Shedmaster

P. S When the lights are on these 33's, the back of the Gaugemaster DCC27 chips get extremely Hot, such that you wouldn't touch them. Thanks.

Dear Forum, I am running a newly purchased ROCO Z21 ( Black Box). My DCC fitted Loco's emit a definate electrical buzzing sound, which didn't happen on my Bachmann Dynamis previously. I have just chipped/set up a Heljan Class 33 twin pack, so, in theory, the latest electrical versions and when I turn the lights on, this buzzing is exaggerated. Has anybody else noticed similar on their set up? Do I need to lower the track voltage or similar? Many Thanks, Kindest Regards, Shed.

Hi All, Good Evening, Just a line to say I've had some of the Stewart's Lane Fleet out working today, undertaking haulage trials with 45 x Accurascale PFA wagons! 60 036 'GEFCO' handled these without ANY issues whatsoever, the wagons riding perfectly when hauled or propelled. I did take some video but the file size is way too big to upload., apologies! Our Dapol 73 101 'The Royal Alex' also had a go with all 45 vehicles and would have managed more, if we had them! Overall, these wagons are seriously impressive, unlike the clowns working this particular train today.... Who managed a quite spectacular collision by running a Nuclear Flask train right through the middle of the PFA's whilst crossing it's path! The crashworthiness of the Accurascale product, despite all that exquisite detail, is simply, outstanding!

Well.... I have a full and proper research file here all ready to offer.... Maybe I need to ask the right questions..... Kindest Regards, Shed.

Hi, Definitely something I'd like too, but, in the original NSE guise. Great idea but I can see why the current version would be popular... Thanks, Shed.

Hi Fran, Just wondered if this looks familiar? This is my order for 45 of your outstanding 'PFA' wagons, which have arrived here at Stewarts Lane today! To say I'm impressed is an understatement of epic proportions and I would like to join the praise of others by saying Thank you and Very Well Done! My intention is to run a Hornby Class 60 with at least 42 of these wagons, as per my days working into and out of Mountfield... I have no doubt at all that this will be possible, thanks to properly designed and properly weighted vehicles. Thank you for your attention to detail in every aspect of my order, looking forward to dealing with you again, Kindest Regards, Shed.

Hi, I'm watching this subject with interest as I'd like to model this vehicle, No.325, formerly in use with VSOE at Stewarts Lane, London. I think it is still in use with Northern Belle these days ? I can't work out what type it is, or is it yet another VSOE heavily modded Mk1 ? My question being, is the new Hornby release going to match this particular vehicle type ? Many Thanks, Kindest Regards, Shed.

Hi Fran and fellow RMWebbers, So, it occurred to me the other evening when browsing this thread, that I have a personal history working with the Gypsum variant of these PFA wagons. In my 'formulative years' as a member of Trainload Freight Train Crew as it was then, I used to work to and from Mountfield Gypsum Works in East Sussex on a regular basis and I can tell you, it was always an amazing day at work! I cant remember the exact formation of the Class 60 hauled trains but they varied between rakes of PFA wagons or bogie Freightliner type wagons. The run 'down' was immense fun as the brake went in hard to get hold of the train for the crawl through Tonbridge, but, once we were up to the top of the climb at Tunbridge Wells, it was time to roll the rest of the way!!! THE TOP SPEED OF THE CLASS 60 IS 62.5MPH BUT WAS OFTEN ROLLED 'OFF THE CLOCK' PAST TUNBRIDGE WELLS!!! IN THE DAYS BEFORE OTMR ETC... The journey was a silent one in the cab, except for the clink of the spoons in our cups, and on arrival at Mountfield exchange sidings, we would run round the train for the climb up the internal gypsum works branch line. The Loadhaul liveried brake van would be attached at this point for the later reversal off the branch before departure. On one occasion, a 'stowaway' had jumped in the back cab of the Loco. at Doncaster the previous evening and appeared to a bleary eyed Train Crew during this run round move! Sometimes, due to railhead conditions or maybe Loco. performance, the train would be split or it just wouldn't make it up the branch at all, but I don't recall seeing this in person. I seem to remember a Kalmar type reach stacker would do the honours during our yard time, when I would either leg it to the works cafe or cook a fry up on the Loco. for those present! My own memories are a little old now, although I do possess photo's to back them up, taken by a sadly now deceased colleague. I certainly remember travelling through some of the most amazing scenery at daft o'clock in the morning on these turns, with some of the most interesting fellow crew members. How nice then, that I can now recreate those memories in model form with the highest quality of models now available, from Accurascale, and at the same time, I can now put my Class 60 fleet to the use for which they were originally intended, hauling 'proper' trains! Technically, I suppose I can run them at silly speeds too as that is actually, fully prototypical ! I'd love to know the actual formations of the trains I used to work, but as usual, I never took any notice...so, have just ordered two bulk packs of Gypsum variant PFA's to get started with as my first order from Accurascale...I cant wait to see these when they arrive ! All the best, Kindest Regards, Shed.

Thanks guys, Very happy with the look so far..... Kindest Regards, Shed.

73 101 'The Royal Alex' was the first of our resident loco's. to test the electrics still worked on all roads after the painting process, itself having been retro-fitted with the Dapol v2 drive system...

O P E N I N G . . .2 0 2 0 !!! Hi Everyone, I hope this finds you well at this, the final knocking's of 2019 ? Just a line to touch base and wish you all a really Happy and Prosperous New Year for 2020. Work has been progressing here at Stew. Lane as I always seem to be saying, but, really it is... I got really fed up with the white plastic look and so worked hard to get to a stage where some colour could be applied, to 'prove' things were coming together as they should. I hope you agree, we're getting there ? A new ROCO Z21 digital control system has been installed here as the Bachmann DYNAMIS just went bad on me in the end, I have to say I think its the bees knees using iPad control ! An influx of Dapol Class 73's (v2) have joined the fleet here, as a result of finally shipping out boxes of stuff that I'd just kept for no apparent reason, the 'version two' build being a massive improvement on the original release. So, in rounding off, I'll finish by saying that I'm expecting to show more detail of the build during the course of next year, Thankyou for your support and kind messages, despite my lack of updates... Kindest Regards, Happy New Year! Shed.

Hi Fran, If you're looking at Class 37's for your next project, would you please consider Transrail Dutch 37 201 'Saint Margaret' ? Thankyou, Shed.

Hi, Just a line to say that as ever, there is plenty of activity here at 'Stew Lane', just nothing that's been published for a while! The Electric Loco. Shed building is currently waiting a place in the paint booth, it's main structural elements are complete and ready for painting...this includes those iconic shed doors! When the main parts are painted, I'll be moving onto things like the gantry cranes etc... The main focus of late has been 'playing trains', acquiring the correct vehicles for my fleet and taking in some visitors for repairs etc... Getting the 'right' support coaches to go with the kettles such as 'Scotsman' and 'Tornado', Loco's I've had a lot of fun working with over the years, has been high on the agenda recently as well as preparing for a mass clearout of all the stuff that is now deemed 'out of period'! The latest arrival has been a rake of six Bachmann Mk2 coaches, to replicate the 'Rail Magazine Ramsgate Day Out' special that I worked as a Trainman 'D' in the very early years of my career ( 1995 ) ...I just need a 47805 in Intercity livery and a 37201 'Saint Margaret' in BR Civil Engineers 'Dutch' to complete this. Our EWS 47790 is seen during commissioning of these coaches... That's all for now, More soon, Kindest Regards, Shed.

Thanks for your detailed reply Jim, I see much more of a 'paper trail' these days for route learning & competency assessment that's for sure! Also, forgot to add in the last post, 'Thankyou' for those excellent pictures, always a pleasure to see, Stay safe, Kindest Regards, Shed.

Hi Jim, I hope you wont mind a personal question ? You mention that you sign a fair few bits and bobs all over the country which I understand is the nature of a freight Driver's work these days, and frankly, you are able to get amazing pictures, regularly, from your travels, however... A few posts back you mentioned coming down into South Eastern land and venturing onto our place at Hither Green with one of your jobs. My question then is how do you/did you learn this and then 'sign for' it? Is it on the job learning with so many trips over the route or were you conducted? And, finally, do you have to sit assessments at the end of a period of route learning before signing it, bearing in mind there's a lot of opportunity screw it up with a freight train if you take a wrong turn etc. My own learning many years ago consisted of driving over the routes on booked jobs with the qualified Driver so many times etc but I know that the current scene is moving more towards home learning/DVD etc, so if I'm honest I am a little curious. Many Thanks, Kindest Regards, Shed.

Mmmm! That didn't take long... On further investigation of what is required for this project, I've decided that I just don't want to get into this level of work. The vehicles I have managed to acquire I'm very happy with, but the remaining Pullmans will have to be left for now. Best of luck with your project, I do still think this will be one to watch..... Kindest Regards, Shed.

Hi, Railtec have indeed already produced some excellent work for my project here. For example the 'Baggage Car 8' labels were adjusted from the original product on request, which I think was a '9' rather than the '8'. I'm currently setting up a full VSOE rake again with the intention of making the details right as I go along, coach by coach, just like VSOE did and then do a full re-livery and lining project at the end, which I hope to approach Railtec for help with this. Of course, by the time my ideas become reality, one of the major manufacturers will have announced a full RTR and properly painted version...... Thanks, Shed.

err...yes, the GUV is indeed lined but I chickened out trying to actually copy it! This one isn't used nowadays, it was retired a few years into my fledgling career... ...along with Mk1 BSK 99538 ( Baggage Car 9 ) which has been replaced with 99545, the one with a saloon window plated over and still in use today. ( NOT MY PHOTO??? ) Thanks, Shed.

Hi, I've not posted here for a very long time owing to other things always seemingly cropping up, however.....I'm very encouraged to get back to work on my Stewart's Lane VSOE fleet since seeing your topic. So, although my main interest is modelling the home where the VSOE Pullmans live, in central London, I have been building up a collection of these vehicles and hope you will find some pictures interesting.... I'm liking your thinking of how you can make up the 'main' Pullman rake, albeit missing some accuracy in terms of detail, although, lets face it, the Hornby Pullman colours are one of the biggest problems in recreating this train, the smaller details can be worked on over time ? Good luck with your project, I'll be watching with interest.... Kindest Regards, Shed.

Hi, Cant help feeling this should have been an 89 or a 91 and Mk4's, but it'll do nicely for now... Kindest Regards, Shed.

Hi All, Thought I'd better post this here as well as on my status update, you know, just in case Bachmann miss it..... "The ONLY thing better than Bachmann announcing an original 'Intercity' Class 91, Mk4's and DVT next week, would be if they announced an 'Intercity' Class 89 as well!!! #inbachmannwetrust" Here's hoping... Kindest Regards, Shed.

Hi Andy, Are you sure this wasn't a 'warning shot' across the bows of the good ship RMWeb, from the Margate Mafia? Kind of what you can expect to happen if their embargo gets broken, LoL's... In all seriousness, Thank you for sorting this so speedily, I too had to converse with the missus in the absence of my favourite forum..... Kindest Regards, Shed.