Rhubarb Loop

My understanding was that North Somerset Light Railway adopted an interesting blue/grey with salmon detailing. The carriage you have modelled was still wearing this colour scheme when British Railways closed the line and the tramway coach was relocated to the neighbouring Titfield & Mallingford Railway branch. Interestingly when the now famous private company bought the railway and rolling stock from British Railways they sympathetically restored the carriage but with maroon detailing, sadly the reason for this wasn't recorded but it could have been based on information (maybe paint flakes?) available at the time. Thankfully some early colour photographs have survived and they can be seen here: http://www.alextrack.co.uk/movies/the_titfield_thunderbolt/rolling_stock_wisbech_upwell_coach.html Cheers, Alex

Dean 6' 4" bogies? Will you be doing a broad gauge version?!

Brilliant work as always Tim. I'm looking forward to adding Callow Lane Crossing to my "Authority To Work"...

Looking brilliant Missy, great to see you've added the rarely modelled FPL cover as well.

Love the Tyer's No.9!

Jerry, Wow, the Hymek looks fantastic! Did you do anything else? On mine the axles seem ridiculously sloppy between the bogie sideframes, did you limit the sideplay? Cheers, Alex

I would try and track one down if you can, though it might be tricky. The ISBN is 1-904318-07-X, good luck! I've quickly produced a list of levers and added them to my website. Alextrack - Lawerence Hill Junction Signal Box I wouldn't trust the lever lead nomenclature, it's only something I jotted down and I'm a Western man at heart and struggle with Midland peculiarities. I can't believe how 'messy' the frame is, the levers are all over the place. Thank god I was born in South Devon! A few comments that you might find interesting... None of the starting signals were "locked by the block" so they are devoid of a white band. As far as I can tell there were no electric points or signals so all the handles would be full length, levers that don't require effort to pull were cut down as a reminder. With detonator placers the chevrons pointed up for up lines and down for down lines. Levers 19, 20 and 22 worked both the point and FPL (facing point lock) so were bottom half back and top half blue. An interesting combination could be... 29,30,37,39,42,43 (Engine from shed to say Westerleigh Yard) 24,31,32,33 (Down Train for WR) My interest in various prototypes changes quicker then you can say "armchair modeller". Last month is was back to Newton Abbot, the past week I've been putting some more work into Midford (thankfully the Southern were responsible for the S&D signalling!). I will try to complete the details of the Midland passenger workings though, do you have a specific year you're modelling or would like to base the workings on? I hope that helps! Cheers, Alex

Wow, it looks brilliant so far! George Pryer's diagram in "Signal Box Diagrams of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (L.M.S.) - Volume One - Bristol Area" does indeed have the frame at the back of the box and states that the M.R. Tappet frame with 6" centres was installed in 1938. As you say, it was most likely at the front of the box before this. Do you have this book? If you would like me to make a list of lever colours and which levers would spend most of their time reversed or perhaps some route combinations that would be possible at the same time then let me know. It would be a shame to produce such a fine signal box with an irregularity in the interlocking! Cheers, Alex

Great to see you've started on the most important building of the layout. It looks brilliant so far Captain. I can't wait to learn the box when it's finished!

I love the rail-served factory Captain. It reminds me of the one near Red Cow Crossing! Alex

I'm really looking forward to seeing this layout at Warley! Alex

In the 60s it wasn't a simply change from A=1 and B=2. When the rules first introduced Class 1 and 2 trains could carry Class A headlamps. I'm at work so I don't have much information to hand but for example in 1961 1340 Paddington - Weston-super-Mare ran as 1B12 to Bristol where it became 2B96 however it carried Class A headlamps throughout. Missy, check this link out... Bell Codes & Locomotive Head Codes I'm pretty sure that no Class A services would run through Highclere so you only need to have to top lamp working, and only at night. And, as you're modelling the British Railways era (I'm not sure when it changed) but I would have a standard tail lamp on the rear. Don't forget both these would be far from bright! Alex

Some notes on tail lamps that might interest you, taken from the Western Region Regional Appendix 1960 "Working Of Ex-G.W.R. Diesel Cars" section.... HEAD AND TAIL LAMPS The car will not carry the standard head code, but the standard tail lamp will be carried. After sunset, or during fog or falling snow, or when proceeding through a tunnel, the tail lamp must be alight, and the two white lights (horizontally at platform level) must be exhibited at the leading end as Class 1 or 2 (" A "). When Class 2 (" B ") is required, one white light (at top centre) will be used. The switching on of headlamps after sunset, during fog or falling snow, or before passing through tunnels, must be performed by the Driver. The Guard or man acting as Guard will be responsible for seeing that the tail lamp is placed in position and lighted when necessary. Alex

Very, very nice!

Missy, thank you for taking the time to explain your setup. You actually make it look quite achievable! I'm hoping to get a Digital SLR soon so hopefully I'll soon be experimenting. Alex

I've also got a plan to make a tank train for my 9F. However, at my rate of progress it will probably never happen! They're odd trains, the tanks all look the same but on close inspection late 50s early 60s trains are made up of nearly all different designs. If you were to do a kit would it be for a later or earlier design? I've had a look through your blog in case I missed something but I can't see if you described your photography set up? I'd like to photograph my work with a similar embankment against sky look. However, I was wondering what you do for lighting and how 'good' your camera is to get such excellent pictures? Cheers, Alex

They look amazing Missy! Are you going to build some of the Air Ministry tanks as well?

I've been considering how to model these for some time and I'd like to make them working in 2mm Scale. However, some single post signals had up to 8 different lamps to illuminate. For example there was a backing signal (red/green) with 6 options in the stencil indicator. With a 1mm diameter post I don't think it can be done! Alex

With regards to Bristol Temple Meads and The General Railway Signal Company installation... That's taken from a publication "Power Signalling At Bristol which is reproduced here: Power Signalling At Bristol You might also find this section interesting (though it's a bit of a mess)... Bristol East Signal Box Good luck! Alex

Fantastic!!!