Condemned

[Bassettblowke]

The end of the road for most rolling stock more often than not involved a cutting torch and the scrap yard. However many a humble four wheeled van survived albeit dismounted, they provided storage in station yards, farmers fields and sundry other places. Here’s my take on the subject a rusty old Bassett Lowke LMS van purchased minus wheels and axles and with damaged axle boxes for £4. Fitted with a wooden floor and resting on four period Bassett Lowke sleepers located on a ply base and provided with an access ramp for the door.

Edited September 26, 2020 by Bassettblowke
Detail

[Florence Locomotive Works]

Looks very nice sir.

[Bassettblowke]

                                     
 

My initial thought were that it was only suitable for parts the couplings being in good order and the roof although rusty was free from dents and with this in mind it was stripped down. Prior to storing away for future use everything was given a clean, the roof being quite rusty was rubbed down with some wet and dry abrasive paper with the thought that I would give it a coat of etch primer prior to storage.
However once this was done I started to toy with the idea of keeping it in unrestored condition, thoughts of putting it back on the rails stalled when I realised I didn’t need anymore 4 wheel vans (one of the down sides to impulse buying) having far more than I need already. That’s when the idea sprang to mind, operating in a world of predominantly vintage tinplate its pretty much a world of same old same old by it’s very nature, virtually nothing new having been offered since the old King died.

Here was a chance at low cost to inject a bit of interest to my otherwise staid collection of predominantly Hornby tinplate structures. It was built on its own base so it could easily be relocated around the layout, at the moment it’s destined to sit behind the platform on a modified Hornby station. Further detail such as a porters barrow and an old packing case or maybe an old milk churn may be added later.
The current layout/glorified test track is a work in progress basically two loops of K line supersnap which is used pending replacement with Lionel tinplate track. The supersnap has excellent connectivity and is very stable without being pinned down.   

 

Edited September 27, 2020 by Bassettblowke