'Ballamoddey' - 1937 on the Mid Sodor Railway

[BritishGypsum4]

3 hours ago, LMCFTW The Gunzel said:

This photo is believed to of been the last taken of Mid Sodor Railway No.2 ‘Stanley’ before permanent withdrawal and conversion to a pumping engine at Arlesdale engine sheds then relocated to Cros-Ny-Curn Slate Mine in 1938.

"Ding ding!"

Ah alas he was never based at Cros-ny-Cuirn as there are no mines there, slate or other type. Cas-ny-Hawin was where he ended up but wasn't slate.

I see why you might also think of the year 1938 but I know that Tom has broadened the timeline for Ballamoddey over quite a number of years given him so much scope with regards locomotives and rolling stock to use. Stanley would have been used a good few years by 1938 as the steam supply for the pumping engine at the mine.
I think it was a slip of the pen by Rev. Awdry when he describes him as a pumping engine behind the shed! More likely used to supply steam to operate the various machines inside the workshop.

 

Edited March 11, 2022 by BritishGypsum4

[LMCFTW The Gunzel]

Well I forgot the name. Ops

[Tom F]

A little bit of an update.

The replacement etches have arrived, and we now have a complete cab for No. 3! I'm really pleased with how things are looking. I was particularly careful on making up the folds on the cab front.

 

Tomorrow @BritishGypsum4 is heading over to resume electrical work. With a replacement point and switches at the ready, we hope to get the job done this time. There will be a live stream in the Facebook group hopefully around 16.00-17.00 tomorrow.

 

Regarding the layout, I had originally bought a couple of buildings off ebay (very nice scratch builds). However it had niggled me that they were fairly generic, and appear to be sold online fairly regularly. Ballamoddey I have always desired to feel different, and unique (a vibe I had tried to depict with Scaca as well). I have therefore decided to sell the buildings (which I'll be selling through the group) and replacements will me made by the super talented Dan Evason of Tunnel Lane Model Railways. I'm currently researching building designs and stone work. Sunday I'm planning a hike in an area where I should find some inspiration on the type of stone work you would find on this part of the Mid Sodor.

 

A lot to feel positive about I think!

Edited March 11, 2022 by Tom F

[peach james]

If you are thinking of model stonework, I highly recommend looking at what Jeff has done on Gill Head. ( https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/157977-gill-head-kirkby-lunesides-neighbour/ )

[Tom F]

Well, we have an operational layout! I think it's fair to say both @BritishGypsum4(Ben) and I had smiles on our faces watching the various locomotives moving back and forth. At one point we had four locomotives on the layout (purely to test out the isolating sections). In truth, there will only ever be two max.

Next stage is to make a small extension piece along the back which will just give me a touch more depth width wise.

 

It's funny being able to see the whole layout and picturing where engines are coming and going to. To many, the photo below is just a loco with some locos, some 'stand in' buildings and a white backdrop. To me, I see a railway circa 1920s/1930s, with a goods train that has worked up gruelling gradient from Arlesdale, before a gentle descent down the gradient from Ulfstead Road. Beyond are the high ridge of fells of north west Sodor.

I can't thank Ben for all his help. I hope I've made up for the lack of electrical knowledge by keeping him well fed over the last few visits!

 

[geoff west]

Great news Tom, glad you've got the layout working.

Bet that's lifted your spirits no end.

[NeilHB]

Fantastic Tom - glad to see that Ballamoddey is now an operational layout. 

[Tom F]

3 hours ago, geoff west said:

Great news Tom, glad you've got the layout working.

Bet that's lifted your spirits no end.

 

2 hours ago, NeilHB said:

Fantastic Tom - glad to see that Ballamoddey is now an operational layout. 

 

Thanks both of you. Yes it's great it all works now, but I couldn't have done it without @BritishGypsum4, cheers mate!

 

Not had chance to have a play again, as I've been out hiking today in the real Mid Sodor (Eskdale, Cumbria).

 

 

[Silas]

That looks a fab walk, Tom - where's the 'envious' button......?

[Tom F]

31 minutes ago, Silas said:

That looks a fab walk, Tom - where's the 'envious' button......?

It really was lovely, and we just missed the rain too.

 

Here are a few more photos from yesterday.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 14, 2022 by Tom F

[Metropolitan H]

Went through Ravenglass on Saturday p.m. on the train seen in the following picture.

 

 

A very pleasent steam-hauled ride south along the Cumrian coast to Carnforth - behind a loco that looks similar to "Henry" in outline. No sign of "Rex", "Mike" or "Bert" as we passed through Ravenglass!

 

Looks like you had a good day out yesterday. I like your pictures.

 

Regards

Chris H

[figworthy]

8 hours ago, Tom F said:

 

 

Lovely set of piccies.

 

That has got to be an interesting prototype for someone to have a go at.

 

Adrian

[MrWolf]

Lovely old building, someone make a model of it as is before it gets the des res treatment. 

[Tom F]

23 minutes ago, MrWolf said:

Lovely old building, someone make a model of it as is before it gets the des res treatment. 

The stone work is proving a big inspiration for the MSR. The Mid Sodor, particular the lower sections is very much the Eskdale Valley. Awdry is clear that slate isn't quarried (instead granite and lead) the style of stone will play a large part in the building styles on Ballamoddey.

[Tom F]

Quite a big arrival came today.

 

My bespoke Mid Sodor Railway goods stock transfers from Endon Valley Custom Decals.

 

Absolutely superb quality and exactly to the specifications I requested. Looking forward to building up the goods fleet for Ballamoddey.

[SR71]

Since the sites been back up I'd felt something was missing. Realised it's the updates to your threads @Tom F.

 

I hope you'll be able to post again soon. Your modelling is very inspirational.

[Tom F]

23 hours ago, SR71 said:

Since the sites been back up I'd felt something was missing. Realised it's the updates to your threads @Tom F.

 

I hope you'll be able to post again soon. Your modelling is very inspirational.

Thanks for the kind comments SR71

I'm still here, but have generally been posting more in my Facebook group and on Narrow Gauge Railways Modelling Forum since RMweb went down.

I've lost some of my enthusiasm to post since  all the photos have gone. Photography is one of my main enjoyments of the hobby, and to see all of them have gone from the thread was a little soul destroying. I appreciate this was no fault of Andy or BRM, and I feel for them in what must have been a very difficult time.

I'm just deciding the best cause of action going forward.

[SR71]

I can understand that. I've not decided what to do with my threads yet either. Even if you decide to scrap these threads and start a general one to post old/new photos, that's a greatest hits I'm not going to tire of.

[AdeMoore]

4 hours ago, Tom F said:

Thanks for the kind comments SR71

I'm still here, but have generally been posting more in my Facebook group and on Narrow Gauge Railways Modelling Forum since RMweb went down.

I've lost some of my enthusiasm to post since  all the photos have gone. Photography is one of my main enjoyments of the hobby, and to see all of them have gone from the thread was a little soul destroying. I appreciate this was no fault of Andy or BRM, and I feel for them in what must have been a very difficult time.

I'm just deciding the best cause of action going forward.

Not sure going forward depends on what gets restored. But currently sticking to Western Thunder where I dual posted most of my threads anyway. Need to have a dig in the NGF don’t get on there much.

Also a big fan of your FB group so appreciate your posts and live streams there. Ballamoddey coming along nicely.

 

[Siberian Snooper]

8 hours ago, Tom F said:

Thanks for the kind comments SR71

I'm still here, but have generally been posting more in my Facebook group and on Narrow Gauge Railways Modelling Forum since RMweb went down.

I've lost some of my enthusiasm to post since  all the photos have gone. Photography is one of my main enjoyments of the hobby, and to see all of them have gone from the thread was a little soul destroying. I appreciate this was no fault of Andy or BRM, and I feel for them in what must have been a very difficult time.

I'm just deciding the best cause of action going forward.

 

What a pity,  I don't do faceache, so I will have to miss out on your outstanding modelling. One or two of your pictures were very real.

 

 

[The White Rabbit]

8 hours ago, Tom F said:

... I'm still here, but have generally been posting more in my Facebook group and on Narrow Gauge Railways Modelling Forum since RMweb went down.

I've lost some of my enthusiasm to post since  all the photos have gone. Photography is one of my main enjoyments of the hobby, and to see all of them have gone from the thread was a little soul destroying. I appreciate this was no fault of Andy or BRM, and I feel for them in what must have been a very difficult time.

I'm just deciding the best cause of action going forward.

 

I appreciate it's a [nuisance] to reload photos but if I can add my voice to those saying we liked them - a lot - and have a high opinion both of the modelling and the photography. Any you are able to upload again would be most welcome. 

 

 

6 minutes ago, Siberian Snooper said:

What a pity,  I don't do faceache ... 

 

Me neither. 

[MrWolf]

39 minutes ago, Siberian Snooper said:

 

What a pity,  I don't do faceache, 

 

 

Me neither. Packed it in because the Memsahib was getting grief from an idiot.

[didcot]

I for one would miss your updates and inspirational photos. 

[Tom F]

Thanks for the kind feedback.

I will continue to post on RMweb, but just need to think about the best way forward. I really don't want to go back through the thread re adding photos to posts, as I'm not sure I have all of them still.

In the meantime, a photo 🙂

 

 

Edited April 20, 2022 by Tom F

[Claude_Dreyfus]

Wow!