87023Velocity

Yes all well Richard, thanks! Dallam was at Leigh Exhibition in September and all went well although quite warm, think it was around 29-30C during the day, first time I have set a layout up and operated in that sort of temperature. 

Just in the process of finally fitting point motors to the fiddleyard, something which should have been done along time ago! This will make operating at home and shows more enjoyable.

Dallam will be at Macclesfield show in April so hopefully I will have completed this by then. 

Unfortunately not progressed the TPM 87, with the Dapol one being announced, I may still do the TPM version but as a dead loco for drags. 

Cheers

Simon

Had a great weekend with Dallam at the Leigh Model Railway Society exhibition. A big thank you to Andy Sawyer for the invite and can I say on behalf of the Dallam Sidings operating team that the Leigh club members did a fantastic job considering the temperatures over the weekend. Thanks to the Dallam operating team, Chris Hewitt , Peter and Michael. Thanks to Michael for also bringing some of his excellent stock which can be seen on his layout Stuartby. Now I just need to work through my list of jobs, one of which is to have the name of the layout mounted on the lighting pelmet.
Thanks for all the great comments we received over the weekend, much appreciated!! 👍😎
 

Thanks

Simon

4 hours ago, MarshLane said:

 

Hi Simon,

Interesting, so do I take it you have ends that fix somehow onto the normal mounting points for the adjacent boards, then put a lid and sides on to protect the boards - I am assuming given that you've said there are different lengths, that each board is one 'box' in essence? Fascinating way of working, and I presume it also keeps the layout dust free when in store.

 

Cheers

Rich

Hi Rich,

There is a front fascia panel which is hinged and mounted to the baseboard, this folds up to form one part of the box. The black drapes at a show are pinned to hide this panel.

Folded up

Box top and fold down ends. 

Case clips are used along with a few screws as a precaution to keep the whole box secure for transit.

Cheers

Simon

14 minutes ago, MarshLane said:

 

Well done Simon, you obviously scared Dapol into looking at the '87s'!  Nice recent annoucement, and I am sure one or two will end up gracing Dallam!

 

A question for you, if I may, how to you box and transport Dallam to an exhibition?  I am assuming it's some kind of bespoke trolley/movable storage thing, to ensure the scenic areas and point motors dont get damaged?  I have often wondered how its done....

 

Rich

 

Hi Rich,

Lol, yes was very surprised and made up that the 87 is finally being done. I am thinking with the kit to build it and put on a dummy chassis, possibly with a flashing tail lamp fitted. 

Yes a few Virgin 87's will be purchased along with some earlier ones as well.

For exhibitions, Dallam is boxed to allow the boards to be transported safely. Usually I would have all boards a standard length, however I had the opportunity to use some boards which had been made but at different lengths. 

Here is a picture of the boards boxed up ready for the Wigan show last year. It all fits in a SWB transit van, boards, trestles, lighting rig, power box, stock boxes etc.

The assembly of the layout by 3- 4 people (excluding stock is approximately 30 minutes), similar time to dismantle. Stock takes the longest to set up and remove, at least an hour.

Cheers

Simon

Another nice train which was a regular double headed job, either 86/4 & 87, pairs of 87s and think 85's and 86's:

Picture from Flickr.

The PTAs are being produced by Revolution Trains.

Cheers

Simon

1 hour ago, ThaneofFife said:

Strange hattons have the twin pack dcc fitted at £314 but £300 direct on Dapol website.....bit of a bargain.

Think if we see an 81 or 85 in N i may switch from 00.

The DCC fitted from Dapol are £370. The £300 price is for DC only from Dapol.

Cheers

Simon

The other benefit of using the class 86 chassis is for double heading, as in theory a Dapol 86 should run at a similar/same speed to the forthcoming 87 (hopefully).

Cheers

Simon

Excellent news, I will certainly be having a couple in Virgin livery.

Wigan World usually has quite interesting pictures, lots posted by people at work. It does take a bit of searching. 

Here is an album for Bickershaw

https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/showalbum.php?page=2&opt=3&gallery=Bickershaw+colliery

Another for Springs Branch depot.

https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/showalbum.php?opt=5&gallery=Springs+Branch

Class 20's only appeared during 1984, prior to that, 40's and 47's I think.

Cheers

Simon

My class 390 arrived on Monday and has been quickly put into service. Very nice model and very smooth running. Great job guys! 

Cheers

Simon

14 hours ago, acourtrail said:

Nice lot of MK1s being done there!  The RMBs in blood & custard and chocolate & cream liveries should appeal to the people doing charter trains and preserved railway themes (for those who don't already know - RMBs never wore those liveries in BR service, so they are actually era 8 onwards).  I only hope the SKs don't all sell out before they hit the shops, because I might want some of those (with 3 SKs and 1 TSO in chocolate & cream already in my fleet, I really don't need any more, but no doubt I will find a home for some more!).

Was looking at needing to respray an RMB into chocolate and cream for my Riviera Trains charter rake so made up with this. Just need to get some spare B4 and Commonwealth bogies for the TSO and FO vehicles. 

Cheers

Simon

Actually managed to look at doing some actual modelling! During December 2021 I managed to pick up a TPM class 87 kit with the plan to build it using the old Farish class 87 chassis. With work on other rolling stock projects taking priority, I never started the kit. Today I had a brainwave regards using the newly tooled Farish class 90 chassis. First impressions are that it will fit with a little bit of trimming to the chassis block. Currently it is riding high as the ends of the chassis need cutting back to allow the body to sit at the correct height. Bogie centres match up with the class 87 body which they should.
Here is the body on the unmodified chassis complete with a Revolution Trains pantograph. You can guarantee that Farish will announce a new version just as this is finished. Not decided on livery yet but probably be a BR liveried version from late 80s, thinking 87027 in IC Executive.

Cheers

Simon

Hi David,

That 90 looks spot on, as does your RF one!! Will look great running on the layout. Need to get around to doing mine (along with about 90% of the locos I have 😂).

Cheers

Simon

1 hour ago, E100 said:

 

Out of interest was this inspired by an area just north of Warrington Bank Quay (Folly Lane)?

Yes, Dallam sidings (also known as Dallam Freight Terminal). Here is a link to my layout thread if interested.

Cheers

Simon 

4 hours ago, Steven B said:

 

What name/number did you choose for the 92?

 

Steven B

Hi Steven,

Went for 92009 Elgar, this name and number was not on the sheet. Got these done via Railtec. 

Cheers

Simon

Hi David, 

That looks spot on, the weathering certainly highlights all the detail. You could easily be fooled into thinking that was the 4mm version.

Need to get mine done but got quite a queue in front to get through first.

Cheers

Simon

21 minutes ago, Curlew said:

Very impressive! Just wondering how far it is to do a complete circuit on the layout? You must be rapidly wearing the locos out ;)

 

Thanks 👍 I have not measured accurately but at a minimum a full circuit is approximately 40ft, which equates to just over a scale mile in N gauge. 

Cheers

Simon

On 29/12/2022 at 21:19, Cowley 47521 said:

That’s a fantastic video Simon. It shows what N gauge is really good at.

I can only imagine how long that took to edit having lost many hours trying to do the same thing!

 

Nick

Thanks Nick,

It does take a while, as you say editing and retakes! I am getting slightly quicker at it....... I think (not)🤣 .

Cheers

Simon

Happy New Year everyone! Thanks for all the comments and likes, it is very much appreciated! 👍😊 All the best for 2023!

Cheers

Simon