Grantham - the Streamliner years

[bimble]

Yep, there was a touch of humour in my post though.

 

Thing is, why not bring the USA product into line with what they sold in Britain, making them Marathon bars on both sides of the pond (and presumably in every other country as well).

 

Because they are a BIG market and we are a small one... I'll leave any possible political ramifications of that statement at the door as I grab my coat... ;-)

[Willie Whizz]

Isn't "snicker" a faintly unpleasant word in American English too, then?

[LNER4479]

Anyhow ...

 

Layout all safely transported to Wakefield, set up and miraculously working OK with minimal fuss. Nicely settled down during the evening's running and ready to go - all being well - in the morning.

 

We've already had a first running of the Stirling No.1 1888 train recreation and the set of coaches below, both of which performed splendidly.

 

Great show with other star layouts there and friendly atmosphere. DO say hi if you're coming along.

Edited November 17, 2018 by LNER4479

[enginelane]

Great layout and good to see such a range of rolling stock and locos!

[Jon4470]

Totally agree - very good standard of layouts at the show.

 

As always, I enjoyed watching Grantham.

 

Hope the barriers don’t creep up on you again though!

 

Thank you to everyone for the time spent talking, explaining and showing.

 

Off to watch the DVD now.

 

Jon

[enginelane]

Totally agree - very good standard of layouts at the show.

As always, I enjoyed watching Grantham.

Hope the barriers don’t creep up on you again though!

Thank you to everyone for the time spent talking, explaining and showing.

Off to watch the DVD now.

Jon

Barrier creep shows how many are leaning on them to view the layout!

[LNER4479]

Barrier creep shows how many are leaning on them to view the layout!

...aided and abetted by the lateral, floor level, cross-layout bracing bar having become dislodged! Once that was discovered, I could breath again...

[enginelane]

...aided and abetted by the lateral, floor level, cross-layout bracing bar having become dislodged! Once that was discovered, I could breath again...

Send for Martin and his barrier key!

[LNER4479]

WAKEFIELD SHOW REPORT

 

Well, as you might have already spotted elsewhere, Grantham has attended its 11th show, the rather excellent Wakefield 'Diamond Jubilee' show, which has had rave reviews, sharing as we did the hall with classics such as Copenhagen Fields and Halifax Kings Cross. As always, in the hurly-burly of show time it can be all too easy to forget to take photos; as always, therefore, Sunday morning proved to be a good time to get the camera out.

 

Here is the usual general set up view. Unusually, we had a barrier line at the back of the layout, exposing the unrefined nature of the fiddle yard to close audience scrutiny. Not always ideal from the operators point of view but folk do like to see your stock, particularly as a lot of it is only seen briefly round the front.

 

A closer - but still aerial - view of the station. Pure fluke (honest) but my new Quint local set happens to be in the station (Plat. 5) waiting to form the evening departure to Nottingham (Victoria) and Pinxton.

 

Down on shed, A1 No.2549 'Persimmon' was a 'first time' visitor on the layout, whilst in the background lurks Jonathan's newly acquired 'Valour', still proudly wearing her 100 years poppy - and quite right too.

 

Another 'first' was the working road system. Of course you'll have to take my word for it, but the lorry shown on the bridge did spend most of the weekend shuttling from one end of the layout to the other - interrupted by the occasional altercation with the other two working vehicles! Some form of semi-automation (as is planned) is now high priority for future shows...

 

Most delightful of all, we came away with two awards! First of all, this for Jonathan's recent labour of love in recreating the demonstration 1888 Flying Scotsman set to run with GNR No.1. I suspect this might be the first of many awards this exquisite piece of modelling picks up over the next few years.

 

And, the 'Best Scenic Feature' was awarded to Paul's always impressive granary building that forms the iconic backdrop to the Up Goods Yard. Nice work, guys.

 

Finally, I happened to be 'out front' for my one stint away from the layout as move 9-and-three-quarters came around. Here then is our full recreation of the events of 30th June 1938, when the LNER launched its brand new Flying Scotsman coaches in a most enterprising way. Switching location from Stevenage to Grantham, No.4498 herself has brought the new Gresley set (the work of Roy Mears) into Platform 3, followed by GNR No.1 with the 1888 rake pulling alongside in Plat.5. The regular main panel operating team of Andrew and Adam seem well-pleased with themselves.

 

Did you spot them in the photo above? Master figure painter Tom Dewdney only needed to be shown the actual picture of the day at Stevenage, with the LNER top brass (including Gresley himself) gathered round the locos, to produce this delightful finishing touch. The depot operator was designated to plonk this removeable feature in place once the trains arrived!

 

With everybody safely transferred from the old, rattley six-wheelers to the new, plush pressure ventilated ones, the two trains set off on a parallel departure. Mr depot operator prepares to swoop...

 

Surreptitiously, the group of figures are safely retrieved as the two iconic trains glide elegantly across Harlaxton Road bridge. In the foreground is another of the working road vehicles (the Harrington horsebox). Getting a traction engine working for a future show would be a fun challenge! Meanwhile, in the background, hopefully the south fiddle yard operator's sixth sense is working well with the trains heading towards him as he otherwise holds court with some barrier leaners.

 

 

There will now be a small intermission whilst some of us go into 'demo' mode for Warley this coming weekend. More news after that, all being well.

Edited November 19, 2018 by LNER4479

[Mallard60022]

Congratulations G on providing a stage for the two very worthy award winners 'work. Both items are quite admirable in their own right. It looks as thought he layout itself is creating a great (Northern?) reputation for itself as well. 

Do take care at Warley as the madding crowds can be a PITA come mid Sunday when all one wants is a lie down after a stiff drink, in my past experience.

All the best and I hope to catch up with you after the festering season.

Phil

[grob1234]

Congratulations on the awards - richly deserved. It is looking fantastic, keep up the good work.

[jwealleans]

Well, I do seem to be getting rather animated about something, I forget what. One of the 'barrier leaners' is John Marsh of the Shipley Club, who we have to thank for the lovely tail lamps which now adorn the rear of all the south end passenger rakes and in due course will make their way north as well. All (my) brake vans are now suitably equipped as well. John was kind enough to present me with an exquisite pair of GN loco lamps as well, which will adorn No. 1 when suitably painted.

 

Earlier in the day, before the public were admitted, we recreated what has become a somewhat forgotten event which took place on March 5th 1935.

 

 

This is 2750 Papyrus heading south with the test train which became the Silver Jubilee and on the way to setting what was then a new world speed record for steam of 108 mph. We worked out that between myself and Roy Mears we had all the stock required and so the train was assembled, run and photographed by John Smart. More information and photographs will be published in the LNER Society Journal in due course. Thanks to John for allowing use of this photograph here and for those wishing to know more, there is a contemporary account online.

Edited November 19, 2018 by jwealleans

[Martin S-C]

What are you demo-ing at Warley? I will be there on the Sunday.

[jwealleans]

I'm building wagons, Mr. King is splashing resin about and I think Red Leader may be planning layouts? I'll have to check the list again.

[LNER4479]

Great stuff from John, Roy and Jonathan. 2750 might be the 'forgotten' hero of the time - but not forgotten by us. I regard her as one of the four iconic pacifics from the era that are routinely requested from Mark Allatt's collection, the others of course being 4472, 4468 and 4498 (I'm sure I don't need to quote the names of those three). If we're talking iconic, then 2509 should be added to that list as well but - happily - we also now have her as part of the regular stud in any case, thanks to Barry O.

 

A few more random thoughts about No.2750 and March 5th 1935.

 

The contrast between her performance - as an A3 - and the Nov 1934 run of 4472 - as an original A1 - was there for all to see. Many believe that No.4472 didn't actually achieve the magic 100 on her run, the trace from the dynamometer car otherwise holding steady at @98mph but for a momentary blip up to 100 that defies the laws of physics. But No.2750 was so far over the line (as the historical article outlines) as to put it beyond doubt - and with a heavier train. And with the same driver! The legendary Mr Sparshatt.

 

The running - southbound in particular - is of particular note because it was a day of sustained high-speed. By contrast, Mallard's great day was little more than 11 minutes of all out thrash and done with. The concentration required of a driver, in the dirty, vibrating and deafening environment of a steam locomotive cab travelling at speed, to coax the maximum performance whilst dutifully observing every signal and calculating ahead for each approaching speed restriction - all of which would be memorised in his head - for four hours without a break is quite extraordinary and not often fully appreciated. And this was a man who had already travelled north earlier in the day so was well in to a long day. No wonder he got such a hero's welcome upon return to The Cross.

 

5th March to 27th September 1935. That was the total time elapsed between this run and the public debut of No.2509, the first of the A4s. Must be unparalleled in railway history as so short a design and manufacture period for such a significant locomotive type. Which then went straight into service and handled the first three weeks of the new service without any back up until the next loco was available. Quite extraordinary.

 

Did I read or hear somewhere that Mr Pegler's first expression of interest in 1963 was actually for No.2750 (BR 60096)? But finding that it had already been condemned, he then switched to No.4472. The rest, as they say...

 

Without doubt, No.2750 and the events of 5th March 1935 definitely worth remembering and celebrating.

Edited November 19, 2018 by LNER4479

[LNER4479]

I'm building wagons, Mr. King is splashing resin about and I think Red Leader may be planning layouts? I'll have to check the list again.

Something along those lines. Bring along your graph paper, pencil and eraser...

[Martin S-C]

Which demo stands will you fine gentlemen be at, please?

[Barry O]

Its on the web site but to make it easy for you here is the full list

 

Demo. For all Scales  -  Ian Mellors  Loco and stock servicing A061  RedgateModels

Demo. For all Scales  - fitting DCC chips  Simon Howard A060 Mr.S.corn78

Demo. For all Scales - Gordon Gravett  Static Grass and ground cover A059

Demo. For all scales - Graham Nicholas - Layout Planning A067  LNER4479

Demo. For all scales - Soldering - Andy Duncan A066

Demo. Materials in Modelling -  Ian Morris 3D Printing A055

Demo. Materials in Modelling - Andy  Morris 3D Printing A054  Innocentman

Demo. Materials in modelling - Mike Edge Etched Kit Design and construction A053 Mike Edge

Demo. Materials in Modelling - Resin Casting Graeme King A056  GRKing

Demo. Materials in modelling: whitemetal kit building  Tony Wright A052 Tony Wright

Demo. Meet the expert - Bob Harper Modelling the Maine 2 footers A065

Demo. Meet the expert - Jonathan Wealleans - building 4mm wagons A064  JWealleans

Demo. Shows You How - Kendal MRC C047

Demo. Warley MRC - Ian Rathbone painting and lining in the smaller scales A049

Demo. Warley MRC - Ian Woodward coach building A051

Demo. Warley MRC - Paul Stokes  S7 demo A058

Demo. Warley MRC - RDE Brown - Digital design techniques across the scales A050 

Demo. Warley MRC -Barry Oliver -Weathering A057  BarryO

Demo.Meet the expert  2mm locos and wagon building  - Jerry Clifford A063 Queen Square

Demo. Meet the expert - Peter Kazer  Narrow Gauge Modelling A062

 

 

baz

 

Does that help???

Edited November 19, 2018 by Barry O

[Martin S-C]

Thanks very much.

 

Unfortunately I am fairly new to RMWeb so don't know your real names for the most part!

Edited November 19, 2018 by Martin S-C

[John Smart]

Great stuff from John, Roy and Jonathan. 2750 might be the 'forgotten' hero of the time - but not forgotten by us. 

 

A few more random thoughts about No.2750 and March 5th 1935.

 

The contrast between her performance - as an A3 - and the Nov 1934 run of 4472 - as an original A1 - was there for all to see. Many believe that No.4472 didn't actually achieve the magic 100 on her run, the trace from the dynamometer car otherwise holding steady at @98mph but for a momentary blip up to 100 that defies the laws of physics. But No.2750 was so far over the line (as the historical article outlines) as to put it beyond doubt - and with a heavier train. And with the same driver! The legendary Mr Sparshatt.

 

The running - southbound in particular - is of particular note because it was a day of sustained high-speed. By contrast, Mallard's great day was little more than 11 minutes of all out thrash and done with. The concentration required of a driver, in the dirty, vibrating and deafening environment of a steam locomotive cab travelling at speed, to coax the maximum performance whilst dutifully observing every signal and calculating ahead for each approaching speed restriction - all of which would be memorised in his head - for four hours without a break is quite extraordinary and not often fully appreciated. And this was a man who had already travelled north earlier in the day so was well in to a long day. No wonder he got such a hero's welcome upon return to The Cross.

 

5th March to 27th September 1935. That was the total time elapsed between this run and the public debut of No.2509, the first of the A4s. Must be unparalleled in railway history as so short a design and manufacture period for such a significant locomotive type. Which then went straight into service and handled the first three weeks of the new service without any back up until the next loco was available. Quite extraordinary.

 

Did I read or hear somewhere that Mr Pegler's first expression of interest in 1963 was actually for No.2750 (BR 60096)? But finding that it had already been condemned, he then switched to No.4472. The rest, as they say...

 

Without doubt, No.2750 and the events of 5th March 1935 definitely worth remembering and celebrating.

 

Graham,

 

You are not quite correct about Mr Sparshatt on 5-3-1935.

 

On the 4472 run to Leeds the Crew, Sparshatt and Webster worked both ways.

 

It was realised that this was too much for the fireman, at the very least. The crew from the November 4472 run only worked the 2750 train south from Newcastle, but that included the record 108 of course.

 

All I can say about the 4472 run is beware 'Gentlemen' with stop-watches. They are more accurate than the most up-to-date and calibrated technology of the day.

 

There was a whole publishing industry based on this. 

 

John

[Jesse Sim]

Excellent stuff gents, looked like a great weekend and congratulations on the awards. 

 

Thought about popping over for the weekend, but realistically, my wallet didn't approve! 

[John Smart]

Some more details of Grantham Shed.

 

 

[LNER4479]

Graham,

 

You are not quite correct about Mr Sparshatt on 5-3-1935.

 

On the 4472 run to Leeds the Crew, Sparshatt and Webster worked both ways.

 

It was realised that this was too much for the fireman, at the very least. The crew from the November 4472 run only worked the 2750 train south from Newcastle, but that included the record 108 of course.

 

All I can say about the 4472 run is beware 'Gentlemen' with stop-watches. They are more accurate than the most up-to-date and calibrated technology of the day.

 

There was a whole publishing industry based on this. 

 

John

Thanks John.

 

I knew he didn't work the 6th March train northwards - the historical article that Jonathan pointed us to makes that clear. But, being a King's Cross man, did he not ride out on the cushions in the morning? That was what I was referring to. Or had he lodged in Newcastle the night before?

[jwealleans]

I regard her as one of the four iconic pacifics from the era that are routinely requested from Mark Allatt's collection

2750 is also the only locomotive I have been specifically asked for by the public in all the shows we've done up to now.

[John Smart]

Thanks John.

 

I knew he didn't work the 6th March train northwards - the historical article that Jonathan pointed us to makes that clear. But, being a King's Cross man, did he not ride out on the cushions in the morning? That was what I was referring to. Or had he lodged in Newcastle the night before?

 

Graham, I misinterpreted your statement. My guess is the crew did indeed travel north the same day.

 

John