The Bigbee Line

Ben “thank you” for the opportunity to give something back to the hobby. Look forward to the next model.

I’ve just ordered some of the micro switches that fit into the box on the Peco points. Just need to add some slopes to the box structure.

Received one in the post. Amazing. Although I’ve no N gauge layout, a fabulous souvenir. I remember them coming off the train ferry at Dover when they were brand spanking new. Well done team.

Out on the road today, and I've a collection of SWMBO from Stanstead, so no modelling, just some thinking. Here's my fag packet sketch of the general arrangement... The curve in the bottom right hand corner will include a 'drawbridge' like Tower Bridge (Not appearance, just the 2 leaves..). I really want to get power on from day 1... Let's see how that one goes...

As Kevin says they were a launching pad. For every job the required wagons were assembled together into their trains. That would include hoppers of ballast arriving after being reloaded at quarries, spoil wagons after their trip to the tip, flats loaded with new track panels etc etc etc. If a special job, such as a deep dig was planned, more diggers would be loaded onto Weltrols, as these were largely unbraked a fitted train for the southern region would need fitted wagons at each end etc, all very interesting.

After a hectic week travelling I earmarked some time today to re-align the layout in the work shop. At just over 16 feet for the main boards I have moved it to a more acute angle to the long wall, almost heading corner to corner. With a sweeping curve round to a 3 road fiddle yard. Then tonight I have started fettling the joints between the boards and continuing the process of cutting and laying the 10mm sub road bed. It will use up some off cuts. The track into the siding will have an imperceptible gradient to end up with the siding a few scale inches lower I have cut a hole near the hole in the tie bar, but an un decided. Should I use the Peco point motors?? This shot shows that the last 6 sleepers of the curve have straightened at the end... I was planning to solder the feeds at that rail joint, so could solder the rails at the same time to ensure that they are nicely in line, then fettle the curve.

Always possible. There was a layout that had the tide come in and out. But comes with a big list of essentials. On an exhibition layout the water could be changed every time and the boards dried out for transit. In a home / permanent layout. You would need to consider precautions against legionella.

Did you finish this project?

Really pleased with the Class 15. It's heavy and has loads of fine detail. I got it out of the box to pose it on the layout. It's actually quite petite.. I can get clear of the points with 2 wagons, so it will work quite well.

The coupling is a Screw Coupling without hooks. Both ends are pinned to the drawbar. The wagons each have one headless buffer. Completed by the train pipe and a couple of small pipes that join the load weighting valve and brake cylinder of one element to the distributor on the other. There is also a safety hawser between the two elements.

Good evening Like a few others I have succumbed to the delights of the LLC class 15 in O gauge. There will also be purchasers of the Heljan version in 4mm. I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread where people could record the finding of inspirational pictures, such as: Paul Miller, via Wikimedia Commons D8234 Station ECS duties https://railphotoprints.uk/p415496621/h7B047116#h4659a0f4 D8217 with a Class 16.. https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/BRITISH-DIESEL-AND-ELECTRIC/PRE-TOPS-DIESEL-LOCOMOTIVES/i-T9m4GXm/ D8237 Station ECS duties https://www.rail-online.co.uk/p535299799/h4F414472#h4f414472

Linda and I have spent the weekend on the Great Central. Interesting to watch the Windcutter train of mineral wagons and the train of fitted vans. Some time was spent looking at and measuring wagons. During some measuring I has a brainwave, probably not an original idea.. I normally measure, record and then convert the dimensions for modelling. The brainwave was to cut out the conversion aspect. The ruler shown below is drawn into a piece of paper with the 12" divided into 14 parts and the squares coloured in. When held against the wagon it allows the dimensions of the item in millimetres. I plan to print some off (rather like the paper tapes in Ikea) and try them out on our next expedition...

The cat pays you back by the relaxation and stress relief gained.

Who is he? I thought of the Cement Works......

For the price is not to be missed. It is the ‘bigger loco’ for freight running. Ideal for cross London’s. I’d ummed and aahhd for ages. So I’ve ordered mine. Looking forward to the Paul Chetter sound.

These days the GSMR is a clever piece of kit. I’ve had the AWS go off on a loco in the shed when testing brakes. The AWS alarm was caused by a fault. However when returning to the cab I noticed that the AWS had alarmed. Next minute the bobby called me on the GSMR to make sure I was ok. One thing that’s still important is to establish who your talking to and because it’s not a fixed phone, tell them where you are.

Brian, regarding hard ballast. I’d be more worried about its aggressive effect on the underside of the concrete sleepers. More sleepers per length gives a better ride, but more expensive.

Martyn, The weathering etc is top notch, really impressed. What chairs have you used? Thanks Ernie

I can remember as a lad looking at the wagons in the Sidings at Beeding Cement Works. Must have been a Sunday as nothing was happening. And I do remember the all pervading smell of warm creosote......,,

Thanks for the shared knowledge. The part of the process that I find time consuming and the bit that tests my painting finesse is the painting of the chairs after the sleepers are painted... As in the Great British Menu TV program, there is a BIG 'However'..... Looking at pictures to refresh myself, I noted that most 1960's colour images show the rail, chairs and sleepers to be the same colour... I'd confused myself looking at present day track. In recent times where track has been relaid in sidings the sleepers used are 'good second hand' and not brand new. These have the silver/grey hue.... So to refresh myself.... Hayling Island 1960's Hayling Island branch line - Concrete Modern Day West Somerset Railway WSR siding re-laid so different colours Modern Day Weardale Railway, a re-laid section, so again the contrast

The body will be too long. Check out my thread from post #30 http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/125310-ernies-7mm-wagons-watch-out-for-crocodiles/page-2

I’m inclined to think that unpainted was the norm. Às a Southern Railway product, the extra cost of painting would have been frowned upon.

I was wondering about pre-painting track. Taking out the rail. Painting the rail and then leaving to dry well. Ensuring the paint was quite thin. Then spraying the sleeper base a grey type colour. With some first stage weathering stipples on. With a stencil to cover the sleepers that could slip over the chairs, allowing them to be stippled with the same colour used on the rail. Any thoughts?

The nights are drawing in.... Tonight I assembled by 4th Screwfix trestle. I had previously had a workshop shuffle to make room for Hayling Island. It will need to run diagonally across the workshop. I knew it was large, but even with 3 boards up it was a bit of a monster. In its present position there are 30" between the buffer stops and the garage door. I want to use some of that for a small cosmetic extension for a representation of Station Road and a façade of Whittingtons Store... I need to do some research to check if it was still a store in the early 1960's. I've not seen a view that shows Station Road itself. The length of the boards seems to dictate some form of sector plate or cassette system for the fiddle yard. Tomorrow will be the fitting of the door in the workshops, some domestic duties and maybe a little modelling..

A question for all you ship guys. Where can I get a propellor suitable to be a load on an O gauge bogie well wagon?