Nick Gough

Buffer Stop I am trying to decide on what design of buffer stop I should use for the loading platform. Should it just be a plain beam, attached to the end wall? Like on the Hungerford model: Or should it be a rail built version?: I have scanned part of a much larger, long distance photo and highlighted the area where I think the buffer stop is. I would be grateful for any views, and thoughts of what type it would be.

The platform walls have received a coat of 'creosote' and most of the platform edging is in place:

Or an adult version of Camberwick Green/Trumpton/Chigley? (No, I don't mean an X-rated one!)

The two main sections of the goods/loading platform joined together: I have cut long, thin strips of balsa to represent the sleepers forming the platform edge: I think it's just possible, in the next photo, to see the transverse grooves cut in the lower strip for the individual sleeper ends:

The next plate, in the book, may have been taken on the same date: The loco in both photos appears to be a Hall. I am fairly confident that Plate 199 is post-war. The Dynamometer car is carrying it's later number - I believe it was changed from 790 around 1946 to accommodate a new build batch of Hawksworth C82 Thirds. It's not clear in the scan but, in the original, the tender appears to carry the G crest W insignia. The mention of "'Castle' class trials", in the caption, relates to plate 197 which is another view of 4074 Caldicot Castle (to @Harlequin's post above) from a test in 1924.

This photo is to be found in the book, "Thro' The Lens - A Pictorial Tribute to the Official Work of the GWR Photographers" Though this one isn't dated, all the photos are pre 1948.

A look inside an indicator shelter, as recorded by an official GWR photographer. Note that there appears to be a sheet of something behind the nearest man, presumably to protect him from the heat of the smokebox:

Didcot Halt has an inclined ramp at the rear for access to the platform: Again I have used this as a guide for my goods loading platform. The rear wall is also formed from horizontal sleepers, but set at an angle with the ramp: So I have cut my balsa walls accordingly:

Yes we did. It helped that we had a nice, sunny, warm day, rather than the return to winter of the last few days! Plus I always welcome the opportunity to browse the LBR's second-hand book selection. I came away with three volumes this time.

In answer to the query posed in the first post I have found this photo, taken by the official GWR photographer: Looks like the nearest man has something behind him to protect his back from the heat from the smokebox.

Using a couple of suitably sized pieces of wood/MDF I have created the core of the main part of the platform: And faced these with the balsa strips: Another couple of pieces for the access ramp and end loading part of the platform:

Sounds like how my Kindle changed last week. Also no longer have my watch list displayed and, whereas previously, the display would stay on full screen for a whole series of videos, it now automatically changes back to small screen after each one. AnnoyIng and unnecessary changes that I haven't found a way to amend.

My next effort is to reproduce the loading dock, as seen in this plan, below the weighbridge: According to Railway World, "The goods/end loading platform possessed sleeper walls and a gravel/black grit surface." I haven't come across any close up photos though it does feature in one of the photos kindly posted by Mike @The Stationmaster a few pages back, to the right of the signal post and alongside the turnout in the Up Relief: Sleeper construction seems to have been unusual for GWR loading docks so I have used the halt platform at Didcot as a guide: Sleepers laid horizontally on their edges, restrained by vertical ones positioned at 8' 6" centres, with the platform edging formed by more horizontal sleepers, laid flat. I have started by cutting strips of balsa to form the platform walls, then scribed these horizontally: I also cut small pieces of 1/16th inch thick balsa for the verticals. This thickness is roughly equivalent to 5" depth of a normal sleeper.

Easter weekend we visited our local Heritage line - the Northampton & Lamport: This was the former double tracked line between Northampton and Market Harborough. Most of the route was converted into a public footpath and cycleway - the Brampton Valley Way, but this has left enough room for a single line alongside. So you can follow the railway from end to end: This coincided with the opening of their southern extension and new station at Boughton: Making the railway up to 1 1/2 miles in length. They have two GWR locos on site, 5967 Bickmarsh Hall and 2884 class 3862, though both are still in the early stages of lengthy restorations. We had our young grandaughter for a couple of days, in the school holidays, last week. So I decided it was an appropriate time to introduce her to the Leighton Buzzard Railway:

My personal favourite - Hungerford, with a constant procession of Berks & Hants trains:

A nice display of, working, 19th century GWR locos and stock: Lintor Town - a fictional branch terminus: Two versions of Abingdon station itself, in OO: And O:

Back in March I went to the Abingdon Show. Several very nice GWR themed layouts. Bodmin: Pencader (Carmarthen-Aberystwyth line): Drws-Y-Nant (Ruabon-Barmouth line):

I haven't posted recently, so what have I been up to? Lots and lots of embankment construction:

Best not to mention it or you will have to put a diesel on the back of every train too!

Watch out! You'll get a prohibition notice from 'The Office of Road and Rail' for carrying passengers like that! No central door locking - no doors!

Last time I needed window grills I drew them on a pc, printed them on clear acetate (for Overhead Projectors) then glued them behind the glazing.

Thanks. I shall be glad when I can start peeing a bit less frequently - especially during the night! 😆 Nearly thirty years ago! No. I'm using the sand textured finish to represent the stones of a macadam road.

Nice, smooth running Neal.

I completed my radiotherapy treatment last week and feel generally okay whilst I wait for the side effects to wear off. As and when I have felt energetic enough I have been doing bits and pieces of scenic work on the layout - mainly bridges and landscaping: I have found no contemporary photos for the road, under this bridge, for my modelling period. Since it is an unclassified road I have assumed it would have been an untarred 'rural road' in line with the second paragraph on this interesting website: https://www.igg.org.uk/gansg/00-app1/roads.htm Therefore, I dug out this ancient tub from the depths of the garage: Finding it was still reasonably runny I added some black paint to the mix then painted a couple of coats over the primed plywood, forming the road surface, making it thicker in the centre to create a slight camber. I think it makes a reasonable impression of a plain, macadam road.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - CHOLSEY STATION! 132 years, to the day, since it first opened to the public. Can it really be that long since I visited for the centenary celebrations?