dave k

Mikkel,

"I haven't been able to find any record of when the reversible shoes were introduced?"

I thought I had read somewhere that the reversible shoes were introduced sometime around 1910 but can't find where I read it.

Very much like the Catcott and I would like to do something similar myself so can one dare to ask which member of the 'popular press' this will be?

Just to let you know that I spoke Mr Carr of MRD about doing sprung buffers for the inner buffers for 'B' sets and gave him the drawing for the E140's (which I think will also do the E147) and E145's.

We will have to see what develops.

Also I've found an A3 copy of an official GWR drawing, dated 5/1932, (from the NRM) is was given to me entitled "Arrangement & Detail of Brake" for the diagram E140 of E147. If you would like a copy I can copy it and post it you? If so please contact me off line.

For Paul,

I believe that Masokits do an etch replacement underframe for the old Airfix Esso tank wagon - I think it also has replacements ladders as well.

Dave

Nick,

I've been following your blog with interest as I'm building a model of Hallatrow (or part of it myself).

Regarding the numbering on your signalling diagram. If it is to follow the same system as Hallatrow then, to same the poor signaller shoe leather, then all signals and points are numbered from each direction e.g. your 2 & 3 would be 1 & 2, your 1 would be 25 and your 21 & 22 would be 23 & 24.

You could see if there is a copy of the Camerton diagram in the appropriate volume of Pryer's "Signal Box of the GWR & SR".

Dave

"A couple of weeks off" - not demoing and flying the EM flag at Wells this year.

If you are modeling the early BR period most of the passenger workings were 'B' sets.

Ian,

Have just come across your Blog. The outside frame Toad is still available from ABS however he now does it as two kits - one with the clasp brakes and the other with push rods.

Dave

I currently use the Scalefour Society's Shropshire and Herefordshire Area Group designed lever frame as designed with the microswitches connected to relays and ultimately Tortoise point motors but at Railex there was a layout using relays to lock point and signals. I am thinking of adding interlocking to my layout at some stage but don't want to go the whole hog and using DCC accessories decoders etc.

In your system how do you change your signals and points, are they still connected to the lever frame or what?

Mikkel,

You are right, in yards and on branches the keys were not always in the direction of travel as on main lines. However there are photographic examples where the track was 'inside keyed'.

Just to add to your deliberations if you are modeling totally 1908 some yards and even branches were still laid with 'baulk road'. In the book on the Mortenhampstead branch it states that the branch was relaid with standard track between 1910-12 and there is a picture of Newton Abbot yard in the 1920's with baulk road sidings.

What colours would you/do you use for brickwork as I have to paint a couple of buildings one a signal box which is mainly the standard brick colour with engineering blues at the corners the other mainly engineering blues.

Mikkel,<div><br></div><div>I know what you mean about the pleasures of track building, of threading on the chairs and getting them in correct direction at the end of each track panel. On my layout <b>Hallatrow</b>, although  it's P4, the track is made from 'Exactoscale' full depth sleepers and 2 bolt chairs. It surprised us what a  difference there was between the full depth and half depth sleepers.</div><div><br></div><div>And don't let anyone tell you the ply sleepers and glued chairs won't last - I've got a short demo length of track built over 20 - 30 years ago and the chairs stuck and still to gauge.</div><div><br></div><div>Dave</div>

I see you have the Great Western modellers wagon bible - Tourret.

Such attention to detail.

So are we likely to a 'clay branch line passenger charter' run at RailEx???

I can't seem to remember weather you have built this to EM or P4?

I'll look forward to see Engine House at Railex this year, although in my railway world it's 1912 and the Great Western extended the Camerton branch and re-modelled Hallatrow as a through station.<br>

Craig,

You got me reaching for my copy of Mr Smiths book now.

I take it we are all talking about what are shown on pg.98 as 'Slide Chairs "SS" ', if so they look very similar to the current slide chair that Exactoscale/P4 Track Co. do except they have 3 bolts per chair where as the GW had 2. What would be nice would be the "1S - 3S" Heel Chairs.

Also are the photos on the Templot site the same as those on Finescale Rly Modeller's?

Its a pity no one does proper GWR 2-bolt slide chairs due to the difficulty of moulding them.

Craig,

Yes it is a pity but I don't see why you say its to difficulty to mould them, they seem to look no different to other type.

Any chance of some closeups on the pointwork, the pictures on the Scalefour website are a bit blurred.

 

I'm wondering what the jig for curved switchblades is as I have one type that Jeremy has now sold via Scalefour Stores. Are they loose heel on your layout or GWR flexible types?

Craig,

I'm sorry for the delay in posting an answer to your questions but my friend Roger, who now lives in Somerset, was playing with a Class 25 and an 03 yesterday and I could not confirm all the details of his jig with him.

All the points on Hallatrow have GW 'old type curved switches' which are loose heel. I've attached a photo of the original jig and some of the point work on a new post.

Dave

 

Very nice! Having seen the historical notes above, and noting the credits on the 'Challenge' web site - do you & Tim have plans for a joined-up exhibit?

 

Regs

 

Ian

No Ian, but the black pannier in the photos on the Scalefour web site is Tim's - he has a photo in his collection with take loco at Hallatrow so wanted a model version as well.

A pleasant suprise indeed. I'm impressed by how much of the trackplan yuou've actually managed to accomodate in the space available. I'll echo Nicks call for more photos, please.

What a pleasant surprise to come home to! Always good to see something from my native area and I have sometimes wondered what happened to this layout after seeing the photos on the scalefour challenge site. I'm looking forward to more.

 

Nick

I don't think I have any more photos currently on the completed (layout in its current) state but will keep looking.

I'd seemed to remember something about converting Wheal Elizabeth into a through layout and you even published plans on RMweb (the old version) - or were they from some helpful friends but thought that was just a pipe dream. But now we have a baseboard.

Dave

Thanks for that will have to get out my copy of "GW Branch Line Modelling" vol. 3.

Dave Keeler

I like the look of your platform surface - how did you do it?

Dave Keeler