The Bigbee Line

Y - Service Departments Bogie Freight Vehicles

I don’t remember many if any with a vac pipe during my time at Toton. I’ll look through some of the boring shots.

My only shot of a BCA 900232, in the consist of 6M91, captured at Washwood Heath in April 2004 https://www.flickr.com/photos/55938574@N03/12573442735/in/photolist-ka5btr

Y and Z added as this is probably quite popular.. Good morning As part of the setting up of my 'home office' (a dedicated room as opposed to the laptop on my knees in the lounge) I am sorting out various archived material. Amongst this are a load of printouts from TOPS in 2003. I have lists showing the 'Rail Vehicle Code types' with the CARKND, AARKND, Description, Carrying Capacity and GLW Range. Here shown for the "B - Steel Carrying - Bogie" I also did "J6 1 1 1" enquiries to go with my collection of photos. Here SPA 460589... Some wagons had the various pictures printed as a date sheet.. If there is sufficient interest I can scan more. Let me know.

More recycling today.. A board with some N gauge track was found today when sorting some stuff stored at my daughters. The points were stripped for potential re-use and the code 55 track stripped of sleepers. I had some spare Code 83 track base, so cut some rail into scale 39' lengths. These lengths had the ends filed clean and they were threaded into the track base with typical US staggered joints. Looking down the length I think the slightly random deviation captures that 'short line' look... Now I need to find some rail joiners. I'll probably cut them in half.. Just need to do some research looking at pictures of short line track for inspiration.. Tomorrow I'll strip the rest of the rail..

A bit of modelling time today. I finished screwing the main frame together. The cross members had short pieces added to the top to perform T sections. The ply sub road base was laid on and the track sat on top. It showed what a pigs ear I'd made of cutting the ply. I have used Peco conductor rail, code 60 FB for the momenent. The code 83 is hard to get out of the track base, best to split into 4 or 5 sections. I used a 1mm drill for a hole through the sleeper and into the ply, then a thick track pin pushed in and a slight tap to secure. A U23B and 3 x 40' cars easily clear the points... The first section of track in the siding doesn't look right and needs moving. I can then mark out the true edge and recut the ply. The turnout needs a mechanism. The code 55 means that very little pressure is needed. I think I'll try a small spring to hold the switch in the 'normal/straight' position, with a 'finger' coming up to push on the other end and hold it in the 'reverse/curved position

The morning was spent filling the brown bin from items out of the raised beds (bean stems, cabbage stalks etc) then turned over the soil to expose the underneath to some winter weather. I then took my cardboard cut out and marked some off cuts of ply and set to with the jigsaw. Despite best efforts the alignment is not neat enough. I don't actually need a huge ballast shoulder as the type of line I'm modelling will have a minimum of ballast and plenty of weeds. So tomorrows plan is to fix a door on the dishwasher and add the cupboard door next to that.. Go to the butchers for something nice for Sunday (not poultry...) Then align the track on the ply, drill and loosely pin down (holes drilled for the pins). Mark a cutting line and cut the ply to match the track alignment. Then build up the layers of laminate floor underlay. I need to find a couple of lengths of N code 55 track, not the faux 55 from Peco, but some Micro Engineering to donate the rail to this project, 4 fishplates and 2 insulated fishplates and I can get the track down.

As mentioned the assemblies were carefully marked up and assembled as a kit on site. The narrow end of the turnout could move as a exceptional load up to a certain width that may have saved time in the possession. There were also sites where the parts could be assembled next to the line and craned into position on the day. It would all depend on the nature of the job. There were also PADs (Pre Assembly Depots) scattered about the system so the distances moved were not horrendous. With big jobs, where the layout was being altered as opposed to just renewals. New point work would be installed and left 'clipped and padlocked' until the day of the change/ Likewise redundant point work would be clipped out of use and then removed later. Sometimes elements being 'plain lined'. It wasn't just point work that could be a problem. I was on a job where a siding at Orpington was being renewed. The plan being to lift the panels and take them away on Salmon. The problems started when on the first lift the sleepers were so long that they were out of gauge.... Then other panels fell apart when being lifted and couldn't be safely stacked on the Salmons..... Happy days

Well not much modelling today. Got side tracked by some domestic duties, sorting stuff out and a recently discovered Flickr site of Bill Gordon, some really great shots... https://www.flickr.com/photos/130647200@N05/ I laid the pink foam board on the frame, 'too thick!!' So it will be plan B and build up the layers with laminate floor underlay, topped with a sub road base of thin ply. I made a cardboard cut out for cutting out the ply, tomorrows job....

I note your comment that the DCC80 is a DPDT. Where would you take the feed for the second frog in a crossover? From the schematic it looks like terminals 4 and 13 are joined so the both feed the frog wire. Or am I taking 2 and 2 to make 5... .

I think a class 40 through a Hornby or a Setrack curved point is a big ask. I've used the Peco version and as mentioned the geometry has been frigged which seems to have removed the smoothness of the curves. I have tried Roco Code 83 curved points. The curves were very smooth and they had live frogs. The downside is the large flangeways at the frog, plus I had to move the checkrail on the inner track to keep the flanges away from the crossing nose. You might be better using the Streamline curved point and curving it a bit more and see what the 40 will go round, then ease it off a bit. Good luck.

Quiet Boxing Day, we walked to Queens Hall where Linda gave blood (I'd like to, but having had a blood transfusion I'm not allowed....). While waiting for Linda I did some 'fag packet calculations' and figured I could clear the switch with 3 x 40' cars and a U23B, still having room for 3 cars in the siding and on the main past the switch. So when we got home I found some Kadee 40' cars and had a practice. The turnout was set to give the minimum distance for the 3 cars plus loco. the track will be set on a gentle curve.. The siding will need to swing out quite a bit to get the two tracks on their respective lines. Not sure if that spacing will be the way to go. Maybe the front one in at 3" with the siding at maybe another 3" in. That will give 6" for some anonymous industry building and some scenery. This is the 6" setting and it looks a bit wide.... The main line past the turnout will again be on a gentle curve.. When finding the 40' cars I also found a sheet of pink foam that will form the ground. Not sure what to use to stick if to the wooden frame, suggestions please

While browsing 'Model Railroad Hobbyist Magazine I came across an article showing the use of a chainsaw in modelling, impressed. Children, don't try this at home...... http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh-2017-09 http://mrhpub.com/2017-10-oct/online/

Laid a piece of cardboard over the frame for a test run. Tomorrow I will get the brown foam to form the actual base for the track. A small creek will run under the track so the elevation is required. Code 55 rail equates to 75lb rail, so this is no class 1. I have Bachmann 70 and 45 tonners. Both suitable for shortline work. The 45 tonner needs some miles under its belt... This is the Bachmann picture... Testing for length. Tomorrow 3 lengths of track will be used for adjustment etc.

My other main hobby is 'work'. Being in the real rail industry is good for me. I had a go at retiring in 2013 and it was crap. I love the work and the contacts within industry. The rail industry is quite incestuous, you meet the same people but working for different companies..... My other interest is cooking. My favourite being authentic curries from scratch, I like flavourness rather that hot hot hot for hots sake

UPCYCLE is one of the latest buzz words. I do try to find a use for things rather than throw them away. Yesterday I was sorting out the smallest bedroom after my Step Daughter moved out. The room will become my 'home office'.. In the process there was some furniture to dispose of. The bed ends and mattress went to the tip. There was an Ikea canvas wardrobe... hmmmm.. the timber looks useful, so it was disassembled with all wood and screws saved. I have a code 55 turnout in HO that was purchased a couple of years ago and needs using. So I thought of something in a similar footprint to my 'Tenterden Sidings'. So from one of these: I've built this: 69" long, with a 12" section at one end at 12" wide, with a 12" section at the other end at 6" wide. It will be topped off with some expanded foam and a back scene on sides and rear. The plan is to have a single turnout, with a dummy derail for protecting the main. Here are a couple of 1994 pictures of Moneta Virginia, the mainline is heavy rail as the main traffic was coal on the former Virginian main line. Mine will be more rustic. I'm planning code 55 or 60 for the main line with code 55 for the siding. The idea is to switch various cars from the main to the siding and vice versa.

I have several coach sides collecting dust... I chose sides that Bill had in production and received them in good time (a Bulleid 3 set). If I wanted something enough on the wish list I would send the deposit. I could die before it arrived by hey ho. People pay over the odds prices for RTR 'must have' items then pick holes in the business strategy of people who offer and supply items that the RTR big boys will never offer. Bill, more power to your elbow.... No offence intended to anybody, just my point of view. I've had one tustle with the Grim Reaper, he might get me next time (That's if Trump doesn't keep poking Kim with a pointy stick and were all fried in the fall out....). Anyway, best wishes to all for the season and a good 2018...........

I think a HEA would need a pit. I know Ashford West Yard and Hove had new conveyors installed for hoppers when the succeeded the Opens in domestic coal traffic. The Ashford conveyor was later used for stone after the cessation of the domestic coal traffic by rail. The belts were not really suitable for stone, but did a turn. Ashford also had a capstan installed at the same time as the new conveyor for shunting wagons. I seem to remember Purley being mentioned as getting a mew conveyor as well. All funded by a grant from the government.

I was told that making the price £xxx.99 or £9 19s 11p was a ploy to ensure the cost was rung up and the till was opened for the penny change. Helping prevent the shop person putting the cash in their pocket...

Pre Channel Tunnel I had a cab ride from Deliverance Yard in Lille to Amiens on a Freight Train. The loco was quite old and behind the driver was a glass case with what looked like a giant carriage clock. It made suitable clock like noises. I think it was some kind of data recorder. The output was a trace on a roll of paper. Wish I'd taken a picture. What I remember was the driver 'playing' with the controls to keep the vigilance device from going off. Massive train, no sense of effort and the driver never looked back once...

Nice, One still fitted with the 8 plate spring (not parabolic...) Thanks

My all time favourite wagons. Do you have some pictures of ADB 733225? Thanks

You need to get the warped piece out. It's no good so use any means possible. You can try cutting into smaller sections, If you cannot saw, drilling can normally weaken it enough to break it out. Then find a nice straight section to replace it. It is ironic that boat builders steam timber to make it bend round the hull, they should visit B&Q instead....

Jon, Thanks for highlighting these really interesting pictures. Curious about the captured guns, they must have been over run during an advance. I'd like to know more about that. Thanks Ernie

I agree, I was thinking a few days away from RM web and it's still going, poor bloke, all this 'advice'.... There should be a Harry Enfieldesque, "You don't want to do it like that........" section!!!!!