Peterborough North

[Fenman]

...

and then another view of part of Hermit, plus an Ivatt backing down onto the 8.30 to Melton Constable. It is however several minutes late off shed, so passengers will be a bit miffed.

...

Given how slow ex-M&GN trains were (average journey speeds of under 20mph were not uncommon), I’d be amazed if the passengers noticed. Or, knowing what they were letting themselves in for, whether they cared much.

 

I sometimes idly wonder whether it would have been useful/ more lucrative for BR to have run a Peterborough-Wisbech-Lynn-Fakenham-Norwich shuttle “express”. Even today there’s enough business to sustain an hourly express double-decker operating that route (and on to Yarmouth and Lowestoft). Still, that idle speculation takes us away from your lovely, lovely model.

 

Paul

[88C]

I really like all of the photos that you post, the low camera position gives a wonderful realistic image. Keep up the good work.

 

Brian

[great northern]

Given how slow ex-M&GN trains were (average journey speeds of under 20mph were not uncommon), I’d be amazed if the passengers noticed. Or, knowing what they were letting themselves in for, whether they cared much.

 

I sometimes idly wonder whether it would have been useful/ more lucrative for BR to have run a Peterborough-Wisbech-Lynn-Fakenham-Norwich shuttle “express”. Even today there’s enough business to sustain an hourly express double-decker operating that route (and on to Yarmouth and Lowestoft). Still, that idle speculation takes us away from your lovely, lovely model.

 

Paul

Yes, we tend to forget how much slower the pace of life was back then, particularly in rural areas, and it didn't get much more rural than the fens. There's nothing wrong with a bit of idle speculation either, in my view. It's a bit late to be finding ways of avoiding the slaughter of the railway system in the 50s and 60s, but one thing is for sure, a lot of commuters would be glad if they had the opportunity of using some of those lines now.

[great northern]

The cameraman has climbed up on something again to get this image.

He didn't quite get his timing right though. No such problem for the other man recording the departure of 60109.

This picture has just given me more ideas.

[trw1089]

Those wide expanses that you now have are just marvelous, it really creates a sense that this is a very large station.

[great northern]

Peter Leyland was here today, and it was another productive visit. A late finish though, so no photos till tomorrow of the progress which was made.

 

We contunue instead to follow the progess of 60109, this time recorded by our man on the other side of Crescent Bridge.

This started as a long view, but got progressively cropped when I saw problem areas which I didn't fancy tackling. Even so there are some dodgy chimney stacks. Finally, 60109 went round the bend.

Some might say that its owner did that long ago, but there we are.

[Market65]

No comment, Gilbert! lol. But lovely photo’s, as always, and I can’t wait to see what Peter Leyland has delivered for you. But I, along with everyone else, will wait until tomorrow.

 

Best regards,

 

Rob.

[trw1089]

Looking forward to seeing Peter’s latest too, but more than happy to make do with more pics of single chimneyed A3s!

[great northern]

Unexpected developments today, so hasty rescheduling has been needed. I should be able to get some images done later though. Here are the last two I have at present.

 

A short parcels train has come up from East.

 

and the B1 on the 5.52 from KX is still lurking in the shadows.

[great northern]

 Right, I've done all I can to deal with what has been thrown at me in my official capacity today, and so return gratefully to the world of trains. I didn't actually say that Peter has brought anything new with him, because he hadn't, but things did get done. Here is the first of them.

Yes folks, it's a gate. There should have been one years ago, but finally it got done. It is far too clean, but that is easily dealt with. I'm sure you are as excited as I am by this sudden deterrent to trespassers, so I photographed it again.

and then again from another angle.

This was actually the last job that got done, and it was gone 7.00pm before Peter started his long journey home, so this was as far as we got. Plenty of fettling still to be done. More to come later, to show what we did earlier.

 

[great northern]

What could be as exciting as a gate? How about a cul de sac?

Again, plenty of work still to be done, particularly on getting levels right, but the fence at the end, which is based on a prototype image, has already had a most satisfactory impact. Here's another slightly different angle.

there is potential for the addition of a lot of small detail to this scene eventually, and I shall really enjoy doing that.

 

Yet more new developments to follow.

[great northern]

Little spare time at present, so just two more progress pictures this morning. Here is the reverse angle on the new cul de sac.

To a degree we are making this up as we go along, as photos of the real thing are so rare. We now need the building to come down to a different level, so Peter will be extending it as can be seen from the photo. I'm not happy with the effect at the left side of the new fence either, so we will look at that again too.

 

Of course the railway behind that building should be running only on a gentle curve, and in reality it was the entrance to the South goods yard complex. There should be an absolute maze of track here, which is clearly impossible to replicate. I have however extended the one other track that came under the bridge, which up to now I have cropped to hide the fact that it went nowhere.

it still can't join up to anything, the track geometry won't allow that, but I now have plans for what will run alongside it. All of this , of course was not originally going to be developed at all, but I reckon we can make something good out of it, even though it will be far from the prototype in some ways. Now I must compose e-mails.

[60027Merlin]

Gilbert,

 

The photo numbers 18319 and 18325 "highlighting" the shadow of the bridge onto the track brings even more depth and realism to the layout. No doubt you will be able to continue with shots at other angles with similar effect. 

 

As always - Great stuff! 

 

Eric

[great northern]

Here is a different angle on the extended siding. which I can reveal has resulted in another commission for Peter.

I'm now wondering whether I can rig up a temporary backscene to hide the fiddle yard. In fact, if I remove the obvious non railway items, I might get away with it as it is.

 

Some may be suffering from locomotive deprivation, so I'll skip forward a little, and show this higher level view of a B1 bringing up the stock for the 8.58pm Grimsby.

[great northern]

There are not enough hours in the day at present, so I have had to resort to getting up early.   A couple more quick images then, before dull normality takes over. We have a view of the exciting new developments from beside Crescent Bridge box.

Actually, I think this will be a nice backdrop for trains when it is finished. Then we have another look at the shabby Immingham B1.

Why have I not thought of this heavier crop before? It takes out the severity of the curve under the bridge.

[great northern]

Time for a sigh of relief, as a busy day winds down. Far too late to take any photos though. By the way, we seem to have a photographer with a fixation about gates.

[Mallard60022]

Time for a sigh of relief, as a busy day winds down. Far too late to take any photos though. By the way, we seem to have a photographer with a fixation about gates.

11 gate again.jpg

Is he unhinged?

A. Portal

[great northern]

Is he unhinged?

A. Portal

Bless you Phil, that got me laughing for ages, and it was just what I needed.

[great northern]

The sun is setting at PN now, and shines almost horizontally on Top Shed V2 60854, coming through with a FO service from Bradford.

 

The V2 then passes 61143, which is waiting for the signal to set off for Grimsby and home.

[great northern]

That is a very well turned out V2, so our photographers kept focusing on it. We get the very familiar view at the South end.

and then another look a bit further along.

This nearly hides all the unfinished bits, and gives a good broadside locomotive view. The bridge frames it very nicely too, and it isn't that difficult to photoshop. You may be seeing more like this in future folks.

[trw1089]

You may be seeing more like this in future folks.

I hope so Gilbert, if that side on of the V2 is anything to go by

Edited June 7, 2018 by trw1089

[davidw]

Gilbert, what do you use to weather underframes

[great northern]

Gilbert, what do you use to weather underframes

Railmatch frame dirt, David, when I can get my hands on any.

[great northern]

 A Boston to Peterborough East Class F is approaching, K2 hauled, and lurching around the last bit of the dogs leg curve.

 

It is also available in black and white.

Edited June 8, 2018 by great northern

[great northern]

Another for the silhouette fan club.

 

Something not quite right with the upload procedure this morning, I think.