barrowroad

Great line up.... shame there was no space for 92006.

Robin

I mean I'm protected for that purchase. It may be a small item, but it still comes under the protection of my bank card. Walk to the bar, order a pint and swipe. No messing with cash.

 

You'll find more and more people are using cards or their phones for transactions. Even buying something small like a packet of sweets. Cash will be virtually obsolete in ten years time. Not a prediction but fact. The Scandinavian countries don't use cash for anything. Everything is on their phone.

 

 

Jason

 Not when I was there in the summer.

Hi Robin,

 

The Mark 1 version was hinged, making it a swing bridge. It wasn't very practical as it needed to be supported when open. It was (and still is) quite heavy so there was a fair old load on the hinge. It was also very vulnerable to being bashed when open! When work on Worseter stopped for several years while I concentrated on getting Clinkerford finished, building Bruckless Junction for Peter and building stuff for the Railway Museum, I removed it and put it 'in storage'. Unfortunately it suffered damage while stored, particularly to the track. Once Clinkerford had gone to its new home and I was able to have the fiddle yard permanently in position, the bridge was modified to take the low level track between the fiddle yard and the shed complex (they were previously independant). In this guise it became a drop in bridge, which also necessitated modifying the electrical connections (including new ones for the low level track). In retrospect, it would have been better to scrap the old bridge at that time and build separate lighter structures to carry the two levels of track.

 

A long answer to a simple question!

 

John

Thanks John it looks impressive.

Robin

I indulged in a little frivolity over the Christmas period while waiting for things to arrive in the post. As the railway room is a multi use space, the layout is not allowed to block the doorway. The 'bridge' has been modified a few times but now it has had a face lift. The design of the main bridge is loosely based on the structure of the Ashton swing bridge in Bristol that carried the railway line into the docks. I have always been fascinated by this part of the city's railway system, a lot of scope for modelling - two swing bridges within a couple of hundred yards of each other, interesting domestic and industrial architecture .......

 

However, back to the bridge. The lower level that carries the line from the fiddle yard to the loco shed and also serves a couple of warehouses, is a pure figment of my imagination. All the additions are purely cosmetic, are laminated from old mounting card and are surprisingly strong.

 

The first shot shows Postlip Hall exiting the bridge. The second shows the full double bridge where a pannier can be seen propelling a brake van towards the shed area, probably to pick up empties from the coaling stage. 

 

door bridge 02.jpg

 

Door Bridge 01.jpg

 Hi John,

Remind me if you would please, does this section lift out?

Robin

Whatever happened to the Easi-Chassis range that Bill proposed? There was a wish list if I remember correctly one of which was the BR 4-6-0 Class 5 to go with the Bachmann 73XXX.

This is the only shot I have of the turntable, from britain from above. Im wondering if the cut out is around the 10 o clock position as we look at it or if it just an illusion. And ive seen that some turntables had 2 cut outs opposite each other which poses another question should I cut out one or 2?

This is taken around the time the table became inoperable and then abandoned, locos turned on the nearby triangle. On the model it will be static and overgrown. Does it look like the panelling between the rails is missing?

 

 

3D2298C8-84AC-4F1E-9DDF-102B1A0359F7.png

Hi Michael, In the midland roundhouse there are four positions where the gap between the radial tracks is wider due to the positioning of the vertical roof support girders. These are roughly at the 5, 7, 11 and 1 o'clock  positions. The cut out is usually at one of these positions due to the extra space.

Enlargement of your photo proves inconclusive.

These two photos are inside Bristol Barrow Road roundhouse

The cutout is between road 4 and road 5. Small isn't it!! Road numbers are visible for roads 7,8 and 9.

The turntable plates between the rails do look to be missing as per this photo.

Robin

Cheeky b****r. Got any water yet!!!!

Tewkesbury water back on stream late saturday - I must say it was rather strange Tewkesbury having no water when it's often the other way round. Any longer without and we could have had a bit of a

Installing the base. Should it have a cut out in the wall?

 

71B4E952-421F-4CC9-94A4-ACD4F49F252F.jpeg

 Hi Michael,

 I think it should. I queried the reason for the cut out in the Cowans Sheldon turntable at Bristol Barrow Road with a former employee, Donald Flook, who was responsible for it's maintenance. Apparently it is used to gain access between the turntable frames. This was achieved by squatting in a 'b****y' uncomfortable position in the cut out whilst the end of the turntable was moved to align with it. Hey presto he could climb in between the frames. It must have been even more difficult for Donald as he is 6ft 3in.

Robin

Metamorphosis from Grampus to Ling. The alterations to the basic Grampus body are complete. It was only when looking closely at the photographs as I was putting on the chains that I noticed that on the Ling, although the body height is the same as the Grampus, it sits lower on the chassis, hence the need for cut outs for the brake handles. Too late now as I have the floor set flush with the bottom of the sides.

 

Ling 05.JPG

Nice John - can you show us the chains on the other side please:-)

Bristol and the surrounding authorities have a very poor track record [ no pun intended] when it comes to investment in transport. Being a Bristol lad myself  I have been extremely disappointed by local politicians inability to deliver any effective transport system for the area over the past forty years. Others areas; Manchester, Sheffield; Nottingham; Croydon and Birmingham have good light rail systems. Bristol could have had one but for the indecision and ineptitude of local politicians. Even the latest guided bus Metrolink has yet to get up and running.

Actually, it would be a great help if anyone could tell me how far the bases should be spaced apart in 4mm, that way I could work out more accurately how many I need. A dimension of the top of the concrete base would be useful too, I think I will make these myself from plastic and I can have these laid now as I want to do some ballasting.

 

Many thanks

 

Mike

Hi Mike,

I have a collection of photos for my Barrow Road project and this one shows the run of four channel rods from Engine Shed sidings box to the single slip at the south exit to the shed. Looking at the stools in relation to the track timbers the spacing is around 8 to 9 ft.

Hope this helps.

Robin

Finally, can anyone tell which gauge the railway has?

Obviously P4 Tony........:-)

Nice semis and gardens.

Regards,

Robin

An update following a conversation at the Portsmouth show.

 

The London Road Models 60' C&S turntable is at test etch stage. The design has been developed by Phil Atkinson of Hobby Holidays from the 50 ' turntable artwork as the the 60' TT was a development of the smaller one (the kit was produced using AutoCad, with which Phil is familiar). The test etches have gone to a modeller who is keen to have one on the layout he is building and volunteered to build it but seems to be taking rather a long time.

 

There are no plans for a 70' version.

Hi Jol, Just to clarify. The Cowans Sheldon 60' turntable is for my Bristol Barrow Road layout - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/116-barrowroads-blog/ - and I provided John with a set of Cowan Sheldon drawings which I obtained from Carlisle Records Office about 2 years ago. I had asked John if he would be interested in doing a 60ft turntable and he agreed if I would provide suitable drawings.. John provided me with a set of test etches for the turntable earlier this year just after I had started wiring my Barrow Road layout. Unfortunately this is taking a lot of my time - see blog - but the turntable test build is the next job on my list.

Robin

Thanks to Phil's Challenge I might actually do some modelling this side of 2020... It was October 2013 when I first posted about Oswestry Works, my first serious diorama/project since returning to the hobby in 2012.  Researching a model of Oswestry Works took me on a long journey which ultimately led to me starting Modelu in 2014, at which point progress pretty much ceased!

 

So my vague plan is to create a corner of the works in 8" square, which is enough for about 3 bays of the erecting shop.  Something of this scale will be less daunting that blowing the dust of the full size model and might even get me making a bit of time to model now and then!

 

Here are some CAD screen grabs from Sketchup and a Photoshopped real life image with a Bachmann Prairie to give an idea of what I hope to create.  The original thread is here on the diorama forum!

Hi Alan,

Are you proposing to produce a model of the 15ton travelling crane for the works?

Keep up the good work.

Robin

Very nice John, keep up the good work.

Evening all, just wondering what is the best way to cut a long rectangular hole in a baseboard to fit a inspection pit. What tool do people use?

 I used a router on Bristol Barrow Road making up a jig screwed into position whilst routing out each pit with the router.  This tool gives accurate and consistent holes in the baseboard a benefit when a large number of pits is required. If only one or two are needed then a jigsaw is probably the way to go.

And there's this.

 

Blyth chain ferry to Cambois by Strat GB, on Flickr

Great photo. I've been doing a bit of research and have found info at www.davidheyscollection.com/page83.htm

This says the chain ferry ceased operating on 30th June 1964 and was replaced by a motor boat, BHC No5. This vessel looks bigger than the one I remember. The ferry I used looks like the small boat at the bottom of this page although probably not this particular craft - carrying only 6 passengers - as I was with a coach full of spotters. 

Robin

Try this!

 

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1674724

 

Thanks Mark,

I've seen the chain ferry before but if my memory is correct we went over in a smaller passenger only ferry which had a part covered passenger area. Also I think we landed at one of the staithes. any ideas anyone?

Robin

In 1966 we had a club trip to the area.

I remember the ferry from South Blyth to the shed at North Blyth.

 

Too late in the day for anything but freight engines, though.

I remember an early morning trip on that ferry to North Blyth shed in 1964/5 Has anyone a photo of this ferry?

Robin

Trying to find out which 1Fs were shedded at Bristol Barrow Road and had full cabs. Picked up one for a bargain price on ebay and the thinking is, if it was at Barrow Rd, it may have got to Green Park and if it got to Green Park, well..........

41874 made a brief appearance from Jan 1948 to Feb 1949 when it was withdrawn.

41879 allocated march 1955 to march 1960 when it to was withdrawn.

Robin

I suppose I could say that all today's photos were taken in Derbyshire to form a link between the locations.

 

 

Whaley Bridge course of Peak Forest tramway incline April 72 J2907.jpg

Whaley Bridge course of Peak Forest tramway incline April 72 J2907

 

 

Whaley Bridge Peak Forest tramway canal basin April 72 J2908.jpg

Whaley Bridge Peak Forest tramway canal basin April 72 J2908

 

 

Willington Junction Class 46 46116 Plymouth to Sheffield Aug 76 J5438.jpg

Willington Junction Class 46 46116 Plymouth to Sheffield Aug 76 J5438

 

 

Willington Junction Class 120 Crewe to Lincoln Aug 76 J5439.jpg

Willington Junction Class 120 Crewe to Lincoln Aug 76 J5439

 

 

Whittington Junction Staveley works behind Sept 76 J5450.jpg

Whittington Junction Staveley works behind Sept 76 J5450

 

 

David

Hi David, 

Excellent photos as usual.

J2908 is the Whaley Bridge Incline on the Cromford & High Peak Railway rather than the Peak Forest Tramway.

Regards Robin

I don't know if this helps or confuses as it's a shed rather than goods depot I think it's Bristol Barrow Rd. I don't know the arrangement of lines, but it looks as if locos work across it.

 

sca014.jpg

 

Thanks

 

Dave

Hi Dave,

The shed is indeed Bristol Barrow Road and the photo shows the rear of the roundhouse adjacent to the old Midland four road Workshop. There were originally four 20ft 'Loco' turntables, two were removed leaving the remaining pair in situ. They are not wagon turntables as their function was to permit access to the workshop - one turntable per workshop road. 

The design was large enough to allow MR 4f, 3f 0-6-0's; 4-4-0's and tank engines to gain access with tender engines having their tenders removed so just the engine entered the workshop.

I am informed by an old former employee that they used a pinch bar to move locos into the workshop whilst a cable was used - around a capstan - attached to an loco on the road on which the 9f is positioned to haul a loco out onto the table.

The photo shows the two remaining tables. The nearest was used to access the wheel lathe on road 4 of the workshop. Loco driving wheels removed using the wheeldrop - inside the lean to top left in the photo - were moved [ pinch bar again] across this table from left to right into road 4. Road 2 - there table nearest the shed - gave access to the remaining workshop road. The workshop had a 15ton overhead crane. I have a photo of a SDJR sentinel on this road inside the workshop.

This table was latterly used to give access to the water softening plant situated to the left of the photo and enabled wagon access for supplies and waste removal.

Hope this of interest. My RMweb blog Bristol Barrow Road gives additional information.

Regards,

Robin 

looking through the pics on Rail online and seen this great pic, http://www.rail-online.co.uk/p870200504/h2465909F#h2465909f

 

would anyone happen to know what where 3B76 went?

Looking at an Ian Allan BR Headcode book for 1961. The Western Region 4 character headcode reads  '3' train's class; 'B' Bristol District and '76' denotes a Swindon to Didcot train. I note the headcode is on the rear of D7000 which suggests it relates to an earlier diagram for the loco. The Hymek looks to be at the end of platform 5? with Bath Road bridge in the background.

Robin

45562 Alberta should be one of the remaining Holbeck five, as well as 45593 Kolhapur and  45596 Bahamas.  45690 Leander had been long withdrawn in 1964 from Bristol Barrow Hill and probably in Woodhams yard by 1967.  Both 45647 Sturdee and 45675 Hardy were Holbeck engines until April and June 1967 respectively until withdrawn

 

Julian Sprott

Correction Bristol Barrow Road - Barrow Hill is near Chesterfield.

A bit of a change from wiring and trackwork this week

 

IMG_0606.jpg

 

IMG_0604.jpg

 

IMG_0607.jpg

 

IMG_0608.jpg

 Like the use of laser cut mdf for the block instrument and bells. Your layout is very impressive. Can I where you obtained the brass latch in the last photo as so far I've only managed to find a less robust variety.

Robin