Chorley 1930's

[farren]

1 hour ago, Blandford1969 said:

Had you not seen this thread?

No I hadn’t, thank you for the link blandford1969. Some interesting stuff and will re-read when the kit turns up.
 

Received a email from John of LRM today about the kits and should receive them in the next few days all being well with the post. will need to sort out some wheels and motor gearbox. Probably start with the brake van first get my eye back in with the soldering as not done any for a few months. 

[5 C]

I'm a bit late to the party here but I shall be watching this with interest. I went to school in Chorley and my parents still live nearby. I must say I was unaware of the extent of the 1930's layout and the facilities surrounding the station. The current landscape gives few clues as to what existed previously.

 

By the 1980's when I was using the station, it was rather shabby and served by ageing first generation DMUs on the "Fylde Line" between Manchester Victoria and Blackpool North.

 

In more recent times, the town has undergone something of a renaissance (it even has an M&S Food Hall!) with numerous independent and dare I say, trendy, bars and restaurants dotted around its streets.

 

Quite by chance I landed on some driver's view videos of the journey between Preston and Manchester which feature the approaches to the station. Although adapted for electrification, much of the original L&Y infrastructure remains including the famous flying arches.

 

 

 

[farren]

Thank you 5C for the you tube links,  I was thinking of going up to take some photos of the station. However there seems to be even less left then I had thought. Which is such a shame but doesn’t surprise me to be honest. The road crossing was one of the things I wanted to look at. I’ll just have to keep on with the research from the comfort of my home. I hadn’t relished the LNWR branch had totally gone. 
 

on the plus side I knew that there was a wagon works north on the LNWR branch so would be off layout just the other side of stump bridge (probably got the name wrong will double check) but further up there was a industrial railway, with a little modellers licence small industrial engines could make an appearance in the goods yard bringing wagons in to be refurbished at the works etc. but that’s for later. 
 

as I have a terrible habit of reading stuff and then forgetting where it I got it from I come to the conclusion of screen grabbing and will from now on drop it here. That way i can find it and most importantly anyone else can read it with out my terrible spelling mistakes. 
 

image from Hornby forum, Rana. 

 

 

Edited April 13, 2022 by farren

[5 C]

The station was extensively rebuilt in the early 1980's as the existing buildings were very shabby and pretty much life expired. I remember going up to the station to see if there were any interesting bits of railwayana but there was nothing to be had. The new buildings were refurbished in connection with electrification 3-4 years ago and there was also work when the station was linked with the new bus interchange around 2004.

 

I looked through some of my old photographs earlier to see if I'd taken any pictures before the demolition but so far have drawn a blank.

 

 

[Gordieb01]

On 03/12/2021 at 00:44, farren said:

Well I’ve done a little more work, lights are fitted and just need wiring up into a circuit.  I’ve also had a lovely delivery from the L&YR society and have some reading to do this is the welcoming pack plus back issues of the year. A couple with lights fitted and working. 

That is looking fantastic!  same era I model as well the 1930s.  Wonderful

[farren]

Thank you Gordiebo1, I have to say I’ve surprised my self with this build.
 

Though just before Christmas I had few unexpected bills to be taken cared of one being £2000 repairs in the roof of the house. So no modelling done of late.
However things have been acquired for further work this week. So the shed should be finished in the next week or two. Then onto the next build probably two signal boxes numbers 3 and 4. Or the coaling stage. 

The London road models are here and I’ve got most the bits to build it. Apart from the driving wheels themselves. I tend to build stock in the conservatory much better light but it’s winter and it’s too cold. So no rush.  

[farren]

Finally I’ve got the doors painted and on the shed.. the the centre doors are glued to each other and are resting on the floor in front of the shed but when they are in the right place and not resting on the jack as in the image you’ll never know. Gutters are also done so I can call it a day on the shed until it gets fitted onto the layout. 
 

i bought one of those Hornby six wheeler coach to have a look at with thoughts of repainting to go with my LNWR Crain. I’ve since ordered a couple more with lights to go behind some of the smaller locos. The one without will be stripped and painted for the Crain 

 

just need to decide what is the next build signal boxes I think to be honest unless something else comes to mind. 
 

 

 

 

Edited April 13, 2022 by farren

[farren]

Well I was going to do both signal box’s at the same time, as there’s differences other then just size I think I’ll do one at a time. Boxes will be detailed and light inside. I’ve ordered some brass window frames and a tool to help cut straight lines in plastic card after digging around on this site. I’ll start with single box 3 first. Some images found on the website I believe mentioned back on page 1. Plus some out off books acquired from the L&Y society. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 13, 2022 by farren

[farren]

Still not any real modelling done, concentrating on the garden at the moment trying to get it all done before the growing season kicks in, don’t want another year playing catch with thing.

However I have bought a 3rd LRM kit a L&YR 0-6-0st which looks like it’ll be a nice build. Also bought a new toy to help with building brass kits and the bike build I’m also doing.

A ultrasonic cleaner hopefully it will help in a better finish to the paint, I’ve seen other modellers use them so thought I’d give one ago. If it’s not worth the effort well there’s room in the under stirs cupboard. 

 

 

Edited April 13, 2022 by farren

[farren]

Well it’s not perfect in the conservatory but it’s warm enough to get some modelling done. Thought I’d start with a London road models class 25. The gearbox is two big so will need to get a smaller one later in the week. Gone for plunger type pick ups on this. See how I get on. The little bag in one image as the breaks in all built up just need fitting. Here a few images of the build so far. 

[farren]

Well done quite a bit more today can fitted with the inner spectacle plates, splashier cab and the first of the two smoke box liners the second will have the rivet detail on it. The reversing link box setting next to the behind cab plate on the right side neck to boiler looks like a silver blob in the image. Plus other bits 

[farren]

Well, it’s taking shape now the body is about finished. Things to do boiler handrails smoke box door handle and hinges buffer bodies etc. the cab detail is on hold while a new gearbox is on order as the other box is too big. Tender is the next thing 

[farren]

Well the class 25 as slowing come together, still waiting for the new gearbox probably turn up this week hopefully. Ran out of low melt solder and as been ordered so have done as much as possible with standard solder, now at a stage where only low melt solder can be used. 

[farren]

Well the tender is a lot closer to being finished the flaring was fun need a little more straightening. The new gearbox as been partly built and is fitted in to see if it’s going to fit. At the moment I think I might getaway without the gearbox intruding into the cab. 
 

slowing adding images back onto this topic so some sense can be had if reading it. 

[farren]

Managed to get the motor and gearbox all fitted, manage to keep the gear box out of the cab. Had to cut some of the boiler bottom out but it’s not visible so all ok. The way the how thing fits together I’ve had to make the boiler front detachable, kept in place by a little step in the cab floor and a small plate inside the boiler with blacktack to hold it in place Seems to work. 
 

fitted a home brew coal rail to the front of the tender which most prototypes seem to have fitted in LMS days.
 

These really just cab roof some cab details to fit, full clean paint and pickups wired up. Oh coupling rods might be a could be a good idea too. 
 

and to pick a Loco number. 
 

dose anyone know of oo gauge plates (I believe it’s a builders plate) of the type shown fitted to the middle wheel splasher in the 3 photos at the bottom. 

Edited April 16, 2022 by farren

[Blandford1969]

Did you find a decent view of the 'rail' on the tender. Some also then seem to have had lockers attached to them.  Those built at Beyer Peacock appear to have kept those plates which can be got from Light Railway Stores Beyer-Peacock works plates (half-moon style) – Light Railway Stores . Some like 52021 got LMS works plates . They also do smokebox number plates and shed code plates. 

[farren]

Yes I had a discussion on Facebook about the builders plates. I’ve ordered a set of builders plates from light railway stores along with shed and loco smoke box number plates for about £7. So not bad. I’ve gone for 12045. 
 

finished the model  more or less, need a clean and painting. Rods are ready to be fitted but didn’t want to risk damaging them.

[farren]

Almost done, waiting for some crank pines, the lms cab side panels plus plates shed, loco smoke box and builders. 
 

the L&YR 20 ton Break van needs little more work body colour windows and transfers. 

Edited April 22, 2022 by farren

[farren]

Well it’s Saturday and I thought it would be nice to show some models on the layout looking the part for a change. Yes the Flatiron would never have been seen at Chorley but I’ve had the model for about ten years had multiple stop starts on it. Now finally finished its staying. The cairn is a LNWR but looking at the map was probably based closer to Chorley then the L&YR one which is identical apart from not having a cab roof. Still waiting for some plates and transfers for both locos. 

Edited May 14, 2022 by farren

[5 C]

10 hours ago, farren said:

Well it’s Saturday and I thought it would be nice to show some models on the layout looking the part for a change. Yes the Flatiron would never have been seen at Chorley but I’ve had the model for about ten years had multiple stop starts on it. Now finally finished its staying. 

Although it's unlikely that the Flatiron would ever have visited Chorley, ironically the Flatiron was the name given to Chorley's long-standing weekly open air market, which attracted shoppers and stallholders from all over the North West. The site was used as a car park on non-market days and is still referred to as the Flatiron locally. 

 

The site has now been partially redeveloped and the market stalls brought into the town centre, mixed in with the covered market and shops. Despite the initial outcry, it's widely accepted that the move has benefitted all concerned.

[5 C]

Several views of Chorley station before rebuilding, starting at 3:20. The images appear to be from the late 70's/early 80's which was when I lived in the town. Many of the now long gone places in the video are very familiar. 

 

 

[farren]

Some interesting images in that video, it’s funny what you forget as you get older. How fashion as changed. The cars and advertising brings back some memories. The little bits of the railways helps with colours when I get round to doing a bit more. Thank you for your post. 
 

the layout hasn’t been forgotten just kitchen upgrades  come first and the bike needs some bits. 
 

I am tempted with the London road 50’ turn table. Yes I know the shed was pretty much out of use in med to late LMS days. But a working turn table on a layout adds to the interest and to be honest the play ability too. Who doesn’t like a loco being turned. 
 

[farren]

Sorry not posted for a while, the layout hasn’t been abandoned. Just haven’t had much spare time of late. Though not much has happened even now on the layout and a L&YR coach is sitting on the workbench half finished, decorating took up much of the spare time but the Hall kitchen spare bedroom and bathroom are looking much better then in years! Not all bad then.

On the layout part of the reason I got board with Rothley was the lack of a fiddle yard.
So it seems a good place to start and can be tested. I am thinking of fitting surface mounted points with a mimic board with a pen switch. Though I could use a dcc controller I think the mimic board would be simpler. How to power it is something I’ll need to look into. Well I admit it’s not exciting but a couple of images still needs finishing.