Dad-1

Thanks for that link meld. Paul's two photos were from the same side, this link shows the other side. First confirming both ends were painted yellow, then giving a clear view of the slot that on my build has not been included. Saw out today to rectify that. It would seem to me that the slot is the working part of this conversion. Why do we love oddities so much !! This will sit in my yard alongside black, and loaded mermaids. So thanks again to all who have commented. Particularly Paul who has almost presented me with the prospect of trying to make another, a Gauging Van !! Geoff Trenholme

Bearing in mind just how useful Paul Bartlett's free photo folio is I decide to purchase the two images in question to see if by enlarging I could get more clues. He more than deserves the miniscule cost !! First I 'think' The marking where the normal weight and wheelbase details would be says 'Return to Leyton depot' difficult to decipher, but this kind of fits with the photo being taken at Leyton. The background is loaded ballast wagons. So somehow linked to track work ? Not easily seen are some holes drilled in the sides above the cupboard doors, but even more significant are the two narrow 'slots' alongside the other end stanchion more or less matching where the entrance cuts are, but these (on both sides) go right down to the floor - missed that, must try a retro cut !! Still no closer to understanding exactly what it was used for, oh yes Gauging, but what and why such an unlikely base wagon ? The hunt continues Geoff T.

Thanks to Paul Bartlett we have a vast field of reference material, enough to want to reproduce in miniature some of these oddities. After this I'm looking at Winch wagons with their tin sheds !! Mostly gauging wagons we see are closed vans, preferably from old brake vans ? That's what makes this open so interesting. A loose fitted tin box ? would you want to ride in that ???? With no lower step it might look like this was meant to be entered from a platform ? Either that or what was there has been knocked off !! Hope to paint the exterior of mine this week - perhaps add a photo when done. Interior well nothing yet ??? Geoff T.

As I was building a Parkside LNER Dia 207 21 ton Loco Coal wagon I had a look through Paul Bartlett's folio of photographs. There I found 2 photos of Engineering stock DE300539 marked 'Gauge Wagon' 'Stratford'. I decided to make one with the cut out entry's each side, grab rails, all very easy, BUT no idea what may have been done on the inside for any railway staff safety, or comfort. I also can't think of why such a wagon would have found use by engineers. Used for gauge checking of what ? The photos were taken at Leyton 30/6/79 and then as a condemned wagon at Tinsley 1/10/83 which may indicate a use around London ? The pictures show it in quite good condition, particularly as these were built in the late 1930's. How long had an engineering department had it, from early Nationalisation ? That might indicate use through from the 1950's. No electrification flashes so probably not used under the wires, but What/Where/How. Anyone on here with knowledge of this odd beast ?? Geoff Trenholme.

Wow it's been a long time since I visited. Thanks to hayfield & others I'm no longer concerned about making turnouts, even with almost no special tools. A controversial element now - Most people who make track do so for technical and scenis to thec reasons and they tend to look at BR standard turnouts where space becomes a problem. At my age I no longer want to make a large layout, been there with commercial track and I no longer have the energy to even exhibit a big layout. What I want is 'compact' with a capital 'C' shunting layout. Well I made one using inherited Peco Set-track points. The loop idea is fine and driving the puzzles can be a brain tester with many track limits coming into play. However all the small locomotives can't work reliably at slow speed over the points. In fact some don't like crossing once let alone multiple times. Answer - Make your own live frog turnouts in code 75, but use the set-track geometry. Easy to ink a points rails, press onto paper to make a plan. This particular crossover is to be used in a 48" long puzzle layout. The result is quite pleasing :- My thanks to all on here who give help and advice to help at so many levels. Geoff T.

You will be welcome Dave, Just a few days to go. Strange nobody else in the club has peeked in. Particularly those who press for more On-Line exposure !! Ahh and one of my builds a Visitors Drive shunting puzzle will also be there. Called Green Frog Brewery. Come & drive a classic Inglenook shunting puzzle. I must make certain whoever is looking after it keeps to the full compliment of 9 wagons. Geoff T.

Hi ianLMS, That's brilliant, I hope the instructions and diagrams will get me there. Ahh CJI, "Based on" is a very open discription, but as a siding filler I'd suggest good enough. Geoff T.

Thanks, both of you, I've been doing some looking around and think this may be based on the Ransomes & Rapier CM&EE breakdown crane at the Nene Valley Railway. D2958 (1931) cctransuk, or plain John, It may be the normal arrangement, but I've never seen one of these myself. My crane experience has been reclaiming a Triang 10 ton hand operated, building a Cambrian GWR crane kit, and replacing 'cables' on the HD crane. I thought this may be far too interesting to dump. Have you any idea who made these brass kits ? Not that any runners, or information will be around nowadays, just nice to know. Melmurby, combined info may get me somewhere - quite where is still unknown !! Although an old friend of mine is trained up to driver on the Nene Valley, so perhaps he can get me more photos sometime.

Hi The Johnster, I do agree, but how the heck is the jib raising cable arrangement set up ?? 3 rollers each side at the head 2 rollers each side by the steam drive. Surely they must be interconnected to stay 100% in movement unison. Not a thing to see easily in photographs of similar jib raising prototypes. Geoff T.

Now I have my doubts BUT ......... I inherited a load of stuff from a late friend, much of it very old and I had to scrap quite a lot. However I'm reluctant to scrap this Crane, almost certainly kit built. The lifting windings would be quite complex and I have no idea how they would have been 'wired' I assume there was once a pair of match trucks and probably a jib supporting truck, things I don't seem to have. However I fancy sitting this on a 'Blind' siding at the back of a yard, but for that I need a wiring plan. Has anyone seen this kit before ?? It could be any time from the mid 1950's as with it was the Hornby Dublo crane C/W match trucks. That now working although not for use on my rails !! Geoff T.

Well someone must have missed thinking about this !! No longer on the committee, but even at 80 aware that any publicity is good publicity !! Even if it's rather late. Our small & friendly exhibition in January has been a very popular after Christmas outing. I have somewhere a list of most layouts that'll be there, let's see what I can do ...... Thomas & Friends visit Bride Bay - A '00' twin track 'Thomas' layout for children (Of all ages) to drive. Shillingford - '00' digital sound. Linnington End - '00' Ghost River Mountain - '00 + N' Slades Green - '00' Longmoor - 'N' Axe Valley Mill - '0 with digital sound' Grandads Layout '00' Dysarth '00' West Bay '00' Trader K&M Trees Rod Saunders Bob's Club sales table Now I can't guarantee this is 100 %, as I said I only realised that nobody had added our event until today and there could be minor changes. BUT NOT Thomas, 'cos that's me !!! Geoff T

Thought I might chip in. Down here in Dorset my club is intending to run our two exhibitions and an open day. However like so many we are having to look carefully at all the logistics particularly the age of members. Personally I'm now 80 and have given up taking my large layout anywhere. One, I find erecting and dressing a 12 board layout too much and there are no newer, younger members to help. Two my age, I can no longer hire a van, understandably insurers don't want to take risks. To hire a van and driver becomes too expensive for either an organising club, or my own pocket. I did Railex Portsmouth last May with my 'Thomas' layout only because my friend lives near there and provided accommodation so it was as much a visit to friends. I asked just £10 because it's my hobby. However I will now only do exhibitions that don't require overnight stays and take just my small 'Visitors Drive' shunting layouts. Geoff T

I shall be there and no doubt will enjoy. Running a layout can be fun, watching children drive Thomas should be fine ?? Geoff T.

Been rather occupied with other things recently. All the rail cuts have now been done, using the dreaded Dremel, it's only 22 of them. However I'm still doing the sleeper cuts and double checking they will be correct for fully live DCC trackwork with frog juicer frog polarity switching. Well over 120 of them tp do !! As the straight scissors worked O.K I'm not really expecting trouble, but will test sections before it's fully powered up. My one problem, that I will admit I've not searched around for answers yet, is switch rail to stock rail fit. I have a small gap that I don't want. I can't be certain if it's solder that's crept under the switch rail. I'm wondering if I should have filed at an angle under the stock rail for such an eventuality ? I have hand run stock and it doesn't catch, but reversing a train usually brings flanges tight against rails and the natural movement pushing a load is for wagons to try and jack-knife. The switch blade ends are filed very thin, perhaps I should have taken my cut-outs deeper into the stock rail ?? I also have to make and fit my over-centre springs, not 100% necessary if this is used with wire-in-tube, but I think I need to do for testing purposes. Geoff T.

Hi Hayfield, At least I can slide a 42XX (2-8-0) through all the possible routes without snagging, or even noticeable resistance at any specific place. Ahh Happy Hippo, I'd not even thought about doing that. So for yourself and Hayfield it will be a while before I can make live run to truly test running qualities. Insulating before making ??? For the possible layout I need a double point for the other end of a loop, must try that idea !!! The one advantage of trackwork like this is that it's equal to making 4 points and a diamond, giving lots of practice. Today I hope to get the last check rails in and solder all the non secured sleeper locations. Then working out all the wiring needed for the fixed DCC live tracks, plus the 4 frog juicers. Only then will I be able to give Hayfield the truth as to how it works !! Geoff T.