Unicorn1

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

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

Hi Dave, more great work here. May I ask what you used for the platform edging? OK ignore that request - have gone back through a few posts and found out! Les

Those black & white pics are some of the best I've seen in this thread - fantastic. Les

Super pics Alan - really captures the summer sunshine. Les

Not from Bishopscombe this one, but from my ongoing Princes Park diorama. A lone STL stands in Princes Park garage. This is still work in progress, but it's nearly ready for some photos. Les

The layout is coming on nicely - I like the signals, one thing I've never managed to get round to properly! From the pictures the bridge retaining walls seem to occupy a lot of space - the ones at the baseboard edge would perhaps limit the range of photographic opportunities later on, just a thought. Regards Les

We left the last visit to the 'Combe with the branch goods being put together, now it's ready to depart, but the up local is the next departure, and it goes ahead of the goods. The goods gets the road a little later and departs. With the branch occupied by down trains, 4212 takes the opportunity to make its leisurely way up to the quarry. Having collected its train 4212 heads back to Bishopscombe to reverse. As the mineral workings are made at a fairly gentle pace, the loaded train is held in the run-round, as by now so much time has elapsed the down local has arrived. Les Edited to get the photos in the right order!

4212 crosses the canal on its way to Bishopscombe with a loaded stone train, summer 1959.

Hi Just caught up with this, looking really good! Will follow with much interest. By the way the title caught my eye - my in laws have recently moved from their small farm in Kent called - Little Marlley!. Regards Les

4212 ambles towards Bishopscombe Quarry to collect the days full stone train.

That's just amazing! Les

Hi Alan I was going to ask about the shop fronts - now I know! They're looking good already, as is the harbour area generally, I look forward to seeing them with their various names and good on display! Regards Les

The next arrival is the morning down goods. A couple of wagons will have been dropped off on the way so this mornings train is not too long. 9736 shunts the wagons out of the way in order to deposit the brake van at the end of the departure siding. A few moves later and the loaded wagons for the up departure are nearly ready. While this is taking place 2810 has arrived light engine at Bishopscombe Junction Shed from the quarry. Les

9736 shunts the yard at Bishopscombe, some time in 1959. Someone should fix that fence.

It's Monday morning at Bishopscombe, and 3736 comes off shed to work the first train of the day, the early up local. 3736 draws up to the suburbans in the bay platform, this being the platform mostly used for departures. Well on its way 3736 crosses the canal bridge. Next the daily mineral empties arrive at the station to reverse. 2810 runs round its train and collects the brake van to run round. the train approaches Bishopscombe Junction - the junction for the quarry. Having arrive 2810 runs into the release siding at the quarry The quarry's own loco 'Brian' collects the wagons and takes them to be loaded. While the quarry movements are taking place the local is now on it's way back down the branch, complete with the parcels traffic for the morning. Today there is enough traffic to justify a GUV. The train pulls into the station, allowing the passengers off before shunting the GUV back along the platform. The loco runs round. The GUV is uncoupled from the coaches for unloading - the staples on the tension locks can be seen in operation! The suburbans are shunted back into the bay as the GUV is unloaded. The empty GUV is shunted into the loop spur, it will be used later in the afternoon for any up large parcels traffic that accumulates at the station during the day. 3736 now returns to the shed for a drink. So that's the first three movements in the working timetable - more to follow soon! Les

Thank you Andrew. Once I've ironed out the snags in the operating sequence I may well sort out a working timetable - and perhaps introduce some interesting traffic for the intermediate stations? Les

Well - I can't believe its been 10 months since a posting in this topic - where does the time go! Bishopscombe saw little use over the last few months due to a combination of other projects, and also the effects of six years continuous operation taking its toll on some of the pointwork and electrics. So I replaced the turnout leading to Bishopscombe Junction shed, which involved much digging out of the surrounding area. I also decided to get the three way point in the shed yard back up and running properly. This is now powered by two Cobalt IP motors, which were easy to fit, and set up with the Multimaus. When funds permit I will definitely get some more of these. I didn't want to move the three way point so couldn't make it DCC friendly - but with the Cobalts and some cleaning all is now well with just the blade contacts. The up mixed goods passes the now fully operational shed yard - and a somewhat excessive amount of motive power waits to try the improved access. I have also fitted most of the freight stock and some locos with Kadees. I am using rows of 3mm cube magnets to activate the Kadees, and so far it's been about 70% reliable, I still have to make adjustments to some of the stock - I had problems with the Dapol and Heljan NEM pockets, and even some of the newer Bachmann ones were too low (not too high as most people have noted!). With trial and error each operating session gets more reliable - and therefor more enjoyable. So far I've used No18s and they seem fine. The Kadee's in place. I always fancied a slope sided wagon, not sure if it's prototypical for the branch, I just like the look of them! The mixed goods waits in the goods yard - I really like the closer coupling that the Kadees give. Finally the minerals arrive to reverse up to Bishopscombe Quarry - this rake and the locos that work it are still coupled with tension locks, but can be shunted hands-free using the staple and magnet method, I have finally got round to a workable operating schedule, so I hope to post some shots of this when the room gets some better light in the next few weeks. Les Edited for bad spellin'

Don't you just love this forum - thanks for introducing me to another website to while away the hours when I should be modelling / working! As others have said I heard some positive media reports about 60103 this morning - the BBC did say that she was being limited to 45mph today for 'safety reasons', I understood that the time taken to get to York is because the train will be looped several times to allow ECML trains to pass - perhaps it's a combination of both. Les

That's lovely Alan, I really like the new angles you seem to be getting. Les

Lovely set of pictures Jules. I do like the operational details. The layout is looking better than ever. Les

Hi Jules Nice to see the subtle changes at Mayshill . You're right about not noticing where the time goes between posts! The water tower looks great, much better than mine! That last picture of the Prairie is a cracker too. Regards Les

A quiet moment on the canal near Bishopscombe Junction