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Johnson Street IEMD

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  1. 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
  2. Johnson Street IEMD
    31st January 2020
     
    It's the Stafford railway exhibition this weekend and so far my Bachmann 90 reveals seem to have happened on weekends where others are having happy times modelling too, which is nice, for everyone. The first of these being on the days leading up to Warley last year. Recently I had been coming to terms with not seeing anything new from Bachmann this year in the form of any EWS or DB Schenker/DB Cargo era (Era 10 and 11) liveried locos, we saw them debut in RfD, Inter City Swallow and Freightliner Powerhaul and a few weeks back, it was revealed that the fourth Bachmann 90 would be the Belgian promotional livery from the 1990's when there were three continental liveries back in the BR days.
     
    Not being content with waiting for Bachmann to do a relevant liveried 90, I had pressed on with sourcing such a loco through an expert reliverier, it was my intention initially for one, which after some deliberation, was going to be 90034 in ex-DRS DB, this livery is one of my four main favourites in the DB Cargo era, those being 90024, 90028, 90034 and 90037. 90034 is very simple, in what was the DRS blue from when 90034 was loaned in the days before DRS acquired the Class 88's, and with 90034 returning to DB, and the DRS branding removed and DB logos on the nose and at opposite cab ends. My one number favourite is 90024 in Malcolm Logistics, but it initially seemed like an impossibility to do this one, so i thought I would source the more simplistic liveries first and then maybe Bachmann would catch up with 90024 etc. Soo... with 90034 coming along nicely in the paint shop, this then, by chance became two with the second most recent 90 re-liverying with 90028, one which I went to see officially unveiled at York Railway Museum last January as it was named Sir William McAlpine and had operated a charter from York, immediately after being named, to London Kings Cross - with the service from London having been taken by Flying Scotsman, most of the public out on that day at York were there for the Scotsman, but I had travelled up to see the 90 unveil. So, when 90 number two was in the offing, having had 90019, which was the first in the new DB livery, 90028 was the one I was going to go with, and not that long before writing this, 90028 has just come through a rather wet and gloomy Staffordshire, paired up with Driver Jack Mills, 90036 in what I have come to call DB minus Schenker livery.
     
    This brings me onto 90 number three, and having recently seen Hornby's 2020 launch video on youtube with ''New Junction'' and the Malcolm Logistics Class 90, having let my Hornby 90's go, it was a bit of a surprise to see their offering but never did I expect to see a Bachmann equivalent come along quite so soon, until a few days ago, when out of the blue, a fellow RM-web-user messaged me advising that he had seen one such model in Olivia's Trains, initially, i didn't believe it, bearing in mind that for the last year or so, i had been researching ways in which my Bachmann Class 90 could be reliveried into Malcolm Logistics without any success and several people had advised me to be patient and it will come along, i had looked at where the Malcolm livery had been conceived and seen similar liveries on on a range of lorries made by Corgi, and had even spoken to a professional reliverier who had managed to get a vinyl of the 90 produced, but this ended up being for the whole loco so it didn't really work as it covered up the windows and the doors and there were some small detail issues with it, so it was a good attempt, but it wasn't what i wanted for 90 number three, so there is the back story to the pursuit of 90024.
     
    Sooooo, having pinched myself as I was looking at the website at Olivia's trains, and having seen this late in the day, i managed to speak to Erica at Olivia's Trains, just before 5pm, where it was established that this was indeed a reliveried loco and very much a one off, not like the forthcoming Hornby equivalent, well, i had to do it, i didn't want to miss out on what was an incredible opportunity, and whilst having missed the postman this morning, instead of queueing up at the model exhibition tomorrow, i will be queuing up at the sorting office for 90 number three - if as you read this, you think you want a Bachmann Class 90 in Malcolm Logistics livery, speak to the team at Olivia's Trains. I want to say a big thank you to them for doing this and also to Barry for letting me use their pictures here also, thank you Olivia's... 
     
    I can't wait to get a consist of 90024 and either 90028 or 90034 configured, as a model representation of 4M25, the Malcolm Freight service
     
    Kat @johnsonstreetIEMD
     




  3. Johnson Street IEMD
    Below is a list of locos I currently have for sale on ebay
     
    Class 66s
     

    I currently have two Class 66s for sale on ebay. One is in Freightliner Green and the other is in Powerhaul. Both are DCC ready The standard green one is immaculate, the Powerhaul one has been reliveried professionally.
     
    Bachmann DCC ready Class 66 Freightliner
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273001765635?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
     
    Bachmann DCC ready Class 66 504 Freightliner Powerhaul
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272994273796?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
     

    Class 86s
     

    I have an 86 in EWS which is DCC fitted and is ready for a new home.
     

    Hornby Class 86 261 EWS DCC fitted
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273012152233?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
     
    Class 90s
     

    My favourite locomotive, the Class 90, i have several examples for sale, which are totally unique, these are professionally relivered, I believe by R3Sprays sometime ago and I was lucky enough to snap them up, they are now DCC fitted for the digital age.
     

    Hornby Class 90 017 EWS DCC fitted
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272992348891?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
     

    Hornby Class 90 023 EWS DCC fitted
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272992349742?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
     
     
     
    Hornby Class 90 029 DB Schenker DCC fitted
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273005135882?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
     
    Class 92s
     
    Hornby Bodyshell Class 92 EWS transitionary livery
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273009041473?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
     
    Hornby/Lima Class 92 017 EWS transitionary livery DCC fitted
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273005136062?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
     

    I have posted some images of some of the above locos, for more information, please visit ebay on the links above, per locomotive.
  4. 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


  5. Johnson Street IEMD
    Foreword
     
    Having had one's knuckles wrapped for being a little naughty with the status thing. Fair enough RMweb, I was in the wrong, I shouldnt have done so, so in the manner I did it.
     
    November 29th 2018
     
    So, moving on, the model railway layout project is coming on, how do i know this, becuase Mike and the Mechanics have shown me the bridger girders that are going together to make up the raised bridge feature which forms part of the central scenic section of the layout. One half of the layout is fully wired up and Im hoping the main man can get to video some of his handywork in the next few days, so I can see how JohnsonStreetIEMD is coming along.
     
    The main shed has three inspection pits, two of which will be lit - and will be electrified like Crewe EMD. The trackwork in both sheds will sit in plaster based concrete like some of the work you can see on youtube for great layouts, there are numerous on there.
     
    Changing the focus a little Christmas is fast approaching and by the time it comes around, i should have 90028 and 90039 back with my fleet, along with 60065 in DB and I am eyeing up a DB red 66 hopefully.
     
    Warley came and went but the man in the know was there to snap next year's big arrivals, a Bachmann Class 90 and a DJ Models Class 92. The Bachmann 90 will be off to a paintshop for one of 90037 or 90034 treatment - I'm just not sure which one first. The DJM 92 will be in DB schenker livery in all likelyhood.
  6. Johnson Street IEMD
    14th June 2018
     
    After what can only be decribed as a ''frustrating'' period of time to get the layout build into what anyone could call ''progress'' The layout build project didnt have a time frame on the project so I guess I only have myself to blame in that regard, it just seems like, at the moment, the Bachmann 90 is going to be available, before my layout build is completed.
     
    I have been trying to distract myself from the above disappointment by developing my loco fleet somewhat, I have added two DB Schenker Class 60s to the Johnson Street loco pool. Class 60s, 007 and 059 are now on board, both DCC sound fitted, 007 is TTS'd and 059 is otherwise sound fitted. 60059 is detail fitted on the front and rear. Add these to the already sound fitted Hornby Class 08 DB Schenker and the two Ex EWS DB 66s, 002 and 065 and my DCC sound loco fleet is looking really quite promising, I sort of regret letting the DCC sound units for a Class 90 and 59 go so easily, with Bachmann's delayed 90 and the forthcoming Class 59 by someone, not sure who, a DB 59 would also be good with sound.
  7. Johnson Street IEMD
    Following on from pictures of Shed Two and the inspection pits for this, my loco fleet has evolved somewhat
     
    The latest arrivals to the Johnson Street IEMD fleet are:
     
    08623 DB Cargo
     
    66002 DB Ex EWS
    90019 DB Cargo
    90037 DB Ex EWS
     
    The above three locos have been professionally re-branded by ''Cairnsroadworks'' into the more up to date DB branding, as seen on 90019, several class 60s, 90019 and 92015 and also the Ex EWS style as seen mainly on EWS Class 66s, 60065 and 90037.
     
    I had been winding down my Hornby class 90 loco fleet with the impending Class 90 from Bachmann, but with the launch being delayed at least six to twelve months, I am wishing I hadnt let 90034 DB Ex DRS and 90036 DB Schenker go so easily, oh well, never mind.
  8. 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.


  9. Johnson Street IEMD
    Loco update - 14th June 2022
     
    7th DB90 at Johnson Street IEMD 
     
    As soon as it became apparent that 90021 wasn't going to be seen out on the network in First Barbie Scotrail, it was always going to be a matter of time before she departed Johnson Street IEMD.
     
    Then, in a short period of time we were introduced to two DB/EWS era Class 90s from Bachmann, firstly 90028 in DB Cargo red and following on from that 90030 in EWS. With 90028 "Bill" already in the stable already and 90030 being slightly out of my era, it was always going to be something different to the above examples which became my next "red" Skoda. 
     
    With that along came an opportunity to add 90039 in "I am the Backbone of the economy" to the DB90s based at Johnson Street IEMD. 90039 liveried by Rainbow 🌈 Railways joining fellow Rainbow inductee 90024 in Malcolm Rail and also pictured 90034 in DB Blue.
     
    Backbone, post Rainbow introduction has gone on to get named seen below on test at Stafford Station
     
     
    and also has a Freightliner-ish orange tipped panto and is weathering away from perfect but other than that is looking pretty good.
     



  10. Johnson Street IEMD
    23rd November 2022
     
    The advent of my layout returning home following the sad passing of good WCML and model Rail enthusiast Ian Rae in September known to some here as amertonman, has seen my OLE plans changing somewhat.
     
    The original plan was to be using nBrass and whilst this may still feature in some capacity, the main catenary sections are here and now going to be using ebay innovator blueflash90 whose catenary is available on ebay currently.
     
    Tonight, having had my shipment of OLE and with Bill McAlpine (90028) in attendance I have mocked up how the new OLE will be positioned potentially. Given this is a Christmas present, I may not fully assemble this till then .. or not .. we shall see
     
    The cantilevers will mirror the OLE seen immediately outside Crewe IEMD which is the inspiration for the layout.
     
    Kat 
    Johnson Street IEMD 




  11. Johnson Street IEMD
    10th September 2020
     
    Those of us following the real world activities and operations of the modern railway have been saddened to hear that as a result of the unprecentedented circumstances that we are living with across the planet are leaving their imprint on the world of the railways as well as everything else. Grand Central who have emerged as an operator delivering passenger services to the eastern side of the country to lesser stations than the main operators and were due to extend their reach across the West side of the UK with services from Blackpool North to London Euston using Class 90s, Mk4's and DVTs in the very much tried and tested push pull arrangement which has been in use since BR were doing this on the WCML back in the early 1990's, followed on by Virgin, West Coast, GNER, Virgin East Coast and later LNER as well as tertiary operators like Wrexham & Shropshire amongst others using 67s and DVTs and later 68s.
     
    This planned extension to the reach of Grand Central has however come to an abrupt stop with the DB90s firmly stuck behind what seems like a permanent red light before even getting out of the starting station following an announcement from Grand Central this afternoon announcing that the planned launch of services out of Blackpool North which had been delayed and was, I understand, to be starting early 2021, will now no longer be starting as a result of the continuing lull in the rail users and the nation amongst every other stuck in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. This news, aside from the impact that it will have to those in Blackpool and those who were due to be working to deliver this service will now not see the stunningly liveried mk4 express trains making their way up and down the West Coast main line, hopefully something can still be done for the planned services, I had a suggestion from a fellow modeller that GC were exploring doing services using CL91s out of Liverpool Lime Street, so it could be a possibility that the ''trainsets'' could be used in this way - here and now, of course, the 90s, will in all likelyhood make their sorry way back to Crewe IEMD to await their livery fate, 90026 had only just been amended to show the DB logo on the side flank like 90029 and 90020 and the fourth of five, 90039 was at Toton for GC treatment, it has yet to revealed as making it into ''Bumblebee livery'' or not, it had gone to be repainted alongside class member 90037 which was set to be painted into DB Cargo red - if this has come out whilst readying for this process - maybe it will instead be painted into DB red or even an additional DB Malcolm variant, which would, at first hand, make sense, (given DB's continuing works with Malcolm on Daventry to Mossend, although I understand that the existing agreement on this was due to run till this year) whether as the Scottish highland style as per 90024 or as one or two the DB DRS 66s were done in dark blue and Malcolm branding, maybe this could be done - personally speaking, I'd love another of the Scottish Highland themes as per their lorries which I understand there are to be six different scene-scapes.
     
    For those who have made the rather bold step to have a Grand Central Bachmann Class 90 reliveried, and are considering parting with this, I will say, I would still have a Grand Central liveried Class 90 at my forthcoming layout and should anyone be looking to sell one, then i would be open to discussing the matter further. In the meantime I am looking forward to the arrival of my latest DB 90, 90018 whilst still hoping that, like the Newcastle United takeover, that this matter isnt totally finished, not only for the modelling aspect but for everyone involved.
     

  12. Johnson Street IEMD
    Johnson Street IEMD: layout and loco update: Boxing day 2020
     
    First of all, I want to say Merry Christmas to all those people who view my blog, it has been an unprecedented and turbulent year all across the planet - and the kind which we probably thought we would never experience in our lifetime, the history of those who lived in the times of the plague seemed like such a long long time ago and would we/could we ever be experiencing such a thing ourselves with all the advances in medical science? ... well, yes we have and still are living with this - as a result of this - the world of the railways and model railways has been put back into perspective on one hand but on the other has been a great source of comfort during times of such isolation for many, me included in on that and although my layout isn't back and completed - i have followed the life and times of the DB90 as seen in Stafford on my YouTube channel Johnson Street IEMD, by going to the footbridge and back daily to catch 4M25 - I have got to see a number of the active pool, including my favourite 90, Malcolm (90024), I have also seen several others and even nicknamed them all appropriately, so there is Bill (90028), Jack (90036), DB Blue (90034), Christine  (90037) and Bumblebee1 (90026) - which also features some clips of my layout as well - should you view any of my videos, its also worth looking at the description in there, which gives you some background to the locos featured.
     
     
     
    Rail-related Christmas presents
     
    For those of us who are rail enthusiasts and modellers out there, Christmas represents the chance to add freshness to one's layout or their plans, for me personally, I have been able to do a little bit of this too, my ''Christmas box'' isnt expected to arrive till after Christmas, so its going to be a case of watch this space for this - but i think it will be more than worth the wait. I have also acquired a sound unit for my Bachmann ex-EWS DB 66139 so that will join 66009 with DCC Sound. Its my intention to sound-fit 66065 with sound at some point in 2021  and have one of the new DB66s from Bachmann, 66117 put aside for me by my local model shop, which will be weathered and sound fitted also.
     
    OHLE progress
     
    A few weeks ago, my man with the soldering iron came back to me with the latest progress on working up my nBrass gantry masts - unfortunately, he is also very busy with other railway related projects and these have been pulled together in between other works.
     
    It has been my intention for a while now to have some nBrass multi-track masts to portray the look of the WCML for my electric depot, to have the look of Crewe Electric Depot (IEMD) about it - so i have spent time looking at both the OHLE on the approach to Crewe along with unusual mast designs featuring on the UK electric network.
     
    Inspiration for anyone tackling OHLE beyond the basic offerings
     
    Its a really interesting area within railway modelling, in that UK modellers currently really only have a small part of the infrastructure needed to depict OHLE. If you are a continental modeller either here or abroad, you're reasonably well catered for, but f you are modelling for UK OHLE however, a sparse collection of gantries are available, for the single masts, you're asking yourself am I going with Dapol or PECO - and for the multi-track masts, if you are modelling the WCML, then its either nBrass or one of the other kit form masts, like scalemodelscenery and torri-laser (found on Ebay) and having to scratch build your cantilevers - or adapt from similar masts, as one or two have done - the problem with this is - of course, the detail aspect - and OHLE in its general nature is a VERY VERY VERRRYYY detailed component on a model railway layout - if you are looking to portray as accurate a layout from a detailed perspective, then you are going to want your OLE to reflect this also.
     
    if you're looking for inspiration on this subject, there are four really useful youtube channels to have a look at when it comes to OHLE and also the scratchbuilding of it,
     
    1 - Dave at Dean Park Station has built some very good ECML three-track masts, which are about as good as I have seen - i am pretty sure Dave has a video for how he did these
     
    2 - Minsterley - there is also the OHLE on Minsterley's layout which is equally impressive, maybe slightly more so due to the complexity and variety of structures, this appears to be more WCML in its style.
     
    3 - Wratting Road - Jack has adapted both the catenary wires presenting them in a more realistic blackened look - and also adapted both the PECO masts for greater accuracy and also the masts before the tunnel entrance are brilliant as is the terminating single mast which I am going to try to replicate on my layout and he has a video for this aspect - check out his youtube channel for more
     
    4 - Davidson Parkway - also has some impressive masts, and OHLE - and appears to have gone with nBrass and Dapol.
     
    My OHLE plan
     
    For my forthcoming layout, i've opted to adapt nBrass multi-track gantries for the sections of several parallel tracks - I have decided to go this way as I feel they will offer the most rigidty for the multi-track sections, the basic framework of these are pictured below as well as the mockups which will take the basic shape from the Nbrass structures - having studied the knitting outside Crewe Electric depot - I'm also using PECO for the single track sections. I am also adapting a gantry from Hornby for the terminating gantries which are postitioned at the rear of the electric shed and also the two holding sidings - and adopting Wratting Road's approach to terminating single track OHLE too.
     
    Back in August I had taken some of the early bits of OHLE I had with me at the time to mock-up how some of my masts would look on the layout, note, none of these will be on my finished knitting project. The nBrass three/ four track sections will feature similar to the below and the cantilevers will be adapted to fit these structures as per the design mockups that I have illustrated - and PECO masts will be used in conjunction with these also - the mast which sits opposite to the end of track where 90028 sits - was representative of where one of the terminating gantries will be positioned - although the trackwork here still needs to be taken a little further back so there is room to accomodate a DB66 or 92 also...
     
    My 90s
     
    My current DB 90 pool sits at four, with 90018 joining 90024, 90028 and 90034, back in late October, the latter three being sound-fitted. As my 90 fleet grows, I am planning to depict some of the more varied liveries which are either active or in some level of stored status within the DB90 pool, I'd like to add several other liveries to this group, there's the now classic EWS maroon livery, im still pondering whether to opt for 90037 in ex-EWS instead of the newer DB Christine livery, there is also the currrent First Scotrail Barbie liveried 90021, which is expected to return to traffic in 2021, so that will be a sight for sure when paired up to the one of the newer DB Cargo liveries and of course, the other two new liveries Grand Central, which I have nicknamed Bumblebee livery, and each 90 to have gained this livery has been named in order of gaining this livery, so 90026 was the first, so I refer to this as Bumblebee1, 90029 was the second so this is Bumblebee2 and 90020 is Bumblebee3. This of course is now ex-Grand Central having been debranded, 90026 has already been used on 4M25 workings with 90036 a week or two back now - and features on my YouTube channel both at Stafford Station and a short way down the tracks at my favourite footbridge.
     
    The most recent new livery is 90039 in ''I am the backbone of the Economy'' livery, and this is the first DB Cargo 90 livery that I am really not that struck on - its one which should i find myself being tempted to do a factional livery, that this one I might go with a spin on Malcolm Rail or the keyworkers branding as seen on 66113. I am also planning to have at least one fictional livery, which at the moment is likely to be 90027 which is still in RfD in long term store at Crewe - it had been thought that this was one such loco to have been one to be returned to traffic alongside 90030 but its understood that this has been abandoned now for the time being, this would still be a good one to have done in a really grubby state to reflect its time stood still but with a new lease of life, a nameplate ready for it in Johnson Street IEMD and some appropriate DB logos of course.
     






  13. Johnson Street IEMD
    1st January 2022
     
    Christmas 2021 falls later in the Calendar year and runs into early January 2022 in the form of the ex-Grand Central ''Bumblebee livery'' Bachmann Class 90 wonderfully replicated by @Squirrel Rail. Seen here at Johnson Street IEMD, having been out on test, with Jack (90036), having changed pool codes from WEAC to WEJS. 
     
     
    It's a real shame that the DB90s allocated to Grand Central workings, 90026, 90029, 90020, 90039 and 90021 (in order of actual and/or planned painting into ''Bumblebee'' livery. 90026 was the first and was followed by 90029 and then 90020. 90039 was ready for painting at Toton when the news of the demise of the planned services, it was subsequently liveried into Backbone livery and 90021's overhaul pre-Bumblebee was postponed and has only just recently gained refurbished bogies ahead of a mooted 2022 return to traffic. Shortly after the cancellation of the Blackpool North to Euston Grand Central DB90 plans, the three painted examples were de-branded, as seen here moving the GC stock to Wembley.
     
     
     
    This livery was one I knew I needed to have some level of represenation at Johnson Street IEMD.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  14. Johnson Street IEMD
    This morning 90031 has arrived at his new resting place, with the assistance of DB yard mate 66065, having had the necessary wizardry from @railtec-models to create the artwork to replicate as near to what 90031 actually looks like now. Thank you Steve.
     
    It was then the turn of Jerry  @Squirrel Rail to create a significant aged look inspired by the actual example but not necessarily every blemish - the 90 in my world would likely have worked more so would be less aged now :-).
     
    Thank you so much to both of you for making this come to life or rather to fruition with one of DB Cargo's long term storage Class 90 examples, 90031 in "tired or eternally sleeping" state faded EWS branding.
     
    The intention is not to run 90031 as such and it may be the case that further example(s) of the German TOC come to rest more at Johnson Street IEMD in the future. After all, there are a number of classes at Crewe like this, not just 90s.
     
    90031 had originally joined my loco fleet last year but it was never my intention to have him in the new @KMS Railtech look. This would be appropriate for modellers modelling the era of EWS. My era is very much up to the minute and whilst i want the legacy liveries to sometimes show a presence as they do at Toton, Crewe Electric Depot and Warrington Arpley, the main colour here is Red.
     
    From where 90031 will reside he will just about be able to see the electrification of the headshunt line and will probably see other DB90 and 92 classmates brought to the shed for maintenance and as the final details are completed on the layout some further weeds may pop up along here. @Andy7


  15. Johnson Street IEMD
    15th February2020
     
    Love is in the air @Johnson Street.
     
    Okay, so we are twenty four hours back from Valentines day, but the perfect sight for the forthcoming layout is the sight of the Malcolm Rail Bachmann Class 90 fitted with DCC Sound. Below is a link to my fledgling YouTube space and the Malcolm 90 going through a start up with DCC sound.
     
     
  16. Johnson Street IEMD
    Today is the second day of Warley and most model railway peeps will be raving about what they found, who or what they saw, what they bought from the nations most prestigious event, so it seems fitting that today would be the day of the big reveal, the Bachmann Class 90 in the liveries that I have been craving, DB Cargo.
     
    I have been waiting for this one for a little while, so the time it's taken Bachmann to get it to production plus the planning and repaint time to get into the liver(ies) that matter to me. Freightliner Powerhaul, RfD and InterCity Swallow are nice liveries, but they would all look out of place on my layout, Johnson Street IEMD. I have been lucky with the timing of this in so much that I have managed to get not one but two DB 90s, well, they do have a colourful group of class members and long term I hope to showcase many of them at Johnson Street.
     
    The two I have gone for here and now are two which I had identical or virtually identical Hornby equivalents of, so, 90034 which I love, DB simply took off the DRS stickers and put nose and cabside stickers on it, perfect - and unusual. I like unusual liveries, not all, i like some level of uniformity with them, some DB have got right, and some less so I feel, but 90034 is nice. My model relivery expert had already done this in Hornby form back in 2017 (pictured) and he hasnt disappointed with 90034 in Bachmann form now also.
     
    The second one, is 90028, now in DB Cargo red. 90028 now looks identical to 90019 and at the time of writing this blog, has just been joined by 90035 in the DB Cargo red pool, having been painted at Toton in the last few weeks, so, 90028, well, I had 90019 in Hornby (pictured) and at the turn of the year I was fortunate enough to go up to York to see this locomotive named at the York Railway Museum and it seemed like the right choice, on which one to go with, who knows, maybe in the coming months, i may come across 90019 or 90035 on ebay.
     
    I fully expect Bachmann will release a DB version of the 90 soon enough and when they do, it will be a donor for 90018, 90019, 90029, 90035, 90036 or 90040, equally, should the EWS one come before the DB one, then 90017, 90020, 90037 or 90039 will soon enough follow from there. It is my goal to have the Malcolm Logistics Class 90 in my 90 pool also sometime next year and I'm also fond of the First Scotrail livery as well - and I'm aware that 90021 still wears these colours.
     
    Equally, I'm aware that following the changeover from Greater Anglia's push-pull 90 and DVT operations to Class 755 EMUs that those 90s, 001 to 015 are being redistributed to other operators, Locomotive Services are taking 90001 and 90002, Freightliner are taking 90003 to 90015 so no more for DB, but they still have twenty four examples, numbered from 90017 to 90040 - and are about to start operations with Grand Central on the Blackpool to Euston route from next spring, so they will be kept busy enough for the time being.
     

     





  17. Johnson Street IEMD
    5th March 2020
     
    It was my intention to get to see layout progression with the layout builder and local model shop owner, but with Johnson Street having some running issues, he offered me the chance to have a running session nearby at Stacton Tressell. It was a chance to give my three DB 90s some running opportunity, something they havent had for a while and at the time of writing this several weeks later (22nd March) I'm so glad I did. 90024, 90028 and 90034 all got some running time here. You will have to imagine all the OHLE for the purpose of this
     
    I have some short running clips from this session on my fledgling youtube channel, Johnson Street IEMD, weblink - tbc
     



     
    22nd March 2020
     
    The world is quickly frighteningly changing from what was normal thirty seconds ago to organised shut down on a scale one can only compare to ''I am legend''. We're all getting used to being largely housebound, for me, this means in the short term, I am not going to get to see the layout in its current state but that I am going to get to see it completed hopefully by the end of the year. My 90 pool remains at three in DB and one in Freightliner,  at least until i can get reliveried into DB Cargo of one form or another.
     
    In the world as we know it, Grand Central are still getting ready for services from Blackpool to London from May and this being delivered with five DB90s dragging six Mark Fours and a DVT. The first DB 90s into Grand Central were initially 90026 and in the last few days, 90029 has been released from Toton and is now at Crewe IEMD. Its exoected that 90020, 90021 and 90039 will follow 026 and 029 into Grand Central colours. Its a gorgeous take that they have done for the Grand Central Class 90, I'm calling it ''Bumblee livery'' and its definitely on my radar to see it at Johnson Street IEMD, athough not immediately, its behind other DB90S on my radar in the form of ex-EWS DB90037 and also DB minus-Schenker90036 and also DB Cargo 90019 Multimodal. I also fancy having one DB90 in a stored state, so, possibly either RfD-EWS or EWS Maroon in total out-of-service appearance, like what 90017 or 90030 look like at the moment, with the cab doors securely shut, possibly de-pantograph'd. I want the 90s I have based at Johnson Street to be reflective of the active pool, yes, there are some different liveried DB90s, but the mainstay of the fleet are now in DB Corporate colours, only 90018 remains Schenkered and 90029 is now the first DB90 to have been reliveried out of DB red.
     
    (below - Grand Central DB90026 back at Crewe, from Toton (where DB paint their locos), at the time of writing, 90029 has just become GCDB 90 number two)
     

     
    Of the active 90s in the DB Cargo fleet (including those that are to be Grand Central'd), they look like this:
     
    90018 - DB Schenker red
    90019 - DB Cargo red, named ''Multimodal''
    90020 - DB EWS (due to be reliveried into Grand Central - for Blackpool North-London Euston passenger services from May 2020)
    90021 - DB EWS First Scotrail (due to be reliveried into Grand Central - for Blackpool North-London Euston passenger services from May 2020)
    90024 - DB Malcolm (stored due to technical problems not yet cured)
    90026 - DB Grand Central (first of five to be reliveried)
    90028 - DB Cargo red, named ''Sir William McAlpine''
    90029 - DB Grand Central (second of five to be reliveried)
    90034 - DB ex-DRS blue
    90035 - DB cargo red
    90036 - DB minus-Schenker, named ''Driver Jack Mills''
    90037 - DB ex-EWS maroon, named ''Spirit of Dagenham''
    90039 - DB EWS (due to be reliveried into Grand Central - for Blackpool North-London Euston passenger services from May 2020)
    90040 - DB minus-Schenker
     
    (below, DB 90028 in DB Cargo just before it was named at York Museum in January of 2019, the second of three DB90s in this form, joining 90019 and 90035 - 90019 and 90028 are named, 90035 is not.)

  18. Johnson Street IEMD
    Bachmann DB 90024 in Malcolm Rail
     
    This evening, I had to pinch myself a further time. The Bachmann Class 90, reliveried by some bright spark, yes, a ha, no pun intended (sparky wires... ) ... connected to Olivia's Trains.
     
    Ever since the Bachmann Class 90 was announced, and with modelling modern electric as I am, this livery was something i was looking forward to seeing. I had sometime ago chosen to focus my efforts around EWS and the transition into DBS/DBC. Class 90s have been operating on the West Coast since the early 1990s and in my time being back in the hobby, wearing their DB and EWS colours and also regularly rolling past my house, so why DB, well, they took over EWS and EWS had been operating 86, 90 and 92 electrics, so one could say a varied electrics fleet.
     
    Plus, the 90s regularly roll past my house and ever since seeing the Class 90, this was the locomotive that I followed, there is something about it, that floats my boat, in the same way, the flying Scotsman does for others, including my partner. The Malcolm Rail 90, unlike the other DB class 90 liveries of EWS and DBS/DBC with its Scottish Highlands landscape projected onto the flank of the locomotive, similar to some of the lorries that Corgi do, with different highlands scenes is truly inspirational '' Greener Cleaner Logistics Services'' ... not only getting lorries off the road and onto the railways, but utilising the ever growing electric network with the various electric traction.
     
    So, onto the model, with what can only be described as a various distinctive livery, similar in that respect to the Freightliner Powerhaul Class 90. The application of the livery has been done to a high standard and is probably one of the best pro-reliveries I have handled, and I have handled one or two (more like a dozen from different reliveriers), in the short period of time I have been back in the hobby. If one is to be critical of the work done, it may be a fair observation that there is a blemish or two on the yellow nose sections, which make it less than perfect, and the work of such is at a premium over the standard price of a locomotive, but this is only natural, no one is going to undertake such works for free, are they? ...




  19. Johnson Street IEMD

    Making Tracks Three Christmas at Blakemere Craft Centre

    By Johnson Street IEMD,


    Johnson Street IEMD - 90s on tour
    16th December to 7th January 2024
     
    As one of the volunteers at Making Tracks Three at Chester Cathedral, i was asked if I would like to take part over the Christmas period and when someone asks would I like to take my locos out for a run out through an electrified landscape, that could only lead to one answer ... hell yes ... so ... my DB90s took to the Making Tracks landscape, this time, at Blakemere, which is near to Northwich, Cheshire (CW8) ... I have been twice so far ... and had a great time ...
     
    Week One - Christine (90037) came along for the ride - light engine
     
    Week Two - Bumblebee1 (90026) and DB Blue (90034) came along for this session - but Blue failed - so Bumblebee1 went on solo MALCOLM workings:
     
    What will be out on my next visit ?
     
    You'll just have to wait and see ...
     
    The exhibition is on until 7th January 2024, if you haven't see it, there's still time to get to see it ...
     
     
  20. 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.
     
     
     
     
     
  21. Johnson Street IEMD

    Knitting lessons

    By Johnson Street IEMD,


    Johnson Street IEMD
    Knitting lessons - Friday 11th February 2022
     
    The beginning of the OLE at Johnson Street IEMD starts today.
     
    nBrass multi-track spans will shortly criss cross the main shed area, like the below:
     
    The terminating gantry mast is a PECO mast with the cantilever arms removed.
     
    The Ayr style gantry adaptation is similar to those seen in the below Youtube clip by fellow Youtuber Smokie Joe:
     
     
    See between 0.14 and 0.29 ...
     
    It has always been the plan despite countless shots and video clips of the space by t5he three track shed that WCML Mk1? OLE would criss cross this space, the back story of the depot, to be located closer to Daventry than Crewe and to service DB's increasing use of electric traction on intermodal workings, primarily that of WH Malcolm.
     
    Whilst @amertonman was on the soldering, I was tackling the smoothing of the post solder work to the uprights and horizontals ... after getting through roughly two structures worth of components, we took a break for a dog walk and a bit of choochoo time 
     
    The regional office now DB branded, later Multimodal got to see some of his class mates out on brief test runs
     
     









  22. Johnson Street IEMD
    24th January 2019
     
    I write this, having come back from a night shift and being a little sort of a loose end... the layout hasnt made any more progress as far as I am aware but the loco fleet for Johnson Street has, somewhat, had an unexpected boost. I have managed to acquire two new locos, for a fraction of the going rate, the Canadian Maple leaf style Schenker Class 67 (018) as well as a recently released model shop exclusive Bachmann YIWI-London DB Class 66 (136). This ties up nicely up to my loco fleet of newly branded DB locos, which, hopefully by the summer should be:
     
    60100 DB - being rebranded currently (as of Jan 19)
    66009 DB - just back from the paintshop
    66136 DB - Yiwi-London example
    90019 DB - DB Cargo livery - named Multimodal
    90028 DB - DB Cargo livery - named Sir William McAlpine - to be done some time this year
     
    My loco collection will also include a variety of transitionary locos heading in the above direction, so there will be Schenker, Ex EWS and even EWS locos in the yard.
     
    I have decided to let go of two fleet members. My second Heljan Class 86, maybe its going to be third time lucky, the second one, 86215 in Anglia livery, just wasnt a very good fit for my layout, so it either required a paintjob or to be sold on. It was sold on. I do love the electrics and I will definitely have another one or two in the future, just not right now in Anglia livery. It ended up being sold to someone in Suffolk, which I thought was cute the livery of the 80s down there, and the model getting to spend its days down there, seems rather fitting.
     
    The second loco I have let go of, or rather am going to, its on ebay now, as of 24th January, is 66065. 66065 has recently come out of the paintshop at Toton and is now wearing DB red. I think I will at some point in the next 18 months get a second Bachmann DB Schenker 66 and rebrand one this way. It is in light of this, that I decided to let it go. I had been umming and arring around having it renumbered to one of the numerous still ex EWS'd examples, i like 111 and 112, for some strange reason, but this is taking far too long - i was going to make examples of such, but i thought better of it
     
    I will post some pictures of the new fleet members soon.
     

     
    7th January 2019 (later in the day)
     
    The choochoo world seems to be playing its part to cheer me up today despite feeling as sick as a parrot. To see six Class 90s on duty on the West Coast in one day is my equiavelent to music to my eyes. The important ones, 90018 and 90039 on 4M25, the less important ones, the two Freightliner examples heading north bound, the race to get to get to the crossings towards was won by Freightliner alas, ahead by about five minutes. To then see what I believe to have been 90029 dragging 92015 YIWI-London south bound shortly afterwards, and then topped off nicely with a GA 90 on its own heading towards Crewe. Totally non modelling related, but loco-some all the same.
     
    7th January 2019
     
    I am writing this at ridiculous o'clock, being waylaid with some of bad cold thing. The latest update to the project is that the four tracks which were to sit under the OOT (Out of Town) area, this idea has been shelved after the quite incredible discovery on ebay of something virtually picture perfect. The guys in the model shop will configure the two left hand tracks off the turn out under the bridge into a curving section of track which will pop out under and beyond the OOT area and head off into the newly impending fiddle yard space which will be a junction of sorts, the left two lines heading off non electrified and the five tracks to the right electrified.
     
    In time I will give this a name of some sort - something North Eastern themed maybe.
     
    On the loco front mixed news - I hear there may be trouble ahead for anyone looking to buy a Bachmann Class 90. Me being 1 (019), 2 (024), 3 (036), 4 (037), and 5 (039) ... of them, a reliable dickybird tells me we could find ourselves waiting a whole lot longer.
     
    Better News on the new Heljan Class 86 - but oddly only available in first generation form only here and now. Maybe like Bachmann, with their ''planned to be due soon to arrive ORRR '' Class 90, you would be better placed to offer three different examples and do the necessary cosmetic alterations as part of the proposition - opening your product to a wider market. I already one want 86401 or 101 in Cally Sleeper.
     
    I have also snapped up a ''work in progress'' DB Class 67 which needs some TLC but with sound to boot and a lot less than one might think.
     
    9th December
     
    Mike and the Mechanics have managed to demonstrate a snapshot of the progress they are making on the running on the layout using one of my DB 60s,
     
    https://youtu.be/ZT5LUEbtwWA
     
    8th December Update
     
    Following on from the developments in November, mainly that the men in the know have got round to sorting the wiring out under the boards and configuring the electric points in line with the planned systems, DCC related, alot of it goes over my head, but as long as it makes Johnson Street more techy and up to date, then, great. Mike and the Mechanics have been working on this and whilst this is all about 50% sorted, there are the cosmetic aspects of the project which are starting to come together. I am hopeful that in the next few weeks, we should see the framework which will support the road deck and bridgework across the layout and eventually what will support the O-O-T scene which will sit virtually on top of the holding pen for the locos on and off the depot scene will start to take shape. There has been much discussion about the hard standing areas of late, but i want this to be done with the plaster like effect. Anyway, the men in the know yesterday sent me a video of the first loco, a 37, to actually run on one half of the layout, a real ground breaking moment. I am hoping to add a video clip of this here or failing that - a link to my youtube showing this.
     
    8th December Update
     
    The layout has taken a further unexpected but exciting twist. An opportunity presented itself to snap up an exhibition standard fiddle yard, for which most of it could be accomodated close by to my scenic layout.This, of course has been duly snapped up - and it is my intention to run PECO catenary into the fiddle yard on one side ... with the other being reserved for non electric/steam and diesel. I will look to find a used mucky RHTT wagon combo and run 66s at each end.
     
    I have posted some pictures of the fiddle yard below as it is now, the track layout is going to be adjusted so that it fits into the space I have in mind for it. This will make a seven foot running space which will run out of the scenic space on a likely twin track section into a seven track shunting space, at least four tracks of which, will be electrified - using a mixture of catenary gantries.
  25. Johnson Street IEMD
    Christmas is on the nearby horizon and in light of this, Santa Claus's sleigh accidentally dropped a couple of new arrivals in to the Johnson Street stable.
     
    One of the Skodas I had been looking to add to my stable for some time was Christine, in DB red. 90037 had been going to Toton along with 90039 for new liveries. 90039 had been going for Grand Central liverying. It was all set to become the fourth of five DB90s into Bumblebee livery, when the news broke that the plan to operate push pull Class 90/DVT and Mk4 carriage sets between Blackpool North and London Euston had been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
     
    90039 ended up being liveried into Backbone livery and the three already liveried DB90s into Grand Central were de-branded and returned to the freight pool.
     
    90037 went into the DB Glider livery and was soon out working with several of the de-branded Grand Central 90s on MALCOLM group workings, a good shot of this, seen at Stafford, five DB90s in the same place, very unusual. Jack Mills (90036) was also seen in this clip, working with Multimodal on 4S47 DAV-MOS duty:
     
     
    90036 in DB minus Schenker, named Driver Jack Mills, weathered and sound fitted was one which came across my radar whilst I was in the process of sorting consecutively numbered team Red Skoda, 90037, in the more recently liveried Glider livery named Christine. Christine has also been weathered to reflect an in-service liveried state and has her own acoustics as well.
     
    Christine, not long after returning to traffic in her new colours:
     
     
    It seemed a shame to let Jack past on this occasion as he had been created by the magician tasked with my loco masterpieces, so Jack got snapped up. Now, Jack Mills was already a mainstay of my stable already so Old Jack is going to get a new identity.
     
    What that will be remains to be seen but either one of the 90s currently missing? Either 90020, 90029 or 90035 .. 90021 in Donald Malcolm is one on the radar for the future and there's going to be another 90, one which is going to keep the new liveries going. 
     
    In the real world, these 90s are now stood down, retired by DB and are due to be sold soon, but in my modelling world, they're very much active under the Team Red brand. The last 90 to be liveried was Donald Malcolm (90021) and my plan is to have a DB90 to follow on from 90021.
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