Ellis Clark Trains Finescale O Gauge Presflo Wagons

[Hal Nail]

13 hours ago, 37114 said:

I find mine run OK

Mine are very smooth albeit only tried on a length of flat track but less vibration through the body than a Dapol bolster (no springing or compensation) which was the other wagon i had to hand.

 

I've had a reply from Ellis now and they are set up to fully compress to avoid bouncing. My other experience of springing is the guitar wire type, using the gauge recommended by others, which take a fair force to compress - but I think they are more aimed at rolling smoothly than absorbing a bad joint etc

 

[Hal Nail]

On 15/05/2022 at 15:35, 37114 said:

One little tip worth sharing; the electrification warning flashes by the ladder were on most APCM wagons mounted on a plate on the hopper supports.

Was up close today so took this. 

 

[cctransuk]

1 hour ago, Hal Nail said:

Was up close today so took this. 

 

 

A very roughly frame-cut plate, by the looks of it!

 

CJI.

[Chris-ECT]

On 11/07/2022 at 20:42, paulbb said:

It would be great if Oxford or EFE etc made one of the lorries used for discharging/loading these wagons, in 7mm of course. The wagons themselves are great vehicles, and the only (mild) criticism is that the links on the 3 links provided are slightly short, which could leave them bufferlocking on Peco 40" curves and short points, or has someone not found this to be an issue?

Evening all, sorry for the late reply. This last few week in the office has been somewhat busy (more on that at a later stage!). The 3 links are done to scale which is why they are tight when coupling. Being our first wagon this is a lesson we have learnt. They do work on Peco radius 2 forwards (nothing goes in reverse on Rad 2 without buffer locking) they also go back and forwards fine through pecos medium points and above. The tightness on coupling is something we have noted for altering next time round. 

On 16/07/2022 at 08:18, 2ManySpams said:

 

Good morning Chris, is there any intention to produce the Delafila Slate Powder livery variation in future, the ones that ran out of Delabole on the North Cornwall line?

Sales on this first batch are amazing with some close to selling out so inevitably we will get round to run 2. At this stage Liveries haven't been anything more than a breif discussion on what we feel would work but I will make sure it's on the list for consideration. 

On 18/07/2022 at 18:51, Hal Nail said:

My two have arrived and as others have stated are very nice. 

 

In terms of feedback, which it seems is welcomed, I wonder how others feel about the axlebox springing? Both of mine sit right down on the blocks as the springs are not quite sufficient to overcome the weight of the wagon so the springs are not really working in practice and its more akin to Parkside's floating axlebox (which I always replace with springs!).

 

From various threads on here spring tension is a bit of a subjective area but I get the impression the consensus is the optimum is a bit stiffer than this and, for example, a Peco mineral is far harder to press down in comparison.   

We have taken a different approach with the compensation, as I'm sure Ellis will have explained they are exactly as our CAD Engineer specified on spring strength. Nikki has a rich history in many fields of engineering including car, marine and aircraft and she uses this in our designs to maximise the quality and potential of our models. 

 

I have had a presflo roll over a 50p then 2 Bank cards to try and derail it and they take them in their stride.

 

If I have missed anything please let me know or ask me again and I will try and drop in more often. Equally feel free to ring our Skipton office or send emails to Chris@ellisclarktrains.com

Edited July 20, 2022 by Chris-ECT

[Chris-ECT]

We have had our Presflo wagons available for around 10 months now,

And they have won 5 awards already! 

Thank you to everyone who has bought them and voted for them!

[steve fay]

I’m wondering if anyone could shed some light on when grey replaced yellow as the main body colour on the Blue Circle branded wagons and what period the Bauxite with small Blue circle branding are from? 
I’m modelling the 59 to 63 period and I’m building up a train of these. The above are listed as TOPS but there are unnumbered options available. 
thanks all 

 

Here’s the first one weathered up. 

[steve fay]

Copyright Ben Brooksbank but definitely answers one question. 

 

Edited July 3, 2023 by steve fay

[Hal Nail]

23 hours ago, steve fay said:

I’m wondering if anyone could shed some light on when grey replaced yellow as the main body colour on the Blue Circle branded wagons and what period the Bauxite with small Blue circle branding are from? 
I’m modelling the 59 to 63 period and I’m building up a train of these. The above are listed as TOPS but there are unnumbered options available. 
thanks all 

 

Here’s the first one weathered up. 

There is a photo of a grey blue circle rake hauled by a Hall in one of my books. Yellow photos seem to be pretty rare so I assume either it wasnt for long or there weren't so many of them?

[melmoth]

There is a photo by Peter Gray in one of his books of a train of grey and blue presflos heading south through Tiverton Junction behind a 28xx sometime before the Hemyock branch closed to passengers, so 1963 or earlier.

[Hal Nail]

1 hour ago, melmoth said:

There is a photo by Peter Gray in one of his books of a train of grey and blue presflos heading south through Tiverton Junction behind a 28xx

I think that's the one I was remembering as a Hall!

[steve fay]

40 minutes ago, Hal Nail said:

I think that's the one I was remembering as a Hall!

Yes I’ve got that book, they certainly look grey to me as the yellow boards are a noticeably different shade 

[Mark Saunders]

On 03/07/2023 at 13:25, steve fay said:

I’m wondering if anyone could shed some light on when grey replaced yellow as the main body colour on the Blue Circle branded wagons and what period the Bauxite with small Blue circle branding are from? 
I’m modelling the 59 to 63 period and I’m building up a train of these. The above are listed as TOPS but there are unnumbered options available. 
thanks all 

 

Here’s the first one weathered up. 

 

I think you are getting confused, from what I understand the initial Blue Circle PF wagons were yellow before later ones were delivered in Grey; the bauxite ones being the BR owned ones and then there were the Tunnel Cement private owners.

[steve fay]

First batch in yellow and according to a reliable source the grey appeared from 63 onwards, 

however there was also Bauxite liveried with small blue circle branding that Ellis Clark do but they are listed as TOPS only however I’ve since found this picture 

( copyright Ben Brooksbank, unfortunately I can’t embed the link ) 

that shows they was around during steam haulage as well. 

Edited July 4, 2023 by steve fay

[Hal Nail]

On 03/07/2023 at 13:25, steve fay said:

I’m wondering if anyone could shed some light on when grey replaced yellow as the main body colour on the Blue Circle branded wagons and what period the Bauxite with small Blue circle branding are from?

This suggests the yellow and grey were blue circle owned but BR had the Bauxite blue circle branded ones.

 

The yellow one at the watercress line is still owned by Blue Circle I believe.

Edited July 5, 2023 by Hal Nail

[steve fay]

2nd one weathered up, 3rd on the way tomorrow 

18 more to go after that !

[steve fay]

Another one added 

[Southernman46]

but but but you're making them dirty , that's like spray painting a lily 😁

[hmrspaul]

On 04/07/2023 at 17:12, melmoth said:

There is a photo by Peter Gray in one of his books of a train of grey and blue presflos heading south through Tiverton Junction behind a 28xx sometime before the Hemyock branch closed to passengers, so 1963 or earlier.

Blue are the ex ICI Salts with twin tanks and fittings. These were used for Delabole slate, so seen in the west country as you suggest. https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/presfloslate  These were always owned by BR, as were the Presflo with Blue circle plates (as in the steam hauled photo) https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e39790b81, most of the Rugby Cement https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflorugby and Tunnel Cement Presflo https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflotunnel 

But there were two batches of APCM owned Presflo - Initially yellow and the 2nd batch grey https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/apcmpresflo Tunnel Cement also had a small batch of privately owned Presflo https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/presflotunnel

 

Paul

 

[melmoth]

7 hours ago, hmrspaul said:

Blue are the ex ICI Salts with twin tanks and fittings. These were used for Delabole slate, so seen in the west country as you suggest. https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/presfloslate  These were always owned by BR, as were the Presflo with Blue circle plates (as in the steam hauled photo) https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e39790b81, most of the Rugby Cement https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflorugby and Tunnel Cement Presflo https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflotunnel 

But there were two batches of APCM owned Presflo - Initially yellow and the 2nd batch grey https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/apcmpresflo Tunnel Cement also had a small batch of privately owned Presflo https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/presflotunnel

 

Paul

 

 

Apologies Paul, I should have said 'blue and yellow badged', i.e. grey wagons with Blue Circle branding.