Burngullow Lane. - On the main line through Legend Land.

[TrevorP1]

With our summer travels in full swing there’s  not been a great deal of time for modelling so in the main I’ve been in odd job mode. This has included a little more on the clay dry and redoing the hedge behind the weighbridge.

 

Also I’ve finally got round to varnishing the K40 passenger brake. Having heard good things I decided to try ‘Army Painter’ semi matt. Pleased to report this went very well - easy to use and no hint of damage to decals or paint.  
 

The biggest ‘decision’ has been the signal box. The one at real Burngullow was of Cornwall Railway origin but with GWR windows etc. I was determined to at least ‘pay homage’ to this. A replica of the real thing would have been ideal but beyond me, so for months I cast around for alternatives. 
 

To cut a long story short, I purchased an old Bachmann ‘box from eBay to see if I could do something similar. I noticed the Bachmann hip roof was similar to the CR Westwood ‘box so I wondered if I could fit GWR windows…

Wills stonework has been added to the bottom and I’ve put in a locking room door. The windows are from the Ratio box and with some careful slimming of the frames it was like they were made for the job. Being a coward practical I left the locking room windows at the back as per Bachmann. The roof just lifts off which is handy for doing the interior. Painting next and then Phil’s @Harlequin excellent nameboard can take pride of place.

 

[TrevorP1]

Some good progress on the signal box this week and it’s now ready to go onto the layout. I’ll do the interior when I’ve worked out what’s needed - a task in itself!

 

The excellent little nameboard came from Phil @Harlequin and the ‘no entry’ sign on the door is reduced from my photo of the real one at Carrog. 
 

Hopefully it captures the feel of a Cornwall Railway stone box that’s been ‘Great Westernised’.
 

I decided that the S & T painters had been round to paint the box in BR(W) chocolate and cream livery but the Divisional Engineers gang haven’t dealt with the weighbridge and corrugated iron hut so these remain in GWR livery. As far as I can see from photos, there was an earlier BR livery with a lot more cream and this is how I’ve done the Tremewan box. A later livery seems to have had more chocolate, with things like barge boards and gutters picked out in the chocolate.
 

I’m glad I haven’t got a station to paint in GWR colours. We spent the day at the SVR yesterday and having read the ‘Station Colours’ and GWR.org websites and then spent far too long (sad fellow) looking at how Bridgenorth station is painted I’m almost completely confused!  I just stopped myself from taking a photo of the inside of the gents loo where a variety of colours are used…. Still, no matter for my train set but it would be nice to understand!

 

 

[5BarVT]

10 minutes ago, TrevorP1 said:

I’m glad I haven’t got a station to paint in GWR colours. We spent the day at the SVR yesterday and having read the ‘Station Colours’ and GWR.org websites and then spent far too long (sad fellow) looking at how Bridgenorth station is painted I’m almost completely confused!  I just stopped myself from taking a photo of the inside of the gents loo where a variety of colours are used…. Still, no matter for my train set but it would be nice to understand!

If you do sort it out, please post your findings here so that an equally sad fellow can make use of them!

Paul.

[St Enodoc]

5 hours ago, TrevorP1 said:

the inside of the gents loo where a variety of colours are used

TMI

[TrevorP1]

A couple of photos to show progress. The signal box now has it's place on the site of the former Tremewan Station - again a nod to Burngullow. The signalman is around because his bike is there but at the moment he has no levers to pull. A sweeping statement that but as we like to fill our signal boxes with interiors that can't be seen (!) I've drawn up what I think would be the signal box diagram if the place were real. The bits box has been raided for some Ratio and Springside parts from previous projects and another Ratio frame ordered. To these will be added items from Modelu. All this assembled bearing in mind what has been learned from the helpful and knowledgable ex-proffesionals on here.

 

 

It occurred that with the station long gone the signalman will need a loo. Remembering the account by John Francis of the less than salubrious chemical convenience at Whiteball I've decide that his counterpart at Tremwean will have his facilities in a corrugated building that will also serve as the lamp hut. This can be sited a little further along the former platform. I already have one (below) from Dartmoor Model Services  ( @Brinkly on here) and will purchase another.

 

 

 

[Graham T]

Those lamp huts look rather nice, I might have to get myself a brace of those 🙂

[brianusa]

Good stuff!  As I can remember the Cornish Alps from way back, your representations are excellent.  Being half Cornish, any modelling of the area is a joy to see!

 

Brian.

[St Enodoc]

6 hours ago, TrevorP1 said:

Dartmoor Model Services  ( @Brinkly on here) 

Bookmarked!

[TrevorP1]

The new Tremewan signalman leans on the hurdy gurdy and surveys his box.

 

Hopefully it's near enough! Springside, Ratio and Modelu parts plus some knocked up from pieces of plastic strip etc. I decided against the cliche armchair but gave him some carriage cushions on top of a locker. Although there is no running water he does have a Baby Belling to warm up his soup!

 

 

[Graham T]

Top notch 🙂

[Nick Gough]

Looking good and ready for action!

[Chamby]

Most excellent attention to detail, Trevor!

[TrevorP1]

Back home in chilly Flintshire now after our latest visit to points west of the Tamar. Thanks to Phil @Chamby I was able to visit the Bodmin club - and meet the 'other' Tony Wright(!) - and also see Phil's Leicester GC layout. To me, Leicester was a marvel of electronics, I'm sure it won't be long before Phil is able to control all his trains by voice alone! 😉 The platform canopy is something to behold. Some very skilful work and a lot of thought has gone into that.

 

On the way home we stayed for few days in Strete near Slapton Sands. Strete is, of course, one of the villages evacuated for 'Exercise Tiger' prior to D-Day. The tragic events that unfolded here are commemorated by the Sherman Tank memorial at Torcross. Just search Exercise Tiger on the web if you want to know more.

 

Strete and the local area are charming and natural but it's been a very long time since I visited, let alone stayed, in South Devon and the main centres of population have become horribly commercialised since I was last there. Chelsea Tractors and designer shops abound.

 

Railway interest was provided by an enjoyable scenic trip from Kingswear to Paignton (we returned to Kingswear quickly!) and also the South Devon where we were treated to a ride in this splendid GWR special saloon.

 

 

Mention must be made of the model shop attached to the SDR. I was shopping for paint, glue, filler etc. They have comprehensive stocks of Humbrol enamels, plus others. For instance, Scale Model Scenery, Ratio, Parkside, Woodland Scenics and Peco are well represented plus the usual RTR suspects. No connection of course, just a satisfied customer who came away with more than just paint and glue...

[TrevorP1]

Some work on the layout! For some time I've been wondering about the practicality of my cassette system. It works for many people but if I was honest it was too unwieldy in the Railway Shed. I could see expensive damage being done...

 

So, bullet bitten. I've decided on using the 'Warley Boxes' from Modellers Mecca for off layout storage. OK, the stock has to be handled, and I wouldn't use them for engines, but they seem ideal for most coaches and wagons. Plus they take up less room - one box can hold ten coaches if need be, and they fit neatly into my wheeled trolley.

 

In the space previously used for the cassette road there are now three extra sidings in the fiddle yard using track recycled from cassettes. The front trim panel has been replaced with a taller one to make a small fence. 'Goods stock posed for effect!

 

[TrevorP1]

Aside from altering part of the fiddle yard and making up some 'Warley Boxes' very little practical work has taken place on Burngullow Lane. I do, however, keep looking at the bridge at the far Penzance end thinking "I must finish that...". Nevertheless trains have run, so time for some gratuitous  photography courtesy of local man Paul Black.

 

Our man must have a very good camera (and alarm clock) because he caught the 9:45pm Bristol Class D passing the signal box at 5:15am. It was too early for the fireman to remember to change the lamps though...

 

 

After a breakfast with the signalman he caught the 6:50am Plymouth Class B with 5175 and a motley collection of stock.

 

 

Next a  walk down the yard for the 8:25am Falmouth with its pair of NBL type 2s. 9755 waits to head up the branch with a pair of brake vans, the leading one appears to have been stolen from the 'other railway'.

 

 

Much excitement for the 8:45am Plymouth class C with 4054 in charge.

 

 

Before going home for lunch he caught ex-works 7715 setting back over the crossover with the 12:55pm St Blazey to Drinnick Mill empties. That bus must have broken down, it's been there for months.

 

[AdeMoore]

Excellent post Trevor, taking us back to a place in time we look fondly back upon.

even if I was just a toddler about then!

Edited November 4, 2022 by AdeMoore

[TrevorP1]

2 hours ago, AdeMoore said:

…. taking us back to a place in time we look fondly back upon.

even if I was just a toddler about then!

Me too! 😀

[checkrail]

9 hours ago, TrevorP1 said:

Nevertheless trains have run, so time for some gratuitous  photography courtesy of local man Paul Black.

More! 

[TrevorP1]

11 hours ago, checkrail said:

More! 

🙂 OK folks. I’m just changing over to the afternoon sequence, give me a day or three and I’ll have a go.

[TrevorP1]

A few more photos as promised. Firstly D807 Caradoc on the 11:10 Penzance - Wolverhampton. On weekdays this train would be called The Cornishman but on Saturdays the name didn't apply. Two strengtheners are on the front of the set, a repainted Bachmann/Mainline sunshine BTK and a Comet C70 SK. The engine is an aged  Bachmann model modified to represent on of the first few without headcode panels. It's not entirely accurate but near enough when it goes past at a scale 50mph.

 

 

Everyone thinks drones are a recent idea but Cornish inventors got there in 1960! Our man use the new technology to catch 4079 Pendennis Castle on the 11:50 Penzance - Paddington Royal Duchy. It kind of irritates me to think that this train looks like 'out of the box' RTR but... The engine began life as an NRM Caerphilly Castle (it has the right cylinders for 4079) now renamed with the lining modified for the BR period. The tender is a revamped eBay purchase whose origins I have no idea. They coaches are Bachmann but with painted wheels, resprayed roofs and fitted with destination boards.

 

 

Next along is the 10:15 Launceston - Redruth. The Launceston branch set plus a couple of corridor coaches. An Airfix BCK fitted with normal buffers masquerades as the proper thing followed by an ex LMS vehcile (quite correct for Cornwall at this time). The two corridor vehicles are Bachmann sunshine stock, the BCK having been repainted and the interior put right.

 

 

One for those who like black Halls. 6911 Holker Hall on the 07:25 Ealing Broadway. The coaches are almost 'out of the box' but the engine has been fitted with the boiler from the Modified Hall cannibalised to get the chassis for my County (not that you can see from this side!).

 

 

Next along was 6870 Bodicote Grange on the Penzance portion of 7:00am Birmingham. They clay wagons on the left (you need to imagine they are full and covered with tarpaulins) are waiting  for the 2:30pm Truro - St. Blazey class K which will be along in the next batch of photos.

 

 

 

[checkrail]

45 minutes ago, TrevorP1 said:

A few more photos as promised.

Oh yes - lovely stuff!  Thanks Trevor.

[treggyman]

Hi

 

I especially like that last picture,,,,Captures the supposed scene just right in my opinion.....

 

Keep up the good work....

 

Cheers Bill

[TrevorP1]

1 hour ago, treggyman said:

Hi

 

I especially like that last picture,,,,Captures the supposed scene just right in my opinion.....

 

Keep up the good work....

 

Cheers Bill

Than you Bill. I’ve stood in that spot a few times!

 

I like that shot as well so I’ll try again in future. It’s quite difficult to get though and lighting is another issue but what is life without a challenge or two!

[Tankerman]

3 hours ago, TrevorP1 said:

A few more photos as promised. Firstly D807 Caradoc on the 11:10 Penzance - Wolverhampton. On weekdays this train would be called The Cornishman but on Saturdays the name didn't apply. Two strengtheners are on the front of the set, a repainted Bachmann/Mainline sunshine BTK and a Comet C70 SK. The engine is an aged  Bachmann model modified to represent on of the first few without headcode panels. It's not entirely accurate but near enough when it goes past at a scale 50mph.

 

 

Everyone thinks drones are a recent idea but Cornish inventors got there in 1960! Our man use the new technology to catch 4079 Pendennis Castle on the 11:50 Penzance - Paddington Royal Duchy. It kind of irritates me to think that this train looks like 'out of the box' RTR but... The engine began life as an NRM Caerphilly Castle (it has the right cylinders for 4079) now renamed with the lining modified for the BR period. The tender is a revamped eBay purchase whose origins I have no idea. They coaches are Bachmann but with painted wheels, resprayed roofs and fitted with destination boards.

 

 

Next along is the 10:15 Launceston - Redruth. The Launceston branch set plus a couple of corridor coaches. An Airfix BCK fitted with normal buffers masquerades as the proper thing followed by an ex LMS vehcile (quite correct for Cornwall at this time). The two corridor vehicles are Bachmann sunshine stock, the BCK having been repainted and the interior put right.

 

 

One for those who like black Halls. 6911 Holker Hall on the 07:25 Ealing Broadway. The coaches are almost 'out of the box' but the engine has been fitted with the boiler from the Modified Hall cannibalised to get the chassis for my County (not that you can see from this side!).

 

 

Next along was 6870 Bodicote Grange on the Penzance portion of 7:00am Birmingham. They clay wagons on the left (you need to imagine they are full and covered with tarpaulins) are waiting  for the 2:30pm Truro - St. Blazey class K which will be along in the next batch of photos.

 

 

I agree, these took me back to the 1950's when I was a mere 10 years old and ignoring my parents instructions, I got the train from Penryn to the 'big' station at Truro on a Saturday.

 

[Rhysb]

Looks fantastic, love the photos especially the head on ones looking back at the dry. Well done

 

Rhys