Sedbergh, as a preserved railway

[Firecracker]

Anyway, from that fictional nonsense, to a bit of actual operation (although a flick through ‘Red Panniers’ has brought thoughts of a fictional LT depot (provisionally called ‘Lilly Bridge’) back to the surface).  However, as I’ve said before, in recent months modelling time has been few and far between, so for the first time in longer than I care to admit, an operating session was held, with the two rustons (or is the plural rustii?) knocking some wagons about, the class 24 rearranged the yard (mainly to get used to the fine control on it for shunting) and the Janus acted as station pilot.

 

 

 

 

Owain

Edited April 10, 2022 by Firecracker

[Firecracker]

Just a quick one more, a shot of the Ruston on its works train, propelling back into the station.

 

Owain

Edited April 10, 2022 by Firecracker

[Firecracker]

Before the service started this morning, the opportunity was taken to knock some wagons about with the Rustons.  The gunpowder/tool van was fished out of the yard headshunt and the trout made ready for a spot ballasting job, to save having to work one of the sea cows up from Cowan Bridge.

Owain

Edited April 10, 2022 by Firecracker

[Firecracker]

Right, I thought I’d break cover with a very brief update (also the first time I’ve looked in here in about a fortnight).  When I said I wasn’t holding my breath on modelling time in 2022, I wasn’t quite expecting what’s happened.  Basically family, RealLife(tm) and a rather major career change have (to quote Blaster Bates) “Somewhat knackered it”.
 

Short version, I’ve decided to have a go at going self employed, with my alleged skills in the fields of repairing old mechanical things and making big lumps of metal into far smaller lumps.  This affects my antics on here because (apart from the obvious time and money) the metalworking machines (plus a very large workbench) need to emerge from the garage and cross the Pennines to a new workshop, where they will be joined by others.  Hence, in the next month I’m going to find out if Sedbergh is as easily dismantled and portable as planned.  This doesn’t mean anything’s being scrapped, the plan is dismantle, get all the ‘stuff’ out, then hopefully it goes back up.  On the plus side, I’ll have the space for the extension I’ve had planned for the last few years.  If I’ll have the time is a totally different question.   Anyway, if the hiatus on here continues for a bit, don’t be alarmed, normal service will resume at some point.

 

Owain

[Firecracker]

Right, as threatened, an update.  It took two months, but Sedbergh is temporarily dismantled so the next move(s) can occur. Here’s the problem, this

and this

and this (along with the surface plate, vice and all the crap on it)

need to move to where they can be loaded onto a vehicle to start a new life in Cumbria (ironically, not that far from the 12”:1’ version of Sedbergh).  Only problem is, this (plus a lot of random junk) is in the way.

So, in one of the delights of batchelor life, Sedbergh is currently in the front room (the plastic boxes are some of the rolling stock)

and with a good tidy and a run to the tip, this is ready to move the machines.

Definitely earned a cup of tea…

 

Owain

[Vecchio]

All the best with your move. Will be a heavy lifting thing. I suppose your lathe is about 450kg and the mill will not be much less... 

Was easier for me when I moved my workshop a year ago, my hobby lathe only has 130kg. 

[Firecracker]

Another brief update, with precisely naff all modelling content…

 

Anyway, the small mill, compressor and most of the associated tooling have moved.

And taken up residence on the other side of the Pennines.

Transport has been arranged (the background may be recognised).

Paying jobs have started to roll in (stub axle off a skid steer loader, being modified to take an available lip seal, rather than the unobtainable OEM seal).

And in general, progress has been made.  Watch this space.

 

Owain

 

 

[Firecracker]

Right.  We finally have some progress with added modelling content.  Sedbergh is back!

 

The last machine, in the form of the lathe was extracted from the garage.  The CNC had gone across the previous week and the Warco milling machine is staying, partly as a GTi drill press.  The large bench is also staying, because it’s too long for the other workshop.

Loaded into my trailer…

And set up on the other side of the Pennines after a service and damned good clean, where it promptly went to work earning money.

A final sortout has lead to a last load of materials to go across (for the curious, that’s what roughly £100 in 2022 gets you in mild steel bar (ignoring the dexion, heavy angle or the three lengths of studding).  It didn’t cost that in 2015 when I bought it..

and a floor that’s clear apart from the oil stains.

So Sedbergh went back up in the space.  It’s been set up slightly differently, because I want to sort the northbound (Lowgill) fiddleyard, but it’s back in one piece again.  

All I need now is those extra two days in the week, to get the time to work on it…

 

Owain

Edited October 8, 2022 by Firecracker

[Firecracker]

And as an aside, if anyone’s interested, if you search on Facebook (yes, I know, not everyone uses it and I’ll cheerfully agree it’s a double edged sword at best) for ‘Fellgate Engineering’ you’ll find the venture and progress on 12”:1’ stuff.  

Mods, if this is classed as advertising and I shouldn’t be doing it, I’ll pull it.

 

Owain

[Vecchio]

Wish you all the best. Nice if your job is what you love doing.

[Firecracker]

Details have gone back and the first running session since early June.  Much to my surprise, no electrical issues and the only damage seems to be one broken figure and two metcalfe platform seats that got stood on after they fell off one of the boards.  Anyway, photos.

 

Owain

[Firecracker]

And now for something no one expects (and it’s not the Spanish Inquisition).  As part of its latest heritage development, the L,S&I railway has taken delivery of three chauldron wagons for display on loan from the national collection, seen here in the car park at Sedbergh following their delivery by Hiab lorry.

In short, when accurascale  announced them, I had to have a set and decided on the Lambton ones.  However, I’d like to be able to tow these about and to satisfy my inner engineer, the solution has to work in 12”-1’ as well as 4mm-1’.  So, following in Beamish’s footsteps (where they use a converted flat wagon), we need a barrier or translator wagon, ideally two.  The first arrives in the form of this NER birdcage brake (complete with extended dumb buffers).

The second, following a rummage in the kit stash drawer…

Is this NER hopper, which must have been in stock for at least 20 years.

Now I know these ain’t common, but there’s at least two of the brakes preserved EDIT -  there’s 4 intact (Beamish, 2 at Tanfield (one modified in NCB service) and Hull) and a derelict body on allotments in Shildon according to the RHRP database and a couple of the hoppers, so it’s not a million miles off feasible.  How a preserved railway in South Lakes has got 3 NE wagons off the national collection - well the KWVR did get the Taff Vale tank on loan…

 

Owain

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by Firecracker

[Firecracker]

I couldn’t resist posing this and then had to share it, because of how ridiculous it looks!  These wagons are tiny! Before anyone says anything though, reality is unrealistic.  If this was two mk1 coaches, a pipefit carrying an inflatable giraffe and a LMS 20t brakevan towed by a class 37 - I’ve just watched a video of that going up the bank to Goathland!

With the brake van delivered, the chauldron wagons are shunted for the first time by the Janus.

Owain

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by Firecracker

[Firecracker]

A little, wafer thin, morsel of genuine modelling!  The railway has had a new scrap skip dropped off, from well known scrap metal processors Charlie Strong Metals of Small Heath…

Owain

 

[6990WitherslackHall]

On 10/10/2022 at 18:41, Firecracker said:

I couldn’t resist posing this and then had to share it, because of how ridiculous it looks!  These wagons are tiny! Before anyone says anything though, reality is unrealistic.  If this was two mk1 coaches, a pipefit carrying an inflatable giraffe and a LMS 20t brakevan towed by a class 37 - I’ve just watched a video of that going up the bank to Goathland!

With the brake van delivered, the chauldron wagons are shunted for the first time by the Janus.

Owain

 

I believe a birdcage brake van is on display in Streetlife in Hull.

Edited October 19, 2022 by 6990WitherslackHall

[Firecracker]

20 minutes ago, 6990WitherslackHall said:

I believe a birdcage brake van is on display in Streetlife in Hull.

Correct, that’s my understanding as well.  According to the online RHRP database (https://www.rhrp.org.uk/surveystatus.htm) there’s four intact, one at Beamish, two at Tanfield (one of which lost its birdcage lookout in NCB service) and one at Streetlife.  There’s also the decomposing body (or what remains of the body) of one on an allotment in Shildon.  So one surviving in Cumbria isn’t too outlandish.  I reckon it came from the same colliery as the Chas. Robberts PO wagons…
 

Owain

[6990WitherslackHall]

12 hours ago, Firecracker said:

There’s also the decomposing body (or what remains of the body) of one on an allotment in Shildon. 

I think it should be brought to Locomotion on put on display.

[john new]

On 10/10/2022 at 18:41, Firecracker said:

I couldn’t resist posing this and then had to share it, because of how ridiculous it looks!  These wagons are tiny! Before anyone says anything though, reality is unrealistic.  If this was two mk1 coaches, a pipefit carrying an inflatable giraffe and a LMS 20t brakevan towed by a class 37 - I’ve just watched a video of that going up the bank to Goathland!

With the brake van delivered, the chauldron wagons are shunted for the first time by the Janus.

Owain

 

If it is still in your watch history can you post the YT link for the giraffe train please

[Firecracker]

11 hours ago, john new said:

If it is still in your watch history can you post the YT link for the giraffe train please

Unfortunately, it was on Facebook.  Sorry about that, it was a truly surreal sight.  Anyway, here’s a few from this evening’s virtually full fat modelling (getting the body on the 21t hopper to go together square was a rather satisfying challenge) and the play…I mean testing and development session with the DMU and the Jinty.

 

Owain

[MattA]

On 22/02/2021 at 16:59, MattA said:

Here's a list that might be of interest, then - individual locomotives either with some sort of known effort made to try and preserve them, or could well have survived by other means with a bit more luck. Most of the loco types featured probably aren't too shocking, but there are several J15s and IoW O2s mentioned and I even found an excuse for a Midland 1P!

 

Preserved might have beens.pdf 426.69 kB · 66 downloads

 

There's also a lot that the list doesn't include... For one thing, the list only features steam locos that are (or will be) available in RTR form. The following are also not in the list, as they would simply be too much for me to include individually:

• Diesel locomotives
• Locomotives that survived until near the end of steam in their respective regions. Includes (but not limited to) several Black 5s, 8Fs, Fairburns, BR 4-6-0s, 9Fs, Bulleid Pacifics, USA tanks, K1s, Q6s, J36s and Manors.
• Locomotives that were withdrawn from the same shed and at about the same time as engines that were sent to Barry - I like to imagine a little change in the paper work could have got them sent to Barry! Includes (but not limited to) several Halls, 2251s, various GWR/LMS/SR moguls, 4Fs, 7Fs, Jintys, more Bulleid Pacifics and more BR Standards.
• The N7s withdrawn at the point of Stratford shed's closure - Stratford was infamous for resisting sending ex-GER locos to scrap, as demonstrated by the J15s in the above list.
• Individual Hunslet Austerities - because there's so many of them!!

 

So @Firecrackeryour 4F, Jinty and 4MT 4-6-0 are perfectly justifiable (and justify them you have), but they aren't strictly included in the PDF list for reasons explained above. Much like I've justified 4564 (last of the 4500s to be withdrawn) on my own line.

I've updated this list from early last year, in case it's of any interest to @Firecrackeror anyone else modelling a preserved railway

Preserved might have beens Upd 10-22.pdf

[Firecracker]

2 hours ago, MattA said:

I've updated this list from early last year, in case it's of any interest to @Firecrackeror anyone else modelling a preserved railway

Preserved might have beens Upd 10-22.pdf 436.74 kB · 4 downloads

Very much appreciated.  I’ll admit a rebuilt Patriot is on the list of ‘things I’m keeping an eye out for at a sensible price’ and I’ve got a spare mk1 BSK to be it’s main line support coach.  I think the LS&I could host a mainline loco, in the way the NYMR had Gresley until the boiler ticket expired and it went away.

 

Owain

[MattA]

On 23/10/2022 at 17:31, Firecracker said:

I’ll admit a rebuilt Patriot is on the list of ‘things I’m keeping an eye out for at a sensible price’

I suppose that different people have different opinions of 'sensible price', but I reckon that a half price Patriot is decent value... https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/58734/R3614-WSL-Hornby-Patriot-Class-Steam-Locomotive-number-5521

 

*not much in stock at the time of posting, so sorry if it's out of stock by the time you read this

 

And it's gone. It was worth a shot I suppose...

Edited November 1, 2022 by MattA

[Firecracker]

On 29/10/2022 at 21:12, MattA said:

I suppose that different people have different opinions of 'sensible price', but I reckon that a half price Patriot is decent value... https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/58734/R3614-WSL-Hornby-Patriot-Class-Steam-Locomotive-number-5521

 

*not much in stock at the time of posting, so sorry if it's out of stock by the time you read this

 

And it's gone. It was worth a shot I suppose...

Thanks anyway!  I’ve had a manic week and hadn’t looked in here.  Yes, I’d regard half price as decent.  Such is life…

 

Owain

[Iskra]

Looking good :)

 

I like the roof weathering on your rolling stock, particularly the blood/custard Mk1's, can you explain how you get that effect please? (Or can you direct me to where you've already explained it in this thread if that is the case).

[Firecracker]

On 03/11/2022 at 12:06, Iskra said:

Looking good :)

 

I like the roof weathering on your rolling stock, particularly the blood/custard Mk1's, can you explain how you get that effect please? (Or can you direct me to where you've already explained it in this thread if that is the case).

Thanks!  Glad you like it.   Apologies for the delay in replying, blasted customers and their broken tractor gearboxes got in the way.

 

The weathering on the mark ones is a mixture of washes(dark and light rust) (Ammo by Mig) and a dark weathering powder (again Mig) gently dusted onto the wet wash on the roofs to give the effect of dirt/cinders.  Similar washes (also Mig’s neutral wash, which is brilliant for light dust/dirt/fading) are used on the sides with games workshop drybrush paints for the highlights (their wonderfully named ‘Verminlord hide’ is brilliant for creating a worn effect on BR maroon) and the odd rust patches/streaks added with washes and games workshop’s ‘Typhus Corrosion’ and Ryza Rust’.   With the washes, I apply it with a brush and then remove the excess and create streaks with a cotton wool bud.  My golden rules in weathering are ‘crap runs downhill and if it’s made of steel, it’ll rust’.   Under frames are a mixture of Mig’s track dirt/dark rust washes and oily highlights from their engine grime wash.   Something I deliberately did was vary the degree of weathering from coach to coach, to create an impression of some being more ex works than others, with the more worn examples also getting traces of algae added with a green wash (either games workshop or Vallejo).  The weathering on the sides of the Pullmans was also dialled down (the white roof, on the other hand…) to suggest their dining train receives more cleaning than the rest of the fleet.

 

Owain