thegreenhowards

In the past, would never have noticed the smokebox door but our recent exchanges must have sharpened my eyes as I noticed straightaway That it had the close together hinges. What’s the pedigree of the model?

It could be I'm no expert. I have one in a box which says Romford Bulldog on the outside, and this one looks the same.

I’ve done a number of experiments today. The stall amperage seemed to fluctuate between about 0.4A and 0.8A on my power cab readout, so I guess its a bit close to the MX617’s capacity and I ought to swap it over. Although having said that it runs well enough. I also read the old manual which Nigel recommended. Sadly none of the examples were for anything as old as this, but I tried experimenting with CV56 and CV9 and nothing seemed to make a difference, so I’ve left it on the defaults where it runs well enough. It’s equally noisy on DC so no complaints, I just thought I may be able to ‘magic’ a reduction. 34’C’ ‘s point about the old chassis is well made. This was before I fixed the valve gear and chipped it. It’s probably similar but marginally better than a Hornby X04 era chassis. I can certainly live with it. Thanks for all your help. Andy

Apple green & teak for me.

I just wanted to say that RMWeb is a wonderful resource. I posted the coal train on Tuesday, Steve mentioned the book that evening, I ordered it yesterday, it arrived this morning and I read the very informative chapter just now. It certainly seems that, in the ‘30s at least, there were block brick trains from Fletton/ Yaxley To Ferme Park. If so, it’s surprising that no photos exist of such workings.

That’s a fair point. I think my aim was twofold: 1. Not to damage the motor by running it on settings for a modern motor; and 2. To see if I could get it to to run any quieter. Andy

That’s a fair point. I think my aim was twofold: 1. Not to damage the motor by running it on settings for a modern motor; and 2. To see if I could get it to to run any quieter. Andy

Thanks Manna I found it with that help. It was a long way down both the google searcH and then the HMRS site. It’s a really good find though as it suggests that such wagons were used on the slower trains (WD hauled) and as late as 1957. I will keep it as justification for my use of the wagon! Andy

Tony, its good to see some trains running. Keep them coming. Andy

The V2 I showed a few days ago has now been fixed and commissioned. The valve gear went back together easily and I’ve added the detailing bits that were obviously missing (apart from the brakes which will be difficult on this chassis, so I’m inclined not to bother). The tender weathering where I had the change the logos looks rather stark under the bright light, but looks fine under normal viewing. I might try to time it down slightly though having seen these photos. I had assumed the chassis was the original Nucast so called ‘lump’. But I discussed it with Gilbert and he said it didn’t look like the ‘lumps’ he remembered. Does anyone know the origin of this? It seems to run OK whatever it is. A little noisy, but excellent pick ups with no hesitation even over my dreaded insulfrog slips. Andy

Another project completed today with these six ex LNER fish vans bought from eBay ready built but unpainted. They’ve just left the weathering shop. They can be seen in action on my Gresley Jn Thread here https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/149386-gresley-junction/&do=findComment&comment=4004608.

Another couple of projects completed today: 1. Six fish vans bought off eBay nicely built but unpainted; and 2. a V2, 60869 also from eBay which needed some renovation and detailing. Combined they form the up Hull fish train As seen on p53 of a Yeadon V.4 at Great Ponton with this very locomotive (The first six vans are my new ones). And here’s the video.

But there was a Queens Park a Rangers! Come on you ‘R’s!

If they hadn’t built Tornado it would be a no brainer, but if we’re counting that as ‘preserved’, then it’s a tough choice between J6 and K3. On the basis that a K4 is nearly a K3, I‘ll go for a J6.

Thanks for all your help. I will explore the manuals. I hadn’t considered the current draw as it’s never been a problem, but I take the point that an older motor might draw more current. I think that should be possible on the programming track with my NCE power cab. I’ll check tomorrow. Having said that, it runs fine hauling 30 wagons road my circuit - I just wanted to see if I could make it any better. Andy

Hello, I wonder if anyone can help me tune a decoder to suit an old open frame motor. I believe the motor is a Romford Bulldog. It is fitted in a Nucast V2 and the loco runs nicely on both DC and DCC. It is powered by an old 5 pole open frame motor which I believe to be a Romford Bulldog (similar to an X04 but smoother). I have hard wired in a Zimo MX617 decoder. It runs well enough, but I believe that it is possible to tune decoders to suit the motor’s characteristics and thereby improve the performance. Is this correct? If so, can anyone point me to a guide on how to do so? I have looked in the decoder manual, and while it suggest settings for coreless motors (which I have used for Portescaps in the past) There is nothing for open frame motors. Thanks Andy

Hi ‘Manna’, I searched and didn’t turn that photo up. Any chance of a link? Andy

Steve, Thanks for that info. Would the ‘brick’ trains have been block brick trains, or coal trains with one or two brick wagons at the front? Interesting that you mention K3 hauled trains. The only photo I can put my hands on of a brick wagon in such a train is in Coster’s ‘Book of The Great Northern Part 1’ (p185) which showed a K3 on such a working in 1949. Does this imply that when the K3s came off these workings (early ‘50s?) the Brick Wagons stopped being included in the trains? I have not idea how many bricks to build a house, but looking out of my window at a small semi behind, it’s about 50 bricks tall by 50 wide (for two semis) so that’s 2,500 bricks minus windows for a back wall. Assuming that they were double skinned, the sides are half the back and the interior walls were not bricks, that would be C.15,000 bricks for a pair of semis, so just under one wagon. Can anyone improve on my very rudimentary quantity surveying?! Andy

Would that of been 14 brick wagons Or 14 SLUs. The former would be a massive train!

I’ve ordered the book and look forward to digesting it.

Thanks Steve, Brick wagons in these trains are something I would like to learn more about. I have often seen it quoted that the loaded coal trains were headed by one or two brick wagons to provide brake force, but I have only found one or two photos of such workings. I suspect the practice was occasional rather than routine and I have no idea how the wagons got back to Peterborough. Did they return at the head of the empties, or in other fitted or semi fitted trains? I'm not aware of any photos of returning empty wagons - if anyone can point me in the right direction, please shout. Andy

Those who follow my Coulsdon Works thread, will have seen that I have been putting together an empty coal train, something that was missing from my run through of the Gresley Jn sequence. Well it is now up and running. ...and gives me the opportunity to watch two coal trains passing on ‘Welwyn’ viaduct.

You're right of course. But then you'd need even more time and the patience to build things you don't really need first. When I restarted kit building I was still working in a high pressure job and time was of the essence so I just ploughed in. I now have more time, but I'm still lacking on the patience front!

Thanks Chris, I missed the lining on the cab side, and the number is definitely shaded, so sorry for misleading you there. The boiler looks unlined, so New England muck must have been a pre war feature as well as 1958! Andy

Tony, That ‘Clear but cruel’ image you put up of my C12 reminds me of how poor my finishing was. I can’t believe that I hadn’t noticed the poor joint along the top of the cab front, but I hadn’t until I saw your photo (the first time) - my powers of observation are not the best! I hope this shows that I’ve since sorted it out. I still need to sort out the black bleed into the smokebox door number plate though! Andy