Wright writes.....

[TheSignalEngineer]

16 hours ago, Dunsignalling said:

Also, IIRC, the number of side ribs varied on the steel bodied ones, the final batch had more of them.....

 

John

Those with LNER brake rigging had 4 ribs on the side, although there are photos of them with 7 ribs, possibly later repairs using spares from other wagons?. The ones with RCH brake rigging had 4 ribs on the earlier ones and 7 ribs on the later ones. As far as I can see all of the late ones with BR Clasp brakes had 7 ribs

[TheSignalEngineer]

1 hour ago, MJI said:

When were the white boxes for running numbers and later on TOPS code introduced, one in particular looks like it has the 3 line box?

Boxing of numbers was announced IIRC 1963. Started to appear on new wagons and repairs c1964.

Some never seemed to get it and a lot only had it partially applied to the XP or when the tare weight was moved from the right hand side to the left. You could still find a whole jumble of them as long as unbraked and vac braked stock lasted.

[Tony Wright]

Without being too lugubrious, it's just over a decade now since I had my second bout of depression (a condition I'd wish on nobody). It took me almost three years to recover through the help of family and friends; my thanks to them all.

 

Thus, by way of a 'fitting' finish to the year (at least to begin with), I've gone back through my LB archive from the last seven years, when wonderful visitors began returning. I've chosen just a few snaps from each year, starting with 2014.

 

 

 

David West and Morgan Gilbert brought some most-appropriate models along.........

 

 

Tom Foster started to reveal his weathering skills.

 

 

A scratch-built B2 appeared.

 

 

As did a rather nice Silver Jubilee rake (I didn't have a silver A4 for it).  

 

There are hundreds of pictures from each year to choose from, so, if anyone feels left out, my apologies.

 

2015 next.............

 

 

[davidw]

Happy new year to all on WW. One of the most enjoyable threads on rmweb!

[Tony Wright]

2015

 

 

 

This delightful pair of DJH locos was built/painted/weathered by Bob Paddison. Both ran perfectly on LB.

 

 

Sandra Orpen brought along this 28XX (which didn't foul LB's platforms). 

 

 

Alastair Reynalds brought along this 'King'.

 

 

I helped a schoolboy build his first ever loco kit. Most of this is his work - well done Jack!

 

 

Baz Oliver brought along some of his late father's locos, including this L3.

 

 

Geoff West helped me lay some extra kick-back sidings.

 

 

And a Bachmann Derby Lightweight DMU appeared.............

 

2016 next - yes, there is a pattern appearing...................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[westerner]

As there are less than four hours to go tin 2021 I thought I'd wish all Tony's followers a happy New Year with a photo of a few of the things that have changed at Blackney in the last year. A crane has appeared, a wall and gates around the goods yard, a new Brake van, shrubbery has grown next to the railway (after all it will be shut within 2 years) and lastly the Morris PV van is finished. Have a good and safe night and evening.

 

[Tony Wright]

2016

 

 

Work continued on Little Bytham (note no signal box. The Ian Wilson mock-up was being used by Bob Dawson to build the proper one).

 

 

 

 

Andy Sparkes came along with this N1 and train he'd made (note the signal box now in place).

 

 

 

I built cassettes to increase the number of available Up trains by four. 

 

 

Eric Kidd brought along his beautifully-modified Hornby A4.

 

 

Iain Henderson showed me his Caprotti Standard Five.

 

 

Graduating to O Gauge, John Houlden gave me a pair of Little Engines' J11s (one a J11/3) he'd been working on. I completed them.

 

 

Market Deeping club members appeared with some lovely pre-Grouping locos, including this K2. 

 

 

I'd bought a part-built Pro-Scale A1 from the estate of the late Geoff Brewin. I completed it, painted it and Tom Foster weathered it for me (the safety valves have since been altered).

 

What's next?  

 

 

 

[westerner]

Couldn't resist it. Todays effort at making something I'd not before, A bit of a change from wagons, scenery and vehicles-----------------------------------

----------------------------

 

Apricot and Walnut bread

 

 

 

And luckily it was even better than my railway modelling.

[Tony Wright]

2017

 

A very busy year indeed!

 

 

In preparation for my building of the Station Road cottages, I made some 2D mock-ups.

 

 

More progress, with Ian Wilson's footbridge now in place (the site of the Station Road cottages is under preparation to the right). 

 

 

Bob Dawson had made the M&GNR overbridge.

 

 

And Geoff West had given me the signalmen he'd painted for the upper line. 

 

 

 

Clive Mortimer brought along examples of his unique modelling skills. 

 

 

I started yet another DJH A1.

 

 

Graeme King had modified a Hornby P2 into 2002.

 

 

Coincidentally with my building one from an ACE kit, which Ian Rathbone painted. 

 

 

Continuing with the LNER theme, Tom Rance brought along his Hornby/King/SEF W1 conversion.

 

 

I fiddled with a latest Hornby Mk. 1 BSO. 

 

 

And built a further wooden cottage. 

 

 

I also showed visitors my new approach to 'scale' modelling!

 

 

Shipley Club members visited and we staged this loco line-up, three of which are mine (can you guess which?). 

 

 

Scenic work continued. 

 

 

I started on the point rodding.

 

 

Ellen Sparkes made some lovely gardens for me.

 

 

Bob Dawson made the station cottages.

 

 

And Geoff Haynes brought along this superb Silver Jubilee set he'd made for John Brown (who'd died not long after he received it), in anticipation of it being sold-on. 

 

 

Edited January 1, 2022 by Tony Wright
typo error

[Tony Wright]

2018...........

 

 

I made the half-relief Station Road cottages (please don't look too closely at the corner joints.

 

 

They look better when viewed from the front.

 

 

 

Bob Dawson made the Station Road semis and I built a D9 for the LNER weekend (of which, more later). 

 

 

Eric Fry, the greatest living expert on the LNER let me borrow some M&GNR section locos for the LNER weekend (again, of which, more later). 

 

 

Tony Gee completed the MR signals started by Mick Nicholson, and popped down to check the fit.

 

 

He then painted them and installed them (fully working). Thanks Tony, and thanks to Mick Nicholson and Graham Nicholas for the other wonderful Bytham signals. 

 

 

Friends from the GCR made a CRUK collection box for the layout. Visitors have been very generous. 

 

 

Ian Wilson made a right-sized goods office, replacing a previous too-big one.

 

 

Dave Somers (son of Jack Somers, 35A's shedmaster) postulated what a P2 might have looked in BR days had Thompson never become the LNER's CME.

 

 

I carried on with the point rodding, and completed a 1938 Scotsman restaurant triplet.

 

 

And finished off a scratch-built Ivatt 4MT (which three others had had a go at, two of whom died!). 

 

 

I built two more SEF A3s, this one painted by Geoff Haynes.

 

 

And the other went off to him for painting. 

 

 

I also repaired a pair of non-gangwayed ex-LMS carriages.

 

But the highlight of the year (other than our trip to Australia) was the LNER weekend, staged by the Grantham crew..........

 

 

 

 

 

A great success. Thanks chaps.

 

Just two more years to go.............

Edited January 1, 2022 by Tony Wright
typo error

[Tony Wright]

Almost there............2019

 

 

I built (yet another) Nu-Cast V2, fitting Comet frames.

 

 

Geoff Haynes painted it (60982), and it's seen alongside my near 50-year old Jamieson one. 

 

 

Geoff also painted this Model Loco 9F I'd built.

 

 

At the turn of the century, I built this DJH A1 for a friend (Ian Rathbone painted it), and, astonishingly, he gave it back to me because he wanted to see it run (it only lived in a glass case at his home). Frank, any time............

 

 

More A1s, this time a pair of PEREGRINEs. Ray Flintoft brought along the one on the right and I put mine alongside (painted by Geoff Haynes). 

 

 

Nick Logan made this Connoisseur J79.

 

 

Tony Teague brought along this impressive PDK MN.

 

 

 

I tested DJH's latest gearboxes by building locos around them.

 

 

 

 

I tried my hand at panning.............

 

 

Built an ex-LMS Dia. 1791 compo using an Airfix carriage as a donor behind Comet sides (I haven't yet altered the roof!). 

 

 

And (virtually) finished off the point rodding.

 

Last year next. 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 1, 2022 by Tony Wright
typo error

[Tony Wright]

And so, to last year............

 

 

Regular visitor and good friend, Geoff West, brought along this DJH 9F he'd weathered. 

 

Speaking of weathering, all of LB's WDs are certainly mucky.

 

 

Tony Geary's work.

 

 

Mine (on the left) and more of Tony's on the right.

 

Geoff Haynes paints a lot for me now.

 

 

Including hand-painting this GE crest!

 

 

And painting this DJH A2/3 (which I'd made to show to Hornby, prior to the release of their RTR models). 

 

 

With the point rodding completed (and, really, all the layout), I took this picture for LB's latest brochure's cover (which is given out to all visitors). 

 

Good friend Richard Irven brought this pair along............

 

 

A D10.

 

 

And a Sacre 2-4-0T (for which I built the chassis). 

 

I tried my hand at taking no-train views of LB..........

 

This is mostly Ian Wilson's work, with Geoff West's little porter tidying everything up. 

 

The subject of PO wagons came up............

 

Lovely work by Norman Turner.

 

 

 

 

I wonder how many of these are 'wrong'? 

 

I built (yet another SEF A3)..........

 

Which Geoff Haynes painted this year. 

 

But, the highlight of last year was Dave Wager's magnificent MR/M&GNR girder bridge (artwork by Jamie Guest)......

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the man, admiring his handiwork.......

 

 

Thanks Dave (and Jamie).

 

And thanks to all who've contributed so much to Little Bytham. 

 

In this over-view of the last few years, I'm bound to have missed many out; for that, my apologies. 

 

I hope you've all enjoyed 'looking back' so to speak. This year has been covered this month, of course.

 

It only remains for me to say a most-happy and prosperous New Year to all. 

 

And thanks, once again, to all contributors to Wright writes.

 

See you next year! 

 

 

[Bucoops]

A happy and healthy new year, one and all. We're off out in a few minutes to try and find a vantage point to watch fireworks. I want to sleep so will probably stay in the car (grumble grumble Scrooge :D).

[LNER4479]

On 30/12/2021 at 12:29, Clive Mortimore said:

You are correct Jonathan, they were just Lows before BR added the second set of brakes and the vacuum cylinder. As Red Leader's model has four shoe Morton brake gear I assumed it was a Lowfit not a Low

 

Well, there's no better way to bring in the New Year than with Jools on the tele, a glass of whisky and a slice of Xmas cake to hand and a hot soldering iron smoldering away.

 

Now with running gear added. I remounted the brake gear inboard, in line with the wheels.

 

The handbrake levers were too short compared to the photo so I rebuilt them as shown. Don't look too hard at the rest of the brake gear ... let's just say fitted as supplied. Besides, you only look at one side at a time ...

 

And with strapping details etc added, that's it (apart from the coupling hooks). Three evening's pleasant work. And it's staying unfitted, so there.

 

Now to find a tractor. Any 'ol tractor will do, they all look the same don't they?

 

Edited January 1, 2022 by LNER4479

[St Enodoc]

20 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

a glass of whisky and a slice of Xmas cake to hand and a hot soldering iron smoldering away.

There may be trouble ahead...

[jwealleans]

5 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

Any 'ol tractor will do, they all look the same don't they?

 

It's true.  Don't let anyone know but we can't tell them apart.

 

[Tony Wright]

Good morning all,

 

Looking back on my posts on this page, may I please apologise for the sloppy English in places? 

 

I can only cite getting weary (which is a poor excuse!). 

 

I think I've corrected most (I hope all) of the errors now, but, please, as always, if anyone spots any of my mangling of our wonderful mother tongue, please put me right.........

[Bucoops]

2 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Good morning all,

 

Looking back on my posts on this page, may I please apologise for the sloppy English in places? 

 

I can only cite getting weary (which is a poor excuse!). 

 

I think I've corrected most (I hope all) of the errors now, but, please, as always, if anyone spots any of my mangling of our wonderful mother tongue, please put me right.........

 

If we did that (and my understanding of the English language excludes me from such activities) would we need to ask for the topic to be renamed Wright rights Wright writes?

[grahame]

6 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

 

Now to find a tractor. Any 'ol tractor will do, they all look the same don't they?

 

 

Yep, probably. A bit like GWR locos all looking the same. 

;-)

 

[FarrMan]

1 hour ago, Bucoops said:

 

If we did that (and my understanding of the English language excludes me from such activities) would we need to ask for the topic to be renamed Wright rights Wright writes?

I will echo what Bucoops has said. I used to tell my students that I would not knock marks off for bad spelling, because I could not be sure that it was bad spelling! I did get some interesting mis(?)spellings, including 'If you want to work on the Rook' (he meant roof). I suggested that he should be a vet instead of a civil engineer! (For that, I have just had to correct spelling of 'suggested'! I think my favourite one was not a mis-spelling, but unfortunate choice of wording. 'If you plan to put the new road through the old battlefield, you will have to consult historic bodies'.

 

Having said all that, may I in turn wish Tony and all the (better put in others before Tony takes it the wrong way) knowledgeable and helpful contributors to this thread (i.e. everyone except me) a very Happy New Year, and productive modelling in the next 12 months.

 

Lloyd

[FarrMan]

1 hour ago, grahame said:

 

Yep, probably. A bit like GWR locos all looking the same. 

;-)

 

As one to whom GWR is their favourite railway, I do appreciate this comment. In the same spirit that all railway modellers look the same?

 

Lloyd

[31A]

Re tractors and other vehicles as wagon loads, here's a couple I've done recently.

 

Ex LMS Medfit, Bachmann body on Parkside underframe.

 

Ex LNER Lowfit, Parkside kit.

 

In both cases the road vehicles are from Oxford Diecast.  For a long time I didn't want to use the tractor as I thought the engine detail was a bit basic, then I remembered the photo in one of Geoff Kent's books with the engine wrapped, so I did the same.  The fire pump makes for something a bit less usual but hopefully not too implausible.  I gave it a squirt of satin varnish to tone it down a bit, but am assuming it's a new one being delivered so allowed to be quite shiny.

 

Happy New Year, everybody!

 

[gwrrob]

You can't beat the cheap and cheerful products from Oxford Diecast for simple loads as shewn here with their RAF liveried Willy's jeep.

 

[Tony Wright]

I wonder what this year will bring us with regard to new RTR models?

 

Last year I had the good luck to be able to take a few pictures of what the manufacturers were introducing. Including.......................

 

GT3, here in action on LB. There seems to be a market in 'one-offs', no matter how unsuccessful the prototypes were (isn't someone producing a 'Leader'?). 

 

O Gauge coaches featured.........

 

 

From Dapol/Lionheart.

 

 

And, from Heljan.

 

Plenty of Heljan O Gauge diesels, too........

 

 

 

 

These were hernia-inducing! But, very good-looking models.

 

Heljan also featured in OO.........

 

 

A Class 86.

 

 

And a 'Blackpool tram' GWR railcar.

 

And narrow gauge as well.

 

 

In the form of Lyn from Heljan.

 

 

Oxford brought out a J27.

 

 

And a tank wagon.

 

 

Kernow gave us some LSWR road vans.

 

In the smaller scale we had.........

 

 

A Kato Class 800 presentation pack.

 

 

And this weird little electric.

 

 

We had Cemflos from Revolution.

 

Hornby gave us plenty. Including.........

 

 

 

 

Thompson Pacifics. 

 

 

 

At least two new BR Mk.1s. 

 

 

Churchill's hearse car.

 

 

And Coronation Scot carriages.

 

Plus two locos reviving the Hornby Dublo name.

 

 

A Princess Coronation.

 

 

And an original Merchant Navy. 

 

I hope to have the chance of photographing at length Hornby's latest W1, in both original and rebuilt forms. 

 

I share the BRM product photography with Andy York (he, obviously does more). 

 

 

Edited January 1, 2022 by Tony Wright
to add something

[LNER4479]

4 hours ago, jwealleans said:

 

It's true.  Don't let anyone know but we can't tell them apart.

 

Those aren't tractors. Tractors are green. I know this 'cos I already have one loaded up thus:

Is this another RTR aberration? Apparently, the LMS D.1986 (that the wagon I've just built is a rough approximation of) was the only LMS designed Low. There were some earlier wagons of similar style for container traffic (ex-LNWR) but the closest match I can find for this is the earliest batch of BR Lows, dia. 1/001, drop sides and drop ends (as per the model). Oh dear.

 

Anyway, I've resolved to use this and my new wagon (plus a couple of others) to more closely replicate the latter end of that c.1952 Class D Express Goods we run on Shap.

 

Here - slightly naughtily - is a close up of the wagons concerned (nos 14-19 in the train). Being a Class D, they're far enough back in the train to be unfitted. I THINK they're tractors, certainly look like some form of farm machinery. 

 

Any thoughts / comments gratefully received. 

Edited January 1, 2022 by LNER4479