LNER4479

A nice touch (or perhaps happy coincidence?) to have the two WCML layouts back-to-back. I did come over to have a quick look, as I'm not sure I've seen Euxton Junction before at a show - familiar enough with it from the magazibe articles. I see you were also running No.6201? Although very different eras - on Shap, she's in charge of the 1937 'Midday Scot'!

For those unable to attend, a decent slug of the layout at the start of this video by the ever-excellent 'DCC125'.

Likewise. Thanks for making yourself known and glad you enjoyed your visit to the Westmorland fells 🙂

Quite possibly ... I don't know the details of his railway career history.

DONCASTER SHOW REPORT Well, apologies in advance as it all too easily gets to packing up time on the Sunday and you realise you haven't taken photos like you intended. So just a couple I'm afraid from me. This is the even more advanced/improved 'bridge of the Starship Enterprise' down Fiddle Yard control panel 😱 But it's all quite logical when you know how and - more importantly - performed more or less faultlessly all weekend. It's the reason we can pump out trains at regular intervals to keep things moving 'out front' and it's gradual evolution over the last five years is all down to Andrew's hard work and enthusiasm 🤗 The full team roll call for the weekend also included Paul and Tom, Steve P, Neil Barker, Barry O (who came bearing a Turbomotive) and a lunchtime stint today from Jonathan W (who came bearing cakes) As a quick PS, folks are eternally fascinated by the transportation logistics. This show was a first try out of the future arrangements now that the Upperby - Bog Junc curve is in. Here we are at about 9.45pm this evening, with van backed into the space created by removal of the boards between Bog Junc (right) and Grand Junction (left). Bits of layout are gradually filling the chapel out of the back of the van. All seems workable. Weather agreeable this evening, but this is designed to combat the prospect of loading / unloading on a filthy wet night.🌧️⚡☔

All set up and ready for the off ... See you there 😎

'Tis indeed a cracking railway. Nice photos. I've been a member since the first days of the 'Windcutter' project. I got to know the line well (and some of the folks then there) in 2008 during the commissioning of Tornado, including footplating the full route and even having a wee drive of the loco. Also witnessed 60mph test running track force tests, as part of mainline acceptance. Heady stuff. 'Tis a few years since I've been though; so probably due another visit myself.

Well, here we go again😀 Work proceeds smoothly setting up at the Doncaster Racecourse venue. Stock setting out is the usual Rubik's cube ... all the right wagons but not necessarily in the right order. Cor - look at all them trains. Managed to cycle each of them round before knocking off time so a few Gremlins already attended to. See you over the weekend if you're coming along 😉

In which case, do feel free to come and find us on 'Shap' on Saturday. In fact, I think I might have already had a chat with John at the York show. I am somewhat remiss at not following up that conversation at the time but no matter - we've still to get stuck into the nitty-gritty of the station detail. At some point, I'll need to draw up a condensed version of the buildings you are making; the source information may well be useful when we get to that stage.

Thanks, Tony. The DUCHESSES featured there will all be in action ... apart from the first one(!) Nowt wrong with 46252, apart from the rather insipid shade of green (not your fault); she has been re-allocated to the home layout, having been usurped by none other than 46234, the 1939 record holder and a true 'Duchess' (of Abercorn) to boot. Another Hornby 'Hornby Dublo' example and a much better version of the green livery. Acquired as 46232 and re-identitied. Others you feature are Tom (Dewdney)'s Hornby 46232, my Model Loco 46251 (usually allocated to Aberdeen but having a turn on the Shap roster again at this show), my 46224, a first Chinese-era example, with a fair bit of detailing added to head up the 1953 Royal Scot (all MkI 'Festival of Britain' rake) and my 46248, also a re-worked first Chinese era example. To those, add 6221 (for the 1937 Coronation Scot) and 46256 (no show without Punch). Plenty of other stuff on the roster, but I do rather like my ... ahem ... Princess Coronations! 😎

Funnily enough ... Just been servicing this venerable member of the Shap stud ready for service at the weekend (works the '1950s pick-up goods'; real loco was allocated to Tebay in the early 1950s). I acquired the loco 25 years ago. It was built by Hubert Parrish who built and sold models professionally in the Manchester area. I was a friend of the family and I was involved in the sombre task of clearing his stock etc when he died. I came across this loco, it ran OK so I thought I'd have it. I did a bit of detailing and re-liveried it but it's basically the loco as built, possibly 40 year old plus. Anyway ... it was sounding a bit 'grate-y' just now so I thought I'd put a few drops of oil on the motor and bearings. I can't remember the last time I took it apart so imagine my surprise when ... The original K's motor! I'd assumed it was at least an X04. A few drops of oil, a quick wipe of the commutator and it's running even better now! Clearly, if I was starting afresh to create a Fowler 2-6-2T, I wouldn't start from here. Otherwise, I'm with John. This one - miraculously(?) - is working just fine. It ain't broke so I'm not going to fix it! Anyway Tony, in the meantime, I've made a start on checking and cataloguing the Peter Lawson kit built locos. All run fine; not come across a 'dud' yet. I think there might even be one of these (K's Fowler 2-6-2T but with a better mechanism). Be the spring time before I've retrieved and catalogued everything. See you at the weekend.

Thanks Tony - impressive work. I take it those are the buildings on Platform 1-3? And to scale? We unfortunately are having to compromise in both length and width - both up and down island platforms will be shorter and (particularly) narrower than they should be. Feel free to share any further images of your work on 'Doncaster 1970'.

I have to say (although I'm too tender in years to have been a true steam loco spotter) that I detest the nickname 'Semi' for Stanier's most magnificent creation with a passion. However, you're right about enginemen nicknames. To the Crewe and Carlisle men (at least), they were affectionately known as 'Big Lizzies'. A most glorious epithet as it both acknowledges the legendary exploits of 6201 whilst recognising that the 'Princess Coronations' were altogether bigger and better machines. No, to me - and me equally enthusiastic father (who WAS a steam trainspotter, at the southern end of the WCML) - they will always be simply 'Duchesses'. And being as that wasn't actually the official class designation, that's a good enough nickname. Anyone coming to Doncaster at the weekend can enjoy the sight of at least seven DUCHESSES in action on the big northern hill Semis? Never! Yeuch😡

Interesting. Yes, I seem to have acquired a few chassis only & body only kits along the way; seemed to be a feature of the range. That 4F is body only; I'd probably use a Comet chassis if I were to make it, adding suitable detail to the body until I was (reasonably) happy with it. But not just yet awhile!

Latest update, actually a combination of two recent visits. We're now at the (exciting) stage whereby the boards for Doncaster station itself need constructing. This eight foot board should support the south end junctions and southern half of the station. One suitably braced (honest), top board is fastened down. The view the other way shows how the shape and layout of the fiddle yard tracks are designed to match the orientation of the station boards so as to maintain the access space to be a reasonably credible 2ft 6" min. See track plan in post #1. Attention then switched to further tracklaying in the fiddle yard area. And here we are at 'draw stumps'. The fiddle yard beginning to take shape and pretty much 'as planned'. For now at least.

Evening Tony, Here's my only Jamieson kit build to date: No idea whether this was a standard or special kit. I do seem to recall the coupling rods being lengths of rail with holes drilled in them. I added bosses either side to improve the looks. This was 20 years ago. Not too shabby? Meanwhile, I have a few in stock, thanks to our recent work. One of the earlier ones with a picture stuck on the box. So what would you expect to find inside a box with a (lovely) picture of an A3-hauled ECML express on the cover? Why - a LMS 4F goods loco, of course 😆 One day, I might have a crack at it, just for the hell of it ... Finally (for now), did someone say that Jamieson didn't do BR standards? Was this a 'special', therefore? (body only) Available to anyone interested at a very reasonable price!

'That photo is taken from Nelson bridge which is the continuation of Victoria viaduct at the north end of Citadel, the bridge also goes across the river here. We have a low relief version of that goods shed alongside a line which just disappears into the wall - we just have the through goods lines, no room for Dentonholme yard (the building wasn't big enough....).' Thanks Mike. In the fullness of time, a bridge on the layout at that point might be quite appropriate and will make some use of the triangle area. No buses allowed, though (Clive please note)

Thanks Mike. I am aware - propped up against the shoebox is a picture of that end of the shed (quite a popular viewpoint - is there a bridge at that point?) and I fully intend to have the nearest road running through as you describe and try and make something of that scene. Last night was just a rough plonk down of some lengths of tracks, principally focused on the configuration of pointwork I require.

Ooh - nearly forgot. It's not escaped my notice that the subject of this thread has been nominated in the 2023 awards, so thanks to those who nominated it for the shortlist. It's only a bit of fun but feel free to click on the BRMA 2023 awards banner if you feel so moved 🤩

So, with the grey paint finally dry (24hrs in a cold chapel), here's what's going on: Dentonholme yard includes a Goods Depot area. That's the furthest away of the new boards and it's on the level, as befits a depot, where wagons will be stabled. Meanwhile, in the foreground, the running lines drop down away from the yard towards Bog Junc. I decided to end the cork in the Goods Depot as shown, leaving a funny little triangle shape. No need to fill every square inch with track? Here's a likely track plan for the south end, based - as ever - on the prototype. The two locos are on what might be described as the yard through road. Behind them are the transfer sidings, where the trip workings will be handled. In front are the through lines - although, being goods lines, trains can be held here and shunted as necessary. Behind are the roads of the Goods Depot fanning out. The shoe box marks where the goods shed will be. Two roads inside with a central loading area. Bit of a Peco order needed methinks ...

With so much to do, there's always something different to be done to keep the variety and interest going. This, for example. A gap that's needed filling for the last six months, this is the continuation of the goods lines from Bog Junc (top left) into Dentonholme yard (bottom right). A 6' x 2' piece of 9mm recently procured has been suitable marked, cut and just placed in position for now. As you can see, there's two parts to it. I'll come back to that. Boards removed and structure being installed. Leg added, boards fixed for keeps and corked. And now with cork painted. This view taken specifically to show the new boards in relation to the other recent work. In the background is Upperby. The goods lines then follow the recently installed curve top left, through Bog Junc. and towards the camera to link up with the already constructed northern end of Dentonholme Goods Yard. In some ways, it's a bit of a significant moment or at least a milestone - I now have the complete trackbed for the out and back route of a goods train via the WCML. As well, almost inadvertently (as it wasn't planned), a complete circuit into the bargain. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. There's track needing laying and then getting it all wired up is going to slow me down a little ... (Part 2 to follow - run out of space to upload any more photos on this post)

Everything on the signalbox diagram will be motored and interlocked with signals etc. I was talking about shunting points only, outside the signalled area.

Another day, another set of points to install ... Actually, there's 3 evenings' work on show here. Cut (and curve) track to length; paint (spray); mark and cut square holes; install motors / switches; solder on wires (much easier than upside-down soldering). And now the 'phew' moment. Focus for this work has been the 3-way (tandem) point which appeared recently. The two other leads off the point lead into the goods yard; the Y-point behind is the depot entrance point. A quick 'push through' with these three coaches gives initial confidence that all should be OK in terms of alignment, following the gentle tweaking. Beginning to look the part? This shows the sort of double track arrangement beyond the actual junctions. Top right is the depot EXIT point - also the way in / out of the carriage shed - the succession of crossovers heading towards the camera ensure light locos / stock moves gain the correct running line heading for the station. Not quite 'job done' but all remaining pointwork is of the more straightforward shunting type. Questionable whether any of the closer-to-hand ones even need point motors for a home layout?

Been reading the recent posts re RTR vs kit / scratchbuild. I've recently taken on the challenge of completing a scratchbuild that I started some 35 years ago (I'm sure there'll be others who have even longer running projects waiting patiently on their workbench). It'll be my only second ever full scratchbuild. It's a Fairburn tank. When I started it, 35 years ago, no such RTR offering was available ... ... but now? I could have - in fact I DO have - the Bachmann offering. So why bother with all this effort, now? I must be totally doolally, within everything else I have to do on my insane layout project ... Because I like making things, that's why! Right from the word go, I took to 'making things' without any particular encouragement. Lego, Meccano, Airfix kits when I was younger and then later on I found I could solder things. Nobody showed me (can't you tell?), I just had a go and worked out my own way of doing it. It's why I don't fear for the future of the hobby. There'll always be a sector within the hobby that like making things. In fact, even if folks are using RTR in putting together a layout, so what? - they're still making a layout. There's plenty who find the baseboard / tracklaying / electrics side of layout construction hard-going ... but once they get to the scenic side of things, they come to life and often create amazing effects and scenes. The sort of stuff that I conversely struggle with (particularly the use of paint, colour, tone, light n shade, etc), not part of my skill set at all. I also don't subscribe to the view that everyone used to make things in the past 'because they had to'. The pages of RM in the 1960s and 70s had plenty of layouts cheerfully using the HD and Triang RTR items of the day. Other locos may have been a bodyline kit mounted on a standard RTR chassis - my Dad had quite a few of those, using the HD R1 0-6-0 chassis. He paid a professional modeller to do the work for him. Ironically, it's only in more recent times that he's 'had a go' himself, gluing together (never soldering!) such a kit and mounting it on a current RTR 'Jinty' chassis. A straw poll of one, I accept, but ... well ... for what it's worth. The hobby's alive n well, so far as I'm concerned.

Meanwhile, how's 'e getting on with that Fairburn tank? C'mon, admit it - you forgot all about it, didn't you? 🥴 Well, anyway ... frames and driving wheels have been painted and wheels fitted, hopefully for keeps. There was a bit more involved than what might appear here, as there was a tight spot, which I eventually traced to a coupling rod bearing hole not being quite where it should be (despite having used the coupling rods as template for drilling wheel centres, Guy Williams style). Hole gingerly elongated, sliver of brass soldered in and hole re- drilled ... Success! Now perfectly free running. Took a bit of time but worth the effort, methinks? Whilst I was on the chassis, treated myself to some valve gear work. Some of this uses the MRJ LMS Stainless steel etch. Duly assembled. Radius rods set in forward gear; I like to see it all moving 🤗 Recent evenings have seen work switch to superstructure. First horror moment was the realisation that I hadn't built in the tapers to the rear bunker sides when I originally put this together, 35 years ago. Decided that I couldn't live with it so I cut down the fold, cleaned up and re-soldered, one side at a time. That's better. With the mod. done, I can now solder in the missing bunker top pieces, which of course maintain the same taper angle, so it's not all simple 90 degree work. That's looking better! As of 'knocking off' at 1am this morning(!) Spotted that the inset for the footstep is actually checker plate which I knew I had a little bit of in the scrap box. Otherwise, the more I work on the loco, the more I realise how relatively 'green' I was all them years ago. It ain't ever going to win any prizes (other than a sympathy vote!) but it'll be good to get it finished at long last 🙂