coronach

Happy Christmas Graham. I look forward to seeing the continuing developments at Grantham during 2017 :-)

Now those were the days. The York photo is taken from 'Dickie Bridge', which spans the main lines and down reception sidings south of Holgate junction. About 10 mins walk from school, I spent many lunchtimes sitting on the steps with classmates, often next to two or three class 37s and 40s on the head of freight trains awaiting authority to proceed into the yards. The bridge was renewed prior to electrification, i remember that the old one was covered in rude jokes and stories !! The up Flying Scotsman came through just after 1pm, Deltic hauled, which we would risk waiting for hoping to make it back in time for the next lesson.

My late father worked in the PWay design office at Leeds in the late 50s. He told me a story of a Pway design renewal at Leeds Central which involved much complex pointwork with tight clearance and fouling points. Eventually after many surveys, tweaks, compromises and design adjustments, a satisfactory layout was designed and the drawings issued to the gang who would install it. Needless to say, they built what they decided would fit, ignoring the drawings!! Such was the way of things in those days !

What you can't see in this photo is the smell ! This level crossing is next to De Mulders carcass rendering plant. Visits to Doncaster station were always tempered by which direction the wind blew !

I have been continuing to develop the borders scenery towards Whitrope summit. This includes the cutting around one of the iconic Waverley route sheep accommodation bridges. An A2 pacific slogs up the gradient with a Millerhill to Kingmoor yard fully fitted freight.

Two more 'weathered' locos added to the stud... Bachmann 'Mickey Mouse' 2-6-0 Hornby A3 'Yours Truly' !!!

The layout is still progressing slowly and steadily, with emphasis on constructing scenery. Here are some recent pics of train operations around Whinburgh and Slitrigg. Hornby Black 5 climbs steadily towards Whitrope summit with a partially fitted freight Hornby K1 waits at Whinburgh, ready to depart southwards with the daily pickup goods Replacing a failed Sulzer type 4 diesel, Bachmann Jubilee climbs the last few yards with the Down 'Waverley'. Bachmann J39 0-6-0 is banking at the rear and drops off the back as the train reaches Whinburgh station

Thank you for your advice - it is helpful. I will ponder a while.........

I have inherited a collection of gauge 0 coarse scale rolling stock, including much pre-war stuff in varying condition and states of completeness; Hornby clockwork locos (e.g. compounds, hunts), 20 + Tinplate bogie Pullman coaches, wagons, some of unknown provenance and some of which have been 'improved', Edward Exley coaches and some more recent Triang Big Big Train coaches and wagons, and Lima stock including Mk1 and continental coaches , plus loads of clockwork motors. It all needs to go; I don't want to be fleeced, it would be good to see it go to someone who is interested in this sort of thing and I am loathe to send any of it for scrap. The GOG executor service is only interested in auctioning high value items Advice from anyone..... ?

..... and bridge the gap !

This should help you progress towards running the inaugural train !!!

I have walked (!) through the footpath tunnel a few times in recent years. It was relined by BR many years ago and is definitely tight to gauge for someone of my size now. My father, who worked in the York bridge office, told me that when the work was done, hundreds of gallons of waste diesel had to be pumped out of the ground. The culprits were though to be Class 40s, which had leaked fuel from their tanks over many years when standing on the curve .

If you read paras 3-5, you will see why it is so important to carry a potato on each train !!!

I hope to have a trip on the new Borders line next week on my way back from a meeting in Glasgow. Its ironic that I have never visited the area that I am modelling !

A quick photo session yesterday evening based on southbound parcels train workings...

A few more vehicles from a parcels train on my Waverley route layout...

Really interesting thread with great pictures. Parcels trains are some of the most interesting formations. During the late 70s I remember watching the Saturday morning arrival at York being shunted from what was platform 16 into the sidings after being unloaded. That train was sometimes longer than the platform and included vans from all four pre-nationalisation companies including LMS BGs, GUV, Stove R, Gresley BG, Thompson BZ, loads of southern vans and the occasional GWR syphon G. I am making up a couple of rakes for my Waverley Route model....

I think that the weathering simply emphasises the extraordinary level of detail on this 'straight out of the box' Hornby ready to run loco. Just some dry brushing with Railmatch acrylics 'frame dirt', 'roof dirt', a touch of 'brake dust' and 'light rust', a small amount of weathering powder, some real coal in the tender and some streaks of Humbrol varnish to represent water overflows . No more than one hour to do.

Here is Hornby B1 61243 returned to a more typical 'St Margaret's' condition.

I guess you already know about this .... http://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/what-s-on/arts-leisure/grantham-railway-project-attracts-worldwide-attention-1-6795692

Excellent. The 'Triang' shunter is a good basis for a light railway loco. What livery do you plan for locos? I n]know of a good painting and weathering service if you are interested !

Its getting there - a bit more progress with the scenery. And a northbound freight heaves its way up the last few yards to the summit at Whinburgh station.

Suggestions for ballast http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/99980-ballast-for-a-garden-railway/ :-)

..... and the Edinburgh Waverley - Leeds relief to the Waverley is waiting for the clear at Whinburgh South.

It is springtime so the scenery is growing and lambs are being born ......