Nick Gough

8 hours ago, MrWolf said:

I'd be in fighting mood too if someone had just thrown a Cornish pasty at my forehead....

P'takh!

Wellington Bank was next, between Exeter and Taunton. Although we had a fast run down the bank, 3440 was limited to 60mph on this occasion.

There was a further pause at Taunton:

With the crew up front for a photo:

Then the final run to Temple Meads:

By which time, unfortunately, the light was failing.

The original 1Z48 railtour was also to commemorate 60 years since 3440 City of Truro, allegedly, achieved the first 100 mph, with the Ocean Mails on Wellington Bank, on 9th May 1904.

Twenty years ago, on the 100th anniversary, I was on another commemorative railtour.

This time it was with City of Truro herself, freshly returned from overhaul:

A couple of days before 3440 had brought a train, down into Devon, from Bristol Temple Meads.

Now I was on the return trip.

However, these two runs visited Kingswear, rather than Plymouth:

I believe Network Rail weren't too keen on 3440 running over the Devon Banks.

3440 was ready to go:

First stop Exeter:

Where the heavens opened.

Who would want to be in a Churchward cab?

At the start of the return journey we passed 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, which was just arriving at Laira for the second anniversary train on the following day.

5043 would be hauling its train from Plymouth to Oxford, via Bristol.

Today 7029 Clun Castle is making its way to Plymouth, on a two day railtour, celebrating 60 years since the original 1Z48 railtour from Paddington to Plymouth & return - the swansong of the Castles in regular service.

Unfortunately , I wasn't able to make this one but, ten years ago I was on one of the 50th Anniversary trains, with 5029 Nunney Castle, from Westbury to Plymouth and back to Bristol Temple Meads.

5029 about to join the train at Westbury:

After arrival at Plymouth:

Heading for servicing at Laira:

5029 returned later, tender first, drawing the stock:

Then ran round, ready for the return journey:

On the return a short pause at Exeter St Davids, for water:

Journey's end at Temple Meads:

To finish my goods/loading platform I covered the surface with Woodland Scenics "Ballast - Fine Cinders", together with the adjacent ground surface:

A few bald patches to fill in later.

To finally finish the platform I need to attach some wooden fencing to the rear and the ramp.

From photos it appears to be similar to this one at Didcot:

The main posts should be fixed to the vertical sleepers on the platform walls - like this:

So these should be roughly 8' 6" apart.

I haven't found anything suitable, trawling the internet, so I suspect I will have to make this from scratch.

Since this fencing is likely to be fragile I'm going to wait until later when I have finished other work in this part of the layout.

10 hours ago, ChrisN said:

 

Nick,

Actually, I, er, have one of the old Manors.  There might be a few pictures taken of the Manor at the head of a rake of Collett coaches, bringing some young ladies to the barracks in Traeth Mawr.  The barracks was repurposed as a training base for the ATS.  The GWR painted the station in Cambrian colours just to confuse everyone, 'There is a war on you know!'  It will not be permanent.  I know nothing about the GWR, but having something of a right time frame that I can run is nice.

 

I knew that you wouldn't be able to resist it!

Of course, it's a pity that there are no RTR Cambrian locos.

10 hours ago, ChrisN said:

Glad, you have not felt unwell, I would have expected your treatment to make you feel tired, but it was a while ago now.

I was tired and lacking energy at the end of my treatment and for a short while after. Having a stinking cold at the time  didn't help. However, I only had to take a break from my usual gym routine for a couple of weeks so it wasn't too bad.

NB. I'm not any kind of super athlete. I just usually have a couple of hour and half sessions each week to keep me reasonably fit and reduce the effects of aging!

On 07/05/2024 at 14:38, ChrisN said:

Firstly, I have to say that I have ordered a 517, just the one.  The red framed version, 832 I think the number is.  I have wanted a 517, so this is an easy way to get one.  Unfortunately, 832 is a London engine at the end of the 19th century, and the make things worse, the only 517 in North Wales at the time was based at Bala.  However, it will appear late in the day instead of the 645, or even, If I m as quick doing locos as everything else, it may be in charge of at least some of the Dolgelley trains that do not run through to Ruabon.

 

 

Nice! Next thing we know you will be buying a Dapol/Accurascale Manor as well.😉

Sorry to hear that you've been feeling unwell - hope it wasn't anything serious.

I feel a bit of a fraud since I haven't actually felt unwell during my recent issues.

Good to see your progress with the siphon.

1 hour ago, Tallpaul69 said:

Nick,

I have followed your endeavours with the loading bay buffer stop with great interest as I have a similar situation in my bay.

In my case, things are a little simpler as it is not an end loading bay, it is too near the end of the station buildings, but length is at a premium in this siding.

Originally I was thinking of a plain timber fixed to the wall, but I do like your solution! 

Cheers, Paul  

Thank you Paul.

Glad to give you food for thought!

The latest issue of 'Western Times' has a nice illustrated article on the Wallingford branch:

With a few photos at Cholsey:

Including a 517 recorded coming off the branch, onto the Up Relief line, in 1931.

Interesting news from Dapol, this week, regarding the 48xx and 517 models.

The Wallingford branch was worked almost exclusively by 517s, from the start of the 20th century, until the first 48xx appeared on the line in 1935. By the end of the next year these had completely taken over.

I have three of the old Airfix 14xx models, with their characteristic running qualities, so I think I will be looking to buy one of each of the new models.

Since the goods/loading platform is situated on the lifting flap I have glued it, in position, on the baseboard for finishing off:

The two rectangular holes in the background of the second photo mark the positions of the weighbridge and its hut.

Since the buffer stop is largely hidden by the platform  I decided to have a go at making this from scratch.

First I scanned a scale drawing, then printed four of the front sections onto paper, before pritt sticking these to a small piece of 30 thou plastikard. When dry these were cut out:

I then used needle files to try and make these roughly rail shaped.

With a small piece of balsa, for the buffer beam, painted and glued to the end of the siding:

The rails will need some weathering!

6 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

I wonder if it became an issue when cars were being loaded and needed the consistent height. 
 

Horse drawn vehicles, might have been easier to bounce up a slight difference in height.

 

Im guessing, but is it a case of “different times”?

Interesting suggestion Neal. 

I suppose it would also depend on how much end-loading traffic there was - I can't imagine it was a daily occurrence at Cholsey, though we are unlikely to find out at this distance in time.

However, I'm sure, by the same token, it's extremely unlikely that there's anyone around now who can say, "You've done that wrong!"

No 1159 was the last to survive, until August 1947, at Oxford.

Banbury and Aylesbury locos worked autos via Princes Risborough, whilst Southall's allocation worked out to Ruislip, Gerrards Cross and the branch to Uxbridge High Street.

There don't seem to have been workings for the middle section though.

Both 48xx and 517s would be ideal for Cholsey since both types were allocated to Wallingford shed for the branch.

9 hours ago, MrWolf said:

Arkwright or Margaret Thatcher's dad?

For F-F-F-F-F heaven's sake!

3 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

Just found the loco roster for Didcot. Let’s hope it’s not the class 31! https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/article.php/93/locomotive-roster

 

Thanks again, Neal.

I bet you wouldn't mind if it was this class 31?

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/locomotive-assisting-a-2800-2-8-0-goods-engine-up-the-1-in-news-photo/90748142

W1W to W6W (to Lot 1650, built 1941) were a series of 4-Wheel, Covered Carriage Trucks.

Diagram P22 - 30' 6" x 8 ' 6" , 11 ton 11cwt. The next numbered CCT was W8W of diagram P8.

There was also a separate number series for Auto Coaches running from W1W to W256W.

W1W was a 59' 6" long, matchboard sided trailer to diagram A, whilst W7W was a 59' 6", panelled trailer to diagram C.

Also there was a horsebox, W7W, of diagram N12.

Another little quandary - how did the Cholsey goods/loading platform accommodate the change in height from side loading to end loading?

GWR goods platforms were supposed to be set at 3'6" above rail level - according to the official structure gauge. However, this height is lower than the top of the buffer beam, on the stop block, which must be around 6" higher.

Of course, it is difficult to find any prototype photos of this issue.

I have a GWR drawing of an arrangement where the height of the platform drops suddenly next to the stop block: 

I suspect this could be done  fairly easily with a brick platform face, but I can't see this being achieved easily with the sleeper walls and gravel/grit surface at Cholsey.

NEVER model a model they say!

When I saw the model of Hungerford, at the recent Abingdon show, I was interested to see that this has a separate ramp, leading up to the end loading point, set into the platform surface:

I believe this layout has been well researched so I presume this is how the real Hungerford looked.

It seems a reasonable solution for Cholsey though I don't know what material this ramp would actually have been constructed from.

So, cutting a rectangular piece of 60 thou plastikard:

Painted grey and glued in place:

I think this works reasonably well:

(At least until someone can tell me how it should have been done!)

4 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

A very momentous day today!

 

My County tank 4-4-2T brought its first train into Henley-on-Thames today. Given at one point, it struggled to pull its own weight, I am very pleased to get this far!

 

Work this morning included adjusting the rear of the loco which had settled at 2mm too low, then adding a Kadee coupling box onto the rear post truck. Whereupon it could bring three carriages into platform 2.

 

Needless to say, I am very pleased with the progress.

 

 

I now need to reinstall the stay-alive, which I removed a while ago as it was so bulky when I was taking the loco body off etc. Then fit some crew and coal.

 

Probably the last job will be some springing on that rear Pony truck.

Looks good and perfectly at home at Henley.

Could it be the other end of here?

Happy birthday to your good lady!

On 23/04/2024 at 22:43, Hal Nail said:

Was the GWR set in use? They had some problems because they aren't slam door - you have to actually turn the handle. People arent used to it so doors got left open and last year they were withdrawn but I don't know if that's been resolved.

The SVR has a design to modify the existing locks.

Several coaches have been fitted with the modified locks in recent months. Further ones will be done in due course.

There are a number of GWR coaches on the Valley that already have slam locks because the GWR bought some from an outside maker in the late '20s/early '30s, but then reverted to the old type until BR days.

17 hours ago, checkrail said:

Nice weekend in Bridgnorth and day out with son and grandsons at the SVR spring steam gala on Sunday.  Shame 'Betton Grange' couldn't make it but 'Hagley Hall' and 'Erlestoke Manor' were looking great, as was the Stanier mogul and the delightful 'Fenchurch'.

 

Here are son and grandson getting in the way as 4930 runs into Bewdley.

 

 

But for me the best bit was the wonderful train of GWR carriages of various types.  Lovely to see the real things after a few years of occasional kit building and peering at old photographs.

 

We actually rode in the set of Stanier LMS coaches on Sunday, but that was no loss.  As Steve Forbert sang, "Driving a Jaguar's impressive, but you cain't see it go by ..."

 

Now back to those new PO wagons. 

 

John C.

Thought I was looking at photos of Stoke Courtenay for a moment!

On 22/04/2024 at 22:56, PeterLoader said:

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Well for something a bit different, here is a tour of my model railway room - should be good for anyone suffering from insomnia if nothing else! Click the link below to view. 

 

A tour of my model railway room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I could happily spend a while here, on the sea wall, watching the trains go by.

Thanks to all for the comments. 

That confirms that I wasn't just seeing what I wanted to see.

Rail built buffer stop it will be.