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narrowman

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  2. narrowman
    COLORADO HERITAGE RAILROAD On30/O9

     
    As the model is of a Heritage Railroad, it will have 'set scenes' as above. Think Beamish, Blists Hill, Ironbridge, etc. This is a scene of an actual theft and recovery of a racing saloon, somewhere in the USA.
     
     

     
    This layout consists of some of the modules built for and used as part of CRM's Ferrocarril Internacional and currently is in module form in my spare room. It is intended to join the modules together, possibly taking them out of 'module mode', by removing the end parts, and incorporating them into a 'roundy-roundy' layout, which will end up being located in my shed when I get around to re-water-proofing and making it very secure - CCTV, alarms, etc.
     
    Until I have my operation (and am feeling considerably a lot better!) - I have been concentrating on buildings, locomotives, rolling stock and scenery, including buildings..
     

     
    This was another of CRM's modules, built to the original measurements, called "The Shed"
    Hopefully, I'll be able to incorporate this into the layout... on the other hand, I may just adapt this into a 'stand alone' layout which can attend exhibitions, Just need to lift it up to the other modules 4" and motorise the turntable, which I do have a unit ready for it...
    and yes, I know the locos do want weathering completed!!!
     

     

     
    My "Tramway de Gare Tigre", which has undergone considerable change from being exhibited at Crewe Heritage Centre and now just has the bridge and factory left, with new shop buildings ready to be positioned where the workshops were.
     
    I must work out a plan to see where the modules may fit...
     
    Updates to follow - if I get a "better day" - which today isn't!!!
     

     
    "Wetlands" Most of this has been cleared for new tracklaying (bit like the Teifi Valley Railway)..
     

     
    One of the later pictures of Calle de la "Coronacion" at an exhibition, with the other CRM modules, before that background was replaced.
     
    Some of my stock: Locomotives:
    Bachmann Mogul Camelbck conversion using a Backwoods Miniatures kit, built by Brian Mosby of Mozzers Models.
     

    Latest arrivals:

     
    this is a Bachmann mogul, converted to an 0-6-0 and fitted with an oil tank tender. Built and photographed by Brian Mosby.
     

     
    This is a conversion of an 00 gauge Bachmann 2-8-0 WD with parts from a Bachmann On30 Mogul, fitted with an oil tender. Built and photographed by Brian Mosby.
     

     
    Repainted Bachmann mogul, with a wood burner tender with added crew. Modified and photographed by Brian Mosby.
     
    Must get some "Colorado Heritage Railroad" transfers for the tenders designed, printed and fitted (along with some numbers and maker's plates....)
     
     
    I've also been collecting 1/43 and 1/48th scale vehicles for use on the layout and as it is a preserved heritage railway, modern vehicles as well as period vehicles will appear, as Crick . The latest addition is a set of tractors, which may be converted into works vehicles with the additions of snow blades, cranes, winches and roll-over safety items.
     

     
    Tractors are 1951 Fiat 25 R, 1956 Renault D22, 1961 Fiat 80 R, 1928 Fiat 700A and a 1968 Renault 65.
     
    Also due is a ten wheeler chassis and tender, some more Bachmann On30 locos - along with more coaches and wagons...
     
    As the model is progressing, I have been thinking what I would do if I had the money to do it, (which could have happened if I had the correct set of numbers!). I had discussed this with a friend who was going to access to a large amount of money in the future and he wanted to have a large undercover car collection, along with a narrow gauge railway, with recreated scenes, so when I can't sleep, I think what I'd like to do... Like a collection of rally/competition cars, along with some of the vehicles I've owned or used, so I've also been collecting them - Road Rally Austin A30, Stage/Road Rally Hillman Imps, Esso Uniflo sponsored Hillman Avenger Tiger, Paris Dakar/Scottish Rally Range Rover, Land Rover 110 expedition vehicle, Land Rover Series 1 trails vehicle, Hillrally Land Rover 90, Tarmac Rally Ford Escort Mk 1, Land Rover Series 3 LWB Expedition vehicle, Land Rover Discovery1 Expedition vehicle...
     

     

     

     

     
     
     
     
    Below: One of my O9 locos, a Pepper7 Mordred, still in kit form. Photo: Pepper7
     

     

     
    Another of my O9 stock - an Ebay win of a railcar on a Kato chassis - a superb runner...
  3. narrowman
    I've decided to rebuild my 09 "Wetlands Light Railway" as 0n16.5 and relocate it "somewhere in France".
    This is after some poor running problems with my 09 stock and, as I've got a reasonable collection of 0n30/0n16.5 stock, it seem the right decision.
    Consequently, I've renamed it "Tramway de la Zones Humides", which may or may not be a correct translation. No doubt someone will correct me. It is now some 21 feet in length, stil by its 1 foot width. Now to start on the tracklaying...
    Progress (or not!) on my website: www.narrowgaugemodelling.com
  4. narrowman
    After a long tiime, I've started work on this layout and have just completed the baseboards. It is 8' x 18"' on two 4' x 18" boards.
    I borrowed the name from the TV series 'Marchlands' as it is set in my home area of Wrexham - Marcher land.
    Progress will be on my website: www.tonysmodelrailways.co.uk - and apart from 1960s steam - diesel transition, it can be used as a preserved railway!
    Tony
  5. narrowman

    Tramway de Gare Tigre

    By narrowman,

    I've had a busy day today working on various layouts, but mainly "Tramway de Gare Tigre", which I've renamed from Chemin to Tramway. Apparently, 'tramway' in French can mean 'tramway' or ''light railway'. I hopefully french speakers amongst us will either confirm or correct! More details on my Tram Modelling website: www.trammodelling.co.uk or www.narrowgaugemodelling.com
  6. narrowman
    I've been trawling the internet to try and find some pictures of Caia Road Goods, without any success, but I did find a series of books by Bridge Books who have a series of pictures books of the Wrexham area. Volume 3 has a c1900 picture of a Cambrian Railways 0-4-4T with some wagons in "Cambrian Leather Works Sidings", which I assume is Caia Road Goods Yard, as the works were situated in Rivulet Road which ran parallel alongside the railway. It sates that the siding awas to facilitate the loading and unloading of raw materials and finished skins. Also, on the opposite page part of the bridge is shown, along with the part of the Leather Works which was on Salop Road and below that, a picture of the Leather Works Yard - the works closed in the 1960s, probably around the time passenger traffic stopped on the Wrexham-Ellesmere line.
     
    In Volume 5, there is an aerial picture of Wrexham (c1960) which shows the layout of the yard (not in any great detail, but useful anyway) in relation to the rest of the town. There is also another picture taken in 1910 from the Parish Church tower which shows Mount Street, with Caia Road behind.
     
    I reaaly need to find a good photo of the goods shed or - ideally - a plan!
     
    Next week, I should have some time to work out what can be compacted into a sensible size exhibition layout...
  7. narrowman
    OK. Martin Wales has convinced me that EM gauge is the correct way to go and, having looked at the EMGS, I must agree with him. As only a couple of steam engines are required for the period modelled - 14xx, Pannier and possibly a 73xx Mogul, then the conversion outlay will not be too great. Combined with the fact I have all the coaches (B set and Autocoaches) needed, along with most of the wagons seen on the line, it's only a matter of converting the coaches and wagons to 18mm gauge.
     
    Research of the area is a bit more difficult, as most of it doesen't exist these days. As I said before, the houses in Caia Road are still there, but modernised, but that's not a problem, it's just a matter of building them with the old style sash windows and 'proper' roofs. The goods yard is now sheltered accommodation, the wood yard on the other side has been cleared. The abutments to the bridge have been removed and the access to the old trackbed has been landscaped/smoothed out.
     
    Viewing the area from Newton Street, at the top of 'the bank' as we knew it, the railway embankment can no longer be seen as it's obscured by large trees and McDermott's scrapyard now has a few flats on it. McDermott's house is still there though. As the light was fading, I didn't bother to investigate further, but I'm sure some detective work along Rivulet Road may unearth some of the original 'steam period' buildings along there. So, I'll return in daytime next week to record things properly. And we have three days to do it! (Sorry, but it's getting more like Time Team the more I research!).
     
    I've promised a colleague that I'd build a 009 layout for him (based on a scrapyard!!!), so I may well utilise the track plan of Caia Road Goods, then I can see the full exhibition potential of that plan (or not!).
  8. narrowman

    Caia Road Goods

    By narrowman,

    I've now got a copy of "The Wrexham & Ellesmere Railway" and in it is a picture of the yard from behind the good shed - not the view I really wanted but it does show the scrap pile.
     
    So Caia Road Goods only had 3 visible points from the goods shed to the road bridge - the crossover would be off layout.
     
    I must admit it would work well in N gauge on two 5 foot boards, but I feel it may/could be effective condensed into (around) five foot, plus fiddle yard in 00 - with the option to have another fiddle yard the other side of the bridge for through running (a 9F on the oil train may be a problem though!).
    I'll sketch it out when I have a spare minute or two. I've got a 5 foot board in the garage, so I'll see if it can be condensed into that space.
    Although I'd like to try EM or P4, the cost of new chassis and motors for the 57xx & 14xx (and any other locos required) would be prohibitive, then there's my lack of soldering ability for the track. So I think it would have to be 00, as I have the track, points, locos and wagons...
  9. narrowman
    This was reactivated by a conversation with Martin Wales and started in the Prototype section.
     
    Going back to Caia Road Goods, as our discussion, I feel it could be compacted from the goods shed which could act as a disguise for the entrance to the fiddle yard and the other end could continue over the road bridge along the embankment alongside the river Gwenfro and McDermot's scrapyard and under the rodbridge to Hightown Halt (the second fiddle yard). It would feature 57xx and 64xx panniers, along with 14xx with autocoaches and B sets and the goods would be 5/7 planks and 16 ton minerals. You would also have the reason to run 9Fs on oil trains (around 20 or so tankers) to the Wrexham Industrial Estate and Bank Holiday Specials - I witnessed a double headed 43xx & 22xx with around 7-9 coaches! Or in a later period Class 24/25/47s, along with Class 40s for the oil trains.
     
    I've been looking at the goods involved and there was a tannery on Rivulet Road, along with a gasworks. The cattle would be moved along the road to the nearby Smithfield market (the Beast market as it was known locally - I remember the occasional cow escaping and causing chaos!). A woodyard was alongside the road bridge at the end of the goods yard. There were plenty of breweries in the town, along with a fair number of bakeries. There was a creamery further along the line, so milk and its products would be also be involved. In those days Brymbo Steelworks was in full operation, so there might have been steel products heading in the direction of Ellesmere and beyond.
     
    Perhaps someone, somewhere has records of freight on the line - or can point me in the right direction?
     
    Alternatively, it could be moved in time from the 1960s to the 70/80s and have it terminating at the road bridge at a pair of buffer stops (with the bridge being removed). This would, of course, not allow any through traffic, but would be a nice compact exhibition layout with a fiddle yard to goods terminus.
     
    I'll spend a bit of time this week planning "what can be compacted into what area" and hopefully it may well progress to a layout...
     
    I also came across these notes I had made a few years ago:
     
    Seen around the area (ex-LNER/GC ran into Wrexham Central station/goods yard) were J10/J11/N5 and until around 1955, C13s were an the passenger trains from Wrexham Central to the Wirral.
     
    Ex-LNER 0-8-0 and 2-8-0 were seen on heavier freights from the CLC. There were J72s in the Wrexham area and J60s used to shunt on the Brymbo branch and colliery sidings.
    So did any ever work the Wrexham-Ellesmere line?
     
    Great potential for a layout, which would have to be in 4mm, as I have the majority of the stock needed in that scale, although it would be more practical (size wise) in N gauge... but I've just sold all my suitable N gauge to fund my 09 layout "Wetlands Light Railway" - So 4mm, 16.5mm track gauge it will be...
  10. narrowman
    I spent the last week or so in Norfolk, which turned out to be a lot wetter than North Wales is. Anyhow, I managed to spend some time visiting miniature railways, which have given me some more ideas. Also, I found time to visit the Broads and took loads of reference pics for the Wetlands Light Railway. Finding time to turn the ideas into a decent model will be the difficult bit!
  11. narrowman
    UPDATE: 25th October 2015
     
    Unfortunately my 'feeling better' situation, was NOT carried over to today and I haven't done any modelling, just watched Formula E and tried to find 'lost' model railway items (not actually lost, just unlocated!)...
    However, I did recover a couple of Class 37s, so I stuck them on the layout, now less the buildings and took a couple of snaps two of which are shown below - I see the aerial needs straightening... and yes, there is another board which will make the layout 8 foot by one foot.
    The track layout will need changing and that will involve finding some Peco points and a visit to a model shop for some track lengths, unless I can find some lying around...
     
    Tony
     
     
     

  12. narrowman
    Update 24th October 2015
     
    Feeling a lot better today, so I've added some old and new track to a four foot by twelve inch board and roughly placed a couple of buildings to give an idea of what I'm looking to build.
     

     

     
    The bridge is taken from an old layout and is to show the position of where a bridge might be on a 4 foot layout. The Peco engine shed will roughly be positioned where it will be (only bedded in properly!) and the low relief warehouse will be along the background, only it might be on the other side of the layout. If I'm going to bult an eight foot long layout, there will be a bridge over the join in the boards and at the start of the fiddle yard, which will be long enough to hold a two car 156 or similar. There will be sidings to hold engineering wagons, etc.
     
    Tony
  13. narrowman
    As most of you know, I tend to model narrow gauge, except when I don't, like now...
     
    CREWE CORNER 00 gauge
     
    As I've now got at date (19th November 2015) for my exploratory operation to find out what the problem is, I feel like I can see light at the end of the tunnel...
    I've had a couple of days feeling slightly better from my ongoing medical problems and have been undertaking a modelling project...
     
    Crewe Corner was originally a micro-layout, built by Tom Davidson (shown below), which I acquired and started to extend it. After a few false starts, I've now decided to rebuilt it on one 4'x 12" board, but may add another 4' x 12" board, eventually giving it an overall size of 8 foot by 12 inches. It will now be a fairly modern image EWS/Arriva/Railtrack themed layout, with locomotives entering to refuel and be serviced, along with engineering trains being loaded and shunted. And I may decide to change the name... possibly to Crewe Forge Road (around the proposed area it will be situated) or just Crewe Green (which is quite a large area)?
     
    Currently, I've got a Bachmann class 57 Thunderbird, several Lima Class 37s, Class 47s, several Bachmann 08s, Dapol Class 150 & 155, Hornby 142, Dapol 153 and Bachmann156, along with the prototype Deltic (motorised with a Lima 37 chassis and not far off being completed - my father in law worked for English Electric on the electrics - and perhaps, one day it will see mainline use again - at least it does get moved around), along with several suitable wagons, coaches and modern vehicles.
     
    Grovelling around, I also found a couple of Lima 66s (undergoing detailing), a EWS Lima 67 (that needs a new gearwheel, as it's clicking away!) and a body for a 57 in Arriva livery, along with some other diesel bodies.
     
     
     
    I'll take some photographs in the next few days of the new baseboard(s) and some of the stock...



    Photo by Tom Davison
     
    I haven't felt like taking photos today (not a good day - medically!), but most of the Class 37 locos I have located are in Sectorisation liveries, so I may decide to set Crewe Corner (or whatever it gets to be called!) in the 1980s... Hopefully, I'll get some taken over the weekend.
     
    Tony
  14. narrowman
    Whilst looking through a box of my old slides for some I had taken of Horwich station, before it was demolished,
    I came across one I had taken of Caia Road Goods yard looking from the yard towards Hightown Halt and another with a two tone green Class 47 and four ball clay wagons looking towards Wrexham Central. Unfortunately, neither of them include the goods shed. My slide/neg copier is with my son in Epson, so I'll dig out the old projector (I thinks it's still around!) and take some digital pics off the projected images. Well, that's the theory, anyhow.
     
    It's a busy weekend, Promenade Stages Rally, New Brighton; Llangollen's 35/GWR 175; Malpas Yesteryear Show and a towbar to fit (if the courier can find us on his second attempt)...
     
    Tony
  15. narrowman
    For its exhibition appearance at Apedale on 10th/11th September, it will become Staffordshire Wetlands Light Railway and will be some 24 foot (or so) in length.
    I'm currently finishing off the scenics on some boards and I have now incorporated the fiddle yard and station from "Tramway de Gare Tigre" into it. The station has now become a through station and leads past the engine shed/works to the mill (which is currently just a baseboard) and riverside sections.
    The fiddle yard at the far end is also built, but needs track and scenics.
    Next week, after the attic has been insulated, I will concentrate on rolling stock.
    I've got a couple of trams to motorise, some locos to rebody and coaches/wagons to complete (some still in kit form, but the majority just needing painting).
    Progress will be followed in my website: www.tonysmodelrailways.co.uk
    Narrowman
  16. narrowman
    Now I've eventually been told the Hagley/Stourbridge exhibition has been cancelled, I've decided not to finish off the extension, but progress further on Wetlands Light Railway. Unfortunately, from a modelling point of view, there's Rallyday at Castle Combe on Saturday, followed by The Moseley Railway Trust's 2'0" gauge Apedale Valley Light Railway's Grand Opening Gala on Sunday 19th (also on Saturday 18th). So there won't be much modelling done in the next few days, but I hope to take a fair few reference pictures at both events!
     
    After both shows, I'll be completing the odd jobs needed on McHale's Yard, then it will be ready for exhibiting (possibly at short notice, providing the shows do not clash with rallying events). Secondly, I'll be progressing with Wetlands - putting down some track and finishing some stock, at least (I hope!)...
    Tony
  17. narrowman

    Marchland

    By narrowman,

    The track layout is inspired by Railway Modeller's Roy Link's 'Upwold', a version of which I built a long time ago.
    Basing the layout in the Wrexham area means that certain ex-GWR, ex-LMS and even ex-LNER locomotives could be seen.
     
    Tony
  18. narrowman
    Unfortunately, the adverse weather destroyed our rear conservatory and caused my shed to leak gallons of rainwater (well, it seemed like that amount!) on my models (luckily, "McHale's Yard" was covered by a tarp - no, I don't know why I covered it that night - I just had bought the tarp at a £1 shop and thought I'd put it to use (luckily!). The amount of time taken to effect a repair, combined with a new position working as a consultant with a wildlife charity means that I won't have time to complete the layout in time for the exhibition, but I have offered my Gn15 layout, "McHale's Yard" as a replacement, as that's ready to exhibit.
    So, I may see you at Crewe Heritage, or not! So much for plans...
    Tony
  19. narrowman
    Although I usually stick to the CRM's 0n30 modules, I decided to construct a section for the OO gauge modules, for a change. It will (not surprisingly! be based on a scrapyard/metal reclaimation yard and will comprise of a through line, loop, headshunt and sidings. As it will sometimes be used as part of the OO modules and sometimes, by itself, the electrics will have to be arranged so that through running for the modules is not affected by shunting in the yard. As it isn't narrow gauge, I've added to my website www.modern-image-modelling.co.uk - so that anyone interested can follow progress.
    Tony
  20. narrowman
    As some of you know, I acquired the micro layout, 'Crewe Corner' from Tom Davidson a few months ago and I have been trying different ways of extending it. I originally thought of adding the diesel shed from 'The Berwyn Railway', my preserved railway set in North East Wales, which was dismantled after its appearance at GWR175 (which I still haven't received my 'token' expenses for!), at Winchcombe on the G&WR, back in July. After trying it with a centre fiddle yard, I decided it would be better to start from scratch and rebuild the extended Crewe Corner on a new 5' x 2' baseboard, with the fiddle yard at one end, allowing me to add another four or five foot board adjoining the fiddle yard at a later date, if I so desired.
     
    As Crewe Heritage was looking for Diesel layouts for their 50 years of the Class 37 celebrations and I have around 10 or so 37s, along with some contemporary locos, I offered this and had it accepted, giving me a month (from now) to complete it. However, I love deadlines, having working in advertising/publishing/exhibitions for most of my working life!
     
    The baseboard has been built and painted and the track laid, after changing the trackplan quite a few times! Tomorrow, I will start on the overbridge and commence painting the track. Trackwork should be completed by Saturday and the scenics (the buildings have been selected from the remains of previous layouts) started on Tuesday, as it's the Rawtenstall show for me on Sunday. Hopefully, I'll make this deadline without any problems...
  21. narrowman
    As some of you know, I'm caretaker for a couple of the modules which make up the 0n30 "Ferrocarril Internacional" - a set of modules by some members of CRM - Connected Railway Modellers (http://c-r-m.webs.com/), who get together quite regularily to exhibit said modules. The two I'm responsible for are "Calle de la Coronacion" - a layout based somewhere in Mexico in the late 1960s and "The Shed" - a locomotive depot, again based in 1960s Mexico. In between my other projects, I have been progressing the detailing on these layouts, in particular, "Calle de la Coronacion" and have added a platform/goods depot building and some appropriate vehicles and figures. Also, I have just received a stationary engine kit from USA, which will be built to power a pump (based on a full size one I own), to enable the water tower to be filled up from the stream, which will need some more water and pipework... more details as usual on my website www.narrowgaugemodelling.com
  24. narrowman
    Owing to getting the Xmas flu bug (after having an anti-flu jab before), there was no modelling over the Xmas/new Year period. I did, however, catch up on my reading and DVD watching!
     
    I've just commenced the rebuild of McHale's Yard, which is something I've been considering for a while now. A decision which was brought to a conclusion on Saturday 22nd January, when I was unloading it out of the car for the C-R-M members meeting in Sandbach. Unfortunately, or fortunately - depending which way you look at it! - the wiring caught on the trestle table and some of it was ripped out.
     
    As I'd bodged it with all sorts of different coloured wires during construction, it was impossible to sort out where each wire went and I made the decision to undertake the alterations the following day and rewire it properly at the same time.
     
    The new track layout will incorporate a circular track, so that "roundy-round" operations can be undertaken, which can be helpful at exhibitions, as constant movement can attract viewers and allows operators to have a break!
    I will also fit a right hand point at the back, so that it can be extended to another board (quite likely) in the future...
     
    I will also rebuild the buildings to something more substantial, as I like the idea of storing bodyshells on top of the office buildings (as in the picture of the Ford Escort Mk1 on my website: www.narrowgaugemodelling.com), so it will need to be of reinforced concrete and breeze block or concrete section walls.
     
    Perhaps, I'll just have the rarer/more interesting bodyshells stored there. I have kits for an Austin 7 and a MGTC.
  25. narrowman
    My Gn15 layout, McHale's Yard has been accepted as a replacement for the unfinished Crewe Corner, which now may return to its mini-layout format, or something near...
    Although it won't be featuring a cut up G scale Class 37 (Do they do one?), it will have some Class 37 representation... Think miniature railway....
    Anyhow, why not pop along and see for yourself!
    Tony
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