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JANUARY 2020 UPDATE
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GREG BROOKES *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
KIER HARDY *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
PAUL JAMES *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
PETE JOHNSON *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
KARL CROWTHER *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Starting off this month with some lineside sightings at Shenston Road. Split box Peak
number 27 heads through the station with a rake of 16 ton mineral wagons.
Warship 861 Vigilant leaves the stabling point for its next duty, whilst an unidentified
Western waits in the northbound platform road.
Meanwhile over at the steel works diesel depot, a trio of Janus locos are spotted. This
small fleet of Yorkshire Engine Co models have recently been detailed and weathered to suit
the grimy atmosphere that is BSC Shenston, with the gas works forming the backdrop.
A Scenix Austin A35 diecast model after receiving some customisation. In the days prior to
corrosion warranties, it was a common sight to see motor vehicles displaying rusty panels like this.
A couple of views at the steel works with shunting duties being carried out by both
Janus and Sentinel locos.
Featured on the December update page was a pair of Class 20s released from Shenston Road
works for additional detail work, in particular around the bufferbeams with pipework and
sand pipes on the bogies. The second pair to be finished and in to service are D8303 &
D8088, seen here at Hornsey Broadway hauling a southbound coal train...
.... and 20147 and 20132 have also been refreshed, captured here for the album.
The Oxford Diecast mark 1 Ford Transit is only available as a standard panel van and
recovery vehicle, so a chassis/cab conversion has been carried out on a RAC version of
the latter. Paint stripper was applied to the cabs avoiding the front grill area, then
spray painted white, along with the shortened chassis section. To make up into a trio, a
further 2 in AA livery were acquired for the job.
Close observation will reveal differences between the donor RAC & AA radiator grills. I'm
not so sure about the fuel tank placement or shape, so have left it in place to avoid any
further hacking. Here they are glued to the Carflat wagons joining a few Ford Cortinas.
Some of the motor vehicle traffic from Dagenham consisted not only of Dagenham built cars
such as the Cortina, but also vehicles made at other Ford factories. It's not clear where
the Transit mk1 Chassis/Cab was manufactured, but there is documentation showing a mix
of vehicles on the same wagon originating from East London. Several plants around the
country and in Europe were involved with their production during the early years.
Acquired broken and in need of cosmetic repair, these ex-Southern EMUs have been sitting
in a siding at the back of the works for many months and now need to be robbed of useful
parts before sending off to the scrap yard. The Workshop Foreman has declared the motors
useful for other motive power, so having been removed along with the cast metal cradle, a
solution was required for getting them rolling again. A set of replacement bogies
(non-powered vehicles) were despatched from Peter's Spares, whilst base plates were made to
fill the hole now left in the chassis.
The cast metal power chassis weighs in at around 250 grammes, which is a lot compared to
the trailer at only 45 grammes. The motor housing has been hacksawed off to bring the weight
down to 130 grammes, to try and equal things out a bit for a non-powered loose-fitted load
of 8 vehicles and a bogie brake van. Not only have the stores gained some spare motor
bogies for future projects, but the mounting casting can be used to house them again and
provide valuable weight over driven wheels. The 1.5mm thick plastic card infill pieces have been
made to shape and secured in place by a bead of epoxy resin around the outside edge. A
pair of pre-drilled 1.5mm thick squares are welded together and countersunk both sides,
then onto the underside of the chassis to allow the bogies to pivot freely at the right height.
With everthing taken off which can be reused, it's time to send them off to meet their maker
and here they are being hauled by a Class 73. The load is probably a bit much for E6018
off the juice, so it should really be a Class 33 or at least a pair of electro diesels.
For a bit of variety (and what was available in the scrap line) this 2-BIL has joined the 2-HAL
rake, as they were being withdrawn at the same time and sent for scrap between 1969 and 1971.
Gritty reality aside, this 8-coach formation was a regular sight in the early 1970s, and has
become an ecconomical project with the release of the 4 motor bogie units. There are some
issues with the placement of bogie mounted steps due to the configuration of the different
trailing bogies used on the Hornby model. Missing or misplaced items on this subject matter
can be saved for a rainy day.
With the recent introduction of the NBL Class 21 model from Dapol, I thought it would be a
good idea to record the conversion process. This image shows the underside of the chassis with
the left hand bogie converted to EM gauge, and the right hand bogie still as OO gauge. There's
plenty of room within the bogie frame to spread the wheels out. As can be seen on the modified
bogie, some Peco fibre washers have been fitted to reduce the sideplay.
The left image shows the uppermost wheelset flanges after having been reprofiled on the lathe,
the lower set are as supplied. Although simple regauging will suffice in some circumstances, the
flange width may be troublesome on EM gauge pointwork. It's important to note which way the axle
bearings are orientated before reassembly. The middle and right images show the converted wheels
back in place, and with the bogie frame fitted and the loco ready to roll. The bogie frame
unclips from either end - I found inner end easiest.
D6122 and D6110 on test together after the simple conversion. The model as
it stands requires nothing more than a bit of light weathering to complete. The supplied headcode
discs are somewhat chunky, so Shawplan etched replacements have been added instead.
As well as regauging the Class 21, I've been going through my Eastwell back catalogue, equiping a
small fleet of Mainline Class 56s with twin motor bogies. Seen here on running
trials is 56038 Western Mail at the head of a lengthy freightliner train. Due to a period of
unreliable service when the loco was allocated to Cardiff Canton, it was often referred to as
Western Fail by drivers.
Another view of 56038 heading back the other way with a rake of HAA hoppers.
After shopping at the Warley show for the necessary Alan Gibson and Branchlines items, a
batch-build of mechs for three swop-body 03s and an 04 is underway. Nearest the camera is
the mech for 03 158, now ready for paint, with the other three not far behind.
The Bachmann Class 37 has had the nose-end paintwork touched-in and is now ready for markings
to be applied. It is to be finished as 37 243, a typical Cardiff Canton example in 1974/75.
Also ready for the running number to be added is the Bachmann Class 20 for the mid-1960s era.
The headcode discs are now fitted and the yellow paint made good. This is to become D8124,
which retained its original small yellow panel livery into the early 1970s.
The Kentside Branch - It’s now over 10 years since the original Kentside layout made its
last show appearance. This photograph from that time gives a good
flavour of what the model was all about. Originally it was intended to produce a larger
exhibition layout along the same theme. Then came along Hebble Vale, which was intended
to be a ‘quickie’ project - but that’s another story! 2018 saw the opportunity to acquire
a purpose-built shed to house a permanent layout and this has allowed room to also include
the Kendal (Castle) terminus of the line – all being greatly influenced by David Jenkinson’s
7mm scale ‘Kendal Branch’. Fortunately all the buildings from the original layout have been
conserved for redeployment on the new scheme and hopefully a similar atmosphere can be re-created.
Outline Plan - This sketch shows the scenario I’m working towards – lines that were built in
dotted lines, fictional routes in solid. Essentially an ex Furness Railway branch from Arnside
to Kendal as envisaged by DJ, but I’m saying that the line was not built by the Midland, but
instead by the Furness (though the Kendal-Dent Head line remains ex-Midland). Although the
original Kentside layout was single track, given that Kendal is quite a large and important town,
the branch has become double track to cope with the volume of traffic. The majority of passenger
trains originate from Leeds Wellington (combined with Morecambe portions as far as Wennington),
with a much less frequent shuttle service serving the Dent Head line. There will be a daily pick
up goods from Carnforth, out and back to Dent Head, while further goods traffic includes trip
workings to Kentside quarry (now fully featured), plus the coke trains between Barrow and the
north-east. With a daily parcels for K’s Shoes at Kendal (for Bradfield Gloucester Square)
and scope also for the odd excursion train from places such as the West Riding, the layout should
have really interesting operating potential.
One of the original Kentside locos, ex-Midland 2F 0-6-0 58123 – another lovely photo taken by
Ian Manderson (an Alan Gibson kit). It should find plenty of work and be very much at home on
the local pick-up goods trains.
Back in August 2019 I held an open day to mark my 60th Birthday. A short section of track was
operable and a display was set up to show off some of the original buildings and rolling stock
etc. Kentside station will occupy the boards on the right hand side of this view, with the quarry
in the corner beyond. Across the rear will be a viaduct across the river Bela, which will be
based on Greenodd (which was fortunately built for double track, though it was only ever single).
On the left hand side is what will become the storage sidings and at the front, where the camera
is positioned is the space that will be occupied by the Kendal Castle terminus. As it’s Furness
in my case, the site will be an almost perfect fit for Lakeside, so that’s what I’ll be adopting
as faithfully as I can manage (minus the lake of course!), as I’ve always wanted to model the
station buildings there.
Another project that’s been on the back burner for more years than I care to remember, but
recently completed, is this ‘Limousine cab’ Fowler 2-6-4T. The superstructure is based around
a Hornby donor body with Mike Edge’s etched overlays, while the chassis is Comet, and uses Fox
lining to complete the paint job. Seen here on Hebble Vale of course!
This is a more recent view of progress with track laying through what will become Kentside
station. The edge of Morecambe Bay will be alongside. The points are servo-operated with surface
mounted wire in tube (here with temporary MERG Ezypoints units – though eventually all points
and signals will be controlled by the MERG Servo 4 boards). I have to thank John Elliott for
these ideas and Richard Challis for his advice on the electrics plus Mike Norris and Chris
Littleworth for their input on the developing signalling plans (more on this later in the year,
hopefully). On the scenic sections the servos will be hidden under removable sections of the scenery.
A close up view of some of the competed pointwork – the crossover at the north end of Kentside
station and entrance to the quarry complex. For the visible sections I’m using scale depth
plywood sleepers and Exactoscale chairs (copperclad & flexi-track off-stage). There are also
sections of concrete sleeper track (just visible here), plus plans to include a length or two
of flat bottom rail with BR1 chair plates. Wiring to the point switches here is a temporary
fitting just so I could get this short length of track operational for testing purposes.
Having something running at an early stage was something I considered really important!
Last for this month, but not least, I’ve treated myself to a couple of Sutton’s Loco Works Class
24s. This one will have headcode boxes fitted and is destined to become 5149, a Holbeck loco in
1967/68. There’s also a blue example that will become 5113, again a Holbeck loco at this time.
I’m grateful to Philip Sutton with help on (hopefully) getting all the details right. Amazing to
get an RTR loco with EM wheels already fitted – plus they sound awesome and great fun to drive
as well! This view also shows the concrete sleeper track quite nicely.
