HillsideDepot

Work is underway overnight to erect the staircases on the new footbridge at Chippenham station. The Down side steps have been in place for a while, along with the "tower" on the island platform. The bridge over the Down Main appeared (I think) last weekend, and they are preparing to lift the Up side staircase (in the photo) and the island platform staircase tonight. I couldn't see the bridge section to go over the Up Main, but that may be parked elsewhere, or isn't scheduled for this weekend. The contractors were quite happy with an audience, but we were advised just before midnight that the station lighting was about to be turned off as they are also renewing the station power supply overnight. With no indication of when the first lift might take place I chose to leave before the lights went out!

Thanks for the comments. I like the low level shots too, in fact I've left the row of terraced houses removable so that I can get the camera in for some angles. The view towards the blocks is bit of a favourite too, Rob, but as the stops are within millimetres of the end of the layout the background is a problem, which is why I'm adding a short extension. It's taken a while to get it "right" in my mind, but I think I'm there now. The land rises towards that end of the layout, and presumably continues to do so, which helps. I've also found another couple of Chippenham buildings to include. One I only know through a photo, and the other I wish I could find a picture of as I'm working only from memories. But like the rest of the structures "inspired by" rather than "a scale model of" is the approach. I really must stop browsing and typing and begin cutting and gluing!

The shadows are starting to lengthen, the Pilot engines have finished their work and gone their separate ways. The 03 has gone back to Hillside Stabling Point, whilst the 08 has gone over to Westonmouth Central to become the West End Parcels Pilot for the night. That leaves just one more working to visit Mortimore's Yard, but just to use the run round. Fresh off the depot 25279 arrives with a brake van as 0B20. It will run round here before heading to Somerdale Works to collect the Vanfits of chocolate. There is little time between the factory finishing loading the train and the departure from South Depot of the trunk trains which the vans will use to distribute the chocolate across the country. But the staff are well aware of that, and the loco is soon at the end of the line ready to run round the brake van. The crew will be keen to get the job done as their efficiency is usually rewarded by a box of chocolate misshapes and seconds left in the Checker's office at Somerdale. All unofficial, but it helps keep the wheels of industry turning sweetly (sorry, couldn't resist!). As the warmth of the day passes, the track starts creaking and knocking as the rails contract. The jingle of a distant ice-cream van mingles with the sound of children playing, but Mortimore's Yard slumbers.

Just a small update today. Very little actual work has been done, but with the office building's walls now assembled and a few more ideas for the coal yard extension I have been playing with a few rough "buildings" laid out on the paper plans I already had. There are several aspects of the plan I wasn't sure about, but I think its all coming together now. A few Wills sheets (or even off cuts of approximate size) Blu-Tac'd together really help to formulate ideas. Just as I found when I was planning the layout originally, having the ideas laid out over a period of time really helps. It's not so much the time spent looking at the plan/mock-up that counts, but the "down-time" when ideas can form while I'm doing other things and I can pop back to the mock-up and adjust things or try ideas. Of course there comes a point where pencil and rubber have to be swapped for craft knife and cutting mat, but I find this gentle evolution of ideas is what works best for me. I doubt I'll be doing much over the next few days, as I have lots of paperwork to do for our newly formed Scout Network, and I'm supervising a Duke of Edinburgh expedition for Explorer Scouts over the weekend. Still, plenty of time for more ideas to ferment and mature - I'll certainly be taking a notebook/sketchpad with me, just in case.

Looking good, as ever, Rob. No problem with a bridge sign being a bit lower than the bridge. I forget the exact calculations they use but it is always on the side of caution, as we found out at the "Chocolate Poodle" bridge where they resurfaced the road without scraping enough of the old material off. As part of the work they re-measured the bridge and found their mistake, so simply changed the height on the sign! The problem was the new height shown was less that the height of a Wilts & Dorset VR, and the sign had been changed from a triangular "warning" to a circular "prohibited" one at the same time. For several days the VRs happily went under the bridge until an observant bus driver noticed the new sign! We asked if the sign could be changed to allow VRs under, which was when the Highway Engineer explained the calculation, and concluded by saying "no".

Sorry Gary, can't help you with that, I didn't go "up top", I just remember the bus being at the open day.

Very nice, Gary. I remember it being used at an Old Oak Common open day as a raised platform for photographers, but its a great talking point for a layout. I've always had a soft spot for the DMS since I drove one of Thamesdown Transport's when I was a Polytechnic student on placement with them; the very first bus I drove!

Another great set, but I especially like the signal next to D1020.

We certainly changed loco types from those scheduled on Hillside, a no heat 47 instead of a 47/4, a type 3 instead of a type 4, and so on. "Late running" also occurred, usually due to the operator missing a move while engaging chatting with the public. While operating Northolt International (not to a timetable it has to be said) we had a problem with one fiddle yard entrance, so we terminated all trains from the south at the station, making a lot of unusual moves in the process. Whether the public realised what was going on I don't know, we kept trains running, with and insight into what it's like for the real railway when it all goes wrong.

The ever popular loco depots are, arguably, even more "boring" than shunting layouts as each train is only one vehicle long. Yet I spent days at exhibitions happily shunting locos around Hillside Depot, a stabling point of 5 sidings. But the whole thing ran to a timetable, a timetable which could be and was repeated over and over through the days of the week with different trains (and therefore motive power) needed each day. Sure the main timetable was the same, that helped operators work out what was going on and how to stable locos, but the odd days of the week freights, and the additional "as required" passenger workings added variety. Some locos just stabled up, others needed to visit the fueller first. Some were in and out quite quickly, their visit being little more than a move for crew change purposes, others were spare for a day or more before being needed again. The whole thing was quite a juggling act, trying to keep things stabled in such a way that they didn't block in locos which were needed sooner. Likewise my Mortimore's Yard layout is working towards a full timetable of trip workings, but has happily been run with just a notion of what wagons were travelling between the various points. But it's basically a shunting layout with shunters collecting and delivering while mainline locos work trains to and from the mainline yards. But perhaps it's just me. I remember operating Andi Dell's layout at one of its early testing sessions. While everyone else was busy running expresses around the complex mainline, I settled in the colliery sidings and set about sorting the various types of coal wagon which had been randomly placed in the sidings in what ever order they were removed from storage.

I too emailed Kernow about the off-set nature of the scavenger fans, and this morning Chris Trerise replied saying that they are aware of this, they have the required dimensions, and the change was requested at the previous iteration of the CADs. It will also be on the next list of changes being sent to China. So, good news.

Thanks for the generous comments and "likes". I finally started work on the small extension this week, not that the plan is set in all aspects yet, but I realised that I need to see some of it in 3 dimensions to work out the detail. In my usual way, this will no doubt take ages to complete as I wander through my various interests, model railway and otherwise, but there's no rush. As well as cutting the board to size, I made a start on the "cabin" which will sit facing the stop blocks. Still a way to go yet, but I hope it is already looking the part. The rear of the building will be set into rising ground, as will the right hand end. However the retaining walls are far too high at the moment, but how the land will rise is one of the, as yet, unknown features, so for now the wall is simply the height of the building as the brick sheet had been cut to that size. In other news, local spotters say that an ex-works North British Warship was seen in the sidings briefly during the week before scuttling off again. Reports suggest that it was missing its push-up roof vents and buffer beam valances...

I have yet to see a gWr (I think that's how it's done) train other than in on-line photos, although my initial impression is that the green does look rather dark and dull. But, I can see that base colour being used very effectively in publicity which looks very classy. In some ways the look of the website, mobile app, pocket timetable, and poster display is more important than the look of the outside of the train itself. At the station passengers need to identify the brand as "the green train" as opposed to whatever colours the cross-country, south western, or Welsh franchises use during the life of the green livery. I'll wait to see the finished result, with the transfers on, before deciding. But even then a few sets each working in isolation will present a different impression to Paddington, Reading, Temple Meads etc full of them. As for Rail Blue, I love it, and a retro class 253 HST repaint before the end would be much appreciated, but I really can't see it making a widespread return, even if the re-nationalisation which some propose goes ahead.

Late afternoon means rushing home for tea, in the hope that nothing unusual will turn up while '70s classics such as fish fingers and Angel Delight are consumed at a speed which will almost certainly draw mother's disapproval. Back at Mortimore's Yard the class 03 Pilot has now reappeared from it's work deep in the docklands and has deposited a rake of empty Presflo tanks ready for return to Blue Circle's works at Westbury. Here 46053 is coupled to the empty tanks and the crew conduct a brake test before departing for Westbury, no doubt being looped at least once to allow a DMU of returning commuters to pass ahead of them.

The warm sunny afternoon lazily passes, and before long the sound of an approaching Brush Type 4 can be heard; it's two tone "Spoo-ooon" greeting to the signalman being a dead giveaway of what is approaching. This is the afternoon trip working from Royal Edward Yard which returns there as the 15:00 from Mortimore's Yard. This trip can bring traffic in, but it's main role is to take wagons on the first stage of their journeys, usually as "empties" returning for another load. The loco, still in original green, but carrying its TOPS number runs slowly to the end of the run round loop, the rails protesting at its weight. In the coal yard the shovelling has stopped for a while as the workers head for a tea break, the sound of their radio balancing on the staith wall, now being drowned by the thrumming of the large Sulzer diesel. The activity is brief though, the Pilot soon has the shunting done and the Brush will stand up at the starting signal, waiting time to depart.

Looking good, Jesse - I'm tempted to reach for the roll of wall paper and my stored fleet of Sprinters to plan something similar, but I must resist (to much else still to finish!). I will be watching with interest as this progresses.

Just seen this report on the local BBC News webpage http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-33622748 The map is, shall we say, interesting... Should someone tell the orange army in Box Tunnel to put the track back and leave it as it was?

The GWML is now closed between Thingley and Bathampton Junctions for track lowering work in Box Tunnel and at Bathampton Junction. I went to LarkRail in Bath yesterday and chose the travel by bus (I went the long way round and covered a couple of soon to be withdrawn routes on the way) which meant that on the way home I had a better view of the railway than if I had been driving. The former Farleigh Down Sidings area is a work base and was full of cabins and road vehicles. The foot bridge at Shockerwick has been removed and work is underway on the foundations for it's replacement (the location had a level crossing until 1905). There was a procession of spoil trains on the Up Line between there and the site of Box Mill Lane Halt, with the usual NR facilities at Box Station much expanded for the duration. Both Up and Down lines were intact at the west end of Box Tunnel. As the bus then climbed Box Hill I started to wonder how much work will be done while the line is closed. Obviously the track lowering, but will the masts also go up while there is no traffic (apart from CCE trains) running? It's possible that the railway could look very different when it reopens. Out of the possession, at Chippenham station, the new public footbridge is proceeding, with steps and lift shaft on the Down Side looking complete with the central pier and lift shaft (no steps) on the island platform also in position. The Up Side is a the ground work stage, but I wouldn't expect that metal work to be long in appearing. There are also blue paint markings in the Down cess alongside the car park, could these be mast locations? Suddenly electrification is becoming a reality, "my" railway is changing!

The London Brick Company uses 6V73, the 2112 MWThO Calvert to Cardiff Company train to drop a portion at Westonmouth in the very early hours of the morning. The loaded wagons are then tripped at about 5 o'clock through to New Cut Goods Depot for distribution by lorry to local building sites. In the afternoon the 6M71 empties are worked back in a different fashion. The train loco leaves the Cardiff portion in Queensland Yard and runs light to Mortimore's Yard to pick up the Westonmouth empties. The wagons are brought up from New Cut by the No.2 Pilot ready for collection.

I see Hattons (and others) own models/limited edition liveries as being the exact opposite of what is suggested above. Rather than using the core range to fund the specials, I suspect that the attraction of the specials is that they can be offered at the "full price" rather than having to take whatever percentage off to compete with the other discounters. But, at the end of the day, we're all only guessing at what the truth actually is.

How about 20008 at Thornaby? http://www.the-siding.co.uk/class20/pages/2x20.htm Not my photo, but remembering it standing there a quick Google came up with several, of which that is probably the best.

I agree Edwin, this info was from a recent fGW staff briefing and it surprised them, I'm told. Dundas is "tight" so maybe having booked the blockade they have decided to do that now while they reconsider Sydney Gardens, or perhaps use the time to do some exploratory archaeological work. If I get anything more from my informant which I can share, I will of course do so.

With the major closure of Box Tunnel looming https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/travel-updates/2015/bath-2015-eletrification-work I was rather surprised yesterday to note 4 lengths of CWR laid in the four-foot of the up road from the western portal of the tunnel into the darkness. This seems a little odd given the whole track bed is about to be lowered by 1.5 metres, but I'm a layman. It had been assumed that the second phase of the blockade was to lower the track in Sydney Gardens, but I'm told the work is actually to increase clearance at Dundas Aqueduct in the Avon Valley. Apparently NR are very nervous about the Sydney Gardens work. Not the engineering aspect of it, but the possibility of uncovering Roman remains. If that happens the heavy plant will be ushered off the site and be replaced by archaeologists with toothbrushes! Nothing much else to report from Wiltshire (at least not that I've seen), apart from on-going bridge reconstruction, and the work to electrically link the railway at Thingley to the National Grid at Beanacre.

Lunch time. The Hymek we saw earlier with the vans for Fry's has now picked up empty timber pulp wagons at Marsh Pond and taken them through to Portishead for loading. At Portishead it picked up a loaded wood pulp train and is now running round it at Mortimore's Yard before the final run down to Marsh Pond. The baker and confectioner's shop on the corner of the street (based on a combination of premises own by my maternal grand parents) is a popular spot for workers from Westinghouse, many of whom still cycle (push bikes, or mopeds) to and from work. It's still the era when many men return home for lunch (my father did, right across Chippenham on his moped), but for one MG owner the baker's shop provides the ideal stop for lunch while enjoying a drive with the hood down; perhaps there is a secretary to impress!

Thanks Kevin, I was looking at the plan of West Depot, and working off the 15' x 15' room dimensions as my guide. I think I have done similar to that document though and made the diagram fit the words rather than the room sizes; my rough pencil sketch plan has proportionately less length given over to the mess room. I suppose some people would just build the building as big as the space available on the layout, but I like to work out what would fit where, if only to help locate windows and doors. I've not done any work on the model since my last post; I'm on leave from work so took the opportunity yesterday to hike with friends, and today I went scuba diving at Vobster (just north of Whatley, in railway terms) and to keep things on topic I actually found a very short off cut of rail 10 metres down. My dive buddy was thinking "Ooh, fish", I was thinking "railway!". It seemed to be a lightweight flat bottom rail, I'm guessing something to do with the quarry workings, but as a novice diver there is quite a lot to get used to without attempting to analyse rusty track profiles! Kayaking is on the menu for tomorrow, so the work bench will have to wait a little longer.