Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00

[5BarVT]

19 hours ago, Coach bogie said:

with added benefit of tax free.

Offsets a little of the air fare.

Paul.

[St Enodoc]

This is interesting!

 

https://rapidotrains.co.uk/port-of-par-bagnall-tanks/

 

Not really needed for the existing MCL but I do have ideas for a future exhibition layout featuring a small dock inspired by Charlestown. With that in mind, I had bought a Hornby Peckett to convert to a representation of one of these little Bagnalls. Now I won't need to bother.

 

I'll probably go for the yellow one.

[St Enodoc]

Yesterday began with the Remembrance Day Parade in Shildon, which was well attended and passed very well.

 

Later we went to Locomotion, which I enjoyed but found the layout of the exhibits somewhat random with little structure. Anyone who didn't already know a bit of railway history would have found it impossible to follow. Surely a progression from old to new would make more sense? It was also tricky to photograph the stock, not just because of the layout but also because of the high-intensity lights that seemed to get into every shot.

 

I was pleased to see the 2-BIL, which was restored to working order by the team at Lovers' Walk Depot, Brighton, in the early 1980s. Externally, it looked quite decent but there were still some signs of vandalism inside the coaches.

 

The new exhibition hall is complete structurally and, according to the staff, should be ready to open in Spring 2024.

[Oldddudders]

Is the opening of the new facility likely to be the opportunity for a more logical progression? 

 

Bils, Hals, Lavs, Cors, Bufs, Puls and Pans were everyday Brighton Main Line fare when I was numbersnatching more than 60 years ago....... 

[Harlequin]

44 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

 

I'll probably go for the yellow one.

 

You are Terry Griffiths and I claim my £5.

 

[St Enodoc]

45 minutes ago, Oldddudders said:

Is the opening of the new facility likely to be the opportunity for a more logical progression? 

 

Bils, Hals, Lavs, Cors, Bufs, Puls and Pans were everyday Brighton Main Line fare when I was numbersnatching more than 60 years ago....... 

CIGs, BIGs, VEPs, VEGs, and CAPs when I was there from 1983-85.

 

All I know about the new building is here:

 

https://www.locomotion.org.uk/about-us/our-future-vision-2025

 

https://www.locomotion.org.uk/what-was-on/new-building-exhibition

 

Looks promising but we will have to wait and see!

[St Enodoc]

2 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

I'll probably go for the yellow one.

Order placed with Kernow (other retailers are available).

[LNER4479]

12 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Later we went to Locomotion, which I enjoyed but found the layout of the exhibits somewhat random with little structure. Anyone who didn't already know a bit of railway history would have found it impossible to follow. Surely a progression from old to new would make more sense?

What is now known as 'Locomotion' was only ever planned and built as a glorified warehouse as an NRM spillover, somewhere to house additional rolling stock under cover. That it is now regarded as a museum in its own right is really down to it being a victim of its own success, undoubtedly helped by it being free entry in a part of the country with one of the lowest standards of living in the UK.

 

Whilst I'm sure exhibits could be laid out better, I think it's a case of 'I wouldn't start from here' if it were to be re-worked as a history of the railways.

 

Best railway museum I've ever been to in terms of 'telling the story'? Californian State Railroad museum in Sacramento. You simply couldn't do anything remotely approaching that at Locomotion.

[Tortuga]

6 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

What is now known as 'Locomotion' was only ever planned and built as a glorified warehouse as an NRM spillover, somewhere to house additional rolling stock under cover.

I did wonder if that was the case when we visited. It did have that wonderful workshop “storage and restoration area” feel to it - you know, the part of the preserved railway where all the spare stock/projects awaiting restoration are shoved out of the way and the public aren’t allowed to go because of ‘Elf and Safety’?

 

19 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

 

It was also tricky to photograph the stock…

I know what you mean. I’d been looking forward to have a poke around the LNWR G2 when we visited, but all I managed to see of it was this:

[St Enodoc]

9 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

What is now known as 'Locomotion' was only ever planned and built as a glorified warehouse as an NRM spillover, somewhere to house additional rolling stock under cover. That it is now regarded as a museum in its own right is really down to it being a victim of its own success, undoubtedly helped by it being free entry in a part of the country with one of the lowest standards of living in the UK.

 

Whilst I'm sure exhibits could be laid out better, I think it's a case of 'I wouldn't start from here' if it were to be re-worked as a history of the railways.

I didn't know that - it does make sense. Things weren't helped by the absence of a guide book, which I was told is being updated for the opening of the New Hall.

 

2 hours ago, Tortuga said:

I did wonder if that was the case when we visited. It did have that wonderful workshop “storage and restoration area” feel to it - you know, the part of the preserved railway where all the spare stock/projects awaiting restoration are shoved out of the way and the public aren’t allowed to go because of ‘Elf and Safety’?

That's a good way of putting it.

 

2 hours ago, Tortuga said:

I know what you mean. I’d been looking forward to have a poke around the LNWR G2 when we visited, but all I managed to see of it was this:

That central section with three closely-spaced tracks was the most frustrating. I've no idea what was in the middle of the centre track on Sunday.

[5BarVT]

Similar comments apply to the “reserve collection” shed at the main NRM.  Others have said that it’s really boring, however, when I went round with a friend/colleague/former boss, we had a great time because between us we knew what a lot of the stuff was and could remember it from our yoof.

Paul.

[St Enodoc]

7 minutes ago, 5BarVT said:

Similar comments apply to the “reserve collection” shed at the main NRM.  Others have said that it’s really boring, however, when I went round with a friend/colleague/former boss, we had a great time because between us we knew what a lot of the stuff was and could remember it from our yoof.

Paul.

To be fair, I didn't find Locomotion boring - just frustrating, especially when trying to explain things to my 10-year-old granddaughter.

[LNER4479]

To be fair (2), the Locomotion 'stock shed' is the focal point of a wider, heritage trail site that IS quite well done ... or at least, WAS ... telling the tale of the birth of the railway age in the North East. The enclosed pix are from previous years (2013 & 2016) 'high days' in the summer, when the demonstration line was operating to its full extent. The heritage trail path is alongside and takes you down nearer to Shildon village where the Hackworth house contains informative displays, including the history (and demise) of the nearby wagon works ... or at least, DID ...

 

Sadly, some of the above is in the past tense. Due to the deteriorating condition of the coal drops (best seen to the right of 'Joem' - the arch opening should be vertical and butresses sloping - not the other way round!), the demo line has been cut back to the crossing and the Hackworth house seems to have closed for redevelopment(!) since before Covid. I THINK there's a concerted effort going on to get things brought back up to scratch for S&D200 but I don't actually know for sure (a brief internet search just now didn't reveal too much).

 

Maybe a case of an awkward Science Museum (London) vs local council finance & politics situation ...

 

 

 

Edited November 14, 2023 by LNER4479

[St Enodoc]

14 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

a wider, heritage trail site that IS quite well done

I was going to do some of the heritage walks but not in this weather...

 

With luck, things will be sorted in time for Railway 200 https://railway200.co.uk/ and S&DR200 https://www.sdr200.co.uk/ but I have to say there's not much evidence around the town yet that many folk know anything about those!

Edited November 14, 2023 by St Enodoc

[Barry O]

lovely to see Joem dragging another big end failure down the track!

 

 

Baz

[Barry O]

On 13/11/2023 at 11:56, St Enodoc said:

CIGs, BIGs, VEPs, VEGs, and CAPs when I was there from 1983-85.

 

All I know about the new building is here:

 

https://www.locomotion.org.uk/about-us/our-future-vision-2025

 

https://www.locomotion.org.uk/what-was-on/new-building-exhibition

 

Looks promising but we will have to wait and see!

obviously the Science Museum have missed the bit about what was going on at The Round Foundry in Leeds (mind you Leeds City Council have decided Engineering history is something to hide for some reason!)

 

Sad that there have been no updates on progress etc..

 

BAz

 

 

[Jesse Sim]

On 09/11/2023 at 22:53, St Enodoc said:

My Northern Odyssey is now well under way.

 

After a great week in Singapore, based around the SCC 7s of course, catching up with a number of former colleagues, other friends and Veronica's family, I arrived at a grey and wet Manchester Airport on Wednesday morning. A Northern 323, TPE 185 and LNER Azuma got me to Darlington an hour late due to sundry landslips but otherwise in comfort and without drama.  The weather brightened up as we emerged from Standedge tunnel too.

 

My son-in-law picked me up from Bank Top and drove me to their home in Shildon, where I'll be based for the next week.

 

Regrettably, the Newcastle show this weekend has been cancelled, so I won't get the chance to see Grantham or any of my old mates that were going to be there, but there will be lots more model railway action over the next few weeks. In the meantime, my granddaughters are going to take me to Locomotion and, in return, I plan to take them to Beamish (which I haven't visited since 1976).

 

More soon.

Any chance a tin or two of paint could be added to your list of goodies you are buying? 👀

 

Hope you have a wonderful time John, pity about Newcastle. 

[LNER4479]

Well, the eagle has certainly landed.

 

 

 

Great to be able host the author of this thread today, in the company of friends old and new.

 

We even ran a few trains. Fuller report to follow in the Hills of the North thread. I suspect one or two more posts may appear here in due course.

 

[St Enodoc]

7 hours ago, Jesse Sim said:

Any chance a tin or two of paint could be added to your list of goodies you are buying? 👀

 

Hope you have a wonderful time John, pity about Newcastle. 

Depends what type of paint. Email me with what you want.

 

PS I have two coach kits for you - you can collect them at our next running session on 20/1/24/

[St Enodoc]

42 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

Well, the eagle has certainly landed.

 

 

 

Great to be able host the author of this thread today, in the company of friends old and new.

 

We even ran a few trains. Fuller report to follow in the Hills of the North thread. I suspect one or two more posts may appear here in due course.

 

Indeed, we all had a fabulous day courtesy of Red Leader. Many thanks, Graham.

 

First photo from the left @jwealleans, @LMS29, @31A, @Michael Edge, @innocentman, @St Enodoc, @Barry O.

 

It was an absolute privilege and pleasure to be invited to operate Hills of the North today. Even in its current partly-complete form, the sense of running a real railway in miniature was palpable. I look forward to another visit on a future trip.

 

Here are some photos of the team and trains in action.

 

Central Station, which is effectively a scenic fiddle yard.

 

@31A and @LMS29 watching a train climbing towards Shap Summit.

 

@innocentman and @LNER4479 at Central Station and @jwealleans at Dentonholme Yard.

 

Tomorrow I head south after a great week in the North East and, all being well, I'll be at the Brighton MRC show this coming weekend https://brightonmrc.wordpress.com/exhibition/.

 

 

[Jesse Sim]

4 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Depends what type of paint. Email me with what you want.

 

PS I have two coach kits for you - you can collect them at our next running session on 20/1/24/

I shall, thanks John, I have a friend coming over in March that’s going to have a suitcase full for me but I’m in desperate need of one in particular. 
 

Oooh, thank you very much. Either I’ve lost track of what I’ve purchased or lost completely forgotten what someone has given me. 🤣 

 

What are your coach kit and paint mule rates these days? 

Edited November 16, 2023 by Jesse Sim

[Coach bogie]

We should start a business. I have this lot on its way to me for transport to Manchester in a few weeks time. The intended recipient prefers the complete wagons from Bygone rather than the part bodies from 247......as long as I am flying home and save them the postage.

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

 

 

[St Enodoc]

8 hours ago, Jesse Sim said:

What are your coach kit and paint mule rates these days? 

Negotiable but generally in multiples of one pint.

[Jesse Sim]

2 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Negotiable but generally in multiples of one pint.

I don’t leave the house for anything less than three anyway. 

[5BarVT]

8 hours ago, Jesse Sim said:

I don’t leave the house for anything less than three anyway. 

Those of us of a certain age (or more) can no longer do that even if we wanted to!

Paul.

Edited November 16, 2023 by 5BarVT
Fat fingers