chriscleveland Posted August 31, 2023 Author Share Posted August 31, 2023 Another loco project ongoing starting off as tangmere I have taken the plunge to use a Hornby West Country to make out of use locomotive swanage swanage in the time frame would have moved from the headshunt after being stored for years and started overhaul. I wanted to add something a little different plus looking at photos showed how much the paintwork had weathered over time it also seemed a good opportunity to do something a little different so I decided to open one of the roof covers on the loco which can be found on google. I also found swanage is actually numbered after fellow classmate 34102 lapford. I decided it was best to keep it as swanages number to avoid confusion however but interesting what you find when researching. quite happy with the finished look something a bit different than having a very clean engine 11 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted September 9, 2023 Author Share Posted September 9, 2023 Out of the paint shop first diesel I’ve done to represent the diesel gala the railway held in 2013. Even though it’s out of the time frame as the King’s Cross bridge would have been in I wanted to replicate a diesel gala so using modellers licence to get away with it 33109 captain bill smith out after having a big freshen up and part repaint. Great transformation and use of a 33 I had no real plans for. Just a case of name plates to go now as well as finding some of the other loco types to make the full gala lineup 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted September 14, 2023 Author Share Posted September 14, 2023 (edited) Jus a few photos of a few other projects going on 37905 having just had a wheel clean parked at the front of the headshunt a view you can’t take photos from anymore as the railway redesigned the top car park. 117 dmu out testing the new over ride system to reduce the need of using x4 controllers with the 4th now being optional. Plus was out trialling being a 2 car as well as 3 car. a project for after slough is boiler 76017 which I plan we may be able to use with the crane and the unusual wagons that hold its boiler Edited September 14, 2023 by chriscleveland 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted September 26, 2023 Author Share Posted September 26, 2023 Not long to go now till Ropley goes out again to Slough’s first exhibition. I will make sure we get plenty of videos and photos. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted October 2, 2023 Author Share Posted October 2, 2023 Operation crazy I’ve decided to take the plunge and correctly number the buffet coaches to the mhr fleet but then I found myself taking in operation crazy just weeks before a show just doing the buffet coaches soon turned into a whole rake with many hours of watching videos from 2011 gala’s conversations etc I soon worked out every coach they own 4 rakes later were into our last coach of all the green coach rakes or is it ? 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nick C Posted October 3, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 3, 2023 (edited) 14 hours ago, chriscleveland said: ... with many hours of watching videos from 2011 gala’s conversations etc I soon worked out every coach they own ... I hate to say it after so much work - but there's a comprehensive list on Wikipedia... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_stock_of_the_Watercress_Line. Not entirely up to date, but that won't matter for your purposes... Edited October 3, 2023 by Nick C 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted October 4, 2023 Author Share Posted October 4, 2023 On 03/10/2023 at 09:25, Nick C said: I hate to say it after so much work - but there's a comprehensive list on Wikipedia... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_stock_of_the_Watercress_Line. Not entirely up to date, but that won't matter for your purposes... I’ve been using it to help but some are not correct. Luckily someone on the railway has also been helping confirm what they do and don’t have and we have worked out everything that was / wasn’t in use at the time even down to which way each coach should be facing. Makes the work a little more interesting for sure. Plus finding out ones that left has been fun too like eagle the Pullman car 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nick C Posted October 4, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 4, 2023 (edited) Ah, fair enough. We've got some people who are incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to the carriage fleet! I could tell you what's operational now, but haven't a clue about the stuff lurking in the Alresford headshunt or those that have left... Your era is before my time, I only started volunteering in 2017. Edited October 4, 2023 by Nick C Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted October 4, 2023 Author Share Posted October 4, 2023 6 minutes ago, Nick C said: Ah, fair enough. We've got some people who are incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to the carriage fleet! I could tell you what's operational now, but haven't a clue about the stuff lurking in the Alresford headshunt or those that have left... Your era is before my time, I only started volunteering in 2017. Richard has been helping me on everything. One day we may find out what’s hiding down there but I’m sure they’ve had a clear out at some point. Before long I’ll get asked to do the wagons correctly. 2009 to 2012 I’m afraid is the era but lots still remains on the line the pullmans and griddle are next on my list to attempt 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ian Morgan Posted October 4, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 4, 2023 I did once get to explore down the far end at Alresford, but no camera, and no idea of the year. There were a pair of wooden underframed wagons at the buffer stops that had been squashed beyond repair (I assume) by some rough shunting (again, I assume). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nick C Posted October 5, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 5, 2023 10 hours ago, Ian Morgan said: I did once get to explore down the far end at Alresford, but no camera, and no idea of the year. There were a pair of wooden underframed wagons at the buffer stops that had been squashed beyond repair (I assume) by some rough shunting (again, I assume). Last time I went down there it was Sir Fred at the end, but that's recently gone off for restoration, so it'll have all changed. Mostly Mk1s awaiting their turn in the workshops now, I think. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted October 6, 2023 Author Share Posted October 6, 2023 You can find a few videos of what’s down there but I assume lots has changed after the running line extension at alresford during Covid 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted October 10, 2023 Author Share Posted October 10, 2023 Next projects in full swing Taken the plunge in maker by some of the railways more challenging coaches. First up is the real ale coach secondly is the railways griddle which I’ve decided the make the sides lastly I’ve started to make the railways dining set which is proving challenging now and I haven’t even started lining them yet no pressure who’s idea was it to fully commit to coaches and other less than 2 weeks till a show 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted October 14, 2023 Author Share Posted October 14, 2023 Operation tidy with less than a week till Ropley goes out the pressure starts. Here we have inside the sheds which are having a dust down and some internal repairs. Be nice to see if we fixed the issue onto the Alton fiddleyard next week fingers crossed 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hal Nail Posted October 14, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 14, 2023 On 05/10/2023 at 09:10, Nick C said: Last time I went down there it was Sir Fred at the end, but that's recently gone off for restoration, so it'll have all changed. Mostly Mk1s awaiting their turn in the workshops now, I think. I was down there last week to do something on the freight rake that was there for the gala. A rough count was 10 or so mk1s in various states, some PMV type Southern 4 wheelers and other odds and sods under tarps but the most interesting was an LMS inspection saloon I had no idea was there. I'd be doing that up and charging a small premium to ride in it. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted October 17, 2023 Author Share Posted October 17, 2023 On 14/10/2023 at 09:33, Hal Nail said: I was down there last week to do something on the freight rake that was there for the gala. A rough count was 10 or so mk1s in various states, some PMV type Southern 4 wheelers and other odds and sods under tarps but the most interesting was an LMS inspection saloon I had no idea was there. I'd be doing that up and charging a small premium to ride in it. The lms saloon last ran in this time frame in the 2011 spring gala think it’s quite a big job but as you say has its opportunities Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted October 17, 2023 Author Share Posted October 17, 2023 Last few days before Ropley is at a show again certainly feeling the pressure building ticking off all those little jobs another one nearly ticked off is finishing the lights will just be the sheds left to go after the show a few photos to set the scene Nelson on shed Bittern returns back from a rail tour this was common back when it was first restored Yeoman 08 awaits repair outside the carriage shed. This area has just had all the poliyfiller scraped back a little more to improve running conditions should have used clay too late now tho. now onto crawling under the layout to tidy up the messy wiring. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted October 21, 2023 Author Share Posted October 21, 2023 Few photos from having ropley at a show today was nice to have all the lights working at last and the layout got really good feedback even is we were fighting a minor short across the layout something we couldn’t detect as it all ran ok in its sections before the show but we managed to cure it at a quiet point in the show Other than that was nice to have the layout up and running and we all had a chat about how to simplify the layout as we at dc not dcc the jobs list isn’t as big as Alton yet so that’s a plus too but still some bits to do. Another good thing from today is we got together as a group to all add feedback into my biggest hate on the layout which is the roofs so looks like we might now have a solution fingers crossed. I’ll take lots of photos tomorrow and post over the next week 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted October 25, 2023 Author Share Posted October 25, 2023 (edited) Some more photos from the show on Sunday but its a diesel takeover 37901 Mirrless pioneer departs Ropley with a train to Alton. 37324 Clydebridge shunts the wagons from the crane as the 08 shunts 76017 4mt as the boiler has been lifted and being moved onto the boiler wagons to go into the shed. later the 08 shunts a bullied coach into the carriage shed to continue overhaul Clydebridge out on a service train the next day. Just name plates to add to clydebridge then it will be complete thank you Ian another amazing looking diesel my latest project was put in the yard on the Sunday of ivatt 41312 without its boiler. This was a very tricky project to say the least! 50027 lion arrives into Ropley from Alton as the afternoon we ran diesels as we had quite a few back for the show plus we had Stuart who was eager to get the diesels out to play. Now the layout is back in cradle time to do some more bits to the layout Edited October 25, 2023 by chriscleveland 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted October 28, 2023 Author Share Posted October 28, 2023 Now the rush for a show is over time to look at ongoing projects on the layout here’s we have the completed real ale coach 80223 not like a normal break coach as it has a shutter in the side loosing x1 window so out came the tools to cut a hole in the side one of many coaches unique to the mhr fleet but an important one to say the least. Many more coaches to follow that are special to the railway. All normal mk1s have now been numbered to those on the railway. Not the easiest task but all good fun plus not many people will notice at least I know as it’s also helped to work out what stock I need 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted November 1, 2023 Author Share Posted November 1, 2023 Another project almost complete i took the plunge to attempt to build the griddle coach. Only down side is there’s no kit I could find so I’ve had to build the sides myself which isn’t ideal. built from plasticard and many photos I’ve managed to make something close too the real thing. Not overly happy with the end result especially with the over run with cutting out the windows on one side but hoping when I add the red line might hide that. Still also not sure on the windows yet too. the interior was also a challenge but luckily someone on the railway was able to get me some photos to help me complete this coach. Not an easy build as the mhr own one of only 2 of these coaches left the other being in the battlefield railway Now the real fun will begin of finishing those Pullmans I showed me starting a few posts ago 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nick C Posted November 1, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 1, 2023 Might it be worth finding someone with a 'Silhouette' CAD cutter who could help with the sides? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted November 10, 2023 Author Share Posted November 10, 2023 (edited) Something a little different. Whilst I was researching the mhr dining train I came across a coach end that was painted into Pullman colours. I thought this would also be a good way to practice lining ready for doing a whole coach side. it’s something a little different but will hopefully finish off the rake nicely once its completed. Quite pleased with the end result and a nice little addition. Now time to do the brake coach used on the Pullmans whilst I wait for the lining to arrive. Edited November 10, 2023 by chriscleveland 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted November 21, 2023 Author Share Posted November 21, 2023 Another loco project completed recently managed to acquire a non working ivatt and decided to do something a little different after completing Swanage. before we started the build out with t cut to remove the crest and numbers shortly followed by the cutting tools Ivatt 41312 is based on the railway and would have started overhaul at the end of my time frame. However I liked the idea of a chassis with all the water tanks still attached but minus a boiler and some rods. Cutting through a split chassis to achieve this was not fun but I think the end result looks ok. couldn’t help but take one under the lights too. One of the last loco overhaul projects I have left to go but still another one or two planned as well as another coach as they attract a lot of interest. 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscleveland Posted December 2, 2023 Author Share Posted December 2, 2023 New shed roofs are starting to come together. With not having the glazing anymore makes it much easier to view inside and helps us out to uncouple in the sheds now I can finish the edging then get them in for top coat and get some magnets to hold them down 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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