Hunslet 102

Having lost my modelling mojo recently,I rediscovered it with a trip to the excellent model railway show in Perth last month.Seeing some great layouts in the flesh is a great tonic for kick-starting one's own projects. Work on Great Victoria Street station had somewhat stalled recently,but,with my interest rekindled,I decided to make a start on the column supports for the overall roof.The photo below shows the work done on them to date,there are 10 column supports in total. The supports are made from wedding cake pillars,which have had the top and the bottom of the pillars cut off.The pillars were then cut 3 times down the length,with 1 piece discarded and the other 2 filed and then rejoined together,to form the shape of the columns.Hornby canopy supports were then added to the top of the pillars to achieve the desired height and replicate the GNR architecture that were prominent at the top of the original columns.I have worked from many photos,unfortunately due to copyright I am unable to reproduce any for comparison. A lot of work involved to get this far,but well worth it. Thanks for looking Andy

Great looking layout,keep the posts and updates coming.The loft can be both the best and at sometimes worst place for a layout.My own layout is in the loft and with the hot weather recently it has virtually been a no go area!However,the space it allows me for a layout,that would just never have been able to happen,is priceless. Thanks for sharing Andy

The problem with a loft layout,especially in weather like this,is it is not a pleasant place to be in.The other problem I have,when I do venture up into the loft to do some work on Great Victoria Street,I end up convincing myself that the loco's need a bit of a run,which is what has happened here.So anyone expecting a bit more work done on the station will be disappointed,but I did get a few shots of the trains at work,which can be more than said of me.Anyway,enjoy the photos. The photo below shows the tail end coach of an NIR 3 car BUT railcar set heading towards Lisburn,passing double headed CIE 141 loco's on a loose coupled freight heading to Grosvenor Road freight yard in Belfast -circa 1972 The photo below has been taken on NIR metals,but could be a scene from anywhere in Ireland.A double headed CIE freight powered by a couple of GM141s passes the station and sister loco heading home with the CIE Enterprise.Once again a scene from 40 years ago. Another view of the scene above Ariel view of CIE freight passing NIR BUT railcar

Thanks for your comments Ivor,glad the layout has brought some memories back for you. The RUC landrovers are from the excellent BW Models range.The unpainted ones in the barracks are actually early and later version Hotspurs with the side skirts,while the painted ones are the earlier VPK fitted landrovers.The Tangi's and Simba's are too modern for my era,but you are correct about the lettering on the sides of the army landrovers,it is the confidential telephone number.The army landrovers are old Airfix kits that I converted many years ago,long before I discovered the BW range,so they may be replaced with the more authentic VPK type in the future.The 'pig' does have the felix symbol and along with the confidential phone number they come in transfer form from BW models also. I have always had a soft spot for the MEDs,they were the train to the yearly summer holiday day trip to Bangor!!! Time machine back to 70s Belfast,warts and all,you could not have paid the layout a higher compliment.Many thanks. Andy

Above are another couple of photos from the layout.Both show a CIE 071 class powering out from under the road bridge and passing an NIR 80 class heading towards Belfast.In the goods yard,a CIE 141 class is sandwiched between some cement bubbles and fertilizer wagons.Above the lines,a joint RUC/army patrol has caused rush hour chaos with the setting up of a roadblock.Circa 1976. The 071 class entered service in 1976 and some are still at work today.

Thanks Stephen-will need to work out similar wiring for DC control. Glad you liked the latest pics. Andy

A couple more photos from the layout,hope you enjoy. The photo below shows the NIR DH shunter running light,passing the CIE 141 class shunting cement bubbles.The 141 class is an MIR (Model Irish Railways) whitemetal kit running on an Athearn chassis and is around 15 years old.When I started Irish modelling for this era,everything had to be kit built or model bashed.This model is still a terrific runner,but the whitemetal kit looks chunky compared to the RTR Murphy Model 141s now available and sadly it does not get the air time it deserves on the layout anymore.RTR models have come a long way. The photo below is a head on view of 2-80 class railcars calling at the station.The Belfast bound train (left) is an 80 class driving trailer in the original maroon/blue livery while the Lisburn bound train (right) is an 80 class power car in the later early 80s livery of grey with maroon band.These railcars first arrived in 1974 and a couple were still working until recently.

The photo below is a view from the street looking towards the station entrance.The real Adelaide station entrance was between 2 gable end houses and the station overlooked the backs of the local houses.In the foreground a woman can be seen scrubbing her front step,a common sight in 70s Belfast as the women were very proud of the appearance of their houses. The Ford capri and mini help to date the scene. The photo below is a view from the footbridge looking into the houses that back onto the railway.Small details like dustbins and washing lines can help add realism to a layout.

Like your 2 Hunslets Stephen,they really look the part.Is that a working light fitted in the blue Hunslet and if so,what technique and bulbs etc did you use? The Hunslet is my favourite loco,just glad 102 is now safe and sound in Cultra, as it appeared for a time it would end up like its sister locomotives.The maroon livery was the best livery these locos ever carried,it really suited them.I intend to model all 3 of the class in this livery,with 1 in the early blue livery. By the way,like the ballasting on your trackwork. Andy

The Hunslet in the photo plus the one in my avatar are both MTK kits.I still have 2 MIR versions to build-one day!

Another view from circa 1980.An 80 class driving trailer brings up the rear end of a local heading to Lisburn,while an NIR 111 class heads towards Belfast with the Enterprise.A CIE 141 class is shunting cement bubbles while an NIR Hunslet rests in the freight yard beside the container wagons.An interesting fact about the freight operations at the original Adelaide at the time was that all the freight was handled by CIE locomotives,NIR had already ceased internal freight,and although there was generally a Hunslet on hand at the yard for shunting purposes,the CIE loco's done most of their own shunting,leaving the Hunslet to idle in the yard most of the day! Andy

Cheers Stephen. The container flats are old Hornby freightliner wagons,cut and shut.They come with 3x 20ft containers,which have just been repainted into the Bell colours.Actually,2 of these freightliner wagons are over 40 years old,as they are from my first ever train set from 1970,a Hornby Hymek freightliner set! Andy

A couple more photos from the layout. The first photo is a general view of the local station 'Alsadon',with a CIE 071 class in charge of the Enterprise to Dublin passing through the station and passing an NIR Hunslet on ballast duty.In the yard to the left some fertilizer and cement wagons can be seen.The colour schemes place this photo in the early 80s. The second photo shows an NIR DH running light,something that they were used to doing as their haulage capacity was very limited and their reliability very suspect!In the background in the yard are more cement bubbles and container wagons. Andy

Colin Thanks for your positive comments,especially regarding the platforms.With my model being a lookalike tribute,it is good to hear comments from people who remember the old station and can relate the model to the original.The station had so much character and smell from the nearby tobacco factory and although I wont be able to recreate the smell,hopefully with the station roof,customs hall with their garish yellow tiles and the Boyne bridge over the platforms,the lookalike tribute will do the old station proud. Thanks for the comments on the terraced houses,I think the Metcalfe kits really reflect the type of housing that backed on to the railway and in Belfast in general.It really is a small world,as I lived in Hugh Street,which you will know ran off Charlieville Avenue and spent most of my childhood by the railway at the back of Mayfield Street,watching the freight operations at Adelaide. I no longer live in Belfast,having moved to Glasgow over 20 years ago. Thanks again for your comments. Andy

Thanks Stephen,glad you like the scenes and keep up the good work with your own thread. Andy

A couple of photos from the scenic side of the layout,circa early 1970s. The above photo is a Northern Ireland Railways Multi Engined Diesel (MED) railcar set calling at the local station.These railcars were built in the 50s and had air operated doors,quite unique at the time. The photo below shows the same MED railcar passing an NIR DH class,which were used mainly for permanent way trains.In the street above the railway,an army patrol consisting of a couple of landrovers and a 'Pig' go about their business.

Kirley The only standard that you need to live up to is your own standard.It is hard not to compare with what others have done,but,working to your own standard and trying to improve as you go along is the best way.3 years in the hobby is not long,but having seen some of your work with the spoil wagons and MED,your skills in that field are very good. Layout planning is one of the best areas of the hobby.So much is always in our heads,but it is great to get it down on paper and take it from there.As regards to era,there is nothing to stop you having stock for a couple of different era's.Up until the last couple of years,I was fairly entrenched in the NIR 80s era with some 70s era stock,but once I got the bug to do Great Victoria Street last year and all the research that I put into the project,plus it was the period in time that I remembered most on the railway,I am now fully committed to the 70s era.However,this does not mean that the 80s era will not still have its fling,a blue 111 entering the old GVSt-the beauty of modellers licence! Andy

Thanks Kirley,glad the layout photos brought back some memories for you. The railcars are something I enjoy trying to recreate as they were the mainstay of operations on NIR and sadly none of the early examples were ever preserved.When I get a chance I will post some more photos of them along with the DH.The DH is a model bashed Mainline 03 shunter. If you have a layout project of your own in the loft,perhaps you could post some photos of it on the forum.I assume it is an Irish layout as you are building a DH,have just done an MED and some spoil wagons. Cheers again Andy

Thanks for the encouragement Colm. The layout is fixed in the loft,not ideal but the only area available for a layout. I will try to post some of the NIR stock photos on the Irish group area as soon as I can.Most of them still have to be finished detailing wise,but I have tried to capture the feel of them as I remember them and this has mainly been inspired by your superb book 'Diesel Dawn',which helped with seating profiles etc.Without resources like your book,the excellent DVDs by Jim Edgar and some brilliant photos supplied by Jonathan Allen,the 1970s stock and 1970s Great Victoria St station project would never have got of the ground. Thanks again for your comments. Andy

Great looking layout John,really captures the feel of an Irish narrow gauge operation and the buildings are very realistic. Look forward to further progress reports and updates. Andy

The maroon Hunslet is an old MTK kit,sitting on a butchered Lima class 20 chassis.It is 1 of 2 like this.I still have 2 MIR Hunslet kits to build to go on butchered Bachmann class 20 chassis',both will be painted maroon to represent all 3 of the class in their original livery,while one of the original MTK kits will be repainted in the later NIR light blue livery of the late 70s,early 80s period. 'very evocative of the place and time' could not have been put better-damp and cold-just like the loft! Andy

Thanks for your support and comments Stephen,much appreciated.I grew up in those type of 2 up, 2 down terraced houses in Belfast,just beside Adelaide station.I will try to get some photos of the scenic side of the layout uploaded,with more terraced houses backing on to Adelaide station,as per the prototype,plus the freight yard,which is where most of the CIE loco's will be found! Andy

Hopefully with McC's help,the photos are in full size now!

Has anyone any ideas how I can upload the photos from above as pictures with comments on this thread?I uploaded the photos to the gallery and then transferred them,but they came over as per the gallery thread,not really sure what I am doing. Any help appreciated! Andy

Hopefully I have been able to attach the following photos of the progress on the layout,first time at trying to post photos! Hope you enjoyed the photos and a piece of Belfast from the 70s. Andy