Les1952

I think luck will play a part- I'm using short pieces to give me as much flexibility as possible.

A blow-by-blow account to follow when I manage it....

Les

Repairs started

Track lifting to get at the non-working point has taken place.  Useful bits are now in a box to be put back- and some shrub tubs put safely with them.

This is the reason the point didn't work.  The wire has been pulled off the point mechanism.  Fortunately the point itself is undamaged.

the devastation after the track was lifted.   The lifted point has replaced the dead one as the point for the shed.   Connected to that motor the point throws, which is more than its predecessor did.

The new points more or less in place.

I've got new track for the tram stop.  This is the underside showing the power connector clip it comes with.  A decent connection with no soldering should mean the trams have a better run into the stop.

More work to do tomorrow.

Les

It was good to see the 02's on Kernows stand at the Farnham show today albeit at a distance.

 

Can't wait for them to be released as will put my kit built one to shame although a very nice one Injust haven't added all the details.

I managed a very close look at them while chatting late on Sunday afternoon.  To be brutally honest, I know a lot of people who would willingly amputate their own right arms to get an NER 0-4-4T even 75% as good as this O2.  As it is, they're gnawing their fingernails almost to the wrist waiting for someone to anounce ANY NER loco beyond the Q6...

The prototypes are truly stunning.  Like a very large number of modellers I've talked to who DON'T model Southern I'm truly jealous of those lucky enough to have such a loco produced for them.

All the very best

Les

Still thinking about repairs.

Not starting yet as I'm off to Aldershot show tomorrow for the weekend, driving the van for Howard Staniforth and "Armathwaite", then playing analogue trains for the public. 

Meanwhile I've been running in various locos, apart from 92133 in the last message.

92226 is one of the Dapol NQPs I bought last weekend- of the four I've kept this one intact, broken the worst one for parts, sold a third one to another club member for spares (for the same as I paid for it) and put the fourth one on ebay as "spares or repair" making sure bidders see clearly how much it cost me. This one has a paint smudge on the boiler side, just where I'm likely to weather it with heavy limescale.  It also has an aversion to 10.5 inch curves, but is happy on the outside line for now.  It may eventually become spare parts but we'll see.

Behind is 118 008-2, the third of the locos for the next layout, provisionally titled "Furtwangen 2", though it won't stay called that....   Amazing the local inhabitants by trundling round and round the layout despite there being no overhead- it is DCC fitted, which Furtwangen isn't, hence running in through County Durham rather than Baden-Wurttemberg.

Must pack..

Les

Doctor now doctored...

On the second pic he looks as if he's standing in something nasty, but that can't be seen by the punters.

All the very best

Les

I'VE JUST REPLACED DOCTOR WHO

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on the roof of the brewery, that is.   However, the new one will need a touch of black adding as there is too much white shirt showing.

The old one has gone in the spare people box to reappear on another layout somewhere- he isn't really missing a foot, that just shows he was only attached to the board by one leg.

All the very best

Les

  Thinking about repairs etc...

Firstly the good news.  A trip to Dapol's open day has yielded enough 9F spares to put all of my non-runners and dodgy runners back into good health.  92133 has now had a new front pony and centring spring from an NQP- the other dead one 92050 will get a new body with a straight cab at some time in the near future, but in the mean time has bits transplanted from an NQP to ghet it into service again.

Looking at the bits that need replacing- these two points need lifting and replacing with new insulation to get rid of the short.

I also need a new feed putting in here- which will be fun as it is underneath the aerial flight.

All the very best

Les

I found an efficient way to keep a railway shed warm in the winter (and keep the other half happier at the same time) is to put a small chest freezer in one corner- last winter I didn't need the main heater overnight once.  It also gives a useful clear surface to park things where paint is drying or glue setting.

A half-height cupboard freezer under a bench or high-level cupboard might have the same effect I think.

All the very best

Les

End of September update

Still no news on the clubroom so modelling goes on apace.

Jim and I have got the three points wired in- ready to test them one Thursday evening in October.  Last to be done was the electric pencil, a banana plug found in my loft.  The wire to it has since been shortened a bit to avoid it derailing trains below.

Rise Park Estate is being built.  Alf's showhouse is tried for size before another layer of plaster is applied to the ground.   There will be a row of five basically complete houses here and more at footings or lower floor window height beyond them, with pegs marking where the next lot will go, and trenches etc for their utilities.

All the very best

Les

Looking through the Industrial Railway Society Durham handbooks there was an ex-Taff Vale (via the WD) 0-6-2T, no.67 GORDON, which went off for preservation in the National Collection- one of two Taff Vale 0-6-2Ts preserved, the other being No.52 from the Lambton system.  It was the only South Hetton Coal Co loco that survived long enough to shunt at the Hawthorn Combined Mine when it opened.

The other beast that survived at South Hetton with flattish tanks (but round on the top) was SHCC No.10, which was condemned in 1947, though allocated no.70.  It was a long-boiler 0-6-0 saddletank built in 1857 (reputedly) by Sharp Stewart as an 0-6-0 tender engine- the exact date isn't quite certain but it was originally London & North Western Railway 408 BOOTH.  The uncertainty is due to LNWR lists not matching other contemporary records.  It was sold in July 1874 to Chatterley Whitfield Collieries Ltd in Staffordshire, having been rebuilt by the LNWR as an 0-6-0ST in 1870.  It acquired the name WHITFIELD at this time, which it kept at South Hetton.  Sold on to a dealer in 1904 who rebuilt it and sold it to South Hetton Coal Co in 1907.  The NCB decided it was worn out and laid it aside for scrap.

There were two ex-GWR matchboxes in County Durham- these were on the Pontop & Jarrow Railway at Springwell loco shed, though they were Barry Railway saddletanks rebuilt by the GWR.  There were a few of that type in Northumberland also.  No "proper" GWR pannier tank made it to the North East- the GWR locos that did were a result of non-standard locos being offloaded to dealers very cheaply at the end of the twenties after the GWR had conned the Government into buying them 200 new 57xx pannier tanks they really didn't need........

I've two of Dave Jones's WD saddletanks on order when they come out- one can become GAMMA or DELTA in blue, and the other may remain black with an unused number- for some reason 70 appears to have remained blank after the old long-boiler engine was scrapped.  I know neither GAMMA nor DELTA reached Easington, but GAMMA got to Vane Tempest and DELTA finished up at Blackhall, and the line is a "might have been".   Dave's Hudswell-Clarke saddletank had only one example in the Durham coalfield, an un-numbered one at Boldon known as Boldon No.1513, which lasted to the end of 1959.  Another loco transferred to Hawhorn Dene.

All the very best

Les

Layout photographed.

The raw images look good.  Mr Simon's O1 looked good in its photo.  Also a view I'd not thought of- a J25 passing under the safety netting taken broadside-on under the netting.  Photoshoot took five hours......

Must have another look at South Hetton's stocklist.  I thought their ex-GW loco was an 0-6-2T.

All the very best

Les

Some Colliery pics

I've been getting the layout ready for the photographer's visit tomorrow, and took the liberty of getting some low angle pics of the colliery. I'm hoping to persuade him to use some similar angles....

Peckett No.1, recovered from it's fit of pique that left it maroorned in the shed at Grantham, sets off for the exchange with a load of fulls.

Meanwhile Geisl-fitted WD No.8 shunts the screens (or at least would be if there were any power to that line- on the "to do" list for the next few weeks).

The NCB now has a matchbox since I decided the Dapol pannier was finally run-in enough to chip.

Looking over the coal drops to No.1 shunting the weighbridge with No.8 at the screens behind. Shows I must take a small brush to that area as the green bits survived a going over with the vacuum cleaner this morning.

On the plus side the workshop is tidier than it has been for ages- and I can actually see more than two square inches of workbench.  I've also found a few compartmented boxes, and will sort out figures and other small goodies a little before re-starting after the photoshoot.

All the very best

Les

yet more tryping mitsakes to edit.....

Layout back on its legs...

I was going to repair Furtwangen's defunct pointwork before doing Hawthorn Dene's, but I've got a visit on Monday from a gent who wants to take some pics of Hawthorn Dene.  No more details at the moment but all will be revealed- eventually......

I did promise a picture of the operating mechanism for the signal, so here it is.

While Jim and I were re-erecting the layout I took the opportunity of getting a pair of plan views- easier to do with the layout on its side.  I've also been asked to draw a trackplan, and this will be easier to do from a pair of plan photos.  I can get measurements from the printouts.

Now to start drawing.

All the very best

Les

despite preview I've still had to edit for trypos...

Update-  HD will get its repairs to the colliery area and a bit more scenic detailing done first. 

It looks as it the parts for Furtwangen may take longer to arrive than I thought. 

Les

Slowly altering

The layout is still packed up at the moment as I'm trying to decide whether to do Furtwangen Ost's repairs before Hawthorn Dene's.  Provided both are done by the end of January there is no hurry.

So far I've ordered the bits for Furtwangen and put handles on the end boards of HD. 

These needed to be done before unpacking the layout so I could position them properly.  The arrow shows which way should be down when carrying it- the ledges got a bit bent coming back from Grantham. I'm also wondering whether to fit wheels to one end board, though I'll leave that until after Sileby I think.

Must clean the workshop floor......

Les

September- first pics

We're still waiting news of a clubhouse move, which might well take place at short notice, so work has resumed on the layout.

We've also provisionally offered it to Grantham railshow next year as its debut outing- time to get cracking...

Trevor spent part of August building the derelict buildings to go next to Top Valley Market Place.

Geoff has produced a pair of semis to go on the slope, but getting them attached isn't going to be easy- a field trip to Burton Joyce may be in order.

The wagon turntable has been made by Geoff, here being checked for size before being bedded in.

Alf's arches in their glory ready for ground fore-and-aft to be done.  Meanwhile Jim and I are finishing the electrics on Thursday evenings rather than interrupt the Tuesday morning scenic bashes......

All the very best

Les

A new batch of close-ups..

All these taken at RMWeb Live, some on Saturday, some on Sunday.   A disaster going in- I snagged a twin-core wire getting the layout out of the car and snapped it, but not before it had pulled the point motor half-out of the tramway loop point.

The failed point, marked with a Farish PW man.  Sixty quid spent overnight at Plaza Japan, and repairs will start when the new track parts arrive.

Quite a few people liked the brewery fence.  I can't remember what make it is (it may be stated several pages back in this thread).  I don't think it is N-brass but it may be.  Painted with Citadel wargamers' paint that I'd got to make a pair of plastic flintlock pistols look good enough for a Pirate King to wave about on stage, then areas wetted with PVA after fixing in place and scatter thrown at it.  The coloured flowery bits were thrown at the fence after odd tiny spots of fresh PVA had been dabbed on the green leafy surface with a cocktail stick.

The road mender and his pile of bits has the function of diverting the eye from a rip made the last time I replaced the main front point.  Mr Farish PW man was carefully lifted from this scene.

The real reason for it always being sunny in Furtwangen.  Having ripped off the local residents denizens of the bank get their kit off on the roof and sunbathe.

Down in the Marktplatz the residents get on with shopping.

The barrels at the back are where the residents of Furtwangen Ost buy their wine.  Take a jug and get it filled for a couple of Euros.   Good stuff- too good to bottle up and sell to those peasants in the UK who only like plonk with millions of food miles.......

At the other end of the layout the family having fun in the garden.  The dog is in the sandpit and the kids have broken the swing again.

And just to prove he exists, Mr Simon operating the layout.

There are more to inflict on you, but not tonight......

All the very best

Les

Hi Les,

 

Thanks so much for the view from "round the back" today - and the chat.

So enjoyable and much appreciated.

 

I never came across this thread before but rest assured, I am now a follower.

 

 

Keep up the good work and apologies for not spotting the 'real' Rathaus today.

Kev.

Very many thanks for the kind words- and rather glad I didn't make a complete idiot of myself by failing to remember what SHMD stood for-....

All the very best

Les

Can't find a home-taken pic of the right municipal bus to show- will this Independent one do?

Dennis's of Dukinfield- taken in June 2003.

Back from Coventry...

Some damage to the layout again- this time inflicted getting into the hall.  I snagged a wire getting the layout out of the car and snapped the control to the main tramway point at the foot of the hill.  Inspecting it showed that the wire had pulled sideways out of the motor built into the track a - probably a three day repair once a new point arrives from Japan.  I'll rebuild the tram station while the point is up.

Also failed one of the tramway section switches- but we got by.

Pics to follow.

Les

Only problem with this list is there is already a very strong J27 in N......

I'd love a G5 to go with my NER push-pull brake.

Les 

And the second batch......

Just a couple of notes about the fiddle yard pic in the last post

• the wibbly-wobbly train in the yard is the sulphate bogies- it never stopped straight, but the wagons always looked the part out front.
• The coal empties do have a tender-first B1 on the front (a suggestion acted upon)
• The two trains out front (by process of elimination) are the Deltic plus seven main-line coaches going North (anti-clockwise) and a type 2 with brake tender on the tarpaulin wagons Mr Simon did for me going South (clockwise).

Overview of the colliery end- seen in umpteen pics before but now lit by the LEDs on the proscenium- BTW the "lumps" that seem to be on the diagonal support seen in pics above are caused by the wires for the lighting being wrapped round it.

The coal drops.  We couldn't shunt these as the insulation in the point had given up- every time we set the road to the drops ir shorted out the entire layout.  New point now purchased for installation when the layout is erected again.

Most reliable loco on the colliery circuit was the Jinty- it was set to the lowest speed it would continue running at and left to its own devices- it stalled on the dead frog in the fiddle yard, so would be left for a while each time so as not to appear too often.....

The 2MT on the inspection saloon passes a Southbound express stopped at the signal.  We occasionally had two sound-fitted locos out together, but tried to time them so the 2MT didn't coincide with one of the other two coming the other way.  On this occasion they met....   Why is the 2MT tender-first?  It bounced over the pointwork in the fiddle yard running chimney-first so I tried turning it round- it now runs perfectly.

Casualties now sorted. Hal O'The Wynd now has traction tyres so should be able to pull a train and Book Law has gone off to DCC Supplies for a warranty repair.  The two A4s have been given their "lost" addresses back- both Bachmann chips and the third time I've had a Bachmann chip lose the plot this way.  Lucky there are planty of spare locos in the box.

Almost time to feed the cat.......

Les

edited for Thai pin eras

I'll settle for a B16/1 and C7 to follow the Q6,

oh, and an endless supply of different 0-6-0 tanks.....

Les

Pictures from Grantham - the first batch.

A day late- I had a severe toothache yesterday which involved a visit to the dentist- still have the toothache but now have an appointment for root canal treatment and a crown.......

General views of the layout with stock, and the surrounding area.  It was very quiet on Sunday.......

Operating were Geoff and Jim of the Newark N-Gauge team on both days, with John Catling on Saturday and Tony Forward of Bingham MRC (a new operator for me) on Sunday.  Chrish Burch also had a play on Saturday and Jim and John had a play with Herrenscar Harbour.

Geoff watches his train start off backscene..

Tony looks at a full fiddle yard.  We had 19 trains on the main line plus two on the colliery.

More later- off to the pharmacist.

Les

as always edidet for tryping mistukes

Hi Les

Re The Squirrel :-  . . . It is indeed a red but has gone gray due to old age! (That's what I would tell them anyway).

 

Shame I couldn't get to see it . . .

 

John

I'm not sure punters will waer that argument- especially those with eyesight good enough to see it.  It will be repainted at some point.  I'll also let langley know on Saturday or Sunday- I meed more small critters and am at RMWeb Live both days with Furtwangen.

Hopefully we'll get further North some time- needs a show big enough to afford two overnighters (I should be able to recruit a pair of locals to fill the team up- the layout isn't very difficult to operate).

All the very best

Les

Hi Les,

 

I was there on Saturday and had a quick look - but I think some of the first day teething issues you refer to were keeping you occupied! Nice looking layout and the sound on the WD was quite impressive for N gauge ('fiddly scale', as Mrs4479 will insist on calling it! ) Otherwise I was pre-occupied by being press-ganged into helping with the operation of Thurston.

 

We'll be there (Grantham) ourselves next year with, appropriately enough - Grantham!

Many thanks for the kind words.  I did know you're there next year- hoping to be there myself with Rise Park- we're on the scenics now so it should be ready.  It has been offered to Grantham Railway Soc for 2015.  It will be interesting to see the "full" Grantham- the part at Nottingham this spring was very tantalising.

Mrs Les1952 says tell Mrs4479 the fiddly scale keeps the house (almost) clear of trains as they can all get in the shed......

All the very best

Les