Hills of the North - The Last Great Project

[LNER4479]

Actually, if I do anything along these lines then it's more likely to be this:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/8662920646

 

But don't hold your breath. Really.

[Barry O]

well.. the D401 is sat in the Shap stock boxes in the layout room .. just by Shap!

 

and a EE Type 4 and a Brush Type 4.

 

Baz..

 

Edited September 1, 2023 by Barry O

[Enterprisingwestern]

55 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

Actually, if I do anything along these lines then it's more likely to be this:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/8662920646

 

But don't hold your breath. Really.

 

32 minutes ago, Barry O said:

well.. the D401 is sat in the Shap stock boxes in the layout room .. just by Shap!

 

and a EE Type 4 and a Brush Type 4.

 

Baz..

 

 

 

Mike.

[thegreenhowards]

1 hour ago, LNER4479 said:

Actually, if I do anything along these lines then it's more likely to be this:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/8662920646

 

But don't hold your breath. Really.

I would like to see that!

[LNER4479]

7 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

Mike.

Just for that (very funny 😂), here's a re-run of the Perth express.

 

A strange interloper at Central (and I'm not referring to the 'Clan' on the right). Headcode a bit dodgy (should be '1S'-something if it's bound for the Scottish Region). Yellow warning panel needs removing - too late for my era.

 

Heading through Bog Junc.

 

And a couple of views on the fell (of a Peak!)

 

It even burbles

 

It's a bit uncontrollable on DC - best I could do.

 

Now, will yers all be happy now and let me enjoy playing wiv me hiss n piss locos 🤗

 

Edited September 2, 2023 by LNER4479

[Tony Wright]

9 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

Just for that (very funny 😂), here's a re-run of the Perth express.

 

A strange interloper at Central (and I'm not referring to the 'Clan' on the right). Headcode a bit dodgy (should be '1S'-something if it's bound for the Scottish Region). Yellow warning panel needs removing - too late for my era.

 

Heading through Bog Junc.

 

And a couple of views on the fell (of a Peak!)

 

It even burbles

 

It's a bit uncontrollable on DC - best I could do.

 

Now, will yers all be happy now and let me enjoy playing wiv me hiss n piss locos 🤗

 

Good morning Graham,

 

Is that the wee Ivatt 2-6-2T you bought off me, just to the left of the Peak in the first shot? Built by the late Alec Swain. I trust it still runs well?

 

I've also seen DORNOCH FIRTH in one or two recent shots. I trust she still runs well?

 

The progress on your (last?) great project is amazing!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Enterprisingwestern]

9 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

Just for that (very funny 😂), here's a re-run of the Perth express.

 

A strange interloper at Central (and I'm not referring to the 'Clan' on the right). Headcode a bit dodgy (should be '1S'-something if it's bound for the Scottish Region). Yellow warning panel needs removing - too late for my era.

 

Heading through Bog Junc.

 

And a couple of views on the fell (of a Peak!)

 

It even burbles

 

It's a bit uncontrollable on DC - best I could do.

 

Now, will yers all be happy now and let me enjoy playing wiv me hiss n piss locos 🤗

 

 

Thank you.

That will keep me going,,,,,,,,,,,,,,for a while!

 

Mike.

[LNER4479]

3 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Is that the wee Ivatt 2-6-2T you bought off me, just to the left of the Peak in the first shot? Built by the late Alec Swain. I trust it still runs well?

 

I've also seen DORNOCH FIRTH in one or two recent shots. I trust she still runs well?

 

The progress on your (last?) great project is amazing!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Thanks Tony,

 

Yep, both in the rudest of health.

 

The Ivatt 2-6-2T happily waddles about Central station, shuffling coaching stock around. That lovely DJH motor/gearbox combo is a joy.

 

And the Brit is equally impressive. It doesn't really 'fit' in the Shap roster so it's permanently allocated to the big scheme; there's plenty of photographic evidence of her regularly working the Waverley and Thames-Clyde expresses in the late 1950s so she's ideally suited for that route. The only thing I might do is to replace the tender emblem for the later version.

 

I'm also enjoying running this ex-MR 4F, also acquired from Honest Tone's of Little Bytham. Portescap fitted; also runs lovely.

 

And then there's the Brian Lee DJH (Model Loco) Duchess that is giving my Dad much pleasure at the moment (acquired as LMS 6251; now running as early BR 46233).

 

So far, there's only been one 'dud' - the K's Princess (currently in preserved BR maroon livery as 46203). Some serious resistance in the mechanism - for investigation ... at some stage.

 

 

Looking forward to progressing on the layout such that Upperby MPD is up and running. Bit limited as to total number of locos I can have on the layout at the moment!

[jwealleans]

If it only takes a couple of moaning posts from the kerosene sniffers to get a diesel, what do I have to do to see that Claughton run?

 

Edited September 2, 2023 by jwealleans

[LNER4479]

A humorous clip from Father Ted, it would appear ... But not the 'far, far away' one - that's been done to death.

 

In the meantime - I am trying to build a railway!

[LNER4479]

3 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

 

In the meantime - I am trying to build a railway!

 

Talking of which ...

 

Civil Engineer took temporary possession of Dentonholme north end for point installation. Rectangular hole created and point motor pre-wired.

 

Normal service has been resumed as soon as practicable. Brown coloured track is in for keeps (all being well!). The ballastmeister is champing at the bit and this may end up being the first area to be done.

 

Meanwhile, the all-important baseboard for the south end of the Upperby complex has been installed for keeps and the first pointwork prepared for what will become Carlisle No.13 junctions.

 

Small steps ...

[LNER4479]

Anyhow, back to the real run of the Perth express ...

 

46256 tops Shap ... as the fish train sneaks out of Dentonholme.

 

The Patriot enters Greenholme cutting with the southbound relief express.

 

The Waverley has made it as far as Garsdale, posing on Dandry Mire viaduct.

 

Finally (for now), did you notice this on the last pic of Central? Salvaged from my old loft layout, it represents a train crew signing-on point and mess room. Seems like a nice fit here 🙂

[LNER4479]

Anatomy of a goods train.

 

WD 2-8-0 departs Central with a mixed goods train, headed for Dentonholme.

 

Taking the goods lines at Carlisle North ...

 

... and arrival at Dentonholme.

 

I posed this to give you an idea of how the goods train operations are intended to work. There will be some block trains that stay together but most other trains will be formed up on mini rakes or 'cuts' of wagons, coupled using three-links or screw couplings but with tension lock either end. So, from loco end (left to right) we have cuts of five - one(!) - four - five - four - guard's van

 

The yard pilot then proceeds to deal with each 'cut' as required, forwarding on to new destinations, reforming into new 'cuts' or (eventually!) taking into the goods depot area of Dentonholme yard as their final destination.

 

Without necessarily meaning to, the inbound train contained some 'rough cuts' (as I understand the term was), not properly marshalled up; in particular, some fitted wagons were mixed up with non-fitted wagons, meaning that the train as a whole would effectively have run as a Class H ( probably). For the next outbound working, I've paid closer attention to forming up the 'cuts' as fitted or non-fitted so this train has at least the first two 'cuts' formed up as fully fitted, meaning the train as a whole can run as a Class D (probably), with at least the front third with the brake pipe operable. 

 

There's a lot involved with running goods trains.

(and very happy to be put right on any of the above to enhance my learning)

[philip-griffiths]

Enjoying seeing the postings of the workings.  I went looking for the overall plan this week to refamiliarise myself with your proposal Graham,  but I think it got lost in the Great Outage. 
 

if you have reposted it since 1/01/20, please could you remind me which page I’ll find it on, or could you repost it again please. Thanks. 

[St Enodoc]

9 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

Anatomy of a goods train.

 

WD 2-8-0 departs Central with a mixed goods train, headed for Dentonholme.

 

Taking the goods lines at Carlisle North ...

 

... and arrival at Dentonholme.

 

I posed this to give you an idea of how the goods train operations are intended to work. There will be some block trains that stay together but most other trains will be formed up on mini rakes or 'cuts' of wagons, coupled using three-links or screw couplings but with tension lock either end. So, from loco end (left to right) we have cuts of five - one(!) - four - five - four - guard's van

 

The yard pilot then proceeds to deal with each 'cut' as required, forwarding on to new destinations, reforming into new 'cuts' or (eventually!) taking into the goods depot area of Dentonholme yard as their final destination.

 

Without necessarily meaning to, the inbound train contained some 'rough cuts' (as I understand the term was), not properly marshalled up; in particular, some fitted wagons were mixed up with non-fitted wagons, meaning that the train as a whole would effectively have run as a Class H ( probably). For the next outbound working, I've paid closer attention to forming up the 'cuts' as fitted or non-fitted so this train has at least the first two 'cuts' formed up as fully fitted, meaning the train as a whole can run as a Class D (probably), with at least the front third with the brake pipe operable. 

 

There's a lot involved with running goods trains.

(and very happy to be put right on any of the above to enhance my learning)

How do you identify the ends of the cuts - just from the different couplings?

[LNER4479]

11 hours ago, philip-griffiths said:

Enjoying seeing the postings of the workings.  I went looking for the overall plan this week to refamiliarise myself with your proposal Graham,  but I think it got lost in the Great Outage. 
 

if you have reposted it since 1/01/20, please could you remind me which page I’ll find it on, or could you repost it again please. Thanks. 

Taken me a while to find it(!). Page 96, first post.

[LNER4479]

9 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

How do you identify the ends of the cuts - just from the different couplings?

In a word - yes!

 

Dentonholme will have more capacity for fiddling about with 3-links if required as most of the yard will be directly in front of the operator. The t/l's at the end of each cut are more useful for remote uncoupling, especially at Central where you haven't really the time to be faffing about with 3-links.

[LNER4479]

Some more recent running.

 

An interesting collection of locos surrounding the platform ends at Central. A horsebox has been added to an S&C local. For detaching at Garsdale for Leyburn?

 

Seen here passing Bog Junc. under caution signals, 'cos ...

 

... that express of the Shap route is taking its time and is conflicting with the S&C route at Grand Junction.

 

Next away is the sort of fish train, seen from the low level viewpoint as it climbs past Shap Wells.

 

 

More soon.

[30368]

8 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

More soon.

 

Lovely stuff, many thanks.

 

Kind regards,

 

30368

[LNER4479]

Back to layout construction ... except, first of all:

 

Balcony wall reconstruction work beginning to produce results.

But it takes time - time that could be spent building the layout. Ah well, it'll be nice when it's finished (not bothering with the bottom 3 feet - that'll be hidden by cupboards, etc)

 

Anyhow ...

 

The pointwork for Carlisle No.13 being prepared ...

 

Being installed ...

(Two evening's work here. Everything had to be pre-wired and point motor with switch linked up, with actuating rod in tube under the ballast, before pinning it all down - because we're slap bang on the bridge over Central station approach!)

 

... and with a couple of plain lengths also laid beyond to ensure the alignment.

 

A 'Scot' is posed on the Perth express to show the start of the effect. The two point motors (second one yet to be installed) will probably be covered by the signal box. The real thing was actually on the other side of the line but the only sensible space I have for it is as shown.

Otherwise, the track plan and alignment is pretty much as per prototype. Should be quite a busy place!

 

[St Enodoc]

2 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

Back to layout construction ... except, first of all:

 

Balcony wall reconstruction work beginning to produce results.

But it takes time - time that could be spent building the layout. Ah well, it'll be nice when it's finished (not bothering with the bottom 3 feet - that'll be hidden by cupboards, etc)

 

Anyhow ...

 

The pointwork for Carlisle No.13 being prepared ...

 

Being installed ...

(Two evening's work here. Everything had to be pre-wired and point motor with switch linked up, with actuating rod in tube under the ballast, before pinning it all down - because we're slap bang on the bridge over Central station approach!)

 

... and with a couple of plain lengths also laid beyond to ensure the alignment.

 

A 'Scot' is posed on the Perth express to show the start of the effect. The two point motors (second one yet to be installed) will probably be covered by the signal box. The real thing was actually on the other side of the line but the only sensible space I have for it is as shown.

Otherwise, the track plan and alignment is pretty much as per prototype. Should be quite a busy place!

 

Great progress. At this rate, everything will be finished by the middle of November...

[31A]

8 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Great progress. At this rate, everything will be finished by the middle of November...

 

But which November?

[LNER4479]

8 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Great progress. At this rate, everything will be finished by the middle of November...

Bring yer paint brush with you, just in case.

[LNER4479]

Good grief - I've actually managed to finish something!

 

Remember this? (Xmas 2021)

 

Or this? (May this year)

 

Or even this? (July this year)

 

Well, anyhow:

 

Ta daa!

 

Two more sleepers ready for service. That's 3 built so far, plus 2 acquired. Another 4 similar kits in stock so a bit of a way to go yet, but one day we'll be running night time sleeping car trains. 25 of 'em passed through Carlisle on a typical 1955 summer's evening - plenty of work for the Duchess fleet.😁

[LNER4479]

Talking of Duchesses and heavy trains, just posted this on the 'Were they any good?' thread in the 'Miscellaneous Musings' area:

 

 

Very VERY favourite / sentimental loco, now on indefinite loan to HotN. 63 years young, no less.

 

I don't go in for 'playing' much, but happy to make an exception in this case 🙂