JamieR4489

My first lockdown project was the LRM D2 I showed about a month ago (that’s probably about 100 pages back now so I’ve included a photo again) This has been on the cards for a while but lockdown gave me the perfect opportunity to rip up my layout and start again. The old one was infuriating as it had no fiddle yard and the track relied on fishplates for electrical conductivity. I wanted to model a real location and settled on Tuxford North as it offered everything I wanted in a fairly compact space. This is my first proper layout (proper in the sense that I’m using streamline points for the first time and non set-track curves). I have a fiddle yard and the electrics have been done properly with only a pair of point motors to wire up now. Apologies for the mess in the photos but the layout is still very much under construction. My newest project has been to hack about a Hornby shortie Gresley (why oh why couldn’t Hornby have made proper GN diagrams - they got the length perfect for a 58’6” carriage) into the 52’6” RF used in the Scarborough Flier. The old detail was sanded off and the carriage cut down to the correct length. New sides were then made from 3 laminations of 10thou plasticard and Comet heavy duty bogies were constructed. The underframe needs to be completely rebuilt and the roof will need a bit of work. I have Bill Bedford sides for an RTP that will be grafted onto another Hornby shortie lengthened to 61’6”. Jamie

I know it was random, but thanks for picking me as a winner of a Pigeon Van!

It looks like a train reporting number to me, suggesting it’s an excursion.

I'm on the home straight with regard to wiring now; just four more point motors to install and wire up. As you can see I'm using Peco point motors but not the Peco switches designed to change frog polarity. Instead I'm using cheap microswitches mounted to a block of wood. In retrospect, PL-12X mounting plates would have been a wiser choice to fit to the motors than the PL-9s I've used. I've also made and installed a control panel (sorry I haven't got any piccies of this). Over the last few days, I've been starting to work through the sequence I've devised from the 1937 WTT. Here is a selection of the trains I've run: This is the first train of the sequence. It's a Doncaster to Peterborough North parcels train, due through Tuxford North at around 1:30am. The WTT lists a K2 as the booked motive power so that is what you see hauling the train. The J11 has just reversed into the goods yard after detaching a cut of wagons for Mansfield and Chesterfield as well as a coal wagon for Tuxford shed. Before she can get a path down the ECML, one of Colwick's Q1s heads a coal train. It's mid morning now and the pickup is shunting in the yard. The J6 has just picked up the GWR van and is attaching it to the rear of the train. It'll take a wagon off the front, run round it and shunt it into the (un)loading bay. As a fish train romps towards the smoke, a C1 heads the Queen of Scots (sans headboard). This engine will be renumbered into Copley Hill's 3280, which was a regular on the QoS. Now for my favourite move. A Doncaster-Grantham parly has just called at the station and has now drawn forward so that it can reverse into the Up lay-by. Something important must be due... I should say so! Dominion of Canada speeds through with the Up West Riding Ltd. No sooner has the West Riding's tail light disappeared, than a chime whistle can be heard as Mallard passes hauling the Scarborough Flier. As today is a rather special day in terms of railway history, I thought I'd celebrate it by running Mallard with my Coronation set and the only clerestory I've got standing in as the dynamometer car. A recreation of the publicity photos taken with the train stationary. And going full chat Of course Mallard never went through Tuxford North 82 years ago today but that hasn't stopped me having a bit of fun. Jamie

Plant Centenarian with 251?

It'll be one Mk1 suburban and the Quad-Arts. I don't know which Mk1 it will be but there's a photo on the NNR's Facebook page of the ensemble at Sheringham.

Most significant to me in terms of proving what was possible was the first non-stop run from King’s Cross to Waverley. The lowlight IMO was the first withdrawal of a Class 91 and HST or the first Azuma entering service (you didn’t specify which LNER we’re discussing )

Passenger - Peppercorn A2 Goods - Peppercorn K1

Goods - O2. It was the first use of Gresley’s conjugated valve gear. Passenger - No contest. A4, for several obvious reasons.

I've made quite a bit of progress on a few small projects. This is a Parkside private owner grain wagon and a Dapol cattle wagon. As you can see, they've got 3 link couplings fitted; a first for me. I'm now using these couplings on my shunting stock as my eyesight is still up to the job and I don't like the shuffle you get with Kadees and Spratt & Winkles. The grain wagon has since been painted black and I'm in the process of trying to make my own transfers for it. I've converted about 8 wagons over to 3 links now but that's probably only about half the number that will need them. My fixed rakes will use homemade couplings as I don't have the money to fit everything with 3-links at present. The 52'62 RF sat in the rounduit pile for a few weeks until I got some Evergreen strip for the beading. It's expensive but worth it just for the consistency. I made a 4mm scale drawing as I couldn't see one in the Isinglass range for this carriage and by using clear plastic for the sides I was able to lay it over the drawing and use the latter as a guide for where to stick the beading. The beading is a bit wobbly in a few places but it's good enough for me. Today I cut the windows out, drilled holes for grab rails and door handles and glued the sides on. And as a 'before and after': I've also been experimenting with teak. I wasn't happy with the technique I'd used in the past and decided to try out Messers Wealleans and King's methods, as outlined in their threads. I found the former's method quicker but it was difficult to get the transparency needed using acrylics (I assume JW uses enamels). Mr King's method, however, I found much more to my liking. It consists of a base coat of yellow and then several layers of brown tinted varnish. Here is my second attempt at it (I'd made the varnish far too thick on my first try) It's still a bit too thick so I'll do some more experimenting but I think this is the way to go. Jamie

Must be all those poly cement fumes...

Passenger - Klondikes. They were the first Atlantics in Britain and they led to the C1s which were still in service in the ‘40s. Both the C1s and the C2s were more versatile than Gresley’s pacifics, especially on the route to Leeds until the late ‘30s. Goods - J52; first built in 1897 and the last was withdrawn in 1961. Not much technical innovation, though.

I'll go for the A1s as well.

D34 ‘Glen’.

B2 gets my vote. It’s one of the only Robinson locos that didn’t look rather old fashioned and weak.

Leader Seriously though, Unrebuilt light Pacific for me.

S15 gets my vote. Very capable, go-anywhere engines.

I use the very cheap (~£7) Dapol workmen pack. You get around 40 figures but they need painting. Some of them need their tools chopping out of their hands as I think the figures are designed more for general workmen rather than footplate crew. Once painted and in the cab they look OK.

If we’re still going on the criteria of reliability and versatility then there is only really one option. The Black 5s. If we’re not using that criteria then the best product from Crewe for me has to be the Ivatt Duchesses. IMHO, they looked so much more powerful than the standard Duchesses.

Another vote here for the J15, especially if it’s in GER blue

I’ll go for the Midland Compounds as well.

I’d definitely be interested in one for a Bachmann chassis. These look superb. Jamie

Q6 for me. Very reliable and long lived

Best - The Elizabethan Worst - Granite City

Join Together - The Who