Paul G

This one isn't portable, I did think about it but opted just to have it permanant in the spare room.

Just a few more pictures of Greatcoates sidings kindly shared by Mr Geoff Hankin

A friend has shared some images of Greatcoates sidings with me from back in the day and I have his blessing to share them. The trip to deliver coal to Marsh Jn is what is going on in these pictures. All photos Geoff Hankin

I've been pleased to see this happening when on my way to work. I also find the colour a bit OTT but at least its not been left to rot. We had so many fine old GC boxes in town many fell victim to arson once out of use, having one preserved example is better than none.

With the beams all in place some plates were added where the bearings will sit on top of the legs. On top of the road deck strips of cork underlay were put down to create the foot paths and central reservation. With all major structural elements now firmly in place the whole thing got painted. The grey was from the same rattle can I did the legs with, the roadway and girders brush painted with appropriate colours.

The next task in creating the span was the girders that support the deck. Plastruct, Evergreen and the like produce nothing at all large enough for these so I bought large plastic strips from a hardware store and then added styrene strips to create the I beam profile. A total of eight of these were produced then super glued strait onto the underside of the deck. I did wonder if there would be trouble with them coming off with the least knock to the span but they've proved to be very durable.

The concrete deck itself is simply a length of wooden shelf with a wooden strip either side forming the footways. Simple and strong should keep it's shape and stand up to occasional handling, the weight keeps it in place very well with nothing more than some rubber pads were the bearings are on the prototype.

I wanted the deck to be removeable which meant the legs needed to be strong enough with out being integral. I originaly started cutting some out of wood but in the end I had some lazer cut by York model rail. They were of course able to get nice sharp precise angles and edges and the lines of the concrete molding so well. As these would be right by the track they'd be very seen. Only 4mm sheets of ply that I chose for the durability could be done by the cutter so each leg was built up in layers cut successively larger toward the center. The cutter also can't cut at an angle from the vertical so the layers were steps with a line etched on the outer faces showing were to file and sand to to produce the angle on the edges. A skim of filler helped finish the edges off then before painting them I just used a rattle can with the most suitable looking colour I could get. Finally after the deck had been cut to size and offered up, and I was happy with the possition the legs were fixed in place with wood glue.

I have been busy working on the layout over the last year and have not been on here for a while only having started to use the site a while before it went down. I have some images saved of it's development that in time I may post in retrospect. At the present with the layout senics and all largely finished I'm just aquiring some last items of stock. Pictured is the last of three Bachmann 37s I've just purchased additional to the two I already had. These all need weathering along with quite a lot of other new stock I've picked up in the last year. Also I've just had a load of Illmenite wagons 3D printed for this project by someone on the twitter model rail group. I should receive these soon and then add couplings and paint. We also plan to produce some BVW for this which is proving rather more ambitious.

Some heavily weathered TTA. When I get onto the TEA they will look a lot less used as they would 30+ years ago.

Looking back from the flyover toward Gilby Rd bridge and the signal box

Looking toward the A180 from cleveland bridge at Great Coates sidings Grimsby

They had the iron stone loco Cranwell at Scunthorpe when I visited, it was being looked over before going to another railway. They do tours of the works on a pacer that they only ask for a donation for as well as steam and diesel brake van tours that have to be booked. Nice picture of the Austerity at LWR, I used to be a regular there, in more recent years I've been volunteering with the LCLR at Skegness.

Thank you for up loading these again the info is lager and more readable on that side shot of the yellow top this time. Yourself and others on here have been very helpful and I now know how to finish these.

I would have to ask my contact at Frodingham to be sure about that (he also works at the works) but I rather got the impression that the two preserved examples were given as they were to be disposed of.

Thats great. I tried looking for them on that site but could not find them, thank you very much.

Yes Frodingham have repainted them as iron ore tipplers I'm interested in any images that show detail of the original livery. As for the year I'm not keeping this in too tight a frame on my model as apart from getting more overgrown the location didn't change that much from mid 80s to mid 90s.

Just out of interest heres how the model is looking now.

Good morning Dr. You had some photos of the tioxide wagons I was wondering if you have any higher resolution images that show the data on the wagon sides more clearly? An example of each type are preserved at Frodingham Rly and I recently took photos and measurements. Someone is currently 3D printing a train of said wagons for my model of Great coates No1. Without the aforementioned info they will stay plain grey with red or yellow tops as unfortunately Frodingham has repainted the wagons obliterating all original numbering etc.

If not for the new bridge and the row of new houses behind me I could look at the sidings while stood next to the model, Im few 100m east of marsh Jn!

https://youtu.be/diqul2hJ0Uo

Hi again Barrie, Yes I certainly would be interested in any more specific info on steel trafic here that you have. I have finally made a start on the project. I made the models of the signalbox and cleveland bridge a while back the boxes at the other end are where the A180 will be, the scenic area will be between these two natural scenic breaks. Have the up/down - Light railway/Union dock branch done as inner and outer circuits. Siding will follow as third outside road with a loop along the back and another siding cuved round the end nearest the camera. More storage sidings on the inside edge of the fiddle yard for shorter trains leaving via marsh junction and those on union dock. Regards Paul.

Hi again. Below is a photo of the new project now under way. The scenic area will be between the model of GREATCOATES SIDINGS No1 with Cleveland bridge and the cardboard boxes at the far end where the A180 flyover will go. I remember this area from years ago being a local but never spent time spotting or taking pictures here back in the day. So many thanks again for sharing your collection of images.