barrowroad

Hi John & Dave,

The track alignment is an optical illusion caused by the misplaced card - the short lengths of card moved when fitting the 12BA brass cheese head screws which I use to secure the rails at board joints. I've since used a black marker pen to remove the kink in the card.

The gap is to insert a sleeper with rivets and palatine droppers for electrical connection. I need to remove a sleeper per 60ft rail length.

Robin 

Hi Dave,

The basis of the fiddle yard is the Up and Down Main running through the middle with up to six sidings each side with B7 or B8 turnouts in a fan shape. Morgan is working to refine this in templot in order to maximise the use of the space available.

The main traffic is obviously trains to and from Temple Meads and the north but I need to build in ECS workings from Lawrence Hill carriage sidings which make up about 40% of the traffic passing Lawrence Hill Junction box.

One unusual working is the Newcastle Mail which requires turning the complete train at Mangotsfield triangle to ensure the three mail vehicles are in the correct orientation for the return trip. Maybe I'll just turn the three on a cassette:-)

Hi Paul, Stirring again eh!:-)

Engine Shed Sidings Signal Box yes, Barton Hill Wagon works I think not - besides the Gas works should come first:-)

You're partly responsible for the full main line:-) - you'll have to use your imagination for Temple Meads.

Robin

Dave,

To the end of the first curved board beyond Lawrence Hill Signal Box - scenic break will be the road bridge over the railway ( Church Road, Lawrence Hill ) and onto Board 21 - the new board with the banker siding. Days Road Bridge is the natural scenic break at that end but I might be tempted to add Engine Shed Signal Box - positioned opposite the turnouts -we'll see how everything progresses.

Robin

John/Gerry, Chris has certainly done a brilliant job. I think we might have an official opening for the boards in January and another when the first train makes a circuit - any excuse and why not :-)  Chris can cut the ribbon!

Downendian, thanks for you kind comment. The fall must have been painful for your Grandfather as the drawings I have of the turntable and pit show it had a depth of at least 6ft.

A former employee has told me there was a gap in the perimeter wall of the pit which allowed space for him to crouch into whilst the turntable bridge was rotated so the gap was positioned between the two vertical girders supporting the turntable deck. The object of this..... to enable him to get in between the girders and under the decking to examine the structure!

Robin

Many thanks for your photos link - nice collection - much appreciated.

I agree the Dutchman does look at home:-)  I think John is coming over in November maybe the 9F will be ready..........

Robin

I've absolutely no idea but it does look good...............it does look familiar though.

If you PM me your email I will let you have information that I have on the Henry Lees Coaling Tower at Barrow Road.

I have a copy of the GA drawings that are at Wiltshire History museum at Chippenham. 

I have made a visit to Carthforth - West Coast Rail depot - where there is an identical Coaling Plant and Ash Plant. I was allowed to take photos. Whilst there I was told of the whereabouts of some footage of the plant in operation and tracked down some colour footage taken inside the top of the tower of a 16ton mineral wagon discharging coal. A short clip but very informative.

From this I believe I have details of the operation of the tower from positioning a wagon, lifting it to the discharge.

Bristol was a 150ton unit with two 75ton bunkers each for different grades of coal.

Morgan that looks excellent.....

Hi Dave,

Morgan is going to experiment with the perimeter chequered castings in plastic. Laser etching of the floor is the plan.

JeffP,

The turntable is a temporary fixture used for alignment of the tracks however as the roundhouse floor plate was laser cut and marked with the pit centre lines it is only being used to double check. Glad you like the Blog.

Hi Dave,

The shed floor was level with the rail heads and from photos appears to be side on bricks. There were two/three rows alongside and parallel to the pit rails whilst the triangular infill ran parallel to the edge of the turntable pit - hope that makes sense. I will need to build up the floor and lay a layer of card brickwork. There were metal castings around the edge of the turntable pit which had a chequered surface.

Robin

Hi, Dave, The plan is to purchase a kit from London Road Models. John R has my drawings from Carlisle Record office and I hope he has a kit ready by the end of the year.

Only just advised John - he is not long back from a holiday and ditto here.

At last! Good stuff Robin.

Just need the 60ft Cowans Sheldon turntable now:-)

Hi Dave, I see what you mean about the drunken buffer stops positioned on the track prior to the big hand in the sky appearing and gluing them in their final position:-)

A couple of photos of the Dutchman especially for you Mike.

Robin

Hi Dave,

 Good to see you again at S4N. The track joint in photos 4 & 5 is permanent the decision to make it so made when the extra track was added behind the junction signal box. One disadvantage is this combined board is now heavier than it would have been although I did remove some of the ply on the joint sides by cutting 'lightening' holes. A cobalt point motor has also been inconsiderate by positioning itself across the joint:}

John's Brit is superb - I think he might refuse a permanent transfer:} 

Hi Marcus,

The insulation keeps it pretty stable although I do have electric heating available if the temperature drops too much.

Robin

Hi Marcus,

I like the Dunster House product, it's reasonably priced and the fully insulated version I purchased does the job well. Mine is a 10m x 5m Severn Grande. It comes as a kit of parts but is essentially a 5m x4m plus two add on 5m x 3m units. As seen on my blog the main issue which detracts from the shed is the internal short walls which 'narrow the useful width by 600mm each side.

My solution is shown on my blog.

If you purchase a smaller version without the inner stub walls you will not have this issue to deal with.

Robin 

What a nice present. Just in time for Christmas!

Isn't it John:) - Chris has just purchased some 3mm ply to laminate the curved sides on the next - the Lawrence Hill Junction - board. 

Good to see progress.  Rivet, not rivit though!

Corrected. Maybe I was thinking of the ones that go with frogs:)

Thanks Geraint. I'm hoping to have the boards up mid year so it's a possiblity - it would be good to get at least the two main lines up and running by then. Catch up with you soon, best regards, Robin

Hi Highlandman, Clun Castle was on a special and came down doubleheaded with 6435 with 1420 following light engine.17th October 1965

John, Morning Star photo added for you:)  Sorry no photo of the Dutchman......

Robin