Wright writes.....

[65179]

6 minutes ago, TrevorP1 said:

 

Class 20?

 

Yes, it looks like the bonnet end of a headcode box fitted EE type 1 with small yellow warning panel.

 

Simon

[Stevebr]

Definitely a Class 20

[APOLLO]

Thanks, Class 20 then. I thought Deltic at one time. Both were manufactured at Vulcan Foundry just a few miles south of Springs Branch, and the new Class 20's were tested on the WCML on 1T60, Crewe to Carlisle.

 

Springs Branch undated.

 

 

Whitley Crossing 1 mile north of Wigan NW, southbound. summer 1966.

 

 

Two shiny brand new 50's at Crewe works around 1970, both showing 1T60.

 

 

Back to Black 5,s Springs Branch and unusual headcodes. I wonder what working 1Z22 was. Both these locos numbers are close to Tony's model. Not dated but around 1966 / 7. The new diesel shed to the right is up. (a no go area to us lot !!!!).

 

Does anyone "scrawl" headcodes like this on there beloved models ?

 

Brit15

[Tony Wright]

Geoff West came for his monthly visit today (along with two other dear friends), bringing with him.................

 

 

A DJH 9F. Bought from the estate of a deceased modeller last year (builder unknown), Geoff's detailed and weathered it. Sorry about the twisted front coupling. 

 

 

And a modified Hornby A4, 60032 GANNET (which mine alongside will become). It's ex-Gamston, and he's weathered it.

 

 

Another ex-Gamston loco he brought is this modified (by John Houlden) Hornby B1. Geoff's weathered it. It looked familiar........

 

 

And, sure enough, I'd already photographed it on Gamston some seven years ago, when it was clean.

 

 

A further ex-Gamston loco (though I'm not sure how much it ran) is this South Eastern Finecast K3. It was virtually in bits, and Geoff's completed it and made it go. It still needs a front coupling.

 

 

A Nu-Cast O2/2, from the estate of the late John Brown of Spalding MRC. Geoff's renumbered and weathered this one.

 

 

And a PDK B16/3. Originally made for Tom Foster by John Houlden, Geoff's weathered it further. It's already run on LB before because, for a short time, it was my property. 

 

 

And, finally, he's building a Nu-Cast V2.

 

David Rae also brought some things of interest............

 

 

A Hornby/Crownline B12/3. David lengthened the original Hornby body and I helped him build the chassis. The painting is his work.

 

 

And another Hornby/Crownline B12/3 conversion, from the estate of the late John Brown. I think its LNER green is erroneous post-1946, but it looks most-natural. 

 

Thanks to Geoff and David for bringing these along (and to George for operating LB so diligently). It's a monthly quorum of operators now, and we're getting better! 

 

It's so wonderful to have good friends operate the trainset, but, not only that, they bring some fascinating models to run as well. 

 

 

Edited August 29, 2022 by Tony Wright
to add something

[Tony Wright]

Just to let folk know who've recently bought kits off me, they'll all be posted out tomorrow morning. 

 

Of course, anyone buying anything off me is invited to see Little Bytham at a mutually-convenient time. 

[geoff west]

Thanks Tony, for another most enjoyable day. 
Just to clarify a point, the A4 isn’t ex Gamston Bank. It’s an eBay purchase that came as part of a set of three A4’s. I’ve renumbered/ named it and weathered it from 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley. 
 

[DenysW]

On 28/08/2022 at 20:32, Tony Wright said:

... if the casting techniques have been described anywhere ...

This is how all full-scale cast-in-place concrete structures are built, the only thing that can vary is the material the shutters are made of. For a model railway I can't see needing reinforcement bars, but I can see needing a finer grade of aggregate.  Usual reservations about ground conditions: putting up any structure on peat or running sand will end badly.

[Tony Wright]

9 hours ago, geoff west said:

Thanks Tony, for another most enjoyable day. 
Just to clarify a point, the A4 isn’t ex Gamston Bank. It’s an eBay purchase that came as part of a set of three A4’s. I’ve renumbered/ named it and weathered it from 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley. 
 

Thanks Geoff,

 

I get muddled very easily these days.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Dunsignalling]

16 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Thanks Geoff,

 

I get muddled very easily these days.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Given the sheer number of locos that you have personally built or refurbished, plus all the visiting engines that appear on LB, it amazes me how you keep track of the vast majority that you do recall accurately....

 

Even excluding RTR examples, you must have come into contact with at least as many models of each individual A4 as there were prototype A4s in the class!🙂

 

Respect!

 

John

[Tony Wright]

5 hours ago, Dunsignalling said:

Given the sheer number of locos that you have personally built or refurbished, plus all the visiting engines that appear on LB, it amazes me how you keep track of the vast majority that you do recall accurately....

 

Even excluding RTR examples, you must have come into contact with at least as many models of each individual A4 as there were prototype A4s in the class!🙂

 

Respect!

 

John

Thank you John,

 

That's very kind of you. 

 

Regarding A4s I've built (for myself and customers), I don't think I've made 35; yet. 

 

Some have been more popular than others; SILVER FOX, for instance, but not SILVER KING, though I have that to build for Carlisle. DWIGHT D EISENHOWER has also been built in the plural, as has GANNET, but, oddly, only one MALLARD. 

 

I've probably photographed examples of every one by now, built by others or as RTR items. At one show, quite a few years ago, a chap was proudly displaying all 35 A4s he'd acquired (mainly Bachmann, it would have appeared). He asked what I thought, but wasn't that impressed when I told him that there were more than two types of A4 tender, and neither of the two Bachmann ones he had were correct. How to lose friends and not influence people! 

 

One chap I know has at least one of every A4 in LNER guise (some duplicated, but in different liveries). All are Hornby items; all very impressive, but all too clean for realism in my view.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

All the kits purchased have been posted off this morning. However, due to a postal strike, guaranteed/tracked delivery next day means Thursday. Perhaps the PO needs to redefine what 'next day' delivery actually means!

 

May I request that anyone in receipt who has not paid as yet, please does so ASAP. The original owner is not well, and CRUK gets 10%. 

[Compound2632]

59 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Perhaps the PO needs to redefine what 'next day' delivery actually means!

 

I believe it's already defined as "next working day". By definition, a strike day is a day on which they're not working.  

[MikeParkin65]

48 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

 

I believe it's already defined as "next working day". By definition, a strike day is a day on which they're not working.  

Agree - I ordered something from TMC last Wednesday from delivery via RM having forgotten the strike and was pretty impressed that it arrived today allowing for the effects of the strike, the weekend, the Bank Holiday and the ongoing problems caused by Covid. 

[Bucoops]

Apparently "management" are trying to get things like special delivery through, as well as NHS letters and prescriptions. How successful they have been, I don't know.

[Tony Wright]

2 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

 

I believe it's already defined as "next working day". By definition, a strike day is a day on which they're not working.  

Good evening Stephen,

 

I agree, and I'm generally very impressed with the PO's service.

 

So far, with regard to the hundreds of items I've sent via the 'Special Delivery' service, apart from the odd bit of 'shake' damage (easily-fixed), everything has arrived safely and (usually) on time.

 

Looking forwards, with strikes planned across many jobs (not just in the PO) and the interruptions caused by some protesters, it might be that 'next day delivery' will become very difficult. Still, as long as items arrive safely................... eventually. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[APOLLO]

A 70th birthday present (a couple of months ago) was a 4 days in 8 North West rover ticket which covers Wigan-Leeds -Carlisle etc. A bargain at 57 quid (with Railcard) for four days in 8 (after 0900 am).

 

So todays venture was Wigan - Man Vic, then a new DMU via Bradford to Leeds, God how have things changed over there !!! (and seemingly everywhere).

Leeds station was very interesting, 3 electric loco trains left for the cross (via Little Bytham !!). in the 2 hours I was there. Being a WCML "Wiganer" I thought all these locos and MK 3 (or is it 4)'s had gone - I thought wrong. What a superb loco this is - a speed record holder too !!

 

 

Well of course I was going on the 13.18 train to Carlisle, and again what a wonderful journey in a 3 car DMU, even had a trolley service, and I bought a tub of ice cream half way through Rise Hill tunnel. The weather was probably the very best I have ever seen in this area.

 

Brought back memories of my steam hauled trips, especially behind Alberta back in 1967. Last time I was on this line we had a double headed peak on the Thames Clyde to Skipton !!

 

 

Blea Moor - Pity the water tower has gone though the box is still there, and in use.

 

 

 

Fancy living alongside Blea Moor box ? - read on ---- (no I've not put an offer in, cos it's in Yorkshire !!!!!!!!!!!)

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11142801/The-UK-remote-three-bedroom-cottage-sale-300K.html

 

Anyway, onwards to Carlisle, what lovely stations still exist along the route - a credit to all involved. Arrival on time , 4 minute wait for my Pendolino home to Wigan in just under an hour and a half and home by 6.

 

I must add in these troubled times all staff I spoke to were very friendly and helpful, all trains clean and bang on time.

Off to Carlisle again in the morning, returning via the Cumbrian Coast route.

 

Brit15

Edited August 30, 2022 by APOLLO

[Bucoops]

The 91s and Mk4s were very much on the way out - then there was a U-turn by LNER and not only some sets reinstated, but they are being repainted too, in a modernised Intercity livery. Probably only a year or two until they go for good though.

[APOLLO]

Ahh the modernised MK 4livery - Saw one full set at Leeds. Its a bit odd (though nice), a dark maroon. The DVT was nice, you could almost smell the new paint. Alas a rather tatty 91 on the rear.

 

 

 

A "proper" train !!

 

Brit15

[Tony Wright]

27 minutes ago, APOLLO said:

Ahh the modernised MK 4livery - Saw one full set at Leeds. Its a bit odd (though nice), a dark maroon. The DVT was nice, you could almost smell the new paint. Alas a rather tatty 91 on the rear.

 

 

 

A "proper" train !!

 

Brit15

Good morning Brit 15 (one of the last of the class I saw),

 

Thanks for showing us your recent journeys.

 

It's good to know that some of the 91s are still plying their trade on the ECML; actual, independent passenger locos, the like of which we'll never see again. I've seen the 'maroon' set several times now.

 

What your pictures show are the ripples and 'dents' along the sides of the Mk.4s; reminiscent of Bulleid's original Pacifics? I doubt if anyone would dare attempt to recreate them in model form.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

With the end of the Class 91s approaching, I've looked back through my collection of the fastest ECML motive power I've photographed over the last near-20 years. Even with modern (powerful) digital cameras, for most of the time I fired the shutter, the weather was pretty grim!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strangely (or is it?), I've hardly pointed my camera at the Azumas! 

 

 

Night shots are probably best-avoided....................

Edited August 31, 2022 by Tony Wright
to add something

[St Enodoc]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

actual, independent passenger locos, the like of which we'll never see again

Possibly, possibly not. There are certainly newer "mixed traffic" locos around, such as classes 92, 67 and 68.

[Tony Wright]

11 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

Possibly, possibly not. There are certainly newer "mixed traffic" locos around, such as classes 92, 67 and 68.

I was thinking more along the lines of ECML thoroughbreds, John. 

 

There's a line of development from years and years ago, which, in my opinion, is now coming to and end on the ECML (and elsewhere). Yes, the Azumas are remarkably fast, but they're really just units - not an independent locomotive.

 

I agree that the classes you've cited are locomotives, but none of them is ever going to be the fastest and most-powerful of their breed - as the A4s, Deltics and 91s have been.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Chamby]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

...

 

What your pictures show are the ripples and 'dents' along the sides of the Mk.4s; reminiscent of Bulleid's original Pacifics? I doubt if anyone would dare attempt to recreate them in model form.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

The RTR manufacturers won’t do this... the limitations of their tooling means that every item would have identical dents, which just wouldn’t look right.

 

You get the same issue with any mass-production paint job where non-standard embellishment has been added by the manufacturer.  It might look good on the individual model, but is just wrong when a rake is assembled... 

 

Adding individuality to a model is definitively something best left to the modeller.

[30368]

42 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

There's a line of development from years and years ago, which, in my opinion, is now coming to and end on the ECML (and elsewhere). Yes, the Azumas are remarkably fast, but they're really just units - not an independent locomotive.

 

 

Morning Tony,

 

I am. its true, a little out of date but the almost complete reliance on multiple units for passenger services in the UK is, I think, in contrast with most of European Railways where Push-Pull working is very prevalent. This provides for a very flexible means of operation which can respond to passenger demand very quickly. In contrast, UK train operators have to lease another complete MU (an expensive option) to provide extra capacity for a given train path. This often leads to train overloading which is unpleasant for the passengers and frankly potentially dangerous in the event of train evacuation. 

The class 91's were the last BRB influenced design of passenger locomotive (GEC had a big input) and utilised push-pull operation. The BRB appointed a Project Director and Project Engineer to oversee the design and build at Crewe and I had the pleasure (I think!) of being the BRB Resident Engineer signing off all the class for service. It was a great project to be involved in and it seems odd that this class is almost defunct - how time flies....

 

Kind regards,

 

Richard B

[St Enodoc]

34 minutes ago, 30368 said:

 

Morning Tony,

 

I am. its true, a little out of date but the almost complete reliance on multiple units for passenger services in the UK is, I think, in contrast with most of European Railways where Push-Pull working is very prevalent. This provides for a very flexible means of operation which can respond to passenger demand very quickly. In contrast, UK train operators have to lease another complete MU (an expensive option) to provide extra capacity for a given train path. This often leads to train overloading which is unpleasant for the passengers and frankly potentially dangerous in the event of train evacuation. 

The class 91's were the last BRB influenced design of passenger locomotive (GEC had a big input) and utilised push-pull operation. The BRB appointed a Project Director and Project Engineer to oversee the design and build at Crewe and I had the pleasure (I think!) of being the BRB Resident Engineer signing off all the class for service. It was a great project to be involved in and it seems odd that this class is almost defunct - how time flies....

 

Kind regards,

 

Richard B

Then you will have known my dear late colleague and friend Andrew H.