winterbournecm

From a virtual drought of extra working in the first quarter of 2014, things certainly looking up as we head into Summer!

Fri 25th VSOE runs down to Truro

09.44 Victoria to Truro

Plymouth       16.31 / 16.42

Liskd                  17.10

Par                     17.32 / 17.40

Truro                18.03

Shunts to yd - loco(s) return to BZ at 19.24 - though expect they will be much earlier in reality

Sat 26th Apl 2014

The Great Britain tour visits Truro with DRS operating the service which is booked for Top N tailed class 47s - a real treat rather than the usual class 67s.

The train is part Steam hauled into Devon, but that can be covered elsewhere. Here is the Cornish timings:

5Z83 14.39 Exeter SD to St Blazey LIP - Steam locos & support coach

Steam Loco’s 5029 & POB & 34046 from Plymouth Friary

Plymouth Friary     16.40 / 17.43

Plymouth                17.58 / 18.01

Liskeard                      18.42

Par                         19.09 / 19.10

St Blazey                      19.20

Gt Britain class 47

1Z83 14.50 Exeter SD to Truro

Newton Abbt                15.11

Plymouth                      15.51

Liskeard                        16.17

Par                               16.37

Truro                             17.03

5Z85 17.12 Truro to St. Blazey ECS - class 47

Par                            17.37 / 17.40

St Blazey                         17.57

I will post the return workings asap. Other workings include the Class 150/9 Branch line trip on May 10th.

That's great - will pop up one day for sure.

A heads up for Sat 10th May when FGW / The Branch Line Society plan to take a 3 car class 150 to the deepest recesses of Devon & Cornwall. I dont have the full details or schedule yet, but it's pretty ambitious. 

Timings etc nearer the time folks. 

The down working was a winner too. Such a lucky jammer. 5Z12 at Grampound.

Hi Damian thanks. When is Exeter?

Hi Simon.Yes thanks I realise that, thats why it has 1C47 the other end! 

57605 flies passed Dowgas near Burngullow with 5Z11 the first crew training trip for Penzance Drivers. This is a precusor to the Summer Saturday stopping service 11.25 from Par to Exeter this season. Bring it on.

Finally got my Precision blinds for the Dapol Westerns (well, Heljan technically). A bit disappointed that they aren't a snug fit for behind the glass on the locos. Its a PIG trying to get the shell off and fiddling around with the headcodes. I surrendered and stuck the see through blinds on the front of the loco. I did 1050 at one end (which technically D1050 may not have carried in service), and 1C47/8 the other - semi wound round which I like. Here is the finished loco on Sandy Hill in after dark.

A heads up for some Cornish loco hauled action in the coming week. The FGW class 57 & day coaches will start training runs next weeks on Tues 8th / Wed 9th & Sat 12th Apl. How exact (times wise) and reliable these runs will be are speculative, but they're in Trust and I'm hopeful they'll produce!

Whether they'll run in concurrent weeks on the same days / timings is not known at the moment.

5Z11 10.20 Long Rock to Plymouth

Truro         10.55

Par             11.16

Liskd          11.44

5Z12 12.50 Plymouth to Long Rock

Liskd         13.19

Par            13.40

Truro         14.03

St Erth       14.37

Slight amendment - Saturday return is 12.30 from Plymouth

Yes, I'm afraid it is for the foreseeable future. Huge money needs spending.

Here is a working for Apl 11th. The Netwrok Rail HST. First time I have known it run, though it may not be the first appearance in the County:

NMT HST to Penzance Fri 11th Apl

1Z20 05.55 Old Oak Common to Penzance (via Swansea!!)

Bristol TM             12.12 / 12.15

Taunton                     13.12

Exeter SD                  13.52

Plymouth               14.52 / 15.01

Liskd                           15.23

Par                              15.40

Truro                            15.57

Pnz                              16.24

Return (1Z20) Penzance to Derby RTC

Penzance                     16.34

Truro                             17.03

Par                               17.26

Liskd                            18.02

Plymouth               18.26 / 18.55

Exeter SD                      19.58

Taunton                          20.39 

Hmm, turning locos in the Duchy is going to be a problem too...

I remember the old thred, and it seems may have expired. I am involved with a group on Facebook called Nostalgic Hayle, and there has been a lot of interest in the hayle Wharves trains. One gem that came out this weekend was details of the road oil tank shunter that dealt with the tanks at the Esso depot. One chap who serviced it each week has identified it as 1967 AEC Mandator E reg numbered 9744. The guys from Copperhouse garage used to service it on a Friday afternoon. We are hopeful of getting some pictures shortly too.

For 1985, this was an everyday scene, largely unnoticed by enthusiasts and the public. Gordon Reddaway - Penzance Driver has just relieved a colleague and is ready to take 47427 into Cornwall with a down late morning service.

I've been a busy boy. Here are some 1976 pictures including D1050 "Western Model Rail Ruler". I thought I'd treat myself! Also shown is new arrival 45120 having been weathered. 

I've been a busy boy. Here are some 1976 pictures including D1050 "Western Model Rail Ruler". I thought I'd treat myself! Also shown is new arrival 45120 having been weathered. 

I've had some lovely compliments about the Model Rail article, and a couple of queries which I will get around to answering on here and by e mail as time allows. One request was from a branch line fan who asked about the operation of the freight trains on the branch. 

It's an area that largely gets over looked. We enjoy running the main line and freights on the "Big railway" that we often spend little time running the fuel down to Bishops Bronsecomb (BB) . It always is a laugh when it does run, and it's rather quaint in nature, and hopefully reminiscent of the Hayle Wharves moves from years ago. 

Only Bo-Bo locos are permitted down the branch passed the Low Level (larger engines dfo make it onto the branch but only to change ends and return back). Class 25s are the true classic traction, but class 6300s, 20s and 08s and a even a class 73 made it down there once! The fuel tanks arrive on the Speedlink mainline service and are attached to the brake van and runner vehicles before setting out.

The train leaves the yard and is ready to join the branch. There are no run around facilities at BB to replicate the Hayle branches limitations. The propelling also has a certain riskiness attached full fuel tanks precariously being nudged along down a steep branch. Once arrived at BB, the BV and runners are deposited into the platform (the freight operates in a DMU free window). The full tanks are  drawn forward and attached to the purged ones in the terminal.

The empty tanks are then placed against the BV & runners and the full tanks are placed into the unloading bays and the gates swung shut behind them. The reformed train then retraces its steps back to Sandy Hill yard, driven this time rather than propelled. 

Looking good,

I agree about the vivid bachy blue - what white powder do you use and do you fix it first ?

Cheers

Hi there

It's just white weathering powders dropped lightly along the side of the locos from about 6 inches above and gently brushed into the paintwork. The mat varnish is all that secures it.

Oops I dont know why they flipped like that!!

The recent birthday buys have been visiting the weathering shops. Here are a selection of pictures from the application of mat varnish through to the initial body side decoration. The chassis have been removed and carefully hand painted with mat varnish and treated afterwards as the varnish has a nasty habit of drawing up into the body if re assembled to soon. leave 5 days. 

The blue locos were then given a gentle application of white powder to tone down the vivid Bachmann blue to soften it (a faded quality). The brown / black (powder paint) was then liberally worked into the exhausts, fans and grilles. Lighter amounts were then blended into the rest of the body to give an overall look. Yellow ends are treated sparsely dont go to heavy. Always build up coats / layers. The "Two-tone" blue which was famous in the 70/80s is brake block running dirt which gathered up the lower body sides, and is achieved with horizontal sweeping motions with a lighter brown. 

Making a start on the peak

Thanks mate - every little helps!

I heard an interesting "theory" about these manifistations once. The gist of it was that what we see are actually "films" of historic happening being replayed in locations. This would account for "legless" knights as the floors may have been raised over the years. So essentially, we are seeing a replay of events. The similar could be said of figures walking through walls stairs where once there was a door etc....

Convinced?, hmmm...

Thanks everyone - it's such a privilige to be featured, I hope the article appeals after sucha long wait. I have a collection of Chris's photos which I'm not allowed to share on line, but he has done wonders!

I've given RM Web a big clap, and YMR website which aided me in building the layout.

Just noticed how far the wipers are from the windscreens on 50011!

Looks good to me mate. The box coming along fab too. Have you tried Decalslide? Its pretty good for keeping transfers fluid whilst you position them. I always cut transfers into max 2 inch strips or else they can twist up on you. I have similar problems with the Grainflow ones I did a few years ago. (Then Bachmann bring them out!!)