Fordbank Posted March 11 Author Share Posted March 11 (edited) On 07/03/2024 at 20:37, joseph benjamin said: Thanks for the offer however my scenery formers are polystyrene with a thick layer of polyfilla into which I am carving the rocks to replicate this with my first attempt on an unseen portion. The second photo is just what I need, I've got the rest covered, many thanks. And a bit of detail:- Edited March 11 by Fordbank 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted March 11 Author Share Posted March 11 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph benjamin Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 Those photos were taken a while ago the tunnel cutting sides are now covered in mesh. I'm not very artistic and find scenery the most difficult aspect of the hobby consequently it has been left to the last but I'm getting the feel for it. Give me a drawing or some photos and I'll build almost anything like the station and the Buxton lime firms buildings although I had difficulty building the Ashwood Dale bridge from the photos I just couldn't scale anything. In the end I donned a high vis vest and Toetectors and armed with a clip board and tape measure I climbed onto the bridge and measured it, I was so engrossed I didn't spot the Network Rail gang until it was too late. We exchanged greetings and they carried on their way, I must have looked like I should be there. The reason I couldn't scale it was the railing supports are not evenly spaced. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted March 12 Author Share Posted March 12 4 hours ago, joseph benjamin said: Those photos were taken a while ago the tunnel cutting sides are now covered in mesh. I'm not very artistic and find scenery the most difficult aspect of the hobby consequently it has been left to the last but I'm getting the feel for it. Give me a drawing or some photos and I'll build almost anything like the station and the Buxton lime firms buildings although I had difficulty building the Ashwood Dale bridge from the photos I just couldn't scale anything. In the end I donned a high vis vest and Toetectors and armed with a clip board and tape measure I climbed onto the bridge and measured it, I was so engrossed I didn't spot the Network Rail gang until it was too late. We exchanged greetings and they carried on their way, I must have looked like I should be there. The reason I couldn't scale it was the railing supports are not evenly spaced. Lovely model of the station building, and I'd like to see more of Peak Forest North Box. You've clearly got lots of space. I think the layout deserves its own thread on its merits to truly show it off. And as we have been talking Dove Holes Cutting, an opportunity to share this fabulous photo by Adrian Nicholls:- '60015 emerging from the ice cave.08.032018.' Photo by Adrian Nicholls on Flickr. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph benjamin Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 (edited) I was following David Jenkinson's method for the station of 1/8" ply covered in Faller's dressed limestone but unfortunately Faller discontinued it and for years it was bare ply. Then covid lockdown gave me the chance to address the problem using Noch building cards. I used 3 signal box kits to build Peak Forest north and south boxes and the north box has two sets of steps with the early version shown here. Edited March 12 by joseph benjamin 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 End of an era? #1 - A Long Goodbye to Class 60s at Peak Forest. On 17th January 2024 the last of DB Cargo’s Class 60s were withdrawn from service. It would be seriously remiss for Reflections not to mark the occasion. Just days before withdrawal by DB Cargo, “Clitheroe Castle” 60024 with 6H02 09:30 Warrington Arpley - Tunstead Quarry Sdgs consisting of the Brunner Mond JEA hoppers approaching Chinley Nth Junc. Photo: Vincent Hardy from Flickr. For over 30 years Peak Forest has been a bastion for the Type 5 heavy freight locomotive built by Brush Traction in Loughborough. Class 60s were first regularly seen at Peak Forest in 1989 hauling the new KPA bogie hopper wagons owned by Tiphook Rail. ‘18-9-94 Great Rocks Jct. 60082 pulls out of the loop on Hindlow - Tunstead empty limestone train’ made up of Tiphook KPA wagons.’ Photo Robert Catterson from Flickr. When the old four wheel 27ton tippler wagons were replaced by newer JGA bogie hoppers belonging to RMC, it was class 60s, still in their original Railfreight sector liveries, which also took over these workings out of Dove Holes Quarry. Peak Forest 1-5-97 60088 reverse into Dove Holes Quarry on empty RMC hoppers from Hope Street stone terminal Photo John Catterson from Flickr December 1997 saw the end of the iconic PHV hoppers working through Peak Forest between Tunstead Quarry and Bruner Mond at Northwich in Cheshire. In their latter days the PHV hoppers were haiuled by class 37s often working in pairs due to the need for traction to be equipped with vacuum brakes. The PHV hoppers were however replaced temporarily by ex Yeoman four wheel PGA hoppers and with them and their air brakes came more class 60s. The ageing PGAs were themselves replaced in 2001 by Bruner Mond Ltd. with 27 new JEA wagons and here too class 60s would become the staple motive power for the next 23 years. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 End of an era? #2 - A Tribute to Peak Forest Tugs The Class 60s might all but have deserted the real Peak Forest but they continue to enliven Peak Forest Revived. ‘26th January 1998. Loadhaul liveried 60007 arrives at Peak Forest from Washwood Heath with a rake of empty RMC hoppers’ Peak Forest 21-2-98. 60008 is seen stabling its train of empty RMC hoppers from Washwood Heath in the sidings alongside the mainline. Photo John Catterson from Flickr. ‘30th March 2003. Having refuelled at the fuel point 60078 sets back into the Up holding sidings before picking up its rake of loaded limestone hoppers from Tunstead for the short haul up to Hindlow.’ '60011 starts up on Railside at Peak Forest, 23rd Oct 2010.' Photo Dave Wragg from Flickr One day soon (lol) I will repaint and detail this rake of Yeoman JGAs to reflect the ageing wagons which stood in for the PHV hoppers until the replacement Bruner Mond JEAs arrived. Until then they will have to go back in their box! ‘2nd April 1998. Still in Mainline livery 60077 waits at Peak Forest for a driver change before it departs for Northwich with its loaded PGAs.’ Peak Forest 30-5-98. 60077 passes on the Saturday morning empty PGAs returning from Northwich to Tunstead Photo John Catterson from Flickr. 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 End of an Era? #3 During the 1990s it was quite possible to see six or more Class 60s, together with newer 66s, and older class 37s, all stabled in the Up Holding Sidings at Peak Forest. Resources were sweated less vigorously then. ‘EWS Class 60s: 60074.60053.60011.60012.60033.and 60094 stabled at Peak Forest on the 17th April 2005’ Photo David Burrell from Flickr. '27th April 2003. EWS liveried 60029 stands in front of 60077, 60078, and with 60007 just visible behind' 60045 on the fuelling point at Peak Forest, 14th July 2012. Photo Dave Wragg from Flickr. ‘10th December 2014. EWS 60029 ‘Clitheroe Castle’ stands on the fuelling point at Peak Forest. Ten years later 60029 would be one of the very last DB Cargo owned class 60s to work to Peak Forest’ Such was the importance of class 60s as key motive power for limestone aggregate traffic from Tunstead and Dove Holes that they became the location of appropriate naming ceremonies. ‘16th December 2015. Having returned to the Peak District following its naming ceremony two days earlier, 60044 ‘Dowlow’ waits at the DB Schenker traincrew offices located in the old station building at Peak Forest.’ ‘On 27th April 2015, a small ceremony at the Cemex Dove Holes quarry saw 60039 named "Dove Holes" in recognition of the relationship between the quarry and the railways, which over the years have moved so much stone from here. The loco and some of the quarry staff pose for the official photographers.’ Photo: Down to Nowhere from Flickr 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxokid Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 On 02/04/2024 at 19:48, Fordbank said: End of an Era? #3 During the 1990s it was quite possible to see six or more Class 60s, together with newer 66s, and older class 37s, all stabled in the Up Holding Sidings at Peak Forest. Resources were sweated less vigorously then. ‘EWS Class 60s: 60074.60053.60011.60012.60033.and 60094 stabled at Peak Forest on the 17th April 2005’ Photo David Burrell from Flickr. '27th April 2003. EWS liveried 60029 stands in front of 60077, 60078, and with 60007 just visible behind' 60045 on the fuelling point at Peak Forest, 14th July 2012. Photo Dave Wragg from Flickr. ‘10th December 2014. EWS 60029 ‘Clitheroe Castle’ stands on the fuelling point at Peak Forest. Ten years later 60029 would be one of the very last DB Cargo owned class 60s to work to Peak Forest’ Such was the importance of class 60s as key motive power for limestone aggregate traffic from Tunstead and Dove Holes that they became the location of appropriate naming ceremonies. ‘16th December 2015. Having returned to the Peak District following its naming ceremony two days earlier, 60044 ‘Dowlow’ waits at the DB Schenker traincrew offices located in the old station building at Peak Forest.’ ‘On 27th April 2015, a small ceremony at the Cemex Dove Holes quarry saw 60039 named "Dove Holes" in recognition of the relationship between the quarry and the railways, which over the years have moved so much stone from here. The loco and some of the quarry staff pose for the official photographers.’ Photo: Down to Nowhere from Flickr Very nice info and modelling here Andy,now following your progress. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted April 13 Author Share Posted April 13 (edited) End of an Era? #4 - And Then There Was One. DB Cargo having withdrawn its class 60s from Peak Forest workings, and GB Railfreight preferring to utilise class 66s for its aggregate trains out of Dove Holes quarry means that currently there remains just one regular class 60 powered stone working passing through Peak Forest. DCRail 60046 "William Wilberforce" ….. on 6Z82 Peak Forest / Dove Holes Cemex - Brandon Down Sidings at Peak Forest, departed 9 Early at 13:50 29/02/2024 Photo: Jon Gavin from Flickr During March 2019, DCR acquired four Class 60 diesel locomotives from the freight operator DB Cargo UK. Prior to entering service, these were overhauled by DB Cargo at Toton TMD; 60046 was the first to enter service with DCR in November 2019. Both 60028 and 60055 joined the fleet during December 2019 while 60029 arrived in 2020. DC Rail also bought eight additional redundant class 60s from DB Cargo ( 60008, 60009, 60038, 60061, 60064, 60070, 60080, 60090 ) but to the best of my knowledge these reside untouched on the tarmac apron outside the former Brush factory in Loughborough having been transferred by road from from Toton. Peak Forest Revived - Post Script. Time to call a halt. The planned release of the Cavalex class 60 in DCR livery together with the forthcoming release of MMR wagons in an appropriate blue livery will enable a future model of the 6Z82 Peak Forest / Dove Holes Cemex - Brandon Down Sidings working to be replicated on Peak Forest Revived. However attractive as the proposition seems such a recreation would likely be a train too far in terms of the time period of Peak Forest Revived, and more pertinently in terms of the bank balance! But who knows what the future holds….. Peak Forest 20-7-23 60029 draws its train out of Dove Holes quarry into the "Long Siding" at Peak Forest. The 60 will then work 6Z27 Peak Forest-Brandon service. Photo: John Catterson. Taken from a tree (of course!). Edited April 13 by Fordbank Spelling! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted April 14 Author Share Posted April 14 Back to 4mm:1 Foot - A little bit of modelling: some aggregate loads for JGA wagons. If aggregate trains are to depart Peak Forest Revived as well as to arrive then the wagons need to appear loaded. However making stone loads for the two rakes of JGAs on PFR is made a bit trickier than for the PHV limestone hoppers (see post November 20th 2018 above) due to the inwardly overhanging tops of the sides on JGAs. Unless the loads are to become permanent features of the wagons then they need to be no wider than the top opening of the hopper. In order not to leave a gap down each side of the load it is necessary to be precise in modelling the height of the aggregate load to just below the lip of the wagon top, whilst simultaneously not making it totally flat topped since the aggregate loads in the real wagons generally have several shallow peaks caused by the overhead filling hoppers. Not difficult just a bit fiddly to carve in polystyrene. Fortunatel it is possible to get away with a single set of JGA wagon loads for both the RMC “Cherry” rake, and the Bli rake of hoppers. They just can’t be pathed to depart Peak Forest Revived at the same time! The not-quite-finished loads - a bit of touching up the ballast remains. Of course removable loads means the they not only have to fit in the wagons but also have to be easy to take out. My chosen solution is to utilise the force generated in matter by the motion of electrons within its atoms. Magnetism! Or to put it another way – shove a metal screw into the polystyrene:- The green ball in the photo above is simply a handy fridge magnet. Works a treat. 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 Train #3 – JGA Buxton Lime Industries Bogie Hopper Wagons Twenty bogie hopper wagons were built for Buxton Lime Industries in 1994 by Tatrastroj Poprad of Slovakia for limestone traffic from Tunstead. The wagons were primarily utilised to transport limestone to coal fired power stations for the flue gas desulphurisation process, and to convey limestone quarried at Tunstead the short distance to the cement and lime works at Hindlow as limestone extraction had been halted there. Toton 14-6-96 60032 passes on the Ratcliffe-Tunstead empty stone working using the new Buxton Lime Industries wagons. Photo John Catterson 'Peak Forest, 21st June 1996. 60077 arrives from Ratcliffe power station and passes Peak Forest South Signal Box with its train of empty limestone hoppers.' 17-4-98 Great Rocks Jct. 60030 awaits the signal to draw its empty limestone train from Hindlow into Tunstead quarry. Photo: Robert Catterson '6th June 1998. Having arrived from Hindlow and run round its train of empty hoppers, 60029 departs down the grade to Tunstead for reloading.' On the real Peak Forest loaded trains leaving Tunstead quarry on workings to Hindlow leave Great Rocks Junction towards Peak Forest and use the Up/Down loop to run around their train before heading south to Buxton URS where they will run around a second time before taking the old High Peak line to the quarries at Hindlow and Dowlow. Peak Forest Revived, having less space than the real world, trains pathed from Tunstead to Hindlow have to run round at Peak Forest itself. In normal operation a train from Tunstead will cross onto Railside adjacent to the down main line and the train engine will use the Down Main to run around before heading back in the direction of Great Rocks Junction. However as in the real world Peak Forest Revived can be conjested and the use of Railside to shunt trains loading at Dove Holes quarry can mean that Railside is unavailable as a run round loop. In this case trains needing to run round in order to access Tunstead do so using the shorter freight loop adjacent to the Up Main directly in front of the signal box. 60029 in the photo above has used exactly this pathing. Great Rocks Junction 15-4-07 (SUN) 60059 leaves the loop on the empties from Hindlow for Tunstead Quarry Photo: John Catterson '12th May 2001, 60007, having run round its empty train from Hindlow, departs Railside towards Great Rocks Junction and Tunstead quarry.' Buxton URS 30-3-03 (SUN) 60044 has just dropped off its empty BLI hoppers in Buxton URS in order to run-round the Sunday Hindlow-Tunstead empties. Photo; John Catterson '14th April 2003. 60078 still in Mainline livery, has arrived from Tunstead and run round its loaded limestone hoppers on Railside. It is seen recoupling to its train before rolling down the 1in 100 grade to Great Rocks Junction where it will pick up the token for the line via Ashwood Dale to Buxton.' '14th April 2003. 60078 lifts its train of loaded BLi hoppers off Railside and departs for Buxton URS.' Footnote. It was the introduction of the Bachmann BLi hoppers which provided the first inspiration to model Peak Forest. Thus the rake of blue JGA wagons now constitute Train #3 on Peak Forest Revived. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph benjamin Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 You've got some interesting photos particularly 60008 passing the remains of the old power station. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted April 18 Author Share Posted April 18 3 hours ago, joseph benjamin said: You've got some interesting photos particularly 60008 passing the remains of the old power station. I have tried to find a photo of the old power station when it was still operational, but without success. I also fancied modelling the remains of the power station next to Railside but Peak Forest Revived lacks the space. Of course I cheated with the old lime kilns by moving them across to the stabling sidings, They add too much to the atmosphere of Peak Forest to omit. Modellers' license. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted April 19 Author Share Posted April 19 And in no particular numerical order…. Train #14 - MEA Box Wagons 60081 "Isambard Kingdom Brunel" with a rake of MEAs in one of the sidings at Peak Forest on 29/08/02 Photo Steve Jones The humble two axle MEA box wagon was a Peak Forest staple prior to the millenium charge towards ever longer trains of bogie box wagons. The MEAs were converted in several batches from redundant HEA coal and other wagons from 1990 onwards by RFS Engineering at Doncaster and later by Marcroft Engineering and others. Early wagons were ordered by Railfreight Coal, but these were followed by further conversions for the shadow freight compaies Loadhaul and Mainline Freight. After these wagons transferred to EWS, the latter company ordered further batches which were delivered new in EWS maroon livery. By 1998 EWS had 573 MEAs in traffic. The result was rakes of wagons in a colourful mix of liveries often adorned with a variety of logos betraying their individual origins.* 5-4-2006 Great Rocks Jct. 60038 on 6H59 Peak Forest - Dowlow empty MEAs Photo Robert Catterson from Flickr. ‘4th May 2004. 60029 passes the Train Crew Depot located in the former station building with 6H59 the empty box wagons from Ashburys S.S.' ‘4-05-2004. Peak Forest. 60029 on 6H59 with its train of MEA box wagons heads to Dowlow for reloading. 60077 stands at the fuel point ’ Stone from the Peak District quarries was conveyed in MEA box wagons for the extension of the M60 motorway and the construction of the second runway at Manchester Airport. Trains, from Dove Holes to Manchester Airport used MEAs prior to the opening of the hopper discharge drops in January 1998. The Airport trains often featured class 56 traction. ‘23rd August 1997. 56059 arrives at Peak Forest from Manchester Airport with its train of empty box wagons. The wagons will be left on the stabling sidings until they are taken across to Dove Holes quarry for re-loading.’ ‘23rd August 1997. 56059 shunts its train into the stabling sidings at Peak Forest.’ Peak Forest 1-7-06 EWS had recently started putting large EWS transfers on the sides of their locos which brightened up the plain grey locos such as 60013 seen stabled over the week-end on a rake of MEAs in the sidings next to Dove Holes Quarry Photo John Catterson On Peak Forest Revived the MEA wagons will in the future also provide plenty of scope for some interesting weathering:- Photo Jon Gavin from Flickr. *My thanks to Paul Harrison and his informative book ‘Wagons in the Peak District’. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted April 29 Author Share Posted April 29 Stone And more aggregate wagon loads for PFR. Peak Forest is built on stone. Literally. Built on millions and millions of tons of limestone. You can’t really complain about having to make dozens of aggregate (crushed stone) wagon loads if you locate your model amidst two of the biggest limestone quarries in Europe. Tunstead. The massive quarry buildings dwarf the shunter sitting inthe arrivals sidings. Every year, Tarmac’s Tunstead Quarry blasts, shovels, crushes and dispatches around six million tonnes of Derbyshire limestone to feed British industry. Of that massive total, 50% is taken away by rail in various forms. Between eight and 10 loaded trains leave the extensive rail sidings every weekday. Even at weekends there can be up to four trains per day loading to around 1,800 tonnes each. And Cemex’s Dove Holes Quarry is of a not dissimilar size. Additionally aggregate traffic from nearby Dowlow Quarry and, most recently, the re-opened Hillhead Quarry is also routed through Peak Forest. Hillhead Quarry re-opened in June 2023. A single bucket loader is seen charging the box wagons with crushed stone. 66607 awaits loading completion before departing at 17:30 with the 6Z40 to Leyland B sidings, via Buxton URS and Peak Forest. Photo: Stephen Stubbs from Flickr. Aggregate loads for the MJAs on Peak Forest Revived. The wagon loads for the bogie box wagons on PFR are shaped into heaps to mimic the shapes created when the wagons are loaded by a wheeled loader as at Hillhead where a Doosan bucket loader is employed. Where wagons are loaded under hoppers the loaded aggregate typically forms five or six cones. The loads for box wagons are easier to construct. No fancy magnets are employed (see post 14 April above): a sloping end to the bottom enables the load to be quickly removed by applying light finger pressure to one end. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted April 29 Author Share Posted April 29 … and hence Train #6 - Freightliner MJA Box Wagons ‘4th April 2007. 66612 passes Peak Forest South signal box with its train of MJA box wagons on 6G89 Tunstead to Small Heath.’ In 2003 Freightliner Heavy Haul introducedsixty newly built dark green liveried bogie box wagons. They were constructed by Greenbrier and ran as twin sets with a solid draw bar between each pair of wagons with conventional hook and buffers at either end. The wagons have run from Tunstead, Dowlow, and most recently from Hillhead Quarry. 66617 at Peak Forest 03/03/2020 Photo Jon Gavin from Flickr. '3rd March 2018. 66612 6F70 loaded limestone from Tunsted sidings to Garston' Train #6 on Peak Forest Revived consists of five twinset MJA wagons. These MJA twin wagons were modelled in 4mm scale by Dapol and are beautifully free running (Accurascale please note!); even if the Heavy Haul nameboards on the wagon sides are somewhat wont to fall off! 20/03/20. 56312 & 66614 at Peak Forest Photo Jon Gavin from Flickr. ‘66612 approaches Peak Forest from Tunstead with its train of loaded limestone whilst the resident shunter for Dove Holes, 56302, sits on Railside awaiting its next duty.’ 66620 with the 6H51 11:04 Hardendale Qry Shap (Fhh) to Tunstead Sdgs, with 20 empty box wagons, moving slowly through Peak Dale on their way to Tunstead Quarry, a couple of miles down the line, on Tuesday 30th June 2020. Photo The Silkmoth from Flickr. “Coals to Newcastle”. '30th June 2020. 66612 passes the DB Train Crew Depot at Peak Forest with 6H51 empty boxes from Hardendale Quarry in Cumbria. I believe that at this time limestone was being railed to Shap from Tunstead to supply the Four Maerz PFR limekilns at the Tata Steel operated Hardendale Quarry as the local Hardendale quarry was not producing sufficient stone at this time. A single PFR Maerz kiln can process up to 800 tons of burnt lime per day.' 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted May 3 Author Share Posted May 3 Short Trains - #1 Even in the real world of aggregate trains not all trains are loaded with eighteen plus wagons. With GBRailfreight, DB Cargo, and Freightliner all having freight facilities and crew depots at either Dove Holes or Tunstead, there is good reason to use the opportunity of loading aggregate wagons to reform rakes and thus enable routine servicing or the repair of wagons to take place. Wagons belonging to EWS/DB Cargo are normally detached at Peak Forest and left on the Stabling Sidings until onward movement to Warington Arpley from where they may then be forwarded to Axiom Rail in Stoke on Trent. HIA hoppers and MJA box wagons belonging to Freightliner are usually taken out of rakes within the sidings at Tunstead and then moved via the Freightliner sidings at Hope onwards to Leeds Hunslet Yard. ‘5th June 2019, 66135 exits Peak Forest South Sidings with a short train to Warrington Arpley’ 66176 6H65 Warrrington Arpley yard to Peak Forest trip returning wagons after repair at Stony Bridge Timperley 06-05-19 Photo: Colin Peter Hobson from Flickr. ‘22nd May 2017. Having changed crew at Peak Forest, 66135 departs for Warrington via the Cheshire Lines route through Northenden and Altringham.‘ 66090 6H85 Warrington Arpley to Peak Forest trip passing Broadoak Lane Mobberley 28-08-17 Photo: Colin Peter Hobson from Flickr. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pharrc20 Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 It seems quite common now to see loaded wagons in amongst a rake of empty boxes or hoppers. I guess they have either run out of time to empty all of the wagons, the wagon itself is defective in some way, external plant failure like unloading machinery and conveyors etc. So quite legit to see a random wagon or two loaded up with limestone or aggregate grade stone. It has even happened recently with the Tunstead to Northwich Lostock limestone JEA hoppers, as a rake of 22 behind the 'new' 66651 were observed near Timperley with the last two hoppers still loaded 😳 whoops. Cheers Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted May 4 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 4 1 hour ago, pharrc20 said: It seems quite common now to see loaded wagons in amongst a rake of empty boxes or hoppers. I guess they have either run out of time to empty all of the wagons, most of the time with our lot is hey have run out of time to unload, I’ve worked one back to peak forest from small heath with 13 of the 21 loaded before now, you suggest leaving the wagons in the yard but they seem insistent on running them back and forth loaded for some reason! it’s a pain as empty you are a class 4, 75 mph train, loaded it’s 60 mph with weight restrictions in place for the heavy axle load! this is actually the first time I’ve seen this thread, very impressed with the layout 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pharrc20 Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 1 hour ago, big jim said: most of the time with our lot is hey have run out of time to unload, I’ve worked one back to peak forest from small heath with 13 of the 21 loaded before now, you suggest leaving the wagons in the yard but they seem insistent on running them back and forth loaded for some reason! it’s a pain as empty you are a class 4, 75 mph train, loaded it’s 60 mph with weight restrictions in place for the heavy axle load! this is actually the first time I’ve seen this thread, very impressed with the layout Yes, time seems to be the enemy and as you say Jim, they are very reluctant to start splitting up sets of wagons to leave behind those that have not yet been unloaded. But then you get the time weight penalty for going back to the quarries as a class 6 ? service instead. And presumably slightly more fuel consumption too? Cheers Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pharrc20 Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 Interesting, I have seen another Peak Forest inspired layout posted by it's owner over on the Bookface site by a Richard Williams. There is also the exhibition layout that Nik Browne is doing too, and your good layout too Andy, plus going back in time, the one by Joseph. Over in N gauge, Pete Latham has done at least 2 Peak Forest inspired layouts that I can think of. Cheers Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted May 4 Author Share Posted May 4 6 hours ago, pharrc20 said: Interesting, I have seen another Peak Forest inspired layout posted by it's owner over on the Bookface site by a Richard Williams. There is also the exhibition layout that Nik Browne is doing too, and your good layout too Andy, plus going back in time, the one by Joseph. Over in N gauge, Pete Latham has done at least 2 Peak Forest inspired layouts that I can think of. Cheers Paul Yes, Peak Forest is certainly a popular location to model; but in my opinion for good reason. Peak Forest is unusual for having heavily industrialised sites within an upland location. Moreover Peak Forest benefits from a complex hitory in which the quarrying industry grew alongside the development of rail transport - the Peak Forest Tramway. In more recent times Peak Forest was on the route of the main line between St Pancras and Manchester Central. Plenty to model. I'm certainly biased but I reckon there's enough of interest at Peak Forest to support more than a couple of layouts. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Nik Browne's ambitious exhibition layout which I believe has its debut at Darlington on September 13th/14th this year. PS Or maybe you think its time now to call time on Peak Forest Revived and start something fresh - perhaps located more in the direction of the Hindlow Quarries? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted May 4 Author Share Posted May 4 Short Trains #2 - 6E03 Freightliner wagons serving Peak Forest which are in need of repair or routine servicing are currently despatched to the Freightliner depot at Hunslet Yard in Leeds. The move is made on a dedicated train which may stop over at Hope in the Edale valley to pick up any crippled wagons from Earles Sidings. 6E03 Tunstead - Hunslet Yard | Peak Forest | 66416. 29/02/2024 Photo Daniel Stanbridge from Flickr ‘13th July 2023. 66612 approaches Peak Forest South signal box on 6E03 wagon servicing and repair move from Tunstead to Earles Sidings.’ ‘13th July 2023. The same train,6E03, passes the fuel point with a light trailing load of just three empty wagons.’ 66 617 with extra 4Z66 at Peak Forest. In the final few metres of the climb to Peak Forest Summit at 984ft 66 617 is getting along nicely thanks to its single wagon load. The rising 1/90 gradient here usually reduces loaded trains to little more than walking pace from a standing start at Great Rocks Junctions. On this occasion a single open box wagon going for repairs is the consist of additional 4Z66 the 07.51 Tunstead Quarry to Leeds Hunslet Yard. Photo taken 17th January.2018 Photo Adrian Nicholls ‘17th June 2018. 66612 with just a single wagon for repair on 6E03, passes under Batham Gate Road at Peak Forest’ 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordbank Posted May 6 Author Share Posted May 6 Not a lot going on….. ‘An unusually quiet Peak Forest. The signalman puts on a brew. One of the fitters wanders back from the toilet. Not a lot happening…..’ One of the times I most appreciate Peak Forest Revived is coming into a dark garage, turning on the layout lights, and seeing a quiet and empty Peak Forest. No sounds, no trains running, just a couple of wagons left (forgotten?) at the end of South Sidings. Many model railway layouts are busy: crowded with cameos, model cars, model people, too many locos, and too much stock for too little track. It’s perfectly understandable; we don’t have the space of the real world, and there are so many tempting models. But just sometimes less is more….. The real Peak Forest is rarely quiet in daylight. Barely ever empty of locomotives - whether arriving, departing, or simply waiting. Any attempt to mimic the busy times on the real thing would make Peak Forest Revived resemble a toy train set! A busy time at Peak Forest 66078 stabled on the fuel line, 60044 shunts its train in the down sidings, 66623 waits with 6D25 1148 Tunstead Sdgs to Radlett Redland Roadstone and 60059 which is coupled to 66142 & 66114 waits access to the sidings behind the signal box. 10th November 2022. Photo Chris McLeod from Flickr Peak Forest Overview 60029 66788 66078 60017 66154 66074 66066 Stabled at Peak Forest 06/06/2021 Photo Jon Gavin from Flickr. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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