RonnieS

Have you seen this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355414562110?hash=item52c05bd53e:g:0H8AAOSwCFNls~67&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4AUaz0ZXB3aVyNFW6dPqdRLW4R%2Fy5%2FI69eXxFpacGdFnMlHf710ehzqGeaU2eqMPffK71sxnw9qNEcBSXHVKf98RGILn0hTG9mcsT0g24RpWx1WHUAFVeVGtflC3Q0bvVgMtmw0%2BCcQHpqoZ%2Ffosv2atRJl5KFXGZSldBihm%2Fm8GfBCZb34mFTdjpMf3S5Xafv3MiJtbykj0wPVZSdYmRTCEftJaVOVdh%2Bdt9WOD1ZPCK3iisrBZK4knfCPoSJ17tHIDf45YoHpOTMcbjGNKmKjBh7jFW94I08leA7iVU4TY|tkp%3ABk9SR9j6vr2pYw

Not a lot happening on OLD MILLS as It's the run up to 

and I have been working on a  DCC/DC control panel for a club project.

My Christmas Present to me is the Hornby 78xxx. This one was latterly Gloucester allocated so not a huge stretch of maybe. At the mo it's very stiff and requires much running in. Nearly al my 80+ locos run at 3 on the Modelex but this one needed 5 for the first hour. It's now about 4.2 so more miles!

I served my apprenticeship at Bilston Steelworks. From 1965 on. It changed from Stewarts and LLoyds

to British steel during this time and at the start there were still a few steam locos. My Uncle Bill was high up in the electrical part of the loco shed, although what his job tittle was I can't recall.

Nothing much happening here. New year resolutions will include some weathering

Said Collett  auto tank conversion was not a great success. The flanges are possibly a bit too near to scale as  it's great bunker first everywhere on the layout but smokebox first it's not happy on the 2ft 6 radius route Peco curved points. It's fine on the 5ft route. So a restricted engine!

Not a lot of movement here (it must be 1959!) as I only did an Ultrascale Hornby 14xx conversion in the last month. I have been working on a club project

Early Morning Milk Train

And the diverted Cardiff- Portsmouth Harbour train O58 in the capable hands of 70029 Shooting Star

A 38xx on a class "H" unfitted goods

A new acquisition, a Hornby EVENING STAR hauls a 9 coach empty stock train through Old Mills.

More information on the line has come to light from the RAILWAY BYLINES March '02 and The GREAT WESTERN JOURNAL Autumn '05

4 hours ago, RonnieS said:

I did add some lead to improve the haulage.  Under the floor of the cab is a void...you can get 10g in there. Also under the DCC facility plug in the smokebox...another 11g.  A Masterpiece crew (being metal) add a bit more. Still spins the wheels a bit at 32 wagons but surefooted on 29.

Might be Major to get it heavier?

On 03/04/2022 at 10:18, RonnieS said:

I rather like Collett 2-6-0s, however the Dapol offering is very light-footed. I am scratching my head on how to add a bit more weight. I have 3 of them. One I purchased at full price, one I purchased at bargain price and one was a gift from Tony Wright (part of a bit of "horse trading")

I did add some lead to improve the haulage.  Under the floor of the cab is a void...you can get 10g in there. Also under the DCC facility plug in the smokebox...another 11g.  A Masterpiece crew (being metal) add a bit more. Still spins the wheels a bit at 32 wagons but surefooted on 29.

I might try the 9B pencil trick  or Peco electrolube before giving up though?

After a big rest from Old Mills (trying to catch up on holidays missed during the Pandemic) I am catching up on paused projects. First of these is tender pick ups for a few locos. My first thought was to experiment on a Bachmann Collett goods spare tender using the DCC concepts thingies. Far too much drag............back to the drawing board!

On 09/11/2021 at 19:06, RonnieS said:

The Bristol and North Somerset Railway had a rather convoluted history. Opened in 1873, it joined an existing branch from Frome to Radstock North.

Passenger stations on the line

Brislington

Whitchurch Halt

Pensford

Clutton

Hallatrow

Farrington Gurney Halt

Midsomer Norton and Welton

Radstock

Mells Road

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Old Mills  was situated between Midsomer Norton and Farrington Gurney Halt

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

The line's main traffic was coal and commuting in and out of Bristol. There was also cattle, stone traffic, profitable parcels traffic and a wagon works at Radstock. Passenger traffic ceased on the line in 1959, with complete closure of the line in 1973 following the closure of the last colliery in the Somerset Coalfield at Kilmersdon. However circa 1966 a connection to the S and D line at Radstock was built!

According to various sources it was a Dotted Red or Dotted Blue route restriction? I think Dotted Red as 42xx and 56xx tanks were noted working the line. In any event later in its history Western Diesels worked some traffic. Therefore route 5?

As a pre-teen I remember reading that that railway modelling was a hobby “where realism and imagination are friends” so taking the alternative history path I have taken liberties.

 

Assumptions (or the tongue in cheek history)

 

Realising that Bristol-Frome was a useful diversion route BR(WR) upgraded the line to Red in 1955. At the same time the connection to the S& D was installed. Unlike reality the connection also allowed traffic from Bath to Bristol. A useful alternative for light engines to and from St Phillip’s shed and empty stock from Green Park to Temple Meads.

Instead of abolishing local passenger traffic on the line it was reorganised and rationalised by replacing the spaced out 2/3 coach trains with more frequent 1 coach autos and single car DMUs. The ex GWR AEC units operated in reality (timetabled as the Bruton Diesel) but the class 122 and the 128 parcels cars are a work of fiction. However, both would have been justified.

It wouuld appear I am not on my own with "pie in the sky" 

Q Wikipedeia 

"Future potential reopening"

Numerous proposals have been made to reopen the railway line in some form, most involving the still-existing branch line from Frome to Radstock. A consultation report produced by Halcrow Group in 2014 outlines the feasibility reinstating service on that branch which was estimated to cost £40 million in 2013. Furthermore, the possibility of opening a heritage railway line has been discussed.

The former line through Bristol via Brislington and Whitchurch has been described by pressure group Transport for Greater Bristol as 'technically feasible' but would require a large land acquisition budget due to most of the old route being built over.

In January 2019, Campaign for Better Transport released a report identifying the line from Frome to Radstock as Priority 2 for reopening. Priority 2 is for those lines which require further development or a change in circumstances (such as housing developments).

Model Railway couplings are a personal choice. I have chosen (in the main) to go for a simple hook and bar made from 0.5mm wire blackened with a spirit based marker. This is all the fixed rake stock. There are a few dozen or so of the "Sprat and Winkle" magnetic couplings. Here an empty cattle wagon has been dropped off because of a "hot box". It will go to the nearby Marcroft wagon works Radstock for attention.

Well I have had a break from this layout as I got involved on  https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/178790-the-bognor-regis-club-american-layout/but I have a few additions planned for soon.

Well! Only 3 got built as the "Taunton Concrete" wagon snapped! I had had it in stock for a while and the plastic had gone brittle. No great loss as I have 3 times as many wagons than I need.

Down again (unless it's me?)

Having far too many wagons I had almost decided to eBay the last few unbuilt kits but a mate sent me a photo of a "Taunton Concrete" wagon at Frome so  back to the workbench!

I always build batches so the last 4 will be done. 

I think the camera is going to be good with a LOT more practice?

A new camera has been acquired. A double edged sword in that it shows the faults more

On 08/12/2022 at 22:58, RonnieS said:

Oh No it's back!

Cured again!