Arpster

Hello all, Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I haven't been back to see the progress on Blackgill for a while, but made it over to my dad's at the weekend. Preparations for Scaleforum 2013 seem to be gathering pace, with practise running sessions with the new schedule taking place. There is a lot of new stock being built too, chiefly wagons for the Consett steel traffic and a few new passenger vehicles for the local circular stopping services from Newcastle to Blackhill and back. There are even rumours of some new diesels being sent north for trials on the ore trains! In terms of the layout, a few tweaks have been made here and there, with the major rebuilding of the trackwork from the tunnel into the east fiddleyard being finished. I took a few photos whilst I was there, which I'd like to share with you if you're interested. As usual, I'll try to answer any questions you have either directly or via my dad if they're techincal! Here goes... One of the little fun jobs recently has been the addition of people to the layout! Here is the lengthsman, checking his permanent way. And here are two local reprobates waiting to see what is on the ore trains up the hill today. They don't have to wait long for 92060 to come blasting through the station on its way to Consett. If only it were possible to recreate the pyrotechnics from its chimney in model form! The local porter has his work cut out to keep the windows clean without those trains hammering past on their way up the hill (he also seems to be levitating slightly from this angle!). An old gent is waiting patiently for the next stopper to Consett. A close-up of the signal box and level crossing. Viewed over the roof of the yard office, two of the enginemen take a rest after stabling their loco for the evening, catching up on the racing results. The local coal merchants have turned up to collect their daily deliveries. Old Bob is making his way slowly up the hill to the Bank Tavern for his pint of Double Maxim and a chat about his pigeons. Some of Blackgill's motive power allocation catches the evening sun. A last look past the station and signal box, into the dark mouth of the tunnel. That's all for now, folks. Hopefully you've enjoyed this latest visit to Blackgill. I'll try to get over for a running session again soon and photograph some of my dad's latest constructions in the rolling stock department! All the best, Arp

The Frankland news is always something that brings a smile to my face. Everything from the way it is presented, the careful research, the wonderful imagination, and the consummate modelling skill is absolutely top notch. It really is like stepping back in time. Thanks for making so much effort to entertain as well as educate. Arp

I'd like to add my voice to the praise of this thread; it's been a great read and really shows what can be done with a bit of imagination and a keen eye for detail. A triumph! Thanks for taking the gamble and writing about it so comprehensively. Arp

Hello chaps, Sorry for a lack of updates recently. I've been away on holiday and then my dad has been on his travels too. As Jonathan mentioned, it was decided after Blackgill's first exhibition outing that the arrangement of having the turnout which splits the single line exiting the fiddle yard at the Tyne Dock end of the layout into the two main running lines should not be located in a tunnel (which was the cause of most of the derailments at Blyth show!). So that end of the layout has been completely relaid with plain rails in the tunnel area and a much gentler curve and simpler pointwork further back on the board between the traverser and scenic sections. This should also hopefully deal with problems in level that were causing some unsprung wagons to fall off with alarming regularity! A number of other small projects are also keeping the old man busy, notably building some more locos and finishing the pub that I hastily slapped together for the exhibition. The next outing is, as mentioned above, pencilled in for next year; Blackgill may well be winging its way to Aylesbury in September for Scaleforum 2013! I'll try to get over to get some photos soon. Arp

There's a nice photo here of an 03 out on the Tyne Yard to Blaydon trip freight in 1983 on the Newcastle-Carlisle line. I assume that the trip sometimes ran very lightly loaded. http://ironroad.smugmug.com/Railways/BR-1980s-Colour-Ongoing/18275299_zCH45f#!i=1799059971&k=VbV3b3b&lb=1&s=A As shown in Dave F's photo above, they also ran all the way up the ECML from Gateshead to Berwick quite often in the 80s when there was always one stationed there as pilot. That must have been a long old journey at 27mph! Arp

What a fascinating set of updates. Thank you for going into so much details about your techniques and experiences, and presenting them in such an informative and entertaining way. It makes for a brilliant read! Keep up the good work, Arp

There's a colour view of the gardens at Galashiels from the same angle included in the article in Railway Magazine this month that shows some of the highlights from the new Colour Rail catalogue. Might be worth having a look! Arp

What a beautiful layout. A true work of art! Arp

Thank you all for your kind words. I'm really glad that you enjoyed seeing Blackgill in the flesh and that all the hard work in the build-up to the show was worthwhile. I know my dad put in a lot of graft over the last few months, building trestles, finishing a myriad of items of rolling stock, fashioning a facade and lighting set-up. So much was left to do that the actual art of operating the layout took a bit of a back seat! Those at Railex NE might have noticed that the running of trains was a haphazard affair but we'd got the knack of it by Sunday when the shed yard was behaving itself in the cooler climes and a lot of brave shunting was done! Two days of continuous running certainly highlighted a lot of problems; the whole of the east end of the layout will be rebuilt in due course, taking the complicated pointwork out of the tunnel and into the open, various electrics will be redesigned and a working timetable figured out. But some things did work seamlessly; the colliery siding were fairly well-behaved, the unloading of coal wagons under the coaling stage worked fine, the ore train coped ok with its banking (once we'd worked out the best pairings of engines!). Next time out my dad might have the hidden sidings at the back of the layout operating, the crossing gates will be fixed, there'll be figures on there and the rolling stock will be finished. After a lot of persuading the old man has agreed to take Blackgill to Scaleforum. Not next year, but in 2013, when everything will hopefully be honed to perfection and he'll feel relaxed and happy with his layout. I'm glad that the journey that started with my surreptitiously posting photos on RMWeb ended with a relatively successful first outing and some pleasure for the many spectators who stopped by to watch Blackgill for various periods of time. Thank you from me and my dad. Here's to the next time! All the best, Arp

Well, that was an eventful day! I'm currently sitting in the back garden with a glass of wine in the sunshine, resting my weary legs after being run ragged by Blackgill today. We got everything set up ok last night only to find the mechanism for the level crossing gates had been damaged in transit, thus rendering them inoperable for the weekend, and that the whole of the shed/goods yard was out of action due to a fault somewhere with the electrics. So much for testing it all at home first! Other than that, the heat in the hall caused some issues due to expansion (particularly derailments in the tunnel mouth most of the day) and there was a steep learning curve for myself as an operator. Why did the North Eastern have to have so many bloomin' signals?! Still, we eventually managed to get into the swing of things, there was a bit of shunting to be had and the iron ore train plus two 9Fs ran pretty well all day. And it was nice to have a bit of Chris Pendleton's stock to supplement things. It was nice to see so many friendly faces smiling at me whilst I swore and sweated and scowled and to meet some of the people off here too. Hopefully we can iron out a few problems tomorrow morning and get a bit more in the way of motive power and freight stock out of the boxes tomorrow. No time for that today! Thanks to everyone who said hello and wished us well. I hope those who made it to the show today enjoyed at least looking at the scenery whilst there were no trains running despite frantic activity behind the scenes! Oh, and I hope my makeshift pub looked ok! Here's hoping for better luck tomorrow, and here's hoping I actually get a chance to look around the rest of the show. All the best, Arp

Well, the moment has arrived. I've spent the last two weeks frantically building a pub to fill the last vacant plot on the layout whilst my dad has been mending points, building wagons, cleaning wheels and getting busy with the Dustbuster. Blackgill's first trip out of its home is about to get underway in the pouring rain of the North East summer. I'll use the opportunity of it being away from the confines of the loft to take some photos this weekend during the inevitable madness of trying to work out how to run the thing over a prolonged timetable! I hope the spectators will forgive us a few slip-ups. Please pop by to say hello if you're attending the show. I'm sure these occasions are meant to be fun and sociable rather than nerve-racking and stressful! All the best, Arp

My pa is counting the weeks down too, I can assure you of that! I paid him a visit the other night and he is making frantic progress towards being ready in time for Blackgill's first show: his essential Westinghouse 9F is just about finished (painting and weathering left to do) and the rolling stock has been bolstered with a couple of ex-LMS parcels vehicles and a pair of ex-LNER 12t opens for carrying pit props. Loads have been built for the coal and iron ore trains, work is being done on the façade and lighting rig, salvaging some old bits from Riddings Junction, plus tweaks to trackwork and construction of a backscene (probably following the Culreoch approach of a greyish-white misty sky). Then it's a case of learning how to run the bloody thing for a whole weekend! I must admit that my nerves are a little frayed at that prospect. Logistics of getting layout and stock there are still underway and discussions with Chris Pendleton about which stock he's going to bring are at an advanced stage. So I think all is in hand with the preparations. I've been tasked with painting up some figures and there's still a big gap where the pub should be, but other than that we seem to be just about ready. Fingers crossed! Arp

Folks, I've uploaded the first batch of photos from the first page of this thread that were missing. I guess that doesn't get to the bottom of where they went, but at least you can see them again now! I'll try to get around to the second post's photos soon. Arp The trustworthy J94 collects an NCB breakvan (which is used on the colliery branch) from the shed where it's been having light repairs done. Bringing the van out of the yard. The yellow posts and markers are to indicate where the uncoupling magnets are placed and are not visible from the 'viewing' side. A view of the station from the hillside behind the pub. Blackgill itself (a small stream) runs in a culvert immediately behind the fence in the foreground. The peace is broken by the sound of a Q6 wheezing slowly out of the tunnel up the 1 in 50 with the daily pick-up goods to Consett. The train clanks over the level crossing and past the station, gradually slowing to a halt. 63379 comes to a halt on the Down line at the station starter, ready for the loco to shunt the goods yard. The required wagons are uncoupled and backed over the crossover to access the yard. A view over the colliery reception sidings. The loco then pulls forward into the shed yard to drop off some vans. Our engine for the day. Note some more yellow indications of uncoupling magnet locations! The train now sets back into the goods shed road to commence shunting. The shunting done, some vans are dropped and coal wagons collected. The rest of the train waits patiently on the mainline. Having backed out of the yard, the loco heads back over the crossover to rejoin its train and head on to Consett. Or in this scenario, to run around the train and head back down the hill to South Pelaw and beyond.

Hi chaps, I'm not sure why the photos disappeared. I did, as you say, upload images as large as the file size limit allowed in order to allow people to see as much detail as they wanted. Perhaps this limit changed and thus the images were removed? I can have a go at uploading them again if they're lost forever. I've still got them all stashed on my laptop somewhere. Cheers, Arp

Hi Mick, Both of the two Q6s in the photos are built from Chivers kits, modified where appropriate. 63381 has the early NER-style boiler with the more rounded dome quite close the the chimney. The chimney itself has lost its capuchon due to corrosion, a common occurrence in the class since they spent so much time running in reverse. LMSForever: the bus as an ABS Models white metal kit of the Leyland/Weymann Tiger Cub. Glad you enjoy the photos. Work continues on the less glamorous task of building endless hoppers (and their removable coal loads!) plus construction of a lighting façade of some description. All the best, Arp

Hello again, Having just returned from Scalefour North with my dad and thoroughly enjoyed it, I thought I should get a few photos of Blackgill while I was inspired! First though, I'm made a track plan of the layout which I thought I'd share with you. This is primarily to go in the programme for the Blyth show on the August Bank Holiday weekend which I can confirm will be Blackgill's first exhibition appearance. More info about the show is here. Arrangements are afoot for some of Chris Pendleton's rolling stock to be drafted in to bolster the trains on display! It's now all hands to the pump to get everything finished before then, with still plenty of work to be done on constructing lighting, practising the operation of the layout, and finishing off enough stock and loco's to run over the weekend! Speaking of which, there are also some photos here of the latest addition to the stud; another Q6. The plan of the layout, made in Powerpoint from a scale drawing my dad did! A look inside the shed which is slowly filling up with engines! A bit of a health and safety issue in the foreground that needs addressing too! Q6 63381 in original as-built condition gets ready to back out of the shed yard. Note the unusual chimney. Sister engine 63363 moves past the coaling stage. A view of the shed yard with some of Blackgill's ever-growing loco fleet resting between duties. You'd better heed that warning sign! The two Q6s seen side by side as 63381 heads off to Consett with a Southern region brakevan.

Some great pics on here, recently. DP2 looks great; how do you get the vintage colouring on your photos, Gonzo? I've put these two on the Blackgill thread before, but thought I'd put them here for your consideration. I quite like them both. Arp Q7 on a coal train, viewed from the bridge. A little wooden 13t hopper wagon on the coal drops after being emptied. All the best, Arpster

Many congratulations, Dave. Thanks to all of the entrants for taking the time to document their work in such an interesting manner. I enjoyed following the progress of all of the entries throughout the year and look forward to the next competition. Arp

Blimey, that's one hell of a model! It looks like hours and hours of work have gone into this work of art. I very much look forward to seeing more. Arp

Evening, chaps. Thanks as ever for the feedback. In answer to some of the questions, yes Blackgill is portable. It was designed with exhibitions in mind but progress has been slow and it's pretty much been loft-bound up to this point. The scenery is almost complete, except for the pub on the corner by the level crossing, but there's still a bit of stock to be built and little details (like people and wagon loads) to be finished and some snags to be ironed-out. My dad is working towards a tentative appearance at the Blyth show on the August Bank Holiday weekend this year. There's a lot to be finished before then though. I should really stop taking photos and help him build things! Tim: your wish is my command! Here are some pics of the completed rake of iron ore hoppers. Now they just need some loads of iron ore and a Westinghouse 9F to haul them up the bank! Another load of ore goes up the hill to Consett, holding up the bus as it passes Blackgill 'box. A full rake of nine Dave Bradwell 56t hoppers. Now for a banker and a loco strong enough to pull them! As it stands, the old Thompson O1 struggles on with its load of eight hoppers. 63755 brings a load of empties back down to Tyne Dock. A close-up of one of the 56t hoppers. Hope this satisfies your appetite for now. Who knows when I'll next make it back to take some more photos, but when I do I'll post them on here for you to see. Watch this space! Arpster

Merry Christmas to everyone. Here's hoping that the festive period was enjoyable for all and that much modelling was done. I managed to get back to take some photos of Blackgill over the holidays. Nothing really new (although there is now a full rake of 9 Dave Bradwell iron ore hoppers waiting to be photographed!) but some views of buildings and my dad and I doing some running one night. I hope you enjoy the latest photos and that I get a chance to take some more soon. Blackgill Crossing 'box. Hand-built from bass wood based on the one at Beamish. Blackgill station viewed from the road over the hill from Beamish. It's quiet in these last days of passenger service. The starter signal is off and there's milk churns on the platform. The local must be due. Round the back of the station, a brand new Fordson van waits to make a delivery to a nearby farm. A few wagons, including an early LNER van, sit in the goods shed siding. Some parcels vans awaiting collection from the coal sidings. Pigeon race day perhaps? A view over the coaling stage to the colliery sidings. There's a lot of empties waiting to go up the branch today. A typical late-period North Eastern Railway wooden platform shelter on the down platform. N10 69105 waits to leave the MPD yard to commence shunting the exchange sidings. The shunting holds up the number 5 bus from Sunderland. A K1 shuffling around the shed yard between coal duties. Ex-NER Q7 backs off the shed to work a coal train. The N10 pauses in the midst of its shunting whilst 63473 rumbles past. A stroll down the quiet country lane to the level crossing. A Q7 emerges from the tunnel. 63473 works a long train of coal empties for the East Durham coal fields. Glimpsed again from the road overbridge. And a fitter's eyeview from the shed yard. The loco digs into the 1:51 climb past the MPD. Whilst in the yard, the N10 finishes up its tasks. Two empty coal wagons from the coaling stage await collection from the yard. My dad's favourite wagon, a BR-built 13 ton wooden hopper sits on the coal drops. That's all for now, folks. I hope you enjoyed this latest batch. I'll try to get some more soon! All the best, Arp

Whilst on the theme of modern locomotives in Kestrel and Lion colour schemes, would anybody be able to have a go at seeing what Kestrel would look like in Rail Blue or Railfreight liveries, as if it had gone into production for BR? Cheers, Arp

Having grown up about half a mile from the trackbed of this line, I have always had an interest in its long and rich history stemming from my dad (who eventually went on to create Blackgill after years of procrastination). A couple of good books to get an idea of the area and the line are: G. Whittle's 'Railways of Consett and North West Durham. A cracking book and comprehensive history of the line, but out of print and quite expensive second-hand! A more affordable and recent book is Consett to South Shields: Via Beamish by Roger Darsley. Following the line from end to end, it is full of interesting photos and maps. The DVDs mentioned above are also very much worth a watch. If you want to get a closer look at the line, much of it now forms part of the Sustrans 'C2C' cycle route and there is a lot of railway interest left between Consett and Washington. If you've got any further questions just ask and I'll see if I can answer them. Cheers, Arp

I'm not sure it is Riddings. If so, the line over to the right would be the Langholm branch which would mean the good yard is on the left, yes? I'm pretty sure the yard was sunk down at a lower level than the mainline. Arp

Ok, so I may have overstepped the mark a little bit by cropping out the loft rafters from the background and extending the woods in the left background to they didn't end in a straight line at the edge of the baseboard, but the foreground of this is untouched. Hope it sneaks past the scrutineers! Arp