EM Gauge Layouts, Models & Projects

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A through service from Rothbury to Newcastle pauses at Hartburn. As seemed to be the norm in photographs of lines in their last days, the
photographer’s car makes an appearance in the shot. The DMU is the long-serving (and reliable) Lima unit from Easington Lane. Hartburn
is normally exhibited with stock covering a period from the early 1950s to 1966, however the opportunity was taken at the 2017 Derby show
to move that period forward to 1968. This allowed us to run a variety of green and blue pre-TOPS diesels for a change. It also show-cased
the backscene that has been added. Painted by Pete Johnson, it replaces the previous plain blue backscene, making it’s debut at the
Alexandra Palace exhibition in 2016 and makes such a difference to the look of the layout. A big thank you to Pete for his excellent work on it.

An unidentified class 08 heads through with a train of mixed opens and minerals.

D7629 runs light through Hartburn towards Rothbury. Class 25s were seen on the Wansbeck line on military trains heading for Otterburn
Camp, something we will be able to recreate once the Bachmann Warflat is available.

A Clayton heads torwards Morpeth with the weekly freight. Common in the North-East in the '60s, it's at home in the Northumbrian landscape.

A Gateshead based class 24/1 D5149 shunts the short coal siding. This particular loco was inspired by a picture of the prototype running
through Manors station on a mixed freight. At its next outing at Expo Autumn in September, we will again run two distinct periods.

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This image was taken nearly 10 years ago during the initial stages of construction.... It's come on a long way since then, although there is
still some more detail work to do. It will be making a rare outing to Railex at Aylesbury on the 26th & 27th of May, where we will be looking
forward to catching up with faces old and new. Although this layout project has primarily been a sole venture, the help and encouragement
from Paul James & Greg Brookes in particular (both professional railwaymen) has been invaluable. I would also like to thank the operating
team for their help and dedication, without which the layout could never leave home.

The last signal for the layout is being built by Paul (Alan Gibson kit), in an advanced stage of construction. He's also finishing the signal box
and the surrounding huts - all based on the Midland box at Leicester, which should be finished in time for Railex. We've always had a tradition
of helping each other out with detail work and making signature structures for various layout projects, going back well over 30 years to the
'Cheltenham Diesel Hydraulic Modellers', and 'The Friends of Hayley Mills' days.

The cardboard cut-out of Arnos Grove Underground station (courtesy of Google Streetview) has been a useful prop on the layout for many a
year, and plans are now underway for a building which will do Bridge Street justice. Roundels have been made to fit onto the facade, utilising
a pair of fibre tap washers bonded together, and faced with London Transport logos. These were commonplace from the 1950s to the 1970s
on stations (later being replaced with the Underground logo), whilst the canopy edge will be decorated with blue faux glazed panels. There's
more on the station building itself further down the page, courtesy of Pete.

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D6325 collects loaded van stock from the furniture factory at Lesney Park. The type 2 is from Dapol, repainted, renumbered and weathered.

On another fine sunny day, the type 2 is seen returning with a Lomac in tow. The Lowmac EK is from the Dapol (ex Airfix) kit, and fitted with
RP25-88 10.5mm diameter wheels from Steam Era Models.

Here D6325 rolls along as it takes to the branch on a down parcels working. The MK1 GUV is from Bachmann Branchline.

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Back in the early 1990s Rob Mabbett and I managed to walk around and through the old Newton Abbot works taking lots of pictures. Whilst
checking through the images I had taken, unbelievably I had not taken an image of the SR concrete hut! Luckily for me Rob not only took an
image of said structure but more importantly he managed to get all 4 sides in various images captured. So trying to remember the Technical
Drawing skills I learnt at school 42 years ago I commenced on a drawing to capture the building to help me construct it.

Various thicknesses of plastic-card were used in its construction, The window frames were stuck directly onto the clear glazing and the
opening handles glued onto the inside of the glazing.

I decided to show that the main doors into the building have suffered from the elements of damp, so I have cut away at the bottom of some of
the planks of wood to show this decay. I've also made an unlocked padlock, and wonder what they may have stored in the concrete building.

The inside of the building was painted using a Precision paints 'concrete’ mixed with a Humbrol ‘grey’ to give me the right colour.

Outside the locomotive works access roads were located 2 refuelling pumps, which I need to make one for roads 3 & 4. I had scratch built
2 of these in 1/32nd scale, one for Worcester Road and one for Rob Mabbett’s layout. So it was back to find the images I had taken of the
fuelling pump at Gloucester Horton rd for the detail I required again to build one of these in 4mm scale. I noted that the main arm that was
connected to the rubber pipes was at a right angle in comparison to the Gloucester variant. Again various thicknesses of brass tube were
used in its construction, along with plastic-card for the detail. Its not finished yet I still have more detail to put on, however I feel it shows
enough of what it is supposed to represent.

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Morfa Bank (V2) has now almost settled into its new home (despite not yet actually working) and, for the first time in over a year, the
re-development has restarted. Hopefully some of the many on-the-go projects can get going again now. First up is the ‘urban bit’ at the back
of the layout beyond the new canal scene. After that I really must get the trains running. This view shows the removable module as the first
of the many foam board supports were going in. The buildings are off the old version and will need a bit of rebuilding but nothing too onerous.

The canal is to the left, you can just see the steps up to the canal bridge. The buildings at the rear are both Hornby Scaledale that my wife
bought for an aborted canal diorama – seems a shame to waste them!

The garage from Morfa Bank 1 will return in the rebuild although rather less visible. After all the effort of detailing it most of this, sadly, will
be virtually invisible on the new version.

A paper template for the car road surface has been cut out. The alley up to the rear lane will feature a flight of steps. The old newsagent will
turn into a transport cafe, more appropriate for the new surroundings.

The AW&T office was initially going to fit into this scene but is now going to find a home on the left side of the layout near to the spoil tip siding.

The new scene is to the left of this part of the layout. The scrap yard is still being detailed and the foundry wall is only temporary for now but
the overall feel of the scene is coming together nicely. The canal lock flight is just in front of the foreground buildings.

The module in place fitting around the canal and below the main yard. Most of the bases for the buildings are now cut to shape and installed.

With the buildings temporarily in place we can see how they fit in with the rest of the layout at this end. The backscene is unpainted at the
moment. The trusty Bachmann ‘Test Vanfit’ sits in the siding on the tramway.

This is the module from the opposite end and shows how the foam board structure works. A series of rough v-notches have been cut from the
rear of the walls that need to be curved. There are a number of different levels, which do not show up that well amongst the glaring whiteness.

The next task was the cutting and fitting of the car repair mesh to form the basis of the scenic areas, fixed in place using the hot glue gun.

The limit of progress for now with the steps to the rear lane shaped and in position and the mesh fitted and awaiting surface treatment. Next
up will be a covering of DAS clay to begin forming the road surfaces.

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Put together from another of the excellent Judith Edge etched kits, early type Hunslet Class 05 number D2556 is pictured in finished condition

The early model Class 08 became one of those projects I couldn’t put down, and was completed sooner than expected. The model has been
finished as 13076, in a typical livery for the close of the 1950s

In the middle of the month the layout attended the Liverpool MRC show in Crosby. This provided a chance to highlight some of the locos with
local connections. L&Y Pug 51237 is pictured at work - an old Airfix adaptation, now complete with freshly added smoke deflector for working
in the docks beneath the overhead railway – modelled to a web photograph of ‘237 taken in mid-1960.

13076 got a first run out working trips into the exchange sidings, and gave the usual superb performance of the Hornby model.

The real D2556 moved north from Ipswich during 1966 and spent a few months on Merseyside before final withdrawal.

The Class 05 is pictured again, looking rather boxed-in amongst vans! (photo courtesy of Michael Delamar, LMRC)

Sunday brought the layout into the TOPS era with one of the 3 Allerton class 02 locos that survived renumbering, is pictured between duties.

The closing sequence recalled Birkenhead Docks in the late 1970s, as Class 03 emerges from the docks with a pair of 35 ton grain hoppers.

Now a few snaps taken by Paul at the Liverpool Show. From the Eastwell fleet is a Craftsman etched brass kit of a class 02 DH loco D2861.

Part of the Ipswich segway sees a trio of shunting locos keeping the grain wagons company.

D5033 is seen at Canada Street between duties - an SLW model detailed and weathered by Paul James for his Eastwell fleet.

Back on the work bench, this London Underground station is taking shape after an invitation from Kier to contribute to Hornsey Broadway.
The fictitious model station copies the modernist concrete and brick architecture of Perivale on the Central Line.

Enjoyable modelling, even if I did get carried away with the interiors for the Kiosk and Dry Cleaners!

Based around bespoke laser-cut plastic window framing supplied by York Modelmaking, the station really begins to look the part after
application of signage compiled and computer printed by Kier.

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Editor's footnote - the LT station building by Pete is now being fitted to the layout, and populated with passengers
and ticket machines. Thank you to Pete for creating a fabulous building and adding to the scene.

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With slow progress due to the bomb-site appearance of the garden having to take priority there’s only a few photos of the latest stage at the
scrap yard this month. With the old Michigan running through the yard we can see the growing scrap piles. Time BR delivered a few wagons.

Here’s a longer view with the new ‘urban area’ (see last month’s update) just visible beyond the high level tracks. There is still much to do
this end with the boundary walls and fences still at an early stage of development. The backscene is also on the to-do list.

The other end of the yard with the very muddy access track to the fore (there is a bridge into the yard to the left beyond the derelict
warehouse. Not somewhere to take your Morris Minor! Aberavon Works dominates the background.

A low angle shot looking into the cavernous interior of the foundry, eventually to feature some subdued lighting effects. There is still much
to do with various shades of brown and red paint on the scrap piles but they are slowly starting to feel right now.

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May turned into a bit of a mech month on the hobby bench….. Kit-built Class 14 ‘D9502’ had developed an annoying buzz when running, most
likely due to the controller feedback frequency in the motor being amplified by it pressing up against some part of the brass bodyshell. This
gave a reason to re-construct the chassis, and free up the Portescap 1219 unit for an out-and-out shunting loco.

The result was this new mech for recently completed Class 04 swop-body ‘D2294’. The Branchlines etched kit for the type was used, and is
now my sixth example of this good no-nonsense chassis, all of which have performed well. It also allowed the correct oiled-steel coupling rods
of the blue 04 to be modelled, rather than the red painted rods of the mech used previously.

The re-built Class 14 now features Gibson wheels and the neat 80:1 High Level gearbox – although I did find the final drive gear supplied to
be a completely loose fit on the Gibson steel axle and had to grind a keyway with a slitting disc, locked by an offcut of wire and superglue,
to be sure the drive would reach the wheels.

The third mech of the month is this home-brewed set of frames for the Hunslet 0-4-0 tram project. These were made from the edge border
offcuts from the blue grain etches, and were tacked together with solder during drilling to ensure accurate alignment of the holes. As the
tram skirts will conceal all the motion, the simple frames lack any jack shaft or brake gear, but allow for rocking of the undriven axle to
enhance pick-up. The RG4 unit for this chassis has been recovered from the Lima/Crownline Class 08 (08 915) which has now been retired.

A replacement for 08 915 is taking shape in the form of another Hornby re-work converted to EM gauge using the Alan Gibson pack – Based
upon 08 822 in ‘First’ livery, I shall be turning back the clock to the rail blue era, with the aim of it being in a completely unremarkable late-70s
condition that wouldn’t get a second glance on a teenage spotting safari.

A nice study of recently completed ‘D2556’ at work during the Liverpool MRC show.

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An exciting project last winter was the introduction of 40195 to the loco roster. It was the last class member I recorded in normal service in BR.
I bought one of the first batch of Bachmann (4 axle drive) Class 40s when they first came out, only to be disappointed by the well-documented
issues over the body proportions. However, the mechanism was a nice runner so I decided to give it a re-worked Lima body shell.

The main tasks of work involved cutting off the top of the bonnet and lowering by around 1.0mm, together with deepening the cab side
windows (these being the two main issues with the Lima body shell). Overall I’m pleased with how its looks have been transformed.
Extensive use was also made of the relevant Shawplan/Extreme Etchings detail components (e.g. cab front window frames, roof fan
& grille, Clayton boiler exhaust ports etc.)

In the process of repositioning the top of the nose section I lost not only the horn grilles, but also the centre headcode box. The latter was
reinstated from scratch in Plastikard, while the horn grilles came from Shawplan and handrails from 0.3mm nickel-silver wire. I was, however,
able to re-use the original Bachmann lamp irons.

Wanting to fit sound I used my milling machine to cut a recess in the chassis block to accommodate a 20x40mm speaker. I went for the ESU
V4 option, with the most convincing sound project from Legomanbiffo. The loco also has independently working head and tail lights.

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Hornsey Broadway was exhibited at Railex in Aylesbury at the end of May 2018, this view showing the recently completed London Transport
station building by Pete Johnson. The addition of figures placed in and around the station gives the impression of a busy transport interchange.

This is the last signal constructed for the layout courtesy of Paul James, based on a Midland Railway prototype, with detector switches. A
rocker assembly transfers motion along the front of the gantry, connected to 0.45mm brass wire linkages to servo motors under the baseboard.

Paul also finished off the signal box in time for the exhibition, which features a detailed interior to suit the track layout of the Midland Lines.

During set up, the opportunity was taken to capture a view of the main lines looking towards Hornsey Tunnels, the camera being placed low
down before the last scenic baseboard was put in place.

A line up of English Electric motive power.... This and the following images were taken during the show.

Photo taken by Anthony Mead, showing the row of shops in Market Street. Further images of the set up, behind the scenes, and the award
presentations can be found here in the roadshow section of this website, and here on the R&DMRC (Railex Exhibitions) website.

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Now for something completely different. This pair of Class 97 battery electric locomotives were started by Jonny Duffet last year, utilising the
Bachmann 2-EPB as a basis for the project. With the shortening of the bodies and chassis, with extensive modifications to the roof and cab
ends by Jonny, they were then transferred to the Hornsey Workshops for regauging work and detail finishing. This view sees both bodies
undergoing extra detail work to the cab ends, whilst in the background can be seen long term projects which will form the second Class 501.

The EM gauge conversion uses Romford 14mm wheelsets as previously featured within these pages and the pair are seen here during test
running, with another 2-EPB conversion (to Class 501) visible in the background. The first pair of battery electric locomotives were converted
at Wolverton Works in 1974 from redundant Class 501 Driving Motor Brakes for maintenance duties on the Merseyrail system, followed by a
further 8 conversions at Doncaster Works from 1975 to 1980. This pair represent LDB975407/8 for the Great Northern electrification works.

The finished pair (LDB975408 nearest) are seen stabled at Hornsey Road Depot awaiting their next turn of duty, suitable for running during
the TOPS period. The interiors were stripped out during conversion at BREL Works and replaced with banks of lead-acid batteries which give
off hydrogen gas during the charging cycle. A copy of the British Rail Train Crew Manual for Class 97 BE locos can be found on 'locodocs'.

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An advertisment feature & thank you to Eileen's Emporium who sponsored the prize voucher at the recent Railex 2018 exhibition. Several
items have been selected from the range which will go towards new projects as featured within these pages. Eileen's Emporium have been in
business for over 30 years and supply a wide range of tools, equipment and materials needed by all model makers, whatever their level of
experience or expertise. Many of these products are also useful for other activities including Antiques Restoration, Clock Making & Crafts.
To visit the website please click on the above image, or click here for their facebook page.

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The latest Hornby 08 has now had the usual detailing items added and the basic rail-blue livery applied, just markings and weathering to go.

Meanwhile the Hunslet 0-4-0 tram is also making good progress. The special conversion etch from Mike Edge has now been made up into
the engine cover, completing the chunky look of this small ‘pug’ of a shunter. Cow catchers kindly donated to the project by Paul, have been
added and work on the side skirts is underway.

A new arrival by post has been this ready-to-run Ruston & Hornsby Class 07, and I have not been disappointed. Heljan have made a superb
a challenging subject, and only a few little tweaks and touches have been job of applied on my bench to further enhance the appearance.
Re-gauging has seen the original wheels fitted onto slightly longer axles, and light downforce springing added at the two undriven wheelsets.

Another view of D2985 ready for weathering. Some sources suggest these locos were finished in SR Stock Green when new, but based on
several colour images from that time I tend to share Heljan’s view that they were BR Loco Green, which perhaps faded rather quickly to
resemble Stock Green after only a couple of years.

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A mini-update from Morfa Bank showing the pipe bridge, with development work taking place in the distance.

Another cameo highlighting the fly tipping problem in the area.... an unwanted sofa (made from modelling clay).

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Due to the lack of any serious modelling during the last few weeks of hot weather, this month's update features a selection of images taken from the lineside during a spotting trip to Hornsey Broadway, and a chance to see some visiting motive power from the Shenston Road & Eastwell Fleets, as well as a few Hornsey regulars. Photos courtesy of Paul James.

D9535 & D9524 working in tandem, head a trip freight from Acton Yard to Temple Mills.

Top Link motive power in the form of Deltic 9009 Alycidon on the last leg of its journey at the head of a Pullman service, coasting through the station and down the bank towards King's Cross.

Another Deltic, this time at the head of a northbound Pullman. The filthy external condition of 9002 The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry gives a clue as to it being a Gateshead Loco.

Also allocated to Gateshead, but somewhat cleaner is Peak 153 (later to become 46016) at the head of a late running Aberdeen to London sleeper service.

A few moments later, Baby Deltic D5909 heads south with a spoil train made up of an eclectic mix of Grampus and other open wagons.

A March allocated English Electric type 3 6728 hauling heavy oil tanks from Ripple Lane on its way to The Midlands.

BR Sulzer type 2 7660 with a rake of withdrawn London Transport 1938 tube stock on their way for breaking.

Heading for another scrap yard are several ex-Southern Region 2-HAL electric units hauled by BRCW type 3 number 6572.

A rare visitor to this part of London is D1033 Western Trooper at the head of a rail tour consisting of mark 1 coaching stock.

A brace of BR type 2 locomotives 7576 & 5189 head a long rake of empty 21 ton hopper wagons back to the Midland Region.

A 4-car Cravens DMU formation with E51280 leading, heads for King's Cross with a suburban service from Welwyn Garden City. The class 501 EMU in the background has been sat there most of the day, but will soon be ready for the evening rush hour service to Broad Street.

With the motive power depot at Hornsey Road nearby, it's quite a common sight to see light locomotive movements as witnessed by this Brush 4 pairing 1676 Vulcan & 1910.

Brush type 2 number 5552 providing the power for an outer-suburban 1B66 service to Cambridge.

BTH type 1 D8228 is seen at the head of a van train heading north.

Regular inter-regional freights pass through this location, this time in the hands of a North British diesel hydraulic number D6326 heading for East London.

Holbeck allocated 1516 (later to become 47417) is a dual braked, dual heat Brush type 4, seen here rushing the 1L29 to Leeds with a rake of air braked mark 2a coaching stock.

Another Brush type 4, this time number 1628 allocated to D05 Stoke Division is a vacuum only example, hauling mark 1 coaching stock.

English Electric type 2 Baby Deltic D5905 trundles an engineers train back to the depot at Hitchin.

Contracted in from the Eastwell Ironstone Company, heavy plant (back hoe & bulldozer) is seen undergoing maintenance. These models are white metal kits and are believed to have originated from the Walthers HO scale range.

Finally for this month's update at Hornsey, here's a view of some variable shades of foliage & grass clumps, enhanced further by the application of a little heat which shrivels the ends of the fibres, changing the colour and profile to represent seed heads.

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PETE JOHNSON

Yet another – but perhaps my last – rework of a Hornby 08 has been started. This time the model is to be an early member of the fleet, but in a livery suited to the dawn of the 1970s. The main bodyshell is shown with the additional equipment box added, and most of the grab handles removed and the unused holes filled.

On the back of the cab the conduit has again been remade in 0.31 brass wire to the dog-leg pattern of the early fleet members, but by the era that this model is to depict windscreen wipers and cab side vents had been added to the chosen prototype.

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GREG BROOKES

D1068 Western Reliance is routed into the Up Goods Loop near BSC Shenston Works, with a rake of 21 ton mineral wagons. The locomotive was easily identified by a crudely applied patch on this end of the cab. This and the following snaps were taken by Kier on his Box Brownie.

A few moments later, Toton allocated Peak number D6 Whernside passes by with a rake of 24.5 ton hopper wagons. The wagons are a mix of scratchbuilt and detailed RTR versions depicting both variants of hopper body.

Now in service, these next few images show the Accurascale hopper wagons after weathering and the fitting of instanter couplings.

Shenston Road hopper wagons, the variations in weathering copied from photographs.

The existing wheelsets have been retained and just spread slightly on their axles.

With the Accurascale wagons now in service, this is one of the scratchbuilt wagons constructed a few years ago and depicts the body variation with equal depth sides and ends. There is still some final detailing required, such as operating handles to fit.

Having run around its train in the steel works exchange sidings, 24047 gets ready for the next departure. This is another SLW model (in blue livery with plated over connecting doors) suitable for the TOPS era.

Another view at the exchange sidings with a vast array of wagons present. The bonnet of a Alco loco can just be made out, as it moves a brace of molten metal torpedo wagons about the steel works.

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HYWEL THOMAS

Showing some of the redevelopment work at Morfa Bank.

To frame the road crossing down to the off-scene spoil tip I needed a part-demolished building. It’s an odd shape and entirely built from Wills’ sheets. Here we see it almost complete. Apologies for the photos – they’re all from my phone so not the best I’m afraid.

This shows the completed interior complete with old tiled floor and peeling wallpaper. Maybe the contractor went bust, as it seems to have been abandoned once most of the timber had been salvaged.

Not somewhere you’d want to explore! That chimneystack next to the line looks a bit unsafe too. The weed covered siding leads down to the spoil tip so is well used.

A wider shot showing the road crossing. The old lock-ups to the left are the only buildings (along with the yard office in the distance) that have remained in the same location since the original Morfa Bank.

Here we see a close-up of the weed and rubble-strewn track. What would we do without static grass? The track uses mainly old GWR pot sleepers, barely visible under the weeds.

The siding disappears through the backscene (still to be painted!) to the off-scene tip. Once the site of the chemical works it will eventually become a plant yard – the heavy vehicles have caused havoc with the concrete base of a former building.

And finally here’s a view of the road crossing, which shows how the buildings now frame the crossing. The gradient is also quite severe so the framing also hides that from view.

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