan mentioned on the 17th April has now been put into motion...

 

May I present (very much as a work in progress) Elsbridge Tramway Company No.1:

 

98FBCD72-B65C-41E5-B406-749DE1B0610C.jpeg.3110c91c5050a482971a5d811a56d3e4.jpeg

 

It’s based on the Wilkinson design of street trams built by Beyer Peacock, including John Bull which is preserved at Crich Tramway Museum. John Bull served for a many number of years as one of the Beyer Peacock works shunters, suitably modified with standard buffers and coupling gear. 
 

I’ve drawn out my idea so that you can get an idea of what I’m planning to do:

FE48FE25-AA03-469F-8CD3-24E2616B1100.jpeg.0cec109bc7b94be961fb93659f7b04db.jpeg

 

It fits nicely with the tram stock already under construction:

CAB352B2-E7E7-4E60-82F8-B70959374250.jpeg.882eae469a6f2fcd154d32f3f09fc14d.jpeg

 

And looks good with the MW F class too:

2D18CEA1-B296-4034-91B0-A23643E86782.jpeg.762e26171ab1acc35f1a4d9a70140987.jpeg

 

I will admit that I’ve cheated for the chassis, and regauged a Bachmann On30 Street chassis:

1D74E041-2DC1-48E9-AB90-F4970C973110.jpeg.a3c59e89b90e40d4c0f8fee2a6810b4b.jpeg

Which was a very quick and easy job to do (10-15mins max) using Slaters 1/8” axles and MW 2’8” wheels (I had them spare) and they won’t be seen behind the skirts.

 

Now I’ve got the basic bodywork sorted I can start to sort out the details.

 

The third class tramcar has now gained seating for the passengers:

0B04A635-D684-4CFC-B1C1-6D2580301789.jpeg.ed0523ba7e9d7e0c22fb5802a3c2a3eb.jpeg

 

And the first/third tramcar has had its internal divider added, and the third class passengers have somewhere to sit:

EFF1F19E-1FFD-46FA-987D-9D5048891551.jpeg.a989fcc3d29b5890434945d15a821e81.jpeg

 

Lastly the luggage van chassis has been restarted - using the Slaters Midland chassis didn’t look right in the end, as it was nearly as long as the body of the tramcars, and I wanted something much more compact along similar lines to Wisbech & Upwell No.9. So I’ve built a new chassis, and am in the process of designing a suitable body to go on top:

B66B926C-EA0D-4E33-BA7B-54146ECB6494.jpeg.bbed53e41bb9ffa4c73abde2f84a2539.jpeg

 

What do you think folks? 

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On ‎22‎/‎04‎/‎2020 at 16:02, NeilHB said:

I also dug out an old project, with a view to creating a tramcar brake/luggage van to run with these. I’d previously used a Slaters Midland 9ft chassis to scratch build a luggage van (about 10-15 pages back I think?) that never got finished as I wasn’t happy with the beading etc. The bodywork was duly removed and consigned to the out of use sidings, and the chassis has been modifed by fitting smaller wheels (Gibson Lowmac wheels to match the tramcars), and I’ve raised the headstock accordingly. 
 

A153F787-4036-4117-B221-F8A1550AAF9B.jpeg.72363f644beccbfab3d0638880fd54b2.jpeg

 

Next task is to sort out a suitable body to go on it. I’m thinking double doors on either side, to allow luggage and milk churns to be loaded en-route. Possibly doors in either end as well to enable the guard to cross into the tramcars whilst the tram is in motion. I suppose something that’s a bit of a cross between Nos.9 and 16 on the Wisbech and Upwell in effect? 
 

What do you think folks? 

 

On ‎28‎/‎04‎/‎2020 at 15:10, NeilHB said:

Lastly the luggage van chassis has been restarted - using the Slaters Midland chassis didn’t look right in the end, as it was nearly as long as the body of the tramcars, and I wanted something much more compact along similar lines to Wisbech & Upwell No.9. So I’ve built a new chassis, and am in the process of designing a suitable body to go on top:

B66B926C-EA0D-4E33-BA7B-54146ECB6494.jpeg.bbed53e41bb9ffa4c73abde2f84a2539.jpeg

 

What do you think folks? 

 

How about something like the original Brill coach? Would go nicely with your tramcars:

 

800px-Huddersfield_at_Quainton_Road.jpg.e00bf42b21f32fe914cc832e8db7c57a.jpg

 

i00007pp.jpg.be84bcdb63eaf4824877a71add0ef365.jpg

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6 hours ago, sparks said:

 

 

How about something like the original Brill coach? Would go nicely with your tramcars:

 

800px-Huddersfield_at_Quainton_Road.jpg.e00bf42b21f32fe914cc832e8db7c57a.jpg

 

i00007pp.jpg.be84bcdb63eaf4824877a71add0ef365.jpg

 

I've thought about that before, but currently not sure. If I do build one in the future, I'd be tempted to build a model of the Bagnall 0-4-0IST (Wooton) that operated on the tramway to run with it. 

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37 minutes ago, sir douglas said:

you may also like this, the brake van on the Aberford railway near Garforth

1950943819_brakevanaberfordrailway.JPG.aaae917c4d112b52586d08f7f90def82.JPG


My goodness that’s an interesting looking vehicle! 

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Sometimes the best course of action is to start again, which proved to be the case with ETCo No.1! 
 

I wasn’t happy with the bodywork that I’d built for No.1, and with the vertical boiler and length of loco it ended up looking a bit off to me. 
 

Therefore some changes have been made.

 

56033B5B-3648-481A-945F-AB2DEDED07A4.jpeg.647cb74609ea4967b89b377c9266e935.jpeg

 

We start with the fact that this is now no longer No.1, but No.3, a much larger loco ordered a couple of years after the line opened to help with an increase in traffic. Unlike Nos.1 and 2 which have vertical boilers, No.3 has a locomotive type boiler. As can be seen she is also fitted with side tanks. 
 

That was the result of Thursday evenings work. By this evening work has progressed further:

 

7CDAC034-A87F-46A6-9BBA-D181E45CBF91.jpeg.122bb51011b8e136d442d450738995ad.jpeg
681BC7F9-0EDC-4AE4-9719-82B8611218CD.jpeg.7aa5d381dd6d3ac71a9defce69ba5e8e.jpeg

 

I’m much more pleased with how it looks now. The chimney is just temporary whilst I decide on height of roof etc. 
 

And compared with the ‘new’ No.1 which is a much smaller loco:

 

BC495745-2FCB-47AD-BBC9-08FEABB73A05.jpeg.5ce75bf8654b62d59258309115182c2a.jpeg

 

Its on the same chassis as No.3, except that I’ve cut off approx 12mm from each end to shorten it considerably. I’m aiming to make No.1 look much older by having curved cut outs etc. 
 

What do you think folks? 

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No.3 is coming along very nicely now:

 

4A98C967-B1D9-4FF3-AC82-1A5DF4D94953.jpeg.8b2c73707fc3591073bba5ec1c03e214.jpeg

 

2B34B20B-9035-4FA4-8D19-9300097B9397.jpeg.0db8f8f222a377af8b0b50e316749382.jpeg

 

Livery is RailMatch GW Indian Red - it suits the loco well I think. Next step is to sort out the roof and attempt the black border for the body panels. 

 

C61D1E9F-0A9B-43E2-B632-480D9BA7DFC6.jpeg.0512618fa02170ad7c708ae4dee90ead.jpeg

 

No.1 has taken shape as well, though there is still a way to go yet. 

What do you think folks? 

 

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Little bit more work on ETCo No.1 with bufferbeams and beading (my goodness that was fun!) now added:

 

0C9AC5BA-6D48-4E69-A8FF-9DFE76181B4A.jpeg.e0b524c4783e57d523d11b109adeac9c.jpeg

 

Bunkers next and I need to decide on whether it gains some upper panels to the body sides to support the roof or whether it just has a post in each corner. 
 

 

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I’ve now mocked up some upper body side panels on ETCo No.1:

 

D28110DB-3CBB-4118-A639-2BB5DA925A21.jpeg.63363561628fc68b6229e36de669f664.jpeg

 

Very much temporary at the moment to see what they look like and whether I still like them or not come tomorrow morning! 
 

I’m also contemplating adding a central upper panel to the ends, so may mock that up tomorrow to see what it looks like. 
 

The All-Third tramcar has now gained balcony railings:

 

AEC5EE32-91CA-4FDB-B2DB-40A3E18122AA.jpeg.8fabeaf33d0d0f9c7c1f5b405d460632.jpeg

 

I’ve gone down my traditional route of using Ratio 4mm GW Spear Fencing suitably modified. 
 

What do you think folks? 

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I’ve added an upper body panel now to the ends of ETCo to see what it looks like:

 

CA430F33-E66E-4D13-9684-7A488BEC8DDC.jpeg.3b659a82523877525a7d4e32aea07fbd.jpeg

 

935A602F-499B-44A1-B808-0496667A394C.jpeg.0c8f75ca082d54914c41720cf3ecf1d5.jpeg

 

A22597DB-532E-4CD3-9622-1688A355E5C6.jpeg.017d8425250a4068b158be9dafd6c071.jpeg

 

I really do like how this looks, so shall now sort out some proper panels (rather than these which are mockups). It’ll also mean I can start sorting out a roof for No.1 as well. 
 

What do you think folks? 

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9 hours ago, Corbs said:

Very smart, would it be simple 'pole' type roof supports at the corners?


Thanks Corbs.

 

Yes there will be some roof supports in each corner, as you suggest probably just a simple pole.

 

The upper body panels have now been added permanently, along with their beading etc.

 

1212FD30-1715-415B-8C7A-2A6D7E6214F5.jpeg.e6464d81d3100a85ff9d01f0d3d1e69b.jpeg

 

I couldn’t resist a nice photo of the three locos together:

 

61313546-A8FE-403A-87F6-108444985CBB.jpeg.05dce0d1c0548cbf233d4a518bf51214.jpeg

 

Still debating if I add some upper body panels to No.3 or not.

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Having just re-read this thread,I was just thinking could you not use those CCW axle boxes as masters and cast some more in resin(or something)?

 

atb

 

Phil.

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Thanks Phil, I hadn't thought of that option to be honest, but at the moment I'm happy with what I've fitted which have been cobbled together from various parts from Slaters. 

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