Penhayle Bay

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

I wish I could've made it today but was out at the Seymour open day

 

Hopefully I'll be able to make it to the next (or last) one.

 

Hope it went well.

 

Peter

[Peter Beckett]

Without wishing to suggest any memory failings on any part the 414 in LT / LCBS days was always West Croydon - Horsham and went nowhere near Hertford.  The northern routes were numbered in the 300-series and the southern in the 400-series with very few exceptions and with relatively few meeting places.  One spot which account for both was Uxbridge where the 305 and 455 were different routes to High Wycombe and where the 305, 321 and 347 met the 455, 457, 458 and 459 amid a sea of red buses.

 

Hertford (HG garage, on Fairfax Road) did have Routemaster coaches on allocation however, though of the standard length RMC type, since they ran half the 715 Green Line with GF (Guildford) having the other half. When that went one-man in 1971 the coaches were refreshed for bus use and appeared in Hertford on the 341 to and from St. Albans and on a shared allocation with that city's SA garage of the same type.

 

The 414 was run in roughly equal measure by DS (Dorking) and RG (Reigate) using RCLs displaced from the 721, Aldgate - Brentwood, run by Romford Express (RE) garage when that route was converted to one-man operation.

Rick,

I am presuming we are talking about the A414? This ran from Chelmsford across to Hertford (missed Harlow) and finished just north of Hatfield at the A1.

 

Peter

[Gwiwer]

Today was never an ideal choice for an open-house.  The clash with a nearby BRMA meeting, the absence overseas of one stalwart, the Caulfield Cup for fans of horse-chasing and the Seymour event for those interested in the 12" : 1' scale railway.  My options are limited by work rosters.  I usually allow 2 - 3 days for a thorough clean up of everything (including the backyard and drive!) before an event and then need the morning clear to check things run as intended.  That means ideally I can only use my five-day weekends which occur once in a couple of months.  In the end only a couple of people dropped in.  

 

Conditions were as good as it gets.  Warm Spring sun, thin cloud to diffuse the direct glare and allow good sunlit photos without any strange shadows or awkward dark spots, it's been dry for three days so there is no residual damp or dew on anything and despite a strong north wind the layout was unaffected as it is on the south-west side of the house.  It also ran very well though two points are showing signs of wear and tear.  I don't think I can be bothered changing them over at this stage; I just have to remember to check 60 and 63 points have thrown correctly before moving a train.

 

My teenage neighbour joined us and took control for the later part of the afternoon.  He has mastered the basics of DC control from previous sessions and today, under direction, was able to engage in some quite complex shunting moves and learned the technique required for pulling off Dapol signals which are 15 metres away from their levers.  That means he has effectively started training as signaller and there's time yet for him to become fully acquainted with the "frame" and pass out on it for solo control.  

 

Ready for its next turn at Carreglyb Sidings:

 

 

The up TPO in early 1960s guise passes a down parcels train at Treheligan

 

 

Another 1960s scene this time at Ponsawgwyn shed

 

 

The change to blue is portended by an early version on this Western leading a down freight

 

 

The same freight eases around the curve through Penhayle Tunnel and out onto the cliffs.  The sea and lower parts of the cliffs have ben sprayed with water for effect.

 

 

Diesel-electric traction at Penhayle Bay as a class 45 heads west with a van train.  The second vehicle can just be seen to be a TPO sorting van meaning this train is the 1970s version of that shown above.

 

 

Moving further forward through time a large-logo blue class 50 propels the inspection saloon through the sand dunes.  

 

 

And more recent still is the grey livery of St. Blazey's 37669 leading the Polybulk wagons at the same spot

 

 

Under the lights at Treheligan where a decent number of passengers awaits the early morning train to London.  The china clay train with a grimy blue class 22 in charge will have to be recessed in the sidings to let it pass

 

 

Under the lights at Ponsangwyn representing the change from steam to diesel traction.  The yellow panels on the diesels are a little late to be seen alongside the Beattie well-tank which would have been withdrawn in 1961 before yellow was in use.

 

 

The driver leans on the cab-side as the Beattie simmers gently before setting off on the early morning Wenford Goods.

 

 

And some action, with apologies for some unavoidable wind noise:

Parcels and TPO cross at Penhayle Bay

 

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-B87NLHp/0/1920/i-B87NLHp-1920.mp4

 

The down sleeping cars roll across Penhayle Cliffs followed by the up Cornishman service

 

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZTZpWJx/0/1920/i-ZTZpWJx-1920.mp4

 

Finally Penhayle Bay down home signal, the one everyone wants to stop at to admire the beach below, clears just in time to pass a blue Western and a rake of early Mk2 coaches before being restored to danger.  The lever for this is 14 metres away from the signal requiring an acquired technique to pull off reliably with just a brief pulse of power.

 

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-5WGnMqx/0/1920/i-5WGnMqx-1920.mp4

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Andrew P]

Very nice pics Rick, some good Traction there as well.

[SRman]

There doesn't have to be a large number of people to make a successful running session. I'm glad the weather was kind for both gatherings, yesterday. It seems a good time was had by all concerned.

[DougN]

Well I think I would have to say that the Blackburn hijack crew don't mind a bit of every day detritus and maybe we can arrange another deputation this side of the guy with the sack turning up!

[Gwiwer]

We do things correctly here.  Can't afford any BR-style faux-pas where a sulky service has to be maintained because of defects in the statutory closure process

 

 

[Markeg]

Hi Rick,

 

Did you remember to inform the residents of Penhayle Bay?  Can you reduce the sign to fit on your layout?

 

Nice photos too.  The bus convention arrived to clog up the car park.

 

Mark

[Gwiwer]

Click and play to enjoy 37669 as it arrives from the Ponsangwyn shed, shunts Carreglyp dries and returns the loaded clays for shipment.  A couple of hesitant moments but on the whole not bad for DC outdoors.  And the points buzz because there's no CDU; that has never caused me a problem and has the added advantage of confirming throw when the point is up to 10 metres away from the panel.  Oh - and there's a Dapol signal at work in there too though not so easy to spot at first glance.  

 

[P.C.M]

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the afternoon  playing trains. As usual the layout looked superb the trains behaved  quite well too apart from the Cargo wagons but then thats a coupler issue and not your track.

 

Cheers Peter.

[Gwiwer]

Thanks for dropping by Peter - always good to see you and we actually got time for a decent natter one-to-one  The layout has been running quite well recently despite the wretched Cargowaggons spoiling the effect!  I've just listed two along with most of the other stuff for sale through a Facebook page I belong to.  I took the Hawksworth van out of the sales stock in the end.  The maroon RBR is listed at $25 but if she doesn't sell and / or you are still interested in that or anything else just let me know.

 

I'll post up a link in a day or so when the listing goes live as it's in a public group.

[P.C.M]

Hi Rick,

I think you had 2x Mainline MK1s in Maroon if they have the early type bogies I could be interested I need some bogies for another project.

 

Cheers Peter.

[Gwiwer]

Text deleted and reposted as PM

 

 

 

Edited October 31, 2016 by Gwiwer

[Brinkly]

Evening Rick,

 

I've really enjoyed catching up with your thread. Lovely photos, it reminds me (intercity locos and sectorisation stock) of my childhood!

 

Kind regards,

 

Nick.

[Gwiwer]

Thank you Nick. Penhayle Bay keeps me reminded of much of my own life. If it does that for others too that is very satisfying.

[Gwiwer]

Some items of rolling stock have departed Penhayle Bay for pastures new.  Those pastures range, currently, from nearby to New South Wales and Tasmania and as far as New Zealand.

 

Among items recently departed is the NSE-liveried bubble car 55031 which was paired with GWR150-liveried sister 55020 (which is staying here) for a farewell run:

 

 

The pair made a colourful combination on the cliffs where some Spring flowers are also adding to the colour

 

 

Also departed are the Hornby power-and-dummy pair of EWS-livery class 37 locos of the earlier Lima style.  They look OK though Bachmann and ViTrains ones are much better and also run more smoothly.  These locos have never been particularly successful here though a little additional weight in the nose-end above the power bogie would probably improve performance no end.

 

 

37174, the powered unit, leads dummy 37298 on their final working across Darras Viaduct.  The weathering is a mixture of factory-applied and my own early attempts.

 

 

Other items to have departed recently include the South West Trains class 170 DMU, one of the pair of class 158 units in Provincial Express colours (the other is being kept) and numerous carriages and wagons among which is almost the entire InterCity Executive livery Mk1 rake.  Of ten coaches I am only keeping the restaurant car.  The rake formed a railtour and charter set and saw very little use though appeared behind steam and diesel locos on rare occasions. 

 

There is still a fair amount to be disposed of including a couple of illuminated Hornby Pullmans in almost unused condition and a 5-car class 221 Voyager unit in Virgin red livery.  I can supply a list by PM to anyone interested.

Edited November 11, 2016 by Gwiwer

[Gwiwer]

A "namer" on the vans.  Class 47 D1677 in two-tone green livery and named "Thor" leads a train of 45-foot 4-wheel vans through Penhayle Bay on a warm evening.

 

 

 

Today and tomorrow mark the start of the hot weather.  38C is the forecast top tomorrow so the layout is already covered with its protective styrofoam blocks in critical areas.  These also serve to keep the rain off as the hottest days sometimes end with a torrential thunderstorm.  

 

Penhayle Bay is entering its final summer of operation.  There is no date yet for the last trains though that is still expected around Easter next year.  Anything which needs more than cosmetic attention now will simply be left.  Cracked ballast and road surfaces I can deal with but there will be no more works done which cost any amount of time or money.  However the layout still looks good, photographs well enough and is running well.

[Wigan Wallgate OO Gauge]

Now will the IC mk1s be doing a farewell tour of Penhayle Bay? I must find a restaurant car for the rake once it arrives here

[Gwiwer]

Now will the IC mk1s be doing a farewell tour of Penhayle Bay? I must find a restaurant car for the rake once it arrives here

 

It could be arranged.  I do have a matching Mk1 restaurant car which ran in this rake but isn't part of the disposals because it also runs in the Mk3 rake and the mixed-livery charter rake which sometimes includes Pullmans.  

[Andrew P]

 However the layout still looks good, photographs well enough and is running well.

 

 

Cant argue with any of that Rick, although I cant vouch for the running, but it always looks good and with some great vantage points for the Cameraman.

 

[Wigan Wallgate OO Gauge]

It could be arranged.  I do have a matching Mk1 restaurant car which ran in this rake but isn't part of the disposals because it also runs in the Mk3 rake and the mixed-livery charter rake which sometimes includes Pullmans.

 

Ah yes! I do know of those other formations too!

 

Would be great to see it do one last lap of your famous layout!

[brianusa]

Considering the line is condemned, its still busy. DfT/NR would have lifted the tracks ages ago!

 

Brian.

[Gwiwer]

Ah yes! I do know of those other formations too!

 

Would be great to see it do one last lap of your famous layout!

 

 

And here you are Sir.  Something a little different to the normal views

 

 

Most of these coaches are destined for a new home in New Zealand.  The maroon BCK acting as a support coach and all the catering vehicles are staying here; for the rest this was their final run at Penhayle Bay.

[Wigan Wallgate OO Gauge]

Huge thank you Rick! Amazing to see them do the farewell tour. Hopefully my layout will do them justice

[Gwiwer]

You're welcome.  It isn't every layout that has comfortable space for a double-header with 13 on either.   I shall miss all that space when I am confined, as I suspect I shall be, to a shunting plank or static diorama which emerges from under the bed at permitted times.