rowanj

The North Eastern Kits N10 heads for Tyneside with the Loco Coal. This is the kit to which I added the vacuum brake. These are really magnificent kits, A skilled builder can produce a truly outstanding model, and even an average modeller like me ends up with a perfectly fine "layout" loco. The kits contain lots of small details, and challenge the fingertips when soldering, but I tried to add as much as possible. How much is visible from normal viewing distance is a moot point. Arthur was always willing to help with any small issues I had, and I cant recommend his kits too highly. As an aside, the Loco Coal is out because I have just obtained a couple of Ian Kirk LNER planked Loco Coal Wagons to augment the rake. These are basic kits but are suitable for my purposes. I assume Colin Ashby who took over this part of the Kirk range, has managed to produce a run of some of the kits.

The A2 now has the valve gear fitted, cobbled together from Comet parts mainly from the A3/4. I took the opportunity to do some filling to the loco body. The space above the leading bogie wheel looks odd, The tender was from the GBL A2, and is a Bachmann clone, with authentic Doncaster rivets. It doesn't quite fit the tender chassis, so I need to check what is lifting it at the rear. I have a superb photo of the loco with a blue Scottish region nameplate, and am inclined to get one for my model.

Good to hear from you, Manna. I started spotting at Little Benton in 1960, so missed the A8,A5 and D20,. Even J21 and J25 were rare breeds by then. Those locos which did survive seemed to operate in a pretty restricted locality, As Little Benton is a couple of miles north of Heaton, ECML passenger haulage was almost all handled by 52A,, 52B,and 64A. So although 34A locos, as well as New England,York and Leeds stock,got to Newcastle,they rarely went north. Heaton shed with empty stock or for servicing was the limit. Long distance freight was usually Heaton, Gateshead, St Margarets or Tweedmouth. On the other hand, I now can legitimately run my A2/1, and single- chimney A2's from Haymarket. So I'm afraid I'm not entirely honest with the stock I run, much of which would be pretty rare at Little Benton. This is partly because I had it from a time when anything ER would do, and because I now prefer loco building, so the timescale has slipped back into the 1950,s to accommodate the D20, etc. I also allow locos from York Tyne Dock or Blaydon to slip further north than usual, and the occasional Darlington General overhaul gets a running in turn which wouldn't have happened in real life. So we see a K2 or O2 to delight the spotters, and the timescale becomes 1957 to 1963. I suppose we all have a few loco s which don't even fit this stretch of imagination. In my case, this is a BEC J17, the first kit I built nearly 50 years ago, and W1, which I always wanted to see. Thanks,Manna, for prompting this explanation of the loco stock seen on my version of Little Benton Sidings.

Much as I love building N10's, D20's and the like, I actually remember the DMU's rather than steam-hauled commuter trains. Derby Lightweight heads north, while a Metro-Cammell 101 has an ex- Morpeth stopper to Newcastle. Type 2 (Class 24) re-numbered as a Gateshead loco, is held in the sidings with a pick-up goods,( including 4 wagons from Airfix/Dapol kits headed to the Blue Circle yard at Heaton). The loco was originally in 2-tone green with half-size yellow waring panels, and needed a repaint to get it to an appropriate state for Gateshead. The DMU's are "out the box"

Just as a reminder, this A2 is a DJH body "rescued" from the bottom draw, and matched to a set of Gibson frames which I ordered in error instead of those for an A5. I had most of the parts I thought I needed to get the chassis running, including a Mashima round can motor which I intended to fit to a Branchlines chassis. But I just couldn't get it all to fit, so chucked it (literally) into a box and moved on. However, here we are again. I bought a couple of motors from Ebay to try out. 1 is obviously a small O Gauge, and I don't see an obvious way to get it to fit a gearbox, as the fixing screws are further apart than the Mashima standard. However the smaller but still substantial version does screw to a OO gearbox, albeit skewed. The smaller Mitsumi motors fit at the same angle. I have a good supply of these, but an A2 needs a bit more oomph. Anyway, the photo shows the 1227 motor sitting in the A2 chassis. It runs smoothly, and is reasonably powerful, and is not too bad a bargain at £16.

9F 92063 takes a break from it's usual trips to Consett and head north on a fitted freight, probably no further than Berwick. The loco was a GBL Evening Star. I cant recall where the tender body came from, and it runs on a loco - drive Hornby Railroad chassis, I need to re-wire it as it runs "backwards". A Dave Alexander conversion kit was used to represent a Tyne Dock loco. The cab numerals look over-large, but I took them from a photo of the loco in Darlington MPD yard. I think Darlington just used whatever they fancied when locos went through Works towards the end - there is a splendid photo of a Jinty withcrest and umber on the tank sides a la J72's. Goodness knows what the LMS guys said when it returned to, I think, Runcorn. I also thought I'd try one shot in black and white, just as an experiment/for a change. Edit ..The tender top was also GBL from the 76xxx loco.

This is the 2nd. N10, from North Eastern Kits. I don't remember ever seeing one , though I would be only 11 when the last ones from Gateshead and Tyne Dock were scrapped. They would have been very rare birds indeed at Little Benton, but are pretty essential for a NE based layout, and I'm not that much of a purist. I'll try to get some better shots outside once 69092 gets numbered, an early and 3-link coupling fitted and coal added. I fitted the vacuum pipe along the RH bunker using wire designed, I think, for flower arranging. The loco had a standpipe, but no train heating apparatus. It was one of 2 which retained the vacuum brakes when the rest of the class had it removed. However a further 3 had it restored and were used at Hull and Newcastle as station pilots, and these locos did get train heating. The prototype picture which I found via Google shows my 2 locos at Bowes Bridge, where they were used on the Tanfield Branch, Both were long-term Gateshead locos.

Dave Alexander Models N10 69109 is the latest addition to the fleet, and here it is on its' maiden run with a local trip work to Ponteland. I built this alongside an ongoing construction of the more modern and detailed North Eastern models etch kit. As a result, I was able to add details to the basic kit. There is a link below to my loco construction for dummies thread. The N10 was a Gateshead loco for almost all its' life , as was the A4 ",Sparrow Hawk", taking the Pullman to Newcastle.. It seems to have been photographed irregularly, and was apparently a poor steamer prior to the fitting of the Kylchap double chimney. My version was modified from the much maligned GBL magazine series, running on a Hornby super-detailed chassis. Mallard was the first in series, cost £2.99, and was cloned from the latest Hornby version. I bought several. I don't have a memory of many Hornby A4's at Little Benton, though that may be a flaw. It was more often a Haymarket loco that we saw. Gateshead seemed to prefer A1's on the Edinburgh expresses, and Heaton had, mainly, A3's when I was spotting. I may be wrong, but I think a lot of Gateshead main-line turns were to and from the south, with Haymarket, and its' love of its' A4's, having more of the work north of Newcastle on trains such as The Talisman. Of course, there are plenty of photos of Gateshead A4's going to and coming from Scotland, just to disprove the theory.

69109 doing what it was designed for - a local goods trip.. Weathered using Tamiya powders, Modelmaster decals. It still needs a fireman, but is running well nevertheless. The second kit has had its' chassis tested with the body in place and it too runs nicely. As I'm only fitting detailing parts, there is nothing useful to publish. The boiler is now finished bar handrails and washout plugs. The hole at the rear will need to be filled to take Ross Pop valves and whistle. fitting the handrails properly to the tank fronts looks to be a bit fiddly. To make a change from 69109, Artur's kit will represent a loco which had vacuum brakes restored. I need to check an appropriate Tyneside number.

The Alexander N10 has progressed to the point where it really only needs the dummy front coupling, coal and a fireman. I think it should also have a "trident" on RH bunker rear for fire irons, but I forgot to add them - I'll do it later. The cab is far from perfect but now looks "busy" rather than the empty space Dave provided. I added washout plugs- spares from Arthur's kit- and the RH and LH sanding rods. I have done a bit more on the North Eastern kit. the cab is basically finished as is the boiler/smokebox shell. The loco funs nicely in the form shown in the photo, so, hopefully, the rest is simply a question of adding detail. It is a wonderful kit- a credit to the designer, I wish I could lay my hands on one of his J73's. Incidentally, I used PVA glue to glaze Dave's version. I have tried Crystal Glaze in the past nut it didn't work - obviously I did something wrong. However Wilko INTERIOR wood glue worked a treat. No doubt other brands are available....

Anyone who exposes their work to the public should expect criticism. When it's uninformed, then it has no value other than to the ego of the critic. Criticism in its' purist form is intended to convey both the positive and negative aspects of the work in question. In our more cynical times- another vice which has become a virtue- it seems to mainly refer to the negative. I am happy to take advice, but am less interested in someone's opinion, unless it is factually based. So feel free to say what you like about my almost complete Dave Alexander N10, which I'm building in parallel with ArthurK's version. Doing this has allowed me to upgrade what is a pretty basic kit by Dave Alexander (but a pleasure to build, for all that), I spent a bit of time on the cab interior, and though it's far from perfect, it now looks suitably "busy". I must find a fireman..... As an aside, I'd tried Crystal Glaze in the past without total success. For this kit, where the cab windows are pretty small. I used Wilko Interior Wood Glue, and it worked fine. I'm sure other brands are available..... The twin builds can be found at the link below.

Of course. The Q1 goes without saying...... Interesting that people find small 0-6-0's designed as pure workhorses "attractive" - I do too. I like the look of the J6 and J11, but they are "chunkier" than the J25. No votes for a J15?

I know Tony likes an occasional post of the work of folk who follow this thread. Though I'm far from an expert at it. kit-building is my main interest these days, and it allows me to produce authentic scenes like this, The Alexander Models North Tyneside Parcels passes a LRM J25 on the Loco Coal headed north to who knows where - Blyth, perhaps -, while the North Eastern Kits J77 rests in the sidings before picking up a trip to Heaton, Everything here is kit- built. Even the brake van is Airfix/Dapol backdated to the LNER version. I don't recall ever seeing one, although they were still around when I started spotting, but was there a prettier 0-6-0 than the J25?

Though I'm far from an expert at it. kit-building is my main interest these days, and it allows me to produce authentic scenes like this, The Alexander Models North Tyneside Parcels passes a LRM J25 on the Loco Coal headed north to who knows where - Blyth, perhaps -, while the North Eastern Kits J77 rests in the sidings before picking up a trip to Heaton, Everything here is kit- built. Even the brake van is Airfix/Dapol backdated to the LNER version. I don't recall ever seeing one, although they were still around when I started spotting, but was there a prettier 0-6-0 than the J25?

It was simple enough to split one pair or the rigid rods and re-assemble them in the correct way, - just as one would have to do on most kits with double etch rods. The oil boxes on the fluted pair were upside down , but there is still an impression from those on the rear etch. So the wheels now revolve with the rods temporarily fitted, and the Compact gearbox and motor combination looks very neat. I'll need to cut part of the rear shaft when the cab is assembled.

An odd thing I have just come across involved the coupling rods. There are 2 options,either rigid or jointed at the centre axle. In both cases,they are double thickness,created by simply folding them over into themselves. However the rigid ones which I use are not handed,,and so the fluted ends only got one side. I stared at them for ages wondering why I couldn't quarter the wheels,and assumed I had done something stupid, but not this time..I wonder if this was an error on an early etch which has since been corrected? Either way,the remedy will be straightforward, using the jointed rods to form a new top layer in the more traditional way. Not too easy to explain but the pictures should help. The top one shows the fluted rods- identical. The second shows the correct spacing- longer between centre and rear drivers, but to get this, one side would be plain and the other fluted.

Presumably Darlington fitted the BR emblem to 61462 in December 1951 at the General. I am surprised, however, that the opportunity to replace the tender wit BR lettering wasn't taken when the loco spent 4 months in works in June-July '49 and Jan-Feb 1950. Admittedly, neither were Generals, but guidance to "publicise" BR meant that locos were adorned with the lettering/crest at every opportunity. I do accept, of course, that the photo shows no trace of BR lettering, and wonder if LNER was simply painted over? Part of the fun of loco building and the search for authenticity. John

This is the current state of the North Eastern Kits chassis. The fitting of parts is exemplary. There are many smaller detailed etches than the Alexander version and I had a go at all of them, though I don't think I got them all exactly right, especially on the brake cross shaft. But I hope the photos show that I now have a decent looking, rigid and accurate chassis, upon which the footplate will sit correctly. There were some posts earlier on the weird cut-out at the rear of the Alexander chassis, designed to allow the rear bogie to swivel round curves. This chassis is much more prototypical, which means that there is much less travel in the bogie. This took a lot of trial and error, and I'm afraid I couldn't get the chassis to reliably go round my test 4th radius curve - slightly tighter than what is actually on the layout. As I mentioned to a friend, on my next layout I am going to have a large railway room with the baseboards built by a joiner, trackwork laid professionally and may as well get someone in to do the electrics and build me a super-dooper control panel. However, in the real world, I resorted to skimming back the flanges on the centre drivers, and this seems to work. It now goes round the bends. The wheels are Scalelink, who do a 18.45mm universal driving wheel. This is an odd size, but suspect it was a discovery by them that their intended 19mm came out too small. For me, this is fortuitous, as the N10 drivers are 4 ft 7 and a half inches.The motor/gearbox is planned to be a Mashima 1220 with High Level Compact. I found , by trying a couple of gearboxes I had in stock from "scrapped" engines, that in every case either the axle worm or the gearbox etch fouled the front of the ashpan spacer. I should have checked this before assembling the chassis, as there is enough metal to remove some and still have enough to fit the ashpan.

I'm slowly completing Arthur's chassis, to the extent that I have the trailing truck fixed and the chassis will go round 4th radius curves. The brake gear is detailed, and, although how much will be visible is a moot point, I am putting as much of it together as I can, if only to increase my so-so soldering skills. I do have a query, however. My locos will be in 50's BR, by which time the Westinghouse brakes were removed. However I am sure I have seen a reference, which I now cant find, which said that the air tank below the rear bunker were left in place, albeit unused. Arthur supplies a casting- Dave does not, but I'd like to fit the tank in both cases if this is correct for 1950's BR. Any advice gratefully received.

It must be early morning or evening at Little Benton, as a couple of locals, soon to be displaced by Class 101, 108 or Derby Lightweight DMU's are spotted. The DJH A8 has just been released from Gateshead Works after attention to its' leading bogie, and is running in on an Alnwick commuter. The J39 is 63701, a 52A loco, and is bringing a Morpeth extra to Newcastle. This loco was converted from the, at least by me, late-lamented GBL models which sadly ended prematurely. It is on a Bachmann chassis. The tender was cut down from the one supplied to represent the shorter 3500 gallon one which this loco had in real life.

Newcastle has little merit, A visit to the splendid St. Nicholas Cathedral at Newcastle might change your mind, Tony, I'm sure it is visible from the main line, as is the famous Keep.

A couple of photos of the Alexander kit on test. The cab roof, chimney and dome are just perched there, but there is something satisfying seeing them in place. I'm going to try to keep the roof loose, perhaps with s touch of Blutack, to allow the cab interior to ne seen from time to time. Meanwhile, Arthur's kit is progressing steadily with no more alarms yet.

I did add a couple of cattle wagons to the rake, but to get an authentic set is difficult. This lot has a couple of Coopercraft kits of GWR origin, some Parkside LNER types with too short a wheelbase for the period, and some Bachmann which also have an incorrect chassis/wheelbase. But I got another couple of kits running since the Down train in the earlier photo, so the J39, re-numbered Bachmann, heads for Morpeth and the various marts with. empty stock. It passes the PDK B16/3 on a Parcels from Berwick to Newcastle Central. Though I saw the odd rebuilt B16 at Newcastle, the spotters would have been thrilled to see one at Little Benton. Yeadon does have a photo of one returning light engine from Edinburgh, and another of a loco in service in Fife, no doubt having been purloined by Haymarket. The B16/1's were common in the 50's when based at Heaton, before the class congregated in Yorkshire.

Though it clearly needs some tidying up, this shows what has been done to add detail to the cab interior of the Alexander kit. the incorrect toolboxes have become a locker, and the platforms, not supplied by Dave, have been added. The RH one was drilled to take the reversing lever. A brake standard, again not supplied , is on the fireman's LH side by the cab rear, The sandboxes were represented only by tabs and I'll fill them properly to make them look like boxes. The cab rear is not yet fixed, hence it looks askew in the photo. Of course, with the cab roof on and doors modelled "closed", none of this will be really seen. As an aside, I received a very helpful PM about the guard irons on Arthur's chassis, which I hadn't realised were handed. The sender didn't want to appear picky, which I completely understand. Nevertheless, anyone who exposes their work to a wider public should be willing to receive constructive advice. Indeed , my thread was always about encouraging ordinary modellers to "have a go", so don't worry about my sensitivities. I'm too old to worry, now.

This V2 is a Graeme King resin body on an original Bachmann chassis. As 60850 it is a New England loco, and highly unlikely to be seen at my prototype, Little Benton. It was among the last to be given a General and turned out in lined-black livery, and among the first to be withdrawn from Doncaster. At some point it will be renumbered to a Heaton loco. Like , a few others, I seem to have been fortunate with the split-chassis continuing to run well enough. Until the Bachmann re-issue appears, Graeme's body on a modern Bachmann chassis is the best way to get a V2, in my view,