great central

Oh gorgeous !! Especially the Lion on his Unicycle version; I recall seeing one at Grantham in 1950's - where the GN, GE and M&GN Joint met - so I must have it.

 

Okay so I model 1/45th scale Switzerland but it will go with my other wimsical purchase, a Hornby B17 called 'L--ds' -n-t-d'

 

Bob

Not Grantham I'm afraid, GE & M&GN both south of there, only place that comes to my mind is Spalding where all three could be seen, don't think the GE actually got there either except as a joint line partner, although I have seen photos of GE freight locos working through there, maybe from Whitemoor yard. Incidentally that line is still known as 'the joint'

There were definitely lots of them to be seen at Grantham though, some were shedded there and Colwick at one time or another had, I think, about 30% of the class total, mostly the contractor built ones with the split frames

I'd love to get a HEAVILY weathered example in BR black. Not sure what the chances of that are, though....

This one mucky enough? An ABS kit I built about 15 years ago, and fully lined, just about finished my third one, ah well, looks like a fourth one beckons.

Not the best picture, sorry.

Had Mike Wild from Hornby mag taking some pictures today for a future article, took a few myself as well.

I rather like this one in particular, unedited, I did think about cropping the road way a bit but then decided to leave it to give a better impression of depth.

Gordon H on here has built cross-arms in the past, he may be your best bet.

Not a joke as such but I found this very funny (to me anyway) way of describing 'the modern DMU experience'

From the WNXX forum:

davidinyork wrote:

,

........................but that shouldn't present a problem as long as the bogie isn't powered by a 750hp diesel engine with all the refinement of a colonic irrigation performed by the local fire brigade. ..............

Early Sunday morning at Deepcar, loco parked up with pans down, due to a possesion?

If it's the one regularly attached to 37423 it was in Grantham last week, set off just after we rolled in

It shot through Loughborough behind TWO 37s about 11.45 today!

If it's the one regularly attached to 37423 it was in Grantham last week, set off just after we rolled in

I'm sure conversion to 25Kv was more than a simple change in insulators, at the Manchester end it was only a short branch and sensible to convert given availability of suitable stock.

 

For the rest of the route it would have meant not only changing the insulators but also serious work on the cabling to feed the wires, the locations that fed the power not to mention the locomotives themselves. Where would the traction have come from, the route had 50 electric locomotives of 1940's vintage technology, classes 81-84 were hardly candidates and a fleet of APTs wasn't exactly in place to release all the 85-86s for regearing.

At the Manchester end I'm sure that the actual wire on the masts is the same, remember that 1500vDC needs thicker conductors than 25kvAC, so what may have been below size for 1500v may be good for 25kv for years.

There was also apparently an investigation into converting the class 76s to 25kvAC! The intention was that they were being looked at as possible freight locos for the northern west coast main line when that was electrified. Now there's an excuse for running some of my 76s on Carstairs

and the overall surroundings, the hills, but the long overgrown grass everywhere.

 

seen quite a few layouts based on, but dont think anyones really tried to capture the overgown rundown atmosphere of the line

 

Mike

Sorry but I have to disagree, this was a main line right to the end, yes it had been rationalised, but the lines in use were maintained right up to the last day.

There were several incidents in the last few weeks, even a power failure on the last full day of operation was repaired and the service ran. looking at 'Main Line across the Pennines' I can't see any evidence of weeds or neglect around the running lines.

Most of the Trans pennine track is CWR on concrete sleepers, many mainlines still don't have that luxury even now 30 years later!

The down line I think was left intact all the way from Hadfield to Deepcar, just being blocked with a padlocked sleeper for 5 years after closure, to appease the trades unions I understand.

When we first went out scouting for locations before settling on Deepcar, the line was still in good order and apart from odd weeds a train could have passed quite easily, this being in 1984, three years after closure.

When we went back, suitably equipped, to walk Woodhead tunnel a few months later it was difficult to believe the line had really been shut for 3 years.

I was told, although I can't verify the facts, that Netherlands railways, who had been impressed with their purchase of the EM2s, enqired whether the EM1s would be available after the line closed. Although many of the locos were in prefectly good order having merely been switched off, it was deemed politically unacceptable to resell them for further use, since the locos being 'life expired' was given as one of the reasons for closure.

Regarding the last locos to work up to Woodhead, the rails were cut up into sections and dragged out by a class 37, possibly the one in the photos, I have a book somewhere with the details in, but can't put my hand on it at the moment.

The same book also shows a class 20 and Brakevan heading to Dunford Bridge from Penistone, apparently carrying staff and scrapmen to assess what was to be recovered and presumably by whom, and for how much.

I also have 2 EM2s that I would like to upgrade. I want the locos to be able to pull a 5 coaches/wagons up 1 in 36, work off DCC and on code 75 track. What options would you recommend? I am not sure I want to go to the entent of new bogies. So should I have the motor reworked and remagnatised, perhaps with 5 pole armature, have the wheels reprofiled or replaced with Ultrascale. Also which chip should I have fitted?

 

Any suggestions would be gratefully received. I also have an APT I would like to do the same to.

Hi DD, I would suggest giving the existing bogies a try out first. If the motors are in good order, the biggest problem you will have is lack of adhesion. These bogies are designed to work with 'magnadhesion' on steel track, so losing that effect has a big impact on haulage capability.

It can be overcome though simply by adding weight to the loco, several years ago I did a test on a 37 with the same motor configuration, weighted up to over a pound it would pull another 37 wired the opposite way and around 8 coaches!

Try to get the weight as much in the motor bogie end as possible and ALWAYS have the motor bogie at the rear, if any weight transfer takes place it adds to the adhehsive weight. I have found erratic running problems can occur if the power bogie is at the front, as the load being hauled will tend to lift the wheels slightly causing intermittent pickup.

Depending on the age of your locos the flanges may be a little too deep for code 75, so try it out and see.

Regarding replacements and DCC chips, not something I have experience of, perhaps others can advise?

ive just resprayed a triang 77 in all over black with red bufferbeams for bryan at howes, he's managed to remotor one with dcc, sound to follow.

 

does anyone have any colour pics of one in its original black livery, particularly the roof area?

I have seen several pictures of black EM2s, typically I can't find any of them now!

This is supposed to link to the EM2 Society, but I can't get it to work, get carried away watching thetrains go by

http://www.thewoodheadsite.org.uk/

You could try getting in touch through the MRC at Butterley.

The lining is an absolute pig to do, I've done a couple of EM1s and a fellow club member has an EM2.

That is exactly what I was thinking of doing. Although I wonder if a correct set of sideframes would be avalible from msl (being a kit based on no rtr chassis, I can`t see it being wrong, but if even this is wrong, why???). Although checking bogie wheelbases, the 40 minus the pony truck is closest (about 0.5mm out). Was thinking of using a msl bogies and awdrive setup.

 

Cheesy

 

PS-you forgot to put wipers on the windscreen :-]

At the time I did it I was considering fitting the marine type circular wiper, which the real loco carried for a while

I've never seen one of these 'in the metal' but several people I know have and were non too impressed.

I must admit that when I first saw pictures of built up models on first release I didn't think they looked that good, there seemed to be issues of fit around the cab area and the whole loco looked a bit 'flat'.

I know that etched kits sre often seen as the 'bees knees' but having seen several Silver Fox kits recently they look the part and are relatively simple, although the ones I saw (and are illustrated on silver Fox's website) lacked any further deatiling. which I think is a shame.

If you can make it to Nottingam show the weekend after next, one of our members will be demonstating his own models of 7mm EM1s, complete with DDC controlled pantographs, unfortunately they won't be available for general sale, but definitely show what can be acheived.

Next year we will have 'Woodhead' based layouts in O, OO and N gauge. :icon_drool:

This started out as a spare EM2 bodyshell I picked up at a swapmeet, minus underframe, which was another swapmeet purchase several years later. The bogies are resin castings taken from another EM2 and the pantographs are Lima.

Power is by a Hornby ringfield from a (very) badly repainted 37, also a swapmeet purcahse. Wire handrails and SE Finecast flush glazing, I think, did it quite a few years ago. Lining 'ribs' filed/scraped off.

Adding my own observation to other replies. I was surprised to see class 76 hauled, Railfreight liveried HEA's on a video of the Woodhead route, makes it pre July 1981.

85 views and not one reply. I guess the workings along this line are even more elusive than i thought

Sorry, don't have a clue about workings, but might be worth going and looking at the state of the railhead, even if it has not been used overnight (say) it will take on a fine coat of rust if damp. Depending on trains, it may just have a line in the rust or if longer trains are passing the whole railhead will become shiny.

Not much help, I'm afraid but may give some clues.

Morning all,

Hope your day is better than mine so far!

Up at 01.45!

Sign on for 03.01, followed by a taxi ride. Tried to doze only to open one eye, find us wandering across road! Said he was overtaking a lorry. Not good, not filled washers so trying to see through muck on windscreen. I'm not a good car passenger at the best of times, this is not helping my mood.

Train late off depot so freezing my *#@+ off waiting. Then just got going, third person I come to has bought his morning coffee, but not his ticket!!

Cards declined, tells him off at first stop, then find three more the same!!AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!

Finally one with a working card agrees to pay for them all.

Just got that done and train loses ALL electric, so we roll into next station and fail!

Morning All,

It's dark outside, bit chilly I think. Difficult to tell in Lime Street.

Arrived a little while ago ECS from Nottingham, to find that one unit has been graffitted, presumably while parked at Notts. Thing is the paints hardly dry from refurb!

Morning all,

Not been here for a while, not been on early, earlies for a bit either.

Weather seems pretty mild, although wet but not raining. It's also very dark, still be dark when I finish the first part of the job! Positive side is that it's only 11 days to the shortest day.

Good to know I can still remember some things. I'll take a punt and say the FGW dropped the FGH workings maybe 3-4 years ago?

 

I seem to recall the 0150 FGH-PAD was changed to start at SWA at 0330 and then later it was moved to start at Bristol Parkway at 0500?

 

Incidentally... during the early 90's the Sunday working was covered by loco and coaches as I took a trip to FGH and back with 47715. I'll try and dig out the photos from the run-round at the harbour. Good day out with a full rake of declassified 1st class Mk2 aircons.

Went for a ride to FGH and back from Whitland one afternoon while on hoilday in the area, it seemed a bit odd to have an HST picking up and returning the token at Clarbeston Road. Must have been 15 years ago, son still on half fare if I remember correctly, He's 30 next year.

Took a few photos, darned if I know where they are though.

The class 37 hauled service to Fishguard must be at least 4 years ago by my reckoning, I have some pictures taken in 2005 towards the end of the Rhymney loco hauls, which used a loco and stock from those.

Many of the 'new' cross-country HST trailers were modified from hauled stock, and presumably and rated at 125mph, not an expert on the goings-on of these things.