brainh

Hi Kevin, are there any updates on the progress of this eagerly awaited project please.

Reading this topic has put me in full reminisce mode so I'm going to stick to Pauls original question, hopefully. I was lucky !! to attend Rope Lane secondary school from summer 1964 to summer 1969 and from the playground, fields and a few of the classrooms we had a clear view of the Crewe - Shrewsbury line over the adjacent fields. Also visited the line on occasions prior to and after these times. Neither myself or any of my mates saw a Hymek on a passenger train, not to say it never happened. The 1st Hymek seen by us was in 1965 on a freight train. From 1966 - 1970 however they were regular visitors having a complete monopoly of the Barry Dock banana trains and it was common to see 2 - 4 of them on any day the traffic ran. Most of them seen returning LE after a short period of time. As steam was still active around the Crewe - Shrewsbury area until 1967 the answer is yes.

On the subject of point rodding & colour lights. It was common around Crewe. I started on the S&T from school in July 1969 and one of the 1st jobs I was on was to renew all the point rodding controlled by Crewe Coalyard Signal Box. This included all the signal wires as these were still all ground discs at the time. At that time Sorting Sidings South, Basford Hall Junction, North Stafford Sidings & Salop Goods Junction all had this combination. From memory I'm pretty certain that Crewe Steelworks & Gresty Lane No2 Boxes were also the same

Received my copy Wednesday but didn't have chance to open until last night. Absolutely top draw, especially the spread of previously unseen locations. Enclosed card from Andrew and postcard were an unexpected bonus. Thoroughly recommended. No links with Andrew or Not Jeremy other than as a very satisfied customer. Brian.

Hopefully I can add a little to what The Johnster has already told you. The North and West route expresses & freight trains all changed locos at Shrewsbury prior to the arrival of the warships & westerns when the changes were made at Crewe. Counties did not make it to Crewe, I believe due to their overall cylinder spacing being out of gauge with EX LMS platforms. It should also be said that any western engines that did make it on freight trains would use the station avoiding lines and change engines at Gresty Green. Parcels trains on this route could turn up with anything at the head. Prior to dieselisation Local Passenger trains always seemed to be formed of EX LMS stock. The mainstay motive power was Stanier tanks but anything, particularly ex works could turn up so it was not uncommon to see a Duchess on 3 woebegone none corridor coaches. These trains used Platform 4B, now 7. Whilst on the Shrewsbury route it is worth mentioning that at Whitchurch there was a direct connection to the Cambrian lines via Oswestry. The through service from Aberystwyth to Crewe almost invariably brought a Manor into Crewe. Some of the Oswestry - Whitchurch also ran through to Crewe, again almost always with Manors. One of these trains also conveyed milk tanks as tail traffic. These trains usually terminated in Platform 1B or 2B neither of which exist today as they are part of the extension not to be modelled. Crewe - Wellington passenger services were provided by 2 B sets as the norm. Normally hauled by 4158 or 4178. Around the late fifties, BR 3MT tanks were regular for a period, not sure of exact dates 82005 & 82009 were regulars followed by Ivatt 2MT tanks 41232 & 41241 being regulars. Loco substitutions were usually Wellington based 8750 tanks though a Hall has been known to have been used along with Collett, Hawksworth & MK 1's . These trains used Platform 3B, now 8. There were no through passenger services over this line Except for The Pines Express for a couple of summers in the early sixties, almost always an EE Type 4 diesel. Parcels trains on this route frequently brought castles into Crewe. Freight traffic was headed mostly by western steam and almost anything could be seem but again would not been seen in Crewe station as engine changes were again done at Gresty Green. Hope this helps and look forward to your future progress with this project.

Hi tom, Agree with Martin on the healing process. Great to see you back and firing on all cylinders it appears, especially as the link to your old Modellers United pages no longer works so unable to see all the older photo's any more. Does this mean Askrigg is now on the back burner. BrainH

I have been reading this and your previous layouts postings with long standing interest. All brilliant and inspiring work Looking back to Post 135. which shows your Hymek with a stencil shedcode by the drivers door and a TOPS panel on the cabside which puts it in post 1968 livery so your period is already extended. Observational only, no criticism at all. Rule 1 applies. For me the mention of more colour in Post 182 suggests having 2 periods to ring the changes. Bring on some blue syp Westerns. Please.