Heaton Lodge Junction

[HeatonLodge40]

As above, I gave the Cargowaggens ‘toilet tarpaulin’ a coat of Tamiya khaki this morning.

Chains are now fitted, pleased with it overall. 
 

Still weathering dozens of 16T mineral wagons & Accurascale HUO’s.
My Chinese coal grinder was delivered today (complete with a Chinese plug) and I reckon I need about 4/5kgs of powdered coal to fill all these wagons. 
I’m planning on running 2 x 37’s pulling at least 55 of the HUO’s/16T’s.

Does anyone know how many wagons a very heavy partially fitted coal train had in the early ‘80’s?

 

[TheSignalEngineer]

5 hours ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

Does anyone know how many wagons a very heavy partially fitted coal train had in the early ‘80’s?

It would depend on the route and engine power. All lines had a train length quoted in SLU (standard length unit) which was 21 feet. This did not normally include the loco and I think it was two brake vans. Train weights were based on the nature of the line in the way of maximum gradients and minimum curvature. 

Heaton Lodge will probably be in a (North)  Eastern Region book somewhere.

 

Edited March 6, 2022 by TheSignalEngineer

[47606odin]

Weights will depend on track geometry and gradients

 

the maximum load will also depend on how many and what class of loco is allocated to the service.

Basically, the maximum weight will be what the allocated loco can lift from standstill on the steepest grade minus the weight of the loco. This is so a replacement loco can be sent in the event of a loco failure and still be able to lift the train from a stand on the steepest grade.

[HeatonLodge40]

Wagons wagons wagons again..

 

Found this rare Dapol BR brake van on ebay so spent a couple hours fitting a tail lamp, weathering it & adding a bit of detail.

A guard will cover the wires to the tail lamp.

 

All this has had is roof dirt, frame dirt, dirty black and Vallejo oil spills on the axle boxes. 
 

Before it goes into service like all other new wagons given the amount of mileage they cover it’ll get a dab of oil on the axle ends and I snip a connecting rod underneath. This enables the brake shoes to be slightly pushed away from the wheels. It’s been a problem causing way more friction than it should on some recent wagon releases. 
 

Some years ago I built 27 TTA tanks from JLTRT kits. At Wakefield they formed their own train but alas the train never ran totally reliably. I’ve weeded out some of the culprits  and decided to repaint 15 of the others into 3 different liveries. 

5 will be getting BP green/yellow

5 others ICI Petrochemical & Plastics Division livery 

5 others Total livery.

 

Thinking is I can run these sets in 3 Speedlink trains so adding a bit of variety 

 

[TheSignalEngineer]

6 hours ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

Found this rare Dapol BR brake van on ebay so spent a couple hours fitting a tail lamp, weathering it & adding a bit of detail.

A guard will cover the wires to the tail lamp.

Don't forget the side lamps as it is unfitted. Also looks as if it has lost a lamp iron at the other end.

Edited March 6, 2022 by TheSignalEngineer

[Steven B]

On 05/03/2022 at 19:36, HeatonLodge40 said:

Does anyone know how many wagons a very heavy partially fitted coal train had in the early ‘80’s?

Start counting:

03Jul75. Hall Royd Junction. EE Class 40 40148 (Ex D348). [Slide_A020] by Mr_Western, on Flickr

 

03Jul75. Hebden Bridge. EE Class 40 40115 (Ex D315). [Slide_A022] by Mr_Western, on Flickr

 

40022, Huddersfield 1981 by Awwalker1, on Flickr

 

40046-501-5 by David Flitcroft, on Flickr

 

https://flic.kr/p/bqGyRQ

https://flic.kr/p/dGgCjx

 

 

[HeatonLodge40]

Thanks for that Steven - superb pics! 
 

My new Chinese coal grinder produced about 4kgs of ground coal today. Despite the fact it clearly doesn’t comply with any safety restrictions and produced so much coal dust I thought it would set off the fire alarm, it did do the job.

I’m sure the lack of the two humps in the coal loads on the HAA’s won’t go unnoticed but that’s the best it’s going to get for now!

 

 

[HeatonLodge40]

19 hours ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

Don't forget the side lamps as it is unfitted. Also looks as if it has lost a lamp iron at the other end.

Would the side lamps face forwards & the middle one rear? Thanks 

[Simond]

I believe this to be correct!

[TheSignalEngineer]

 

On 07/03/2022 at 18:51, HeatonLodge40 said:

Would the side lamps face forwards & the middle one rear? Thanks 

Side lamps have two faces, White to front and Red to rear except where there are two adjacent lines on the same direction. In such an area the guard would remove the red filter from the side adjacect to the additional line in the same direction. 

In this picture the train has just come along the Up Goods line adjacent to the Up Mai. The lamp to the right is white and the left is red. When it moves out onto the two-track section the guard will put the red filter back into the right hand lamp.

 

 

This one shows the lamp position from the front of the train

Photos C E Steele

 

I don't know what colour the lamp cases were in the north but these white ones were less common in our area than black cases.

 

Edited April 10, 2022 by TheSignalEngineer
Picture restored

[Steven B]

17 hours ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

I’m sure the lack of the two humps in the coal loads on the HAA’s won’t go unnoticed but that’s the best it’s going to get for now!

 

Possibly a bit late for Heaton Lodge, but single humps are needed for rakes of HAA roued via the Calder Valley in the late 1980s:

Westbound MGR At Elland (Michael McNicholas) by Neil Harvey 156, on Flickr

 

Gridding Up The Valley. by Neil Harvey 156, on Flickr

 

Large Logo Grid On Gauxholme Viaduct (Michael McNicholas) by Neil Harvey 156, on Flickr

 

The loading pattern of HAA depending on where it was loaded. Those above have a single heap. Others load to two or three peaks. You'll also find some where the load has been levelled and has a flat top.

 

I spend far too much time on Flickr - it's an amazing resource!

 

Steven.

[TheSignalEngineer]

8 hours ago, Steven B said:

The loading pattern of HAA depending on where it was loaded. Those above have a single heap. Others load to two or three peaks. You'll also find some where the load has been levelled and has a flat top.

It could also depend on the technique of the operator. Some put a lot in at the start of the wagon which then got flattened by the bottom of the hood. That ensured that you got plenty in but you had to cut of at the right spot because you didn't want two tons to go between the wagons. That stopped the job while it was shovelled out by hand. 

[HeatonLodge40]

I’ve come to the conclusion that working mostly on my own for years has definitely affected my judgment.

I say this as with all the fuel prices rocketing the price for shifting Heaton Lodge Junction on 2 x 240 mile trips with 3 artics and an 18 ton rigid (this is just for the trestles) to Bath and back is now approaching 5 figures. 
In fact I’ve just been told this is about the cost of transporting a full size Pacific Loco and tender the same distance.
I sure hope this next exhibition is well attended! 
 

Anyway as a recap, since the last exhibition in Wakefield the diesel depot & DMU stabling is now complete and working. Jonathan & Rob the software gurus have written the code necessary to see locos automatically moving at walking pace through fuel and washing plants.
DMU’s come and go and now don’t use up a 40ft siding leaving space for another big heavy freight!

Plus working synchronised ground signals by DCC Concepts work well too.

All the scenic work is still to do but it’s all up and running.
 

Since Wakefield a fleet of 40’s & 47’s have arrived meaning prototypical Trans Pennines will constantly run in both directions. 
Additionally I’ve completed the following..

 

: All trains now have working tail lamps (brake lights to me)

: The 15 Motorail wagons has been rewheeled and modified to make them run better. (There’s still no tax discs in the windscreens however)

: A 40 hauling 45 VEA’s will be doing the rounds

: 2 more MGR’s with 36 x HAA’s hauled by screaming Heljan ‘56’s 

: Another 2 x 30 16T & HUO hoppers make up two more heavy coal trains

: An A2 will join the 9F doing steam charters

: Good chance the 124 Trans-Pennine will be operational this time.

 

 I’ve also been cleaning 10 wagon wheels a night for months now so If anyone knows of an automated wheel cleaner for O gauge wagons please let me know.

Problem is the gunk that comes off them has to be seen to be believed. I’m sure someone could design one. 

I’ve been fitting the Modellers Mecca corridor connectors when servicing the coaches.

Said it before but can’t believe the difference they make.

Back to wagon cleaning now.

 

 

Edited March 13, 2022 by HeatonLodge40
Spelling

[jamie92208]

If the cars on the cartics are newcones on delivery they wouldn't have VEL's as they would only getvtheir reg numbets allocated when they were bought from a showroom.  Delivery drivers would use trade plates.

 

Jamie

[HeatonLodge40]

15 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

If the cars on the cartics are newcones on delivery they wouldn't have VEL's as they would only getvtheir reg numbets allocated when they were bought from a showroom.  Delivery drivers would use trade plates.

 

Jamie

They aren’t new Jamie they are all ages and quite grubby some of them

[jamie92208]

5 minutes ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

They aren’t new Jamie they are all ages and quite grubby some of them

I wasn't sure but in that case reg plates and VEL's, unless of course some of them have Guiness labels.  Depending on the year there would only have been two colours ofvVEL's. From memory there were only 4 colours which they cycled through.

 

Goodvluck.

 

Jamie

[LongRail]

Simon have you thought about a track cleaning wagon may help with build up of detritus on wheels

[Calnefoxile]

18 hours ago, LongRail said:

Simon have you thought about a track cleaning wagon may help with build up of detritus on wheels

 

That's a good shout, make it something like the one that runs round Miniatur Wunderland. They have 2 or 3 that circle the whole layout.

 

Regards

 

Neal.

[ferret1956]

27 minutes ago, Calnefoxile said:

 

That's a good shout, make it something like the one that runs round Miniatur Wunderland. They have 2 or 3 that circle the whole layout.

 

Regards

 

Neal.

Shudder to think how long one "orbit" takes! 

[HeatonLodge40]

19 hours ago, LongRail said:

Simon have you thought about a track cleaning wagon may help with build up of detritus on wheels

No track wagons - even the heavy brass one CMX manufacturer (that cost £200) get the tarnish off the rails.

 

Also the sheer distance they cover means the material that touches the rail heads gets gunked up after one circuit. 
I use the LGB track rubbers as they are just the right size for O gauge and don’t fall apart

 

[Metr0Land]

20 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

I wasn't sure but in that case reg plates and VEL's, unless of course some of them have Guiness labels.  Depending on the year there would only have been two colours ofvVEL's. From memory there were only 4 colours which they cycled through.

 

Goodvluck.

 

Jamie

 

Tax disc colours/years here:

http://www.creativetaxdiscs.co.uk/page102.html

[steve45]

Simon, you have my support, I'm coming on Sunday 10th and really looking forward to it.

[HeatonLodge40]

On 14/03/2022 at 19:32, Metr0Land said:

 

Tax disc colours/years here:

http://www.creativetaxdiscs.co.uk/page102.html

Much as I like detailing I don’t think I’ll go as far as to put correct tax disc colours in the windscreen! 

[Enterprisingwestern]

53 minutes ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

Much as I like detailing I don’t think I’ll go as far as to put correct tax disc colours in the windscreen! 

 

Pah, call yourself a modeller?!!

 

Mike.

[Metr0Land]

2 hours ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

Much as I like detailing I don’t think I’ll go as far as to put correct tax disc colours in the windscreen! 

 

Maybe some kind soul on here will run off a set for you?