Grantham - the Streamliner years

[Jesse Sim]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Looks good Graham,

 

Please let me know how Jesse's D2 gets on. 

 

And, can you ask him when he wants picking up from Grantham Station, please?

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

I have just send you an email my master! 

[LMS29]

2 hours ago, gr.king said:

Nice and warm in there by the look of the attire. Fully to Antipodean tastes?

 

 

Bring all your warmest gear, it was not to anyone's taste. Might be better in the morning with the large doors closed.

 

 

Edited March 9, 2023 by LMS29

[drmditch]

My favourite railway - looking good!

Would love to visit, but unfortunately hadn't better!

[LNER4479]

Well - back home safely with another show 'in the bag'. Whilst all involved said they'd had a good time - and may even have meant it? - in terms of the layout itself, we never quite hit a sustained level of trouble-free running. One contributory factor was a 16mm NG live steam stand across the way from us; the oily deposits from their cylinders has to go somewhere.

 

Anyhow, a sequence of pictures from this morning whilst I had the camera on hand.

 

Some nice lighting this morning, accentuating the track formations. Jonathan's 1888 FS train is making its way on scene.

 

At the station, No.4498 awaits with the all new 1938 FS ...

 

... whilst Gresley and his cronies ... oops, loyal team gather round the old timer.

 

The two trains set off for a bit of parallel running...

 

... before going their separate ways.

 

That's all from me folks, although some other photos were taken, I believe

 

 

Edited March 12, 2023 by LNER4479

[Sprite]

Really enjoyed seeing Grantham in person yesterday. Particularly the entirely prototypical oil wagon! I can't believe we were the first to spot it (and mention it at least) I wonder what that says about me and my Dad....

[zr2498]

Very much enjoyed watching Grantham on Friday at Harrogate, and the chat with Jonathan (at the fiddle yard).

I am rather late to the party wrt this amazing layout, and so was wondering where in the thread there might be some details of the track plan. Of course many photos are now missing. I read somewhere that it might be two that are stitched together. I'd appreciate a view of the track plans if that would be possible.

Dave

[jwealleans]

Well thank you for noticing, 'Sprite' and also for mentioning that it isn't just a repainted Bachmann tank, but it has been modelled with the twin fillers and valves as it is a double tank in a single barrel.   For anyone interested in further information, it's on the cover of Bill Hudson's Private Owner Wagons book, Volume 5.

 

Very much like the shed shot too as it highlights the little black engines which kept the railways running - J21 front left, J15 in front of the sheerlegs, GN design by the water filler  - could be any of J3/5/6 - and I think a J39 just past the A4 tender in front of the shed with an O4 beyond.   It's not all pointy engines and fast running.

 

Dave, you should have introduced yourself.   We must live within a couple of miles of each other at the very most.   There's been at least one trackplan published but I can't recall which magazine did it.   Graham will have one, so when he reads this I'm sure he'll oblige.

 

It's a bit facile to say that every show is different, but this one certainly was.   Once we'd got over the initial hurdle of enough floor space to fit the layout in we ended up with a very spacious pitch which made everything very easy.    The halls have come on a long way since the days when the Doncaster show decamped there about ten years ago.  I doubt they exhibit livestock in there now.

 

 

(Photo Jesse Sim)

 

It looks a bit daunting when it's all spread about like that, but luckily someone remembered where it all went and as we were more numerous than usual it went up fairly quickly.  

 

 

(This photo also Jesse Sim)

 

We didn't realise asking for power would be such a major request, though...

 

 

Full marks to Roy for nonchalance with that leaning over his shoulder.   As the show started to fill up we acquired some rather different neighbours to what we're used to.

 

 

As some people may know we had a guest operator for this show, all the way from Greystanes by popular demand.   Jesse Sim was due to visit this week - catch him at Ally Pally before he goes home - and kindly agreed to devote part of his visit to helping with the show.   Despite the temperatures being roughly 35 degrees less than what he's used to, he showed some promise and may be asked back.

 

In a remarkable display of courage, Jesse brought a case of stock half way round the world for us to run.   Here it's being vetted by the Standards Comittee.

 

 

This was one of a pair of Dolphins, scratchbuilt and absolutely marvellous pieces of work.   We'll get back to them later.

 

 

We were finally driven home by the baltic conditions, but it was pretty much all up and running by then.   One of the last activities was a discussion about whether a bus on a bridge counts as a cliche if it's moving.

 

 

On Friday, as I'm sure everyone recalls, we had cold and in some places quite heavy snow.   Undaunted, we set off armed with one shovel between four and found much less snow than the forecasts had threatened.   I don't know whether attendance was affected as I've not done or attended a friday show before, but there were certainly plenty of visitors.   We also had a number of new locos of our own as well as the guest stock, which inevitably brings problems, but all in all Friday was not a bad day's running.

 

There's a carriage siding more or less centre stage which usually holds a noteworthy piece of stock - Roy's 12 wheeler at Fareham - and this is what you could have seen had you been at the barrier over the last couple of days:

 

 

 

 

All Jesse's work.  The Ballast Brake is D & S, the G1 van 51L and the pair of Dolphins scratchbuilt.

 

He was also responsible for these by the turntable:

 

 

I'll let him explain the origins of these.

 

Having volunteered, he had to be shown the ropes - the shed is considered the gentle way in to operating the layout.

 

 

 

Notepads were provided.

 

 

As well as Jesse's contribution, Steve Pearce (31A) brought along this lovely scratchbuilt O1, which ran as well as it looked.   Sadly the driver was overcome by emotion and had to be helped from the cab.

 

 

Also visible here the carriage destination boards which were produced for us by Sankey Scenics.   We did have them at Fareham, but there wasn't time to photograph any there.

 

On Saturday morning I went prowling the shed as I often do to see what's been happening round the front.  I also had some locos which had been red carded on Friday and had had attention overnight to retest.   I found quite an abundance of C1s out there, which is always a good start to a day.

 

 

4419 by jesse from the Bachmann model. 

 

 

3275 (K's) coming off shed and 3251 (Bachmann) going on, despite the way they're facing.   Just out of shot to the left...

 

 

4412 (WSM, by the late Phil Giffen) was first in the line to leave.  I then introduced a couple more of Mr. Ivatt's finest:

 

 

3255 is one of the ex-Hitchin pair I acquired.   With additional tender pickups and a thorough clean, but still with the original open frame motor she manoeuvred round the shed as required and went back into general service.

 

 

3272 has had to have a replacement mechanism (High Level SlimLiner gearbox and the large coreless motor he offers) but also now runs to the required standard and saw use on Saturday.  Further down the shed road I found the J5 I built last year.

 

 

The recently completed J4 I'd reserved for the coal empties as that's a train I manage and which runs through much of the south end point ladder but doesn't generally stop more than once, so it's a good test for a new build.   I needn't have worried too much.

 

 

It'll have a Kadee fitted by Newcastle and go into the general pool.

 

Jesse was keen to photograph and run his Raven A2 and deservedly so.   We posed it on shed for a couple of pictures, then sent it out on the down Empty Perishables.

 

 

 

 

Red Leader has already commented on the light at that time of the morning and I have to say I do like that shot.

 

Running did deteriorate as the weekend wore on and I do think we suffered from deposits from the live steam exhibits.   The wheels I cleaned on the locos we serviced on the Friday night were filthy and some of them had barely run.   All stock will have to have its wheels cleaned before Newcastle.

 

Special thanks to Mr King for making a guest appearance on Friday as well.  

 

Did anyone happen to take pictures of K3 1125 or K2 4654 on the layout?  They were also new at this show and I didn't manage to shoot either of them.

 

Edit - bonus for you (again courtesy of Jesse Sim) - two pieces of video from the show.   Starts with a lovely tracking shot of my Shotover departing north, made all themore satisfying because he thought it was one of his locos (2576 The White Knight) and only realised when i mentioned it.  Followed by 2401 on the Up Perishables.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAhSeWAxdcs

 

 

Edited March 13, 2023 by jwealleans
Added video link.

[LNER4479]

Well, thanks very much to Jonathan for that particularly excellent show report - you've got the job.

 

Ref the request above re trackplan, it has occurred to me that, being over 10 years since first being 'launched' on here, and given the loss of most pre-2022 photos, perhaps I should embark on some sort of resume of the whole thing? You can't beat recycling old material. Not promising anything rapid, but I'll see what I can dig out from the archives over the next few months, now that the layout has gone in hibernation again.

[jwealleans]

35 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

I'll see what I can dig out from the archives over the next few months,

 

You wouldn't have a video of some trainee operators trying to do a loco change on the main panel, at all?

[St Enodoc]

46 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

Well, thanks very much to Jonathan for that particularly excellent show report - you've got the job.

Obviously under-employed on the fiddle yard...

[jwealleans]

7 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

Obviously under-employed on the fiddle yard...

 

I'm well known for having my feet up and snoozing much of the day.

[LMS29]

4 hours ago, jwealleans said:

 

I'm well known for having my feet up and snoozing much of the day.

 

Not to be seen at your end of the fiddle yard, JW!!

 

Edited March 13, 2023 by LMS29

[Barry O]

9 hours ago, jwealleans said:

 

You wouldn't have a video of some trainee operators trying to do a loco change on the main panel, at all?

Are you after getting Red Leader banned on RMWeb?

 

Baz

[jwealleans]

5 hours ago, LMS29 said:

Not to be seen at your end of the fiddle yard, JW!!

 

Hammock.   I'm just out of sight, under the boards.

[jwealleans]

We seemed to have a bit of a photo fest at Harrogate, so i thought I'd share a few more with you.  These are in the main by Jesse or my good lady wife (and therefore less flattering and train-oriented than the ones I usually take).

 

 

Model railway shows are like any walk of life - there's a great deal of standing about hoping someone else will do whatever needs to be done...

 

 

... and then one bloke (Paul in this case) does all the work while several layers of management look on.

 

 

 

Here I was explaining to anyone who'd listen what the cold weather had done to my P2.

 

I see Jesse has been flaunting his milk train on Little Bytham.  It's not the first time he's had it out, it was paraded on Saturday.    This is the picture he's taken inspiration from:

 

 

(Picture by R Blencowe)

 

As I have a model of 4432, we made use of it.   He was also kind enough to ask me to bring my much smaller milk stock along to add to the whole thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All this is Jesse's work other than tanks 4-6 and the milk brake behind them.   I'll let him go through the origins of the various models.

 

 

Now here I have to protest my innocence.  I was accused of taking the kind of picture which used to get you reported to the police by the staff in Boots, but the camera is clearly pointing in a very different direction.   I think this was the target:

 

 

It does spend a lot of time hanging round outside that factory.  Then again, it might have been this:

 

 

I'm not sure whose D2 this is (Steve?) but it was there surrounded by wagons and I quite liked the view.

 

Since I've been accused anyway, let's finish with a Dick pic.

 

 

This is a converted Bachmann wagon with scratchbuilt fillers and valve wheels.   The tank trussing also had to be altered to follow prototype.   Transfers by Powsides (1055).

 

 

 

[31A]

15 minutes ago, jwealleans said:

I'm not sure whose D2 this is (Steve?) but it was there surrounded by wagons and I quite liked the view.

 

Not guilty I'm afraid Jonathan; one number out:

 

 

Nice pictures, from a great weekend!

 

[Jesse Sim]

1 hour ago, jwealleans said:

We seemed to have a bit of a photo fest at Harrogate, so i thought I'd share a few more with you.  These are in the main by Jesse or my good lady wife (and therefore less flattering and train-oriented than the ones I usually take).

 

 

Model railway shows are like any walk of life - there's a great deal of standing about hoping someone else will do whatever needs to be done...

 

 

... and then one bloke (Paul in this case) does all the work while several layers of management look on.

 

 

 

Here I was explaining to anyone who'd listen what the cold weather had done to my P2.

 

I see Jesse has been flaunting his milk train on Little Bytham.  It's not the first time he's had it out, it was paraded on Saturday.    This is the picture he's taken inspiration from:

 

 

(Picture by R Blencowe)

 

As I have a model of 4432, we made use of it.   He was also kind enough to ask me to bring my much smaller milk stock along to add to the whole thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All this is Jesse's work other than tanks 4-6 and the milk brake behind them.   I'll let him go through the origins of the various models.

 

 

Now here I have to protest my innocence.  I was accused of taking the kind of picture which used to get you reported to the police by the staff in Boots, but the camera is clearly pointing in a very different direction.   I think this was the target:

 

 

It does spend a lot of time hanging round outside that factory.  Then again, it might have been this:

 

 

I'm not sure whose D2 this is (Steve?) but it was there surrounded by wagons and I quite liked the view.

 

Since I've been accused anyway, let's finish with a Dick pic.

 

 

This is a converted Bachmann wagon with scratchbuilt fillers and valve wheels.   The tank trussing also had to be altered to follow prototype.   Transfers by Powsides (1055).

 

 

 

My my what a dick It is! 
 

Goes well with the cock holding area, unfortunately only one cock insight, nice sausage next to it though  

 

 

I particularly like this photo of you working away, I do wish I had taken a photo of you taking a photo of your dick. 
 

[LNER4479]

2 hours ago, jwealleans said:

 

I'm not sure whose D2 this is (Steve?) but it was there surrounded by wagons and I quite liked the view.

 

 

 

 

S'mine! As it's the last item of stock I'll build for the project, I numbered as the last D2.

 

Often to be seen hauling the Quint set (re-cycled 6w and 8w rigid Howldens).

 

Edited March 13, 2023 by LNER4479

[LNER4479]

Just posted on Wright Writes thread, so thought it only fitting that it get posted here as well.

 

Now I've got your attention, thought you might like to know that we're potentially being lined up for an appearance at York show next year (2024). Been a long-held ambition to take the layout to York, so really hoping that comes to pass. I'll let you know for definite once it's confirmed. Layout is a tad more complete these days than in the video above! Not sure whether the standard of operating has improved that much, mind ...

 

[gr.king]

Proof that even two reputedly competent modellers, following printed instructions, can't always make the specified moves in the sequence work properly 😄

[grob1234]

A masterclass in operation.... 🤣

[LNER4479]

Now then, me hearties. Where do you suppose this fine body of ladies and gentlemen might be heading? I'll leave it here as a little teaser for now. Anyone who can work out exactly where this photo is taken is either very well-travelled or an incredibly lucky guess.

 

More to follow shortly ...

 

[BWsTrains]

Somewhere where the sun was shining yesterday, so not England!

[jwealleans]

That's assuming the picture was taken yesterday.

[St Enodoc]

5 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

Now then, me hearties. Where do you suppose this fine body of ladies and gentlemen might be heading? I'll leave it here as a little teaser for now. Anyone who can work out exactly where this photo is taken is either very well-travelled or an incredibly lucky guess.

 

More to follow shortly ...

 

Germany. Beyond that, no idea.