ROY@34F

3 hours ago, TrevorP1 said:

 

It really needs one of the ex footplatemen on here to comment but I think huge lumps of coal were not uncommon where hard coal was used. 

 

As a young spotter I remember being fascinated one day at Southampton Central when a fireman got a huge lump like that apparently jammed in the firehole of a Bulleid Pacific. That must have taken some doing. 

 

It was of course up to the fireman to break the coal into 'fist sized lumps'.

You're quite right Trevor . Being a fireman in 1950s /60s I can confirm similar stories to yours. The coal hammer was used virtually all the time on the GN main line area at least .

Regards , Roy .

6 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good afternoon John,

 

Nearly three years ago (doesn't time fly?), good friend Ray Chessum loaded this pair of tractors for me..........

 

 

I think the one on the right is a Field Marshall. I built the one on the left (forgotten what it is), which Ray painted.

 

I think the conclusion was that ropes were generally used to secure tractors, then someone found a picture with tractor parts secured with chains! 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

Yes Tony , the right hand one is a Field Marshall , they had a one cylinder engine making a unique pop pop pop .... sound , and a large flywheel on one side .  The engine  was started by firing a cartridge of some sort into it .   The other tractor is a (new in the early '50s I believe ) Ford Major . I remember them well in my teens and used to drive the new Major , a diesel , very often on a farm .

Regards , Roy .

21 hours ago, Flying Fox 34F said:

Hello Roy,

 

I trust your keeping well?

My father’s name is Brian.  I know he knows you.  When he left the railway in 1973, he started Bus and Coach driving having stints at LRCC with Lou Baldwin and also working for Reliance, (W.J. Simmons).  I know he learn’t to drive buses with GEM out at Colsterworth, whilst still working for BR.

 

Paul

Thanks Paul . Sorry I got that wrong . I remember now . I reckon he might have been on a boys day out to Skeggy one sunday . I have a photo somewhere with me , Spike Hughes, Bunt Johnson, Pat Boyle, your Dad, Johnny Johnson, Kieth Yeates and maybe one or two more . I'll see if I can find it .

Roy.

I'm sure I would have known your dad Paul . Was his name Dave Mellors . Sorry if I have got it completely Wrong . I was a cleaner /fireman at Grantham from Aug, '57 to Dec. "63 .

Regards , Roy Vinter.

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Wait and see what they're like at 75!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Let alone 80 tony , like me !  As you know I have had this so called essential tremor a number of years now , But , like others I cope by all sorts of wheezes using clamps , vices ,  holes in wood , pins , hair clips . I even have a height gauge as used in engineering which I can attach things to and lower them onto the thing I want to solder it to . It takes me ten times longer these days but get there eventually .

        I'm sure you'll continue weaving your magic for some years yet .

Regards , Roy.

18 hours ago, 61070 said:

You were following in the footsteps of members of Grantham Loco MIC, who visited the RH&DR in 1959: http://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/railway-life-at-grantham/loco-department-staff/grantham-loco-mutual-improvement-class-day-trip-1959/ 

Yes John . Takes me back a bit . I remember all those chaps on there . 

Regards , Roy .

The only thing I remember a goods guard telling the driver is the number of wagons in the train. Say 30 on, equal to 38. Something like that, meaning some wagons were longer than standard. I'm talking in my time at Grantham in steam days. He may say how many we're dropping off here and there , and then if we pick some up , how many and the new total at those points. As Mike the Stationmaster says , it depends on regions and local practices.

   In the case of the ironstone trains at Grantham, we would pick the guard up on the up main platform to go tender first to Highdyke to pick the train up and the driver would give the guard his "bill" for him to fill in the passing places/ times and place / time of the changeover for the return trip. Before leaving Highdyke the guard would always come and tell us how many we'd "got on". At the changeover each engine crew would swap over and just tell each other how many was on each train, and we would obviously pull forward and let the guards changeover. On return at Grantham, after being relieved on the up goods we would walk back along the train of empties and pick up our bill which the guard had left for us in his van. This ensured all the times tallied on our paper and the guard's paperwork. But as far as I remember that was the only time a guard would leave paperwork for a driver.

    And this was just down to local practice , which Mike had suggested.

   As for loads/speeds  etc. on certain routes ; This would all be laid down in the local appendices I'm sure.

Regards, Roy.

11 minutes ago, Flying Fox 34F said:

Looking at the reports the fire clinkered up on the climb to Stoke Junction.  60103 had to have a Blow-Up.  Before the end of steam she would have come off at Grantham and be replaced.  An alternative would be to clean out the fire and start again, but nowadays there is nowhere to do this.  At least they managed to get as far as Retford, before an assisting Loco was added.  
 

Paul

You're dead right there Paul. I remember well breaking up clinker with the bent dart or pricker, as it was clogging up the firebars. Restricted air through the firebars equals poor combustion  and poor steaming obviously, and one of the main reasons of poor steaming I would suggest. You must have good air flow to burn coal, primary air through the firebars, and secondly air through the firehole door. to help prevent black smoke, which is unburnt energy. When cleaning the fire on the ash pits at Grantham, clinker was the main problem.

   I don't recall ever having to stop for a blow up, but the fires were often terribly "mucky", especially on the iron ore empties returning from Frodingham ... happy days though, even so.

Regards, Roy.

49 minutes ago, BMacdermott said:

Many thanks Roy - appreciated.

 

I think I will have to make do with either a Light Engine going to Works or - if I get a breakdown crane one day - I'll 'stretch reality' and use it on that.

 

Did you happen to know a chap named Vic Henson? He was the husband of a friend of my mum; I think he was on the admin side.

 

Brian

I'm afraid I can't recall the name of Vic Henson Brian. I was just a spare fireman on loan from Grantham to Top Shed. Got to know a fair few people but mainly footplatemen. I really enjoyed my time there firing all the time whereas I would have only been cleaning most of the time at Grantham, being a young hand of 17/18, and the cockney drivers were such a laugh, most of them.

   As you say, you could run a J50 through your layout now and then. It's your railway, as they say.

Roy.

7 hours ago, BMacdermott said:

Hello PupCam

 

I'm sorry to disappoint, but the answer is 'no'.

 

The background to my enquiry was partly that I train-spotted at Potters Bar in the late 50s/early 60s but don't have any recollection of seeing a J50 go through. My note books were all thrown out, so I have no reference point and I don't recall seeing any photos either.

 

The other part to my enquiry was that I am fortunate to have two layouts - one at 'normal' waist level, with the other above at my eye level. This is 25ft x 10ft in the form of a folded dog-bone and permits just over 20 trains ranging from 10-coach expresses to humble pick-up freights. One side of the room is 'scenic' double-track with a small station and goods yard - akin to Welwyn North.

 

The station can purport to be 'somewhere on the S&D', or 'somewhere on the Liverpool Street-Cambridge main line' or 'somewhere like Welwyn North' dependent on what stock I run.

 

Being a fan of the J50, I wondered if anyone could offer proof of any passing through so that I can 'justify' running my models.  But I can always apply Rule 1 and run what I want anyway!

 

Before signing off, I don't read of many people having 'eye level layouts' although they seem more common in  the USA. There were many reasons for me going eye level, one of the principal ones being that - as the fascia is slightly undulating and lined with 'bushes' (lichen) - I can't actually see the track. This meant that I didn't have to ballast it!

 

Back in the 1970s, I was a sales rep travelling around the Welwyn area. When time permitted, I would have my 'flask and sandwiches' parked up at Welwyn North just off the viaduct so as to see the 1300 from King's Cross hurtle through.

 

Brian

 

Brian,

    As no one has come up with any proof of seeing J50's at Welwyn North in '59/'60, I will just give you my opinion if I may. 

 I was at K.X. top shed on loan in just the two years you ask about. I have to say that I don't recall seeing a J50 beyond Wood Green even, let alone Welwyn. It's a long time ago and I'm quite possibly wrong of course. Interestingly I was sent on a few occasions from top shed to Hornsey shed to go with one of their drivers over on to the southern to Battersea I think it was.   

Regards, Roy.

18 hours ago, KingEdwardII said:

The TowerPro SG90 & the HobbyKing HXT 900 look like the right options for 9g servos and it is clear that many modellers have used these successfully for both turnouts and signals.

 

I am intrigued by the HobbyKing HK-5330 "ultra micro" servo, which is only 23 x 20 x 6 mm size. It has much lower torque than the 9g servos, but I think that this is going to be OK when driving semaphore signals. I aim to try out a set of these for driving a junction bracket signal, where there are 3 arms to control and where space for the motors is more of an issue.

 

Mike.

I use those HK5330 servos Mike. They work very well with my Megapoints bouncing gubbins, which is the best semaphore bounce IMHO. They can be lowered down through a hole in the baseboard as a complete unit with the signal superstructure .

Regards, Roy

8 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

The old V2 given to me by Jesse Sim has now been 'finished'. 

 

 

The vivid green has long gone and I've now numbered/lined it; yes, I know the valances should be lined, but transfer lining fights all the way with this, and it was often scuffed off in service. Anyway, weathering is still to come. 

 

This loco is something of a paradox. It's certainly a V2 (and far superior to the much newer - though soon to be superseded - Bachmann offering), but the mechanism is arcane. Painting the visible parts of the Jepson motor (not the commutator, of course) will disguise it a little. However, a Comet set of frames (which include brakes) with a can motor/gearbox combo will be the eventual 'fix'. That said, this really goes like stink, and on a layout, at high speed?

 

Who originally built it, no one knows, though it's well-made. 

 

Shots in action on LB later....................... 

Tony,  I really like that oily steel look on the side rods. How did you achieve that please?

Regards, Roy.

28 minutes ago, Roy Langridge said:

In terms of control, take a look a the MegaPoints Controllers system. It will even recreate the bounce of a semaphore: MegaPoints Controllers

 

Just a happy customer.

 

Roy 

Yes, I fully agree with you Roy. The Megapoints "bounce" is the most realistic system I have seen.

     I'm just another happy customer too.

Roy.

22 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Christmas Eve's job....................

 

 

Painting the latest J6 (the tender is still to be built, though it's ordered from SEF. It'll have to borrow one for the time being).

 

Well, it's now time for me to wish all Wright writers a peaceful and happy Christmas. Or, as good as one can have in the circumstances. Our normal family one has been well and truly torpedoed! 

 

 

Hope you too have had a nice day Tony and Mo, though quiet by the sound of it . We have also had a christmas like no other ... on our own. We usually have ten for dinner and then twelve in the evening. So very strange but restful. Just had a "virtual" get together with the family this afternoon on Skype , I think it's called. Isn't all this modern technology wonderful ?

Best wishes to you both for next year and hopefully better days.

Regards, Roy and Pat.

3 hours ago, richard.h said:

Up to now Byford has been operated using coloured light signals, they are easy to install and integrate into the train movement system using sensors and switches, the trouble is you don't often notice them working unless they are in your line of sight as nothing moves.

I shied away from semaphores in the past as the plastic ones were prone to damage, usually by sleeves, but when I read about the control systems available now which imitate real signal movements by copying the signalman pulling off the signal and also a random bounce when the signal is released I just had to have another go at them.

So, I purchased a selection of parts and a control system based on the Megapoints board and made a start.

 

Here's the first attempt which uses a 0.5mm optical cable to feed to feed the light to the signal head.

 

 

The light here is a very realistic subdued light but I couldn't get the optic cable to feed inside the post and up to the signal head as the bend was to tight at the top and it kept snapping, but it is still hardly noticeable tucked in and running down the side.

 

For the next batch of signals I used nano-leds for lighting and these were much easier to conceal with all the wiring inside the post.

 

 

The main problem with this method is stopping light bleed from the LED so the light and the arm have to be much closer together.

 

Well, that's a learning curve and a start made, the next challenge is can I build a bracket signal, my eyesight's not that good and I seem to have the wrong size fingers.

I have also built brass etched signals Richard and use Megapoints control ... very good variable bounce , and very like they used to be as I remember . I use small SMD micro LEDs , warm white  colour ,  (can't recall where from ... sorry) .  They come ready to use , wired and fitted with a resister for 12 V dc.  I glue them in plastic channel . lay a thin .010" or .015" layer over the top , the whole thing squeezing in a 3 mm. length of 3 mm . square brass tube with a .9mm. hole drilled in the LED shining side . The white plastic covering of the LED defuses the light a bit , but I also fit a 5K or 6K resister in the positive feed of each LED to dim the light more to be more the dim brightness of the oil lamps used in steam days .

It's then a matter of sticking the lamp on to the post in the right place and packed off the post on top of a piece of copper clad sleeper or something . I think it's .050" thick to bring the lamp off the post so that the lamp lines up with the signal sense . I use epoxy glue so as to have some adjustment time to get them right .

Sorry to be so long winded , and good luck .

Regards , Roy .

25 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

All valid points, Graham,

 

I agree that the ballast shoulder isn't as pronounced on LB's main lines as it might be (Norman's 'thin' ballasting technique).

 

I'm not sure I asserted that where locos stand would be the only place for the ballast to be stained. Unfortunately I don't have any colour pictures of LB in the '50s which I can publish (the copyright is not mine), so most images have been black and white. What I did decipher is that the staining is far more pronounced on the Down lines at the platform ends. Think about it - it's uphill, and starting locos might have a propensity to slip, showering oil everywhere.

 

Your wonderful picture of the A4 at Essendine (taken prior to 1957 - the loco has a single chimney?) shows the effect of Stoke Bank. Down trains would be piling it on to climb to Stoke. A similar effect can be detected on any overbridges on Stoke Bank (or Shap). The Down side always is more stained.  

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Hello Tony ,

  All valid points by Graham as you say . I also think due to to speed and the resulting disturbance of oil and muck being deposited on the track shows up more in the facing direction of either main lines . This shows up on Graham's photo from the Essendine bridge I think . The slow roads aren't affected quite so much to this effect as traffic is slower. You may be able to see in some photos the difference in colour when looking in the direction of travel and then the other way . You could almost do with an airbrush spraying some oily / brake dusty weathering forward while attached to the front of a wagon going in the correct direction . 

What do you reckon ?

Regardes Roy .

8 hours ago, Woodcock29 said:

I think the one thing that lets down the look marginally of the Hornby A4 body is the flatness of the cylinder covers, given they are meant to follow the curve of the cylinders more in the lower half. I've thought about how to improve this a number of times without a firm conclusion. Probably the only way to fix it is to make new covers that are attached to the cylinders and therefore not to the footplate. But you wouldn't want a gap at the footplate.

 

I've usually realigned the sidebars on the few BR examples I have plus realigning the return crank into its forward leaning position.

 

Of course on my five LNER versions the sidebars are not overly visible so I haven't needed to realign the sidebars. Interestingly on the very first one I got, Mallard the sidebars were perfectly aligned.

 

Andrew 

I agree Andrew re. the cylinder cover curving round the bottom . I improved it on two of my  Hornby A4s by making some overlays from  5 thou brass sheet . Rather fiddly and flimsy as I carried it on a few mm. along the narrow valance area . Popped rivet impressions with one of these pointed rods with a weight , rolling a curve like a coach tumblehome and glued it on . After of course filing the existing plastic rivets flat and forming a curve around the bottom  of the cylinder . Made like this they spring off and on if you need to remove the body . 

As for recent discussions about the radius link being too long and narrow , I have fitted Mike Edge etched two or three layer radius links and his radius rods which can be made to wark properly in gear , and also look right .

Regards , Roy .

23 hours ago, t-b-g said:

 

Hello Roy and thanks for the kind comment.

 

I use an OLFA cutter to make grooves in clear plastic for the smaller bars, paint with white acrylic and then rub the excess off when it has dried with a thumb or fingernail, so the plastic doesn't get scratched. I cut a long strip of material the right height and do the horizontal line or lines, depending on the style of window along the full length, so they will all line up on the finished model then measure off for the verticals. The window is then cut to size and the outer frame is then added in thin plastic strip, which allows the solvent to be applied to the outside edge.

 

I find most etched or laser cut windows are too heavy in the glazing bars for this type of window and this method gives me a consistent and thin line.

 

Once you have done one or two, it is surprisingly easy and quick to make windows this way.

 

 

Edited to add a photo. The glazing looks clouded but that is down to the photo/lighting or something else. In real life you can see through them just fine.

Thanks Tony , I hadn't thought of that method . Might give it a go as it's such a fine line .

Roy .

6 hours ago, t-b-g said:

 

Very nice. The brickwork looks much better defined than many embossed versions. I have had a look around the web for Vollmer English Bond brick but not found any. Do you have a reference or product number to help?

 

Mine has Slater's brick, but when I put a photo on earlier, it was mentioned that the bricks are not quite as square as they should be.

 

Mine is an LD&ECR box, based on an amalgam of 3 along the line. As far as I can tell, much LD&ECR infrastructure was nicked or copied from other railways and the signalling and boxes were based very closely on GNR designs.

 

Apart from the embossed brick, Plastruct steps and Springside levers and block instruments, it is all from scratch. It still needs a nameboard, a signal man, who is on order from Modelu, a chimney above the roof and perhaps one or two other details but it is nearly there.

 How have you done the windows on your box Tony ? Are they etched brass or perhaps lined  with a bow pen . They really look the part for GN style to me .

Regards , Roy .

I would recommend a call to Chris at Hi-level . He's very helpful and knowledgable . And his products are very good too .

No connection , just a satisfied customer .

Roy.  

31 minutes ago, 31A said:

 

Didn't catch your fingers in them I hope Roy!

I don't recall doing that Steve but it was a long time ago now . Thanks for your concern though .

Regards , Roy .

10 hours ago, drmditch said:

Good Morning. This thread moves so fast that no sooner do I see something to which I could make a contribution then it it has vanished somewhere in the previous decade/century/millennium!

(Sometimes I can make search engines work and sometimes not but i prefer to spend the time on proper engines with actual wheels!)

 

So, to catch up a bit I've prepared some material which I will put into separate posts to avoid making one very long one and to make reference easier!

(Obviously these can be removed if anyone objects to my prolixity!)

 

There was a discussion about LNER large engine cab/tender doors.

Here are some pictures of the V2 arrangement on 4771.

(I am sure that at some point Mr Trice has probably taken better pictures.)

 

 

 

 

 

Then the nice simple pintle hinges!

First the 'locomotive side':-

 

 

Then the 'tender' side:-

 

 

 

At the moment Locomotion is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 11:00am to 4:00pm, and visitors can climb steps to look into the cabs, but are not allowed into the cabs themselves.

(Footplates were not designed for 'social distancing'!)  If you do want to come and visit, then it it is advisable to book a ticket first. These are free of charge, but the ticketing system is sensible not only for traceability, but to allow control of the number of people in the building at one time.

 

Bookings available here

 

I am back to being on-site on Fridays, welcoming people and explaining and discussing where required.

If you do visit on a Friday do say hello!

 

(Remember, unlike our 'big sister' at York, car parking is free!)

 

Caroline Middleditch

 

 

 

 

Super photos there Caroline , of cab doors I was trying to describe some pages back when the discussion was on  . I remember them well . Thanks 

Regards , Roy .

12 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Thanks Mike,

 

As usual, one of the cabside windows is 'open'. 

 

Were there any occasions when both were shut?

 

Regards,

 

Tony.  

Only maybe when it's pelting rain or snow in on that side of the engine Tony .

Note also on that last photo on Mike Trices' thread .  Note also the little wooden armrest for the driver in the window opening which hinged down to close the window . But then you probably knew that .

Regards , Roy .

1 hour ago, t-b-g said:

This is not trying to nit pick but a genuine query over an aspect of the painting of those pacifics. It is something that I have wondered about for years and perhaps the assembled experts could answer the query.

 

The sliding cab windows on the models are painted green. Several years ago, I ws adding a few finishing touches to some locos that Roy Jackson had built and Geoff Kent had painted. The windows and frames were being  after Geoff had worked his magic.

 

I asked Roy whether the window frames should be green or varnished wood and he wasn't sure so we looked at a few colour photos and none were conclusive, so he made an "executive choice" and they were painted a wood brown colour.

 

Based on the photos of Great Eastern and Sun Castle, were we wrong and should they be painting green?

 

I tried to look at a few colour photos on the net now and although there are some to be found, the window frame is always so dirty I could not tell.

 

I did find a lovely shot of Great Eastern on the "Heart of Midlothian" in April 1957 with polished smokebox door hinges and handles plus the cylinder front was polished steel and I think the handrails were polished too.  They look to be lighter than the smoke deflectors. Perhaps an opportunity to make it really stand out in the crowd with a little "bull" if it fits with the period.

 

 

Tony ,

Definitely varnished wood . I'd say a light to mid brown , teak maybe 

Regards , Roy .