Nick Gough

7 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

The H26 will have normal shirtbutton livery

 

 

As will the C22 which will be used as a strengthening carriage at the rear of a service…. Of course it might also be seen behind a certain steam Railmotor!

 

That will avoid quite a bit of lining!

I do like the 1930s!

I've just booked my tickets for the Sunday at Warley - now I know that I'm not going to be whisked into the hospital for my treatment, or having to recover from any procedures.

Number one grandson is coming too, for his second visit, so I know that he is still keen after last year.

21 hours ago, Miss Prism said:

Thanks, Nick. The evidence fits. It's a rebuilt C8. I wonder how long it lasted?

 

 

According to Lewis, no. 14 was finally condemned in December 1953 and no. 15 in April 1938.

Incidentally two more C8s were rebuilt as trailers (16 & 17) to Diagram H, though these retained their internal compartments, corridor, and external doors.

All four were converted in July 1905.

Due to all the curved surfaces it's not really practical for the usual embossed plastikard on the brickwork.

So I'm having a go with downloaded and self-printed brick sheets from Scalescenes.

So far, so good, I think:

6 hours ago, checkrail said:

Thanks Chris. It was a feature I wanted from the outset, with the station approach road following the track while dropping below it to meet the road running under the railway bridge.  So it had to be planned in at the beginning. The L-girders supporting the layout were dropped to a lower level in this area and the trackbed supported by risers.  The approach road itself was formed from a very long piece of hardboard cut from a 6 foot sheet in the shape of a sort of curved hockey stick, so that the lower join would be out of sight under the bridge. As Eric Morecambe said, "You can't see the join'.  Not from the front of the layout anyway.

 

The upper join, where the road meets the station forecourt (3 mm plywood) was well disguised with filler, glue and paint, but after 9 or 10  years a little crack  has begun to appear. I'm currently loth to try to fix it as I want to avoid having to paint the whole road again!

 

John C.

If the GWR was like our local council that crack would still be there in twenty years time - just a bit wider.

2 hours ago, Miss Prism said:

I don't have ready access to my Lewis autocoaches books at the moment, so cannot check whether the any of the clerestories fitted out as a trailers match those in that Henley to Reading picture. If they don't, the train would indeed have to run round its train at Twyford as Stationmaster Mike notes (and Reading, Twyford and Henley on the return service!). Maybe someone can check in the books to advise. The strange aspect of the clerestory is that there seems only to be two grab handles on the side. (Were any C22s modified to be open saloons?) The SRM itself is possibly no 84.

 

There is a photo (page 125, Auto Trailers Part 1) with either the same or very similar train. It is described as SRM 85 with one of the clerestory trailers. "It might be 14 or 15 of Diagram G as there seems to be only two passenger doors on the side that is visible, evidenced by the commode handles."

The window and ventilator, and grab handle layout seems to be the same in both photos. No location is given but the train is travelling on a four track line, on what could be the down relief. Again both vehicles are in the lake livery and the photo is taken from the nearside.

Trailers 14 & 15 were rebuilt from 1893 C8 thirds originally built for 'The Cornishman'. They had their original interiors removed and were rebuilt with a two saloon layout.

2 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

My Northern Odyssey is now well under way.

 

After a great week in Singapore, based around the SCC 7s of course, catching up with a number of former colleagues, other friends and Veronica's family, I arrived at a grey and wet Manchester Airport on Wednesday morning. A Northern 323, TPE 185 and LNER Azuma got me to Darlington an hour late due to sundry landslips but otherwise in comfort and without drama.  The weather brightened up as we emerged from Standedge tunnel too.

 

My son-in-law picked me up from Bank Top and drove me to their home in Shildon, where I'll be based for the next week.

 

Regrettably, the Newcastle show this weekend has been cancelled, so I won't get the chance to see Grantham or any of my old mates that were going to be there, but there will be lots more model railway action over the next few weeks. In the meantime, my granddaughters are going to take me to Locomotion and, in return, I plan to take them to Beamish (which I haven't visited since 1976).

 

More soon.

Have a great time oop north!

On 08/11/2023 at 09:33, Coach bogie said:

What is not often written is there were only ever two Centenary sets comprising just 26 coaches. As no Centenary slip coaches were built, an often fourteen coach CRE rarely left London as a Centenary only train. This did happened on 1930's summer Saturdays when the slip portions ran as complete trains as bookings were so great. No turning away passengers then, just add another coach or a complete train. Images often show non Centenary additional coaches are there were not sufficient spare Centenaries for busy periods. There were only ever two kitchen firsts and two third diners. Non availability required alternative designs.

 

Mike Wiltshire

I always thought it a little odd that the GWR didn't produce another Centenary set for the Bristolian, since that train was also supposed to mark the anniversary. I suppose though that alterations would have been needed to adjust the seating capacity, to suit the short rake, and create a buffet car.

23 minutes ago, BMacdermott said:

Hello Nick

 

All the best for the next few months!

 

As you know, I have 'been there, done it, and got the T-shirt!" I'm sure it will all be fine and worth the effort.👍

 

Brian

Thank you Brian.

3 hours ago, Chris116 said:

All the very best for a successful outcome to your health issues. Your modelling is very impressive.

Thanks Chris.

4 hours ago, Ian Hargrave said:

More expensive news for ANTB. Kernow’s Railmotor is due to arrive between Christmas & New Year.Advice to pre order now as a price hike is imminent. 

Looking forward to getting my 1930s chocolate/cream jobby.

Authorised and already paid for as last year's Chrisie present from my wife.

10 minutes ago, ChrisN said:

 

Nick,

An interesting selection.

 

I would be surprised if the Cambrian let the Stnd Goods past Dolgelley, as although the GWR had running powers, the Cambrian were very keen that they were not exercised, and so made sure it had locos to do the job.

 

the 1/30 from Paddington, and the 1/40 from Birkenhead were the expresses that had the corridor coaches, so it is interesting that they were pulled by 2-4-0s.

 

Both the 4/45 from Paddington and the 4/15 from Birkenhead are labelled in Bradshaws 'Birmingham and North Express', so 2-4-0s were taking over as time went on.

Of course ten years later, most of the expresses through Wellington were hauled by 4-4-0s 'Dukes' and 'Bulldogs'.

In other news I have finally completed all the tests and scans. I had to travel to Leicester, a couple of weeks ago, for a PET scan since the consultants were concerned that my PSA blood result was very high, and the previous scans might have missed something.

However, this has confirmed that I do not have a spread of the cancer beyond its original site and, consequently, they have now decided on a treatment plan. I have started hormone treatment and, in three months, will have a months worth of radiotherapy treatment. They are confident that this will cure rather than just contain the disease.

In the meantime I still don't have any symptoms and I remain as active (and busy) as ever.

Last month we spent a week sailing around the Dalmatian coast, and islands, of Croatia - nothing to do with railways though I did see a train in Split station:

The latest with my 'Brunel' bridge face:

Mostly done with cereal packet card, some foamboard, toilet roll inners (for most of the curves), and a little filler. It doesn't shew up too well in the photos but the wing walls are angled from top to bottom, as are the curved angles joining the wing walls to the face of the bridge. I think this would have been tricky to replicate in plastikard.

An earlier article on Wellington (Salop) has some more detail for trains north of Wolverhampton in the 1890s:

"A Mr CJ Alcock recalled a journey he made in 1895 to Manchester from Paddington, his coach being slipped at Wellington. An 8.15 am departure brought him to Wellington via Oxford and Wolverhampton(where the train engine, 'Cobham' single No. 162, was replaced by Armstrong 'Sir Daniel' single No. 378)..."

Some recorded examples:

"MAIN LINE

Date                  Eng        Class                           Train                          To

30 Jun 94           803        Std Goods (0-6-0)      7/30 Barmouth         Birmingham (Excursion)

4 Aug 94            212        W Mid   (2-4-0)           1/30 Paddington       Birkenhead

17 Dec 94          155        Chancellor (2-4-0)     12/5 Birkenhead       Paddington

6 Jun 95              378        Sir Daniel  (2-2-2)      4/45 Paddington      Birkenhead

10 Jul 95             3229      3226  (2-4-0)              6.15 Birkenhead       Paddington

23 Apr 96           439        Bicycle  (2-4-0)           1/40 Birkenhead      Paddington

14 Dec 96           578        Sir Daniel  (2-2-2)      4/45 Paddington      Birkenhead

26 Apr 98           153        Chancellor  (2-4-0)    4/15 Birkenhead      Paddington"

The Great Western Journal ran a series of articles on passenger operations at Paddington station.

For the period around 1893 it had this comment:

 "Expresses at Paddington around this time were hauled by 'Achilles'/'3001' class 2-2-2s (including the BG convertibles) on West Country and a few Welsh services, along with the following types on recorded services:

Class.                                        Services

'Sir Daniel' (2-2-2)                    New Milford, Birkenhead

'Queen' (2-2-2)                         Bristol, New Milford, Wolverhampton, Birkenhead

'Cobham' (2-2-2)                      Penzance, Birmingham, Birkenhead

'3232' (2-4-0)                             New Milford, Shrewsbury

'Barnum' (2-4-0)                        Penzance, Swansea"

There wasn't any loco info for specific trains, at this date, in the articles though.

6 hours ago, gwrrob said:

 

Here's the best of both worlds for you then chum.

 

Out of interest, can anyone tell me what purpose the four cylinders behind the coalspace on the tender are for?

21 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

 

Would softening it in warm water be possible?

I did consider doing that but, since it was flexible enough for what I needed, didn't bother to try.

3 hours ago, Mikkel said:

Just been catching up on the bridge Nick, it's looking very good. I smiled at the unlikely encounter between messieurs Brunel and Kellogg - in model railways anything can happen!

 

 

 

Very impressed with the curved wingwalls. Can I ask if that is Slaters? The last two batches of Slaters I've ordered snaps whenever I try to curve them, but maybe I'm just unlucky with bad batches.

 

 

Yes, it's Slaters Mikkel.

I bought this particular sheet recently from one of my local model shops.

Having got some of the brittle stuff about a year ago, from the same place, I tried gently flexing it before I used it for this location to make sure it would be okay. Then having cut it to size I rolled that part around a wooden handle, to get it curved, before glueing in place.

Like your funky rake Neal!

1 hour ago, The Fatadder said:

Alas I’ve tried that, one half last sold in 2003 for which there appears to be nothing online, the other was even further back.  I have had a Rightmove alert set up for

this postcode in the hope it would go on the market to get the required views, but it’s got to the point I just need to crack on.   Tbh given the changes I’ve had to make to the rear of the building I guess not getting the windows quite right isn’t the end of the world 

The local council planning website might have plan drawings but, of course, only if significant alterations have been made to the properties.

On 15/10/2023 at 10:15, gwrrob said:

 

You’re not wrong, ran 35 minutes late and then was routed via Northampton !

Hope the strange locals didn't get near you!

On 12/10/2023 at 14:47, The Fatadder said:

Rather regret not doing the same with the goods shed as it would have been finished years ago (all be it a somewhat more complicated structure). 

My goods shed is similar to Brent's, though with an offset cart entrance.

Constructed from 3mm MDF with embossed plastikard overlay:

1 hour ago, Tallpaul69 said:

I wondered about how they got on at Chester, and concluded that the visitors there were probably more of a trickle than the "Flood" you get when doors open at a big exhibition!

I bet there weren't many rucksack either!

On 12/10/2023 at 18:59, Tallpaul69 said:

It looks like the good weather is set to last until the weekend, tomorrow excepted!

 

So I should be able to get to and from the Great Electric Show without getting wet.

Hopefully this visit will help me decide the way forward on converting my layout controls to wireless operation.

 

I started on the premise that the best way forward would be the DCC's newly announced wireless equipment designed to work with the NCE PowerCab.  However, I was not too enthusiastic about the large "lump" of kit that would hang off my PowerCab handset.

 

Respondents to my threads on the subject suggested that there were better options available. 

 

One of those receiving most enthusiasm was the Roco Z21. I was already aware of this system, so I have been investigating it further. It seems to be a more versatile system and its ability to work with an iPhone or iPad is attractive, but the need too manipulate a larger item than the normal handset in the limited space within my layout operating area could be a problem.

 

Another system which drew favourable comments was the TCS UWT 50E, which is a wireless handset that works with the NCE infrastructure using a router that plugs into the NCE panel instead of the PowerCab. 

 

I will update you further after some conversations with sellers at the Great Electric Show on Saturday. 

 

Cheers for now,

Paul

Hope you had a good day at GETS, Paul.

I'm not able to get there this year due to another commitment.