Grantham - the Streamliner years

[St Enodoc]

5 hours ago, 2750Papyrus said:

 

But they did in those days!

They stopped at random in lots of other places too.

[LNER4479]

12 hours ago, Tony Teague said:

Graham

Was much involved in modifying the vehicles running on your Faller Road system?

In a word Tony - yes!

In all but one case, we've thrown away the Faller body and fitted a 1930s body to the chassis.

Don't have the images to hand just right now; will post some examples when I get the chance.

[Fishplate]

14 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

They stopped at random in lots of other places too.

 

My first mini was doing that in the late 70's. Well before cars had the current "auto switch off when stopped" function. 

[2750Papyrus]

Hi Graham.

 

Congratulations on two magazine articles and awards at the same time.  I must dig out the Grantham DVD and watch it again!

 

I enjoy watching both layouts. You were kind enough to reply recently to my enquiry regarding the Shap pilot and I understand an article about the fiddle yard is imminent.  However, I personally prefer Grantham. whilst Shap has the scenic grandeur of the hills, Grantham has much more operational interest with the Nottingham branch, goods yard, loco depot and, yes, the road vehicles.  Additionally, it has such a broad range of rolling stock, ranging from the then latest streamliners to Victorian 6 wheelers and pre-grouping locos.  Many of these older prototypes are rarely seen modelled and may be unknown to many exhibition visitors. 

 

Would it be possible for you and your fellow exhibitors to pen some articles about some of these interesting road and rail vehicles?

[jwealleans]

8 minutes ago, 2750Papyrus said:

Would it be possible for you and your fellow exhibitors to pen some articles about some of these interesting road and rail vehicles?

 

There was a two part feature in BRM at the end of 2022 which went into quite some detail about some of the stock and its origins.   I'm sure if you ask here we can come up with something, unless there are any commissioning editors reading, in which case we can negotiate?

[LNER4479]

With only a week to go to York - a quick travelogue!

 

In a distinct sense of deja vu, a small group of us headed out again to the enduring draw that is the Fatherland.

 

First stop was Wuppertal (Saturday). Dave 'Jobbo' Jobling and Steve (31A) Pearce take it all in.

 

 

No prizes for guessing where we're going next ...

 

Arrival at Wernigerode Sunday afternoon and we enjoy a coffee in the (agreeably quiet) square. First time back since Covid for Mrs4479.

 

Lovely conditions Monday morning. The quirky contrast of the Harz is on display here as the 0940 train to Halberstadt coincides with ...

 

... the 0940 HSB departure!

 

As the train heads away, the stock for the following 1025 waits to enter the station, the shunter controlling the move by radio control from the leading balcony (regauged diesel loco on the back). The legendary Brocken mountain can be seen, clear of clouds in the top left distance.

 

We took the said 1025 train, seen here bringing traffic on the Westerntor crossroads to a halt.

 

(more to follow - only seem able to load approx 7MB of files this evening?!)

Edited March 23 by LNER4479

[LNER4479]

Continuing with the 1025 from Wernigerode.

 

Digging in to the lower stages of the climb up to Drei Annen Hohne.

 

Now on the climb to the Brocken, passing the earlier 0940 returning train, berthed in the passing siding to allow us a clear passage onwards.

 

Steve observes proceedings as the summit TV mast comes into view.

 

A different take on the climb. This is the view looking across from the summit of a train making its way up, way below us at this point.

 

And about 15 mins later ... here it is!

 

Back at Drei Annen Hohne, we were treated to the sight of no less than FIVE different steam-hauled trains within a breathless 30 mins. Four such trains were as per timetable but the one on the left here was an extra, an ECS working through to the Selketalbahn!

 

Before it could leave, the returning train from Eisfelder enters the station off the Harzerquebahn; Brockenbahn to the right.

 

No. 7240 then sets off south. We'll catch up with this loco in a few days time.

 

 

Edited March 23 by LNER4479

[gr.king]

But for family circumstances, and a deep dislike of the still-evident gross unreliability/inadequacy of "organised" transport systems, we'd have loved to be there too. A clear day atop the Brocken would be a real revelation, after our only visit in thick mist and rain in 2017.

[Captain Kernow]

I got taken up the Brocken as a treat by family who live in Germany, a few years ago, one mild March day.

 

The weather was mild and mostly sunny in Drei Annen Hohne at the bottom of the mountain. We got off the train at the top in deep snow, low cloud and mist and a bitingly cold wind!

 

But the ride, that was just sublime!

 

 

[LNER4479]

12 hours ago, gr.king said:

 a deep dislike of the still-evident gross unreliability/inadequacy of "organised" transport systems, 

Well, for what it's worth, we travelled on 17 different trains to / from Wernigerode and during our stay there (not including the HSB trains themselves). Every one of them ran as planned and - notwithstanding a couple of hairy moments - all connections were made. Apparently, El Jobbo is a 'lucky charm' when on his travels 😇

[31A]

2 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

I got taken up the Brocken as a treat by family who live in Germany, a few years ago, one mild March day.

 

The weather was mild and mostly sunny in Drei Annen Hohne at the bottom of the mountain. We got off the train at the top in deep snow, low cloud and mist and a bitingly cold wind!

 

But the ride, that was just sublime!

 

 

 

The only snow to be seen at the top of the Brocken this March!

 

[LNER4479]

Day 2 (Tues) in the Harz and we did our own thing, Steve and Dave having a further trip up the Brocken, plus the trip to Eisfelder.

 

We, meanwhile took the train to Goslar (semaphores now consigned to history 😢). Town pretty quiet; ideal for our look round.

 

Back at Wernigerode, partook of the  ... ahem ... road train (bimmelbahn). Doesn't really count, does it? 🤔

 

This does though! The 3pm off Wernigerode Westerntor (bang on time, as you can see).

 

Thus enjoyed another ride up to Drei Annen Hohne. This is the occasionally used mid-section passing loop.

 

Once again, the mid-afternoon '3 trains meet'. Rendez-vous'd here with our fellow travellers, who'd enjoyed another sunny and clear day on the railway.

 

Always worth hanging around at Wernigerode main station at the end of the day. Here, 7247 disposes of its stock off the Eisfelder (train is propelling away from the camera in this shot).

 

Lovely, end-of-day lighting for photography in the shed yard. Steve took careful note of the puddles n reflection effects for possible incorporation on Finsbury Square in times to come!

 

[Dragonboy]

I would think scratchbuilding one of the local buildings would be an interesting exercise. 

[DaveF]

Lovely pictures once again.  I can hardly believe it's over 30 years since I've been there.  I've always liked Goslar too.

 

David

[jwealleans]

Wot, no manhole covers?

[Clive Mortimore]

Hi Graham

 

I am right the layout is going to be called Grantham the Diesel Years at York this weekend. How many Deltics, Brush4s and type 2s shall I pack?

 

The other weekend I had the pleasure of enduring the pressure sore inducing seating on an Azuma. When it stopped at Grantham a rather coy (almost sexy) female recording announced "Grantham, change here for Skegness", no mention of Nottingham or Boston.

[jwealleans]

13 minutes ago, Clive Mortimore said:

I am right the layout is going to be called Grantham the Diesel Years at York this weekend.

 

Hurrah!! An unexpected weekend off!

[LNER4479]

On 25/03/2024 at 14:13, Clive Mortimore said:

I am right the layout is going to be called Grantham the Diesel Years at York this weekend. How many Deltics, Brush4s and type 2s shall I pack?

 

On 25/03/2024 at 14:26, jwealleans said:

Hurrah!! An unexpected weekend off!

He'll be on his own. Mind you, would be perfectly practical. No loco depot, no goods yards, no stock shunting ... zzzzzzz

 

[LNER4479]

On 25/03/2024 at 10:43, DaveF said:

Lovely pictures once again.  I can hardly believe it's over 30 years since I've been there.  I've always liked Goslar too.

 

David

Thanks for your interest, David. Hopefully it's evoking happy memories?

 

On 25/03/2024 at 11:23, jwealleans said:

Wot, no manhole covers?

They were observed, I can assure you.

 

Our last full day in the Harz saw us head out to Quedlinburg, another interchange point where new meets old. Viewed from the balcony of the 1030 Harz train, the Thale-Halberstadt trains cross at the same time, making a model connection with the HSB.

 

The Thale-bound train also - enterprisingly - departs at 1030(!) thus allowing for a playful 'race' out the town, as the two sets of tracks run alongside each other for the first half mile.

 

This first stretch is the converted (standard gauge to metre gauge) link; at Gernrode, the tracks swing sharply over to the right to gain the original narrow gauge route of the delightful Selketalbahn route, Gernrode being the previous interchange back in the day. The traditional style shed at Gernrode is still in use for the loco allocated to the steam-hauled trains on the route. You can see which road they regularly use.

 

The nature of the route changes completely beyond Gernrode. Bucolic seems a very appropriate adjective. There was some evidence of use by walkers as well as railway enthusiasts along this stretch.

 

Finally, the loco's identity is revealed! And it was indeed the loco and stock we saw at Drei Annen Hohne two days earlier🙂 The regular loco for the route, unique Krupp 2-6-2T 6001 assumed to be on winter maintenance?

 

Alexisbad is as far as the steam diagram runs in the morning. It is another junction station on the network, demonstrated by the railcar from Nordhausen making a connection, also reversing here to serve the short branchline to Harzgerode.

 

(Part 2 to follow)

Edited March 26 by LNER4479

[LNER4479]

At Alexisbad, we went our separate ways, Dave and Steve continuing by railcar to make the connection at Eisfelder for the steam back to Wernigerode.

 

We simply headed back to Quedlinburg, with the sun obliging most of the time.

 

Time for a quick snap at Gernrode to capture more of the station site. Orignal station building on the left.

 

Quedlinburg is the other UNESCO town in the area, with an almost unbelievable 2000+ wooden frame buildings listed as scheduled monuments.

 

These are a couple of towers along the wall of the NEW town area (ha!) 'New' as in 13th(-ish) century.

 

Successfully rendez-vous'd back in Wernigerode, dining at the Altora 'Restaurant 1835' where the train delivers drinks to your table.

 

Good trains, good company, good beer ... LOTS of good beer(!)

 

 

Right - about this show ...

 

Edited March 26 by LNER4479

[PaulRhB]

On 24/03/2024 at 22:48, LNER4479 said:

 

This does though! The 3pm off Wernigerode Westerntor (bang on time, as you can see).

Nice to see the original in fine fettle, when we were last there the heritage train came up the Brocken with one of the later build and our service train had 222 on the front. I was delighted 😁 

 

On 23/03/2024 at 22:49, LNER4479 said:

view.

 

A different take on the climb. This is the view looking across from the summit of a train making its way up, way below us at this point.

The bug causing the firs dying is devastating that view 😔

 

I guess part two is the afternoon run to Hasselfelde & Eisfelder Talmühle, we had 7235, left Eisfelder half an hour late due to a fire delaying the Nordhausen train, arrived on time at Quedlinburg after some ‘spirited’ running 😝
https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/79954-hsb-in-the-süd-harz-hom-calne-april-2024/?do=findComment&comment=3304617

 

Edited March 26 by PaulRhB

[DaveF]

16 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

Thanks for your interest, David. Hopefully it's evoking happy memories?

 

 

Very much so.  Gernrode is completely different now, when I was there it was quite run down but still tidy.  Of course then it was the terminus with the line from Gernrode to Quedlinburg still being standard gauge.

 

Alexisbad looks much as it did back then.  I hope you won't mind a link to my old photos of the HSB (when it was still part of DR)

 

If anyone wants to see it as it was over 30 years ago some of the photos I took in 1991 and 1992 are on flickr in an album at at:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/albums/72157630495850084/with/7535447786

 

There are also some scattered in my photos in my photo thead on here.

 

David

Edited March 26 by DaveF

[LNER4479]

Ooh - nearly forgot. A bit of video:

 

 

Our train back down the Brocken on the Monday was slightly late (shock horror!). This delayed our entry into the passing siding and so the uphill train was caught at the signal. Here it is doing an impressive re-start on the 1-in-30. In truth, loco well within itself with the standard winter formation of 7 carriages (8 in summer) and light passenger loading, not to mention dry rail. Still impressive enough though?

[LNER4479]

15 minutes ago, PaulRhB said:

Nice to see the original in fine fettle, when we were last there the heritage train came up the Brocken with one of the later build and our service train had 222 on the front. I was delighted 😁 

 

Yes, 222 seems to get used turn and turn about with the others. We saw it a lot on this visit. I've seen it in the past on the TraditionZug.

 

According to previous news item, the green Mallett is due back for the summer but not sure whether they'll be using that on its own, unless a reduced formation?

[LNER4479]

17 minutes ago, DaveF said:

I hope you won't mind a link to my old photos of the HSB (when it was still part of DR)

 

If anyone wants to see it as it was over 30 years ago some of the photos I took in 1991 and 1992 are on flickr in an album at at:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/albums/72157630495850084/with/7535447786

No problem at all - fascinating to see the railway in the immediate post-DR era.

 

Clearly today's HSB is much modernised, well-polished etc. But I stick to my guns in saying that it's a working railway, not a preserved one. I can only experience this version of 'real' steam as it is in the 21st Century. Envious of anyone who was able to visit the railway in more workaday times.