Davey

Gives a whole new meaning to the expression 'straight out of the box'.

Davey

4 hours ago, jazz said:

Well it's been a long build this time.  Had quite a few household jobs to to do amongst other things.  Stilling got the coupling to the tender to do plus all the usual cleaning up and a small amount of filling to do. So hopefully I will also get the priming done tomorrow.

 

To me that looks like the front end of an Experiment class. A POW should be showing the mainframes ahead of the smokebox. 

Davey

On 28/02/2024 at 09:12, LMS2968 said:

Flooding ahead expected?

It's for a new locomotive pool they're creating.

Davey

3 hours ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

I think a 4F was always a 4F, and an 8F an 8F. (From someone born and bred in Derby...)

Around the West Midlands, 4F's were Duck 6's as opposed to the ex LNWR Super D's which we referred to as Duck 8's.

Davey

27 minutes ago, Kirby Uncoupler said:

 

Hi Tony and All,

      I'm confused here. back then why did you refer to Black 5s as "Mickeys", I thought they were always "Black 5s, Class 5s, 5s, 5000s, 5MTs or Ten-Wheelers"? To me a "Mickey" is a 2MT 2-6-0 or tank (Mickey Mouse, cos the front silhouette looked like the cartoon character ears), or were you talking Chester General slang?      BK

 

 

Black 5's, or 'Blackies' as we called them around Birmingham, seemed to have regional nicknames. As I recall, 'Mickeys' seemed  to be the nickname of choice around the East Midlands.

Davey

5 hours ago, sej said:

Hi Davey, I hope you are well. Did you continue with your H1 project?

 

Cheers

Simon

 

Hi Simon,

I'm sorry to report, that since my last post, way back in December 2019, I have made no further progress with my H1 build, and in all honesty the project has totally stalled. Many thanks for your enquiry. 

Best wishes,

Davey

I would question whether 'Flying Scotsman ' is indeed the British public's favourite locomotive. I think it's more a case of the media pushing that agenda. To the many thousands of line-side spotters from the mid 50's until the demise of steam (my era), their favourites were the ones they saw at their favourite locations, in my case the Princess Coronation class that graced the WCML.

Davey

Tony,

If I may be so bold, I suspect that the GWR 4-4-0 is in fact an ex Midland & South West Junction locomotive and not an ex Stratford on Avon & Midland Junction locomotive.

Regards,

Davey

55 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Another splendid day operating Little Bytham with the usual monthly quartet of friends.

 

All was going fine, until I had the stupidity to comment ''Isn't it going well?". Whereupon, I forgot to set a road correctly, and 'The Elizabethan' promptly scattered some hapless wagons asunder as it ploughed into their brake van! No harm done, however. Anyway, I'm not too precious about my trainset, the wagons were re-railed and the 'Lizzie' sent along the right path. 

 

Then, an A4 derailed at speed on 'The Talisman'! A derailment on LB!!!! It was a modified Hornby one and I suspected it was too narrow back-to-backs which might be the cause. I've adjusted them, and now it's fine. 

 

I've said it before, but one of the principal delights in having friends visiting LB is what they bring with them. Today was no exception........

 

 

First up was this SoA&MJR 4-4-0, bought second-hand by Sandra Orpen. It came from Hattons, and didn't run all that well. No doubt she'll re-gauge it to EM and change the drive. In fairness, it wasn't that expensive.

 

Geoff West brought some really interesting items along..........

 

 

A DJH A1 appeared first. Geoff Haynes has weathered this.

 

 

It came originally from the estate of a deceased modeller in this condition, and I sold it to Geoff (W). 

 

 

It certainly runs well, toying with this heavy train.

 

It made an interesting comparison with my own SILURIAN.....

 

 

Built by me, also from a DJH kit and painted by Geoff Haynes. 

 

Apart from the difference in finish, it's a pity that the builder of the 'dirty' 60121 didn't alter the cab to give the rake-in towards the eaves. 

 

I'm sure Geoff will add those essential wiggly pipes as well. 

 

Next up.................

 

 

Was this modified Hornby A4, again weathered by Geoff Haynes.

 

Geoff (W) had acquired this in a somewhat tatty state, tidied it up and renumbered/renamed it.

 

 

It handled the ten-car 'Queen of Scots' with ease (visiting locos are not required to display lamps).

 

 

The greatest modification Geoff did was to cut-down the rear of the tender (an alteration made to three of these 1928 corridor tenders in order that the short water cranes at Euston could reach the filler during the Locomotive Exchanges of 1948. They ran behind MALLARD, SEAGULL and LORD FARINGDON, MALLARD's eventually going to WOODCOCK. FLYING SCOTSMAN, as first preserved got two of these as well!). 

 

Now, Landscapes (David) has been selling off locos from his aborted Haymarket Depot layout, and Geoff West bought some.............

 

 

Including this renumbered/renamed/weathered Bachmann A1.

 

 

 

And this pair of altered Bachmann A2s.

 

 

And also this Bachmann/Graeme King A2/3. 

 

The problem with all of these is that, when confronted with Bytham's heavy expresses, they just polished the rails! This is the main reason why I build my own locos. 

 

That said, they're all beautifully-observed and the weathering is entirely natural. Yes, some renumbering/renaming will take place to make them more appropriate for an English-based layout, and, no doubt, extra ballast will be added. 

 

You might well have seen the above on David's own Haymarket thread in the past. I think they're lovely.

 

Thanks to Geoff, Sandra, George and David for another wonderful day! 

On 09/04/2023 at 12:39, DaveF said:

I would suggest you have a look on Real Time trains.  I have a friend who lives close to the line, he quite often goes out to photograph any freight traffic.

 

David

Thanks David for your suggestion regarding Real Time trains. Obviously I need to do some further research.

Regards,

Davey

On 09/04/2023 at 12:36, Fat Controller said:

We used to live near the line, in a village called Clara Vale, for ten years until 1991. In those days, there were lots of freights running day and night; sadly, I don't think there are many these days, though the passenger service is fairly busy, at least as far as Hexham. I'd recommend looking for locations centred on Wylam; at least you can nip in the Boathouse, next to the station, if it turns inclement (which it can do..) I look forward to seeing some photos on here.

Many thanks Brian for your comments and suggestions about a  possible suitable  location area.

Regards, 

Davey

 I've just finished watching a short video on You Tube, showing the drivers view on a train running from Haltwhistle to Carlisle Citadel on the Tyne Valley Line. What struck me, was how photogenic the line is and it got me to wandering if there is much daytime freight traffic that uses this route. I'd be grateful, if anyone with knowledge of this line, could give me some idea if a photographic trip North for the purpose of photographing freight trains would be worth considering. Many thanks, in anticipation.

Davey

15 minutes ago, Fat Controller said:

South Staffs Wagon Repairs ?

Thanks, I think you could be correct.

Davey

8 minutes ago, eastwestdivide said:

Was that a wagon repairs location? Both tanks looking freshly painted

 I'm not 100% certain, but I'm fairly sure your correct. Just north of Tipton Owen Street station there was a triangular junction off the Stour Valley line on the 'Up' (to Birmingham) line. The wagon repair works were located within the triangle. The third leg off the triangle was a loop down to Wednesbury (ex. LNWR) which connected the the ex. LNWR line from Dudley via Great Bridge to Wednesbury.

Davey

1 hour ago, DaveF said:

 

Once again many thanks for the good wishes.

 

Mum died quietly while she was  asleep at around 3 a.m. today. 

 

The hospital rang me at 3.30 a.m. so I was able to see her before she was moved, she had obviously been lying comfortably and had just faded away.

 

On the way home I stopped off at the beach for a few minutes while the sun was still low in the sky, it did me a lot of good!

 

Now there are just a few formalities to sort out....

 

David

 

 

 

 

So sorry to hear of your Mom's passing David. I hope the many wonderful memories you have accrued through the years will be of some comfort to you at this devastating time. With deepest sympathy.

3 minutes ago, DaveF said:

I've got Covid so I've decided to have a quiet few days, photos will resume in due course.

 

David

Hi David, hope you make a speedy recovery. Best wishes.

Davey

49 minutes ago, 6990WitherslackHall said:

Moving on now, we go forward a month to 18/09/21 and I saw, what will probably be the last time I see it, 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley.

 

 

 

Just a personal opinion but I think the wartime black livery suits the A4.

There was an ex LNWR elevated box at Smethwick Rolfe Street, albeit situated above a siding, on the line line between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton High Level. It was demolished sometime in the early 1960's and replaced with a conventional lineside one, 50 yards or so, further north towards Wolverhampton.

Davey

1 hour ago, number6 said:

That is a terrible job. It hurts my eyes and at smaller scales just going to be a mess. It’s like a bad print job where one colour has shifted. Maybe just a metaphor for the whole process… 
 

Let's not mess about here, whilst the font is acceptable the symbol is CRAP!!!

Davey

8 minutes ago, Nearholmer said:

Is the "loop" itself a siding? (No, it clearly isn't) Or, maybe the siding is seriously downhill.

 

Is that some kind of point indicator in the foreground?

Just a wild guess, but could it be some sort of tablet exchange apparatus?

Sorry to hear you've been unwell, but pleased to hear your on the mend. I've followed this topic closely and look forward to further updates as they appear.

Davey

On 24/01/2022 at 16:49, Mike Storey said:

 

Speed trap for ducks??

 

If that's the case, perhaps they're waiting for 'Mallard'.

5 hours ago, melmerby said:

t'web is a wondrous place

This morning I placed an order for this years garden seeds.

The order went through, I got the payment succesful message, the thank you for your order. etc.

A few minutes after I got an e-mail confirming my order, followed by another saying "sorry, your order has been cancelled as the payment wasn't succesful."

Figure that out!

 

What's more when I tried to log back onto the account to re-do the order, my e-mail address "wasn't recognised" even though they had just sent me an e-mail to it.

 

I did eventually manage to log in after several attempts, re-did the order and so far an hour later it still stands.

Sounds to me like you are feeling the seeds of discontent! I'll get my hat.

Very sad news. My thoughts are with his family.

Bob was an inspirational figure, both to those who knew him and to all of those who have benefited from his research down the years.

RIP Bob.

Davey

3 hours ago, rab said:

Nah; that was a previous attempt at the channel tunnel,

which went a bit off course.

One could almost say they got "side-tracked!"

Davey