Abbotswood and Norton Junctions - layout build

[Phil Bullock]

4 minutes ago, Liam said:

A bottle of Ampleforth ale might fit in that gap though...

Yes I thought that but had already drunk It all !

[Liam]

2 minutes ago, Phil Bullock said:

Yes I thought that but had already drunk It all !

https://abbeyshop.ampleforth.org.uk/1-case-of-ampleforth-abbey-beer-238-p.asp

 

😉

[Phil Bullock]

First trial fit of the road bridge today …. Coming along nicely 

 

 

For those who don’t know it here’s the prototype viewed from the other side…

Abbotswood road bridge

 

[Dagworth]

10 minutes ago, Phil Bullock said:

First trial fit of the road bridge today …. Coming along nicely 

 

 

For those who don’t know it here’s the prototype viewed from the other side…

Abbotswood road bridge

 

Will the new version have the tractor? 
 

Andi 

[Phil Bullock]

2 minutes ago, Dagworth said:

Will the new version have the tractor? 
 

Andi 

Occasionally! 😀

[Phil Bullock]

Road added to Abbotswood road over rail bridge yesterday. Road surface is black close cell foam painted with exterior smooth Vermont grey paint…. Rather happy with the finish. Parapet just the right height to lean on and watch passing trains….

[Andy 17]

On 25/11/2022 at 13:49, Phil Bullock said:

First trial fit of the road bridge today …. Coming along nicely 

 

 

For those who don’t know it here’s the prototype viewed from the other side…

Abbotswood road bridge

 

Why have you put in three tracks? I can only remember there being two. 

[PjKing1]

The bridge looks great Phil 

[Phil Bullock]

55 minutes ago, Andy 17 said:

Why have you put in three tracks? I can only remember there being two. 

You are right Andy there were only two. The third was just a kick back siding from up by the junction…. We have made it in to an up goods loop as it significantly improves operational flexibility .

Edited December 17, 2022 by Phil Bullock

[Andy 17]

25 minutes ago, Phil Bullock said:

You are right Andy there were only two. The third was just a kick back siding from up by the junction…. We have made it in to an up goods loop as it significantly improves operational flexibility .

Thanks Phil, I knew there would be a good reason. I spent a lot of time around that bridge over the years. 

[Phil Bullock]

4 minutes ago, Andy 17 said:

Thanks Phil, I knew there would be a good reason. I spent a lot of time around that bridge over the years. 

 

 Thanks Andy I think a lot of us did … and possibly at times when we should have been elsewhere…. 
 

Have you any memorable sightings there? 

[Andy 17]

25 minutes ago, Phil Bullock said:

 

 Thanks Andy I think a lot of us did … and possibly at times when we should have been elsewhere…. 
 

Have you any memorable sightings there? 

I remember lots of Westerns and Warships and on one occasion a convoy of 3 light engine Class 37s.

[Phil Bullock]

1 hour ago, Andy 17 said:

I remember lots of Westerns and Warships and on one occasion a convoy of 3 light engine Class 37s.

Warships and Westerns always memorable! Hymeks 10 a penny but great locos. Think my best cop was D6331 amongst all the Peaks and Brush 4s but I think Mt Thomas had the best cop … in 1972 …. D8598! Unfortunately he had used up all his film on those Peaks and Brush 4s…..

[Dagworth]

2 hours ago, Andy 17 said:

a convoy of 3 light engine Class 37s.

Only three? We used to send 4 down to Felixstowe from Ipswich as one lump most evenings as it saved paths on the branch. One move that I will definitely be recreating :)

 

Andi

[Phil Bullock]

2 hours ago, Andy 17 said:

I remember lots of Westerns and Warships and on one occasion a convoy of 3 light engine Class 37s.

 

 

14 minutes ago, Dagworth said:

Only three? We used to send 4 down to Felixstowe from Ipswich as one lump most evenings as it saved paths on the branch. One move that I will definitely be recreating :)

 

Andi

 

I bet it was 3 of the 8 EQ brake ones returning from Yorkshire for more South Wales duties. @br2975 Brian Rolley will no doubt be able to remind us of their numbers when he gets back from the USA … I

[Dagworth]

17 minutes ago, Phil Bullock said:

 

 

 

I bet it was 3 of the 8 EQ brake ones returning from Yorkshire for more South Wales duties. @br2975 Brian Rolley will no doubt be able to remind us of their numbers when he gets back from the USA … I

I only ever got on one loco with EQ brake, horrible thing, class 31 and a lot of engineering wagons. A brake that needed an experienced hand! 
 

Andi

[Phil Bullock]

12 minutes ago, Dagworth said:

I only ever got on one loco with EQ brake, horrible thing, class 31 and a lot of engineering wagons. A brake that needed an experienced hand! 
 

Andi

IIRC they were returned to South Wales specifically for use on Ebbw Vale duties…

[br2975]

22 hours ago, Phil Bullock said:

I bet it was 3 of the 8 EQ brake ones returning from Yorkshire for more South Wales duties. @br2975 Brian Rolley will no doubt be able to remind us of their numbers when he gets back from the USA … I

.

If this is the occasion to which Phil refers, the date was;

 

Saturday 01/05/1971

 

and my notes and sightings for the day are as follows...............

 

Cardiff General

40, 185,

1045, 1061, 1063, 1070,

1627+7089, 1649, 1657, 1666, 1720, 1729, 1926,

3819, 4010,

6604, 6877, 6878, 6879, 6918+6923+6929,

7042, 7054, 7055, 7062, 7081, 7086, 7089+1627,

(55025)+50705+59265+50647)+(50132), (55026)+(50660+59266+50729),

Cardiff – Radyr

Via Penarth Curve & ‘City Line’

109,

6977,

7042,

Cardiff Canton 86A (passing)

1031,

1667, 1729,

3259, 3747,

6878,

7060,

Radyr Yard S.P.

3266, 3960,

6941, 6876, 6886, 6955, 6958, 6990, 6995,

7075,

PWM651,

Cardiff Canton 86A (passing) 

1592,

3423,

(50701)

Cardiff General

1002, 1011,

1598, 1670,

6880+6976, 6882, 6914+6927+6930, 6980,

7016,

(50080+59030+50122), (51060+59419+51088), (55022),

Cardiff Canton 86A

49, 185,

1680, 1753, 1901, 1906, 1919, 

6914, 6917, 6918, 6923, 6927, 6928, 6930, 6939, 6974,

7048, 7056, 7064, 7065, 7068, 7079, 7081,

Cardiff General

191,

1006, 1045,

1637,

Waterhall Junction (located on the present day 'City Line')

(50088+59362+50130), (50648+59296+50706), (50681+50701), (50834+59038+50887), (50836+59344+50889), (50839+59347+50892), (50844+59335+50897), (50845+59353+50898), (50848+59356+50901), (50863+59371+50916), (50866+59374+50919), (50869+59035+50922),

NOTES (1)

It would appear that PW work around Cardiff Queen St. had forced the diversion of Merthyr and Treherbert services via Penarth Curve North and the now ‘City Line’

Hence the trip to Radyr.

Had I chosen to head east instead, to severn Tunnel Junction, I would have copped D828 'Magnificent' - the only one I never got to underline, a blank in my 'combines' that remains to this day.

NOTES (2)

6918+6923+6929, 6914+6927+6930 and also 6917+6939 arrived at Canton having been transferred from Healey Mills.

All eight are fitted with EQ brakes and were for exclusive use on Newport Ebbw Junction and Aberbeeg duties.

Prior to these examples, I believe the only EQ brake fitted locos in the area were two of the six Cl.25s (5179-5182, 7624/25) transferred from Holbeck to Ebbw Junction in October/November 1970

 

 

[Phil Bullock]

22 minutes ago, br2975 said:

.

If this is the occasion to which Phil refers, the date was;

 

Saturday 01/05/1971

 

and my notes and sightings for the day are as follows...............

 

Cardiff General

40, 185,

1045, 1061, 1063, 1070,

1627+7089, 1649, 1657, 1666, 1720, 1729, 1926,

3819, 4010,

6604, 6877, 6878, 6879, 6918+6923+6929,

7042, 7054, 7055, 7062, 7081, 7086, 7089+1627,

(55025)+50705+59265+50647)+(50132), (55026)+(50660+59266+50729),

Cardiff – Radyr

Via Penarth Curve & ‘City Line’

109,

6977,

7042,

Cardiff Canton 86A (passing)

1031,

1667, 1729,

3259, 3747,

6878,

7060,

Radyr Yard S.P.

3266, 3960,

6941, 6876, 6886, 6955, 6958, 6990, 6995,

7075,

PWM651,

Cardiff Canton 86A (passing) 

1592,

3423,

(50701)

Cardiff General

1002, 1011,

1598, 1670,

6880+6976, 6882, 6914+6927+6930, 6980,

7016,

(50080+59030+50122), (51060+59419+51088), (55022),

Cardiff Canton 86A

49, 185,

1680, 1753, 1901, 1906, 1919, 

6914, 6917, 6918, 6923, 6927, 6928, 6930, 6939, 6974,

7048, 7056, 7064, 7065, 7068, 7079, 7081,

Cardiff General

191,

1006, 1045,

1637,

Waterhall Junction (located on the present day 'City Line')

(50088+59362+50130), (50648+59296+50706), (50681+50701), (50834+59038+50887), (50836+59344+50889), (50839+59347+50892), (50844+59335+50897), (50845+59353+50898), (50848+59356+50901), (50863+59371+50916), (50866+59374+50919), (50869+59035+50922),

NOTES (1)

It would appear that PW work around Cardiff Queen St. had forced the diversion of Merthyr and Treherbert services via Penarth Curve North and the now ‘City Line’

Hence the trip to Radyr.

Had I chosen to head east instead, to severn Tunnel Junction, I would have copped D828 'Magnificent' - the only one I never got to underline, a blank in my 'combines' that remains to this day.

NOTES (2)

6918+6923+6929, 6914+6927+6930 and also 6917+6939 arrived at Canton having been transferred from Healey Mills.

All eight are fitted with EQ brakes and were for exclusive use on Newport Ebbw Junction and Aberbeeg duties.

Prior to these examples, I believe the only EQ brake fitted locos in the area were two of the six Cl.25s (5179-5182, 7624/25) transferred from Holbeck to Ebbw Junction in October/November 1970

 

 

That’s it many thanks Mr R! @br2975

[Phil Bullock]

A happy prosperous and fit New Year to all who follow this thread!

 

Modelling mojo seems to have dropped a bit in November and December so here’s a work programme for 2023 to keep me on track…. 
 

January…. Finish all phase 1 electrics …. That’s track feeds and points so we can then have a full test run and complete the routes on ECoS

 

February …. Finish all basic topography… just two more boards to do at the Norton end. Rapidly coming to the conclusion that the M5 over bridge at the northern end may be a bridge too far as it might force some gradients on to the road through Norton village that are too steep… we will see when we get there. That decision will influence the buildings we model in the village.

 

March …. Test running and start adding scenic detail up until July when we have a first outing to the GWSR diesel gala… possibly on Winchcombe station, we will see!

 

July onwards…. Phase 2 electrics which will be working signals installed (already built and waiting) and permissive block working with automatic train promotion in fiddle yard loops using ABC braking sections.

 

Leading on to our first show outing in 2024 … a tentative invite to the Redditch show in the Spring. 
 

Then there’s stock and locos to think about …. Have already started preparing locos to work with the ABC brake sections and fitting stay Alives  to the less reliable runners … Dapol Class 22s and Bachmann Warships and Class 40s. There’s some new stock to come …  Syphons plus Cookham Manor for preserved forays from Ashchurch, Class 25s from SLW and 31s from Accurascale. Rakes of wagons in for weathering include milk tanks, car flats and 21ton minerals plus some odd ones too …. More banana vans to build and Coil J S to finish, and a couple of catering vehicles to be painted. 

 

Hopefully along the line some lovely South Wales As built 37s, HOP21vbs and Some pre TOPs CBAs might get announced along with a Class 120 DMU. 
 

Plenty there to keep us going …. And hopefully a couple of other layout owners might ask me out as a guest operator too! 
 

See you all along the way….
 

 

Edited January 1, 2023 by Phil Bullock

[PjKing1]

Sounds like a cunning plan 😉 happy new year to you all Phil!

 

Paul

[Phil Bullock]

23 minutes ago, PjKing1 said:

Sounds like a cunning plan 😉 happy new year to you all Phil!

 

Paul

Certainly is ! A plan that’s as cunning as a fox from the Ministry of Cunning… 😀

 

Happy new year to you and the family fella 

[PjKing1]

6 hours ago, Phil Bullock said:

Certainly is ! A plan that’s as cunning as a fox from the Ministry of Cunning… 😀

 

Happy new year to you and the family fella 

Thanks Phil hopefully I’ll get along to one of your outings for a catch up 😃👍🏼 

[Phil Bullock]

6 minutes ago, PjKing1 said:

Thanks Phil hopefully I’ll get along to one of your outings for a catch up 😃👍🏼 

Would be great to see you…. 

[MJI]

Will we exer get a 120 RTR?

 

Or stilll have to scratch one.