Unicorn1

Dad's Cortina outside 17 Mayville Rd Brierfield.jpg

 

I never got a go in this because this was around before I was learning to drive.

 

Hunter4.jpg

 

I did however get lots of goes in this. 1725 GLS with alloy head and overdrive. What a lot of fun could easily take on any Cortina 1600E at any speed.

 

I want one now, but I don't think any are left in existence.

According to 'How Many Left' there are 6 1725GLS Hunters licensed at the end of 2016 and 14 on SORN - so one may come up!

I loved my 1725 Hunter - but the rust loved it even more!

Les

edited - spelling!

A few new pictures from the 'Combe.

The staff at Bishopscombe Junction Shed have been busy refurbishing some barrows, left out in the yard for the primer to dry, somewhat obscuring this shot of 5660.

Some extra capacity has been borrowed from the Southern Region in the form of this Austin W.

"I'm only paid to drive the lorry mate"

Driver looks on as coal is loaded, the non-prototypical coal staithes have gone.

A 'helicopter' shot showing the new 'horse landing' to help with the busy horse traffic.

A summer visitor in the form of Dukedog 9015 shunts a horse box into the yard.

Finally a cruel lose up of the new station platform. The building isn't fixed at the moment as I experiment with different details.

Hello Kevin

I have to agree with the many others and say this is a wonderful layout. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all the posts, and your photos are excellent.

Again along with others I am impressed by your trees, one thing I have yet to attempt making myself.

Looking forward to seeing more pictures and updates.

Les

Shall be breaking into this 'big boy' at lunch today (750 ml bottle). 6.5%. Brewed in Greenwich, London. Unfortunately another small craft brewer snapped up by SAB Miller- hope we don't see clone versions brewed in their commercial plants  like they do with Sharps Doom Bar.

 

Edit post drinking: Wow, what a beer, so many complex flavours, it's a knockout. Also the brewery has been sold by SAB Miller as part of a Competition requirement in 2016, now owned by a Japanese investment company, with promises to brew all brands at the Greenwich brewery

Good news about the Brewery - I always rated their beer, and thought the worse when they were taken over (or Meantime 'sold out' perhaps..)

Les

Thanks Jules

Yes. it seems that now the better weather is on the way I spend more time in the railway room. Next jobs are to do something about that old Ratio water tower, and tidy the area around the signal box; among other things!

The oil depot may go, it provides different traffic, but it's hardly well placed!

Les

I can hardly believe its been nearly eight months since any updates from Bishopscombe!

Since last summer the station has received a new platform - the old Metcalfe one looked very tired - and as it was one of the very first things I built over six years ago, since then I have discovered many new approaches to building structures.

Also the ballast was fast disappearing! It was originally glued down with diluted copydex, and this gave very good running, but the glue started to deteriorate leaving big gaps in the ballast.

Re-ballasting with the track in situ wasn't easy, and the end result is not as good as I would like, however a few minutes each week tidying up is helping! I have deliberately not weathered the ballast as yet.

Also I have experimented with the station engine shed area. Gone is the stone engine shed, replaced with a Prototype card kit. The road behind the old shed was hidden, so moving the shed to this road has created a bit more open space.

I will stick with the Prototype kit for a while, it's been lightly weathered and has received some guttering and bargeboards, but no doors as yet.

So a few new pictures;

The minerals arrive at Bishopscombe to reverse, the new shed arrangement can be seen.

The 'new' view across the goods yard.

The pannier runs round the local

Having shunted the stock into the bay the pannier moves off to the shed.

In its 'new' home

Some new platform details, the new benches are a bit high for some of Bishopscombe's regular travellers!

The station staff have been busy putting on their usual floral display

The platform is just mount board sprayed with B&Q's own brand grey primer (it's darker than Halfords), and Peco edging overlaid with wills dressed stone. 

Later the afternoon goods arrives. The milk tanker has evaded the works painters for a good few years, but the plywood van looks fresh after a repaint! 

I think the white balance in the camera was set wrong for some of these, I only noticed after they were put on the PC!

Will update some more soon.

Les

A chilly, damp and very overcast morning at Didcot today.

D9516 in a quite timeless setting.

Morning all,

 

Things are ticking over nicely as per usual on the layout at Berry Pomeroy...

 

However, we're excited currently with our own model shop developments as we have recently won a small business award from none other than Dragons' Den star, Theo Paphitis! We got to meet him in person to collect our award and to chat to fellow Dragon, Deborah Meaden on the day as she was one of the guest speakers at the event in Birmingham. Plenty of exciting times ahead now that we're in Mr Paphitis' inner circle of business...

 

Here we both are collecting our award from Theo Paphitis. I am on the right whilst Kevin, my business partner for the model shop, is on the left.

 

SBS 2017_184 (1024x731).jpg

 

Enjoy your modelling,

Chris

 

Well done chaps.

 

Les

Well done chaps.

Les

Southern visitor on gwr rails......just could not resist this...still a ardent gwr  fanatic though......

 

DSC04883.JPG

She looks right at home!

Andy,

 

thanks, you are spot on, Rule 239 of the Highway Code states that. I admit I wasn't aware and I wonder if most drivers are. I also wonder if is ever enforced, something the do in NZ.

 

Jol

Not only do people often park on the wrong side of the road -  they also leave their headlights on! A particular niggle of mine.

Common on buses in many British cities in the war, Birmingham, Glasgow and London certainly had them

 

The bus with the Gas Producer Trailer in this photograph is ST174 - probably the most photographed one of them all.

634 gas trailers were built,  to be used with ST double deckers, and 10 T type single deckers. Interestingly London transport was involved in another  'dabble' with the technology in 1952 when STL2676 was converted to run on gas as an experiment by the Ministry of Fuel and Power. The bus was 'converted' by Neil & Spencer of Leatherhead.

Les

RHDR No 10, Doctor Syn, crossing the unmistakable landscape that is Dungeness in Kent

RHDR No 10, Dr Syn, nearing Dungeness with the 10:30 from Hythe, 2nd January 2017

RHDR No 10, Dr Syn, hurries round Six Mile Curve near New Romney with the 12:40 from Dungeness on 2nd January 2017

RHDR No 7 Typhoon makes an impressive start after slowing for Britannia Points on the approach to Dungeness, with the 12:10 from Hythe on Jan 2nd 2017.

Vanfit B780023 on Dungeness Beach, Kent. 

Get those exotic weathering powders out!

Beer crates with bottles available from Scalelink - cast individually and paint up nicely. Could be expensive you need hundreds!

Les

Those weather conditions really make those CEPs look careworn and ready for the scrapman.

Indeed, but they kept going for another 20 odd years - albeit with refurbishment - at Swindon IIRC. The last ones ended up as '3' CEPs, not much good on busy services as we lost a whole 2nd open!

I never thought I'd miss them, but I suppose I do. 

Great pics as ever David.

Les

Hi

With regard to your Q1, Peters Spares should have the screw(s) your looking for.

Just google Peters Spares and search for Q1. If your still not sure give them a call.

Usual disclaimer - just a satisfied customer.

All the best

Les

Another great set of pics Dave.

The plate wagon in J541 should be in 'prototype for everything' corner - I now feel justified putting lead strips on my flat wagons for weight -  that look like this!

Les

Hi Dave

Looking better all the time Dave. The fencing is a good idea, and looks great too.

May I ask who's posts you have used?

Les

The only picture I ever took of a Deltic in service!

No 10 waits to clear the platform at Kings Cross on a wet day in December 1973

The next train in the sequence is the afternoon mixed goods, as usual in the hands of pannier 9736.

The train ambles towards Bishopscombe.

After shunting the brake van into the departure siding, the wagons for the up train are hauled out from the goods shed road using the whole of the train, as the loco cannot pass through the shed.

9736 has 'placed' the wagons in the yard.

Returning to the wagons for the up goods, 9736 waits as 3736 departs with the next up local.

There is still some weathering to do on some of the newer wagons on Bishopscombe.

Les

Hi Les,

 

Well, I must say, I've had such an enjoyable period of time browsing through your thread. I haven't noticed it before on the forum!

Perfect and plenty of lovely details and some smashing weathering too! Belting!

 

Sometimes it's good to have a bit of summertime background noise on, such as summer bird song whilst having a running session or just observing your hard work. That's what I do anyway and it would work wonders with your lovely layout.

 

Keep up the super work and...you have gained an extra follower!

 

Chris

Thanks for the kind comments Chris.

I have often thought about some background sounds for the layout - birdsong used to be available on digital radio but sadly is no longer. I understand it is available on line, but I don't really want to start importing computers into the railway room! How do you get your sounds?

Les

Hi Chris

Have just spent a very enjoyable time reading through your thread - I don't know how I could have missed it before! A WR BLT set in the late fifties, just my cup of tea.

Some lovely detailed touches, and I particularly like the growing 'population' - figure painting is not my forte, but you have done a great job.

Will follow, and look forward to further posts.

Regards

Les