Midland Railway in EM gauge

[Iain Popplewell]

 Thanks Derek glad you like her. She's sprayed with Phoenix Precision Paints Crimson Lake over Phoenix Precision Paints two part grey primer. How close that comes to the old Midland Crimson Lake I don't know, but as a representation of The South Farne Iron Company's red I'd maintain it's spot on.

Edited November 16, 2017 by Iain Popplewell

[Regularity]

Puts me in mind of the Furness Railway colours, designed to be indicative of hematite ore.

 

And I agree with Derek: that’s a lovely engine.

[Iain Popplewell]

Puts me in mind of the Furness Railway colours, designed to be indicative of hematite ore.

 

 

 Well I'll be, two railways carrying iron ore at opposite sides of the country with the same coloured loco's. The ironstone beds of the South Farne's were the same as the Cleveland ore-field so perhaps if Lord Ravenbeck the owner of island and mines had followed the same premise South Farne loco's would have been coloured a rather drab dark green.  Thankfully they weren't, and it appears he went for the more appealing and aesthetic Crimson Lake. I wonder if he had the Furness in mind? We'll probably never know.

Edited November 16, 2017 by Iain Popplewell

[Mrkirtley800]

After my son installed shelving for me, I cleared the baseboards of all the superfluous buildings, and viewed the space it all left.

I had originally intended to have a stone transhipment facility in the space, similar to the one on the Kirkby Malham mark 1, but found it was not practical. So my thoughts turned to, perhaps farm buildings or a group of houses or just plain fields.

While lying in my hospital bed during July, my thoughts turned to our railway, and the outcome was, why not have a stone transhipment, but on a small scale. It measured up quite well and so over the last week or so, I have been busy chopping out part of the main line, and building a point in situe. It would need a trap point, to prevent any accidents with passing trains. The idea is that a narrow gauge tramway will appear from 'off-scene' on a high level, and using tipper trucks, transfer the limestone into railway wagons waiting in the siding below. In reality would only be a very small set up and producing six or so wagon loads in a day. Perhaps there is another way of carrying he stone from the quarries, possibly barge on an off-shoot of the Leeds - Liverpool canal.

The working arrangement would be for the empty mineral wagons to be worked into Kirkby Malham station and there attached to a south bound goods to be 'dropped off' at the stone siding.

When the full minerals are collected they can be for two or three destinations. Via Grassington to get to Middlesborough, or via Skipton for Leeds and Sheffield.

In the piccies, below, the first shows the space available and the rather scruffy Hanlith Junction.

Rather than doing anything clever with computers to plan out any trackwork, I plan it out in situe and the third pic shows that being done with cork underlay.

The last two show the stone siding. I have installed a trap point and this will work in conjunction with the main point into the siding. The next job will be to install a point switch and underneath the board some sort of lever arrangement to operate the two points together. You will notice how scruffy the boards are. They have been used for a few layouts and really are passed their 'sell by' date, but being a fully fledged Yorkshireman, I cannot bear to throw anything away.

 

Derek

Edited November 22, 2017 by Mrkirtley800

[lezz01]

Hi there Derek.

It's good to see you modeling again mate. Make sure you don't do too much at one time, pace yourself mate.

Regards Lez.Z.

[Mrkirtley800]

Thank you lezz01. Truth is, I can’t move very far or very fast. The arthritis has really caused problems this year and interfered with my railway modelling. But as long as I can sit down to do my work I’m OK. Having said that, I am very stiff when the time comes to get up and tend to stagger around on my walking sticks.

Derek

[Barry O]

Derek, time for some wd49 or Sloane ointment.

 

Keep up the great modelling!

Baz

[St Enodoc]

Derek, time for some wd49 or Sloane ointment.

 

Keep up the great modelling!

Baz

Did you mean WD40 or PC49????

 

Oh, how the Ralgex stings...

[Mrkirtley800]

Or Fiery Jack.

For those of a rather younger age, FJ was a remedy for anything to do with sports injuries. My dad used to keep a tin of the stuff, and if I came home from school football with any knocks, he would reach for his tin. It is quite amazing how I suddenly recovered and insisted I was OK

Derek

[coachmann]

Thank you lezz01. Truth is, I can’t move very far or very fast. The arthritis has really caused problems this year and interfered with my railway modelling. But as long as I can sit down to do my work I’m OK. Having said that, I am very stiff when the time comes to get up and tend to stagger around on my walking sticks.

Derek

Hi Derek,  Glad to read you are up and about again. No doubt keeping busy with the layout keeps the pain off your mind. The damp oop north probably hasn't helped your troubles. You made a nice job of your original MR Compound.

[Regularity]

You will notice how scruffy the boards are. They have been used for a few layouts and really are passed their 'sell by' date, but being a fully fledged Yorkshireman, I cannot bear to throw anything away.Derek

Alternatively, in these days of being more environmentally aware of waste, you are ahead of the game when it comes down to recycling.

 

Besides, they will be covered up with scenery and track beds, so who will know?

[Mrkirtley800]

Some progress has been made during the cold spell of weather, although if I sit at my bench for long periods, I later regret it.

I am still working away on the penultimate board before the fiddle yard.  The base for the high level tramway is in place, the white splodges on the top is where I took excess pant off my brush while dry brushing the stonework.  These will be covered by ground work when the narrow gauge track has been installed.

The narrow gauge locomotive is an old Egerbahn I got cheaply because it was damaged, at the only table top sale I have ever attended.  I have tried to lose it's French appearance and make it look more British.

We got a new microwave oven and vacuum cleaner recently, and as the boxes were clean, I squirreled them away, and here we are , being used to create the profiles for the landscaping.

The bridge at the far end of the board will be a track from the farm on the higher level to the bottom field, just above the lower falls of Hanlith Force.  This field is where the prize cattle are allowed to graze.

I have run out of plaster bandage,  which I used to create the groundwork on the rest of the layout.  So, for this board, I shall  use old newspapers, torn into small pieces and stuck with dilute PVA glue.

Derek

[Barry O]

It is coming on well Derek.

 

Hope you and your good lady have a good Christmas and new year.

 

Baz

[kes]

It's looking good Derek - Best Wishes to you and Olga for Christmas and the New Year.  Kevin.

[Mrkirtley800]

Thank you for your good wishes Kevin and Barry, and the same to you. Perhaps we might meet up in the new year.

Derek

[Barry O]

I shall be spending some time in Robin Hoods Bay over Easter so will contact you nearer then Derek.

 

Baz

[Mrkirtley800]

That’s OK Barry, looking forward to your visit.

Derek

[kes]

I'll give you a ring after New Year and give you a visit - I have kept away as I have had various chest bugs since I returned from holiday - air conditioning has a lot to answer for!

[Mrkirtley800]

Yes, that would be OK by me Kevin. We have family staying at the present but should be back to normal early January.

I have been away for the Christmas period, staying at my youngest sons place. I was able to do a bit of work on his rather nice 0 gauge layout. Wish I lived nearer to give a bit more help.

 

Derek

[Mrkirtley800]

Just something a bit different from me.  A few years ago I tried some video of Canal Road, and include three of them,  I hope they work.  They were shot on my old digital camera so they will not measure up to some of the vids we see on this site.

They are a poor lot really, but one is of my newly built Johnson Compound in the simplified Deeley livery.  Starting off in 1901 as 2631, it was renumbered to 1000 in 1907, and still may be seen, although in a vastly different form than the Johnson production. This loco is a bit too big for Kirkby Malham regular runs, but does come out on rare occasions.  The carriages are built from Trevor Charlton parts.  They are etched zinc and are classed as an aid to scratch building.  All you get are the sides, ends and clerestory sides, where appropriate.  The rest, you have to source for yourself.  They are fairly heavy but run sweetly.

These parts were produced for a number of pre group railways during the 1960's and 70's when model kits for coaching stock was pretty limited.

Trevor Charlton, himself, died a few years ago, so thanks Trevor.

Finally, as 2017 draws to a close and stands at the stops, we have a Deeley 'flatiron' just completed it's journey to Kirkby Malham.

So, it just remains for me to wish all RMWebbers, a very Happy New Year, and an enjoyable 2018.

Derek

MOV02403.MPG

 

 

Edited December 31, 2017 by Mrkirtley800

[Compound2632]

Apart from being in colour, those have quite the feel of film from the Edwardian era! - especially the Compound with the express.

 

Trevor Charlton lived two doors from us when I was growing up but I never had the courage to ask him about his zinc sides. He was a keen cyclist and jazz man too.

[Mrkirtley800]

I am still working on the penultimate scenic board.  It has taken much longer than expected, although  I have not spent much time with the layout because of the cold weather.  My heating arrangement is not really adequate.

Anyway, the groundwork was done using old newspapers.  My stock of plaster bandage has run out, and although TMD are only a few miles from me, my joints won't allow me to walk around the shop or stand to look at the stock.

So,  we have the contours done in paper and PVA which took a long time to dry.

The narrow gauge tramway is Peco  set in plaster.  The hedges are from rubberised horsehair, and the ground cover a mixture of scatter material from heaven knows where.  In my exhibition going days, I would try to get a couple of packets of scenic material at each show.  Eventually, I had amassed a large collection  of scatters, which when applied carefully to the ground gave a mottled appearance. and not a uniform colour throughout.

Sadly my collection of scenics are very much depleted, and I may not have sufficient to finish off the final board.  However that is in the future.

So, the board in question is nearly finished.  I require some scrub land on the hillside near the loading dock, and some dry stone walling flanking the main lines.

The farm track leads to the field above Hanlith Force, and forms a convenient exit for the tramway.  The main point into the siding and the trap point, I intended to work together using a long lever underneath the board, but now for simplicity I have used two separate point switches positioned next to each other.  This is on going and I am just awaiting some 1mm nickel rod, obtained for me by a friend.

The signal will also be worked by rods, but requires me to make a lever frame.

Still plenty to do.

Derek

[westerhamstation]

Hi Derek, lovely bit of scenic work, sometimes doing things the old way is the best, as shown by what you have achieved in the photos. All the best Adrian.

[OnTheBranchline]

I love the mixing of the scales, it really adds depth to the layout.

[Andrew P]

Hi Derek, I like the new corner and scenic treatment, superb work, very nice indeed.