*********************************************************************************************************************************************
APRIL 2023 UPDATE
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
HYWEL THOMAS
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
STEVE CARTER
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
KIER HARDY
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
KARL CROWTHER
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. All that now remains
is to get it converted to DCC (hopefully by the time you’re reading this!).
A potential
issue I will have is matching these features to the paint finish of the original structures. As
can be seen here, the blue brickwork of the signal box needs re-touching and the brickwork
possibly making a bit more ‘yellowy’. At this stage it looks quite a drop down to the level of
the estuary, but in fact this will be sited above the current level of the cut-away section, so
the slope will be much more gradual.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
GREG BROOKES
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
MIKE WHITCHURCH
At the south end of the layout in the station area, the observant amongst you will have
noticed an expanse of real estate - well thereby hangs a tale. I’d been wanting to incorporate
a station building somewhere if possible instead of the previous hint of one, and had been
racking my brains as to how to achieve this lofty aim.
Now, at my age flashes of anything, let alone inspiration don’t come very often, but
notwithstanding, I had one. A station I’d spent a fair bit of my formative train spotting
years at was Rotherham Masborough, and whilst the track layout can’t be an exact copy,
geographically it will all fit.
I went to the station
to see what pictures I could take, and luck being on my side the nice chaps at the (rather
good from my past experience) Indian restaurant which now occupies the station buildings,
were in the yard and allowed me to take some close up shots of the exterior from the non
rail side, but better was yet to come - even more luckily one of the contractors from the
company who own the northern half of the site was in attendance and I managed to get on
the old platform and take a plethora of shots of the old building from the rail side, so
kudos to those two sets of gentlemen.
All I need now is to arrange to have the drawings scanned by somebody who knows what they
are doing on a computer and get a set of drawings made with an eye to building the thing.
So that’s the current state of play on the layout, other than that I’ve been battering a
Heljan peak and some Rapido wagons into submission and conversion to EM, just by pulling
out the existing wheels, along with rubbing the wheels down on the ferry vans to a thinner
profile on the good old red oxide paper. Don’t tell anybody they aren’t lathe turned, I
have little enough, if any street cred remaining!
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
JONNY DUFFETT
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
PETE JOHNSON
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
IAN MANDERSON
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
With modelling time concentrated on another project, an opportunity was
taken to photograph some of the shunting that is the main function of
Morfa Bank. Here we see a Sentinel steamer (substituting for a broken
down diesel) running from the quay to exchange with BR. Limited to
just two of the big bogie coil wagons it’ll be a long morning for the
crew! They are passing between the sand wharf and the foundry, heading uphill.
Further up the gradient the line passes over the dock maintenance
canal alongside the busy Knill’s scrap yard. In the foreground the
lonely pillbox moulders away as it stares forlornly down the river.
The two Bogie Coil Vs were scratch-built many years ago but still give sterling service.
The short train has reached the BR boundary and been brought to a halt
by the crew. After securing the wagons they will walk across the
tracks to the BR yard office to come up with a suitable plan.
With discussions underway in the office the shunter will soon burst
into life. There will be rather more work for the crew with the AW&T
diesel out of action but they will soon have everything sorted out.
The AW&T crew have walked back to their Sentinel while the BR shunter
has collected just three wagons for the first transfer: a one-time
Slab wagon converted to a Coil K, a Coil Flat ET (carrying two Durbar
coils from Lackenby) and a Coil B bringing up the rear. The two
covered coil carriers are loaded with cold reduced coil from Llanwern.
The BR crew have just used one of the loops in the yard to run around
their train. They will now haul it back towards the Limit of Shunt
sign up the branch then run across to the AW&T connection via the line
behind the lock-ups. The foreground line winds it way down to the BR
spoil tip on the edge of the old dock.
The shunter has now pushed the loaded wagons up to the returning
empties and coupled up. They are being drawn back before being
propelled into one of the Up sidings. The old, derelict, AW&T office
dominates the scene with the one-time tramway bridge in the foreground
crossing a drainage culvert from the recently closed Port Talbot dock
to the river. The AW&T shunter’s cabin is visible on the right.
Erring on the side of caution the Sentinel begins it trip to the quay
with just a single wagon. The two empties can be seen behind awaiting
a shunt back into the main Down sidings. Both these bogie coil wagons
lasted for many years, well into the air-braked era and, towards the
end of their lives, running without their hoods away from South Wales.
Further down the branch the Sentinel passes the boundary fence to
Knill’s yard. The rather better known Barry branch of the company was
situated on the quayside not far from the famous Woodham’s yard but
was a much smaller operation. Within 20 minutes the Sentinel will be
back to repeat the procedure with the remaining pair of loaded wagons
having retrieved a few more empties from the quay. The prominent
walling is a Preiser product that was used extensively on the layout.
I've taken inspiration from the modern buildings on Hornsey Broadway (as well as taking Kier's
remaining stock of Triang Arkitex components - thanks Kier!) and commenced building the first
industrial unit. Each Arkitex window unit measures 45 x 45mm and can be altered into different
configurations as seen here with original (l) and modified (r).
The building takes a lead from the 'Brutalist' style of architecture, introduced into the UK
during the 1950s with buildings in this style built to showcase materials and structural
elements over decorative design. Each Arkitex window has been modified and placed in reverse which
recesses them from the building front with concrete pillars represented by Evergreen 3.2 x 6.3mm strip.
Arkitex concrete panels, like the window elements, measure 45 x 45mm but due to modifying the
windows then the panel size has shrunk to 41 x 35mm. A section of 60 thou (1.5mm) plasticard has
been cut and scribed to the new measurements and fitted with the same uprights as the windows.
A close up of the windows shows 40 thou (1mm) panels which stand proud from the uprights. The
gap between these and the tops of the windows will later be infilled using original pieces and
was done thus to allow for any small errors. Also as part of the modifications the original
small slot and tab present on the windows to secure their original glazing have been sanded down.
The building front presently measures 340 x 150mm but the height will change slightly when the
bottom openings are made smaller / infilled and by the addition of a roof capping strip. The ground
floor entrance utilises an original window frame allied with scratch built steps and a rain canopy.
The rear of the building front showing how the various elements have been assembled.
A close up showing the front in more detail. The small grey dots on each window are as a result
of filling / sanding small mould release marks as these were originally intended by the
manufacturers to be inside the building rather than on show.
The same method of construction has been carried over to create a covered walkway which will
eventually span the tracks and link into the much older Sheppycroft mill complex, allowing access
between the two. Interestingly the two types of buildings follow much the same method of
construction as cotton mills were also built on a modular basis allowing them to match the
number of looms contained within.
The window elements have this time utilised Evergreen 3.2mm square tube to link them together
before the frames were then filed flush. A similar sized tube forms the top bridge rail whilst
a slightly larger 4.8mm forms the lower. Presently the two spans show good stability but using
hollow tube allows for a 4mm square metal strengthening piece to be inserted to counteract
sagging should this prove necessary.
English Electric type 3 - D6947 heads north with a train of loaded Carflats. The first
wagon in the rake has been empty for a while and was reserved for a couple of Ford
lorry chassis, however it's been decided to leave this wagon empty and the chocks have
now been glued onto the deck.
A new Bachmann Carflat has been acquired (in foreground awaiting detail & weathering)
for the Ford D series chassis cabs. Rather than try to modify the existing Base Toys
die-cast chassis, new 3D printed examples of different lengths (and wheel sizes) have
been produced by Jonny Duffett. The cabs are shown here awaiting repainting.
Showing the completed vehicles glued and chocked on to the new wagon in the fleet.
We can assume that wing mirrors will be fitted by the coach works, dependant on body styles.
Recent visitors to Hornsey Broadway during running sessions include North British Class 29
number 6114 from the Shenston Road fleet, passing through with a mixed freight.
Also from Shenston Road is BR type 2 (Heljan Class 25) 7509 with a train of vans.
This Dapol J94 / Austerity 0-6-0ST (No 7 Binnewith) has been in the Eastwell fleet for
over 30 years and still performs well today. It was originally acquired with a spare set
of driving wheels and axles for converting to EM gauge.
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. 
Most of the time on the layout these last couple of months has been devoted to building up the
walling associated with Kentside station. Key to this is an underpass that provides passenger
access between the platforms and a route onto the foreshore. Inspired by that at Grange-over-Sands,
it’s a lot longer than the latter due to it having to span both platforms (at Grange it’s just
the tracks). A card mock-up of the down platform waiting shelter is in use at present; I think
I’ll position it a bit nearer to the underpass so the view over the estuary through the
all-round windows isn’t partially obscured by the ramp. Luckily I have scale plans of this
structure via the Cumbrian Railways Association. The gap across the girder of the underpass will
be filled by a metal railing fence.
This shows the sort of effect I was aiming for. The bridge girder on my version had to be taller
to account for the depth of the platform – Wills Vari-girder in this case. Clearance under the
bridge is around 9ft.
Following experiences with Hebble Vale, the logical choice for representing the stonework seemed
to be more use of Will Coarse Stone sheets, suitably joined. After a bit of experimentation I’ve
finally settled on a colouring method I’m happy with. The base coat is primarily Humbrol 128 with
a little 62 and 121 mixed into it. After this had dried for a few days it was brushed liberally
with a thinned mix of Humbrol 32 plus a small amount of 72 and very soon after, paint on the
surface of the stones was wiped off using a kitchen towel. Detail was then dry-brushed, again
mainly using 128, with sparing local applications of 72 and 62 being the main colours.
Another view at Grange-over-Sands, this time showing the platform access ramp. It can be seen
that the stonework here has a somewhat flatter ‘face’ than the Wills product, but overall I’m
happy with the effect.
The distinctive platform walling was built up from embossed Plastikard, the base colour for the
yellow brick being Humbrol 103 and the red brick a mix of 70 & 62 plus Precision P953 brick red.
Again, after drying for several days, a thinned dark mortar mix was then applied and rubbed off
the brick surface mainly this time using cotton buds. Having then masked off the red brick, the
yellow areas were highlighted by dry brushing with Humbrol 103 and a little 93. The blue bricks
were next painted in using a mix of Humbrol 104, 32 and 27 and finally the coping strip was picked
out in Humbrol 70. I only have the one image of Greenodd showing this side of the station from
across the estuary and it’s a very poor photocopy of an old postcard. It appears to suggest that
the wall had none of the decorative brickwork on this side (as it would be unseen), but on the
model it just looked wrong without all of this, so I’ve done both sides the same. 
At the Heversham end of the Kentside section there’s now a scenic break formed by this wooden
decked farm access bridge. The model has been taken straight from a drawing and photo of a
structure near Cark & Cartmel that is to be found in L.V. Wood’s ‘Bridges for Modellers’. No
prizes for guessing, more Wills Stonework with a deck built up from Plastikard.
Following on from last month's tour of BSC Shenston and the exchange sidings, this second
installment captures some of the scenes around the station and main line. Here's D1 Scafell
Pike emerging from under the steelworks with a rake of hopper wagons.
Class 20s 8064 & 8303 are held in the loop around the back of the station with a train of tank wagons.
Brush type 4 number 1665 is seen at the head of the Murgatroyd liquid chlorine tank train.
Stepping outside the station we catch a glimpse of West Bromwich, Midland Red and Birmingham
Corporation buses for destinations across the West Midlands.
D1057 Western Chieftain in the headshunt alongside the station.
5243 & D7551 wait with northbound a mixed freight in platform 2......
..... whilst D1 Scafell Pike passes by with a rake of hopper wagons.
Brush type 4 and type 2 motive power stabled with 5809 nearest the camera.
Awaiting their next turn of duty.
English Electric type 4 - 236 on the branch from the steel works with a loaded train of steel coil.
The fire brigade carrying out hydrant checks on Station Road.
BR type 2 - D7668 with ballast hoppers is held in the southbound goods loop.
The existing warehouse at the north end of the layout has been reconfigured. In keeping with
the mantra of incorporating as much of the old layout as possible, the base is the retaining
walls of the old parcels depot area, with the warehouse building now being smaller. The
foreground will be further developed into a workshop area.
A new baseboard has been constructed, and utilises a new (to me) EM gauge double track junction
on the left of the above image which has been surgically implanted (formerly Edge Lane Junction by
Paul King). To accommodate it, the existing exit tracks have been slewed to the outside of the board.
Another crossover has been installed on the nearer tracks to allow more flexibility for locos
running on and off the stabling point. A signal box will be installed adjacent to each junction
to give a diorama effect, whilst development of the area in-between the two sets of tracks is
undecided currently.
Here's a selection of 3D printed huts based on GWR examples found at Leckhampton,
Dunster and Lambourn. these and all the other designs are available for free download at
Thingiverse
On the left are a couple of LMS based lamp huts, and on the right a LNWR fogman's hut.
A Fire Devil based on a GWR design, and a variety of standpipes.
The tall one is a Wolverhampton design, and the smaller cast iron example
could be found at most GWR steam sheds with a short bracket at the back to hang the hose. The
small domestic type of pipe and tap might also be found on platforms and forecourts.
Here's a larger corrugated shed, based on the original lamp hut and store room at Tetbury, whilst
the sectional concrete structure is based on the Lambourn weighbridge hut.
A ground frame on a brick built platform.
A photograph from the early 1960s of Territorial Army vehicles on their way to the Otterburn
ranges by train to Woodburn inspired a new project with Ian’s ‘Hartburn’ in mind. The Oxford
Diecast mountain rescue Bedford RL truck provides the basis for this model of the regular Army
standard transport of the 1960s and early 70s.
With thanks to the Wessex Historic Military Vehicle group, and a former RL owner, the Oxford
model has had the canvas tilt re-shaped to better match the standard army version. The support
frame had two settings, giving a 12 inch difference in overall height, and to remain within the
BR loading gauge the lower position was required during rail transport – giving the RL a 9 foot
and ½ inch total height when unladen.
The glazing and various other details on the model have been tweaked before the overall gloss
bronze green for the 1960s has been applied. The finished vehicles are shown lined up ready for action.
The TA unit photograph showed a train of 15 Lowmac wagons, each carrying an Army truck. My model
version is rather shorter, with only six. A finished example of a former LNER Lowmac EQ loaded
with an RL is shown.
Another of the string is this BR Lowmac ER, complete with RL chained and chocked.
Spot the difference….To avoid the time travel required by the late-model Mini Cooper run at
Kendal a more suitable vehicle had to be found. The Ford Transit Mk1 dating back to 1965 filled
the bill, and my existing (static) re-work of the Oxford Diecast model is now joined by a fully
driveable radio control version (nearest the camera).
The new Transit is shown again, complete with paperwork on the front seat and dash. During
testing Craig was found doing ‘donuts’ with it on our lounge coffee table – hardly an
appropriate way to drive a two-ton commercial van!
The last weekend in March saw Hartburn appear at the Newton Aycliffe exhibition. It's a
really friendly show with something for everyone and the best cheese scones were provided
during setup on the Friday! Attendance was good with lots of families, with many spotting
the rabbits and the pigeon dotted around the layout. I also managed to catch up with some
of the NE Group of the EMGS that I'd not seen for a while. The layout ran extremely well
especially considering it now lives in the garage, and saw the debut of a new rake of
loaded Lowmacs put together by Pete Johnson to represent the military traffic that could
be seen in the area depicted. All in all a good couple of days and worth the long trip
The once-a-week pick-up goods was seen on several occasions, along with some of the
military traffic that has kept the line open into the mid-1960s………Ex-LNER J27 65842
carries out shunting moves in the station area.
65819 makes ready to shunt the van bringing the consignment of Silcocks animal feeds to the local farms.
The loco pulls away to clear the crossover giving access into the loop.
65842 is pictured from the top of the embankment as it shunts some vans towards the loading dock.
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.
As the pick-up goods is shunted, two wagons stand alone by the old Hartburn station building.
Having collected the Lowmac from the short spur siding by the station, and added
it to the train, 65842 heads back to couple up.
The train of just three wagons starts away from Hartburn as it continues up the line.
Diesel power, in the form of Sulzer type 2 D5204, heads a military train up the line.
The Bedford RL trucks are bound for the Army training grounds at Otterburn.
The train is pictured again as it rumbles past the photographer. I'd like to thank Pete
for his help during the weekend and for adding some variety to the rolling stock roster.
Here's a 2 minute video of Hartburn taken at the Newton Aycliffe exhibition,
courtesy of Jamie Evans - Please click on the image to view the video.
