Elsbridge Tramway Company: Elsbridge Town - NeilHB's layout

[NeilHB]

A very productive stint at the workbench after work this evening has seen the main bodywork for ETCo No.3 “Gerda” completed:

 

 

 

Size wise she sits nicely between the other two designs:

 

 

Next step is bufferbeams and beading.

[NeilHB]

Yesterday saw rapid progress on ETCo No.3 “Gerda”, and only the roof remains to be completed along with some final details:

 

 

 

Early this morning she was spotted on test at Ffarquhar Road with the early morning up passenger tram, this bringing with it an empty milk van for loading:

 

 

It’s looking likely that No.4 “Sigmund” will be next through the works for a full rebuild, as he’s looking a bit tired and there’s a few modifications I want to make to bring him in line with the other locos. 

[Annie]

Lovely work on your latest tram engine Neil.  I like the way that you've developed a unique company style for your tram engines that allows for the individual differences between them, but still identifies them as ETCo engines.

[NeilHB]

5 hours ago, Annie said:

Lovely work on your latest tram engine Neil.  I like the way that you've developed a unique company style for your tram engines that allows for the individual differences between them, but still identifies them as ETCo engines.

Thank you very much Annie, that’s much appreciated  

 

I’m pleased to report that ETCo No.3 “Gerda” has now left the workshops, and will be entering the paintshop tomorrow:

 

 

Four days from start to finish - not too bad! I’m really rather pleased with how she’s turned out. 
 

No.4 “Sigmund” definitely needs a rebuild now to bring him in line with the house style, but I haven’t broken the news to him yet…or that he’ll be getting a different livery as well when the rebuilds over. I don’t think he’ll be too happy! 

 

[NeilHB]

ETCo Nos.1 and 2 have now had their nameplates added (Narrow Planet/Light Railway Stores as they are always excellent quality): 

 

 

Following a suggestion on another forum, I’ve acquired a couple of ancient Hornby Dublo water cranes for use on the layout. With the bag shortened, it works out at the right size for filling up the tanks of the tram locos when they’ve reached Ffarquhar Road:

 

 

It will need a taller operating wheel, and I shall probably add a chain to enable the operator to move it around easily. I’ve also got a second one to use for when I get around to modelling some more of the tramway in the future.

 

Later on, we see ETCo No.3 “Gerda” on test, double heading on a passenger tram with No.2 “Sigrid”:

 

 

 

Hopefully she’ll enter service soon and be able to relieve some of the pressure of the the two coffee pot tram locos. 

[Annie]

2 hours ago, NeilHB said:

Following a suggestion on another forum, I’ve acquired a couple of ancient Hornby Dublo water cranes for use on the layout. With the bag shortened, it works out at the right size for filling up the tanks of the tram locos when they’ve reached Ffarquhar Road:

Gosh that takes me back.  I can remember using those water cranes on the layout I built in my bedroom when I was in my late teens.

 

'Gerda' is coming together very nicely and should be a fine addition to the ETCo fleet.

[NeilHB]

Tonight I made a start on Elsbridge Tramway Company No.5 “Sigurd”. This is a standard gauge version of the Bagnall 0-4-0ST supplied to the 3’6” Wolverton and Stoney Stratford Tramway in 1921. My version will have been supplied to the ETCo in about 1896 or so, and so there will be a few differences! 
 

Having to borrow engines from the neighbouring Wellsworth & Suddery Railway in the early 1890s was becoming increasing problematic for the Directors of the ETCo, as the existing four locos struggled to cope with increasing traffic levels after the opening of the extension to Ffarquhar and the stone quarry at Anopha in 1892. Although Nos.3 and 4 were more powerful than the two coffeepot trams, a larger locomotive was still needed to help relieve the burden:

 

Its all very basic at the moment and just popped loosely together for the photos, but I think it’s starting give the look that I want for this loco. 
 

A couple of photos for size comparison with ETCo No.3 “Gerda”. No.5 as mentioned before is a much larger machine, also worth noting that it’s fitted with larger 3’1” wheels, rather than the 2’8” fitted to Nos.1-3, so sits higher to start with:

 

 

The chimney will be changed for a stovepipe in due course to match the rest of the fleet, and the saddletank needs a lot more work to make it match the prototype closer. 

 

[Corbs]

I read your backdating of the key historical events and I nodded sagely  

[hartleymartin]

Was this one of the sources of inspiration for the tram motors?

[NeilHB]

10 hours ago, Corbs said:

I read your backdating of the key historical events and I nodded sagely  

 

I thought you would appreciate it  

 

8 hours ago, hartleymartin said:

Was this one of the sources of inspiration for the tram motors?

No, although it is very nice! They are an amalgamation of various designs, but the main inspiration was the Markham Coffee Pot that was discovered in the wilds of Tasmania and restored for display purposes - that had side tanks and vertical boiler and I thought it would make a good basis for mine. 

[MarcD]

A shame thatghe LSWR never built them. 

Marc

[NeilHB]

1 hour ago, MarcD said:

A shame thatghe LSWR never built them. 

Marc

 

It was built Marc, but not by the LSWR. It worked at Wharncliffe at the rifle ranges there, and was sent to Nine Elms a number of times for overhauls etc. I'll dig out the relevant copy of the 'History of the British Steam Tram' later to confirm who it was built by etc. 

[MarcD]

Where is Wharncliffe? The only place I can find is in yorkshire.

 

Marc

[sir douglas]

I found it in a few minutes of googling, its the loco named Wharncliffe not the place

https://www.tramwayinfo.com/Tramframe.htm?https://www.tramwayinfo.com/trampostcards/Postc225.htm

[NeilHB]

Skirting around the issue…or a progress report on “Sigurd”.

 

I’ve managed to adapt the saddletank to resemble the Bagnall design more closely using lots of plastic strip:

 

I’ve also sorted out the smokebox saddle, and found a spare stovepipe chimney to better match the other locos:

 

 

Sandboxes are from the spares box, and do the job nicely I think. 
 

The basic skirts have been added, and the next step will be to add the lift up panels to access the wheels and motion from 10thou plastic. 

[NeilHB]

It may not look like much has changed, but the track is officially down. A fun couple of hours this afternoon getting everything just so and drilling lots of holes in the sleepers for track pins (oh the joy!): 

 

 

I may shuffle the rear siding back a bit, but I’ll decide on that for definite in the morning. 
 

I’ve even made a start on the wiring! Although I’m cheating for this and using Peco fishplates which come with wires ready attached. This makes life much easier, though the underside of the boards look like this at the moment:

 

Next step is to dig out the chocolate block connectors and connect it all up. 
 

Exciting times ahead at Ffarquhar Road!  

 

[NeilHB]

Today I got the point control/polarity change switches fitted.

 

These have been mounted in the baseboard surface, and will be hidden inside hollow buildings:

 

 

 

The one controlling across to the front siding will be hidden inside a small building, possibly a bothy for loco crews. 
 

 

The one controlling access to the run round loop will be hidden under/behind the farmers cooperative store on the front siding. The white plastic tubing which the brass control wire runs in will be buried in the ground surface to hide them completely. 

Now I know that they fit nicely and work well, I can screw them down and wire them in to allow them to change the frog polarity.
 

Lastly we see ETCo No.3 “Gerda” arriving with a goods tram. 

Edited March 31, 2022 by NeilHB

[NeilHB]

Belated Christmas wishes to all on here. 

I did good this year, and along with a few new useful tools for modelling, I received this from the husband - it’ll do nicely for transporting passengers onwards from Ffarquhar Road:

 

 

Today I made some good progress on Ffarquhar Road, and as well as getting the third and final board up, I also got the first of the fiddle yard cassettes assembled:

 

 

 

 

Edited March 31, 2022 by NeilHB

[Hippel]

Love the Moore Marriott figure! Where did he come from, please?

 

Thanks, 

Paul

[NeilHB]

40 minutes ago, Hippel said:

Love the Moore Marriott figure! Where did he come from, please?

 

Thanks, 

Paul

Hi Paul, they are from A C Stadden:

 

https://www.acstadden.co.uk/product-page/omp-oh-mr-porter

 

I’ve had them for nearly 15years now, so I really ought to put a coat of paint on them soon! 

[hartleymartin]

How much to get them pre-painted? I am completely useless at figure-painting and would rather get pre-painted ones.

 

[NeilHB]

 

1 hour ago, hartleymartin said:

How much to get them pre-painted? I am completely useless at figure-painting and would rather get pre-painted ones.

 

 

He does various of his 1/43rd figures pre-painted - the Oh Mr Porter set is £36:

 

https://www.acstadden.co.uk/product-page/oh-mr-porter-painted

 

I’m tempted to get some of his pre-painted figures at some point just to give the layout some figures to start with, whilst I can summon up the courage to have a go at painting my own. 

[NeilHB]

The final passenger tram of the year waits to depart from Ffarquhar Road:

 

 

Headed by ETCo No.2 “Sigrid”, the formation includes a through coach from the neighbouring Wellsworth and Suddery Railway:

 

 

The coach in question is an Ashbury Brake Third, and is from a Pre-Grouping Railways kit that I acquired secondhand some time ago at Guildex (possibly even the last one at Telford in 2019). The first job of the new year will be to paint the upper panels off white/cream. There’s also an Ashbury First/Third Composite to be painted, and the two will form a nice short W&S train which can make an appearance at Ffarquhar Road from time to time as an alternative to the usual ETCo tramcars. 
 

Happy New Year to all. 

Edited March 31, 2022 by NeilHB

[Tom F]

Happy New Year Neil

 

....or for us Sudrians, 'Blein vie Noa!

[NeilHB]

An exceedingly productive day at the workbench today - I have actually completed (please don’t fall over in shock!) the first pair of ETCo tramcars and luggage van! 
 

This morning I finished off painting the interior and seating:

 

Once that had dried, I set about adding transfers and glazing (goodness me that was flipping fiddly!!!)

 

 

Thankfully no glazing required for the luggage van, so that was much quicker. The three of them do look good together on the layout:

 

 

 

There is a further All Third to complete, but that still needs the interior painting completing before I can start on the glazing.

 

Oh and there’s a pair of North Western Railway liveried tramcars plus matching luggage van to build in due course…
 

 

Edited March 31, 2022 by NeilHB