D826

As Boscarne says, very interesting subject this chaps, been watching it keenly. The North Devon line site on the nostalgia web pages is full of cracking images, and also got me looking again at the Derby Sulzers website, and an associated one looking at 25 workings, which has a fair bit of info on the 25 workings to Barnstaple and in the south west; http://www.class25.info/ Used to love the line in the 70's. Family holidays in South Molton resulted in day trips down to Dawlish, and I'd spend the whole of my time in the back of my Dad's MG1300 with my face pressed to the window as we ran parallel to the line on the A377. Only saw a clay train on the line between Barnstaple and Bideford once. Also enjoyed travelling on it in 1990 - 93 when I worked in Barnstaple. (Unfortunately post goods yard rationalisation). Barely recognise the appearance of the place with the changes to Sticklepath what with the down stream bridge and all that now. It won't hold a candle to the work of the notables on RM web, but, I'm working, (very slowly), on a compressed, simplified version of Barnstaple junction in 'n', circa 76, (and 82). Had to straighten out the yard sidings and the configuration of the Sticklepath road bridges will be rather different, but it'll have the gist. I've always thought Barnstaple would have operational interest, and an excuse to have stock in the yard. Tried to future proof things by ensuring that at some point in the future when space permits, I'd be able to add another board to extend the line in the Chapelton direction, together with the headshunt to the yard. With a young family, and in order to make progress at more than a snail's pace, I am using commercially available buildings providing they give me the essence of the place. Still thinking through things like backscenes etc. Suspect that the simplified and altered track plan, may also see my time frame pushed back so it sees its share of hydraulics, and that opening up of route availability to 37's et al, may be bought forward ! Stock's my real interest and at the moment got some Parkwood OVV/UCV's and an Etched Pixels 25/1 conversion to work on. (With regard to the etches for the 25/1 thank you Mr Cox Sir, your etches are superb). Anyway, its this thread that finally encouraged me to take the plunge, and I thought you might be interested in a few piccies in progress so far. Like I say, its slow progress, but providing it continues to come together in a half decent way, I'll post some updates in due course - about 2012 on current progress. Regards Matt W

Interesting thread - Two that don't appear to have been mentioned yet are Aylesbury - a Shell terminal (Hartwells I think), north of the old huge red brick goods shed in the north yard and south of the A418 Oxford Road bridge. Used to walk past the yard every day on my way to school late 70's early 80's and hazy memory tells me while regularly seeing bogie tankers there, I don't recall ever seeing a loco other than the regular 25 and 08 yard shunter - (which around the end of my time at school was a green liveried 08. Also Watton at Stone on the Hertford loop. Seen a picture in an old John Vaughan book (BR Mainline diesels - I know it had a green cover?) of a 31 with some tanks reversing into Watton. As you head north on a train to Stevenage even today, the remains of the ground frame can still be seen - (or could a couple of months ago). Matt Wood

Andy, found the photos of Drump Lane - follow this link - some cracking photos of Cornwall in the 70's including the Roskear branch/siding. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=45553&start=75 Matt

Andy, that really is looking right on the money - and as Trevor H notes above, the quality of your work makes you forget this is 2mm. I similarly have a number of the Parkwood OOVs (pre hood for me too). This blog is an inspiration - I remember the tail end of the Warship's - just, and being a Bucks lad, also saw the last of the Hymeks circa 74/75 as well as the Westerns. Have developed a massive soft spot for the 6300's - can't honestly say I remember seeing them, just an incredibly characterful 1st gen diesel - and like you said at the outset, a must for a Devon or Cornwall layout set pre 72. I am about to have to dismantle my own layout for redecoration of the children's playroom, which once decorated, will give them an area to play in, (and, ahem, me, a 3 metre by 0.7m or so area for a layout again). There were some cracking photos of Drump Lane goods depot near Redruth that inspired me on a previous version of RM Web, but I don't seem to be able to find them now. I like the idea of having some stock on show, and an excuse for a bit of shunting, without the compromise of trying to condense Par or St Erth down into unworkable size. Anyway - your work looks fantastic, the MP15 chassis does look spot on in terms of wheelbase, and honestly, if I achieved results half as good as you have I would be thrilled. I will continue to watch with admiration and interest. Regards Matt Wood

If you'll excuse the pun your work on the roof and the way this is coming together is excellent and giving me a 'Zest' for getting an order to Worsley Works myself - using this blog as my 'how to' (if I secured results half as good as you I would be pleased). With regard to the MP 15DC chassis - did you order that from the Atlas Website in the States or a model shop out there ? And would I be right in thinking it cost somewhere in the region of 89 of the Queens pounds ? Excellent work though. Regards Matt W

Looking very good indeed Andy - the rate your going and the results you are getting I can see myself printing this little lot off and using it as a step by step guide. Don't know if it helps, but Brian Reed's book on Hydraulics from 1975 (I can still remember nagging my Mum and Dad to buy it for me), has a dimensioned roofplan drawing. It shows the taper commencing just about in line with the back edge of the side cab windows and is dimensioned to show overall width as 8'8" and width over nose end as 8'4". Hats off to you already for the way this is developing - I am getting seriously tempted.

Might not be the whole of the train, since some of it is out of shot, but there's a cracking photo in Diesel Hydraulics in the West Country (Huntriss and Gray published by Ian Allenin 2000), of Western Dragoon in maroon, August 1966, crossing Clinnick viaduct, allegedly on the 07.45am Kensington to St Austell motorail and the 8 coaches in view are all Maroon Hawksworths One of the most handsome coaches ever made in my opinion. You boys in OO don't know what side your bread is buttered - I have been drooling over the images of the Crimson and cream one on the Hattons website. I can only dream of such things in N - the curtains might be iffy to some, but its like saying Penelope Cruz's nose is unattractive - the overall package is most comely gentlemen. cheers Matt W

Yes D1072, 103's on the WR...that made me stop and think. What was the story with the Park Royal 103's ? - there's a picture of set P200 on pg 25 of the BR first Gen DMUs in colour (with the P200 set number beneath the drivers window, which I must admit I always took to be Plymouth), - and it must be pre 73 as the line passed to the P and D R in '73 I think. I got a sense of deja vue when I saw that picture, once as I sat on the wall between the sea wall and the line at Dawlish near the Langstone Rock a very strange (to my Aylesbury eyes used to 115s) rasped round on the down line - it wasn't a 120 so maybe it was a 103. Does anyone know how long they lasted in the west, and what was the earliest transfer ? The Railcar website suggests that some were trasnferred to Reading and Cardiff, but that P200 set number suggests a longer transfer maybe. Or was P somewhere else......? Didn't realise it at the time, but love the variety in those 1st Gen DMUs. Regards Matt