Corbs

Hi mate, I think you are uploading your images using the 'entry image' function at the top of the blog post editor. The trouble with this is that it creates a tiny thumbnail, but when you click on it to see the image, it's so big it's almost impossible to see anything. If you use the 'add image' function at the bottom of the editor, it scales the pictures to fit the post, and it means you can add more than one image per blog post. I hope this is helpful! Looking forward to seeing more updates.

I thought Duck was an 8750 class, at least initially?

 

The reason the GWR went in for saddle and later pannier tanks was to allow for free access to the motion. The position of your name plate would obstruct this. Could it not go on the side of the tank, with either no NWR, or just N and W either side?

 

Regardless of that, it does look superb in that livery!

Thanks mate! Well really he's whatever I tell him to be (!) but Dalby Is Not To Be Trusted and after he stopped illustrating the books, Duck became 5741 which is the earlier type.

What the name plate is actually mounted on in real life are two brackets mounted to the underside of the tank, with two metal 'loops' on the back of the plate. If a portly crew member cannot squeeze under the nameplate, he need only to lift it off the brackets, the metal being quite light and thin, as evidenced by the bend in the plate....

....of course

What an epic build.

Regarding couplings - kadees I have found to be the most versatile for operation. Does the majority of your stock have NEM pockets already? The NEM kadees are much easier to work with than the ones where you have to build the housing box yourself.

If you are running short fixed rakes, have you considered semi-permanently coupling the vehicles using wire or rod bent to a hook and loop?

My stepdad has recently bought the Heljan turntable, expensive but the control system is very neat and works on DC or DCC. The indexing is programmable by the user quite easily.

I'll tell you a story about a young boy (who will remain nameless)...

So the story goes, in the late 1930s a Portishead-bound train was diverted into the Gasworks unexpectedly. The train came to a halt rather quickly (line speed not being particularly high), reversed out and was soon on its way, but a railway employee called around the local businesses demanding to speak to the owners and find out who had changed the points.

The little boy was accused of this misdeed, his father asked him to demonstrate to the railway employee if he could indeed pull the lever. He was clearly not strong enough to do so.

The railway employee left to continue his questioning elsewhere.

As it turns out, the little boy could not pull the lever on his own, but 3 boys all pulling together on a rope wrapped around the lever could!

Good stuff. A definite house style developing between Cheddar and Clevedon - although they are very different layouts and railways of course.

 

I see that Clevedon Saw Mills still exist, that's impressive. 

It's run by a friend of mine. They still own the WW2-era AEC Matador Timber Tractor they bought after the war! His dad remembers the WC&PR being open when he was a lad.

The sawmills did own a traction engine, a Burrell called 'Gladstone', which was later sold and is now preserved.

https://www.farmcollector.com/steam-traction/history-of-a-burrell-gladstone

There was also a stationary steam engine in the sawmill which met a sorry end when the piston hydro-locked and burst!

Blimey

Superb! It's better than I could have imagined. Love the covered dock and low relief van.

haha, thanks dude! Ironically one of the smoothest runners I have!

A true beauty, glad to say I got to see all the progress myself via instagram. Can't wait to see whatever else you make or paint, probably both.

Thanks for the kind words!

Thanks all! I did feel like a heretic with this one, the 14xx will get a similar treatment....

Mikkel - thanks for the kind words, I have tried to give the willing suspension of disbelief a helping hand!

Nice work, James. The Barnums remind me of continental designs with the recessed doors and large windows.

How did this turn out, Nick? (7 years later)

Mate, you need to post this in the main forum to get a response, the blog section is for modelling updates etc. so people might not see it

A very useful post, Ray! Going to try and find some affordable replacement chassis to re-engine our Mainline 'Scot'.

Very clever, and a neat use of those tiny motors. What are you going to secure it with?

I'm fairly certain that several people do just that, stump up the cash for pre-orders then sell them for ££££££ in the 'drought' that follows.

YES! Very nice work.

That's really ingenious Corbs. When I first saw the maps I thought you had drawn them yourself.

 

Have you deleted any of the original railway lines on the map? Otherwise I can imagine it could easily become a bit daunting in terms of the operational requirements.

I think I've added at least as many as I've removed. As you said, it's amazing how we find excuses to have more locos!

Interesting Corbs. I keep looking at maps from the Edwardian era, the thing that hits you is the sheer quantity of railway lines. The area around Empress docks is so typical, I see the same quantity of lines in all the old Glasgow maps.

Yes, and what always strikes me about old railway maps is the sheer amount of wagon turntables! So common in the Victorian era.

This is an interesting approach to the issue of locating a railway geographically.  Taken a step further, I wonder if it would be possible to take parts of one map, turn them around, mirror them, what have you, then merge them down into another.

I should think it would be possible for sure, it would be easiest if they are from the same manufacturer so the styles match.

I've done that to a lesser extent, for example the main station has been mirrored again and rotated, and the old main line is now the gasworks line. The same with the docks, which have been cut out on the 'old' West side and pasted in along the riverbank.

The river was narrowed as well, reason being is the Tid is smaller than the Itchen!

Looks cracking!

Very nice!

Stunning work. Tell us about the wagon turntables, please. Graham

There's an earlier blog post if you need a peek at some more pics!

Merry christmas Corbs.

 

That's very effective snow, not least the tyre tracks.  Looks like the little yellow devil backed in, then moved forward a bit...

Thanks Mikkel, and god jul till dig också (sorry it's Swedish, I don't know any Danska!).

I think they were dropping something off and are on their return run.

Later spotted doing some naughty handbrake turns....

That 73 is rather fetching. I guess you are not planning on using remote uncoupling as you have trimmed the trip wires? I find I have to bend all/most of mine with pliers to stop them fouling.

WOW. Stunning!