Peterborough North

[great northern]

To be honest Gilbert, one hardly notices the background, the foreground draws your eye with all the exquisite detail.

The trouble is that I notice it though, and it always makes me want to get rid of it. Sometimes though the effort proves to be too great, as today.

[great northern]

Whats the loco picture you have on the wall there?

It's a painting - a copy of an original photograph that was given to me recently by Dave Shakespeare. Very appropriate, as it shows the Up Elizabethan entering Peterborough North. It used to be on the wall in Dave's former railway room, but bless him he offered it to me when he moved to the new house. I'm afraid I have forgotten the name of the painter, temporarily I'm sure, so perhaps Dave would remind me when he next looks on here.

[great northern]

Isn't that Larry's point? OO track can be made to look as good as this!

Spot on Ian. it's a testament to Norman Saunders' skill though isn't it that we can be made to wonder if it is EM. I still sometimes look at his work, then go and gaze at the Peco in the fiddle yard and just marvel at the difference. I used to avoid taking photos looking straight down the track on the old loft layout, as the narrow gauge really was cruelly shown up, but there's no need to do that now.

[Theakerr]

I am back from my trip having visited the York show, Monks Bank, the open day at Gainsborough and Peterborough North.  My visit to PN was an excellent day where I was able to enjoy Gilberts company and have a first hand look at what I have to say is becoming one of the "classic" layouts.   The photos on the web are excellent but seeing it in person brought out the true scope of the layout and refreshed my memory of a large station of the steam era (although i did discover that one of my "memories" has to be wrong).  I was especially impressed with the lack of "cluttering" that often accompanies our models.   Many thanks Gilbert and if anyone is over this side of the pond, feel free to give us a shout.

[Taz]

I've always admired this layout and love the daily(ish) picture updates but I was never familiar with the real location . It wasn't until last night, whilst at DRAG, that I got a chance to see some prototype pictures of PN. I was really impressed by how close they looked to your model. You have done a superb bit of prototype modelling and now I know that it not only looks great, but is very accurate as well.

Keep up the good work

[robertcwp]

A very impressive layout.  Just went back to the start of the thread and realised it's the same size as my layout, though mine is never likely to be anywhere near the standard of this one.

[tetleys]

It's a painting - a copy of an original photograph that was given to me recently by Dave Shakespeare. Very appropriate, as it shows the Up Elizabethan entering Peterborough North. It used to be on the wall in Dave's former railway room, but bless him he offered it to me when he moved to the new house. I'm afraid I have forgotten the name of the painter, temporarily I'm sure, so perhaps Dave would remind me when he next looks on here.

Gilbert,

 

The artist is David Perrin born in Boston and living in Grantham at the time I bought the two prints, David is the son of prolific  railway photographer Boston's Les Perrin and I suspect he has access to his father's extensive collection of slides, he is on the Web and appears to be actively involved in the railway scene including narrow gauge railways.I met him at Grantham model railway exhibition a good few years ago but I don't know whether he still attends exhibitions.

 

Another artist from whom I've purchased railway prints is John S. Gibbs who specialises in pre-grouping Furness railway pencil drawings of the highest draughtsman like accuaracy, both artists offer quality artwork at very reasonable prices often already mounted, I would recommend them both to adorn a railway room's walls.

 

If you can't afford either, let your kids /grandkids loose with a paint brush or strip bits of the wall paper and tell everybody it's artwork from Tate Modern.

 

Dave Shakespeare

[great northern]

Time to run a few more trains today, and I thought we might have a bit of glamour after all the mundane stuff of recent days. The Up Tees -Tyne Pullman was due, and made its way in stately fashion through the station at the obligatory 20mph, with Mallard, in the condition in which Top Shed habitually turned out locos for such prestigious services, at its head.

 

 

 

 

 

The skies are clearing after a passing shower, and those birds are back.

 

 

Oh, ****, I've only just noticed that anorexic colour light.   That's all for now folks.

[simon hudson]

Super pics as usual those birds dont half look like a squadron of spits peeling off to tackle the Hun only 18 years to late!!

Edited April 12, 2013 by simon hudson

[landscapes]

Hi Gilbert

 

Nice photos I particularly like the last photo head on of Mallard, very realistic.

 

Regards

 

David

[Markeg]

Hi Gilbert,

 

Like the photos of mallard pulling the Tees-Tyne Pullman.  I have a copy of Steam World with a photo from a similar position in your 4th Photo with a A4.  Very life like.  Its Like "Art imitating Life."

In your Tees-Tyne, have you a Hadrian Bar Car and could you photogragh it for me?  I may have to make one up from the current Hornby lighted Pullman Bar cars if I can get my hands on one.  I know Precision Labels have the transfers/Stickers for such a beast.

The issue is colour variation on the latest Pullmans compared to the older style models.   I could possibly buy the older version and overlay the Hadrian bar car transfers on that.  What do you think?  Possibly cheaper.

 

I will consider that.

Mark in OZ

[Mallard60022]

Apologies for the delay in saying how much I enjoyed watching myself doing this turn. These pictures are of a very high standard.

I love being admired and looking so clean. Peterborough is one of my favourite stations en route as I have to be driven slowly and so I can be noted by loads of adoring spotters. Not one shouts "scrap it"; excellent and they wouldn't would they as they are such a nice group of chaps.

I was a little concerned about that flock of Crows though as I thought they were trying to poop on me again. However they were off target as I whistled at just the right moment. 

I also notice that the unfitted vans were showing true reverence to my stately passing. I quite like vans but these don't need pipes and so the 'C & W Foreman ' can rest easy. Oh, just a quick thanks also the the C & W Department for the condition of my coaches; they do look smart, as I do.

Good afternoon and see you again soon as I shall be on a down working tomorrow, hopefully.

Quackity quack.

[great northern]

Hi Gilbert,

 

Like the photos of mallard pulling the Tees-Tyne Pullman.  I have a copy of Steam World with a photo from a similar position in your 4th Photo with a A4.  Very life like.  Its Like "Art imitating Life."

In your Tees-Tyne, have you a Hadrian Bar Car and could you photogragh it for me?  I may have to make one up from the current Hornby lighted Pullman Bar cars if I can get my hands on one.  I know Precision Labels have the transfers/Stickers for such a beast.

The issue is colour variation on the latest Pullmans compared to the older style models.   I could possibly buy the older version and overlay the Hadrian bar car transfers on that.  What do you think?  Possibly cheaper.

 

I will consider that.

Mark in OZ

Hi Mark,

 

 Here are some photos as requested. My Hadrian bar used the Hornby " Daffodil bar" as a donor, and was then altered as necessary by John Houlden, as the windows are not identical. John also repainted it, and hand painted the Hadrian bar crest! I've also put on a shot of another car from the rake, which uses the Hornby Railroad car as a donor. John put on the necessary Comet sides, repainted it, and lowered the ride height and put on the correct bogies. That old car is pretty good for the 1928 stock I reckon,- it's a shame there are only two types, as they are a nice cheap starting point to reproduce the essential 1928 cars.

 

 

 

 

[great northern]

 

 

 

Sorry, photos didn't attach to post above. Here they are.

[New Haven Neil]

Oh, lovely.  I always like anything Hadrian related, being a Geordie.  'What shall we call this wall, Hadrian?'

[Clive Mortimore]

Oh, lovely.  I always like anything Hadrian related, being a Geordie.  'What shall we call this wall, Hadrian?'

Ah Neil

 

Bone to pick with you and the other Geordie's why did you let it fall down?

[great northern]

Another visit by Peter Leyland yesterday, and a good deal of small and fiddly tasks done. It's funny that sometimes a lot of work yields very little visual result, and yet on other occasions relatively trivial things make a huge difference. Actually Peter and today's visitor, The Laird, used exactly the same phrase. It "springs to life" they said. i think so to, but do you agree?

 

 

A familiar view, this one, but a lot of detail has been added under the roof. Can you see it? I know it's there, so I would appreciate knowing whether you can actually see what has been done.

 

 

A closer view. That bit of black plasticard on the left is one of the last bits to be replaced with another section of wall, plus a drinking fountain.

 

 

The "excursion" Platform. This morning the sun perfected a new trick - emerging from behind a cloud just as I pressed the button. It did it more than once..... I've been looking forward to getting the signs in place, and I'm not disappointed, but as usual the plastic humans show up horribly.

 

 

Looking the other way. The building didn't quite seat correctly when replaced, but that and other imperfections will be dealt with in due course.

 

 

Passengers arriving from the South are now left in no doubt as to where they are.

 

 

Perhaps I really should install at least a bit of lighting under that roof?

 

 

And the taxi drivers have somewhere to rest while waiting for fares. There is another similar building behind this one, but I'll need to get the tripod out to show it.

 

 

You have seen this view before too, but the addition of some posters, three people and a bicycle gives the whole thing a sense of purpose. Well, I think so anyway.

 

 

Last one. I have no idea what that funny blue thing in the foreground is.   I've been up to look, and I can't see anything there at all.

Edited April 15, 2013 by great northern

[New Haven Neil]

Ah Neil

 

Bone to pick with you and the other Geordie's why did you let it fall down?

 

We didn't - we nicked the stone for building barns and farmhouses - careful observation in Northumberland reveals a lot of it.....just left the big bits such as Housesteads for the grockles to look at!

 

Sorry Gilbert, I drift off as usual.

 

The signs, yes, especially timetables etc, really make a difference.  Do the LPP (Little Plastic People) need to be 'weathered' a touch, just to take the edge off the colours, and make some highlights in the clothing?  Just a thought, first one of the day......

 

PS - I'd say the blue thing is on the lens or an electronic artefact.

[KevinWalsh]

Gilbert,

 

I personally wouldn't install lighting as I feel that the gloom adds to the realism and atmosphere you and others have strived to create. I can picture a black and white film of the great expresses coasting through the station with oodles of steam gathering in the canopy.

 

Kev

[great northern]

Ah Neil

 

Bone to pick with you and the other Geordie's why did you let it fall down?

To encourage Scottish tourism of course.

[Theakerr]

Agree with Kevin.  some of those shots under the roof have really captured the scene as I remember it.  The last one especially.

[Mallard60022]

Gilbert,

 

I personally wouldn't install lighting as I feel that the gloom adds to the realism and atmosphere you and others have strived to create. I can picture a black and white film of the great expresses coasting through the station with oodles of steam gathering in the canopy.

 

Kev

Agreed.

What excellent pics G. Wonderful atmosphere, especially 'under the canopy'.

Q.

[tetleys]

Gilbert,

 

I agree with others on the lighting beneath the roof subject, I recall the overall roof at Wakefield Kirkgate always placed the station in gloom made worse by the fact that the glass had 100 years of soot covering it, I say leave it unlit.

 

The plastic people are always a problem, they must be painted matt unless shiney PVC from the 60's has been brought forward to 1958 and a common mistake on many model railways, the platform seats may be at fault in having their legs too long, I've seen some really good GWR seats on the market that would need step ladders to sit on! There's a couple of adults outside the station and they are clearly from different manufacturers and made to different scales, I've always found Airfix /Dapol (maybe also Knightwing) to be the best for having 'substance' to the torso, others can be two dimensional, loco crew and railway specific people are best from Marsh in white metal, more expensive but the best. Preiser are HO but I'd use them for seating in coaches.

 

Then station concourse is really looking good and those moel vehicles are probably best left un-weathered in their current pose.

 

Dave, (Ancaster Human Recources Dept)

[Oldddudders]

I think lighting under such an extensive overall roof could be very tricky to get right. In the era it would simply have been lots of ordinary bulbs, and that takes quite a bit of reproducing in a model. 20 or so warm-white LEDs per platform - but they need to be turned right down, otherwise it'll look like an operating theatre!

 

I'd stick with the gloom, which has a lot of atmosphere, even if it fails to show the lovely modelling that now lurks within.

[coachmann]

It is when it comes to adding the sequins to the dress that it is apparent what a large set-up you have. Those platforms look twice as long now some passengers have been added. The ones outside pointing up to the sign are superbly realistic. It is of course the focal point of your layout and you have time to detail it as much as you like. 1958 is also a darn good year just before the mass dieslisation of many seconday and branch lines but just in time to catch the pre-grouping locos before being swept away by surplus younger locos.