Elsbridge Tramway Company: Elsbridge Town - NeilHB's layout

[kingfisher9147]

Very nice, just one question, where is the brakes and where is the guard going to go? 

Mike 

[NeilHB]

They all have brake shoes fitted, I just haven’t decided yet where to fit the brake wheel etc. The guard will travel in the tramcars with the passengers.

 

I’m not quite sure what happened, I turned my back on the layout for five minutes earlier and another Tramcar appeared (I think they’ve started breeding 😞

 

 

That’s all the planned ETCo liveried ones completed, which will give me enough to run a pair (All Third and First/Third Composite) plus luggage van as one set, and the other All Third with some wagons as a mixed train. 
 

 

Edited March 31, 2022 by NeilHB

[cp409067]

On 05/12/2021 at 21:54, NeilHB said:

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Neil

 

I very much like the look of the two VB locos.

 

May we assume that in due course they will acquire cab steps?

 

 

CP

[NeilHB]

Hi Christopher, 

 

Thank you. Yes, cab steps and a few other details are still very much on the 'to-do list'. 

[NeilHB]

Not much modelling to report this week other than a couple of bits and pieces.

 

I popped a coat of paint on the NWR version of the tramcars to see how it looked, and I think this works quite nicely:

 

Still need to sort out the running gear etc for this one. 
 

I’ve now got a few more FY cassettes to use, thanks to Phil at Intentio (No connection other than a satisfied customer) - I’ve bought a couple of different sized ones to cater for different train lengths:

 

I’ve also started work again on North Western No.1 (seen here keeping company with North Western No.7):

You will recall that previously I’d fitted a Dapol Terrier chassis with the wheels from a Dapol Jinty, well it’s now gone back to sitting on a standard Dapol Terrier chassis.

 

It does save me having to faff about sorting out new pickups etc, and has got me a bit more enthused about cracking on with this project.

 

In around 1916 we see North Western No.1 arriving at Ffarquhar Road with a goods train. We must assume that the local officers of the law turned their backs when they saw the train, as the loco certainly isn’t kitted out for running on a tramway…!

Edited March 31, 2022 by NeilHB

[NeilHB]

Wellsworth & Suddery Railway “Edric” is now sound fitted:

 

 

Lovely stuff  

[NeilHB]

Had fun last night just messing around with the sound fitted locos, so here's a couple of videos for your enjoyment: 

 

First up we see ETCo No.1 "Godred" departing Ffarquhar Road with the last down passenger tram of the day: 

 

Fast forwarding a few years on we see NWR Sentinel No.21 leaving Ffarquhar Road with a short goods train: 

 

It's jolly good fun just playing trains  

[Corbs]

4 hours ago, NeilHB said:

 

It's jolly good fun just playing trains  

Definitely! Isn't that the golden rule about layout building, to get to working trains as soon as you can?

[NeilHB]

38 minutes ago, Corbs said:

Definitely! Isn't that the golden rule about layout building, to get to working trains as soon as you can?

 

Very much so. Going to see a friend tomorrow to have a look at how he's wired his layout, which should then enable me to crack on with mine. All this electrickery is magic smoke and mirrors to me half the time! 

[NeilHB]

It’s alive!! 
 

A very big thank you to Andrew Young for his help and guidance in all matters electrickery, which has meant I’ve been able to wire up both scenic boards tonight, and more importantly wire them up so they actually work!

“Thorkell” did the honours for the test run. Now I need to fire up the soldering iron to do the fiddle yard board, but that can wait till tomorrow!

[Andrew Young]

It’s desperate times when I’m your electrickery expert!! Good to see my attempts at making my electrics idiot proof have helped. 

[NeilHB]

Idiot proof meant that this idiot could understand it though!! 
 

I summoned up the courage and fired up the soldering iron to wire up the FY board on Wednesday evening after work. It’s really quite nice just to be able to play trains, and I’ve been having a fantastic time bringing in a train, running round and doing a bit of shunting as required.

 

ETCo No.1 “Godred” arrives with a passenger tram, before W&SR No.1 “Thorkell” departs with a freight. 
 

Later on we see Ffarquhar Road between trains, it’s very quiet on the outskirts of Ffarquhar with just the local wildlife for company:

 

 

 

 

Jolly Good Fun! 

Edited March 31, 2022 by NeilHB

[NeilHB]

Now that the wiring is done, I can get back to the workbench for a spell to progress some more stock required. 
 

I’ve made a start on applying the bolts to the ETCo three-plank open seen a page or two back: 

 

Lots of holes to drill, and lots of small lengths of plastic rod to insert and glue! It does make a difference to the appearance though. 
 

Next up has been a nice quick project, being a repaint of a Minerva GWR Gunpowder Van into a North Western Railway example:

 

And a different lettering style and number on the other side:

Two for the price of one! 
 

It’s come to light recently that there was a paper mill situated just outside Ffarquhar, which is rail served by a long siding off the tramway. The mill itself is now coal fired, so gives me an excuse in the later time periods for some nice private owner wagons.
 

It also receives deliveries of the raw materials by rail, including China Clay from the pits near Brendam:

 

 

In other words giving me a nice excuse to finish off my China Clay opens! I just need to letter the wagons and finish off the third example which needs another coat of paint.
 

 

Edited March 31, 2022 by NeilHB

[NeilHB]

A very productive evening at the workbench has resulted in the first two Sodor China Clay opens lettered. They carry different lettering styles on either side, plus a different number as well to make it look like there are more of them:

 

Nos.5 and 31

 

Nos.42 and 26

 

I just need to paint the running gear next, and then sort out some suitable sheets to cover them with. 
 

What do you think please folks? 

Edited March 31, 2022 by NeilHB

[Annie]

It's certainly an interesting way to create some variation in your wagon fleet Neil and certainly effective since your layout is against a wall so only one side of a wagon can be seen unless you deliberately turn it around.  The different lettering styles between the wagons would seem to indicate to me a smaller company that has being buying its wagons in ones and twos rather than as a larger order.

[NeilHB]

A productive evening at the modelling bench during last nights model railway pub zoom call. The third Sodor China Clay wagon has now been lettered, with a slightly different style again for further variety:

 

 

 

 

I also managed to finish off adding the bolts to the ETCo three-plank open:

 

 

Paint and transfers next. 
 

“Thorkell” arrives at Ffarquhar Road in 1918 with a short goods train:

 

The last wagon is carrying a delivery for one of the local farmers:

 

A 1917 Fordson F. I think it just needs a more suitable wagon to sit on - anyone have any suggestions please? 

Edited March 31, 2022 by NeilHB

[Nearholmer]

Enjoying every minute of this thread.

 

The more suitable wagon for the tractor would probably be a machinery truck. They came in long and short wheelbase variants, both with the floor at ordinary level, in addition to which there were "low machinery trucks", the floor of which was set much lower than normal, necessitating plate frames, to accomodate things too big to go on the standard type.

 

The "10 ton road car truck" wagon preserved on the IoW was originally a LBSCR short-wheelbase machinery truck, and nothing much seems to have changed over time except the name.

https://iwsteamrailway.co.uk/heritage/our-rolling-stock/historic-wagons/  Roxey make a 7mm kit for this wagon, although it woulsn't challenge a man of your talents to scratchbuild one.

 

The strange circular marks on the single plank side are fixing locations for baulks of timber which go across the floor, acting as wheel-chocks.

 

This sort of machinery truck is a very close relative of an open carriage truck, but they usually had balustrade-type sides, to support chock-beams at the higher level necessary with larger wheeled vehicles, were typically designed to run as a pair with a horsebox in passenger trains, so had continuous brakes, decent axleboxes and springs, and Mansell wheels, rather than being basic goods vehicles. Here is an LNWR one. 

 

And, here is a MR one, complete with carriage, being shunted.

 

 

 

Edited February 4, 2022 by Nearholmer

[Nearholmer]

Better photo of the LBSCR machinery (not carriage) truck here http://www.ws.rhrp.org.uk/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=7974

 

On this one you can see how the ends hinge down to allow end-loading from a dock.

[sir douglas]

i would suggest a flat or implement wagon and rope it down, i did it with my Fergie but in hindsight many years later i shouldnt have done it with a dumb buffer chassis

 

The rope work was inspire by these photos of a Portable on a M&GN implement and one of Rob Pullman's models

 

(model and photo by Rob Pullham)

 

 

Edited February 5, 2022 by sir douglas

[Nearholmer]

“Implement wagon”, “machinery truck”, same thing, given different names by different railways.

 

The M&GN one looks cheaper to build than the LBSCR one.

 

I know for sure that the LSWR had some longer ones, which IIRC were six-wheelers, and I’m fairly sure the LBSCR had a long four-wheeler.

[NeilHB]

Thanks both, plenty of inspiration to choose from there! 
 

I rather like the look of the M&GN implement wagon, so will have a look at building something along those lines maybe for the tractor. 
 

The carriage truck looks quite suitable too as I’ve got a four wheeler Brougham Carriage which could put in an appearance, plus a suitable Horsebox to run with it. 
 

 

[Johnson044]

On 26/12/2021 at 20:12, NeilHB said:

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:

 

 

 

Later on a somewhat strange character was spotted lurking next to the farmers cooperative store. When questioned all he would reply with was ‘Next Trains Gone!’:

 
 

The yellow Brougham is rather fine - any idea of the manufacturer? I've got a Parliamentary Trains kit of one waiting to be assembled but I've chickened out so far. I really like the Harbottle character.

[Johnson044]

Given all the recent discussion about Implement wagons and Open Carriage trucks maybe one for the Brougham might emerge soon? A Slater's brake van underframe is a good starting point.

[NeilHB]

The Brougham is by Brumm; a search for Brumm 1/43 carriage on eBay will yield plenty of different ones to choose from. 
 

I really do like that open carriage truck on the Slaters brakevan chassis! The chassis is rather useful as I’ve used one already for my Horsebox. Do you have some more photos you could share please? 
 

This afternoon I set about lettering up the WSR goods wagons:

 

 

 

 

As usual, a different number on each side for variety, plus a slightly different lettering style for two of them on one side to represent those that have been through the workshops at a different time to the others.

I think I need a couple more WSR opens, plus maybe a van or two to round out the fleet. 

Edited March 31, 2022 by NeilHB

[Johnson044]

2 hours ago, NeilHB said:

The Brougham is by Brumm; a search for Brumm 1/43 carriage on eBay will yield plenty of different ones to choose from. 
 

I really do like that open carriage truck on the Slaters brakevan chassis! The chassis is rather useful as I’ve used one already for my Horsebox. Do you have some more photos you could share please? 
 

This afternoon I set about lettering up the WSR goods wagons:

 

 

 

As usual, a different number on each side for variety, plus a slightly different lettering style for two of them on one side to represent those that have been through the workshops at a different time to the others.
 

I think I need a couple more WSR opens, plus maybe a van or two to round out the fleet. 

Sure - the OCT is a real bitza though- here are some rather brutal close-ups. Mortal remains of a Slater's Midland brake van, brake from a Parkside NB Jubilee wagon come to think of it that's where the buffer beams came from too), axleboxes are whitemetal from ? Buffers are a mixture but hopefully won't look too dis-similar when painted. The brake lever and ratchet are Ambis, and the pierced rails for securing the bars that will hold the road vehicle in place also started life as Ambis ratchets. The rest is plastikard and odds and sods - oh yes- wheels are of steel with whitemetal Mansell inserts, and these add quite a bit of useful weight. 

 

Thank you so much for doing this thread - it's so imaginative and you've really given me a huge dose of encouragement.

 

Cheers

 

John