*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Steam Locomotives
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
One of the main detractions of the original body was a solid
footplate beneath the boiler, so this was cut out and looks a lot better for it. A hint of
red inside the frames beneath and the model has come to life. I also added a full compliment
of lamp irons and replaced the safety valves and whistle with brass turnings. Not as crisp,
obviously, as can be achieved these days (and the handrails do look a bit heavy, I would admit),
but this ‘old friend’ had to find a proper role for sentimental reasons.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
From the Shenston Road fleet is this detailed and weaathered Bachmann 9F 92004 which is
seen on a coal working at Hornsey Broadway.
Now for a selection of steam locomotives from Karl's Kentside fleet, starting with this
Fowler 2-6-4T 42402 as seen at Hebble Vale Goods. Fitted with Mike Edge’s Limousine cab
etched overlays on a Hornby body shell with a Comet chassis underneath.
One of the original Kentside locos, ex-Midland 2F 0-6-0 58123 is a Alan Gibson kit. It
should find plenty of work and be very much at home on the local pick-up goods trains.
This ex-LMS Jinty was a mainstay of the original Kentside layout. A Cotswold whitemetal kit;
in fact it was the first loco I ever built in EM, way back in the late 1970s. Having a solid
brass chassis block and X04 type motor it never performed well and for Kentside MK1 it got
a replacement Comet chassis powered by a Mashima motor and Branchlines Multibox, with
Ultrascale wheels. A lovely runner given the weight of the body and I did a few upgrades
to be bodywork at that time. Fast forward to The Kentside Branch and the loco basically
ended up being the test vehicle, so I thought it was about time it was prepared ready for
working on the layout proper. 
From the Canada Street fleet is L&Y Pug 51237. When I first got interested in the hobby in
the early 1970s, motorising the Airfix kit of this loco type was an often reported project
in the modelling magazines. At that time motors and gearsets compact enough to make it work
were hard to come by! By the time I scratchbuilt the chassis for this model in the early 1980s
things were becoming easier and the Portescap 1216 motor / gearbox was perfect for the job.
Just a few years later there was a ready-to-run model, and much of the novelty value was lost.
It's now had a freshly added smoke deflector for working in the docks beneath the Liverpool
Overhead Railway – modelled to a photograph of 51237 taken in mid-1960.
USA tank 30071 is pictured resting amongst some vans within the exchange sidings at Canada Street.
Southern Railway B4 0-4-0 30096 is one of a batch of three scratchbuilt in the mid-1980s from
plans in the Model Railway Constructor. These small sturdy looking engines were built for work
within Southampton Docks, but later found use elsewhere on the SR when the USA tanks (and later
diesel Class 07s) arrived.
Built on handmade brass frames and cylinders with Romford wheels and a Portescap RG4
motor, the bodywork is mostly plasticard with cast brass fittings. It used to partner a
kit-built Southern Q1 0-6-0 during exhibitions, but has been in retirement of late.
GWR pannier tank 8779. This was built in the early 1980s and makes use of the Perseverance
chassis kit with a Portescap motor, and a much adapted Hornby bodyshell – including cutting it
down the centreline to correct the width (amongst other improvements). Although more true scale
r-t-r models of the type are now available, 8779 still gets the odd trip out on the layout.
LNER J72 0-6-0 is pictured with all bodyshell detail items added. The pipes below the footplate
have been made using plastic rod for good bonding to the shell, with brass rod employed for
strength on the more vulnerable end sections by the buffer beams. The excellent Mainline
bodyshell is paired with a compensated chassis built from the Perseverance kit.
The chassis showing the low-slung Mashima motor and flywheel, 60:1 gear set and Romford wheels.
This arrangement has the advantage of minimal intrusion into the cab, and allows the correct
daylight beneath the boiler forward of the sidetanks.
LNER J72 0-6-0T 69016 has been completed to a 1963/4 appearance, shown again in a bunker end view.
The J27 0-6-0 workhorses were amongst the last steam survivors in the North East
despite their age. 65860 is shown modelled in a typical 1966 condition for the type,
when loco cleaning was only being done by steam enthusiasts not depot staff.
65860 coasts into the exchange sidings at Canada Road on a local trip working.
Steam locomotives at Hartburn - ex-LNER J27 65842 shunts in the station loop.
Classmate 65819 complete with snowplough, pauses briefly by the station.
Both the above LNER J27s are built from the Dave Alexander kit.
A detail view of the chassis - Modified frames have been used with compensation incorporated.
The Romford wheels give a live-axle pick-up on one side, and Kean-Maygib 462NS sprung plungers
complete the system. The coupling rods are from Alan Gibson, and final drive from the Mashima
1620 motor is via a 60:1 worm / wheel set on the rigid back axle. The centre wheel balance
weight is made from 5 thou plasticard fixed with epoxy, and more epoxy is use to fill the
wheel centres before filing flush.
The tender for one of the J27 is shown awaiting painting. This model has been adapted
slightly from the supplied kit parts to add an extra coal rail, as shown by photographs
of the chosen locomotive in the mid-60s. The fireman’s tools in the tender tool rack are
etched items available from 247 Developments.
A local pick-up freight trundles through Hartburn station.
J39 64897 picks up a loaded van from the long siding. J39s weren't seen on the Rothbury
branch in reality but the Bachmann model is nice.
Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0 43063 heads a short pick-up goods back down the line towards Morpeth.
The type was transferred to the area in the closing years of the rail service as a
slightly younger alternative to the aging J27s.
