Arpster

Hello all, Some more photos from Blackgill showing some new stock and motive power. Hope you enjoy them. It's June 1962 and 92167 of Saltley depot, on loan to Tyne Dock shed, is prepared for its day's work. Later in the day, the same engine is seen working a coal empties up the bank towards Morrison Busty Colliery. A close-up profile. Tyne Dock's J21 65099 rolls into Blackgill station with a short parcels train from Consett to Newcastle. A closer look at 65099. A trackworker's eye-view of 92167 passing Blackgill motive power depot. As above from a different viewpoint. We stand well clear as the train comes roaring past... ...and off into the sunset. That's all for now. More next time I get a chance to take some photos. All the best, Arp

Hello again, I got a couple of photos of the latest addition to the loco roster the other day. The N10 will work the colliery branch up from the reception sidings. Pulling out of the shed yard to take a train up the branch. A close-up of 69105. More photos soon. Arp

A couple more snaps that I overlooked. The assembled motive power. Ignore the wonky headlamp! J71 rests on shed. Another wonky headlamp. The extent of the passenger stock so far. The yard office and engine shed. A marginally in-focus Q6 on a good train. I hope I haven't posted any of these images before. It's hard to keep track now they're spread across two forums and the blogosphere! Arp

Whoops, thanks for letting me know! Sorry for posting multiple times, but I didn't want to have to upload the images again if I'd navigated to the index to check! Many thanks for sorting out my madness. Watch this get an error now! Arp

Hello gents, I can't take any credit for the modelling; it's all my dads! I just take the photos! He's been working on Blackgill on and off for about 15 years now, with other things taking his attention over that time! Now it's finally coming together. The K1 is indeed a Dave Bradwell kit. I was trying out the digital macro setting on my new little digital camera (rather than my usual DSLR) the other day so took a few quick photos. I don't have control over the aperture so the depth of field isn't really too good. K1 and Ivatt 2MT rest on the shed. NCB brakevan from the colliery branch. See what I mean about the depth of field? 46475 parked on Blackgill shed. It seems to be a popular engine to model! A view inside the depot. Still quite light and airy in the mid-50s before the rot set in. Thanks again for the positive comments. Glad you're enjoying the photos and the layout. Arp

From the link posted in this forum to all of the issues of Meccano Magazine, there's an article on the 'new' Freightliner trains in the April 1967 issue including a photo of a EE Type 4 on the cover with what looks like a standard LMS passenger brake in the formation and a photo inside of a Brush Type 4 with the proper Freightliner container brake van. Arp

Hi chaps, Mark: yes, there will certainly be figures, vehicles, animals etc added when it comes to the finishing touches. The last major job is to construction of The Shepherd and Shepherdess Pub on the corner by the level crossing, then it's onto rolling stock, locos and working out how to run the bloomin' thing! Ian: the ash ballast is, well, ash! Ash from the fire crushed down and sieved to a fine grain and then laid as normal ballast would be. Some different coloured ashes were used in different locations (e.g. where locos stand and outside the shed). I think some powdered chalk was also used to add different colours, such as the reddish tinge to the Down line where the full ore trains would deposit pellets along the track. Hope this helps, Arp

I return armed with actual information! It turns out that only the platform shelter is based on that at Hessle from a drawing in a book (possibly one of the North Eastern Railway Architecture books). The rest of the buildings are based on scale drawings my dad made from photos of the stations on the Annfield Plain deviation, namely Shield Row, Beamish and Pelton, all of which are of a very similar timber-built design. By assuming that the dimensions of the doors in photos are 2'6" by 6'6" it's possible to work out the dimensions of the rest of the building quite accurately. The attached goods shed is an uncommon feature but was included for reasons of space. There were some examples of this on the North Eastern Railway, however, such as at Stokesley. The signal box is based on that at Beamish. I've got a few more photos to put up here so I may as well add them now too. A bit of a blurry photo but hopefully it shows a bit more detail of the coal drops from the other side. Q7 63462 works up the bank to Consett with the lengthy fuel oil train. Hopefully there's a banker on the rear! The station starter is now off and the driver can dig deep for the climb ahead. Pulling past the engine shed and on its way. 65670 rests outside the shed. A general view over the shed yard where a couple of ash wagons sit awaiting filling. The J25 has pulled forward under the coaling stage. The bus driver from the number 5 to Consett has nipped into the pub (yet to be built!) for a breather. All is quiet at the station. That's all for now, folks. Hope you enjoy. Arp

Hmm, having just found a picture of Hessle it seems that probably wasn't what it's based on! I'll have to quiz my dad about it. Arp

Hi Kevin, The layout is fictional but is based on the line that ran from Ouston Junction on the ECML up to Consett and eventually Blackhill. The name is an amalgamation of Blackhill and Stella Gill, the two ends of the line! And about the station buildings, they're the standard North Eastern wooden affair based on components from a number of different stations in the region. If I remember correctly (which isn't necessarily the case!) the main station building is based on the one at Hessle on Humberside, but is also very similar to the ones which stood on Beamish station. The platform shelter is based on somewhere else and the engine shed is modelled on the one at Haverton Hill on Teesside. Hope this helps. Arp

Don't give up, Colin! It's taken my pa a lifetime of practice at modelling and 15 years of work to get this far. I guess it just shows what you can do if you have patience and retirement on your hands! My dad and I had a bit of a running session tonight, using the Q6 on the pick-up goods to drop a few wagons off in the yard and have a play around. I took some photos too which I hope you enjoy. All photos are 'clickable' for much larger versions. 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. That's all for now folks. I hope you enjoyed the latest installment! Arp

Hello all, Having wrestled with the blog and found it a bit unwieldy, I've decided to follow the lead of many others by starting a topic in here instead. The blog can be found here but it is really just a summary of the old topic from the previous board! I've included a couple of photos from the blog below. K1 62024 rests on shed. A little later, 62024 leads a train of empty coal hoppers out of the yard past the station. I've managed to take a few photos over Christmas whilst I've actually had some free time, so I'll add some more on here in a little while when I've got them sorted out. Sorry for the profusion of different entries on different media! Arp

Hello all, I've taken the plunge and moved over to this new-fangled environment. I found a few extra photos that I hadn't added to the old place, so I've attached them below. I hope you enjoy. T1 standing on the shed yard. Igone the cobwebs on the bufferstops! 63462 banks a loaded (with empty wagons!) ore train up the hill to Annfield Plain. A K1 eases a train of empty hoppers out of the yard and heads off towards South Pelaw. The same manoeuvre from a different angle! The train heads over the level crossing (that little signal on the gantry needs adjusting!). Rolling off into the tunnel, clanking and wheezing as it goes. An aerial view (perhaps from a passing hot air balloon?) of the station buildings and yard exit. There's an alarming lean on that telegraph pole! Watching some shunting from the ramp of the coaling stage. 62024 is backed onto the ashpits before being put to bed for the night. That's all I've got for now. Hope you like them, and sorry I only ever get the chance to get one loco out to play!

Blackgill: Tyne Dock to Consett in P4 by Arpster original page on Old RMweb __________________________________________ Comment posted by Lord of the Badgers on Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:28 pm I want to weep.. . that's just amazing. Amazing is too small a word though... 9F... please please hurry him along - can't wait to see that! __________________________________________ Comment posted by Nortonian on Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:05 pm Being an Northeasterner, I would like to add my congratulations to the ever growing list. I have many photographs of the Northeast which show all the aspects this `model of a railway` displays. It should be made available to a wider audience, so please do ones best to encourage your father to allow us all to see more. I just hope that my eventual 7mm version captures the NE scene as well as this has done. Regards Ian __________________________________________ Comment posted by Steve with the Hat on Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:22 pm beautiful modelling! your dad is to be congratulated on a great acheivement. regards Steve __________________________________________ ??? posted on Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:04 pm Hello all, I managed to dig out some locos the other night and take a few photos on the layout again. Not the best lighting (I was in a hurry!) but hopefully they give an impression of some of the larger locos present! I hope you enjoy, Arp It's 1954 and an O1 is trundling down the bank from Consett with a train of iron ore empties, the fireman taking a rest on the footplate. The T1 banker is coaled before its next turn. 1_Blackgill_O1_empties.jpg (367.5 KiB) Viewed 1479 times The empties disappear off to Tyne Dock, the tinny clanking of the wagons echoing off the hillsides. 2_Blackgill_O1_empties.JPG (267.69 KiB) Viewed 1467 times 63755 rolls through the station under the gantry. 3_Blackgill_01_ore_empties.jpg (361.76 KiB) Viewed 1470 times J71 68316 sits on the depot after a day spent as pilot. 4_Blackgill_J71_on_shed.jpg (370.21 KiB) Viewed 1475 times Rolling through the station. 5_Blackgill_O1_Loaded.JPG (318.52 KiB) Viewed 1474 times A train full of ore is propelled up the bank past the depot by an O1 (I need Mr Nevard to add some steam and smoke for me!). 6_Blackgill_Loaded_ore.JPG (248.73 KiB) Viewed 1471 times The crew of 63462 have a rest on the level stretch through the station before the hard work of banking to Consett starts in earnest once more. 7_Blackgill_Q7_banker.JPG (257.29 KiB) Viewed 1462 times 63755 blasts towards Consett with its load of iron ore from Tyne Dock. 8_Blackgill_01_ore.jpg (253.36 KiB) Viewed 1455 times Glimpsed through the bridge, a Q7 banks another load of ore up the hill towards Annfield Plain. 9_Blackgill_Background_Banker.JPG (186.99 KiB) Viewed 1446 times An Ivatt 2MT is watered before working a short train of domestic coal up to Consett. 10_Blackgill_Ivatt_2.JPG (197.62 KiB) Viewed 1443 times An ex-works G5 rolls to a halt in the platform with a passenger train from Blackhill in 1953. 11_Blackgill_Passenger.JPG (349.61 KiB) Viewed 1440 times A G5 waits for its passengers before setting off on the Saturday afternoon working to Newcastle via Birtley. 12_Blackgill_Passenger.JPG (371.54 KiB) Viewed 1437 times __________________________________________ Comment posted by max stafford on Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:19 pm It just gets better and better this model, I absolutely love it. I love the look of the T1, lurking under the coaling stage between jobs and the finish on your Thompson non-corrs is beautiful. If I can get my own project to half as good as the standards displayed here I shall be a very happy man! Dave. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Horsetan on Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:09 am I do like the Thompson O1 - hardly anyone seems to model that. __________________________________________ Comment posted by iak on Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:23 am This is stunning and an inspiration Just goes to show what can be achieved with some commitment and a vision as to what one is aiming for - bravo Some of this stock is really good and in the context of what they are running on? WOW!!! Those Bradwell hoppers a really special looking __________________________________________ Comment posted by 45156 on Fri Oct 02, 2009 4:29 pm I've already commented on this one, but really I've got to have another reply after seeing the new photos. Your dad is a very talented guy, and his skills certainly should be shared with the modelling community - this layout is up there with the very best here, or anywhere else for that matter. __________________________________________ Comment posted by CUTLER2579 on Fri Oct 02, 2009 5:52 pm Well 45156 sums it up perfectly,I would have to agree 100% with his observations.This Layout is so good I can't find the right word for it but BL--DY Marvellous is one way (using 2 words) to describe it. Regards. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Jason on Fri Oct 02, 2009 6:52 pm Stunning, simply stunning. __________________________________________ ??? posted on Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:16 pm I'm glad you enjoyed these latest photos. I didn't really have time to dig out many locos or much stock but I hope they give an impression of what's hiding in boxes, built or partially built, or in some cases still unbuilt! Hopefully now that the scenery is nearly all finished my dad will have time to get to work on the remainder of the locos and wagons. I'll add more photos as an when wherever possible. Thanks again for your comments, Arp __________________________________________ Comment posted by timlewis on Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:27 pm Looks even better with some big locos on it. This is the first time I've ever seen photos of Bradwell 56T hoppers actually working for a living. Brilliant! __________________________________________ Comment posted by Andy M on Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:51 pm This whole package is absolutely gorgeous! Thanks so much for taking the time to post all the extra images. I'm now feeling overwhelming inadequacy and intend to box up and sell everything immediately and begin stamp collecting!!!!! Andy __________________________________________ Comment posted by Mallard60022 on Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:09 am timlewis wrote: Looks even better with some big locos on it. This is the first time I've ever seen photos of Bradwell 56T hoppers actually working for a living. Brilliant! Am I right in thinking these are Dave 'Bradwell' model hoppers or am I being daft? If so, how do I get them? Sincerely, I. Ronore __________________________________________ Comment posted by 10800 on Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:34 am Mallard60022 wrote: timlewis wrote: Looks even better with some big locos on it. This is the first time I've ever seen photos of Bradwell 56T hoppers actually working for a living. Brilliant! Am I right in thinking these are Dave 'Bradwell' model hoppers or am I being daft? If so, how do I get them? Sincerely, I. Ronore Er, from Dave Bradwell? http://www.scalefour.org/bradwell/index.htm __________________________________________ Comment posted by craigwelsh on Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:35 am I'd mentioned this layout thread to Dave Bradwell at Scaleforum while discussing wagons, hopefully he has had a chance to look in between finishing his Q6 kit.. The layout really does look superb with the big engines on there and i'd love to hear about your father's construction methods either online or in print if he ever has the chance. MRJ does still have many readers (and an owner!) who aren't online and it would be a shame for them not to see this as it really does rate up there with North Shields.. Looking forward to the 9F when he finishes it. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Darren01 on Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:56 am This has to be one of the best layout i have seen ,your dad is a master builder! it's just amazing to look at ,and to think it has been hidden away from the likes of us! Thank you for putting it up on the RM WEB , more please sir Darren01 __________________________________________ Comment posted by Mallard60022 on Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:57 am 10800 wrote: Mallard60022 wrote: timlewis wrote: Looks even better with some big locos on it. This is the first time I've ever seen photos of Bradwell 56T hoppers actually working for a living. Brilliant! Am I right in thinking these are Dave 'Bradwell' model hoppers or am I being daft? If so, how do I get them? Sincerely, I. Ronore Er, from Dave Bradwell? http://www.scalefour.org/bradwell/index.htm Ah! Cheers. As I am not very xperienced with the finescale end of things, I had not realised Mr. Bradwell was part of the Scalefour Society etc. Many thanks. Having not seen his website before (doh!)it comes as a nice surprise to find his chassis and kits; especially the K1 and A1/2 chassis. Sincerely, N.O.T.Seenthisbefore __________________________________________ Comment posted by Deltheboy on Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:14 am Absolutely superb, if any layout was to persuade me to convert to P4 this must be top of the list. The first picture of Blackgill Crossing is so lifelike it??™s uncanny. Many congratulations to your father for giving me the pleasure of viewing such a realistic and extraordinary layout. Derek __________________________________________ Comment posted by 10800 on Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:18 am Mallard60022 wrote: Ah! Cheers. As I am not very xperienced with the finescale end of things, I had not realised Mr. Bradwell was part of the Scalefour Society etc. Many thanks. Having not seen his website before (doh!)it comes as a nice surprise to find his chassis and kits; especially the K1 and A1/2 chassis. Sincerely, N.O.T.Seenthisbefore No problem Dave's relationship with the Scalefour Society is that he is of course a member and AFAIK models exclusively in P4 - and his kits reflect his interests for his own layout Derwenthaugh (see MRJ 152). His website, along with some others who haven't developed their own, is hosted by the Scalefour Society as a service to the P4 community. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Mallard60022 on Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:47 am 10800 wrote: Mallard60022 wrote: Ah! Cheers. As I am not very experienced with the finescale end of things, I had not realised Mr. Bradwell was part of the Scalefour Society etc. Many thanks. Having not seen his website before (doh!)it comes as a nice surprise to find his chassis and kits; especially the K1 and A1/2 chassis. Sincerely, N.O.T.Seenthisbefore No problem Dave's relationship with the Scalefour Society is that he is of course a member and AFAIK models exclusively in P4 - and his kits reflect his interests for his own layout Derwenthaugh (see MRJ 152). His website, along with some others who haven't developed their own, is hosted by the Scalefour Society as a service to the P4 community. Aah! I dare not yet proceed to the hallowed land of P4 despite Society members telling me that if you are doing EM them why not just go that one step better and do P4! I need a lot more skill building (literally) before any move can be made. However, I have asked Mr B if his kit(s) may be within my capabilities (having supplied some info on what I've done already). Thanks again for contact. Phil __________________________________________ Comment posted by Adrian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:40 pm Never mind all the plaudits for the modelling - which are thoroughly deserved. A big pat on the back for the photo's - you're pretty nifty with that camera. Well done, there are some wonderfully evocative photo's there. Adrian __________________________________________ ??? posted on Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:46 pm Re Dave Bradwell's kits: my dad and Dave know each other reasonably well and in fact he was a guinea pig for testing the construction of the kit. He may or may not have written a review of their building for MRJ, I can't remember off the top of my head. Re the photography: thanks very much! I've knackered myself and my knees out scrambling around in that bloomin' loft. Hopefully we'll be able to get the layout out into the garden sometime next year and get some proper photos of it. I can't really do it justice with my amateur skills, but I like to experiment and try to get the feeling across best I can. Re the rest of your comments: thanks very much all of you. My dad is back from holiday now so I'll try to show him this thread and see what he thinks of the praise you've heaped upon his labour of love (and hate). It might help me to persuade him to actually drag the thing out to an exhibition some time soon. Cheers, Arp __________________________________________ Comment posted by jwealleans on Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:49 pm It might help me to persuade him to actually drag the thing out to an exhibition some time soon. Oh, yes. If that's portable, please do. I'd travel quite a long way to see that in the flesh, although I suspect you may well be in my end of the country anyway. __________________________________________ Comment posted by 10800 on Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:35 pm jwealleans wrote: It might help me to persuade him to actually drag the thing out to an exhibition some time soon. Oh, yes. If that's portable, please do. I'd travel quite a long way to see that in the flesh, although I suspect you may well be in my end of the country anyway. Absolutely - I was under the impression it was permanently bolted to the rafters! __________________________________________

Blackgill: Tyne Dock to Consett in P4 by Arpster original page on Old RMweb __________________________________________ Comment posted by MEGair on Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:49 pm Superb! Really like the buildings, especially the Station building and signal box. look forward to seeing some of those listed Locos on the layout. Is the layout an end to end or does it go around the room, a bit hard to tell? Mark __________________________________________ Comment posted by micklner on Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:31 am Excellent work Mick __________________________________________ Comment posted by 45156 on Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:56 am My first reaction was OMG - that's good - then I sarted to look a bit more, and realised it's not just good - it's stunning. As usual, my eyes strayed to the trackwork first, as if someody gets that right, they tend to have the skills to get the rest right, and your dad's got the skills in spades. For seasoned forum regulars to come in with comments like these, this has to rank as one of the gems currently on display on this site! I look forward to seeing it in the glossies - glossy publishers on here, please note for a future issue as this layout deserves to be shown to a much wider audience. __________________________________________ Comment posted by CUTLER2579 on Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:19 pm Its what I would call an All Right sort of layout. So All Right I could never build anything approaching this sort of quality,BUT, I can enjoy the superb Quality and Atmosphere of this phenominal peice of modelling. Regards,Derek. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Mucky Duck on Mon Aug 31, 2009 2:47 pm Hi Arp, Thanks for getting round to sharing these images. Your dad's layout is even more astounding than the pics in the 'How Realistic' thread suggested. I've just had a quick glance through, now I'm going to spend some time soaking up all those wonderful details. I can't add much to the favourable comments so far??¦ simply gorgeous! One question; What are the layout's dimensions please? __________________________________________ Comment posted by Mucky Duck on Mon Aug 31, 2009 2:55 pm ??¦ and I think this layout is a massive MRJ feature in waiting! __________________________________________ Comment posted by Pennine MC on Mon Aug 31, 2009 3:22 pm I was wondering how I'd missed this, then I realised it had got a page and a half of comments just since Saturday. Absolutely excellent layout, I shall look forward to seeing more locos and stock on it - and you're pretty good yourself with the camera __________________________________________ Comment posted by iak on Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:13 pm Phwoaaaaaaaaaaaaar.... This is one belter of a layout - bravo! __________________________________________ Comment posted by jonte on Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:39 pm Hi Arpster This is the standard of modelling to which we would all wish to aspire. Your Dad is extremely talented. Jonte __________________________________________ Comment posted by mines a pint on Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:13 am Lovely layout, I hope we get to see much more! We've cycled the Waskerley way a few times which must be a contributor to this railway system, originating from the Stanhope incline. fantastic __________________________________________ Comment posted by J83 on Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:57 am Just to add to the comments made by others, this is a fantastic layout. If I ever build anything half as good as this I'll be very very pleased. I particularly like the trackwork - this must have taken hours and hours to get looking so smooth and realistic. I'd love to see more photos (and even videos) if you get the chance! __________________________________________ Comment posted by Mallard60022 on Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:15 am This is one of the very best 'layouts' I have ever seen. A TRUE model railway and in P4. If I ever get anywhere near this standard of work and that only in finescale OO or EM, I shall be in heaven! This has got to be in MRJ. At present I am struggling with a D. Alexander/P Stanger EM chassis Q6; this standard of work just makes me think how can I be so bungling a modeller? However, this work also inspires me hugely and as a young visitor to Consett station (long closed) for a few summer days in 1960/61 & finally 62 (when my dear grandparents passed on) this brings memories flooding back. With the recent flood of superb B & W pics of the NE on the prototype forum area, this has made my summer. Thanks so much. Congratulations to your dad; his work is just superb and your pics are easily as good as TW's! Very Sincerely, Annfield Plain __________________________________________ Comment posted by jwealleans on Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:32 am Top drawer. Thoroughly enjoying this thread and I can only echo the comments already made. __________________________________________ Comment posted by micknich2003 on Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:55 am FANTASTIC. Mick. __________________________________________ ??? posted on Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:52 am Thanks again for all your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos and hope that I can take some more soon. I've been egging my dad on for years to get this layout finished and to get it seen by a wider audience. He's too modest to ever publicise himself, so I took it upon myself to show the world for him! I'm working on getting him to agree to take it to exhibitions now, even though he claims he's too long in the tooth for that! In answer to a couple of questions, I'm not entirely sure of the dimensions. It's an L-shaped railway, with a straight scenic section and two fiddleyards, one at 90-degrees to the rest of the layout. It's probably about 30-feet by 15 feet all told but that's a very rough estimate. Oh, and the name is a mixture of Blackhill and Stella Gill! Thanks once again for your very kind words. I'll pass on the comment about the end platforms on the 21t hoppers too! All the best, Arp __________________________________________ Comment posted by Horsetan on Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:58 pm I think you should contact Chris Pendlenton and Dave Bradwell - they are pretty the BR (North-Eastern) gurus, and would love to see others joining their fold to this type of standard __________________________________________ Comment posted by number6 on Tue Sep 01, 2009 3:59 pm Just one thing: when you take some more photos make sure you don't clutter it up with too much stock! The emptiness of the sidings and yard is what make it so evocative. Superb. Raphael __________________________________________ Comment posted by Portchullin Tatty on Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:58 pm Arpster Firstly, I would echo all of the comments that others have set out before on this thread. This is a really fine layout and oozes atmosphere. I am trying to get a PM through to you and for some reason it will not shift out of my "outbox", so it will not have got to you. Would you mind popping me either a private mail or an email (both functions should be open to you via this site) with a means to communicate that does not get bogged down with the vaguries of RMweb? I would much appreciate it. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Pennine MC on Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:00 pm Portchullin Tatty wrote: I am trying to get a PM through to you and for some reason it will not shift out of my "outbox", so it will not have got to you. It wont until he opens it Mark, and when he does it'll move to your 'sent' box; it's a common misunderstanding. __________________________________________ Comment posted by craigwelsh on Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:50 am If you could get some pictures of your dad's 9F build for the workbench section that would be eagerly awaited too based on the completed items shown. It would be good to learn how he is finding the AJ's on his stock and how he fitted them as well as the track construction technique used. I'd love to see what Chris Nevard could do with a chance to photograph this (not to detract from your own photos which are very good but he can find some 'new' angles sometimes!) although an article in MRJ would be the 'proper' place for such an excellent layout imho. The buildings deserve an article in their own right too. Is the J94 a Hornby one by the way? A particular favourite is that bufferstop at the end of the coaling stage! __________________________________________ Comment posted by ikks on Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:28 am Congratulations!! This as good as gets...agree, MRJ where are you?? Rgds.........Mike __________________________________________ Comment posted by Worsdell forever on Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:33 pm Absolutley fantastic!! It's one of those layouts that gets you deep down inside and you know that it's just right. Look forward to seeing more. (If my efforts are half as good as this I will be very happy.) Paul __________________________________________ Comment posted by michael delamar on Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:40 pm really top notch modelling, colours all look superb as do the quality of the buildings trackwork etc. Mike __________________________________________ Comment posted by mattots on Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:57 pm This is superb modelling, definitely MRJ standard - it would be a crime for it not to get published. I've never really been a great fan of the NE myself, favouring the opposite corner of the country(!), but even so this is inspiring stuff. I'd love to know more about how it was built and the techniques employed in construction - especially the exquisite ballasting. You should get your dad writing on here. The photography is top class too - especially the eye-level shots. It's not often you see photographs of 4mm models that really give the sense that you're looking at a full size railway rather than a model. Maybe some photoshop-ed sky would just finish them off to perfection... __________________________________________ Comment posted by Wee Aja on Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:17 pm Agree with mattots - a bit of 'fiddling' with the sky and you'd struggle to believe this was a model. Truly superb work. __________________________________________

Blackgill: Tyne Dock to Consett in P4 by Arpster original page on Old RMweb __________________________________________ ??? posted on Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:05 pm Hello all, I've been posting a few photos from my dad's layout in the 'How Realistic Are You Models' thread on the General forum and had a request for some more info about the layout. Blackgill is my dad's creation, started after the demise of Riddings Junction in the early Nineties, he set about creating a fictitious layout based on the Tyne Dock to Consett route in steam days. Nominally set in the mid-Fifties to early-Sixties, the layout has been long in the creation due to my father's somewhat flitty mind, straying from this to scratch-building O Gauge Great Western engines to pottering around with American models. He's also a perfectionist, attempting to incorporate motorised traversers and full electrical signal interlocking from the off. The result is finally at the stage where the scenic section is almost complete and he's down to making sure the stock doesn't drop off at every hand-built point, that the Jackson couplers work properly, and that the numerous 21t hoppers stay on the track like they should. Now he's onto building 9Fs and bogie iron ore hoppers! I've been back to take some photos of the layout over the last couple of weekends, mostly devoid of motive power since most of his engines are safely stashed away prior to his annual jaunt to the US. I dug out a couple of shunting engines (a J77 and a J94) for some photos to give an impression of the overall layout. The ones over in the General Forum have been edited to include skies and remove the loft from the background. I'll repost the photos from over there, then post some on here that are 'au naturale' as it were, without any kind of tampering. I hope you find them interesting! Arp After getting off the stopping train from Newcastle (via Birtley and Beamish) we come out of the station and turn right, up to the crossing. The signal box is over the road. Blackgill_Crossing_Small.jpg (59.08 KiB) Viewed 3594 times The depot and pilot. Blackgill_Depot_BW_small.jpg (383.8 KiB) Viewed 3603 times A steel 21t hopper, new from Shildon, sits on the coal drops. 3_Coal_Drops.JPG (302.16 KiB) Viewed 3595 times Looking up the ramp to the coaling stage. 4_Coaling_Stage.JPG (249.59 KiB) Viewed 3588 times The Consett platform ahead and the coaling stage on the right, with the depot in between. 5_Depot_Yard.JPG (304.89 KiB) Viewed 3579 times A general view across the depot yard. 6_Depot_View.JPG (237.22 KiB) Viewed 3549 times A J77 sits on the depot. 7_Depot_J77.JPG (257.77 KiB) Viewed 3549 times The J77 shed pilot sits in the yard. 8_J77_Coaling_Stage.JPG (303.47 KiB) Viewed 3535 times Looking across the to the station from the fields beside the sidings. In true NER fashion, it's a forest of signals! 9_Station_and_Yard.JPG (289.79 KiB) Viewed 3514 times The spotter's view down from the road bridge across the station and yards. A J77 sits on the yard. 9_Station_and_Yard.JPG (289.79 KiB) Viewed 3510 times A view from the road bridge by the depot across the empty colliery sidings. 10_View_from_the_bridge.JPG (300.63 KiB) Viewed 3496 times A general view across the colliery sidings towards the station after a coal train has arrived down the colliery branch (NCB loco yet to be built!). 11_Reception_Sidings.JPG (311.6 KiB) Viewed 3480 times A view across the colliery sidings to the depot. 12_J94_Coaling_Stage.JPG (321.38 KiB) Viewed 3456 times The J94 on pilot duties leaves the depot to cross over to the reception sidings 13_J94_Leaving_Yard.JPG (273.82 KiB) Viewed 3447 times The yard pilot. 14_J94_crossing.JPG (283.58 KiB) Viewed 3433 times The J94 gets the signal for the crossing and heads off into the tunnel. 15_J94_Crossing.JPG (267.48 KiB) Viewed 3421 times A view round the corner of the goods shed along to the depot and coaling stage. 16_Good_Shed.JPG (251.51 KiB) Viewed 3407 times A somewhat blurry view of the signal box and station buildings. 17_Box_and_Station.JPG (285.24 KiB) Viewed 3397 times The shunter's eye view. 18_J94_Enters_Yard.JPG (305.67 KiB) Viewed 3393 times The view from the hill by the coal drops as the J94 crosses the level crossing and comes into the reception sidings 19_Crossing_Drops.JPG (296.44 KiB) Viewed 3379 times J94 leaves the tunnel with a short freight and enters the reception sidings. Normally these would be used for coal trains for the colliery branch but I was having a play! 20_J94_Crossing.JPG (317.14 KiB) Viewed 3373 times A coal train entering the yard from the east. 21_Coal_train_crossing.JPG (304.78 KiB) Viewed 3373 times __________________________________________ Comment posted by Simon Moore on Moore on Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:42 pm Thats a fantastic looking layout their i think the coal drop looks brilliant. A very well put together model more photos please Simon. __________________________________________ Comment posted by jjones231072 on Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:43 pm Hi Arpster, very nice photos of an excellent layout. As someone who grew up in the area in which the layout is set, I think it is very evocative of the area. I hope you'll post more of the layout in the future. Regards, Jonathan __________________________________________ Comment posted by jongwinnett on Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:42 pm Superb... __________________________________________ Comment posted by BaNkStOnEbRoAdWaY on Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:57 pm VERY SMART INDEED __________________________________________ Comment posted by timlewis on Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:30 pm This is magnificent Can't wait to see the 9F and hoppers! I imagine there must be some other tasty locos/stock already in existence as well (Q6, perhaps?) __________________________________________ Comment posted by josh993 on Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:58 pm Absoloutly stunning __________________________________________ Comment posted by max stafford on Sat Aug 29, 2009 10:21 pm Full of NE atmosphere. In fact, I'd go as far as to say for overall effect and finesse, this is just about the best layout I've seen on this forum! Set against the quality of so many other marvellous layouts, I do not issue that compliment lightly - this layout is truly superb. Dave. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Oldfield_Park on Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:15 pm Simply stunning. I've been hoping for some time that you'd get round to posting up a thread of pictures for this layout. Out of interest, what operates the passenger services on this layout? __________________________________________ Comment posted by signalmaintainer on Sun Aug 30, 2009 12:02 am Oldfield_Park wrote: Simply stunning. I can't put it any better than that myself. BRM staff, I'm looking forward to seeing this masterpiece in print some day. Mr. Wright's photography will certainly do it justice! __________________________________________ Comment posted by Dave777 on Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:59 am Superb, the standard of ballasting is excellent, very impressed. __________________________________________ Comment posted by eldavo on Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:36 am Superb work, Cheers Dave __________________________________________ Comment posted by Arthur on Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:41 am It doesn't get any better than this, brilliantly observed and executed. Arthur __________________________________________ Comment posted by 10800 on Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:31 am Excellent - I'm looking forward to the appearance of a Q6 or 9F with some Bradwell iron-ore hoppers at some point! __________________________________________ Comment posted by peter m on Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:05 am Superb, simply stunning, what else is there to say. It's so good overall that nothing stands out. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Cheesemonger on Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:33 am Not sure I can add anything else to the comments above, but that really is good work. __________________________________________ Comment posted by 56120 on Sun Aug 30, 2009 3:56 pm Stunning, absolute stunning excellent layout __________________________________________ Comment posted by James on Sun Aug 30, 2009 4:16 pm Fantastic stuff! Arpster wrote: Now he's onto building 9Fs and bogie iron ore hoppers! That'll be an impressive site! The Tyne Dock 9F's are a favourtie of mine! I do have all the bits for a nine eff carefully stored somewhere! __________________________________________ ??? posted on Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:00 pm Hi all, Thanks for the many compliments. My dad will be embarrassed when I show this to him! In answer to some of the questions above: Off the top of my head, he's got two or three Q6s, a couple of Q7s, an O1 (with Westinghouse pumps), a T1, J72, J71, N10, K1, B1s, J21, an A8 and a G5. The latter two are for operating the passenger services. Using artistic license, he's also go a few diesels: an 03 and 04, plus a 37 and 40 and a pair of 24s for the iron ore trains. I'll try to dig some of these out for photos in the near future if I get the chance. I'll include a few more photos for you, but this is all I have for now. Cheers, Arp This should have been in the last set but I accidentally missed it out and uploaded another photo twice! The spotter's eye view over the layout from the road bridge. Hopefully this gives a good overall idea of the thing. 9_View_from_the_bridge.JPG (331.92 KiB) Viewed 2505 times Shunting. (I'm sure you're sick of the J94 by now, but it's all I had out of the box that day!) 22_J94_Reception_Sidings.JPG (276.98 KiB) Viewed 2491 times Shunting the yard (my SLR ran out of batteries and my little camera doesn't have such a good depth of field, unfortunately). 23_J94_Sidings.JPG (256.08 KiB) Viewed 2470 times Looking along the mainline. 24_J94_Yard.JPG (275.26 KiB) Viewed 2487 times The yard pilot has finished taking on water and the crew await their next duty. 25_J94_taking_on_water.JPG (324 KiB) Viewed 2484 times Shunting the colliery reception sidings. 26_J94_shunts coal wagons.JPG (295.02 KiB) Viewed 2468 times Waiting to leave the yard to cross over to the depot with some coal. 27_J94_waits_to_leave_the_yard_with_coal_for_the_depot.JPG (290 KiB) Viewed 2468 times The J94 gets the signal to leave the yard with a couple of wagons for the coaling stage. 28_J94_gets_the_signal_to_leave_the_yard.JPG (309.97 KiB) Viewed 2448 times The J94 takes on coal. 29_J94_coaling.JPG (283.19 KiB) Viewed 2447 times The J94 at the foot of the coaling stage ramp. 30_J94_coaling_ramp.JPG (265.39 KiB) Viewed 2432 times Waiting for the crossing to clear. 31_J94_waiting_for_crossing.JPG (283.01 KiB) Viewed 2430 times The J77 backs into the goods shed to drop off some box vans. 32_J77_shunting_goods_shed.JPG (199.86 KiB) Viewed 2427 times Not a very good photo of the goods shed with the J77 dropping off some vans. 33_J77_on_goods_shed.JPG (220.44 KiB) Viewed 2419 times Dropping the fires. 34_shunters_on_shed.JPG (246.2 KiB) Viewed 2412 times The two shed pilots retire to the depot at the end of the day. 35_shunters_in_shed.JPG (185.7 KiB) Viewed 2407 times The J94 runs light across Black Gill, the stream from which the village takes its name. Those familiar with the area might notice that the 'box is based on the one which used to stand at Beamish. 36_J94_crossing_Black_Gill.JPG (312.12 KiB) Viewed 2404 times The J94 shunts some wagons in the yard. As mentioned earlier, this should really be used for coal trains brought down the colliery branch but I was having a little play about! 37_J94_shunting.JPG (296.67 KiB) Viewed 2402 times __________________________________________ Comment posted by Bernard Lamb on Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:48 pm I like the little touches such a the NER flower tubs. They do so much to set the scene. It's so good I don't want to be critical but.......... those end platforms on the big hoppers do jar a bit. Bernard __________________________________________ Comment posted by PhilH on Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:30 pm I can only echo what others have said. It's superb. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Rumblestripe on Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:46 pm Lovely! More please, oh, and an expanded stock list if you would be so kind. Thanks for posting __________________________________________ Comment posted by Fat Controller on Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:33 pm An absolutely beautiful model, capturing the character of that bit of County Durham perfectly. Sadly, we didn't move to the North-East until 1982, just in time to see the last remnants of Consett depart as trainloads of scrap in 16t minerals behind Class 37s. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Lambton58 on Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:42 pm Wow! That is absolutely stunning! I have a soft spot for this line as it ran very close to my grandparents house and Grandad's pit was served by a branch off it. If I had the time space and money I'd love to build a model of South Pelaw http:// http://www.signalbox.org/diagrams.php?s ... &comments= http://monkeysnaps3.fotopic.net/p14737987.html Ralph Lambton58 __________________________________________ Comment posted by Richard_S on Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:37 pm We recently visited Beamish Open Air Museum and you have captured the NE character of the station and yard there extremely well. This is one of those layouts where consistency of effort has been applied across the board and everything just seems to fit in context. Is this a layout that never leaves home, or is it available for exhibition? __________________________________________