Broadoak

Nick, Thanks for your comments. You are correct I don't have a fiddle yard as such. I use both roads at the back of the layout on the right hand side. As I enjoy operating as much as anything I have tried to make the industries as believable as possible. If you imagine each wagon is carrying something to a destination not part of the model it helps each train make sense. I think our own imagination is one of the most useful tools you can have. Thank you for taking an interest. Kind regards Peter M

Thank you Kevin, they are the Bachmann models and not only look good but they run very well as well. A Hornby 14xx class tank and auto coach. Incidentally I was given the Airfix auto coach so can’t really complain that the colour is a little too dark, all I have done is weathered the bogies and added a crew and a few passengers. She is seen here at Pendale Halt. Peter M

She couples up to the empty box van and brake van plus the wagons already in the siding are pulled out and temporarily left in the goods shed siding. The empty box van is coupled up and is pushed into the timber yard siding to be loaded later. The brake van and wagons are then pulled out onto the main loop. The wagons are uncoupled and the loco runs round its train and couples onto the front of the wagons. She then backs down the yard to top up her tanks before setting off for the main line connection. Peter M

Panniers at work in the loop by Pendale Halt. Peter M

5150 now shunts the toad brake van into the wood yard siding and shunts the two wagon loads of household coal into the long siding to be unloaded later. She then pulls the two wagons, a loaded container and a loaded open wagon coupled to the brake van out of the siding. Peter M

Of late I have been taking photos in what I think of as Ben Ashworth mode, a photographer famous for his photos of the Forest of Dean. He cycled everywhere and took pictures from unusual angles, up trees for instance. A couple of panniers working near Pendale Halt. Peter M

I have mixed feelings about my latest purchase, the Dapol large prairie. It is a superb model which from all angles looks just right. It also has a superb cab interior detail, unfortunately this can’t be seen with crew figures and the cab roof in place. That doesn’t matter as I know it’s there. I must admit the model has not run a great deal and its performance generally is excellent except over dead frog points where she hesitates. My Bachmann small prairies run over dead frog points perfectly, as do the panniers. I think the Dapol model just needs running in more, I hope so. A selection of photos of the model arriving with then setting out a mixed goods train. Peter M

Some photos of a green class 25 shunting at Pendale’s clay dries. I must admit I find the earlier class 25 more attractive than the later versions because of all the grilles in the body sides. Peter M

A small selection of photos which I hope will be of interest while I sort out some new pictures of my large prairie. The GWR railcar is seen heading out of Broadoak with a van in tow on its way to the main line connection. The small prairie no 5541 is seen having filled up her tanks ready to leave with a small mixed goods train. A 57xx class pannier is having a tea break having topped up its own tanks after shunting in the yard that morning. The small 04 diesel is shunting in the R E Lee farm supplies siding. I also have the more modern 03 in a green livery. The earlier black version is much the better performer, due to being heavier I think. Peter M

The O8 is a Bachmann model and looks a bit work stained, she is seen working at the clay dries at Pendale. Another fine model by Bachmann quiet and reliable and brings the layout up to date more than the steam locos. Although not very wide the layout is capable of running trains from the end of the big four to the early blue period. It makes operating that much more interesting and variable. Peter M

A few photos of Heljan Class 25/3 working in the yard at Pendale. Like all my other Heljan models D7661 runs very well indeed. Peter M

I have on odd occasions run the railcar no 22 with a trailing load, it makes for an interesting operation possibility. A wagon is collected from Broadoak yard then towed to the main line for delivery. Peter M

This selection of photos was taken some time ago when I had just started to model the GWR. The railcar was purchased second hand from a dealer many years ago when I was exhibiting Two Sister’s Farm. It is a Lima model with large flanges on the wheels and the round motor powering it. She runs remarkably smoothly using a hand held controller with an extra resistance fitted. Obviously not as well as my other locomotives but still gives an acceptable performance. Peter M

A few photos of the later class 25 with the two tone livery that suited it very well I thought. This loco could only be used in summer for passenger trains as it has no boiler for train heating. Not a problem at Broadoak because with the demise of steam, passenger trains became a thing of the past. Peter M

The small prairies are a class of locomotives I am very fond of and are ideal for a Cornish themed layout. I have a Bachmann example of each, the black no 4545 with a few added details, a crew, lamps, and fire irons on the tank top on the fireman’s side. The green one with the larger sloping front side tanks no 5541 is similarly detailed. They both run superbly and are easy to get at for lubrication of the motor for instance. Peter M

A couple of photographs to illustrate just how narrow the layout really is and what it looks like overall. It’s just a shunty plank I suppose but it’s fun to operate as well. The trackbed is at eye level when I am sitting at my PC. It is very pleasant to sit and watch a small train slowly go past, be it steam or diesel. I am definitely calling the layout PENDALE as it has grown on me. Peter M

Another smallish diesel I have a certain fondness for are the early class 30’s which of course in reality were never used on the Western until they were wearing a blue livery. In reality the Brush type 2’s were almost synonymous with the dieselisation of East Anglia. When deliveries reached no D5586 after that allocations were made elsewhere, some to the Western Region. Internal troubles caused problems, for instance crankcase fractures of the original Mirlees engine led to them being fitted with an English Electric12SVT engine until all were so fitted. Mine is the Hornby version and was supposed to have a working fan mine has never worked, but I’m not bothered to my mind it is a pointless gimmick that increases the price and is totally unnecessary. I must say though I do like the opening cab doors, one of which I have set in the open position. She runs quietly smoothly, certainly as well as my Bachmann models. A selection of pictures of no D5509 working in the yard at various times. Peter M

I must admit to liking the small class 25 diesels but I think I like the earlier version most. To my eye the sides look more interesting with all the extra grilles, although in reality of course the body side grilles collected lots of brake dust so were not as practical as the grilles on the edge of the roof fitted to later built versions. The model is a Bachmann version and therefore runs very well. I must have a moan at this stage and ask why don’t manufactures put crew figures in the cab at the assembly stage. It would save me at any rate a lot of hassle later on. Peter M

A few more pictures of my class 37 no D6707 in the bay at Broadoak. Peter M

In reality the BR class 37 were probably the most successful of the original diesels in the modernization plan. I like the look of them as they remind me of the first main line diesels I saw regularly on the WCML, 10000, 10001 and the Deltic. The view from the cab is not as good as some other classes but they have a fine reliability record. I’m told by drivers the early one were noisy and sometimes draughty but very reliable. I bought my model, a Bachmann example from a dealer, but I happen to know who owned it originally and it had only been used for a few exhibitions. I know the end details and colour are wrong for a Western based locomotive but I like the shape myself. She is seen on a couple of occasions switching box vans in R E Lee Farm Supplies siding, an excellent source of traffic both in and out. Peter M

The GW mogul no 6384 is one of only four tender engines that work on the layout. The model is the original Bachmann versions and is slightly detailed with crew figures, fire irons and lightly weathered. The canvas sheet used to protect the crew is folded on the cab roof and is just a piece of kitchen towel glued and painted. Peter M

I have given a bit more thought to a name for the layout and come up with PENDALE which has a nice Cornish feel to it I think. A few shots of a Collett Class 22xx 0-6-0 a perfect branch line engine. They were at home on both passenger or good trains. The model is a Bachmann version and performs very well indeed. The motor unusually is vertically mounted inside the firebox. The model has the usual small details added, a crew, fire irons and lamps. It is lightly weathered to give a slightly neglected look. Peter M

A few more photos you might like Clive. Another locomotive I am very fond of but really cannot justify having is a Western, but I don’t care I love the look of it. I think they had in reality a very large following of fans. Mine is the Dapol version and it ran quite well when first purchased but had a tendency to de-rail on some of my points. After some more running in it is now fine and gives no more trouble. A few shots of the Western no D1035 WESTERN YEOMAN working on a running in turn I think at Broadoak. Peter M

A couple of pictures to illustrate the sort of atmosphere I am trying to create with small trains running through a rural scene. 8771 is a 57 xx class pannier the largest class of any loco built in the UK. Powerful for their size they could be found all over the Western system. The model is a Bachmann example and runs very well indeed it has been lightly weathered and has lamps, fire irons and a bucket hanging on the rear lamp brackets. She is seen with a small goods train. Peter M

Since they were first introduced I have always liked the look of the Hymeks. They were probably the most successful of all the hydraulic locos running on the western. Originally designed to do the work of the Hall and Grange class steam locos but in fact ended up doing the work of Castles as well. The model is the Heljan version and like all my Heljan models performs very well indeed. The photos show a mixed freight arriving at Broadoak and a selection of shots of D7015 at work shunting in the yard. Peter M