john dew

I am afraid that yet again I have missed my self imposed target of a weekly update. This weeks excuse?.......Granby is operated by RR&Co computor control......Version 9, a mega update was recently released. To take advantage of significant improvements in speed control and stopping accuracy locos need to be re-profiled. Profiling each loco takes 45+ minutes. Watching a loco run back and forth on the profiling track is hardly photogenic........watching paint dry is probably more interesting. With all the new branch goods trains set up and weathered it was time to put the street scene cover back in place. And reunite poor Edith Jones with her washing (see post #640 August 15th!) The original plan was to swiftly repair the Halt and press on with the new Brewery. Unfortunately, and very unusually a parcel containing the last essential turnout and a Dapol footbridge kit left the UK on Sept 5 and arrived here yesterday. http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_sad.gif So sadly the Halt remains in pieces although at least the walls are back in place. Now for news of my new tank..........not the Comet for the Warwell that featured a few posts back but a HUGE TANK I am never sure when writing posts like this how to best pitch the content. I am flattered that there are regular followers who are absolute expertss, ......there are others who either dont know what a pannier is ....or perhaps worse know but dont like them! So for the latter groups ....here is a potted history of the GWR Big tanks. They were originally designed as 2-8-0s (42xx) hauling heavy coal trains on short trips from the South Wales pits down to the coastal ports. They proved so successful that additional locos were ordered and produced with the same 2-8-0 wheel configuration but larger bunkers (52xx). As is the way of the world their introduction coincided with a down turn in demand for SW Coal. A number were put into store. Others had their bunkers extended even more (necessitating the addition of rear pony wheels) so that they could be used for more regular freight duties......hence the 2-8-2 T 72xx Followers of ANTB will know that I was contemplating buying a 42xx...... I was advised by guys whose input I value to go for a HUGE TANK....the 72xx. I am very glad that I followed their advice......the 42xx and 52xx rarely travelled out of South Wales and certainly not to my area. Whereas a number of 72xx were allocated to the Wolverhampton division of which, Granby is a part. 7233 is in the process of being re numbered to 7226 which was allocated to Oxley when converted in 1935 and was still there in 1947...... I am embarrassed to admit that until very recently I thought Oxley was in the South West rather than a suburb of Wolverhampton. I am no expert, and have never seen one in real life, but to my mind Hornby have captured the look and feel of a very powerful locomotive....8F in BR/LMS terms. Brute strength springs to mind.......definitely HUGE. The original release was part of the "Design Clever" series with a number of design defects ...moulded smoke box darts and hand rails, no brass bearings etc........most of these defects were corrected with later releases like this model.........note to Ebay bargain hunters....check the Hornby model# before bidding. One un-corrected defect was the cab back wall treatment. The window grilles look rather clumsy and the bunker door has gone AWOL I do think the missing door is rather unfortunate and detracts from the model even applying the 3' rule. It would be great if other 72xx owners/ could tell me how they have addressed the problem? I know Brassmasters provide a detailing kit (with door).....is it worth it? I am fairly pragmatic about detail .................... on Granby performance is the acid test. Initially it was disappointing. A crosshead slide bracket slipped from its mounting resulting in the crosshead coming out.....nasty clicking sound....but it was on the far side and I am deaf so it took a while for me to detect.....ie loco stopped.................hopefully thats all sorted now. I must say was surprised how much I had to adjust my normal Lenz Standard CV settings . Above 10mph the loco is silky smooth....the motion is a joy to watch. Below 10 mph it was very erratic with frequent stops. I thought I had cleaned the wheels but when I re checked there were still traces of paint and grease.....performance improved but it was still unsatisfactory crawling (stumbling rather). The test track was the often photographed main line....clean, level and much used. I finally noticed it was stalling on track joins which I guess means a barely perceptible variation in level.........so I eased the keeper plate retaining screws and now she strolls along at notch 2 (say 2mph) and I have been able to reduce CV2 from 10(!) to 5 So whats the score.........the only design defect for me is the bunker door......from a performance aspect its not unusual to have to tinker with pick ups etc,this was a bit more than normal, but it now looks promising........like Len used to in Strictly.......I would give it a.......SEVEN (no dance off though) Next post....Weathering and how big a load can she haul? Regards from Vancouver Edited to correct Photo placement

Thank you so much for the link Mike...... thats very helpful..........all printed out and guess what todays job is? I have always tried to have my locos correctly coded and have struggled (and until now failed!) to get a definitive list. Previously I had relied for the last few years on a printout from the Tiscali site. Its interesting comparing the two......the "standards" express and ordinary passenger, pick up goods etc remain the same (fortunately) most of the differences seem to centre around variations of express freight.....good job I am still working on my Halls........and my coal empties have to change as well. Glad the 30xx is acceptable .....it does add a touch of variety although I see this morning that the Dean Goods is now imminent. Thank you once again for helping me keep Granby roughly on the straight and narrow. Best wishes John

Darn I meant to fix that.......Bomb Damage no doubt! GWR used their surplus cattle wagons to ship Broccoli from Cornwall.....there is an interesting film about it. Not sure how much broccoli was grown in North Wales......I will settle for the weekly cattle market. Cheers

You are of course absolutely correct Mike........I knew my original response was too glib and intended to edit it........I was too concerned about locating Ffanshawe-Smythe outside the Tank! You have reminded me of the origins of the RTR regimental tie.....Brown, Red and Green stripes......"Through Mud and Blood to Green Fields" Cheers

Cattle train is finally done. It took a while to find the Coopercraft kits that I think I bought in the mid nineties. I only completed a couple and the rest were squirrelled away part built. They survived two house moves......after a fashion! Repaired, painted, lots of transfers applied and weathered........ heading over the canal towards Cynwyd. The cattle dock is just behind the creamery The plan is to run a regular weekly schedule, exchanging two empty wagons for two wagons loaded with Cattle for the market at Mold. I am not sure how prototypical it would have been to operate like this.....I suspect it was more likely that Cattle traffic on a small branch would have been handled by the daily goods......nevertheless its a convenient way of adding more traffic to the lower level and hopefully not too unfeasible. The train will enter Cynwyd by the relief loop and then back into the Goods Yard The observant may notice that there has been a loco exchange! I used the photo shoot to test the sequence that will eventually be automated. Quite useful. The 56xx, my original locp choice didnt like some of the yard points, the train proved to be one wagon too long for the goods siding and some of the kadee couplers were a tad high. The new loco is a very work stained ex ROD 2-8-0. Again probably unlikely on the branch (any thoughts on this?) but with the delayed arrival of the Oxford Dean Goods I am running a bit short on suitable Branch Freight locos. The branch storage sidings already have 2 Pick up goods and a Coal train hauled by two Collets and the only spare Pannier. The 30xx stops over the uncoupler and detaches the two empty wagons that will be exchanged I have become quite knowledgeable about GWR Cattle Wagon liveries.......so now I have more things I could worry about. http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif 25" letters were applied from 1904 to 1920 and then 16" until 1936 when 5" lettering was applied in the bottom LH corner. Changes in livery (ie lettering) were applied to new builds but only changed on existing stock when they went to the workshop for repairs or repaint. I believe that wagons were subject, in theory to a 7 year repaint schedule. I doubt if this schedule was adhered during the war years so the 16" lettering I have mostly used wouldnt be too out of place in 1948. I suspect that the large 25" lettering would be a lot rarer and I probably should have re lettered the ones that I originally made.....but decided to show their advanced age by heavier weathering. The oval lettering in the RH corners states "Not Common User Return to GWR". Cattle Wagons were pooled by the Big Four in 1927. After less than a year, the GWR, believing their wagons to be superior to those of the other three, withdrew them from the pool.......hence the label. I thought that was so typical of the GWR that I had to apply the decals even though they may not have survived the War when the wagons were again pooled. Having said that Bachmann applied them to their wagons which have 1936-1948 livery. The ROD pushes the two empties along the Shed siding to the cattle dock Couples with the two wagons already loaded........after all my banging on about the significance of full and empty wagons I must confess I gave up on inserting cattle via a removeable roof. The 30xx then returns with the four wagons to the remainder of the train waiting in the yard siding Couples the loaded wagons in the rear to the train and then returns to the cattle dock with the original two empties A question for the experts.....the 30xx is coded Class C for a previous working. Assuming that all the wagons are fitted what is the correct code for a Cattle Train picking up and dropping wagons at intermediate stations? My guess would be K "Pick up or branch freight". Excluding B "Stopping Passenger", the description for classes A thru F all mention Express which this train is not. The two loaded wagons are attached to the train and it then leaves the yard via the loop relief for Mold I almost forgot to mention......a couple of the Coopercraft bodies were beyond repair although the chassis were great so I substituted Parkside LNER bodies..........they almost look like the GWR W12s produced by Bachmann and Dapol except mine have two apertures, rather than one, in the doors.............I am sure everyone spotted that blooper! http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_lol.gif Regards from a very wet Vancouver

Indeed they were...in fact I believe some still are.....but Tinker is suggesting Fanshawe-Smythe is outside the tank phoning in!

Hi Tinker You have been missed! I assumed you had forsaken your shiny new office for yet another god forsaken part of the world. Loved the story....I can totally believe it....though Lt. Fanshawe-Smythe sounds more like a cavalry officer than a PBI Cheers

I am afraid that guests from the UK and a major update to RR&Co have delayed finishing the Cattle Train. So to pass the time here is something Completely different: Hatton's Warwell as loaned to the LMS. Warwells were originally built during WWII to transport Tanks in the build up to D Day and were used for all manner of tasks thereafter Superb detail, crisp lettering,smooth running and an ideal time stamp.....whats not to like? Well the price perhaps. Its undoubtedly the most expensive RTR wagon to appear on Granby. Many of you will know that I categorise projects/purchases into Must do,Should do and Could do. I am still not entirely clear how the Warwell ......half way down the Could buy list appeared so quickly in Vancouver! In reality not qick enough the GWR version had sold out by the time I made my mind up Of course the nett result of its appearance was that a suitable tank shot to the very top of the must buy list. Oxford have recently produced models of the Sherman tank.......for which the Warwell was originally designed......although no longer the pre-dominant British Army tank, Shermans were still being moved around in 1948. Unfortunately the Oxford models available were in desert liveries that would have involved repainting and some modification. It seemed just as quick (and cheaper) to buy a kit. Being an ex PBI I know little about tanks so, after much research I opted for this : A resin casting of a Comet......until a few weeks ago a tank I had never heard of.....it was produced too late for D Day but served very effectively in NW Europe, and after WWII in Korea, before being superseded by the Centurion.Perfect for Granby's time period. This was not the bargain of the century.......the initial price compared favourably with Oxford but coming from a small supplier, Post and Packing were off the scale.....more than the cost of the model! Not long after I bought it, Airfix re -released their Sherman kit! One lives and learns...even at my age. Its interesting to compare a Military model kit with a wagon kit. Here are the bits and pieces: Lots of fine detail on the body and turret......but with a lot of flash on the small mouldings. No instructions or exploded diagrams. I think I have worked out where everything belongs.......although not the function of all of them. Assembly will be interesting! Regards from Vancouver

Hi Tony Sounds like a great trip........lots of very familiar names there. I was brought up in Crosby, just north of Liverpool, so North Wales featured a lot. My mother moved my sister and I to Prestatyn to avoid the blitz, followed by holidays and day trips , by sea on the StTudno, to Llandudno, Army cadet camps at Rhyl and later in life the annual Menai Straits Regatta at Beaumaris I doubt if much of what you saw would bear a strong resemblance to Granby. North Wales has changed a great deal in the past 70 years and in any event I am afraid Granby owes more to Oldham than Wrexham......except that the GWR didn't run to Oldham! You mentioned visiting Carrog.....if you haven't done so already you should look at Larry Goddard's (Coachman) wonderful thread of that name.....he likes Panniers as well! Best wishes

Sorry I missed this........if you haven't bought your ballast yet it might be worth checking out DCC Concepts site, they have just announced a new range of ballast material that look rather good (usual disclaimer) Regardless I agree about light and dark brown depending on usage.....I have always regretted using grey on Granby Best wishes

That link is exactly what I needed to get an understanding of the processes.....many thanks Doug! The normally reliable mail service between Cornwall and Vancouver has let me down as I wait patiently for one RH short radius electro frog so I can start the brewery track work then I will do some card mock ups..........but first I must finish my cattle train. More anon Cheers

Thanks Doug........but the link doesn't look complete? I will try and google the title Cheers John Edited Found it.....looks a fascinating read....I will return

Hi Doug Thank you so much for those barrel handling photos.......I loved how crowded that first shot was with all the various buildings closing in on the track........I won't be having anything approaching 25 miles of track for my brewery! Three or four sidings if things work out....I am still trying to get my head around the brewing process and how it can be credibly compressed into a very small semi circle. You flatter me.....I had never heard of "parbuckling" before........we took the beer on to the boat in six packs and the wine in cartons.....we actually dispensed with the outer carton, the bladders were easier to stow! Hope the house move goes well Best wishes John

So it's 2028 at the earliest then?

Great idea.......Should I live that long!

Dropped the token perhaps? I did wonder about that when I cropped it.....for once I achieve decent depth of field and look what happens. Some of your firefighters may have got some practice in by helping us out......we had a horrific summer for forest fires and I believe some teams came over from Oz. Kind regards

There is a rumour that the Finching sisters have been spotted in North Wales

The second of the four new trains for the branch will consist of Private Owners coal wagons . Picking up at the colliery and exchanging for empties at Cynwyd coal sidings and local industries like the Creamery and Brewery. There is some modellers licence employed here.......I suspect it was more usual for coal wagons to be part of the daily pick up goods but with Granby being in the heart of the North Wales Coal fields, its not completely unrealistic. All Private Owners wagons were absorbed into a national pool for the duration of WWII. After nationalisation British Railways took over the wagons and paid their owners compensation. I do wonder if they would have been returned to private ownership during the period 1945-8? Nevertheless I rather like the idea of delivering coal to Danby Brewery in a Danby wagon http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif The train will have six wagons with six similar wagons at the various locations. The wagons are an assortment of RTR and kit built. Some date back to Granby I (1991), others are brand new. I set up a production line to paint out some of the insides, insert some residual coal scraps for the empties and attempt to sort of standardise so many different ages of weathering. Not the difference in side thickness between the Oxford "Barton &Co" and the Bachmann "Lunt" Ignore the tracksetta........multi tasking again. Not much space left on Granby so the flattened brewery site was a great work bench You can conceal the loaded state of most freight but not open coal wagons. It really does look daft delivering an empty coal wagon to the brewery and exchanging it for an empty. I get around this with the long colliery train by having separate dedicated loaded and empty trains. This wont work for the local train so I am experimenting with transferable loads Not sure whether it will be more efficient to swap loads or wagons between operating sessions......in the dead of night. Regardless the sponge does seem to make a much better base for the coal than the card shims I used previously. Here are some shots of the train approaching Cynwyd........hope you like POWs http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_lol.gif Hauled by a pannier.....of course. An old Slaters kit As far as I know we have no family connection with the coal trade.......but my surname is conveniently short when it comes to applying individual letters!! These are my new acquisitions from Oxford........they have come in for a lot of criticism for some of their offerings but to my untutored eyes these wagons represent excellent value with a far better level of detail than their competitors. These both started life as number 321......sometimes its easier to do some judicious weathering rather than fiddle with new numbers After looking at these shots I decided the coal was bit overscale for domestic use so out came the hammer. I also trimmed 1/4" off the sponge base Bachmann Lunt for the creamery and Slaters kit for the brewery. Bringing up the rear a 12 ton Outside frame Brake. I was quite proud of this white metal kit when I built it in 2004.....sadly I later learned that they would only have been in Departmental use in 1948 http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_twisted.gif. So its languished in the display case for the last decade. However needs must....... the advent of four new freight trains converted my surplus of RTR Toads into a shortage. I may brand it "Only for use between Corwen and Mold" or similar The train now approaches Cynwyd Merchants empties in the coal siding. Empty from the Creamery in the yard. Suncole coke wouldnt come from the colliery so it will be part of the daily pick up run In a flash the shunting is completed http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif and the train heads off to its last drop at the brewery The ultra observant may wonder how and why the red Thrutchley wagon first seen coupled to the pannier is now bringing up the rear! Hand of god and change of plan.....brewery coal supply doubled Some may think it would be better if Ben Morgan spent more time adjusted the sidelamp rather than waving at Bronwen and Gladys. Regular followers of ANTB may well think that Bronwen and Gladys bear more than a passing resemblance to the Finching sisters who are often seen in a similar pose on the platform at Brent Regards from Vancouver where it is about to become wet and windy

Hi Matt Good to hear from you and thank you for your nice remarks. I am flattered that Granby should be your first post on here......hope it wont be the last Best wishes John

I was just about to post the same......but then I am 8 hours behind. I will be interested to hear your reaction.Some of the innovations look very useful Regards John

I wish you hadn't said that Rob!

Thanks John......a picture is worth a thousand words......a very Mid West scene. Hopefully the Grano will be ok to deliver to the Maltings.....Interesting that grain was shipped to Wrexham from Avonmouth rather than Birkenhead. I hope to pick your brains when I try and plan the brewery buildings. Great to hear from .....hope you are feeling fully recovered Best wishes John

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/25940-how-to-unload-bulk-wagons-at-breweries-and-creameries/page-2 Found it......very informative You sure started some fascinating threads.....lots to read tonight! Cheers

I had forgotten North Cranford is going to feature a brewery until I stumbled across one of your posts when I was searching "brewery" on here yesterday. I have only a vague knowledge of the brewing process so I hope you will be able to help me out when I start planning the buildings. I have saved the modified Metcalfe buildings from the mark 1 brewery but I am thinking of building from Scalescenes once I have sorted the track layout.....I know that's the reverse of the actual process but hopefully I can make it look as though it happened the other way round! Thanks for the info about the pit.....just what I needed to know. Cheers John