Wright writes.....

[Captain Kernow]

On 19/08/2024 at 22:59, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

Even the reputedly popular GWR doesn't have a single representative of its Welsh origin traction.

I continue to be surprised at how relatively unpopular the GW in South Wales is, as a subject for a layout. I know there are honourable exceptions, but as others have said, some folk seem to think that the GW existed only as a straight line between Paddington and Bristol and some idyllic branches in Devon and Cornwall.

 

I particularly find the juxtaposition between the GW and other companies particularly fascinating, especially LMS and constituent companies. The whole South Wales Valleys scene is particularly interesting. Despite it being one of my main areas of railway modelling interest now, I still find the whole tangle of routes confusing!

 

Quite apart from the paucity of pre-Grouping originating RTR prototypes, there also appears to be few kits available as well, especially as the Nu Cast Partners range is (for the moment, at least) becoming unavailable.

 

Scratchbuilding or major modifications to kits and RTR remains an option. @Re6/6 has been working on the body for ex-Cardiff Railway No.155, which will be mated with a much-modified Comet chassis in due course and will eventually be used on his Fochriw layout - 

Taff Vale Models should also be commended for their new 4mm 0-6-0ST kit - https://taffvale.wales/4mm-scale-Taff-Vale-Railway-V-Class-locomotive-kit-p688071063  Perhaps 3-D printing is the way to go for such relatively small, relatively obscure classes?

 

 

 

[Tony Wright]

59 minutes ago, t-b-g said:

Just to show I do get a bit of actual modelling done from time to time, here is a snap of the latest project, a scratchbuilt SR U Class. The wheels, motor and gears are commercial products and the coupling rods and connecting rods were able to be produced from available etches. The rest is scratchbuilt.

 

Last night was the first time the boiler, smokebox, chimney and dome were all in place and hopefully it starts to look like a U class now.

 

Good morning Tony,

 

It's lovely. What scale/gauge is it, please?

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

2 minutes ago, Captain Kernow said:

...some folk seem to think that the GW existed only as a straight line between Paddington and Bristol and some idyllic branches in Devon and Cornwall.

You forgot to include: and entirely unconnected to the rest of the UK railway network, as IKB presumably intended by using a radically different gauge; thus the comically unrealistic layouts with solely GWR company owned wagons present. I have no objection to this fantasy interpretation, and it does support what is suggested in the quote.

 

7 minutes ago, Captain Kernow said:

Scratchbuilding or major modifications to kits and RTR remains an option...

Indeed, but rarely seen. One of the Welsh companies apparently 'cloned' the Dean goods, and I have seen a model from a modified kit about fifty years past, and that's pretty much it.

[Tony Wright]

In attempting to find my shots of Bachmann's breakdown crane (which I still can't locate), I've come across some interesting photographs of relevance to recent posts............

 

 

This is different Bachmann Derby Lightweight from the one I've just detailed, and Richard Wilson weathered.

 

 

I commented on the lights being far too bright, and my disconnecting them on my model.

 

 

Rear lamps on a Bachmann Cravens. Too bright?

 

 

When I built this Pro-Scale B1 last year (which I painted and Geoff Haynes weathered)...............

 

 

I hadn't realised that Farish had beaten me to it! 

 

 

Another shot of one of Tony Geary's O Gauge Class 24s.

 

A bit further back..............

 

 

The DJH A2/3 I built which went to Hornby during the development of its own RTR equivalent. Hypocrisy?

 

 

 

 

[t-b-g]

16 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Good morning Tony,

 

It's lovely. What scale/gauge is it, please?

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

Hello Tony. I should have said when I posted the photo. It is 2mm Finescale, to run on Laurie's Yeovil Town layout.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

27 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Rear lamps on a Bachmann Cravens. Too bright?

Of course. But DCC enables switching it off, and reducing the output to the 'miserable glow' on the rare occasions they are switched on, and even imitation of the all too frequent flickering.

[30368]

1 hour ago, t-b-g said:

Last night was the first time the boiler, smokebox, chimney and dome were all in place and hopefully it starts to look like a U class now.

 

A River tank rebuild version then t-b-g?

Looking very good.

 

Kind regards,

 

30368

 

[t-b-g]

1 minute ago, 30368 said:

 

A River tank rebuild version then t-b-g?

Looking very good.

 

Kind regards,

 

30368

 

 

Thanks.

 

Yes, it will be 1790, one of the rebuilt tanks. I have had to learn about the variations in the different batches of U Class locos. They are lots of little traps waiting to catch the unwary!

 

Tony

[jamieb]

49 minutes ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

 

Indeed, but rarely seen. One of the Welsh companies apparently 'cloned' the Dean goods, and I have seen a model from a modified kit about fifty years past, and that's pretty much it.

I'm assuming you mean the Cambrian Railways Jones Goods class ,which lasted well into the 1950's and in their rebuilt form were very similar to the Dean Goods, albeit a bit mote powerful I think 

0-6-0 tender engines were not at all common on the South Wales railways,the B&M had some in its early years and the Taff Vale had a few which the GW inherited and disposed of in the 1920s

Even in post grouping years,the GW didn't use them much in the valleys,the only regular workings were Dean or Collett Goods down the Brecon and Merthyr line to Newport 

 

[zr2498]

11 hours ago, Jesse Sim said:

Indeed it is, origionallly partially built by Ron Reily (Nerron on RMWEB) who sadly passed. I was gifted a small box with various bits and this DS crane was in there. I finished it, scratchbuilding various bits that were missing and then scratch/kit bashed an open wagon as a runner for the engineers department until something else becomes available. I’m thinking an old GN wagon, when I get round to it. 

Hello Jesse

I believe this kit is still available from Brassmasters. It was intended for the DS Crane.

 

[Flying Pig]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Rear lamps on a Bachmann Cravens. Too bright?

 

From previous discussions (e.g. here), I believe DMUs carried a traditional tail lamp until the early 1980s, so unless the model represents a preserved unti, they should be switched off.

[St Enodoc]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Rear lamps on a Bachmann Cravens.

Shouldn't be there at all.

[Northmoor]

4 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

 

 

If that is a Lima "Crab" at the top, well anyone who can make what looks like a decent model from that aberration is a master modeller in my opinion!

[Flying Pig]

4 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

I imagine little in the way of carving and filing was necessary to get the Bachmann 4F (or 3F?) loco chassis to fit inside the K's 2F body because the motor had been removed, and it's powered by tender-drive (Airfix?).

 

In which case, it's much more likely that the loco chassis is from an Airfix 4F too and I see the same underpinnings have been used for a 3F.

[Tony Wright]

12 minutes ago, Northmoor said:

If that is a Lima "Crab" at the top, well anyone who can make what looks like a decent model from that aberration is a master modeller in my opinion!

Good morning,

 

I think it's a Stanier 2-6-0.

 

Here's a shot of a section of the layout on which the models run............

 

 

Still very much work in progress in restoring this older piece.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

1 hour ago, t-b-g said:

 

Hello Tony. I should have said when I posted the photo. It is 2mm Finescale, to run on Laurie's Yeovil Town layout.

Thanks Tony,

 

I thought it might be, but 2mm modelling is so good these days it's often difficult to tell.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

24 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

Shouldn't be there at all.

The ones on mine are disconnected.............

 

 

And an appropriate tail lamp substituted.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

[Clive Mortimore]

1 hour ago, Flying Pig said:

 

From previous discussions (e.g. here), I believe DMUs carried a traditional tail lamp until the early 1980s, so unless the model represents a preserved unti, they should be switched off.

 

57 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

Shouldn't be there at all.

I am not an expert but in my photographic research into DMUs for modelling purposes showed there were instances of DMUs running with a red lens on ONE of the rear lights before the 1980s when it became common not to bung a tail lamp on.

Which lines and dates they were allowed to do so I have not looked into. I suspect there were local and official working arrangements.

 

I do remember when trainspotting at Bedford Midland Road the Italian porter practicing his new found English words when he had an ill fitting lamp being placed on a terminating class 127 ready to meander back to St Pancras. They went something like "(not an RMweb word) (not an RMweb word) (not an RMweb word) (not an RMweb word) (not an RMweb word) thing".

[Ralphrob48]

18 hours ago, t-b-g said:

 

It was good to put faces to a couple of RMWeb names at the weekend. It still surprises me when people know who I am!

 

I can only thank Ralph from MMRS for having the models there. It was a total surprise to me. I had no idea he was bringing them. He was almost apologetic at "hijacking" my signalling demo but to me, they were they highlight of the weekend and I am so glad that he did.

 

Cheers

 

Tony 

It was good to show them to others who appreciate the skills these guys had over 70 years ago. They spend their lives in a showcase in our clubhouse so it is nice to share them once in a while.

 

Ralph 

[mozzer models]

4 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

I continue to be surprised at how relatively unpopular the GW in South Wales is, as a subject for a layout. I know there are honourable exceptions, but as others have said, some folk seem to think that the GW existed only as a straight line between Paddington and Bristol and some idyllic branches in Devon and Cornwall.

 

I particularly find the juxtaposition between the GW and other companies particularly fascinating, especially LMS and constituent companies. The whole South Wales Valleys scene is particularly interesting. Despite it being one of my main areas of railway modelling interest now, I still find the whole tangle of routes confusing!

 

Quite apart from the paucity of pre-Grouping originating RTR prototypes, there also appears to be few kits available as well, especially as the Nu Cast Partners range is (for the moment, at least) becoming unavailable.

 

Scratchbuilding or major modifications to kits and RTR remains an option. @Re6/6 has been working on the body for ex-Cardiff Railway No.155, which will be mated with a much-modified Comet chassis in due course and will eventually be used on his Fochriw layout - 

Taff Vale Models should also be commended for their new 4mm 0-6-0ST kit - https://taffvale.wales/4mm-scale-Taff-Vale-Railway-V-Class-locomotive-kit-p688071063  Perhaps 3-D printing is the way to go for such relatively small, relatively obscure classes?

 

 

 

Dean siding did a range of GWR ex south Wales pre grouping loco body's i have built 3 over the years now with precision paints

GWR Loco ex-Bary Rly 0-4-4T No3 

 

GWR Loco ex-N&BR 0-6-0ST No2175

 

GWR Loco ex-TVR 4-4-2T No1304

Edited August 21 by mozzer models

[Northmoor]

4 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

I continue to be surprised at how relatively unpopular the GW in South Wales is, as a subject for a layout. I know there are honourable exceptions, but as others have said, some folk seem to think that the GW existed only as a straight line between Paddington and Bristol and some idyllic branches in Devon and Cornwall.

 

I particularly find the juxtaposition between the GW and other companies particularly fascinating, especially LMS and constituent companies. The whole South Wales Valleys scene is particularly interesting. Despite it being one of my main areas of railway modelling interest now, I still find the whole tangle of routes confusing!

 

As an "unofficial advocate" for area of the West Wales where I grew up, I've always noticed that there are far fewer layouts based on (or inspired by) South and West Wales prototypes and perhaps it reflects the far fewer holidaymakers travelling there by train in the 1930s-1960s, compared to Devon/Cornwall and the Cambrian Coast further North.  Those layouts that do appear in magazines are often owned/built by people living in the area.

 

It is a shame as the traffics on many of these Welsh lines were considerably more varied than equivalent Cornish branches and with commensurate variety of locos and rolling stock.  Devon and Cornwall had no coal mining and even the china clay traffic was nowhere near the scale of even the peripheries of the South Wales coalfield.  Meanwhile before WW2, Pembrokeshire still had a small coal mining industry, numerous quarries (of multiple different products: lead, granite, limestone and slate), fish traffic from the ports and an oil industry which arrived in the 1960s.  Passenger trains ran through from Paddington to the South Coast and to Neyland and Fishguard, which could be hauled by anything up to Castles, Britannias and even 9Fs.

[30368]

5 hours ago, t-b-g said:

lots of little traps waiting to catch the unwary!

 

There are Tony, I see that you have avoided the cab profile trap? The rebuilds had a much larger cut out extending into the roof which the new builds did not.

 

Kind regards,

 

30368

[Tony Wright]

I've added the extra bits to one of the Hornby streamlined B17s.................

 

 

In typical fashion, I had to enlarge the holes to take the vacuum pipe and the screw coupling before they would fit. 

 

The drooping conduit (part of the body casting) beneath the handrail is an interesting feature. It's seen in Plate 184 of The Power of the the B17s & B2s, by Peter Swinger, OPC, 1988, showing the loco in the condition it's modelled. If its sister had the conduit, it was tucked inside the handrail, it would seem (Plate 148 of the same publication). Interestingly, and unlike on the A4s/rebuilt W1, the vacuum ejector pipe must have run behind the cladding.

 

With the additions, and the application of lamps (or discs), I've taken some more pictures this afternoon of it running on LB............

 

 

I hope 'I' managed to get a decent shot with 'my' twin-lens reflex camera.

 

 

The addition of lamps (or discs) really makes a difference with regard to 'realism'. 

 

 

How many times would a streamlined B17 be seen passing through Little Bytham? Never; I've never seen a shot of any B17 on the main line between Peterborough and Grantham. 

 

This must really be one of Hornby's best ever locos.

[APOLLO]

5 hours ago, Northmoor said:

As an "unofficial advocate" for area of the West Wales where I grew up, I've always noticed that there are far fewer layouts based on (or inspired by) South and West Wales prototypes and perhaps it reflects the far fewer holidaymakers travelling there by train in the 1930s-1960s, compared to Devon/Cornwall and the Cambrian Coast further North.  Those layouts that do appear in magazines are often owned/built by people living in the area.

 

It is a shame as the traffics on many of these Welsh lines were considerably more varied than equivalent Cornish branches and with commensurate variety of locos and rolling stock.  Devon and Cornwall had no coal mining and even the china clay traffic was nowhere near the scale of even the peripheries of the South Wales coalfield.  Meanwhile before WW2, Pembrokeshire still had a small coal mining industry, numerous quarries (of multiple different products: lead, granite, limestone and slate), fish traffic from the ports and an oil industry which arrived in the 1960s.  Passenger trains ran through from Paddington to the South Coast and to Neyland and Fishguard, which could be hauled by anything up to Castles, Britannias and even 9Fs.

 

 No steam when I went to Fishguard back in 1966 on a family holiday at St Davids, had a rail trip to Cardiff from Haverfordwest and some strange named places up some valleys !!

 

 

 

Haverfordwest I think.

 

 

Cardiff

 

 

 

 

This was seen at St Davids which I think never had a railway (?)

 

 

Long, long time ago.

 

Just had my last 4 in 8 Freedom of the North West rover day out. Wigan to Lancaster / Barrow / Whitehaven / Carlisle / Leeds / Manchester / Wigan. A dullish day with an angry sea at high tide along the Cumbrian coast. Not quite Dawlish but not far off !!!

 

No photos as owt worth seeing I already have umpteen photos of, and in sunny weather !!

 

Brit15

[Tony Wright]

Has there ever been a kit for a streamlined B17?

 

I recall photographing an example years ago which appeared to have a resin body (Jaycraft?). 

 

Any others?