Mulgabill

An update on the crossing saga

http://cgibin.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?h=Topical%20pictures&t=pics

Oops!!!!!

They've about 4 weeks 'til trains start running, and 6 'til the grand return to Minehead.

At least that was the plan.

Two steps forward and a big one back.

TONY

And we all thought you had retired!

We'll all be looking out for your debut as Poirot.

TONY

Sorry last post hiccuped and was sent, before I finished.

A couple more pics (one before wasn't intended) then I'll try to make the laptop behave better, next time.

And the work underway

I'll try to be back soon, honest

TONY

Yet again, I had intended posting sooner.

The photographers have managed to capture some unusual workings in the past quiet

period, so will try to post.

An unusual visitor brings in an engineers working, hope thats not bad news.

A sidetrack for comment, especially if you know anything about signalling.

Copied here is a note from my club, re signalling for the layout  we, well they, in my absence

are working on.

Gents,

I've been taking some time while away to make a signalling plan for Gloucester London Road and have come up with the attached diagram. These are my proposals. The station gantry is under way anyway and the smaller one for the approach on the 'Up Main' is in situ without signals at the moment. 

This was just to get some sort of plan in place based on my own understanding from what I've learned so far, also with some of Bill's help. I'm not sure about the two signals with feather type route indicators (on the far sides exiting the station) but at least wondered if two 'starters' might be appropriate before the gantry - perhaps with the shunt signals attached instead of at ground level in those cases. The route indicators might be too much given that there are already Theatres on the gantry a bit further on. For the main platforms I though the little 'OFF' indicators were appropriate ahead of the gantry - Banner Repeaters probably unnecessary in those instances. However, I thought one on the 'Down Main' might look good as an advance to the three aspect signal (around the curve at the tunnel entrance). The rest are ground signals, two of which are 'yellow/white' instead of red/white to allow for off main shunting.

Of course, if I've cocked all this up I'm sure I'll hear soon. Let me know if you have other ideas guys or see any glaring errors. Plan attached in JPEG file. Apologies if I've missed anyone out or sent to someone I shouldn't on the distribution.

I've not yet got my head around it, beyond No need for shunt sigs in sidings areas, as they are handlever operated. Just required out into station area.. My general impression is that there are perhaps more than we need e.g. not needing a home before the tunnel.

Will try to have a proper look later, but would appreciate any input from you guys,

Many thanks

TONY

10 hours ago, rodent279 said:

Little more than a collection of glorified mobile classrooms if I remember rightly? At least, that's what they seemed like. They must have done the job though.

An example of 12" : Ft Kit bashing, it was extended, without being to clever at covering the join!

Also gave me many evening out with my girlfriend watching, sat in the car, a view that included

Hymeks and Westerns, free of charge. Those were the days.

Oh and she's still around, we progressed to evening picnics at Severn Tunnel Junc, after we were

married, and the Hydrualics had gone.

TONY

38 minutes ago, KNP said:

More work on PW train formation….

 

This must one of the strangest looking wagons I have built….

 

I present to you the sleeper wagon!

 

 

It will be loaded with sleepers when painted…

 

Next one to think about is a rail carrying wagon like a Macaw or similar!

 

 

I too am in the middle of building one of these. (Picked it up for the princely

sum of £3 last Summer). But I'm doing the later taunton concrete version.

Trying to work out how to fit couplings,  any suggestion?

Cheers

TONY

Is that thw little known, trial NA - Kingsbridge - Plymouth commuter service...... perhaps?

Certainly looks good on ANTB.

TONY

3 hours ago, PjKing1 said:

A little bit more done to D1958

Nice thinking!

The double arrows were much easier than building a nose for D1

Coming on nicely

TONY

17 minutes ago, KNP said:

Off we go again, let’s see what tomorrow brings???

 

This isn't LM, Kevin.

With AP on the job, it could all be done, and written up,

.....by TEATIME.

One Eyed TONY

1 hour ago, Andy Keane said:

I have gone for the older Hornby R4319A / R4319B coaches which are not so nice but I think probably did run to Helston.

Andy

Yes I do have a pair in BR Maroon as the "normal" branch set, plus about half a dozen choc/cream for GW running or future detailing/improving. Although all of these are pre Hornby versions inc my 1st pair of Airfix original issue.

TONY

3 minutes ago, Andy Keane said:

Though I guess the 57' bow-ended suburban stock never made it to Cornwall?

Well this is where I have an advantage, presenting a cartoon. (ie rule 1), But at an early stage

I did also refer to the layout having an alter ego - that of Helstonish on Severn.

To date I have tended to find it difficult to envisage the layout as being anywhere but Cornwall,

other than when I want to run some of my bigger locos. But one day I may get round to drawing

up a Severnside based History / Timetable, which might justify some of the loco's I've acquired.

(One work in progress is a spreadsheet of loco allocations for Bristol, Gloucester and Cornish

sheds from BR database, to highlight locos which spent time across more than one area of interest.)

The new rake will effectively at least upgrade the presentation, replacing an old mainline Midland

set as the regular non corridor working.

16 hours ago, Andy Keane said:

Maybe somebody will be brave enough to replace the cab windows with glue and glaze?

You are probably right, although thats unlikely to be me. I'm not that brave.

I will probly fix the other irritation that I omitted from the above. ie the steamheat pipes

which vaguely point horizontally under the buffers, front and back, which will need

"clipping" to a bracket on the buffer, I think.

TONY

12 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

I think you put the RH comps on the right and the LH comps on the left...

 

Always happy to help.

Yes, thats exactly what I have done.

But the comps can be turned 180 deg, so there is a choice to be made.

From what little differences I can see, I think the choice is, do I group

the first sections together at the centre, or  the comps?

Must admit I've not yet looked at GWR.Org

Good to know I'm not the only one who doesn't immediately have the answer.

TONY

Well the verdict on the Model Rail 16XX, with lot's of caveats.

ie this is just my impression, and I have no pretense to really knowing what I'm looking for,

and, at the moment whether I could see  it, if I did.

I like it's running qualities, both in terms of speed, and control, but also it's ability to stay on

all of my trackwork.  The details are generally nicely done, and I particularly  the reverser rods.

Dislikes - the join across the bunker, which everybody was moaning about, but I can live with.

especially once I have painted, and fitted the fire irons etc. A bigger disappointment for me is the cabfront windows, which catch and reflect the light, shouting plastic. Not sure of the answer to that.

Overall however I am very happy with my first new purchase since probably the Lima 94xx when it was first intoduced.

Now I need to work out how to put together a new branch set, how do I get the RH / LH comps the right way round  ?????

TONY

Surely if it's 20s the answer has to be .....BOTH.

Keep it coming Paul.

TONY

What a difference those fence posts make! So evocative of the area, but not

a detail I would have remembered, until your pic reminded me.

The undergrowth is looking both verdant, and understated.

Another fine lesson Jeff. Keep it up.

TONY

On 23/01/2022 at 21:00, gwrrob said:

Don’t blame me for your 16xx purchase but I’m interested in your thoughts on the model Tony.

Good to hear from you, Robin.

I do have a few thoughts, but will give a more considered answer, tomorrow.

Does  look nice on the Porthleven goods.

However, I do have to question the sense of asking a one eyed bloke, who sees

things as a cartoon, at the best of times.

TONY

WSR Mogul 9351 heads away from Blue Anchor, Light Engine, Minehead - Williton 4 Jan 2022

This working left the WSR with 1 steam loco available, as the line was again about to be cut, again,

for track renewal between Dunster and Minehead. Also it left me available for last weeks eye op!

All seems to have gone ok, but it's an experience I am in no hurry to repeat. Currently there seems

a little improvement each day, but not without a price. I have managed to walk into the wardrobe a

couple of times, and have a cut on the forehead to prove it. It also required either sitting at a table,

and laying forward, face down, or face down on a bed, for 2 x 3hr sessions a day. To manipulste

the gas pressure! And with only one eye working, no driving.

Modelling would be nice, but there's no time, it's like being back in full time work, and no pay.

However there have been some "arrivals" so, thanks in no small part to Robins Sweets' prompt

hereabouts, this arrived just before Christmas. Must be on loan from Swindon.

And another parcel arrived from my new friends at Kernow, yesterday. Pics to follow shortly,

I hope.

TONY

2 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

Really?

 

You've already got examples from Hornby, Heljan and Dapol!

Sorry - I think my offhand remark missed the target, somewhat.

I was referring to the acronym, giving the word B O A T.

As for 1000s you're off the mark, Cap'n

            all mine are Lima, or Lilliput !!!!!!

TONY

But somewhat cheaper .......

                                                   Bring Out Another Thousand!!!!!

TONY

12 hours ago, Andy Keane said:

Would you build up the Cambrian Models kit?

or how about this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143854826095?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item217e6a726f:g:lLsAAOSwcOBd-AXa&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsS9d9gBrkNbRQtRn8MVXnYkqNUmIbAQ5%2BJgc4cSY8KIi9sL4N7OhbM9VKGTRh6gh1tvl0vzk5jxbpEL%2Fzvx2UdPd4a3uP%2Bu3G5JyADLii3T2BMXton1g5e%2BEPRpRobQTwDNjSN1S%2BRiJ5EWiVuRVX%2BsmW4e77wxZH%2Be4btjGb%2FtGV87Iq3r2ukbX%2FCEQ9FFM1BULn%2BxFrlIThmoRRoi0yza1LGFS20sc800upKDd9oRH70uWhKLT65RCDhTOSGg8SjwgdLSpx%2BsiZoyJpZ5BMVMIR5EXbirGu3mn5y%2FZdsaJiVFg0han9%2FeMJqLoN%2BKNhuGog9Kzj87tMZKpK9JKyC9b4qg0LubJ5989%2F72lcjMwLrjj5aN%2FVuaJxlIozzAtE7qgt0stRSI7UCVjptjnLMHEDiNyxyOgHArCkCzGEUua1Fvr4hmYC0Y0L9%2BvNcCyGwgSB17PeG7%2BWRpPNRcMzY2C8Lmx4G6uK7iurzm0NiGJtl6JXpazjAoKUa7GISIkNB8XfE%2BjMH5dwmnsrML26VTjh7%2FYrCWcuCFCiQ6CjJRq468DYQUTXSqnW6eWSX%2Bo9FgZiVyuOfuDAfnInhnqnP3bWMX9V7502BIipl1pMxAJeLNyG6J0LQuTARmfy1KMitqAqNQA6Rhs51pOe9RRfnXNUFTzJRW80NI%2FWRLnDoNJo1VQU0UHDnvpWTfhYUCo2EHFuT75tj6rJ9q1sAvelw7r3tVroB1vnVm4wVIMNm6kddNOf1fGss7Z27LzIimrpe2U1%2FHQYfVTFIbaHMOex4dU6lr2WdhcufarEq1RRnrnjvp4MMsFChtEZHJowkR0giuAKwUIXlAUxNIuY6WaWAdw%3D%3D|clp%3A2334524|tkp%3ABFBMwqGp7MRf

Some while back, I was looking for a Cambrian Kit. (Inspired by the allocation of  a crane to Little

Muddle). However there were seemingly none available at the time.

The Bachmann is a beauty, but a bit of overkill. At that price I would have to relay Helstonish,

on a weekly basis.

In the meantime I have a done a bit of work on a Triang Hornby version, which has come out well

enough to stand in for the time being.

I'll perhaps look out for the the kit, after my eye op, and once my modelling efforts come back

to reasonably productive standards.

TONY

4 hours ago, Andy Keane said:

Just found this picture:

https://thetransportlibrary.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=129858&search=Helston&page=3

which gives me an excuse to have a mobile crane at Helston.

Not sure why it was needed though.

Andy

Already on my wish list, perhaps once my eye is fixed.

TONY

You're learning this retirement malarkey fast.

Just don't let it slip to not even the playing bit, like me!

Happy new year

TONY

1 hour ago, KNP said:

 

And still got the door to fix and the crate to unload.....!

No .... that's down for 2023/4!!!!!

Mustn't rush things in LM

Happy New Year

TONY

Happy New Year to all who visit here, and hopefully Helstonish also.

My feeling, I have no real evidence, is that the branch would likely have an allocated brake van.

This as there were a few branch freights timetabled, plus trailing loads on mixed trains, all of

which, I think would be re-formed at Gwinear Road. After all GR was extended and was a fairly

substantial yard in it's own right, and would despatch further afield, in more substantial

formations.

That's not to say that goods working couldn't work, in or out, further afield. What it would do

is facilitate the branch workings.

With regard the coal chute, I would expect it to be more substantial than the Minffordd one, as

there would be more drop. Again I have no evidence, but would suspect it would be similar to

the serpentine loading chute, but perhaps with wooden framing. A, as it would have been an

earlier build, than the oft pictured stone chute. Of course it could be have been rather more

cobbled together, as the covered coal "sheds" near the goods shed were.

Looking forward to more good progress here in 22, as well, I hope on Helstonish, just to

keep up with the Jones Keane.

All the best

TONY