Reflections on Peak Forest

[Fordbank]

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

[Fordbank]

 

[joseph benjamin]

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.

[Fordbank]

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. 

[joseph benjamin]

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

[Fordbank]

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.

[Fordbank]

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.

[Fordbank]

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

 

 

[saxokid]

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.

[Fordbank]

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!

[Fordbank]

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.

[Fordbank]

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.

[joseph benjamin]

You've got some interesting photos particularly 60008 passing the remains of the old power station. 

[Fordbank]

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.

[Fordbank]

 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’.