Byford - Trainspotting in The 50s

[richard.h]

Thank you I'm glad that you enjoyed it, it can be difficult synchronizing the speed and sound but once you get it matched it looks really effective.

Richard

[richard.h]

As a young-un trainspotting many years ago we didn't know about Hush-Hush Locos and other details but we all liked Streaks so when this next loco appeared the cry would go up it's The Unnamed Streak.

 

 

So this is the latest addition to the fleet whose entry has been delayed for awhile until it went through the weathering works to get mucky.

 

[richard.h]

As 60700 continues it's journey it crosses the viaduct.

 

Even in model form the difference in cab size is clear, it is much bigger than normal and must have been very hard work for a fireman.

 

 

Finally 60700 pulls into Byford and the end of its journey.

 

[richard.h]

A grubby 60700 eases into the Engine Shed Yard.

 

 

Where it will be turned and coaled ready for its next allocation.

 

[richard.h]

When I wore short trousers, many years ago, any waste ground were we could play and build our own dens was usually called the wreck.

 

 

And so it is opposite Old Bank Place.

 

 

All available waste items have been commandeered by the local children to make their own adventure playground.

 

[jwealleans]

Idle question, but was it 'wreck' as you've spelt it, or 'rec' from 'recreation'?

 

I don't think I've ever seen the word in this context written down before.

[figworthy]

12 hours ago, jwealleans said:

Idle question, but was it 'wreck' as you've spelt it, or 'rec' from 'recreation'?

 

 

When I were a lad, we used the latter.  "Going up the rec" meant going to the recreation ground.

 

Whatever the derivation, that's a nice bit of modelling.

 

Adrian

[richard.h]

On 18/03/2022 at 07:55, jwealleans said:

Idle question, but was it 'wreck' as you've spelt it, or 'rec' from 'recreation'?

 

I don't think I've ever seen the word in this context written down before.

 

Hi

Yes you are correct that was the original spelling as in the most famous although fictional one The Red Rec in Coronation Street but nowadays 'Rec' is more associated with music and electronics.

 

I'm afraid it was just me being mischievous and juggling with words to make the post more eyecatching.

 

I have done it on previous  postings and also on some of my videos, a while back I made a video about weathering  71000 The Duke of Gloucester, which I called Touching Up The Duke, at the time a certain royal was starting to appear in the news about his antics in America.

 

Silly, but it keeps me happy.

 

Richard

[richard.h]

On 18/03/2022 at 07:55, jwealleans said:

Idle question, but was it 'wreck' as you've spelt it, or 'rec' from 'recreation'?

 

I don't think I've ever seen the word in this context written down before.

 

Hi

Yes you are correct that was the original spelling as in the most famous although fictional one The Red Rec in Coronation Street but nowadays 'Rec' is more associated with music and electronics.

 

I'm afraid it was just me being mischievous and juggling with words to make the post more eyecatching.

 

I have done it on previous  postings and also on some of my videos, a while back I made a video about weathering  71000 The Duke of Gloucester, which I called Touching Up The Duke, at the time a certain royal was starting to appear in the news about his antics in America.

 

Silly, but it keeps me happy.

 

Richard

[richard.h]

Generally I don't like too many distractions on the railway but have always liked the idea of a working level crossing having previously just used the standard Peco stationary kit.

 

 

However when I saw the new Heathcote kit it seemed promising so I thought that it would be worth trying.

 

 

The basic kit is complete with nothing to add to get it up and running.

 

 

The most difficult part I found was getting the servo action correct, the control board is very good for precise alignment  but the problem is you are moving a horizontal gate crank through 90degrees driven by a vertical servo crank arm which is always trying to pull the gate out of vertical at each end of its range.

 

 

Eventually an exceptable range of movement was achieved and the unit was fitted plus a pair of pedestrian gates left over from a Peco kit.

[richard.h]

 

Here is a short video showing how the crossing was built followed by a shunting session using the crossing

 

 

 

[melmerby]

On 15/04/2022 at 11:37, richard.h said:

 

 

The most difficult part I found was getting the servo action correct, the control board is very good for precise alignment  but the problem is you are moving a horizontal gate crank through 90degrees driven by a vertical servo crank arm which is always trying to pull the gate out of vertical at each end of its range.

 

 

Does the job.

Personally I would've mounted the servo the other way round, so that the crank is facing the baseboard rather than at 90 degrees to it

e.g. Use a flat piece of brass as a mount and space the servo away from it on long bolts so that the crank is the same height from the baseboard as the gate crank.

That way you have a servo and gate working in the same plane with a straight operating wire.

[richard.h]

23 hours ago, melmerby said:

Does the job.

Personally I would've mounted the servo the other way round, so that the crank is facing the baseboard rather than at 90 degrees to it

e.g. Use a flat piece of brass as a mount and space the servo away from it on long bolts so that the crank is the same height from the baseboard as the gate crank.

That way you have a servo and gate working in the same plane with a straight operating wire.

Hi

 Yes thanks for that, I think you are right, with the kit as supplied it is impossible to get an even range of movement through the entire 90degrees because wherever you mount the servo it hasn't got a straight pull all the way. See Fig 1.

 

If I can make a new bracket for it so that it operates in parallel on the same plane as in Fig 2 then that should cure the problem.

 

Thanks

Richard

[richard.h]

A Duchess in Difficulty.

 

Not much work done recently due to holidays and the extreme heat over here this summer but I did manage to get a video completed.

 

 

[richard.h]

Well, after a long wait Accurascale's version of the Deltic finally arrived, but it is a superb model so even the photographers turned out to capture it on it's trial run.

 

 

 

 

And, after easing through the village it heads north with The Flying Scotsman.

 

[richard.h]

To follow the photos here is a short video reviewing the Deltic and showing it in action.

 

 

[richard.h]

I recently completed a set of Cambrian kit built mermaid wagons as I needed something different to finish off a works train.

 

So here is a Stanier MT approaching

 

 

 

 

With the fishy train comprising three mermaid wagons.

 

Plus a Pilchard 2 grampuses? and 1 winkle with a sand truck thrown as well

 

 

[richard.h]

I haven't posted for a while on this thread as I have been busy building a new Narrow Gauge layout but I was tempted to buy the recently re-released Dynometer Car as I think it is a superb model and have made a short video of it in use.

 

 

 

[richard.h]

Here is the second video featuring the 1948 exchange trails with the Dynamometer Car and this time a GWR King Loco.

 

 

[richard.h]

Totally Derelict

Living in Spain means that the postal service and charges have become more difficult since Brexit so I am always on the lookout for suitable European models that I can use on the layout. So, recently I came across this Noch model of a derelict farmhouse building that seemed to fit the bill.

 

 

 

I rounded off the base moulding so that it would fit the intended site better and started painting using Lifecolors Rubble And Debris paints and the ground was coloured with AKs muddy ground from their war-gaming range.

 

 

 

 

 

Once painted foliage was added plus a couple of twigs that were left over in my Sagebrush tree box to represent stunted tree growth.

 

 

A nice little project and a useful addition to the Layout.

[richard.h]

Many years ago when I didn't have money to go trainspotting the highlight of the day would be to go down to the local station, Saltaire, and wait for the Thames-Clyde Express to come through.

 

 

You always knew that it would be pulled by something decent like a Jubilee

 

 

But you kept your fingers crossed that as it was coming from Leeds it wasn't Alberta again

 

[richard.h]

Double Headers

 On the West Coast mainline the heavy prestige expresses were normally handled by Staniers big pacifics but if one wasn't available or failed then a double header would often be needed to provide the necessary power.

 

 

A common pairing would be a Jubilee assisted by an ex Midland Compound.

 

 

Which we see here heading North with a fully loaded train.

 

 

Edited May 22, 2023 by richard.h
extra picture 2

[richard.h]

The Royal Scot Trials

 

City of Liverpool is on duty today.

 

 

AS it emerges from High-Fell tunnel and then slows for the station entry restrictions.

 

 

And cruises to a  halt for an engine change.

 

[richard.h]

Royal Scot Trials.

As City of Liverpool halts at the station the reason for the Dynamometer Car becomes clear.

 

 

It's the 1948 interchange trails and we are waiting for A4 Kingfisher to take over.

 

 

She duly arrives and prepares to take over The Royal Scot for the rest of the journey south.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 15, 2023 by richard.h
Duplicate Photo

[richard.h]

So now as Kingfisher heads away with The Royal Scot.

 

The photographers are out in force to capture this rare event.