Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00

[Woodcock29]

It was great to visit yesterday John and Steve is still singing the praises of operating two DCC layouts as the highlight of our trip! But I'm sure he'll come back down to earth and remember he has a nice DC layout which featured in the last issue of The Clearing House.

Andrew

[St Enodoc]

Not much MCL action for the past week or so, as we had another visit from Veronica's cousin and her family. We did, however, have a couple of short sessions in the railway room (Nate, who's now four, asked to see the trains almost as soon as he got through the front door!). That gave me a chance to try a few moves that I hadn't made before, mostly successfully.

 

I've also done some more work on the sequence, which will demand a minimum of nine people at our running sessions, so a couple of potential new operators will be coming over soon to have a look and, I hope, sign up to the team.

 

Yesterday we all went to the Zig Zag Railway (https://zigzagrailway.com.au/), which reopened earlier this year. I was delighted that the prolonged closure and more rigorous accreditation requirements haven't robbed it of its unique atmosphere and appeal. I was also delighted to learn from a friend who happened to be manning the ticket desk that they've been almost fully booked every fortnightly running weekend since reopening.

 

ex-Queensland Railways Baldwin AC16 218A at Top Points station

 

No 1 Viaduct (on Top Road), seen from Middle Road

 

218A at Bottom Points (OHW equipment on the 1910 main line alignment in background).

Edited October 8, 2023 by St Enodoc

[manna]

G'Day Folks

 

I wonder, if ever, the SAR 400 class Garrett will ever run again.

 

manna

[Barry O]

A bit drier than when we drove past in March.

 

Glad Nate likes trains!

 

Baz

[Woodcock29]

On 08/10/2023 at 12:13, manna said:

G'Day Folks

 

I wonder, if ever, the SAR 400 class Garrett will ever run again.

 

manna

It would be great to see 402 running again Terry. I somehow doubt it though.

 

However, we probably thought we'd never see an ASG run again but the only survivor is well under way in its restoration at Queenscliff. So I guess who knows?

 

Andrew

[Oldddudders]

'Bottom Points Signal Box' takes some beating as a down-to-earth railway location!

[St Enodoc]

4 hours ago, Oldddudders said:

'Bottom Points Signal Box' takes some beating as a down-to-earth railway location!

It's a perfect, unambiguous name - what more could you ask?

 

Rather like Engine Shed Junction near Kentish Town, I would say (but Junction Road Junction always confused me, like the paradox of the chicken and the egg).

[manna]

G'Day Folks

 

A picture of 402, seen in better days, she was still working for a living.

 

manna

[St Enodoc]

1 hour ago, manna said:

G'Day Folks

 

A picture of 402, seen in better days, she was still working for a living.

 

manna

Where and when, Terry?

[5BarVT]

On 08/10/2023 at 01:57, St Enodoc said:

Yesterday we all went to the Zig Zag Railway (https://zigzagrailway.com.au/), which reopened earlier this year. I was delighted that the prolonged closure and more rigorous accreditation requirements haven't robbed it of its unique atmosphere and appeal. I was also delighted to learn from a friend who happened to be manning the ticket desk that they've been almost fully booked every fortnightly running weekend since reopening.

 

 

No 1 Viaduct (on Top Road), seen from Middle Road

Like it.  Takes me back to a trip over the Gotthard way back in 1981, repeated one way more recently then back through the base tunnel.

Paul.

[manna]

21 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Where and when, Terry?

G'Day Folks

 

Taken by myself, at Peterborough SA 1969, she was parked next to 409.

 

manna

[chesterfield]

There has been quite a lot interest in the Australian standard Garratts in the last few months. An article in Australian Railway History in January 2023 gave  extensive coverage on them at their 80th anniversary.
Unfortunately I don't have the article but I do have the September 2023 Australian Railway History.

First there is an article about Queensland Railways during the Second World War and the Australian Standard Garratts and secondly In the same issue the "entire letters to the editor" is taken up with this subject. There are some photos of the standard Garratts on the Emu Bay line.I

f anyone is interested in the ASGs there are plenty of references in the September edition Australian Railway History for you follow up
As to the 300 and the 400 class Garratts in South Australia, a paper was presented in 2022 at the "Modelling the Railways of South Australia"convention.I don't think 402 will ever run again. I suspect that like a lot of volunteer organisations, there are not enough in Picci Ricci railway to enable them to restore her. Having said that, I believe the railway has a great program for teaching young locals about loco maintenance- you never know.

[St Enodoc]

Another visitor this weekend - my old colleague, friend and one-time flatmate @hongkongmike of this parish.

 

After a truncated running session on Friday night, due to Qantas delaying his arrival by about 2 1/2 hours, what better way to escape the clamour of both the Voice Referendum and the New Zealand General Election than to take a steam train from Sydney to Wollongong and back, on a glorious spring day, with the immaculate 3801 hauling (unassisted) a train of seven equally immaculate heritage NSWGR coaches?

 

Here's the train at Sydney Central before departure:

 

 

We had an excellent lunch at Steamers Restaurant (where else!) then rejoined the train for an fine run back to Sydney.

 

 

Once again, a grand day oot!

Edited March 3 by St Enodoc
3801 not 3810

[Barry O]

Nice loco that!

Baz

[16Brunel]

19 hours ago, Barry O said:

Nice loco that!

 

Agreed.  As a Victorian, I'm a bit jealous that NSW has that while none of our S-class survived.  Also hope that they can get our baby Garrett G42 back in steam - too good to sit around decorating a siding.

[St Enodoc]

After a couple of weeks doing other things, including enjoying the company of our various visitors, I've got back to some MCL work this week. It's been mostly at the computer rather than the workbench or railway room though.

 

One small job was to find a temporary replacement for the missing RC, set 511. As I haven't got a spare restaurant car of any sort, I'll use a Bachmann BR GUV to make up the numbers. This van was one of the "loose" vehicles that can be used to vary the formation of the long parcels set 996.

 

I've also been filling in some detail on the new sequence, for example the new driver roster. This has been challenging - I thought that by cancelling all the railbus, auto train and SPC workings it would work with four drivers but, in the event, there are still a few times when five trains should be in play at the same time. I think we can overcome that with a bit of ad-hockery - for example, delaying the start of a train until another reaches its destination, which will free up the first train's driver. Also, the Porthmellyn Road and Pentowan signalmen can double-up and drive some light engines to and from their locations when required.

 

With five drivers, these difficulties will largely disappear although the signalmen may still need to do some driving if we don't have enough operators for the separate "station pilot/shunter" roles at the junction and terminus.

 

All this means that I've been sounding out some more potential operators and I've invited a couple to come over and have a go before our next running session.

 

Normally that would be in November but I'll be enjoying the benefits of retirement by taking a long-delayed, extended, trip to the UK to visit family and friends (and also three model railway exhibitions - more on that later!). Consequently, our next session will be in January, which should give me time I plan to have done a dry run through the new sequence.

[St Enodoc]

Yesterday and today (it took longer than I had expected) I modified the Bygone Wagons https://www.bygone-wagons.com/446703541 Cordon underframe. The reason was that the kit as supplied had a different underframe from that shown on the website, being more like a conventional wagon underframe, with centrally-mounted V-hangers and long brake handles, rather than the converted coach underframes of the prototype.

 

I used this photo as a guide, albeit to give an impression rather than a true replica:

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/50158766771

 

I decided not to move the V-hangers but replaced the brake handles with short ones left over from an old wagon kit, probably Ratio. This let me fit the footboards, which are prominent and characteristic on these vehicles. The boards are Evergreen 2.5mm channel, with one flange cut away, and the supports are Evergreen 0.5mm rod, as are the axle guard tie rods.

 

I also added new buffers (ABS), as I'd broken one of the originals; screw couplings (PC); vacuum and steam pipes (ABS and Ratio); and lamp irons (scrap etch).

 

Apart from the styrene-to-styrene joints, where I used MEK, I stuck everything together with slow-acting/gap-filling thick cyano.

 

Here's the completed underframe, ready for painting:

 

The body needs some fettling and filler/priming. I just placed it loose on the underframe to see how it looked at this stage. The only modification to the body was to add the label clips, which again are quite prominent.

 

Once everything's painted and numbered, I'll add a tail lamp to one of the brackets, as the Cordon will sit next to the stop block at the end of Pentowan Loop Spur.

 

Edited October 20, 2023 by St Enodoc
clarity

[St Enodoc]

As some of you already know, following my retirement earlier this year I'm taking the opportunity to start a longish trip to the UK this week, to catch up with family and friends. It's been five years since my last visit, for obvious reasons, and long overdue.

 

I'll be at the Singapore Cricket Club Rugby Sevens this weekend then, once I get to the UK, I'll be staying in Co Durham, Sussex, the West Midlands, Yorkshire, Dorset, London and Edinburgh before returning just before Christmas.

 

Of course, the timing of the trip allows me to visit three model railway shows - Newcastle, Brighton and Warley - where I'll wear my RMweb name badge, so if you spot me feel free either to have a chat or, if you prefer, ignore me and pass by on the other side.

 

Anyway, all that is by way of explaining why there's been no action here for the last couple of weeks. Rest assured, though, that I'll be posting occasionally during my trip and, once I'm home again, getting back to preparing the Real Railway and the Paper Railway for our first running session using the full main line and branch sequence in January.

 

Wish me luck, especially as I plan to do most of my internal travel by train...

[NHY 581]

Morning John, 

 

Have a safe trip and whilst unlikely that an opportunity presents, it would be lovely to bump into each other. 

 

Rob. 

[St Enodoc]

Thanks Rob. Yes - unless you come to one of the shows, it's unlikely as I won't be in your part of the world on this trip. Another time perhaps?

[P.C.M]

Enjoy, and have a safe trip John. 

 

Cheers Peter.

[LNER4479]

3 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Wish me luck, especially as I plan to do most of my internal travel by train...

Don't know what yer worried about. There'll be another one along in a minute ...

 

Looking forward to renewing an acquaintance first made in Singapore (oddly enough!) ...

[Clive Mortimore]

4 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Wish me luck, especially as I plan to do most of my internal travel by train...

Hi Sainty

 

I don't want to put a downer on your visit but when you come to play with Sheffield Exchange, Soloby hasn't seen a train since 1960 ☹️

[St Enodoc]

8 minutes ago, Clive Mortimore said:

Hi Sainty

 

I don't want to put a downer on your visit but when you come to play with Sheffield Exchange, Soloby hasn't seen a train since 1960 ☹️

Good. That means it won't be on strike then.

[The Fatadder]

4 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Of course, the timing of the trip allows me to visit three model railway shows - Newcastle, Brighton and Warley - where I'll wear my RMweb name badge, so if you spot me feel free either to have a chat or, if you prefer, ignore me and pass by on the other side.

If you are doing Warley on the Saturday I will be there demoing something or other that far too modern with DEMU, so please come by and say hello.