Black Country Blues

[2ManySpams]

 

Would patches of carpet for the operators to stand on help demark the 'operating area' ?  (Might also help with those aching / aging legs )

 

 

Spikes, razor wire, minefield? 

 

Just thought, you had the ultimate deterrent missing... the curry monster was down in Exeter     

[wagonbasher]

Spikes, razor wire, minefield? 

 

Just thought, you had the ultimate deterrent missing... the curry monster was down in Exeter     

That would only have kept one end clear.... Ermmmmm... Ok, Maybe both ends!

 

Andy

[2ManySpams]

That would only have kept one end clear.... Ermmmmm... Ok, Maybe both ends!

 

Andy

 

Possibly the hall...

[Andy Y]

Possibly the hall...

 

Not a problem, I've witnessed him create a 30' long air biscuit.

[2ManySpams]

Not a problem, I've witnessed him create a 30' long air biscuit.

 

And you lived to tell the tale!

[Mark Forrest]

Here are a few photos I took of locos both making their first appearance on the layout.

 

Paul's Type 2:

 

 

Andy Y's Sentinel:

 

 

and finally an overall view along the layout (with half of the normal number of lightbulbs):

[Siberian Snooper]

Here are a few photos I took of locos both making their first appearance on the layout.

 

Paul's Type 2:

 

WP_20140530_014.jpg

WP_20140530_013.jpg

 

Andy Y's Sentinel:

WP_20140530_012.jpg

 

WP_20140530_007.jpg

 

and finally an overall view along the layout (with half of the normal number of lightbulbs):

WP_20140531_002.jpg

 

That last photo is very atmospheric.

[Dr Gerbil-Fritters]

 (don't tell Mrs F I've been photographing models in her greenhouse!)

 

 

I won't if you won't...

 

[wagonbasher]

Ok... There is a plan to back date BCB. Circa 1960 / early 60's is the plan

 

In our 1975 period we run the gulf block train TEA's 100 tonne tanks as passing traffic bound for Oldbury and a rake of TTA's that we pull into the yard and drag up the bank as fuel for our 'off scene' rolling mill.

 

If we were to back date the period as planned what would be the equivalent train(s) ? I know that oldbury were receiving petroleum products.

 

Bachmann produce a variety of 14T tanks, I have some in a variety if liveries. Happy to repaintrint as what?

 

I do know that there was a lot of rail and canal traffic to service the West Midlands coal tar and petro chem demands, I just don't know the detail of the traffic involved.

 

Cheers

 

Andy

[TheSignalEngineer]

Not all Black country, but not far away and in the right period.

 

There was a block train of Regent tanks from Cardiff to Soho Pool which ran via Stourbridge. It had tanks like the Dapol kit, usually hauled by a Canton 9F, then later by Hymeks.

 

A lot about it here if you pick out the right bits http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=26644&hilit=soho+pool

 

There were quite a lot of Shell/BP tanks, some BP ones shown here https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoffsimages/8159229694/ 

 

At Snow Hill this shot shows a single tank in a mixed freight. http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrbsh1180.htm

 

At Curzon St in 1966 we still had regular visits from ACC tar tanks, including a rectangular one like Dapol B751 and some round tanks with wooden underframes. These were usually picked up by the Curzon St Jocko from Nechells Gas Works through Aston Gas Ground Frame and were tripped to Bescot. A lot of the local gas works had similar traffic.

 

Over at Coventry this train has a mixture of tanks including ICI bogie, Esso, Shell and National all in one train http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrbsh1180.htm

 

Eric

[wagonbasher]

ACC ?

 

Andy

[Worsdell forever]

ACC ?

 

Andy

 

Not Associated Cooperative Creameries?

[Fat Controller]

I'd go for the Esso/ Shell-Mex BP black tanks for fuel oil; they were running into South Wales steelworks into the late 1960s. Some never left; at Duports, when they'd been replaced by more modern tanks, the top half was cut off, and the bottom part used for carrying scrap within the plant.

[wagonbasher]

Not Associated Cooperative Creameries?

I think it the associated chemical company (cheesy name)

 

Andy

[DonB]

By 1963/4 these tank wagons were on borrowed time due to the National conversion from coal gas to natural gas being imminent, effectively making coke ovens redundant except for coke for steel-making.

 

I have asked a friend, who hopefully knows about these things, to identify the Acronym ACC . I think it was Associated Chemical Companies (Plural!) ... perhaps pooling resources post-nationalisation???

[hmrspaul]

I'd go for the Esso/ Shell-Mex BP black tanks for fuel oil; they were running into South Wales steelworks into the late 1960s. Some never left; at Duports, when they'd been replaced by more modern tanks, the top half was cut off, and the bottom part used for carrying scrap within the plant.

Agreed, and some very elderly ones would still be running around until the late 1960s; SMBP was very late to replace its fleet - which was lucky for them as it meant they had didn't have many of the soon to be redundant vacuum braked 'modern' tanks.

 

I managed to photograph a couple of ACC rectangular tanks in January 1968 in a train being hauled (IIRC) an English Electric class 3. http://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/privateownerwagon/e1101be8f

 

Paul

[2ManySpams]

ACC ?

 

Andy

 

Actual cream crackers 

[TheSignalEngineer]

ACC ?

Andy

Associated Chemical Co. Their rectangular tanks were in use until at least 1968. Edited June 26, 2014 by TheSignalEngineer

[DonB]

By 1963/4 these tank wagons were on borrowed time due to the National conversion from coal gas to natural gas being imminent, effectively making coke ovens redundant except for coke for steel-making.

 

I have asked a friend, who hopefully knows about these things, to identify the Acronym ACC . I think it was Associated Chemical Companies (Plural!) ... perhaps pooling resources post-nationalisation???

His reply :-

 

" Dear Don,

I don't know if this is the company you are interested in, but the Times Digital Archive gave me the following:

 

from  The Times 7th May 1958

 

"British Chrome and Chemicals (Holdings) are to change their name to Associated Chemical Companies"

 

 

This A.C.C. specialised in chrome and SO2.  They diversified by taking over a fertiliser company, and later

were themselves taken over in turn for £9.5M. by Albright & Wilson In March 1965

 

 

In 1972 Albright's reorganised their 4 divisions into 3. The ACC Division was split in 1972, the chrome and sulphur going to

one division and the fertiliser to another, so the ACC name vanished.  There were several reports during the seven years they existed,

but mostly concentrated on the finance with little or no mention of their products.  So I don't know if they ever bought coal tar.

A.C.C. had factories in Rutherglen, Lanarks; at Eaglescliffe, Stockton/Tees; and at Bolton.  Searching the newspapers there might give more detail (especially at the time of plant closures in August 1964).

 

Martin "

[wagonbasher]

Agreed, and some very elderly ones would still be running around until the late 1960s; SMBP was very late to replace its fleet - which was lucky for them as it meant they had didn't have many of the soon to be redundant vacuum braked 'modern' tanks.

 

I managed to photograph a couple of ACC rectangular tanks in January 1968 in a train being hauled (IIRC) an English Electric class 3. http://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/privateownerwagon/e1101be8f

 

Paul

Just to nail it.. The shell bp train would be the black 14t tanks with white lettering just SHELL. BP steel under frame , ladder up the side

 

Andy

[Worsdell forever]

Lots of Bachmann ones then?

 

I've got 3.

[Mark Forrest]

Just to nail it.. The shell bp train would be the black 14t tanks with white lettering just SHELL. BP steel under frame , ladder up the sideAndy

There are some good photos in one of Geoff Kent's 4mm wagon books. I'm of the impression that tanks of the era weren't as standardised as they were in later years; think we'd see some variety in size/capacity, tank anchoring and ladder position etc. Not sure a uniform rake of Bachmann tanks would look right.

[Worsdell forever]

The three I have are all different mountings, ladders, fillers and probably other differences, so a bit of tweaking could come up with more variations.

[Jason T]

I have three too, same as Paul's and probably from the same pack of three so could do with renumbering and regauging (I have others to leave as OO, with different branding)

[hmrspaul]

The three I have are all different mountings, ladders, fillers and probably other differences, so a bit of tweaking could come up with more variations.

That is correct. SMBP was founded in c1932/3 (I have the accurate date somewhere) and had many earlier tanks from all sorts of different owners and manufacturer's. Very early versions, like the one with cross steel bracing, were still in use in 1967-8.

 

Your lucky to have the Bachmanns as they are quite rare, a Modelzone three sold out in minutes a few years ago.

 

Mind, I don't think any of them are to the standard you usually require for BCB. Bachmann have gone the generic route, as virtually every manufacturer has done for tank wagons. And you would really need some anchor mounted tanks as well as, being post war, they were an increasing proportion of the fleet. Having said that, can others encourage Bachmann to re-introduce some more SMBP versions of these three models please - I have tried and failed! I will provide photos of ones they haven't done we (Ebor GRM)  NEED them for Rowntrees Halt as Layerthorpe yard received large numbers of these wagons.

 

Paul Bartlett