TravisM

3 hours ago, Revolution Ben said:

Hi there,

 

The pair of Sellafield CBD-80 locos nos. 1 and 2 are being offered by Revolution Trains and are available to reserve from Rails of Sheffield, with delivery expected next year. 
 

cheers

 

Ben A.

Hi Ben,

I did consider those, but as my time period is 2017/18, during the last years of loco haulage along the line, I don't think they had entered service then (unless you know different)

7 hours ago, 25901 said:

They have/had a Thomas Hill 

Great picture, do you know if anyone makes a model of it in 4mm?

As I’m planning to build a small section of the Cumbrian coast line, which might include the exchange sidings at BNFL Sellafield, I was wondering what shunting loco’s were used on site.  I believe that BNFL have some Clayton Class 18 CBD80/DBD90DRS hybrid/battery shunters on site or on order, but as they are very recent, I wonder what was used before them?

Did DRS shunt the site with their loco’s, or did they hire in ex BR Class 08’s or use their own industrial loco’s?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I can safely say that the Met ones were blue, because as a kid, my bedroom overlooked the one on our street and I remember (1960’s) being woken up at night on several occasions by the blue flashing light 

As I'm planning to model a small section of the Cumbrian coast line that parallel's the sea, and I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to effectively model the sea breaking onto a rocky shoreline.  

On 16/12/2023 at 13:49, Chimer said:

There are basically two ways to arrange the junction and helix as I think  you want it .... a burrowing junction (top) or a more normal double junction using a diamond.

 

 

I've assumed you want the helix to exit down the left hand side of the layout, but don't know  what you want to do with the tracks after that.  Does it actually need to be a helix, with all the accompanying complications?

 

I can't see how you could possibly arrange things so the helix is at the right hand side except by mirroring the whole thing, which wouldn't have the tracks diverging in the way you have described.

 

Either way, the main lines need to lose height quickly (at least 3") to get under the branch before the start of the helix.  If you used the simple double junction with the main lines descending behind the branch lines instead of in front of them, that would ease that problem, and make it easier to arrange access to the yard you also want on this side of the layout.

 

Hope this gives you something to think about ....

Having worked for SouthEast Trains in the past, I would say that the top diagram is probably more prototypical as railways wouldn’t like to have one route blocking other on high density routes, unless it was absolutely necessary.  They would want, where possible, a seamless flow.  I hope that makes sense?

14 hours ago, Michael Hodgson said:

Rotating by degree's won't work because its (slightly) rectangular rather than square, but turn it through 180 degrees and it will fit with just plain track on the access hatch.

I have considered turning the whole plan 180 degree's and instead of a hatch, having a lift out section with a bridge crossing a river as part of the scenic section.  Or I could move the point work for the turnback sidings up, to where they are opposite the ends of the other sidings.

Revised plan

I thought I would share my ideas for my Cumbrian Coast layout and looking for any positive criticism.  it's been done using AnyRail and it's not perfect, but I like the idea of using the turnback sidings to create some kind of timetable, and they will be long enough to hold either three Mk2's, top and tailed by Class 37's, or four Mk2's with a DBSO at one end and a Class 37 at the other.

The through line could be long enough to hold a single Class 156, or my inspection saloon 'Caroline' and Class 37.  The other turnback sidings could hold a Network Rail test or DRS nuclear trains.

Recently purchased a non DCC/Sound 37609 and went to order a sound decoder for it, but a little confused as I maybe missing something here.  When the 37/6's were originally refurbished to be used by EPS, do they need the 'refurbished' sound decoder, or 'original' decoder as I thought the 'refurbished' sound chip referred to just the 37/4's.  Any pointing me in the right direction would be most grateful.

2 minutes ago, ColinK said:

Jools, it shouldn’t need payment, I don’t understand that.  I actually pay to keep my videos on Vimeo so others can watch them for nothing and without adverts.

Hi Colin, 

I’ll have another try later on today, it’s probably me 🤪

15 hours ago, ColinK said:

Here is a bit more from 2018, this time between Drigg and St Bees.  Of interest is a train with three 37scon the front, in three different liveries.  The RAF 156 and a two flask waggons being hauled by 2 x 68 plus 2 x 88.  There is a bit of the Ratty in the middle.  Fast forward to 28 minutes.

 

https://vimeo.com/329435355

Hi Colin,

Tried looking at your video’s but the site wanted payment, which is okay, but as I’m on a limited budget, for now I’d prefer to spend the money on my model railway for now.  Thanks for pointing me in right direction though 

6 hours ago, Cruachan said:

That's a good representative selection that was to be found on the route at the time. I'd suggest that at least one 156 would be essential for such a layout. I recall the units still retained the Serco-Abellio Northern blue and purple livery at the time the loco-hauled services began, but as the newer white livery had begun to be applied during 2017 then this later livery would be appropriate for your slightly later time period.

 

For prototype rolling stock research, there's a Flickr user by the name of Mark Egdell who has a wide range of photos around the central section of the Cumbrian Coast route during the period that the loco-hauled sets were running.

I've started to follow Mark's Flickr pages, there are some awesome pictures on there, not only railway.  It will really help me in my research, thank you for pointing me in his direction.

2 hours ago, ColinK said:

The RAF liveried 156 was a regular performer on the line.
 

You can always add railtours (steam & diesel), the low level nuclear waste (very short train), plus there has been the occasional freight train diverted round the coast (the Tesco train did at least once).  Workington docks still has the occasional freight plus the oil trains to Dalston, but these usually go north to Carlisle.  If you really want to push the boat out there are the nuclear loads that come in and out of Barrow very occasionally.

Rainbow Railways did the RAF liveried 156 using a Realtrack model, but there sold out now, so I might ask them if they can put me on the waiting list if they decide to do another run of them, but I could just get a normal one instead.  I like the idea of a nuclear flask and low level waste trains, nice and short.

2 hours ago, Cruachan said:

The loco-hauled sets only covered two diagrams, so the remainder of services were covered largely by 156s: There was also one out and back class 142 'Pacer' diagram during this period, and I think one daily duty for a pair of 153s.

Thanks for that and as I have two LHCS sets, that suits my needs as I want to keep the stock requirement low, but seriously tempted by a Realtrack Northern Class 156 in the white livery.  I will be also running a Network Rail test train, top and tailed by Colas Class 37's, as well as the inspection saloon 'Caroline' with a DRS Class 37, and finally a nuclear train with a couple of flasks, headed by a Class 68/88 combo.

2 hours ago, Harlequin said:

Hi Jools,

 

Sounds like a great project! Very scenic.

 

I assume this will be OO 4mm scale? If so, your space is very tight, still.

If the layout is to be a fictional version of the Cumbrian coast you could perhaps run two circuits on different levels to add interest and make the most of the space. (There's probably not enough room to connect them with gradients.)

 

And you may have to use some clever tricks like modelling half of a station's passing loop with the other half being in the fiddle yard so that the station doesn't dominate the scene - if you have one at all.

 

Phil

 

Hi Phil,

Yes, it's OO scale and I did consider using your 'Kings Tawton' plan and basing it on St Bees, as it would fit nicely with the space I have.  I just fancy a scenic single track section either between St Bees and Nethertown, or the embankment between the sea and River Ehen, between Braystones and Sellafield.  which is quite appealing.

After a lot of soul searching and dis-satisfied with trying to model Sleaford East Junction, I've decided to go back to my original idea of the Cumbrian Coast line during 2017 and 2018, when it was the stomping ground for DRS Class 37's on passenger services, but I need some help with infrastructure etc.  I'm hoping to model the single line as goes along the coast as it's a space saver (I only have 8.5x7.5ft room), as well as quite picturesque, but at the time, was largely jointed track, but I believe large parts are now CWL so I can't check, but was it Bullhead or flat bottomed, or a combination?

I have two sets of DRS Mk2 stock, one with a DBSO and another which will be top and tailed, but were the passenger services solely in the hands of Class 37/Mk2 combo's or did DMU's in the form of Class 156's appear as well, as I fancy one of Realtrack's Northern Class 156's.  There will be more I need to ask but I think this is a good starting point.

Having a discussion with a friend last night, about what other DRS liveried Class 37's we'd like to see and as I've now settled on modelling the Cumbrian Coast line between 2016 and 18, those that I have fit in just nicely (402, 409, 423 & 609), though there are gaps I'd like to see. 

The obvious ones are 37401, 403, both in large logo, 37405, 409, 419 & 425 in blue compass livery, as well as 37716.  I would have added 37424/37558 as well, but as Bachmann did it, it's doubtful Accurascale will.

If they announced 37401 in DRS large logo, I'd be one of the first to order it.

2 hours ago, DanielP said:

 

My research suggests yes to both. I've collected some photos here.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peterdaniel/galleries/72157720230611599/

Thank you for that, and some great pictures BTW

As I'm moving my modelling location to the Cumbrian Coast in 2017/18 so I can model the DRS 37's and Mk2F's, I've decided that I could probably do with a couple of these FNA wagons, but were they in service during that date?  Would they also be mixed with the older Bachmann FNA's as well?

I will say that I’m quite impressed with the latest announcement and it got a couple of ‘ooh’s’, but not enough to endanger the credit card.  Had there been a WCRC 47/8 and 40145 in BR blue, as it was a few years ago, it think it would have been a different story and it grabbing me warmly by the throat 

6 hours ago, Geep7 said:

But also still hoping for BR Blue Class 117

If they do, make sure they do it without gangway's as these weren't fitted until refurbishment in the mid 70's and painted blue/grey.

Love to see a WCRC Class 47/8 (47802 would be good)

3 hours ago, Rivercider said:

Was there not a plan for Foster Yeoman to take about five Westerns? There was a row of Westerns at Swindon Works,

some of them were sheeted over, I took a few instamatic snaps of them.

I am just off to work, so cannot remember exact details.

 

cheers

including 1035 Western Yeoman but it was found to be in poor condition, so they bought 1010 Western Campaigner instead.

1 hour ago, Matt37268 said:

Not a Thousand that would have been preserved but I have it on good authority that a certain group that own hydraulics (and a class 17) wanted to take on ‘Falcon’ when BR wanted rid of it. 

BR couldn’t sell it to anyone because when Brush sold it to BR, it was written into the contract that when BR had finished with it, it had to go for scrap.  The group went into negotiations with Brush, BR and Cashmore’s but nobody would budge, and the rest they say is history.

If you look on YouTube, one's been up to Georgemas light engine, last year I think?