Hills of the North - The Last Great Project

[coronach]

Brilliant. You have reached the stage that you can start to play trains - very satisfying. 

[Enterprisingwestern]

10 hours ago, coronach said:

Brilliant. You have reached the stage that you can start to play trains  test current developments -  very satisfying. 

 

FIFY!

 

MIke.

[coronach]

12 minutes ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

FIFY!

 

MIke.

Yes, of course :)

 

Tongue in cheek …. This hobby is a serious business, not to be taken lightly , undertaken by your typical Englishman, stiff upper lip, suppress all outward signs of enjoyment or fun lol. stand around, hands behind ones back, making serious comments about how things should be, whether the colour of the ballast is correct and nodding in agreement with others doing the same.  
 

No, Graham was definitely playing trains!  As would I in his position ;—)

[LNER4479]

In truth, it'll be a 'couple of years' yet before I can play trains in the way I really want to. There was a need to test the reinstated wiring last night so I chose to make it fun - somewhere in between testing and playing trains.

 

Whilst the layout is set up in 'summer mode' I can run trains; once we get to the first show of the season (Shap at GETS, Milton Keynes, Oct 14th/15th) then it will have to be part dismantled for the winter. This is likely to be the pattern for the next few years. Plenty I can be getting on with during winter time, mind - subject to temperature in the chapel(!)

[LNER4479]

With Central all back up and running, had a shunt around to set up 3 more trains for departure.

 

 

First away is the rebuilt Rebuilt Royal Scot (scratch built over 40 years ago, now with DJH GB1 motor/gearbox).

 

Train may look modest but there's some old 'draggy' coaches in this formation; let's hope the banker isn't needed up Shap.

 

Struggled a bit but here she is at Shap Wells. Seems to be the case that early stages of the climb are worst. Once out on the open fell, it appears to ease slightly.

 

As she tops the banks, a northbound goods train pulls out of Dentonholme.

 

Next away is a parcels train. It'll be taking a different route at Grand Junction.

 

Black 5 moment (there'll be plenty of these!). 2 of the 842 workhorses of the fleet pass at Caldew junctions.

 

Finally (for now), a lengthy mixed goods pulls out of Central goods yard, bound for the Settle & Carlisle route. The Clan and the WD are off previous arrivals and have made their way back along the plat 4/5 centre road to await access to the loco sidings. It's now configured such that the MPD operator can get hold of these, which improves the flexibility of the operating arrangements - a valuable piece of feedback from the recent operating session.

 

And is held in section as there's a little congestion ahead. The two boxes spoiling the pic are recent RTR wagon purchases (either 'bargains' or pre-loved' in the main - what a wonderful woke expression the latter is!), awaiting coupling conversion, weathering, etc. Must find somewhere better to store them.

 

To be continued 

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by LNER4479

[5BarVT]

7 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

pre-loved

Second hand is descriptive, pre-loved is marketing gush.

Just like NR had an article on upcycled wagons which in the past would have been the much more descriptive ‘rebuilt’.

Paul.

[LNER4479]

On 13/08/2023 at 09:30, 5BarVT said:

Second hand is descriptive, pre-loved is marketing gush.

Don't worry - I'm on the same page. I used the word 'wonderful' above in a shake-head-in-disbelief way. Anyhow ...

 

The mini log-jam of wall painting has been attended to and, with the smell of freshly applied vinyl silk emulsion still lingering, some new baseboard structure is being installed (where a ladder needed to go a few hours previously).

 

Now with somewhat curiously-shaped baseboard top affixed.

 

This should make more sense. Tracks just plonked down for illustration purposes. These are the two M&C single lines heading away from Central. The left hand one (as viewed) is the passenger line and will rise up quite steeply alongside the Upperby running lines before branching out to double track for the entrance into Citadel. The right hand track stays level and curves round to join in at Bog Junc...

 

... like so. This thus forms the (prototypical) west-to-east link at Bog Junc - a link that still exists today, I believe - allowing us to run North East to / from Cumbrian coast traffic flows. Iron ore and coal? Possibly petro-chemicals? To be honest, I'm a little hazy on some of this so any info on typical 1950's workings gratefully received.

Missing from the above is the west-to-north curve, so any such traffic will have to run into Upperby and reverse.

Note how the above layout allows for incorporation of banker siding. Full, double track running off the M&C is achieved via a trailing crossover, out of shot below this view.

Operationally, we can also use the M&C goods line as a goods relief line between Bog and Central as required.

Edited August 15, 2023 by LNER4479

[BoD]

When finished, timetabling it all will be very … er… interesting.

[LNER4479]

41 minutes ago, BoD said:

When finished, timetabling it all will be very … er… interesting.

Ah, but that's the fun part. Very much my 'thing', railway operations. Pretty much got the passenger timetable buttoned down (relatively easy); currently researching goods train workings (much harder). Piecing together all the loco workings for it all is the icing on the cake🚂

[Barry O]

Coke trains from Teeside/ Durham (over the tops from the Bishop Aukland end) iron ore and some paas3nger workings.. will try to get more info.

 

Baz

[5BarVT]

4 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

Ah, but that's the fun part. Very much my 'thing', railway operations. Pretty much got the passenger timetable buttoned down (relatively easy); currently researching goods train workings (much harder). Piecing together all the loco workings for it all is the icing on the cake🚂

Fun,

and addictive!

Paul.

[The Stationmaster]

6 hours ago, 5BarVT said:

Fun,

and addictive!

Paul.

And even better when you werealso paid for doing it .  I once had to do a 'snapshot' of the full service in a particular South wales yard as it was oonce every 10 years going back to the 1930s fr case the BRB solicitor.  Evem mre remunerative - because we charged outside party rates for providng evidence in a court case was an analysis of past traffic over a particular curve in south west London before it was closed comparing it with the traffic using it after the curve was reopened.  And our evidence was sufficient to persuaded the judge to make a ruling in chambers avoiding court costs for the parties involved so it was also nice to help the folk who were the victims of a totally ridiculous claim by the other party in the case. 

[LNER4479]

9 hours ago, Barry O said:

Coke trains from Teeside/ Durham (over the tops from the Bishop Aukland end) iron ore and some paas3nger workings.. will try to get more info.

 

Baz

Ah yes, of course - doh! Whilst Stainmore route was open, iron and coke trains went that way so would never have gone near Carlisle.

 

Oh well! Perhaps we might run one or two token ones to show willing. Otherwise, would explain why pictures of goods train twixt Workington and Carlisle show other types of traffic ...

[LNER4479]

We can show latest progress combined with running some more trains:

 

The fully fitted van train rumbles through Bog Junc, with one of the named Black 5s in charge. In the background, the newly-installed M&C trackbed has already been corked and painted.

 

Pride of the line 'The Royal Scot' pulls out of Central with 46206 in charge. In the background (again!), the extra pointwork for the M&C lines is being prepared, then the two single tracks can head away from the station.

 

Trying for a different view, an elevated angle of the train climbing Shap bank.

 

On the other hand, the 'classic' viewpoint is hard to resist!

 

Now, here's another fully fitted, newly formed. Don't laugh but this is hoping to be a fish train when it grows up. For now, only 5 out of the 12 vehicles are genuine fish vans; the plan is to gradually add proper fish vehicles as I build them and replace the non-fishy ones.

 

As a passenger rated train, why shouldn't it run into the main station?

 

It even fits (just!) into the prototype cassette. I'm hoping that it will end up being a longer train than that ... one day ... when it's fully grown up.

 

Edited August 18, 2023 by LNER4479

[Barry O]

You could always use a set of blue spots for the fish train..a set of them did travelthis way....

 

Baz

[Enterprisingwestern]

2 hours ago, Barry O said:

You could always use a set of blue spots for the fish train..a set of them did travelthis way....

 

Baz

 

Wouldn't that be a blue puddle?

 

Mike.

[LNER4479]

The inspiration behind the fish train is the 'famous' Aberdeen LMS /LMR train that left Aberdeen at 2.11pm and subsequently Perth at 4.45pm.

 

Much photographed in the early 1960s, when it was often a Pacific working. Check out second pic in the following link.

 

https://www.keymodelworld.com/article/stanier-princess-4-6-2-history-0

 

[BoD]

... and the blue spot van kits were flogged off at Hartlepool last year. 

[LNER4479]

This website contains lots of detail information about the operation of the Aberdeen fish trains.

https://www.bloodandcustard.net/bluespot.html

It's a touch late for me (1963) but otherwise seems consistent with other information / pictures I've come across. Anyone care to concur or challenge?

[LNER4479]

Another train to show progress (any excuse!)

 

Not had a train off the S&C route for a while, so how about this? Coronach heads the Waverley (!)

 

Looked just right heading thru Bog Junc.

 

Anyhow - here's the progress(!) The M&C running lines heading away from Central have been cut (where necessary) and placed in their intended position. Need to be removed for spraying before laying for keeps. (well - it doesn't NEED to be(!); I just choose to do so)

 

As the A3 makes her way into the station, I've plonked an 8F at the head of a coal train to show the effect of replacing that single slip with a double a few pages back.

 

And from the reverse angle.

 

Couldn't resist a Central arrival shot. The Black 5s in the centre road have worked earlier trains in, waiting en route to the loco sidings.

 

[coronach]

10 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

Another train to show progress (any excuse!)

 

Not had a train off the S&C route for a while, so how about this? Coronach heads the Waverley (!)

 

Looked just right heading thru Bog Junc.

 

Anyhow - here's the progress(!) The M&C running lines heading away from Central have been cut (where necessary) and placed in their intended position. Need to be removed for spraying before laying for keeps. (well - it doesn't NEED to be(!); I just choose to do so)

 

As the A3 makes her way into the station, I've plonked an 8F at the head of a coal train to show the effect of replacing that single slip with a double a few pages back.

 

And from the reverse angle.

 

Couldn't resist a Central arrival shot. The Black 5s in the centre road have worked earlier trains in, waiting en route to the loco sidings.

 

Is that a Hornby A3?  My ‘Coronach’ needs some additional weight to cope with the climb over Whitrope

[LNER4479]

It is ... and it may well do, in due course. What are the gradients on your scheme?

[coronach]

3 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

It is ... and it may well do, in due course. What are the gradients on your scheme?

I reckon about 1:30 rising. Have you had success in adding weight to an A3. I’ve managed to pack lead into a Bachmann A1 and a jubilee to the extent that they are the heaviest locos in the fleet but not attempted a Hornby A3. There doesn’t seem to be much room above the driving wheels

[TerryBewdley]

Incredible modeling love it.

[LNER4479]

24 minutes ago, coronach said:

I reckon about 1:30 rising. Have you had success in adding weight to an A3. I’ve managed to pack lead into a Bachmann A1 and a jubilee to the extent that they are the heaviest locos in the fleet but not attempted a Hornby A3. There doesn’t seem to be much room above the driving wheels

Ah, OK - 1-in-30 is certainly asking a lot of RTR on a sizeable train. I'm hoping to stick with the 1-in-75 gradient of the prototype

 

Not had the need to take a Hornby A3 apart to add weight. Grantham is of course on the flat but, that having been said, we've found that the Hornby A3s have quite good grip and will handle our 8-9 coach trains of largely etched brass stock without undue difficulty.

 

I do have component parts to kit built an A3 ... one day!