Downendian

Markits do Oleo buffers which I’ve used on my Lima 47 builds.

https://www.hamodels.net/romford-oleo-buffers-black.html 
they certainly are a big improvement on the Lima offerings but are not sprung.

edit -  I’ve used the Bachmann spares class 47 tanks too, another big improvement 

Neil 

I forgot to post after the GWSR diesel gala three weekends ago. I helped out on @Phil Bullock excellent Abbotswood 2 layout which got its first outing at Winchcombe station. I also took the opportunity of running the loaded clayliner rake using Phil’s model of D1000 which was running the correct headcode for the time period 6M52. Thoroughly enjoyable weekend, and as ever learnt a lot from Phil’s operations and dedication to the hobby - his signals are a work of art.

The clayliner rake largely behaved itself with just four cripples out of a rake of 21 wagons. One had a coupling hook missing, one pulled out in action, one needed back to backs adjusting. Another wagon had lost its whole bufferbeam somehow. All have been remedied. I took full responsibility for coupling up the instanters.

lovely to play trains on an enormous train set and to see the glory years of my youth pass through with classes 20, 24, 25, 37, 45 and 47 all in operation plus their two car class 117.

D1000 held at signals at Norton junction with the northbound 6M52 St Blazey-Stoke clayliner. Brake vans were used as “adapter” wagons. One wagon will gain tension locks for Abbotswood outings.

classic BR diesel traction in action at Winchcombe 

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Progress over the last couple of weeks. I’ve managed to get the point motors working on a key double slip and the throat of the fiddle yard under my layout, so hopefully trains can now run up the helix OK.

The 21T hopper builds have progressed to having decals (the always excellent railtec transfers, using the bespoke TOPS panels but using HOP21 and HOP21VB pre-TOPs lettering) added and coal loads to six. Some light weathering to these wagons to reflect that in 1972-6 they would have been only a few years out of the wagon shops. Paul Bartlett’s photos show some ex-works at Swindon in 1975. These six will form part of the East Usk-Acton/Temple Mills trains.

the other 6 have seen slightly more weathering as they will be running as empties, weight added beneath the hopper.

As a part of my “whole train” approach, I have in my collection this wonderful image of D1036 in Sonning cutting in 1976. Although rather fuzzy it primed my memories of seeing brake tenders in these Severn Tunnel bound/origin freights, and noting at the time that strange ancient angular tenders were sometimes seen. Of course with my then complete ignorance, I didn’t realise that these vehicles were Stratford built  dia 1/558, of which there were only 6 built. I just had to recreate this photo.

so here’s my go at the 1/558 brake tender. Based loosely on Tim Shackleton’s excellent project described here

https://www.keymodelworld.com/article/mixed-media-modelling-diesel-brake-tenders

the body was obtained from eBay for £12, it probably should have been sent back for a replacement as it had a few scars, which I hoped to mask with weathering. I replaced the end stanchions with cut down mini staples as the 3D print didn’t bring these out very well, and mounted the bogies (I used comet heavy duty 9’ Gresleys) using the conventional nut and bolt method with washers to be able to adjust the ride height. However there is a slight overhang of the bogie at both ends, I think they should be 8’6” bogies but none are available in kit form - did they ever exist!? A schoolboy error needs correcting (brake handle at wrong end on one side) plus vac pipes need adding, plus bogie weathering but a nice little project that took just a few days. 

I’ve started the 3H centre car in the last few days- removed glazing from the donor bodies and summonsing up the courage to cut them very very carefully to sure minimum filling is required and the new centre coach is the correct length. Awaiting some bits from Bachmann spares and will proceed with that project- one not to be rushed.

Neil

A few snaps from me after a very enjoyable weekend playing on Phil’s monster train set. 
D1000 held at Norton junction signals on the 6M52 St Blazey-Stoke on Trent clayliner 

^

phil’s late body style class 22 D6342 on a rake of Herrings paused in the up loop at Abbotswood junction

hymek D7054 on a Worcester bound service leaves Norton junction

GSYP peak on a Northbound service (sorry didn’t catch the headcode!) whilst a class 22 held in the down loop at Abbotswood 

souvenir ticket given to our younger visitors on the Abbotswood bridge

the extensive fiddle yard- 

I’m pleased to say all went extremely well, save a few minor niggles, and given the huge complexity of the layout was very impressive. Phil,  ably assisted by James have done a superb job, and it is very spectacular in the flesh - the photos don’t do it justice. Strangely I didn’t capture any of the many warship workings. I’m sure Phil will give corrections and identify the peak and class 22. I’m pleased to say my clayliner rake largely behaved itself only two wagons needed attention. As you can see Phil has still some scenic work to do but the terrain looks the business and the perfect easel to work with in the coming months.

Neil 

Smiths throughout Mike - the hooks are oversize but makes coupling up a lot more sane. A compromise I’m happy with. You’re right the Instanter stock pile has vanished and I’d bought a new stash from wizard models recently. However I used the coupling hooks supplied with the Chivers kits they’re rather nice.

Layout this morning, after sorting out a short circuit a double slip at the start of the helix needs new servos fitting- probably the most inaccessible turnout on the whole layout. I’ve just sorted one of the two. Once that double slip is sorted access to the lower deck should be complete and trial runs will start in earnest.

Neil

Well this weeks instalment - completed assembly of the Parkside  rebodied 21T hoppers. A lot of work! Still more to be done - a £50 plus order of bespoke railtec transfers to add to this lot when they arrive, tweaking to handrails to get all as level as possible, another coat of white (currently added primer) to handrails, brake and hopper levers and finally weathering. Half this lot will get coal loads, half empties and weight to be added to the latter under the hopper. Half will be added to the eastbound  STJ-Acton rake and half to the return empty working. The limited prototype photos I have of the real workings have a mix of both 21.5/24T minerals and 21T hoppers.
 

 Fitted instanters to 25 wagons yesterday - tedious but necessary. A triple pack of Accurascale MDOs have arrived yesterday to supplement the empties working.
 

Now a few days on the layout - to get some errant point motors back on line so the new kit builds have space to live. Plus the 6M55 rake needs weathering and test running because our intention is to give it a run of Abbotswood 2’s first outing the weekend after next.

Neil

Deposit paid. I can finally kiss goodbye to another project, Lima power cars with grafted Genesis HSTP ends. Hopefully matching dummy and mark 3s to follow, otherwise another long-term modelling project.

A true icon, I well remember 252001 arriving on the WR, yours truly and my old friend Danny even featured on BBC points west when they filmed its arrival at Temple Meads as admiring trainspotters.

Neil 

I’d posted re the Merlin app earlier this week. I put  it to its second field test whilst fishing yesterday.

On hearing a bird call which I didn’t recognise, I switched it on. It instantly recognised what it was - a treecreeper, unfortunately buried deep in the undergrowth. However it also identified a spotted flycatcher which is marked by the app as rare. Thinking that the calls of treecreeper and spotted flycatchers are not too dissimilar, I assumed a misidentification. However later in the day, a small brown bird kept flitting in and out of the bushes behind me with a soft single tone call. On it went again, and this time I could see they were spotted flycatchers, after searching the bushes for the calling birds. What I assume are a nesting pair were then watched by me catching flies from their perches for the next couple of hours- magic.

I’ve not seen this mentioned in this thread, but I’ve recently started using the Merlin app for bird song recognition. Absolutely superb, and I thoroughly recommend, and thanks to my eldest daughter for recommending it to me. It has academic roots being developed by Caltech and Cornell Universities in the USA.

I have been out fishing near Wellingborough Northants. the last few days. This was the dawn chorus this morning in just a 7 minute period.

shortly afterwards Cetti’s warblers, greenfinches and chaffinches were recorded.

Actually I’m really surprised by the number of unfitted wagons still in BR service in the late 1970s. (Unfitted wagons of course still had brakes but were operated by hand levers and not loco vacuum or air brake systems.) Shildon were still churning out rebodied MDOs as late as 1979, and unfitted but rebodied 21T hoppers outnumbered fitted counterparts.

Neil 

Plenty of unfitted examples of HTO on the Paul Bartlett site Martin. 
Details of which ones as always taken from the excellent David Larkin book series on BR wagons, absolutely essential reading! 
Neil

The Inter city railway society around 1976 published a full list of WR DMU set numbers in their monthly newsletter, I have it somewhere. I started spotting in 1974 and they were certainly in use by then.

Neil 

21T rebodied hopper production line in full swing this morning. A more complex kit than the 21 and 24.5T minerals with the hopper body being a multi piece assembly and much care needed to avoid daylight appearing between joints. The handrails are fiddly too but I opted on the first few builds to attach the six handrail stanchions before spraying. I will attach these after spraying on the new builds, as it’s a right pain bending the handrail whilst on the wagon. Still quite a bit to do in the first 6, wagons 7-10 started this morning. 

Confession time - I managed to fit the hopper chutes upside down on the first two and before I realised my mistake the poly had cured and they were impossible to remove. Both wagons will be covered with coal loads to hide my embarrassment. Lesson learned - always dry assemble before starting a batch build of new kits. Getting the bottom of the hopper square is indeed a fiddle but improved by wagons 4-6.

A few will be unfitted and in grey livery to give variety. Unfortunately three different kits had one upper hopper end piece missing - I had thought it was my carelessness in opening a kit years ago but obviously not. They are easily detached from the sprue and obviously lost during packaging. Check your kit pile if you have any of these! A phone call and email to the very helpful Peco technical advice bureau hopefully has resolved this and the missing bits are on their way.

These wagons will be integrated into the STJ- Acton/Temple Mills and return empty workings. I’ve also seen photos of fitted stone branded 21T hoppers on Tytherington stone trains in the early 1970s before the MSVs and PGAs arrived. So I maybe building a few more coupled with respraying some of my stock pile of the excellent Hornby 21T hoppers which are of the early body type. 
Neil

Certainly looks a lot better than the Cambrian castings Mike. Looks lovely.

Weekly update.

1. 10 rebodied MDOs completed awaiting weathering and decals - another order from railtec imminent. These were 1977 rebodies using redundant 21 and 24.5T under frames. They are late in my working period but will form the return empty Temple Mills/Acton Severn tunnel junction. Empty 21T hoppers Chivers MDOs and other sundry rolling stock will join this consist. These all have oil axle boxes, really I should have done some with roller bearings to give some variety.

2. Four Chivers Lampreys initial weathering and ballast loads just applied this morning. They ballast loads look lumpy but that’s because they are yet to fully dry. For the spoil tip workings.

3. I found 4 more GWR Tunnys in my stock box that I’d forgotten about! They have had decals applied and await weathering and spoil loads. The spoil rake is now complete when these are done.

4. First of many 21T rebodied hoppers- quite fiddly to get the hoppers right but coming together well hope to complete these soon. I have another 15 or so to build. Plus a few hours fitting together instanters which there are many to fit.

Finally had a great afternoon/evening with Phil and Teri Bullock yesterday - plenty of sun, beer wine and fine food cooked by master chef Bullock. Much talk of Abbotswood 2 and its imminent arrival on the exhibition circuit. I hope some of these wagons will make its debut. 
 

Neil

Progress on the pair of whales, decals just applied and drying. Will need to touch up some areas with white/black/olive paint but really just awaiting their ballast loads and a light weathering. Some handrails need a bit of straightening too! By the mid-1970s these were barely a decade or so old so wouldn’t be in a state I presume. A very enjoyable build but would fit the fine details in a different order if I was to attempt another. Getting the release wheels in the right positions was quite a faff and fitting the decals to the end boards was a fiddle but got there in the end.

Seven 1977 rebodied MDOs are approaching completion needing decals. These will be run as empties and lead weights added to their undersides. They are slightly out of my time frame, but I had quite a stash of these kits to build. However I was rather surprised to find that BR was still rebuilding unfitted wagons as late as 1977, many of these were on South Wales coal traffic, so these will be in my return Acton/Temple Mills to STJ empties. So my brake tenders will have some use- I’d always assumed that unfitted freight or ones with fitted heads were getting rare by the mid/late 1970s. 
Finally I’ve made a start on the 21T hopper builds - two in progress. By far the largest number of outstanding kits - mostly of the rebodied type. I’m pretty sure Accurascale will have their version of these numerous wagons shortly!

Neil 

Looking great Phil ! 

Thanks 37403

yesterday and this morning was dominated by Whales. They are both approaching the paint stage, railtec do a whale decal set so that’s been ordered. The handrails and four stages were a right faff, quite delicate handling required. They were a pig to get square but I’ve mostly managed it I think, just one needs adjusting.  I’ve some stanchions still to fit but almost there. One has bogies test fitted whilst I’m awaiting some M3 bolts of correct length for the other. It’s a complex build but a lovely wagon will make sure I don’t mess up the paint job. I’ve pinched some wheels from Parkside 21T mineral 1977 rebuilds, but whilst I broke open their packages made a start on those too. They’re a few years out for my 1974 target year, but for sure I’d seen many of these in the late 1970s.

The whales will break up a sea lion rake which will be worked as a Meldon Quarry to WR working. Air braked locos only of course.

Neil

Weekly (wow how retirement has changed things) report from the Downend wagon workshops. 
 

Five dogfish nearly done, more weathering and handrails need painting. Three in gulf  red two in black - a fiddly Cambrian kit especially the chassis assembly. The golf red ones will be obscured mainly by rust, how they looked in the 1970s. Strange white streaks appeared in the latest batch of wagons, which I’ve put down to an old batch of decalfix- new jar purchased and will need to reapply some decals.

Next the P24/P23s with spoil loads from Ian Kirk and Colin Ashby kits- despite the relative crudeness of the sprues they came out rather well. Still more weathering required plus white streak removal as above. The spoil in particular needs better weathering - ballast was applied using pva containing a shot of espresso (I kid you not). I need to represent aged, removed ballast which of course is weathered by a fluid not different in colour to espresso but a totally different smell.

Finally and not for the faint hearted, a Cambrian whale, one of two to do. Was quite intimidating when opening the packet years go, but really went together well. Bits and pieces still to add, then the spray booth. As mentioned previously, this kit was opened and not finished (never ever do that). Some bits have been mislaid including the nut/bolts for one bogie, one buffer (suitable brass replacements added) plus I need yet further 12mm wheelsets, and a fresh batch of instanters need ordering for the above dogfish and P24s. This wagon will be getting screw couplings though and will be engineers olive and a railtec order for decals made. A lovely wagon which will need other air braked sea lions to run with. It is a beast!

I’ve just received two further Chivers lampreys which are next on the list, plus Chivers fine lines provided the correct floor to complete another. I’ll have four Lampreys in total to add to the spoil rake.

3 days fishing last weekend - only one for me a lovely 22lb mirror carp, but the group of 14 or us caught 50 carp quite an achievement. But a wonderful lake in beautiful surroundings - saw my first orange tips of the year and plenty of Brimstones. Woken every morning by a cuckoo as well - once a familiar sound on my childhood, so nice to hear.

Neil 

At least they’re the right end Mike!

Three kits done from scratch yesterday - along with the ex SR Tunney mentioned yesterday, two P24 ex GWR Tunneys were put together from ancient Ian Kirk and Colin Ashby kits that had been in the kit pile for at least 20 years! Some tweaks to them needed including adding brake hand levers from 21T/24.5T Parkside sprues and spare door springs from the Chivers kits. All are in black awaiting decals and weathering with the instanters fitted this morning. I have two other P24s built many moons ago but alas never finished. My mantra now is to complete a kit once started- never ever pause as invariably the parts get separated and are heavens homework to relocate the relevant sprues.

The front row of this photo shows two SR lings flanking the ex SR Tunney- they are very similar wagons, the SR Tunney wagon having one extra plank. Decals located from CCT and Modelmaster so will make a start on them later. 

the middle row are Lamprey, p24x2 and the back row the 1/120 minfits from Chivers and another Parkside 24.5T now with coal loads added. Once suitable prototypes have been identified courtesy of Paul Bartlett’s collection then some bespoke numbers will be ordered from railtec for the spoil wagons. Some candidates identified whilst outside in my bar last night in the company of a Glenlivet or two.

‘The kit stash is getting noticeably smaller, and soon will just fill one box. Looking at photos of the 7A25 in the 1970s, its consist was roughly a 50:50 mix of minerals and hoppers. So my huge stash of rebodied Parkside hoppers may well be next in the queue although I fancy building an ammonium tanker for the Avonmouth anhydrous ammonia rake. However the Dogfish require completing first.

Neil

A busy week in the Downend wagon shops.

All unfitted 24.5 and 21T minerals received coal loads, a tenth wagon was also done. Now are awaiting Instanter fitting - a fiddle but worth it.

Next on to the fitted head for 7A25 STJ-Acton. Three 21T minfits from Chivers finelines which will be supplemented with Accurascale RTR, suitably weathered. These need attention to under frames with powders, instanters and varnish. Another 24.5T is in the foreground, this time not fitted with roller bearings.

Finally for this week 4 Chivers excellent ballast spoil wagons. Stoke Gifford had a spoil tip between the triangle of lines between Parkway-Patchway-Filton Junction. These will have suitably weathered ballast loads, and will be shunted around by a resident 08. 
Two in the foreground are Ex SR Lamprey (left) and Tunn(e)y (right). The two at the back are ex SR Ling. I have some ex GWR Tunneys (P24) to build, and will be mixed with the ubiquitous Parkside Grampus to give a bit of variety.

I must say I’m very impressed with the Chivers kits, they have pips and guide slots in all the right places and are a dream to put together. The three black wagons were all done yesterday, and the SR Tunney earlier this morning. There was another Lamprey but unfortunately the kit had the wrong size floor (will request a replacement) and unfortunately I’ve lost the buffer shrouds/buffers/vac cylinder so will ask for them. A railtec order for suitable numbers is looming, plus I’ve got some work to do on weathering the Ling and Tunney to represent plank replacement etc. The Tunney is awaiting glue to cure before into the paint shops. These ballast opens I’d thoroughly recommend to starters of kit building-they are superb kits, although the brake levers and door springs were a tad fiddly.

Not photographed this morning were three Cambrian dogfish - one in gulf red, two in black. I’ve got another two to build and will give variety to rakes with include the Heljan RTR version, all of mine are in olive Green livery. I know I’ve got too many ballast wagons, but I love them!

Neil

Five 21T coal wagons approaching completion. Decals and weathering following the hairspray chipping technique. I’m rather happy with them, whilst marked “To work within South Wales and Monmouthshire” my dim distant memory (dodgy approach I know) was that they did appear in the Acton/Temple Mills services. They are just waiting for coal loads and Instanter fitting, but will get a coat or two of matt varnish when all has hardened up.

Out of interest I referred to my “bible” a 1978/9 home brew WTT produced for Bristol Parkway spotters by the late Geoff Woodley and Ian Jones. These wagons will appear in the following weekday trains, loaded Eastbound. The headcodes maybe different in the mid 1970s but I’ll be happy to use those shown below.

0905 STJ-Acton (Parkway 0939) 7A25

1240 STJ-Temple Mills (Parkway 1330) 7E42

2035 STJ-Acton (Filton 2109) 7A48

The empty return working was

0320 Acton-East Usk (Parkway 0630) 7C18

i can’t see a return working from Temple Mills or two from Acton, and surprised to see two services per day to Acton from STJ, a puzzle yet to be resolved, but a clue to the later train maybe it was routed differently and didn’t go through Parkway. Time to refer to my WTT collection.

There was still a lot of services to Bristol from STJ in the 1970s including to Ashton gate, Filton CCD, Severn Beach, Hallen Marsh and East depot. Plenty more coal wagons needed for these, plus coke hoppers for the service to the ISC zinc smelter.

Neil

Shame but I really wanted at least one of these, but with the price tag and indifferent running I decided to not make a purchase. The modelling budget is needed elsewhere. I’d seen all bar 651 working in the Bristol area in the mid 1970s and remember them demeshed in PW trains working to/from possessions. One lived in Stoke Gifford yard for 2-3 weeks in 1975/6. My money will go to a South Wales Accurascale 37 instead. 
I have a Judith edge kit for PWM650 will get that one done to fill my needs, if that runs badly it’s down to me. By the way I always thought, perhaps mistakenly, that PWM stood for Permanent way Maintenance. 
Neil