Broadoak

A skinhead noD5509 is seen arriving in the passing loop at Pendale with a rake of empty wooden wagons destined for the ball clay dries. The model is the Hornby version with gimmicks, a fan that has never worked and opening cab doors. The doors feature I do rather like as a slightly open door adds a bit of character to the loco I think. The loco uncouples the wagons in the loop and runs round them. She the couples up to the brake van and propels the rake into the siding next to the clay dries. She un-couples from the wagons pulling the brake van clear and then pushes it into the headshunt. She then couples up to a rake of loaded vans and backs onto the brake van to complete the train. When the guard is happy all is OK the train leaves on the first leg of its journey to the midlands potteries. Peter M

The green 37 uncouples and runs round her train past Pendale Halt. She then propels the empty vans into the siding next to the clay dries. The brake van is left in the head shunt. She then couples to the rake of loaded wagons in the dries siding and pulls them out. The loaded wagons are then coupled to the brake van which is then coupled to the empty vans in the siding. These are then spotted in the siding for loading later. The brake van is uncoupled and the loaded wagons set off for their ultimate destination, the Stoke on Trent potteries. Peter M

The BR class 37’s were probably the most successful locomotives of the original selection designed to replace steam power. I must say I find them an attractive shape which to my mind looks pretty good in any of the liveries they subsequently wore. My version of course is the original green with yellow ends and is seen arriving at Pendale with a small load of empty vans. Peter M

The railcar now picks up the van loaded with pallets of ball clay, used in the sanitary ceramics industry in Stoke on Trent. It then runs past the halt on the loop to run round the loaded van. The empty van is now pushed into the siding at Pendale dries to be loaded with ball clay. As there are some parcels of newly printed books at Pendale Halt to be picked up brought in by the black pick up truck. The railcar and loaded van stops at Pendale Halt for the books to be loaded into it and then departs. Peter M

Because of its weight and superb running the parcels car noM55993 is ideal for shunting. The real ones were designed to pull a tail load so I thought why not on my model. The blue parcels railcar arrives at Pendale with an empty twelve ton van in tow. The van is uncoupled and left in the loop opposite Pendale Halt. Peter M

I like the superb weathering on both the loco's and rolling stock. It is just right and very realistic looking, well done. Kind regards Peter M

A locomotive, a railcar really, that I have not featured yet is the BR class 128 parcels car. I bought one some years ago when it was on offer at a very attractive price. When it arrived I was very disappointed as on opening the box the whole of the detail under the floor fell out as it was not glued in properly. My first thought was to send the whole thing back, but with the aid of photographs I glued all the loose bits back in place with liquid super glue. I then spent time painting the underfloor details to make the look more realistic. When I tested the running of the model all my earlier thoughts changed completely by the superb running. It is very heavy and is a delight to operate. Peter M

I have been looking through this thread and found a couple of locomotives I have not posted any photos of. The first being the Dean 0-6-0, a model by Oxford Rail which I find most attractive as it is very Victorian looking. The model is very light so is not very powerful but despite that runs very well as all the wheels pick up current. It has a highly detailed cab and being rather spartan needs some crew figures to bring it to life. I have also added fire irons on the tender and given it a light wash to make it look used. She is seen working at Pendale with a B set. The other loco is the 56xx class, a Bachmann model and a superb performer. To my eye they look workmanlike and purposeful. In reality they were a powerful loco with a slightly higher tractive effort than a Stanier Black Five. The model has been lightly weathered and had a few details added. She is seen shuffling wagons full of clay waste near Pendale Halt and then passing a pannier in the loop. Peter M

The small prairie then makes its way to the Midas Cement Co’s unloading facility and picks up two empty wagons. These are then propelled to the siding holding the empty cattle truck and brake van. The prairie couples up to them then pulls the whole rake of wagons into the main loop. Here she uncouples from the back of the wagons and runs round them to the front. She then backs onto the brake van and pushes it back in the loop past the other wagons and leaves it behind the wagons in the loop. She the run forward round the wagons and backs onto them and couples up. When the guard is happy with the train he gives the driver a green flag for him to set off for the main line with the small goods train. You will be glad to know that this I think is the last post I shall be doing for some time as it has covered all my locos and stock. There is much more to do on the layout, signaling for instance and when funds permit I shall set about it then. Thank you for looking. Kind regards Peter M

A green small prairie no 5541 arrives at Broadoak with a train of mineral wagons loaded with road stone chippings from a large quarry at the top end of one of the branches off the branch to the main line connection. The brake van is pushed into the goods shed siding uncoupled and left there. The mineral wagons are pushed into the long coal staithes siding and coupled to an empty cattle wagon that is spotted there. This is pulled out and coupled to the brake van. The loaded wagons are then pushed into the siding for collection later when they will be joined with another small rake of wagons. These are then assembled into a larger train which will be taken to the main line connection by a larger more powerful loco. Peter M

I have always liked diesels painted green because that is how I remember seeing them as a young man. However over the years I come to have a certain fondness for blue diesels. So here are a few photos of an early class 25/3 in blue livery working at Pendale. The model is the Heljan version. Peter M

With the train now in the main loop 4545 runs round its train and backs onto the front and couples up. Then having done a brake test the train sets off for the main line connection. Peter M

A selection of shots showing the shunter no 08021 working at Pendale with a rake of ball clay wagons. Peter M

With the wagons pushed into outbound track the prairie collects the brake van from the goods shed siding. The brake van is then coupled to the rake of wagons in the outbound siding and pulled forward into the main loop. Peter M