North Pole Express - Santa Special

[CaptainBiggles]

 

What happens when a train geek spends most of the year building a tank loco & 4 wagons & his wife finds out? Why, she demands that they get to spend Christmas going round a tree of course!

 

In an attempt to learn about building in brass I built one of the excellent kits by Jim McGowan (of Connoisseur), a Southern G6, & was delighted with the way it came out. Running with a mashima motor + flywheel & 40:1 gearbox it runs beautifully slowly, perfect for hauling the 5-plank & 7-plank open wagons with tarpaulins, a wagon-load of Christmas brandy & a reindeer/horse box. The two open wagons are by Cooper (I think) and are the GWR pattern, but painted in SR colours they look authentic enough. The other two are Slaters & Parkside respectively. Sadly I didn't quite get the Connoisseur Southern guards van finished in time, maybe next year!

 

So please enjoy the somewhat poor-quality photos I took this morning while I work out how to post a video (any tips?). If you'd like any more pics then I'll see what I can do of course. I also I built my own controller (from Gaugemaster bits with a transformer in one box and the regulator on a springy / coiled cable) which actually is probably worth a post on its own, but I'll save that for later in case no one is actually that bothered!

 

Merry Christmas!!! Ho ho ho!!

 

 

[jon_1066]

Only tip would be hold the camera the other way when taking a video (ie landscape not portrait).  

 

Nice build

[Tim V]

Timetable here!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

[7APT7]

Hi All

Below are the Railway stations validated into the Network Rail Log...

CHECK YOUR OWN STATION TOO...

1X01 2358 North Pole International to North Pole International Christmas Special service

Stopping at a Railway Station Near You... 24 Dec 2013...

Aberdeen
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Bath
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Bangor
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Birkenhead Central
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Birminham New Street
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Bristol Temple Meads
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Cairnryan (Loch Ryan Port)
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Canada Water
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Cannock
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Cardiff Central
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Carlisle
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Chester
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Coventry
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Colwyn Bay
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Crewe
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Edinburgh
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Falkirk High
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Glasgow Central
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Holyhead
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Kidderminster
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Landywood
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Liverpool
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Llanfairfechan
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Llanfairpwll
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Manchester Piccadilly
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Northampton
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Stafford
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Stourbridge Junction
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Stourbridge Town
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Telford Central
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Wellington (Shropshire)
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Windermere
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Wolverhampton
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Worcester Shrub Hill
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2013/12/24/advanced

Have a good Day tomorrow with friends and family, and a great New Year to all of you.

Wishing you the very Best.

 

Jamie

[railwayrod]

Hi.

 

Glad to see that someone else runs a Christmas Day Special. For many years this has been a annual feature of the household and has taken on several guises from an LGB model to the latest in 7mm. If you would like to see a couple of pics go to 7mm+modelling and check out "Progress at Ramchester".

 

Railwayrod