Mrkirtley800

A busy day on Kirkby Malham High Street in June 1908

Thanks for that. I have been wracking what brains I have, trying to remember the kit makers name, micro rail, well I’ll eat my hat.Derek

I have been working on my horse bus of late, although I seem to be a bit short in the mojo department just now. The vehicle, as bought, was lacking in most details, so, as a change from railway wagons, I did a concentrated work out on the bus, fitting rails around the open deck, rails down the open side of the stairs and a kicking board on the closed side. a repaint was followed by glazing the lower deck, and a destination board, and here it is. The model is advertised as 1:76 scale but my model looks to be on the small side, although I don't have a drawing or any dimensions to support my thinking. However, it looks OK parked up outside Kirkby Malham station, awaiting trippers wishing to go over to Malham and not have to walk. When I was last in Malham many, many years ago, I seem to remember a rather nice little café just by the bridge over Malham Beck. It may be long gone now, and I never knew the owners back in the 1960s, so whoever had it in 1908 heaven knows, but our Ephraim must have an arrangement with the tea shop proprietor, as he drops off and picks up his passengers right outside the shop . Derek

Here are the two vehicles in Kirkby Malham station. They were painted and lined by Coachman Larry many years ago, and ran on my old exhibition layout in the 1980s and 90s. As I remember, they were quite easy to put together. Derek

The horse box is certainly Midland. The kit came out in the late 1970s or early 80s. I have no idea who produced it, but a Midland elliptical roofed covered carriage truck came out at the same time. There may have been kits for vehicles from other railways, but I am sure these were the only Midland ones produced. I built up both kits and will post pics of them later. Derek

Shame!!

Thank you St Enodoc. The reason for the reverse curve was to bring the main lines to the front of the baseboards, and at the same time include Hanlith Junction.. It was a tight call and only made possible by building the Junction on a curve. Good job I enjoy building pointwork. The main fiddle yard had to be within easy reach because of my arthritic joints, curse them. Derek

Incidentally, the 0-4-4T in the fist piccie is getting on in years, just like most of my engines. I built it about 1971 ish, and took it to Coachman Larry when we were on holiday in north Wales in 1972. He painted and lined it and here it is, still looking good. Doesn’t time fly? Derek

The second van is supposed to be one of the Midland 25’ vehicles. It came as an etched brass kit many years ago. No idea who produced the kit, but I think they are probably long gone. The first van is one of the Trevor Charlton sets of parts. It is normally a 25’ parcels van but doubles up for any other type of vehicle. Many years ago, I built a L&Y six wheeled slatted milk van and finished it in grey. When exhibiting at a show, I was shunting the van, when a voice came from the back of the spectators informing me it was the wrong colour. It should, apparently, have been two shades of brown and lined out in gold or yellow. So I never argue about rolling stock these days. That L&Y van is still grey. Derek

I am starting to run the layout once more after a bit of a layoff. Seems a waste to be indoors when the weather is exceptional, but after a little sun I would rather be in shade. our pics today are to do with exchange traffic, in the form of milk vans. The early morning local from Kettlewell runs down the valley collecting milk in churns in two milk vans. These are detached at Kirkby Malham and will be 'picked' up by passenger train bound for Leeds (Wellington Road) The pics today show the milk vans being left in the milk dock, and having been loaded, are attached to a passenger train. The main subject is the train, hauled by a Kirtley 800 class 2-4-0 running over the last board to have any form of scenery to be added. This board will come down again soon to have the signal mechs installed and scenery to be finished off. The pics seem to be a bit dark and I have tried to lighten them up a little. There is one carriage missing from the usual train. Unfortunately, one of the bogies fell apart, necessitating bringing my tube of evostick into play. Derek

The heavy stuff isn’t for doing any model railway work, it is to keep us Midland men away from his North Eastern engines. He thinks we will give them all a repaint. As if we would!!!Derek

And boy, do I need it

Thanks for that Mick, Iam not very good with these ‘putter thingies. Of course I should have noticed the error before taking the piccie. Derek

last three from Canal Road. The Kirtley goods is sporting the new experimental plain black livery, which became the norm for some Midland locos in 1911. I am not a very good photographer and managed to get the telegraph pole sticking out of the 800 class chimney. Derek

Just a few more from the now long gone Canal Road. It was modelled on the Midland Railway in 1908. The station is similar to Lazonby on the Settle Carlisle. The tunnels, Haw Bank Nos 1 and 2 form the entry into the fiddle yard, the two lines are supposed to form a junction, Embsay West, beyond the tunnels. However, in reality, it would be difficult since the left hand pair of lines are my sons 00 whilst the two right hand ones are my EM. With my apologies for the poor photography.

I have to admit to losing a bit of mojo of late, due mainly to the continuing chilly weather and the cranky knees, which are becoming crankier by the day. However, I found a horse drawn bus on the net, made by Lledo. It is just what I have been looking for, to stand in the vicinity of the station awaiting passengers. The story goes like this. An omnibus service runs between the villages, meeting trains at Kirkby Malham. The service goes under the rather grand name of the Craven Transport Company (cTc) and is owned by Ephraim Ainsworth. The grand name consists actually of just two vehicles, the horse drawn bus, and a delivery dray, usually in the charge of Ephraim's son, Joseph. During the summer 'season' the bus meets trains twice a day to run to Malham, so that the sightseers coming from the cities to visit Malham and its cove and Gordale Scar can take the bus. The distance from the railway to Malham is a little over two miles, but the bus sees plenty of customers not wishing to walk. The service did extend to Skipton station, however Ephraim is of short temper and had a serious argument with the station master, and was banned. Nowadays, the bus runs to Bell Busk station on the line between Skipton and Hellifield, and a distance of seven miles from Malham. It is the longest seven miles I know, having gone to Malham with the boys club from Leeds, we left it a little late to cover the distance in order to catch our train. We had to almost sprint the full distance to be in time. That, of course, was before my knees decided to rebel. So, the bus looks about right. I will add rails around the upper deck and down the steps, and give it a repaint, replacing the destination board for a more appropriate one. All I need now is Ephraim. Bell Busk, by the way, is on the line built by the 'Little' North Western Railway. The line extends from Skipton to Lancaster and Morecambe, as well as forming the 'jumping off' point for the Settle and Carlisle. Some of the stations are of half timbered construction and are really pleasant little buildings. I copied the shape of one of the bridges over the line, to form an arch between the lounge and dinning room at home. The Midland leased the Little NWR for 999 years in the 1850's. Derek

Here are a couple of pics from my Canal Road layout, which I dismantled four years ago. It was a layout depicting Midland Railway of 1908 in North Yorkshire. It became too much for me to handle, so it was rebuilt and described in my thread, Demise and rebirth of a model railway.

Probably more” scale” miles than the full sized version.

Yes, it’s eating black pudding and tripe, washed down with Newcastle Brown that does it. Mad Mary, the Malham mauler on Kirkby Malham is similar, carrying a full milk churn in each hand, arms outstretched. Not someone to meet in a dark alley. Derek

I am beginning to wonder if my memory is fit for purpose. They were 25 gallons and still blooming heavy. Derek

Very nice Larry, although I knew it would be. Superb. Derek

My congratulations on some stunning modelling. Really is railway modelling at its best. Derek

Paul, those glass carboys were not three feet high, I am sure.The water undertaking is Scarborough , which preceded Yorkshire Water, had a stores depot in Scarboroug, and which , I visited often. We stored carboys of sodium hypochlorite solution, of 25 and 50 gallon capacity, and I recollect they were not anywhere near3’ tall. I could be wrong, it is over 40 years ago, and my memory does play a few unpleasant tricks. Derek

Well, any excuse to get amongst those delectable nurses. Just hope you are feeling better Andy. We miss you when you are away from RMW., so hope you recover from your “do” quickly and are are soon back to your normal self. Derek

Your scenic treatment is stunning, and the buildings superb. All makes for a wonderful layout. Derek