alancaster149

Noted from Rails, the J27 has been delayed to January-March, 2021. In which case the J26 may be further delayed. Gives me more time to get the funds in place, in good time. (I've got a wish list as long as my arms, and that includes at least one more Peppercorn Class A1 and maybe an A3 with GN tender as shedded at Leeds Neville Hill  - 50B)

'Ainthorpe Junction' has made great strides, the double track main line has reached Unit 7 and I await just another package from Rails of Sheffield, with short Setrack elements and another medium radius left-hand point to complete.

Power clips have been attached on Units 5 and 6 for Bishopthorpe Goods and Livestock Yard (Unit 5) and the goods only Bishopthwaite Station (Unit 6), as well as on Unit 4 Ainthorpe Bank. Some DCC will have to be involved, such as for a banker on Unit 5 to back up heavier workings up the bank to the junction. I'll have to draw up a track diagram (as I've promised one to someone), although not necessarily to scale. The 'juice' has been applied to the coal depot and two roads on Unit 1 fiddleyard, the 'juice' tested by a pair of Hornby Class J94 0-6-0 ST's. Another dual controller will need to be bought in the near future to independently operate Bishopthorpe Yard and Bishopthwaite station, as the single unit with simulated brake has been applied to the coal depot. 

More soon...  

Note to the entry below: Got my Smith's 3 link couplings ready. In time I'll post images of the finished thing(s), weathered and all

TAFNF 

Well it's nearly here at last. Oxford Rail's presented images of the J27 in various guises, LNER and BR(NE). Can't wait to get my mitts on at least one, preferably two. There's a lot of choice of re-liverying to do, I'll probably go for the early totem, use 65894 for one - a York (50A) engine - and leave the other as West Hartlepool's 65837 as in the images from Hattonvery s. Cab detail looks good,  very much the bee's knees (see image 2). Release date has been pushed back to 2020, which in a way suits me, although I'd have liked to have seen it earlier. At least I've a fighting chance of being able to afford two.

I've been a bit remiss in answering queries or replying to comments. 

In answer to "45568"(2/2/2012)  the load in the Parkside ex-LNER Sulphate wagon was a casting, supplied by Harburn I think. The casting's a bit short and I modified them (I built two) by sawing off a few sacks and glueing them elsewhere on the castings.

"ColHut" (17/4/2016) I haven't got the wagons any more (sold them) so I can't take a picture of the underframe and brake arrangement. The levers were both sides (see Parkside instructions). The bogies were fitted by drilling through the floor, countersinking the holes and using brass 8BA screws with washers beneath the body. Bogies were weighted with lead for a smoother ride.  

Alan L (2/10/2019) 

'THORALDBY' is no more, although the page is still there on Hub Pages (see profile page https://hubpages.com/@alancaster149). What's taken its place is the makings of a new layout, 'AINTHORPE JUNCTION' , here's a link:

https://hubpages.com/games-hobbies/RITES-OF-PASSAGEFORR

(it works, believe me, I've tried it - the people at Hub Pages amended it after it went belly up). 

There are features on the page (that goes some way down) about some of the motive power that will feature on the layout when it's up and running. There are sketches I made in hospital last summer on the projected layout, lots of images from various sources including my own digital images. You'll see. What's more there's a bit about Oxford Rail's J27 due out October-December 2019. Another prayer answered, all I need is for someone to come up with a ready-to-run G5 and maybe an A8 or D20 (or both), Take a look anyway. Here's a view of the skew viaduct (modified Metcalfe) that leads out from Fiddleyard Unit 1

Alan Lancaster

12/8/2019

I'm a bit new on this site, so I need some time to get into the groove. Still navigating around.