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Johnson Street IEMD

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  1. Johnson Street IEMD

    30th June 2023 - Loco Update

    By Johnson Street IEMD,


    Johnson Street IEMD - Layout update
    30th January 2023 - there's a Dyson in town
     
    Having taken the Dyson for a quick spin on the test track at the local model shop yesterday,
     
     
     
    today was a layout debut for the highly anticipated Accurascales DB Schenker branded Class 92, 92042. As it used to be known, ''Honegger'', well, Honegger got to meet his new stablemates,
     
     
     
    alongside probable brief classmate George Eliot (92027), briefly visiting Johnson Street IEMD before being off to pastures new potentially.
     
    Currently the main bug bear is about the panto's, is there a function to allow switch-over from the rear forward facing pantograph when direction changes, I would have thought it automatically changed over with the front panto (in direction of travel) went down, and the rear one came up .. when the direction changes ... I will post this in the Accurascales Class 92 forum to see what the answer is ... 
     
    When I first mapped out my sidings for the planning of this layout, the 92s were the forefront of my thinking, i think i still have a picture of them somewhere, The Bachmann Class 90s have taken priority so far and the marketplace for the Accurascales Class 92s are starting to plato so potentially making them more affordable. 92042 will be the first of at least two or three DB92s, a three beasties one is a must and either the YIWU 92 (015) or the new one just out of the paintshop, 92029, formerly Dante.
     
  2. Johnson Street IEMD
    18th December 2019
     
    After getting my two DB 90s back to leafy Staffordshire, an opportunity to visit an up and working DCC operated layout was too good to be missed, and that of a good friend and fellow modeller. 
     
    So, getting to see my first two Bachmann Class 90s in action, one of which now sound fitted and the pair of them both just back from the paintshop, joined by a Bachmann Class 66, in the guise of DB Cargo 66009, also nicely sound fitted as well.
     
    A collection of pictures on here are below - as well as an video update on youtube as well - is to be found - just search ''Johnson Street IEMD'' on youtube - please bear with me as this is is just the start of me on youtube.



  3. Johnson Street IEMD
    Ok, so, last night, I agreed the sale of one of my favourite locos, my almost perfect Class 90 019, in ultra up to date DB Cargo livery. I envisage I will have a Bachmann equivalent of this in the next two years or so, although it will be sound fitted, with dcc controllable pantograph, have fullt detail features, working cab lights and look the part operating within my IEMD set up, however, here and now, im parting company with my lovely 90. It does feel a bit sad as it's a very rare example  - and nicely reliveried - twice - firstly into Schenker - and then into DB Cargo.
     
    So, whats the plan regarding the Bachmann 90? well ... i was talking about it with paintshop guy, its very likely Bachmann will do a DB 90 soon - whether its 018, 019, 028, 029, 036 or 040 remains to be seen - but any of those versions can simply be rebranded easily and without costing a small fortune - and its also very likely we will see an EWS 90 as well - so we should be able to get an Ex EWS DB 90 done as a rebrand - and whilst a Malcolm 90 can only really be a dream here and now - and yes hopefully Bachmann will do it - I think the most sensible rebrand would be 90034 - out of its DRS branding - in the same dark blue - with the newer DB branding., as below:
     
    This example has spent time operating on the WCML on Malcolm freight and also on GEML on Greater Anglia back-up.
     
     
     

  4. Johnson Street IEMD
    Ok, so, a few months ago, I wrote a mini-blog entry on waiting for the Bachmann Class 90, well, yes, great, fab, super, its's now here and most of the modern image OO gauge readers out there, all getting used to their new acquisitions, spare a thought for the perfectionistas ... I have had through my hands not one, not two, but three, yes, three !! Bachmann 90s ... all in a bid to have one of the first Bachmann 90s to wear DB. Now, as fortune would have it, i should hopefully be taking delivery soon of two DB 90s, one unusual one and one fairly bog standard one - one which will have sound and one which wont. Well, it seems to stand to reason, most 90s, (aside from the GEML lot 90s 001-015) seem to spend their lives operating in pairs, you know, safety in numbers keeping them safe in case of predatory 66's... haha... ok, so, two DB 90s . . . . and I will also post a seperate blog regarding branding/signage - as there have been some developments along these lines also. But, yes, big news two 90s, not one... both in DB colours.. I cannot wait to see them.
  5. Johnson Street IEMD
    In the words of the great Richard Wilson
     
     
    I doooooo not beeeeliieeeeeeeeevvveee it...
     
     
     
    For the last few months, I have been trying to explore ways to have my third Bachmann Class 90 re-liveried into my favourite class member, 90024 in its current colours of Malcolm Rail, (for those of you who dont know) the rail Division of Malcolm Logistics, who operate daily freight routes from Mossend to Daventry on the West Coast Mainline - (and a train which runs past my place every day - for anyone who loves the railways as well as models them, one may consider themselves quite fortunate.) Anyway, I had managed to find a way of getting the very colourful side section done in a vinyl form and the result of this vinyl has made its way onto Ebay to which I have acquired one of these, could this be the answer to my problems? possibly... but before I get to explore this any further what should happen... Hornby's 2020 range happens ... and this comes along...
     
    https://www.hattons.co.uk/stockdetail.aspx?SID=513762...
     
    Quite unbelievable (not in a bad way as such - having just seen the Collectors Club Bachmann 90 that has been released in the last week or so) that this should happen, having got rid of my half dozen or so Hornby DB/EWS 90's, most of which had been retro DCC'd, several of which were professionally re-liveried, and would have looked really good with Hornby's latest offering in DB Cargo form, do i regret changing from Hornby to Bachmann? no... of course not, its just a shame that the Hornby 90 hasn't moved with the times in the same way that, for example, the 87 has, a good effort by Hornby, and also the Class 60, which Hornby has done a pretty good job with.
     
    From initial glances, reasonable effort Hornby, I'm looking forward to seeing this in the flesh. albeit, its not perfect, the real example has the red stripe running down the side from the front sides to the back sides and I dare say that there may be other cosmetic imperfections, hopefully, Bachmann can follow suit and soon with a sharper version with the correct detailing etc.
     
    Kat@johnsonstreetIEMD


  6. Johnson Street IEMD
    At long last, a loco arrives which I can truly get excited about. The Bachmann Class 90 and from what I can see, is something which really raises the game for AC traction locos. I have, whilst waiting for this, concentrated on getting a reasonable clutch of DB diesel locos, and where necessary re-branding and renumbering these into the newer DB style
     
    08s 624 (Hornby TTS),
    60s (DBS60007 Spirit of Tom Kendell TTS and 60100 DB Sound -fitted ),
    66s (Ex EWS 66002, DB Cargo 66s 009 Sound fitted, 035, 065 and 136 Sound fitted.)
    67s (DBS maple-leaf style-TTS) ,
     
    but now the focus is going to be getting my first 90 into its new DB colours. 90042 Powerhaul is shortly about to head off to a secret paintshop to be reliveried into 90034. Why 034 I hear them say? well, its likely Bachmann will do an EWS or DB 90 in the second wave of 90s, from either, I will be able to re-brand/renumber this into one or two of the 90s i want in my fleet, so EWS ones, 020, 037 or 039 or DB, then 019, 028 or 036. I will obviously be keeping my fingers crossed that we see a Malcolm Logistics 90024, I also fancy a Scotrail 90021 as well, as its an old and retired livery but still present as such but as for 90034, its a simple repaint and a good one in that respect and a one off.


  7. Johnson Street IEMD
    Saturday 28th October 2017
     
    Ok, so, today, I got to see my fledgling layout in its infancy. The overall track layout hasn't changed much since its original plan back in the spring, since then the layout has gradually come to the fruition, and now, with the discussions I have had with the project director today, that the layout track plan is now finalised and the other parts of the layout not shown. The main part of the layout is going to be electrified with the reverse head shunt to be electrified up to the bridge entrance to the second shed area.
     
    The mainstay class of the depot will be DB's various liveried Class 90s. There will also be a presence of 92s, 86s, the occasional 66 (as one cant get away from them and an 08 shunter in DB Cargo red.
     
    Picture One attached, shows roughly where the catenary masts will probably go on the main side of the layout.
     
    Picture Two shows the proposed town scene area which will be built on top of the fiddle yard, which would lift off.
     
    Picture Three shows the three tracks into the main shed plus the two nearby sidings, all five are to be electrified
     
    Picture Four shows where the raised town scene will be - the video boxes represent the retained walls which will feature arched office and stores space for the second shed area
  8. Johnson Street IEMD
    What a great prize !!!
     
    Imagine Backbone@JohnsonstreetIEMD !!!
     
    He would fit nicely in with the "Team Red Skodas" at Johnson Street IEMD !!!
     
    Kat@johnsonstreetIEMD 
     
     
    Johnson Street IEMD on Youtube
    Johnson Street IEMD on Instagram
     
     
     
    DB Cargo UK (@DBCargoUK) Tweeted:
    We’re giving away a Class 90 model to celebrate the findings of a report commissioned by the Rail Delivery Group which highlights the value of rail freight.
    Make sure you’re following us then like and share this post to enter! T&Cs: https://t.co/1ICsqmt9ee
    #BackboneOfTheEconomy https://t.co/3rE6J8VlDR https://twitter.com/DBCargoUK/status/1387364769695469571?s=20'
     
     
     
     




  9. Johnson Street IEMD
    13th September 2022
     
    Following the sad passing of good friend, modelling right hand man and West Coast mainline Enthusiast Ian who went back by the username @amertonman last week , the layout has returned home to its rightful place, its about 90% completed in the main. The OLE still needs to be plumbed in and the fiddle yard track still needs to built and set up but this latter aspect was always going to be some way down the line. A programming track is also part of the plan as well, given that Johnson Street IEMD is going to be layout which sees lots of different loco mixed consists.
     
    A good number of members of the modelling community of Staffordshire are feeling the effects of a truly wonderful man - and will continue to feel this loss for many months and years to come.
     
    Having the layout make the short journey across the County town of Staffordshire, there has and still is alot of stuff relating to the build to sort out, i have set up the layout, without being fully operational to see what's what etc etc.
     
     
    Railwise, it appears the real world Malcolm and Multimodal are back together, being back out on 4S47 last night:
     
    Stafford station was busy as there was a Steam Railtour in on Platform six
     
     
    the DB90s, having been paired together back in 2016 just after they had their new colours Malcolm Rail and new style DB Cargo red respectively, 90028 and 90035 followed 90019 into this colour scheme.
     
     
     
     
     
  10. Johnson Street IEMD
    1st September 2021
     
    September, that spiffingly super month - and the electric depot now has its hardstanding sorted, following on from the work to do a similar thing at the Long Term maintenance shed. Thank you @amertonmanfor the speedy progress - expertly modelled by Multimodal, Armistice and Shed 65.


  11. Johnson Street IEMD
    Layout Update
     
    On a day when three DB Cargo Class 90s went to Warrington to recover a Class 325, three DB Class 90s also made a short trip down the line to Johnson Street IEMD. Multimodal, Malcolm and DB Blue all got chance to see their forthcoming new home and I got to see how much progress has been made and also what's still to do before Johnson Street IEMD is signed for active workings. 
     
    Palisade fencing has gone in around the main electric shed including a gate out to the northern side of the facility. The arm-co fencing has also been put in to place alongside the head-shunt track as far as into the Long Term maintenance shed to the right hand side of the depot. The small McDonald's restaurant has been installed and an access road has gone in for the Parcels depot to the right of it including a gated access area.
     








  12. Johnson Street IEMD
    20th September 2022
     
     
    Following a lovely livestream from Rachel and Shaun of Angel of Crewe Youtubers -
     
     
    This is a bit of a taste of what Rachel and Shaun get up to when they aren't modelling in N or OO gauge ...
     
    known on here by @Mini Wistaston junction alongside the West Coast mainline where they plugged my channel a little .. I decided to do a bit more of an up close and personal layout tour now my layout is back home, about 80-85% done, maybe I should have said 90% done LOL.. well, anyway, here goes:
     
     
    Enjoy !!!
     
    Kat @Johnson Street IEMD
     
  13. Johnson Street IEMD
    Layout update
     
    The layout project has had to go a little slower tthan forst thought at the start of the year mainly due to having a lowsy chest infection which wore me down.
     
    The plan to go out and buy insulators to start scratchbuilding registration arms also had to be put on hold till Mid-february at the earliest with them not being available - I imagine the making tracks team had to snap up a good few for mt3. 
     
    The year has also seen some unexpected good and bad news for the traction of choice at Johnson Street with the DBC Dysons getting modified to again be able to run on the WCML between Crewe and Wembley, with 92011 being the first of the Class to be modified.
     
    It's understood that the 90s however may about to be finding themselves on the operational fringes with their use being postponed due to the coming together of several detracting aspects:
     
    1 - increasing electricity costs once again
     
    2 - A number of recent failures by the Class on their main work with WHM.
     
    3 - A strategic change to the arrival of trainsets into Mossend where there are no wires.
     
    In a world where operational effectiveness is everything, this is a bit ominous for the Class, hopefully a solution can be found.
     
    With this in mind, I mocked up what a busy yard at Johnson Street IEMD if the 90s weren't out on WHM. There'd still be other operators electric traction coming over for specialist repairs as per 90043 in the foreground.
     
    Note,the Skodas setback hasn't dampened my enthusiasm 😀 but it's not what I wanted to be hearing (from a source)..
     
     



  14. Johnson Street IEMD
    31st August 2021
     
    The man in charge of bringing Johnson Street IEMD to life is making tracks on the later parts of the project and having undertaken an exercise in testing all of the points and their respective motors - he's now laid the hard standing between the tracks on the Long Term repair shed before undertaking a similar exercise on what will be the electric depot. Voila !!!
     
     

  16. Johnson Street IEMD
    The layout project currently finds itself at a red signal. A bit like the DB90s sometimes, held for what must seem like eternity, the good thing is that I am never short of inspiration. 
     
     
    Also like many of those of us who are watching on with interest at all things @Accurascales in relation to the impending Class 92 which will further enhance the electric traction offer to OO gauge modellers. I look forward to getting my hands on one of these, having had a few of the poor relative in the form of Hornby's alternative before the stakes were raised by Bachmann.
     
    Until my pet project can fully get going again I am taking the opportunity to add bits and bobs and sort those things I need, like the PECO catenary wire sets, I am planning to give mine the green look like those seen at @making tracks2 earlier this year. 
     
     
    And if along the way, other stuff is found in the treasure chest that is Ebay, well, all the better. 
     
    When the late great model builder @amertonman passed away recently, my nBrass OLE kits appear to have got lost in the packing up of all things at his place - hopefully they'll reappear in the coming weeks so I can get on with becoming a soldering whizz.
     
    Kat @JohnsonStreetIEMD 
     

  20. Johnson Street IEMD
    23rd September 2021
     
    As the layout continues to move forward, the depot scenes continue to gain a more polished look - although different in their usage and track work access, both the electric shed and the long term maintenance sheds are operated by the same TOC so they will get the same sort of treatment - expect to see a similar look to the electric shed, as seen here, with the yellow hazard markings for the inspection pit edges soon also.
     
    Just beyond the Buffer Stop will be a terminating wire mast taking the catenary wire and also the support wire into some isolators on a mast.


  21. Johnson Street IEMD
    14th November 2021
     
    After long periods of slow progress due to mostly unforeseen circumstances and possibly other more important things, my layout is heading into the latter stages of completion, with a large thanks to the enthusiasm and craftsmanship of @amertonman. I can really see the later stages of this coming to take shape. Here and now, the hard standing has been improved and now, the buffer stops have gone in with their DCC lit red warning markers. Still to be done (and not exhaustively) are the depot lighting, the scratch build OLE cantilevers for the nBrass gantries for the electric end of the depot, including the holding sidings and head shunt track to the left of this as well as mounting and positioning of the signage and laying the carriageway markers for the road deck going across the depot scene. As an enthusiast of OLE, i can't wait to see this aspect come to life, and it is really going to transform the electric shed end of the layout, currently most easily identified as the area where the three-track shed is positioned. The OLE on the approach here will be in keeping with Crewe IEMD's main shed approach so I am looking at the gantries across that area as well as looking at some of the structures and cantilevers in the Crewe Marshalling yard areas, which vary in their orientation compared to most of the West Coast mainline Overhead Line Equipment (OLE).
     
    With Christmas approaching, there is that slim possibility that there could be loco arrivals or even changes at Johnson Street IEMD, watch this space :-) ... having traded in my two 60s and a 67 some time ago, there's a possibility that I may get my hands on one of those again, a Class 08 shunter is also something I would like, not to mention the Accurascales Class 92 and at some point, a Heljan Class 86 (86401) in WCRC Cally sleeper livery - but the 86 and 92 are some way away - Bachmann's latest Class 90 releases don't cater for DB/EWS modellers, something to which I have made a point of saying ''hang on - three in freightliner and not one in DB or EWS - that's not very funny - hopefully, there'll be a Bachmann DB/EWS 90 in the spring releases - come on Bachmann !!!
     
     






  22. Johnson Street IEMD
    11th September 2021
     
    OLE
     
    Yesterday (writing this, on Sunday) I had a brief visit to see how things are coming along with the layout - getting to see the backscene board nicely in place, looking at where the OLE masts would be placed and what exact form they would take - PIC 4 shows roughly how it might look - having found some brackets a couple of years ago that ''might be'' adapted - siilar in overall resulting appearance to those seen at Chester's Making Tracks layout - but also ones with a variance of appearance, getting to see how Ian's ideas for the space of the fiddle yard would be best used - the thinking is that there may be room for a programming track on the add-on fiddle yard board - more on this to follow - as well as a few snaps from our discussion time - DB Blue and Multimodal had a brief sortie out on the layout as well - mini clips to follow. Unfortuantely, my phone died on this session and i had forgotten to take my charging lead with me :-(
     
    For those who haven't seen this layout before, I am using nBrass portals with scratchbuilt cantilevers - inspired by those from the Chester Cathedral layout - as well as others seen at Crewe IEMD, unfortunately PECO's multi-track portals havent arrived in time. The single masts and terminating gantries will be based on PECOs single track masts - the catenary wire is all PECO.
     
    Fiddle Yard
     
    The track which is the entrance exit for the layout currently splits into three lines and myself and Ian are currently discussing how best to work an additional fiddle yard track which will come out from under the tunnel section, and potentially have two/three tracks, one being for programming and also two for preparing loco arrivals onto Johnson Street IEMD.
     






  23. Johnson Street IEMD
    6th September 2021
     
    Whilst I was chasing Cans and Dysons, my eager beaver @amertonman was pulling my backscene and cracking on at pace to get my layout finished off.
     
    The idea is that a long enough fiddle yard siding will be sufficient to rotate the loco movements to depict their movements in and out of Johnson Street IEMD.
     
    This is all good progress ... i am actually pinching myself :-)
     
    OLE's coming soon .... Wooooooooooooooo !!!!!!
     
    Then my fully functional depot scene becomes an electric depot ... 
     




  25. Johnson Street IEMD
    Saturday 1st May 2021
     
    Having thought my 90 pool was going to remain at six for the foreseeable future, I underestimated one key consideration, "desire"... :-)
     
    Having seen a couple of 90s which had wetted my taste buds, a Grand  Central liveried one and also a Scotrail liveried one, this was the inevitable sign of things to come.
     
    The latter of these two really interests me as Johnson Street IEMD is going to become a centre of excellence for the maintenance of not just the Class 90s but there will be 92s, 86s, and others too.
     
    There will also be long term maintenance works going in with some locos, 90s in particular being readied for service. One of my current fleet of 90s is in that position, 90018 Pride of Bellshill, is in the long term store pool at Crewe. It will take on that role at Johnson Street IEMD too. 
     
    The intention was to also have a loco which was warm stored and the more I thought about it, the more I thought Barbie (First Scotrail Barbie liveried 90, 90021 - the last of the three surviving 90s in this livery) made sense. 
     
    It was maybe fate that the wonderful world of Squirrel Rail was just about to showcase the latest in 90 liveries being, yes, first Scotrail. It probably a little more pristine than what I had in mind for my project - seeing this really got my mind racing and having had some dialogue with the main man, the deal was done, Barbie was coming to Johnson Street IEMD, not the one I had seen but a more tired Barbie.
     
    Well, having been given a headcode and clearance to leave the Squirrel Rail painting facility, Barbie proceeded on 1J90 up the GEML across the London outer connecting lines and up the WCML to Johnson Street IEMD, making good time as she went. She even took time to call in at Topp Trains holding sidings
     
     
    before meeting up near the depot with classmates Malcolm, DB Blue and Jack.
     
    Kat@johnsonstreetIEMD 



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