TrevorP1

Exactly! 🙂 I’ve never understood this fixation with 100mph. Or come to that any convenient round number. At the end of the day City of Truro was going very quickly, whether it was 98 or 102 or whatever really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.

I think we’d all like to see it finished by you Tony and running on LB.

For over 18 months now I’ve been wondering what to do with the spare Tim Horn baseboard (left over from a long gone diorama) lurking underneath my layout. The idea of a small ‘bonus’ layout appealed particularly as it will sit happily on a small wheeled cupboard I use for storage. It can also come indoors to be worked on at the kitchen table or in my den upstairs. The question was what to do. About this time last year I was set on something Lynton and Barnstaple but I couldn’t see how I could make a 5’ x 1’ board look like Exmoor so the idea was shelved. For some reason thoughts turned to a more sensible dockside scene and I began looking at the railways of Plymouth. My mind rambled on thinking that perhaps if I just changed the stock it could also become my old home town of Southampton. Why, I could even call it ‘Mayflower Quay’ and have a pub called ‘The Pilgrims Rest’! Eventually I decided that the Southampton scenario appealed and although it would have to be totally ‘make believe’ - and microscopic compared to the real thing - I felt I could give it a flavour of my old home town. I’m conscious that Graham Muz of this parish also has a ‘Southampton Layout’ and I hope mine will be different enough that it is not seen as ‘clone’. Then a few days ago, as if by some weird act of the modelling gods, Accurascale announced the banana vans and gave me an easy, totally authentic and characteristic idea for a reason to be. Another building for unloading New Zealand Lamb would complete the picture. So the name. Much as I liked Mayflower Quay I settled on Banana Wharf. I’ve since discovered there is local restaurant chain of that name but if any of their management read this and decide that my tiny efforts have infringed some copyright or other I’ll take that as a compliment! The plan is below and I think it’s self explanatory except that the fiddle yard (cassette based) is on the right. It will be perfectly feasible to add another on the left and I may well do this if the layout is a success. I hope to base the structure marked ‘Ruin’ on the Watergate or Gods House Tower - both being Southampton Town Quay landmarks. Much of the track and some of the electrics will be spare from Burngullow Lane but the three extra points I need are due to arrive tomorrow. I already have the aluminium channel for the cassettes, a Dapol B4, a Dapol banana van in need of the proper chassis, plus the controllers can simply be plugged into one layout or the other. Now there a thread I’m committed but expect progress to be slow!

Thank you Mike, it’s amazing what makes me happy these days! 👍

The USAs are really the only steam I remember ‘properly’ working near the docks. That was usually when we went to the Royal Pier. I guess if I’m honest it was the 07s that did most of the work by then. I caught up with 30096 when it worked for Corralls at Dibles Wharf and I have the Dapol version. When the new ‘mini layout’ develops I’ll have to look out for a USA.

Thanks Brian - 'a lot going on there'! It seems there were a lot of smaller consignments so that helps those wanting to run 2 or 3 vans. I also spotted there was flow to Tavistock Junction so bearing in mind the one previously spotted from Avonmouth, I wonder if there was a ripening facility at TJ? Also begs the question how the residents of Penzance etc got their bananas. I've been looking at this film which was linked in another thread Southampton Docks in the 1950s . Interesting stuff from about a minute in with also another version of that pesky Fyffe's label. SS Camitio also has much of interest from about 2 minutes in. Also more to confuse the Fyffe's label spotters. 🙂 Having been born in Southampton I've got to say all this banana stuff has got my interest. I saw banana trains regularly as a nipper. They were just part of the scene - along with the rest of docks. For a few months now I've been having various ideas for a smaller 'bonus' layout that can live under Burngullow Lane. There have been various ideas but earlier in the summer I decided a docks scene would fit the bill. Then along comes Rapido with the E1 and now Accurascale with SR banana vans... Time to start a thread!

I know the feeling! 😀

Agreed Mike. The STN in question states: For anyone interested it is well worth taking the time to take advantage of the free download from http://wttreprints.uk/. They have lots of other useful stuff as well.

A useful document. Regarding the 'froth' 🙂 over banana trains in the west country, see train 33 in this document 6:10 pm from Tavistock Junction.

A little bit of information here: Southampton Banana Traffic. Plus a tiny bit more here: Elders & Fyffes scroll down to Empress Dock.

Yes, blue paper! It’s strange what comes to mind…

Plus an E1 on the way!

When I was lad my Dad had a pal who had fired the leader. I can still recall him telling me how hot it was. He was used to firing the pacifics so he knew what hot meant...

I'm seriously alarmed to think that Accurascale must have a satellite with some kind of tractor beam aimed at my wallet. First Manors, then Siphons and now banana vans. I've been planning a winter project mini layout based on my childhood memories of Southampton Docks and Town quay. The track work order is going off next week but I've told nobody yet, so how do Accurascale know to bring out the perfect vehicle? I found the potted history on the website really interesting. When I was a nipper our local greengrocer, Mr Priddle, Mr Pothecary (strange name for a greengrocer!) was a ready supplier of old banana boxes. These were used for all kinds of things. I was often sent to struggle home with a box bigger than me, accompanied by a stern warning to look out for things other than bananas that might have survived the trip across the world and which were now looking for dinner!

If I remember my GW brakes correcty, surely the brake handle is in ‘running position’?

I've just had another look at the Bygone wagons website and noticed the Insixfish wagon in the 'upcoming' section... 👏 😃 New years modelling budget getting spent already!

Back home in chilly Flintshire now after our latest visit to points west of the Tamar. Thanks to Phil @Chamby I was able to visit the Bodmin club - and meet the 'other' Tony Wright(!) - and also see Phil's Leicester GC layout. To me, Leicester was a marvel of electronics, I'm sure it won't be long before Phil is able to control all his trains by voice alone! 😉 The platform canopy is something to behold. Some very skilful work and a lot of thought has gone into that. On the way home we stayed for few days in Strete near Slapton Sands. Strete is, of course, one of the villages evacuated for 'Exercise Tiger' prior to D-Day. The tragic events that unfolded here are commemorated by the Sherman Tank memorial at Torcross. Just search Exercise Tiger on the web if you want to know more. Strete and the local area are charming and natural but it's been a very long time since I visited, let alone stayed, in South Devon and the main centres of population have become horribly commercialised since I was last there. Chelsea Tractors and designer shops abound. Railway interest was provided by an enjoyable scenic trip from Kingswear to Paignton (we returned to Kingswear quickly!) and also the South Devon where we were treated to a ride in this splendid GWR special saloon. Mention must be made of the model shop attached to the SDR. I was shopping for paint, glue, filler etc. They have comprehensive stocks of Humbrol enamels, plus others. For instance, Scale Model Scenery, Ratio, Parkside, Woodland Scenics and Peco are well represented plus the usual RTR suspects. No connection of course, just a satisfied customer who came away with more than just paint and glue...

Interesting work on the signal box Phil. There's something quite satisfying about 'bashing' these RTP structures. They do save a lot of time which can be used on other things - like building the interior, which took me ages for Tremewan 'box!

Having the loop of the T/L in line or about 0.5mm in front of the buffers is what I aim for as well John. I have a ‘hidden’ section of about 24” radius and they will propel round that with no trouble. This is 4 wheel goods stock of course, carriages and locos are on Hunt couplings with the odd adapter vehicle used where necessary.

Having been away on one of our regular pilgrimages to the Delightful Duchy I haven't kept up well with the gossip on RMweb but I did pick up some preliminary frothing regarding an announcement that we might only need one of. On the way home we called in at the South Devon Railway and lucked into a trip in this splendid vehicle. Special saloon 9044. £2.50 supplement each way and the bargain of the century I thought. Carol was amazed that we were even allowed to ride in it. Now. 9044 has had a very long career and, as far as I know, there was only one of it's type. It could well have visited most corners to the system in it's 110 odd year career on the big railway. I'll put my order in for one I think. @rapidoandy

Ideal for a tarpaulin van on a china clay branch then. 🙂

Or ‘Grundon Bin’ as in 4 wheeled wheelie bin… I thought everyone called them that! 🤔

Nothing wrong with those. I have to be in the mood and then sometimes, if I'm lucky, I might make a half decent job...

Not sure how I've managed to miss this Phil. Duly 'followed'. Excellent progress there especially for a 'one man band'! Although I've no modelling aspirations, I'm always interested to see anything from the GC although any knowledge I might have gained is more from the southern end. This is probably to do with helping out in the early days at Quainton Road - that was an awfully long time ago!

The new Tremewan signalman leans on the hurdy gurdy and surveys his box. Hopefully it's near enough! Springside, Ratio and Modelu parts plus some knocked up from pieces of plastic strip etc. I decided against the cliche armchair but gave him some carriage cushions on top of a locker. Although there is no running water he does have a Baby Belling to warm up his soup!