Merlin242

Another patriot has snuck onto the layout in the midst of sorting out a batch of jubilees. Following the neighbouring towns to where I live I settled on it becoming 45546 Fleetwood rather than 45548 as I found the nameplates easier to source and I had seen it in my spotting days. I do like the lines of these engines so I expect to succumb to temptation again sometime.

Another go is a little better. Then you see one of the lamps has twisted a bit. Its surprisingly hard to recreate the angle , depth of field and focal length of the original. However this is the sort of what i am aiming for. Just need to be able to do similar comparisons on the whole layout. Mike

Fair comment. I Do have a mixture of white and black LMS types as well as BR and lner types on the locos on the layout but did not swap them over. I think the front coupling needs to go as well.

I am quite pleased with this then and now comparison. The original photo of 45503 at Windermere is (Image JL Thackray/KWVR Archives). The now version was taken this morning. My guess is the original was on the up Lakes express which was often Patriot hauled in the 1950's and the train can only be around 6 or 7 coaches long from its position in the platform. The angle of the sun also suggests a morning photo Any suggestion welcome on the train or how the model could be improved.

Steady progress on renumbering and detailing more locos. The plan is to end up with a stud of engines which I have seen and are local to the area. I have not( dare not) counted how many there are but it must be in 3 figures. I am tending to do a class at a time and the Fairburn tanks are the current project of which i have 3 unless ebay bidding strikes again. 42105 and 42198 are largely done with the third one is yet to start. Windermere & Hincaster Junction | Facebook page

I have just come across this thread which is of interest as my layout has a model of part of Carnforth shed and the other Windermere . station. I know Carnforth very well from BR days and around 20 years of volunteering at Steamtown. I looked at modelling just the shed but did not have the room. A version from the wagon shop to the North end would be over 30 feet and 3 feet wide. So I compromised and modeled the South End and cut the shed back to 4 tracks. I am reasonably happy that I could catch the atmosphere with the key elements, Coal plant ,ash plant water tower shed and turntable in the right locations. There are some compromises. only 2 coal sidings not 3 and ash plant and coal plant on the same track. The workshop is also missing. It takes up a space about 12 feet long 2 feet wide. Points are all peco medium radius and I think it can be done. The advantage of Carnforth is its very well photographed and the main structures are/were all modeled by Bachmann. Ebay and patience can be your friend here. I started about 4 years ago in a space about 18 feet 6 by 13 with an oval with scenic storage sidings one side, Carnforth on the other and a full scale model Windermere in the centre. Its worked pretty well and is almost complete. I have found that modelling the prototype has given me more satisfaction than the generic bits. As someone suggested I would start with the oval as you will discover what gives you the most reward and move on. The other bit of advice is join the Cumbrian Railways Association. This group is exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly. Its been a godsend. One of the things they have done over lockdown are photo challenges. To identify a photo from the many thousands in the archives. This has brought out a lot of new information and there has been quite a bit about Lakeside. For example A recent 1954 working timetable shows are surprising number of excusions to Lakeside as well as trains on the branch. Mike Hanson Facebook page Windermere & Hincaster Junction has photos, vidoes etc

Thanks. Glad you are aware of the chat group which by chance has today been looking again at photos of bog junction . Have you seen them? Ron Herbert has been very helpful as always producing the target 85 list this week which includes Tebay bankers which may of use to you. My layout started as a generic one based on a might have been ( Hincaster Junction) with the prototype added with a scale model of Windermere and the South end of Carnforth shed. I found over time the modelling of real places and actual trains even to specific days more satisfying than the generic. This is perhaps the similarity with your layout. I am gradually recreating many of the local locomotives underlined in my combined album which is fun and allows me to recreate some of the events and special trains of the 50's and 60's. The photo below shows a might have been from 1962. 46257 was photographed at Oxenholme in the bay platform with the points set and signal pulled off for Windermere. I have posted this on some prototype forums with the story and a request for any more information. I got no new information but quite a lot of comments outing it as a model. But the fact some had a doubt was rewarding. The problem I am coming across more as the stud expends and with a dozen plus Black 5's and as many 2-6-4T's that recognizing them at a distance can be a problem especially with the layout being DCC. I can win a bit more space or even quite a lot and with the layout fully operational and 90% of scenary, signals etc at a reasonable standard the urge to expand is increasing. Windermere and Hincaster junction is a thread on here and there is also Windermere & Hincaster Junction a Facebook page . Oddly that gets much more interest with around 800 followers. I know some people regard Facebook as the spawn of the devil but I have got a great deal of information from it. Great to see your trains are now running. That must feel great.

I am watching this impressive project with interest and look forward to the next instalments. With trepidation that this is probably a silly question I wonder if you are a member of the Cumbria Railways Association chat group? I find it an invaluable resource for my poor efforts with Windermere and the West Coast mainline. The friendly and helpful response to information requests obscure or downright foolish has been really great and the level of knowledge & historic source documents second to none. I had never heard of Bog Junction until your thread and this week it helped me understand the CRA discussion on freight timetables to its adjacent coal yard. My only problem is keeping up with the information flow. Apologies again if this is of no interest Mike Hanson Windermere & Hincaster Junction

Oxenholme had a single Jinty 47503 allocated for many years. It was finally moved away to Barrow and Workington and never replaced. Details of its use are scant with few photos. However new information via the truly excellent Cumbria Railways Association chat group of it use on two coach early evening trains from Windermere in the early 1950's prompted a change from its usual shunting duties.

A few recently renumbered locos mostly orginally from ebay. 46252 City of Leicester was one of 3 duchesses to reach Windermere. Morecambe and Heysham and Blackpool were where I worked and 43027 was a local Carnforth engine. All are underlined in my Ian Allan spotters book.

I was hoping this would happen. Having helped in small way with restoring the engine to steam at Carnforth with the late Tony Chalmers in the 1970's Hardwicke is simply a must have. So an order placed. It should look well leaving Windermere with a train of Hattons new coaches. Something to look forward to in 2021

This arises from the coincidence of Hornby releasing it and an online discussion in the really excellent Cumbria Railways Association about which Stanier pacifics visited the Windermere branch. They were allowed on the branch but the turntable at Windermere is only 60 feet so operationally this was a pain. There are 3 documented visits in 1962 by 46221, 46252 and 46255. There is also an intriguing maybe with 46257 and the background to that is set out below. Also strangely no Stanier pacific had run to Windermere on my model despite a few running often on the main line. So i decided that this would be the first visit and to see if i could spark some new information by posting about it about on a few sites. The responses were interesting. Sadly no new information has come to light. I was told they were allowed on the branch which i new and thought i had made clear in the posts. But most took delight in pointing out the photo was a fake. I was quite cheered by this as it implied there was some doubt it was a model. A least it needed more than a quick glance. If anyone has an interest in any of the railways of Cumbria do join the CRA. It has a great photo archive and a great collective knowledge. Over the Covid lockdown it ran a daily challenge ( now 2 weekly). This was a photo which had to be identified. The information which has emerged has added to everyone's knowledge and has now been collected and documented. Its also been great fun in trying times. The post I put up was as follows: 46257 City of Salford at Windermere in 1962? There were 3 recorded visits by Stanier Pacific’s to the branch in 1962 and this possible. There is photo of this engine at Oxenholme in the branch platform with the road set for the branch. However it’s not clear if it carried on or reversed out and then carried on North to Carlisle. Any information about it or other visits to Windermere by Stanier Pacific’s would be most welcome. The consensus among the experts is that City of Salford did not visit in the early 1960's and not until 2020 in model form as no parcels train was timetabled for the branch. There are no known examples of large parcels trains reaching Windermere. It was also not unknown for busy Carlisle bound trains to be put in the branch platforms at Carnforth and Oxenholme to be unloaded and then reverse back to continue North. The question which has emerged is how the daily Kendal to London Parcels train which was a busy one with deliveries from K shoes got its stock. There was no timetabled working to bring in the stock which is odd as it was a big train going out. If anyone knows that would be really useful. Of course as well any information on other visits by Stanier pacifics to the Windermere branch would be also be really welcome.

A slightly different view is now available as the viaduct is no longer floating at the ends. I made a mistake in not making it 6 arches so I could model Docker Viaduct. I was not aware of Docker when I put in the model and could not face ripping it out and starting again. But i do plan to add the cast cross supports and paint to match the original. There are pictures of a derailed duchess hauled train on the viaduct which would be fun to model.

Windermere station is coming on. The main task now is to build the covered coach loading area between the station building and the goods shed. I have printed the girders and roof trusses but still lots of glazing bars to do.

Some photos around Windermere during a running session

All the 6 semaphore signals at Windermere Station are now in place and working. Half are also lit. I wish I had put leds in them all as the lit ones look much better especially when they are pulled off so I will go back and redo the remaining 3 in due course. I have drawn the line at making the ground signals power operated although at least the discs can be rotated. Having the signals working does add a lot to the atmosphere of trains arriving and departing. I have used parts of ratio kits with etched arms and micro leds running at just under 3 volts. The 4 signals I have built are dcc servo controlled. My next task is to do the station building which should not take too long as I have already printed out the windows and doors

Unusual engine on the Windermere - Preston train today. I believe this happened but I can't now find the photo which proves it

Signals are now sprouting in Windermere. A mixture of ratio kits LNWR & BR, Hornby Dublo , Sctratch built and Dapol. The intention is that all will work as part of the DCC system and are modelled on the real thing. The dublo starter still works perfectly despite being 60 years old.

Windermere station is coming on quite nicely. The 3d printer has been worth every penny of the £169 I paid for as it makes possible inclusion of details hat would not be practical otherwise. For example there are 48 small roof supports which would have 6 pieces in each one. To produce 6 supports ready to use takes 10 minutes on the printer whilst I do something else. I should have bought it earlier as I could have made the windows in the goods shed exact models rather than adapting commercial ones. Its also been useful printing off ppe face mask carriers. That alone to hopefully help make family , friends and work colleagues safer is worth the cost.

If its any use our local newsagent still accepts cash. But to reduce his risk you put it in a plastic box so he can see it. Then he puts the change in another plastic box for you to pick up. If you have plenty of take away type boxes for the cash you get it can be dealt with safely later at your leisure.

Steady progress on the next big project which is the train shed for Windermere station. I have built up the glazed ends and roof trusses from plastic strip. Then I invested in a 3d printer to do the many different doors and windows. the top row is the outside and the bottom row the inside. I should have bought this printer earlier and I could have done a better job of the goods shed and engine shed. I have been diverted onto face mask production for carers in the community and so its done about 50 hours printing in the last week although the odd window gets squeezed in. Clearly the face masks takes priority at the moment.

I really support this I finally bit the bullet and ordered an Anycubic 3d printer last week to do the doors and windows for Windermere station. It arrived on Tuesday. It was unpacked that day, worked first time and the first test prints for windows were set up and came off that day. I downloaded a file for a facemask and printed one out. Our daughter who works in the community looking after the vulnerable has only got a small set of glasses which all off all the time. So we made a couple facemasks up and got them to her. Her manager asked if I could do 500!. I can't do 500 but am printing continuously as many as possible for her and her team. The windows and doors will have to wait. I really regret not buying the printer earlier as I could have done a better job with bespoke windows rather than adapting commercial ones for the goods shed and engine shed at Windermere

Windermere station is coming on . Once the gas lamps on platform 3/4 are in the major task of the overall roof is next.

Windermere is coming along as I work myself up to the challenge of the main station building and overall roof. I am reasonably pleased with the signal box which started as a damaged Bachmann model minus its roof and steps. I have cut off the outside toilet and made a new roof gutters etc and extended the base as it site in the embankment. The base is still there to this day. Next job is to finish the platforms.

The engine shed at Windermere was boarded up when the 52 foot turntable was replaced by the LMS with a 60 foot one. Its a distinctive building which lasted until most of the station site was sold off demolished in the 1970's.