Peterborough North

[great northern]

David,

 

I've tried both approaches, and one sits on each end of my Talisman rake

 

The first comprises Comet sides on an old Triang Hornby Mk 1 donor and was the first re-side that I attempted. This was cheap and relatively easy, but I feel is a less good end result than the Southern Pride approach. There is still a fair bit of work to do on the roof, and I should have done some mods to the underframe, but I've let that one slip! Of course if I had sacrificed a modern Hornby or Bachmann Mark 1 I might have achieved a better result, but at a significantly higher price than the Southern Pride kit.

 

BSO Comet on Triang Hornby.JPG

 

This version is the Southern Pride kit which I'm quite pleased with, although as always the camera show up a few wobbles, particularly in the tables  . I intend to build another couple of these in due course.

 

 

BSO SP.JPG

 

Cheers

 

Andy

Hi Andy,

 

Can you help with this please?  I spoke to Dave Lewis before I bought my SP kit, and he explained to me that it would be necessary to cut the clear sides with both a razor saw and a mini drill. Now I have the instructions he gives two methods for body assembly. Method A mentions the cutting, but Method B does not, and seems to say that the brass sides can just be glued straight onto the clear sides as supplied. I'd rather do that if possible, and unless there are major advantages from doing it the other way. Which method did you use please?

[The Stationmaster]

I don't know what the rules would have then been, but surely signalling by means of a steam whistle or hooter in an environment where such devices were all around would have been of little value? A bell makes perfect sense in context.

Worked alright in Swindon.

[lanchester]

Actually the first give away is the suggestion that "Anglo Saxons" built a warning tower in the 8th century to protect against Vikings. By this point of our island's history, the Vikings already ruled East Anglia and most of the rest of what later became England. Unfortunately journalists (as Bigwordsmith seems to acknowledge) rarely actually check such detail. It spoils the story.

ER, actually Herbert Nigel, first Viking raid was c795 on Lindisfarne -ie very end of eighth century. Vikings didn't permanently settle until around 865, ie two thirds the way through the Ninth century (the Great Army overwintered at Repton). Then you get King Alfred, char-grilled flatbreads and other lovely quasi-historical bits. 

 

Trouble with being a pedant is there's always a bigger pedant out there - trust me, I'm a journalist!

 

But you will forgive me because one of my given names is Nigel, after the Great Man.

 

Back to topic, do we think the 'mess house' was for train crews on lodging turns (who must really have loved being woken by a bell even when it wasn't there time) or was it just some catering facility? 'Mess' seems to have had varying connotations, from eating together, to actually rooming together.

[stewartingram]

In 1948 the Volunteers were, indeed, in King Street (now part of Queensgate) but the City HQ was out at Dogsthorpe. The choice had been between the two full time stations in the city, Dogsthorpe and Oundle Road. The former was preferred by the CFO Walter 'Bill' Bunday. Oundle Road was subsequently closed as was Old Fletton. The Volunteer Brigade were housed at Queen Street for two years following the catastrophic fire at Robert Sayles in 1956 which damaged the Volunteer Station in King Street. The insurance claim for that fire was £250,000.

 

The current Dogsthorpe 5 bay station was built in 1964 on the same site as the previous, wartime, Dogsthorpe station.

 

(source: A History of Firefighting in Cambridgeshire. Eddie Baker)

 

Queen Street was the old City Fire Brigade station but I cannot, at present, find out when it closed other than it was some time in the 1940's. I can establish that it was in use as a Fire Station in 1920 though. I'll see if I can find out a bit more tonight.

 

Perkins Engines had their own brigade to cover the factory which was in Queen Street so possibly they took over the old City Brigade station at some point. Baker Perkins also had their own Factory Brigade.

 

Queensgate was opened in March 1982, the current Volunteer Fire Station was built in 1984.

CFO Bunday? Was he any relation I wonder to Bob Bunday, who came up the ranks & was Comms Officer at the time (1983) when I started as a Radio Enginner?

 

Sorry - we've gone off topic again!

 

Stewart

[rockershovel]

I can't envisage the building in question as a lodging house of any sort, given its layout and location. I wasn't aware that railway companies provided such lodgings in any case?

[The Stationmaster]

I can't envisage the building in question as a lodging house of any sort, given its layout and location. I wasn't aware that railway companies provided such lodgings in any case?

Traincrew lodging accommodation was provided by some companies in Pre-Group times while a lot more appeared later.  Separate accommodation for meals was, I think, more unusual except at very large locations although again it no doubt varied between Companies although it had become quite common (at the larger centres of employment) by late Grouping times although the description tended - from what I've ever seen of it - to vary according to who it was mean it for.  Thus on the Western there were 'officers' messes' at the site of more important offices while 'staff dining clubs' sufficed for the lesser managerial orders and the clerical folk while 'canteens' existed for uniform staff and in staff hostels where they existed (e.g. the GWR built a number of new hostel buildings in the immediate post-war period intended mainly for lodging purposes).  

 

In later years the eating facilities tended to be far more democratic although Western Tower in Reading - opened in 1967 - had an officers' mess for the senior folk and a  snackbar for the rest of us.  By the time we got to Swindon and 125 House in 1985 we were all in together in a cafeteria, right up to and including the General Manager.

 

Incidentally many hostel/lodging/barracks (as the LNWR called them) buildings were as close  to, or closer to, the railway than the building labelled 'Mess House' at Peterborough.

[thegreenhowards]

Hi Andy,

 

Can you help with this please?  I spoke to Dave Lewis before I bought my SP kit, and he explained to me that it would be necessary to cut the clear sides with both a razor saw and a mini drill. Now I have the instructions he gives two methods for body assembly. Method A mentions the cutting, but Method B does not, and seems to say that the brass sides can just be glued straight onto the clear sides as supplied. I'd rather do that if possible, and unless there are major advantages from doing it the other way. Which method did you use please?

Gilbert,

 

Your post brings back some painful memories as I dithered over those instructions for ages! I can't understand what method A is trying to achieve, so I used Method B. However, I somehow glued the sides into the channels in the base at the wrong level, and had to cut them out and re-glue later. You're basically trusting to form a box without a lid - the lid being the roof which screws in at the end. The five sided box gives strength. The sides fit into channels in a similar way to the old Triang Hornby mark 1s except that in this case they're glued in rather than just resting there.

 

Let me know if you need to bounce anything else off me.

 

Good luck

 

Andy

[great northern]

Traincrew lodging accommodation was provided by some companies in Pre-Group times while a lot more appeared later.  Separate accommodation for meals was, I think, more unusual except at very large locations although again it no doubt varied between Companies although it had become quite common (at the larger centres of employment) by late Grouping times although the description tended - from what I've ever seen of it - to vary according to who it was mean it for.  Thus on the Western there were 'officers' messes' at the site of more important offices while 'staff dining clubs' sufficed for the lesser managerial orders and the clerical folk while 'canteens' existed for uniform staff and in staff hostels where they existed (e.g. the GWR built a number of new hostel buildings in the immediate post-war period intended mainly for lodging purposes).  

 

In later years the eating facilities tended to be far more democratic although Western Tower in Reading - opened in 1967 - had an officers' mess for the senior folk and a  snackbar for the rest of us.  By the time we got to Swindon and 125 House in 1985 we were all in together in a cafeteria, right up to and including the General Manager.

 

Incidentally many hostel/lodging/barracks (as the LNWR called them) buildings were as close  to, or closer to, the railway than the building labelled 'Mess House' at Peterborough.

I agree Mike. Plenty of lodging going on by my period. Even the Tyneside Unions, who had been solidly against it for years had changed their stance by then. There were at least three Gateshead turns to New England, and no way the crews could have got back home within an eight hour working day. The "Mess house" we have been discussing would I think have been for use by the people employed in the District Engineer's and in the carriage and wagon repair shops. There must have been a large number of them, so some sort of rest/eating area would have been provided.

[rockershovel]

Interesting to know.

 

The building in question doesn't look like it was ever a lodging house but could have been a canteen

[LNER4479]

 That isn't me.   Not even me thirty years ago. It is the lady who haunted my dreams back in the 60s, and who came back into memory when I saw an old clip on TV. And so, inspired by the example of one of our most regular contributors, whose avatar frequently pays homage to a particular lady, I decided that I'd like to see Jane more often. Much better than my photos too. Alas I can claim no credit for its creation - I wouldn't have a clue where to start. An appeal to our glorious leader was swiftly answered though.

I'm feeling a little left out with all these classy avatars flying about so ... after three and a half years, I'm changing mine!

 

 

Do you think I'll be able to keep it up...? (Fnarr, fnarr!)

[coachmann]

Do you think I'll be able to keep it up...? 

R U on Viagra....?  

[bigwordsmith]

@4479 - I'm feeling the urge to share my own fantasy, although in this case it isn;t just a fantasy, but was realised this August after much discussion with SWMBO about how much VAT would be reclaimable from a new machine and converted into curtains for the house...

 

 

And before you say anything I'm too old for a mid-life Crisis - did that 25 years ago!

Edited December 23, 2015 by bigwordsmith

[St Enodoc]

R U on Viagra....?  

Breaking news - a lorry loaded with Viagra has been stolen. Police are looking for a gang of hardened criminals.

[manna]

G'day Gents

 

We used to give Viagra to the old fellas' at the old folks home, didn't help them with the ladies, but it stopped them falling out of bed.

 

manna

[great northern]

I finally worked out how to do it. It was of course very simple, but then so am I when it comes to anything practical. Anyway, all the best for the festive season to all of you who have contributed to this thread. The level of interest never ceases to amaze me, and acts as a powerful spur to keep me interested in and ploughing on with the project. Lots of help and advice freely given, and much appreciated, has also aided me greatly in getting PN to where it is today. Have a good time, one and all.

[jwealleans]

Indeed, Gilbert.  Season's greetings to you and all your readers.

[coachmann]

Gilbert, the latest buildings have made for an interesting new corner on the layout, and your sympathetic use of skies is helping considerably too.

 

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and Good Health throughout the New Year.

 

Larry

Edited December 24, 2015 by coachmann

[rockershovel]

Those buildings make a very effective composition, don't they?

[45568]

Cheers Mr. G.

from Oz,

Peter C.

[Bogie]

When you say "I finally worked out how to do it" I presume it has nothing to do with Viagra.

 

Of course if I am wrong - congratulations and long may it continue.

[great northern]

I seem to have received an early and unwanted present in the form of a ****** cold. I haven't had one for years, so why now?  To keep my mind off it, I tried to shop some more images from yesterday, which proved to be impossible. Then it occurred to me that the train I had been pointing the camera at was still in position, and the obligatory pouring rain and gale having been replaced by blue skies, I went and pointed the camera again, with much better results. Here then is another coal train that Control have managed to slip in between the expresses. This one is going no further than Little Barford power station, where it will reverse, hence the leading brake van, and the borrowed locomotive. A clean B17 has also appeared alongside the coaling stage, waiting for a call to duty a bit later.

 

[coachmann]

Today's clag-gricers would have shouted "I deedn't coom all thees wey joost to phootoogreph yooms kids"....Or if it were me.. "I'll just move this trolley down a bit gents so's you can sit on it.... and here's a couple of quid to spend in the Buffet.." Result... a nice clear shot of the loco ha ha...

Edited December 24, 2015 by coachmann

[Mallard60022]

have a good one and get well soon G. Several Brandy drinks will get rid of the cold. I'm trying to avoid the overwhelming materialism that has swallowed up this Grandson's house but am being ordered to come in and be sociable.......very deep breath.........

all the best friends.

Duck.

[Dominion]

My kids put Brandy out for Santa last night, which made its way into my first cup of tea this morning, and it seems to help with sociability :-) 

[Mallard60022]

Yes, I know I should be full of Christmas cheer but I am not and am joining the Scrooge Appreciation Society ASAP. Yes I know I should feel privileged to have family and I am most of the time, however I could do with being Major Tim at the moment. 

Take no notice as I am just not tolerant of loud and spoiled kids any more.

Pah!