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MAY 2020 UPDATE
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HYWEL THOMAS
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PAUL JAMES
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KARL CROWTHER
The other element of the storage area will be a junction (Natland) for the branch from
Kendal to Dent Head & Marthwaite. Space will be quite tight to accommodate this, but there
will only be the (short) branch passenger and pick up goods to accommodate here, so that
shouldn’t be a problem.
On the board stretching away in front of the camera is the expanse of the Kendal station
area, with the length of flexi-track marking out the approximate location of the Up line
(the outline of the station building is also shown). I was going to have the backscene here
extending all the way round to the lifting section to screen the ‘hidden tracks’ (in the
foreground). However, as this would spoil the view of Kendal station frontage, one of the
signature features of the whole project (basically the viewpoint seen here), I’m minded to
leave this area without backscene and just partition the non-scenic tracks by a station wall
or similar and ignore the occasional train passing on the other side of the wall!
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GREG BROOKES
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IAN MANDERSON
I duly ordered two maps, courtesy of Alan Godfrey Maps of Consett, that showed that part of the
Tyne. The latest maps they have are 1937 which is a long way from the 70s, but at least it gives
one an idea of the track layout along that section. In terms of traffic, it looks like a scrap trip
from Tyne Yard on to the stub of the old Redheugh branch as far as the scrapyard. It all seems very
appealing and could make a good basis of a new project. I can even see a resurgence of the Ratio
security fencing, which always seemed to be a talking point on Easington Lane. I’m still not sure
on the relationship from a track layout point of view between the Flickr 03 shot and the Rail Mag
shot – an aerial photo would be ideal so the search continues. An alternative would be the Tyne
yard trip to Blaydon and there is a lovely clear shot in “Diesels in the North East by David Allen”
of an 03 shunting minerals in the yard at Blaydon but it seems a bit too open and not quite as characterful.
The research continues...... watch this space.
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STEVE HARROD
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KIER HARDY
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After completing all 12 of the apple loads as featured last month I decided, whilst on a
lockdown roll, to carry on with more loads! Scrap was next so here’s the simple card bases
all cut out and marked up for their matching wagons.
To give a bit of unevenness to the loads I used a silver foil container cut into strips and
scrunched into a vague pile before glueing to the card base. The two foreground loads will
be coated with coal – strangely, being a South Wales layout, coal is a traffic I have little
need and both will be in the occasional loco coal traffic for the tramway’s two stand-by steamers.
After having a random coat of various rust colours these two were dropped into their appropriate
wagons to start adding the scrap.
Here we see the gradual building up of the loads, each piece glued in individually. The scrap
has been built up over years and comprises kit spares, off-cuts from the layout and any bits of
likely plastic including the innards of several printers and the odd scanner. Anything goes really!
Once they were completed (and there were a lot) it was out with the rust paints and washes for
final colouring. A variety of types of scrap were made but mostly it was the Heavy No.1 variety
destined for the local steelworks.
And here we see two of the loads in their natural habitat awaiting collection for a trip to the
nearby steelworks.
With the scrap done it was time to add to the spoil loads, some of which I’d done a few years
back. This time I used a different approach and used layers of foam board carved to shape and
stuck onto the same card bases as used for the scrap loads.
Here we see one load after the initial crude hacking to get the rough shape. This will be
tidied up with a scalpel and smoothed with an emery board.
Next step is to layer on the acrylic paste that I use for most of the scenic work. This
versatile medium is exactly the right base texture for a load of spoil.
Some of the 30+ loads that were made in this particular batch, each marked underneath with
the necessary wagon type details.
And here are all the components for the final stage. The bases have been painted with mixed
browns and as you can also see the texture of the paste. The ‘spoil’ is ground up garden soil
mixed with some scale ballast and a few weathering powders. The old timbers are balsa wood
distressed with a scalpel.
A liberal coating of diluted PVA with some washing up liquid is then painted on with an old brush.
Pouring on the ground up soil mix. This is the messy bit – that container was a bit too
small and a fair bit ended up on the floor making me most unpopular that evening. Be warned!
And here’s the completed load all ready to head off to Morfa Bank Tip for landfill.
During some unrelated research I came across mention of some wagons that were missing from
Cardiff Canton in the early 1970s. The four were all mineral wagons and the official paperwork
mentioned they were branded for return to the depot. Deciding they could be rubbish wagons
and would therefore make a nice addition to the tip traffic I’d get building.
By chance the four missing minerals comprised two diagram 1/108 wagons, a 1/109 riveted
example and an ex-LMS wagon. My kit stash was able to provide a 1/108 and 1/109, both from
Parkside. Markings were imaginary but appropriate for the era.
The loads were anything I could think of that might have originated at either the diesel
depot, the carriage shed or the station at Cardiff. Once again raised card bases were used
as in the scrap fleet.
And here are the two almost finished loads. As can be seen everything from rubbish bags to
old pallets to old posters and signs, some seat cushions and even an old bike. After a bit of
toning down and weathering they were ready for traffic.
And finally here’s how they look in the two mineral wagons. Something a bit different for the
traffic to Morfa Bank Tip.
Having always had a bit of a soft spot for the Class 31, as they were the first class of loco
I worked on during my time at Kings Cross, so modelling a few of them (especially for Hornsey Broadway)
was going to be a must. D5835, later to become 31302 was very tempting as it meant a bit of body
modification, and I've always liked oddball examples. This locomotive was experimentally fitted with
an uprated Mirlees engine producing 2,000 HP, so to do this particular example, it had additional
inter-cooling and was fitted with extra lower bodyside grills at the number 2 end behind the secondman.
Showing stage 1 with the first lower bodyside grill fitted. It was decided to do them separately
rather than make 2 holes in the bodyside at the same time, so as to keep things strong and stable.
The next grill ready for fitting.
I have always thought the Lima Class 31 model captures the loco well, although it would need some
beefing up to a twin motor version for hauling reasonable length trains. I had already established
it was easy to convert the Lima model to a twin motor configuration, either by using the original
pancake style motors, or by using the Hornby Railroad motors.
A look in the spares box established I had enough parts and bits to make up 6 double motored locos.
Three will be locos I worked on at Kings Cross (albeit carrying their pre-TOPS numbers), two will
be Stratford allocated disc headcode versions, and a modified D5835 will complete the set.
This photo is one I took of the battery box detail. There's more detail images for the modeller
on 
Adding the detail to the replacement battery boxes which are off an original Triang Hornby
Class 31, which I consider to be far better than the Lima attempt. The one on the left has had
all the detail added, the one on the right is half way there.
The two sides of the battery box are the same for detailing purposes, and this shot shows two
finished examples awaiting fitting to a chassis.
The body for 5835 is refitted onto its chassis which now has had the detailed battery box fitted.
The finishing touches are to be added to the buffer beams, and there is more work to be done on
the body, adding several roof grab handles and a fan grill. The cab fronts will also require some
surgery to detail and reinstate the gangway doors.
I’ve been asked if I can give a track plan, so with apologies for my hand-drawn effort,
here is the current thinking. The situation of the (now double track) Kentside Station
is hopefully obvious, with the quarry and then the viaduct at the RH end. Heversham
Junction is now off stage, where the double line continues onto Kendal. This is of
course via the storage area, but that’s a small compromise I can live with. The change
from single to double line on the entire Arnside-Kendal section came when it was realised
this would be indicated by the planned volume of traffic. However, the still single line
from Heversham, representing the branch up to Hincaster Junction, leads to a bank of
storage loops that will house trains such as the loaded & empty coke trains that will
use this circuit. The line at the very top of the plan is a through road allowing
continuous running for testing purposes – it goes back into double track again before
it leaves the storage area. Most of the actual storage tracks haven’t been shown on
this plan as yet, but will mainly be ‘dead-end’ as most traffic will be out and back
to Kendal. I also need a turntable somewhere and the most obvious place for this would
seem to be the empty corner in the space by the shed entrance door (top left hand). Click
on the image to zoom in.
The Easter weekend saw a lot of track building effort and there’s now a complete main
circuit from Kentside right round to and including the lifting section (though a significant
gap still remains). The storage area is along the far side of the room, lifting section
immediately to the right (just out of shot). Just beyond where the 2P and short train can
be seen in the distance is the point at which the single line round the back of the storage
area becomes twin track representing the Arnside-Kentside section.
Moving to the right of the last image, this is the lifting section now installed, with
locking bolt to maintain alignment. Power to the section of track on the board to the left
is powered only when the lifting section is lowered – for obvious reasons!
This is the means by which power is transferred from the lifting section – a couple of
lengths of 15-thou nickel-silver sheet forming ‘spring’ contacts.
When the lifting section is lowered, power is transferred via a pair of n/s contact plates.
Seems to be working OK……
The last gap to form a complete circuit of track is this formation associated with the entry
to Kentside station goods yard - comprising five turnouts, a trap point, a single slip and a
tandem turnout! This illustrates how I’ve been building all of the scenic area track directly
onto the Templot plans, gluing the sleepers with Evo-Stik. You may just be able to make out the
strategically placed copper rivets. (Note the plan isn’t in situ in this view, it’s just that
this open area of board provides a good, level area on which to work! Even once this little
lot has been built I’m still not ‘home and dry’ regarding the complete circuit as the Down
line approaching the formation (from the lifting section) is planned to be built from flat
bottom rail with BR1 baseplates (Colin Craig parts), so will probably involve a lot more work
than the usual BH variety. As sections of the Lakeside branch had concrete sleeper BH track
and the Arnside-Hincaster branch had some FB track (on wooden sleepers), I’m keen to represent
both types on the model. So, a long way still to go, but good progress being made at least…….
Further detail work and improvements continue in and around the steel works, utilising Plastruct
components for handrails and steps. A replacement water tower has now been installed near the
blast furnace, with the original structure having been located at the other end of the complex
next to the works loco depot and facilities block. Here's a general view at the north end of the
works showing some of the recent additions.
A selection of images showing the scratchbuilt water tower, and additional detail work being
constructed and fitted to the blast furnace.
This shows the area around the sub station and pump house - time to get your overalls on if you
want to venture any further!
The loco maintenance depot and facilities area of the steel works showing the relocated water
tower this side of the main & branch lines, with the gas works forming the backdrop behind. The
fitters continue to remove parts from a redundant ex-BR Class 04.
The Boothe Rodley permanent way crane which was featured a couple of months ago has now been
finished with some subtle weathering, seen here paired up with its match wagon....
.... and another view of it being hauled out on the main line by English Electric type 3 - 6972.
To complement the PW crane, this Hornby model of a Hawksworth Brake 3rd has been detailed to represent
QPV number DW150401 (ex-GWR2233) in use as a CCE department staff van.
Originally built to diagram D133 in 1950 (lot no 1732 11) this vehicle was observed in many locations
around the Western Region in use as a staff van.
Another addition to the departmental fleet is this SR built Tunny DS61977 for use in the spoil train,
built from a Chivers Finelines kit.
6972 at rest in the steel works exchange sidings.
D847 Strongbow, complete with bodyside scrape sits on the stabling point awaiting its next turn of duty.
The missing 'middle wickets' on the cab front grab rails are next on the to do list.
D1054 Western Governer powers through Shenston Road with an empty stone train heading back to Westbury.
Inspiration for a new project. Whilst struggling to come up with an idea to follow Hartburn and
with a desire to move back to the 1970s and somewhere around Tyneside, I happened across a photo
in an old copy of Rail Magazine which really got my imagination going. The photo was part of an
article called “Why aye, man – it’s Gateshead”. The picture, by L.Abram depicted 03112 reversing
into Thompson’s scrapyard on the Dunston, Redheugh branch. It just really oozed atmosphere so I
set about trying to find a bit more information.
I came across this absolutely cracking shot on flickr showing another Class 03, this time
unidentified inside the scrapyard. What I couldn’t quite match up was the relationship between
the two photos and whereabouts on the riverside it actually was. A third photo came to light in
the Colin Alexander book “Tyneside Railways: The 1970s and 1980s” which was very similar to the
Rail Magazine picture but at a slightly different angle. Google Book Preview on my mobile allowed
me to see the image, yet the same view on the laptop was restricted. I suppose I’ll just have to
buy the book. The picture this time showed 03078 on the crossover and in the background what
looks like a grounded fish van body.
More digging revealed that Thompson’s yard was on the site of the old Clayton & Davie scrapyard
famous for dispatching various ships and the odd steam loco or two. Another search on Google
(“Clayton Davie scrapyard Dunston”) came up with another Flickr gem, this time showing a grounded
van body, and more importantly for identifying where on the riverbank the yard was, the remains
of a pontoon / jetty. Cue Google Maps Satellite view. It is still possible to make out the remains
of the jetty so I was able to place the yard.
Work continues on the Newton Abbot works traverser, recently having drilled out the apertures
to accommodate the 3 capstans made from turned brass. A start has also been made on adding
detail to the area around the cabin.
This shows the support bar that is located on the side of the control booth where a bell
is mounted, which struck when the traverser was in motion. Also showing motor housing,
cabinets, conduit and lamp post.
However one area that has given me a problem was the plasticard sheets I had laminated to fit
in between the rails. As can be seen in this image, the middle section started to lift, so I
tried running some Mek-Pak to glue it down but it was not having it
I very carefully lifted out the centre section with success and without damaging the surrounding
areas. Next some infill sections were cut from 30thou plasticard to fit in between the sleepers
and give more of a gluing area for the deck. Previously I had only used the sleeper tops,
which was my undoing.
The new section of infill was cut from 80thou black plastic card. The first piece that
was cut to a scale width caused problems when D1015 Western Champion (with its original wheels
just regauged to EM) kept hitting it and riding up, so the second piece gives better clearance
for chunky flanges even if the flangeway is not as narrow as the prototype.
I decided to make the new wooden decking out of 15thou white, to the same width as the black
so as not to foul any of the flanges on my EM stock. I scribed the planks and then it was time
to glue both the 80thou black section and the 15 thou white into place.
Last time I used araldite and was a bit pensive about using it again, so rightly or wrongly I
decided on using PVA glue for both sections. My thoughts around this is that if anything goes
wrong in the future it would be easier to remove. I used a weight to make sure it was stuck down
flat, as I couldn't use clamps due to the underside of the traverser having the running wheels attached.
While all this was drying I started making the electrical conduit that goes from the overhead
pole to the distribution box, along with some slightly modified A1 air hoses to represent the
electrical pick up skates that sit on top. All that is left now to complete on the traverser
is the other distribution box and conduit with a support bar for the overhead pole.
The conduit retaining straps on the overhead pole were made from foil. I also made the angled
support strut that attaches to the pole and the 4 conduit pipes that protrude from the second
electrical distribution box. Other tasks left to complete include the wiring loom that comes
from the overhead pole, along with a noticeboard on the outside of the control cabin.
The traverser has been put into primer. The good news is that the real thing was painted grey
so I don't need to put any more paint onto it, other than for the wooden decking and some
weathering, so it's now almost complete.
HS4000 Kestrel passes Hornsey Midland Junction signal box heading north with a long rake of
empty HOP32 AB wagons (TOPS code HAA). This and the following images were taken by Andy York,
and are the balance of unpublished shots which were taken for the BRM Spring 2020 edition.
Waiting in platform 2 for the road ahead is a pair of Class 20 locomotives, 8145 in
green livery (paired with D8077 in blue) destined for East London with a loaded coal
train made up of 16 ton mineral wagons.
Peak Class 46 number 153 passes through on the Down Fast with an express service to Newcastle,
the rake consisting mainly of BR mk2a coaching stock. In the background a mixed freight takes
the Up Slow through platform 1.
Leaving the station area behind on our journey to the motive power depot at Hornsey Road, we
catch a glimpse inside the garage where a team of fitters are busy working on various motor cars.
Another freight service takes the Up Slow road with Class 25/0 5173 in charge. A selection of
plant and fork lift trucks can be seen stored alongside the garage on Market Street.
Making their way back to the Midlands from East London with an unfitted rake of empty HOP21
wagons are BR Derby type 2 locos 7576 & 5189 awaiting a clear road.
Suburban services in the capable hands of Cravens (Class 105) DMUs. A 4-car rake dives down
towards Hornsey Tunnel with a Welwyn GC to Kings Cross service, whilst a 6-car set heads north
across the flyover with a Hitchin bound service.
An unusual visitor to the area is this 6-car Swindon built Trans-Pennine DMU heading for
Finsbury Park with the 1Z24 'Footex' special full of Hull City fans who will be watching their
team play away at Highbury.
Moments later, an Up Pullman service slows for a signal check on the last leg of its journey
with Deltic 9009 Alycidon in charge. Meanwhile a LMR Division DC lines Class 501 glides past
with a Broad Street to Hornsey Broadway terminating service.
English Electric type 4 (Class 40) 206 with a rake of mk1 coaches takes the East London route,
whilst Brush 4 - 1932 awaits instruction on the branch line before going on shed.
After a slight delay, Deltic 9009 Alycidon enters Hornsey Tunnel at the same time as a Class 501
emerges from the cut and covered Down Slow with a service to Watford.
As the suburban service to Watford heads north, 5173 is still waiting on the Up Slow with the mixed
freight we caught sight of earlier.
With a last look at the main lines, Class 40 number 332 is seen heading for Kings Cross on the
Up Fast with a lengthy sleeper train, whilst D1100 waits at the signals with a service destined
for Stratford International Freightliner Terminal.
Nearing the depot we pass pockets of industry, including Fordhams milk distribution depot located
on Hornsey New Road. Kaff's doing a roaring trade, as you would expect around lunchtime.
At the depot Brush 4 number 1932 is captured again on the fuelling point, joined by Peak 77 Royal
Irish Fusilier. Once fuelled they will either make their way to the servicing shed, or be stabled
awaiting the next turn of duty.
A general view of the depot showing a wide variety of motive power used in the division, and the ECML
in particular.
A snapshot looking into the depot building with Class 37 & Class 15 locomotives undergoing maintenance.
Here's the original uncut 15 minute version of Hornsey Broadway on YouTube, complied by Andy York
and features an era specific introduction, some excellent footage of various train formations, and a
bit of me talking about the layout.
