The Bigbee Line

My main road for US modelling is the Southern. Like the Southern in the UK they were very fond on innovation. They would have a idea and soon something would pop out of the workshop. Here are a couple of my test runs to use up some Athearn cars:- This is a Pulp Rack (used to carry sawn tree trunks across the wagon, no securing). Its an Athearn 40' flatcar with box car ends grafted on. The next a Boxcar with hopper doors, slope sheets and extended sides. I used an Athearn Reefer for this one. A couple of detailed cars. The first is a Concor 53' flat car. Lowered, wire grabs fitted, and Kadee #4's fitted. Note - It has different era decals on either side. Nice and heavy, track well. Need some weathering. A scale #58 fitted has been fitted at one end. The next is an exercise to modify and detail an Athearn Bay Window Caboose. So far only lowered. That's all for now folks, thanks, Ernie Puddick

Just getting used to this blogging lark. I started in HO in the early 90's with the purchase of an Athearn F7 with a huge open frame motor and brass wheels. Instantly attracted to the slow running. A lot of water under the bridge since then. I am waiting a house move and will need to rationalise my excess stock (too many loco's). Currently trying to discipline myself into a south eastern US backwaters layout, prpoably dual period - 50's and early 90's. The images below are from my past test shots (2008) on a garage layout. Boards from 3/4 ply and track is some s/h code 100. Thanks, Ernie Puddick

Just need to fit a decoder, new axle gears and do something about the fuel tank. An NW5 was an early EMD attempt at a 1000hp roadswitcher. Very few made, the Southern had one!!!

I took the chassis from a P2K GP18 and a couple of spare bodies from Athearn BB SW's. Much filing later, plus a modicum of evergreen and it's just passable.

Looks Good. I've started to change the wheels on one of mine for 14mm Romfords. The axleguards have dimples on the inside that can be eased to take the axles. The axle arrangement as built is a bit cranky. I will use one for a short Southern Region Milk train, Thanks, Ernie Puddick

For some shots of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway a railway in India, built by the British in 1908. The famous Hindi song Chaiyya Chaiyya from the film "Dil Se" was shot on the roof top of NMR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOYN9qNXmAw&list=FLSzMF5yinNwa1txNQaVw-qQ&index=9 Enjoy, Ernie Puddick

Thanks for an informative debate / forum. I mainly model HO US outline so have used Kadees for a long time. For my '2 cents' here goes: Free running is no good, you just end up chasing the car you want to couple to. Light weight cars are no good, when nice and heavy cars have nice inertia. Kadee clones in my opinion are poor substitutes. In the thread the Kadee #4 got a mention. Clunky and all metal, but has a nice action, worth a try, just for the experience. If you want to uncouple by hand you can straighten to trip pin and bend it until it's horizontal and parallel with the headstock. Useful for passenger cars (oops coaches). Don't let them droop. Get a Kadee set of drills and 2/56 tap. Useful to mount coupler boxes and for assembly stock (nice to be able to take things apart by just unscrewing) The couplers benefit from a little fettling, removal of any flash etc. I have moved to the Kadee semi-scale version for HO, so luckily have a source to cascade for my next venture into OO. (I think the smaller heads have a nicer action) I think I will go for mounting boxes straight to the underneath of the wagon underframe (I have mostly Bachmann so seems easiest) Regarding uncoupling I prefer 'drop down' magnets or the electromagnets (I have a phobia for un-solicited uncoupling) ==================================== Has anyone mentioned the auto couplers tried out by BR (I might have missed a thread), I've seen pictures somewhere of them fitted to 16 ton minfits, the vacuum pipe coupled to the back of the cast steel coupling. Dowty rings a very feint bell..... A lot of UIC freight stock (ferry wagons) have the capability of taking an automatic coupling, hence the drawhook being supported by a bolted on 'letter box' with a big void behind. I will start a blog when new layout construction starts. All the best Ernie Puddick

Regarding the lack of trap point to the bay. A solution is a scotch blocked worked from the box (and locked into the signalling). See attached link to scotches fitted to the short bay platforms at Brighton. http://www.ekeving.se/tlv/Saxby/Brighton.jpg There was also one at Beckenham Junction on the coal siding. (In the '80s I worked a couple of wagons from Acton to Beckenham Junction, can't remember what the wagons were, HTV's I think). Hope that helps, Ernie Puddick

Hi, Just started reading this blog. T9 looks good. Have you noticed the tender frame is on back to front (the guard irons are next to the loco - incorrect). I 'pinged' mine off and turned it round. Sorry if this has already been mentioned. Ernie Puddick

Some images of written off 47's 47288 Derailed Maidstone East 47222 Collision with shunt at Wembley 47378 Burnt out on a Longbridge - Swindon service Enjoy, Ernie Puddick

E2 looks good, so does the M7. Thanks