sigtech

Largs (Scotland) has one - see 'Plan of the month' in the May Railway Modeller. Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Hello everyone, this is the simple plan of my layout Sproston ( see the blog entries on this site ). The terminus is based on plan S31 in C.J.Freezers booklet '60 Plans for Small Railways ' ( 1969 ) but is not multi level - it runs straight into a fiddle yard. It was built using two flush wooden doors fixed together in a wood frame to make a baseboard 6'7" x 5' 1" . This plan was drawn using the free version of 'Anyrail'. The track is Peco code 110 flexible, laid on cork using small radius electrofrog points. Uncoupling uses the Brian Kirby method with under baseboard magnets. Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Hello everyone, well I suppose this was inevitable, I have given in and purchased ANOTHER BG - this time it is a 61'6" Gresley one, ( and very nice Hornby model ) in BR maroon. This will make a pleasent contrast to the BR MK1 BG from Bachmann, in crimson and cream that I purchased last month. This will also be the last vehicle for which I have two sets of B.K. modified couplings for - so technically my last rolling stock purchase. - We shall see... ] Since then both models have had new lamp irons fitted, using my normal method of small staples and matt black paint ( Humbrol 33 ) to enable them to carry a tail lamp - if necessary, the Gresley model has had its inside sidewalls and ends painted brown, and the end gangway doors a scruffy teak colour. The ride height has also been adjusted using a couple of homemade fibre washers fitted over the bogie pivots. The pics will hopefully explain it all...Still to do is paint those horrible shiny buffers matt black! Other little jobs involve fitting an extra driver in the rear cab of the class 22, and also in the rear cab of the 'bubblecar'. I have found that for a diesel or dmu to arrive with an obvious visible crew in the cab, only for the unit to depart later on with the leading cab empty is not a good look!! ( problems of a branch terminus ) Steam locos of course do not suffer this problem. So a compromise is to fit a single driver into the rear cabs - I suppose he could always be hitching a ride or route learning... That seems to be it for this month - more goings on from Sproston next month...comments - good or bad always welcome! Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Hello Johnster, I have been following the 'lamping' saga for some time now, I must admit to not having tried these new lamps from 'Modelu', - instead I have used 'Springsides' offerrings, fitted with the occassional small piece of 'blacktac' inserted into the 0.7mm hole that I drill in the lamp base' , then mounted onto the lamp iron. All items of my rolling stock, including locos have replacement irons fitted made from staples, cut to length, bent ( if required ) the GWR way...and painted matt black . ( some items of rolling stock have them painted matt white ). All paints used being Humbrol enamel. I purchased - from my local model shop here in Kings Lynn a pair of straight tweezers, ( Xcelite brand 412 ) that operate with a reverse action - you squeeze the top section to open the jaws in the bottom section then release your grip to close them. They seem to work well on these lamps. I too have lost a few jewelled lenses - must buy some more spare lamps sometime... Anyway I have included a few pics to show what I mean. The system is not perfect, being labour intensive ( and fiddly ) but it works and is reasonably robust. Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Hello Job, have just followed that link and had a look at the website - a good article, with some nice pictures of your work, the street scenes you produced are very realistic. Regards, (SIGTECH) Steve

Good morning, - now that I am the owner of 2 full brakes - 1 BR MK1 crimson and cream ( Midland region ), and 1 Gresley ex LNER in BR maroon, I am wondering about the colour of the gangway doors - should they be black,( as per finished models ), or in a wood finish? ( teak? ). One of the previous versions of Bachmanns BR mk1 that I have seen had brown gangway doors - and this had a midland region suffix. I can see that the Gresley full brake might have teak finish gangway doors, - and while I'm here would the internal colours ( at least that which can be seen ), be natural wood in both brakes, or be painted - and if so in what colours? An internet trawl gives mixed results, are all the black finished doors painted that way? Further to this, the same questions also apply to the Stanier 50' full brake, Stove R, and ex GWR Syphon G all of which have black finished gangway end doors - should some be brown? Any help gratefully received, Thanks. Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

A change of plan, I am now reconsidering the BG purchase, after examining a Bachmann model, and am looking at the Hornby Gresley BG in Maroon, which seems to be a better quality model (and much more expensive - even secondhand! ) I suspect these coaches were more common, and therefore more likely to turn up on a branchline parcels train...Am I correct? Regards (SIGTECH) Steve Edited by sigtech, Today, 21:50 .

Thanks Johnster, I now have more than enough stock to operate Sproston to its new timetable. Thats 75 items of rolling stock, includng 10 steam locos, 1 diesel and a single unit diesel railcar, all for a small single line branch - so 1 more item of NPCCS won't make that much difference....! Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Thought so - since looking at many pics on the net of parcels trains in the mid 50's to early 60's period, I have noticed many of these coaches in their makeup, and Bachmann does a model, which is available ( secondhand ) in Crimson. Despite Sproston being located firmly in GWR/LMS territory, I have developed a strange ( unhealthy ?? ) liking for the appearance of the 63' Thompson bogie full brake (BG)....do I need help?? Regards. Steve (SIGTECH)

Good day Gents, Following on from this - would a 63' Thompson BG ( Crimson ) also be a suitable candidate for use in parcels trains on Sproston?? I am considering purchasing one ( secondhand )... Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Brilliant Adrian, just brilliant, very atmospheric, all layouts should come with a rain option available - really made my day... Regards Steve (SIGTECH).

Hello Edmund, the track ( Peco code 100 with livefrog small radius points ) was painted using diluted ( with white spirit) 'Humbrol' Rust 113 enamel paint applied by using an airbrush. Seems a long time ago now , I had to look it up! - its mentioned in my very first blog entry for Sproston... Regards ( SIGTECH ) Steve.

Thanks Phil.

O.k, a couple more, although they have not been subjected to the 'Harlequin touch' - but they do have a complete backscene. From my most recent blog on here. Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Hello People, I'm not certain if this is the correct part of RMWEB to post this - but I have been recently sent a pm by Harlequin ( Phil of this parish...) showing just what he can do to improve my layout pics. The result ( to me ) is very impressive, and I thought it would be a good idea to share with everyone. Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Hello Phil - I see I've been rumbled!!.... The lower quadrants are all Dapol - powered from a 3 pin plug in mobile phone charger ( 5.8v dc output ) with the signal lamp lenses painted with Tamiya x-24 Clear Yellow acrylic, gives them a nice oil lamp glow and reduces their brightness. They are worked as intended by Dapol, by using small pushbuttons on a temporary panel behind the loco shed. The 3 doll upper quadrant is Hornby and is manually worked. This signal is 'temporary' because of no available lower quadrant alternative - working on the principle that the 'wrong type of signal' is better than NO signal.... When Dapol produce their l/q bracket signal (soon?) I will be investigating the possibility of using that as a replacement with a slight resignalling. The lost doll being then replaced by a disc at ground level by the post, and replacing signal 21 with a disc, along with maybe losing disc 22 and possibly disc 23. Hence my previous request to you that if I altered the signalling slightly at a later date, would you be willing to redraw the coloured signalling plan with the lever leads for me to reflect this change? Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Hi People, Well it has happened, it was inevitable that it would - I have given in and purchased a BR MK1 coach, - a BR MK1 57' BG in crimson and cream livery to be precise...( Bachmann ). I did however ask the knowledgeable people on RMWEB, if this vehicle was likely to have appeared regularly on such a branchline. This latest item has now joined the growing ranks of NPCCS seen at Sproston and will be assigned to: Parcels Special no.1 (as per the new timetable, see the blog entry for 31st December 2017 ). The Timetabled WX 10.40 Parcels Special, consisting of 3 vanfits ( one an ex GWR MOGO ) and BR MK1 BG - arrives in platform 1, as the signalman replaces no 2 and no 1 signals ( Down Main Home ) behind it .The loco uncouples and draws forward to take water from the column at the end of the line, when complete a whistle to the signalman who reverses no 24 and no 11 points, and then clears no.25 disc ( Engine Release to Loop ). The loco moves onto the loop running round its train, passing the already cleared no.21 signal, ( Loop Starting ), before running onto the Main and stopping alongside the signalbox, where the driver exchanges a few words with the signalman. The signalman replaces his signals, and resets the road before clearing no 2 signal. ( Down Main Innner Home to Platform ) - the driver acknowledges this with a whistle and draws forward, stopping short of the train before easing onto the stock and coupling up. The signalman now replaces this signal before he clears no 19 signal ( Main Platform Starting ), another whistle, and the loco draws its train out of the platform - pulling it out until it's well clear of no.8 points, - which are then reversed by the signalman, ( after he has replaced the signal cleared for the previous move ), then finally no 4 signal ( Down Main Inner Home to Bay ) is cleared, - another whistle and the train is propelled by the loco into the bay platform where it stops and the brakes are applied. It is now ready to be unloaded/loaded. I will let the photos speak for themselves. Note the Prairie on shed buffered up to the loco coal wagon. We finish with a view of part of the town, with the site of the derelict WW2 Searchlight Battery , now a farm shop in the foreground and 'All Saints Church' in the background. Comments good or bad - are always welcome! Until next time.... regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Oh dear, it looks like someone is about to get this thread locked...

Bachmann br mk1 bg duly ordered ( crimson & cream livery ) from Rails of Sheffield, job done... Steve. (SIGTECH)

This is an absolutely brilliant idea - well done sir! you are indeed a genius.

Hello Johnster, the Ex LMS bogie vehicle is 50' long - my mistake!! it's made by Hornby and finished in maroon - my understanding is that it is a gangwayed full brake ( BG ) - just a bit shorter than a BR MK1 BG... I've always been doubtful about adding any MK1 stock to the layout, assuming it to be too new and probably restricted to mainline duties, but after doing a bit of research on the net it seems that the MK1 BG'S were built in large numbers and travelled everywhere - more so as time passed. By 1956-1963 I am assuming they would be reasonably plentiful and well dispersed, and I am considering making an exception and purchasing one - probably BR (MR) in crimson and cream ( I already have a couple of BR MK1 examples of NPCCS - a BR MK1 CCT and BR MK1 Horsebox - both Maroon. regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Thanks for all your comments guys, - the layout (Sproston) is located in Cheshire somewhere to the North West of Crewe, and has joint ex GWR/LMS running powers, with an offscene junction. The main WR arm of branch to the south west is 17 miles long, with the other, shorter arm connecting to the LM main line and down towards Crewe and London. This is the route the milk train takes. There is a United Dairies creamery at the terminus, with railborne accesss/private siding, dispatching two trains a day ( each of normally 2 loaded tankers ) bound for the capital. This is the branchlines "raison d'etre" for it being still open. I have produced a timetable covering all 7 days of the week.( please see my blog 'Sproston' on here ). Trains tend to be short ( only 2-3 coaches ) but frequent, and I think the single line is used almost to capacity... I have a Stove 'R' for the milk trains, also a 50' ex LMS bogie full brake, and there is an ex SR van 'BY' which works with the fitted seasonal fruit/vegetable trains. I probably have twice the stock required to run the branch, but for variety was thinking of making up an alternative parcels train consisting of 3x fitted vans with a crimson & cream BR MK1 BG . My main concern was whether these vehicles would be likely to appear, or if the older pre-nationalisation types would exclusively predominate. Edited to correct length of ex LMS bogie full brake. Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Hello everyone, I have searched for this info, on both google and RMWEB but come up with no real answer, hence this question. How common/likely would the appearance of a BR MK1 BG in a parcels train, instead of the more normal ex LMS Stove R/ 50' ex LMS BG at a branch terminus be? Period is circa 1956-1963. Regards (SIGTECH) Steve.

Thank You Job, for your kind comments - it was finding the BTF film that was the catalyst to forming this special train for Sproston. I agree with you that adding passengers gives the trains a sense of purpose , just as adding footplate crew to a loco does... I must say that I enjoy visits to your blog, -the buildings and general scene are most realistic, one can almost imagine being there. Regards. (SIGTECH) Steve.