john dew

Thanks Andy.....so glad you liked it......I did have your request at the forefront of my mind when framing some of those shots! Still waiting patiently for the 72xx......it normally takes about ten days and there was a bank holiday in the U.K and last week end was a holiday here........I will be posting photos on arrival Cheers John

Thanks for all the likes guys. Found the Coopercraft kits Tony.......rather a sorry sigh....photos to come Its a September evening in North Wales.......I hope you can sense the heat radiating from those grimy walls and terraces as Collet Goods 2259 waits for the signal to the goods relief loop at Cynwyd.. Perhaps not your typical GWR branch scene...... certainly little comparison with the Hintocks, Brents and Little Muddles that I admire daily This is the first of my goods trains that will operate on the lower level. Spent most of last week fettling and fixing as I ran it round and round the new circuit. The train is a mixture of old and new but a common feature was the necessity to get NEM coupling pockets fitted at a standard height. The bulky tension lock couplings were chopped out of the old stock and Dapols droopy pockets replaced on the new. Here are some snapshots as the train eases past the coal siding and on to the loop The plan is to drop off and pick up the two leading wagons in Cynwyd yard. This pair of Suncole coke wagons are 20 year old veterans of Granby I The rear wagons including this Ale wagon will be exchanged at Danby brewery Rather conveniently for me GRANO was the GWR telegraph code for bulk Grain carriers. Any idea how the grain would be discharged at the brewery.....top or bottom? Suggestions much appreciated The Hornby Brake Van bringing up the rear presents a sharp contrast to some of my older stock with its fine detail. I do like the separate hand rails. This van has been weathered, lamped and branded although I have to confess the side lamp is only on one side. http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_redface.gif They are quite fragile and the train room floor must be littered with them. Similarly Granby is only on one side. You can guess where the G came from but there are only a limited number of Granos and Banburys on a transfer sheet. http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif The Guard is one of the Moduloc range of 3D figures. They are made by scanning real life figures. Its a very interesting range of train crew and station staff in (obviously) life like poses. Usual disclaimer....just a very satisfied customer. Shunting completed the train leaves Cynwyd for its last drop off at Danby Brewery Back to reality......the train leaves the stage and enters the wings.......the still uncovered storage siding. The newly laid track is now ballasted but Danby Brewery,the demolition site on the right, will, I am afraid, have to remain a figment of my imagination for some time. Regards from Vancouver where we continue to enjoy/suffer 30o + days. The cooling off-shore breezes have ceased so the smoke from the forest fires has returned......not at all pleasant but it must be so much worse for the poor folk in the interior John

Thanks MIB So the barrel could be secured for transport within the turret without any external support? Is this a recent innovation ie post 1950? I imagine the Comet would be before your time? Nevertheless any advice on transfers/decals......dont want anything too complicated just reasonably credible from 3' Regards

Thank you......that makes sense. Many of the photos I have seen show the barrel strapped (chained?) rather than propped with a wood support as per Oxford........I am minded to strap rather than prop? A different question......a Millicast Comet kit is on its way to me. Could you advise a source of suitable transfers for early 1948? Kind regards

Would the gun barrel always be supported/secured in some way......as per Oxfords Sherman? Cheers John

Thanks Mike........that's very helpful.......so I will be safe with 7226 (11/35) or 7236 (1/36) both shedded at Oxley in 47? Best wishes John

Thanks Andy........that makes perfect sense.....I had forgotten that they were converted 52xx rather than built from scratch. Kind regards John

I guess a combination of Tinker, Bob and Andy convinced me..............7233 a HUGE 72xx is hopefully about to wing its way to the Pacific North West. Thank you for your advice and encouragement guys. It was an interesting exercise sourcing the Great Western version. The big box shifters I normally use had sold out but it was available, at varying prices, from a number of smaller shops. The problem was that you had to go right through the ordering, registering and finally checkout process before it turned out they either didnt ship to North America, or didnt deduct VAT or wouldnt let you select a country other than UK......very frustrating. In the end I fired off about 6 emails and only got two replies .....both negative. Hopefully Carriage and Wagon Models .Co will turn up trumps. They had a very slick web site that immediately knew that I was enquiring from Canada and automatically deducted VAT 7233 spent most of its life at Pontypool Road so mine will be renumbered to one of the eight shedded at Oxley Wolverhampton in 1947. A question for the livery experts: 7233 was built in September 1935.....the shirt button roundel was introduced in June 1934. I can understand delays and omissions in implementing the new livery on existing locos but would have expected new locos turned out over a year later to bear the new livery...........and yet I imagine Hornby must have carried out appropriate research and I dont recall a great wailing and gnashing of teeth about this model carrying "Great Western"..........can anyone enlighten me? I have to say the roundel would look pretty minute on the side such a HUGE tank Cheers John

Snap!..........well almost..... I dillied and dallied and had to make do with the LMS variant.....pah! as Mr Duck would say What are you going to put on them Robin? I have an Oxford Sherman on pre order......I will have to repaint it and seek MIBs advice about removing machine guns and stuff. Cheers

Thanks for all the comments and likes guys. I see that since the last post Granby passed the 50,000 view threshold.......not a huge number in comparison with many layouts on RMWeb but a significant milestone for Granby........thank you for all your support over the years. So the plan outlined two weeks ago was intended to be a simple relay to create better use of the lower level storage sidings. http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_lol.gif It involved replacing the double slip seen above with two turnouts.....one for the storage sidings and the other providing access to the brewery. Renovations never go entirely to plan and this was no exception I was able to keep one of the slip tortoises to power the brewery turnout but my plan to relocate and use the second tortoise didnt work out. So once again I had to revert to a board mounted Peco motor and a frog polarity switching unit was hastily ordered from DCC Concepts.....one of the new all singing/dancing units with polarity memory. The new storage sidings actually worked as planned........the outer, longer loop divided into three blocks each able to accommodate a 5-6 wagon goods train. So now the branch will be served by a pick up goods, a short coal train straight from the colliery and a cattle train...........so at long last the cattle dock at Cynwyd built 2009 will have a train to serve it............assuming I can find the box of half assembled Coopercraft wagon kits......last seen....about 2009. They must be quite valuable now? The inner loop has been divided into two short blocks and a longer block in the centre. One short block will accommodate the Diesel rail car and the other the autotrain. Both these blocks have sufficient space for their designated train with the addition of a Siphon or two wagons and a brake van so I can run the occasional mixed train. The centre block will probably have a longish coal train hauled by a HUGE tank engine hopefully also on its way from the UK So thats it......done and dusted. I need to write some RR&Co schedules and do a lot of testing....particularly stop and brake distances and then the covers and parcel depot can go back in place and Edith Jones can be re united with her washing. The next project was kind of unplanned but is definitely already in hand....... This is the brewery circa 20010 I have never been entirely satisfied with it. However using the old army mantra of prioritising projects into Must do,Should do and Could do........ two weeks ago the brewery was probably halfway down the could do list. To access and replace the double slip one or two brewery buildings and track had to be temporarily removed. As often happens when renovating........one thing led to another And now the brewery has climbed to the top of the Must do list! More next week.......regards from a hot and sunny Vancouver

oops are replies crossed......ignore mine......I think we are in agreement Cheers

The issue isnt with the polarity of the solenoid point motor rather it relates to switching the polarity of the track feed to the point frog Cheers

Afraid so. There is a new improved version which now has frog polarity memory.....costs a few pounds more. These are the work arounds I have used over the last couple of years to try and overcome the frustrating issue with the unit you and I have (1) Adjust the input wiring for each point so that the polarity defaults the normal or most used position (2) Try and remember to reset the point to normal after a train has passed over the point.....as per the prototype (3) I have a switch on the RR&Co virtual switchboard that throws all the points connected to the ADS fx......I click on this every time I power up at the start of a session or after a short........well that's the theory ! If you have just bought the unit I would explore the possibility of upgrading to the newer version with memory Regards John

Good Morning Robin I wonder if the next time your 72xx is rostered you could measure the height (from top of rail to heighest point on cab roof)? I am contemplating,yet again, getting a 52xx for Granby but I fear there may be tunnel clearance issues Cheers John

Right

No worries Ted........I guess my post was a bit tongue in cheek as well but having just posted on ANTB praising Lenz I felt some response was called for. My experience with Bachmann decoders was distinctly unsatisfactory but, not having used them, it was perhaps unfair of me to assume Hornby decoders were equally poor........I guess I will find out in March 2018 when my Pecket arrives. I imagine I will need a Hornby 3 pin? Cheers John

Well it happened here....although really it was only partial......the heat went out of the sun beforehand and all the birds went quiet

Oh dear..... on ANTB, I have just recommended the Lenz Silver Mini that I use on my 64xx....and other locos that require a 6 pin decoder..........I hope that doesn't make me appear a snob. Over the years I have tried all manner of decoders and have long since decided that Lenz provide me with the consistent performane that I require. In fairness I may be unduly picky because of RR&Co. I do agree though that you pays your money and makes your choice Regards from Vancouver where we have just been eclipsed (partially)...…it is true that all the birds go quiet! John Edited to correct unwanted help from ipad

Hi Phil I use Lenz Silver mini......cost a bit more but well worth it IMHO Cheers

Hi Mike You are right of course, I forgot about the tube on the pick up post. The kit originally came with a tube and detachable token. Sadly the token got misplaced......the court of inquiry (or would it be a board? The railways seemed to like military terms) determined its loss was due to an Act (or hand) of God........it was replaced by a Montys Model figure with the token firmly attached to Dai's hand. He is in fact about to replace it on the Picking up post for trains heading to Bersham. Single engine in steam working ends at Cynwyd East Box........the single line to Cynwyd station and beyond is signalled........somewhere in the annals of an earlier RMweb I think I have your seal of approval! The setting down post is on the other side of line complete with net in case the driver misses the cow horn (I guess I got confused about sex...perhaps understandable at my age) Best wishes John

Hi Andy As always a very helpful and constructive post. I have always enjoyed creating the various cameos that populate the layout and they are usually the first thing that visitors remark about. Because I tend to treat my posts as a Granby progress report they often only get shown on completion of a particular project or in the background. I am afraid I lack the imagination of my friend John Flann who creates the most convincing back stories or legends for his Hintock layouts. Edith and baby Gareth were a complete afterhought when I had finished typing the post. I am so glad you enjoyed it......I will try and do more in the future. It was your post about Halls back in January, of course, that really got me started on loco weathering. I am both pleased and relieved that you approve of the 66xx. In case you are wondering the Halls are all renumbered, and mostly renamed and unlined......they sit in my weathering in box while I acquire the skills on more mundane locos. I need to get them done soon....mixed traffic working has come to a halt on Granby.....no fruit, milk or even newspapers! You are absolutely correct about the pristine lamps.....I do normally weather them.....these two slipped through and I was too idle to re shoot Best wishes John

Hi Tony What a splendid video. It demonstrated your weathering skills a treat.........this thread continues to be my text book as I try to get a similar standard on Granby. Hadnt seen the coaches before.....they looked very authentic........another job! I particularly enjoyed the operational sequence and the links to the original timetable......fascinating. I liked the routine getting the brake van set up.....I have been puzzling how to do that......mind you I would use a pannier. How did you do the uncoupling? Was it with an electro magnet......there seemed no sign of the Kadee shuffle? I imagine you will not be divulging the secret of changing the end boards until you have patented it! Hope you have fully recovered from the flu. Best wishes John

Blushes.....Spell check didn't like it......but it looked sort of ok Regards

Thanks for all the likes gentlemen................its good to know the posts are appreciated. Having passed a variety of running tests the ballast on the branch junction has been permanised. Cynwyd East Signal box and its associated signals are now back in place. The original track and ground cover were laid ten years ago. Trying to blend in the new cover was something of a challenge This has nothing to do with the narrative but I dont believe I have shown the Mikes Models token apparatus before. I couldnt resist this closeup of Dai Hughes, relief signalman, replacing the Bersham token on the bullhorn (hopefully I have used all the correct terms!) Okay back to the script.......here is a shot of the newly replaced signal box, lamp hut and signals taken from the other side of the canal. You can just catch a glimpse of Dai beyond the lamp hut. So thats it......job done. For a glimpse of the next stage of the project the camera has to turn through 180o to the other corner of the room The Parcels depot and a row of terraced houses which conceal the lower level storage loops and sidings The hidden sidings seemed a good idea at the time. However with two insulfrog double slips they have turned out to be over complicated. Despite the strategically placed peepholes, automatic operation has proved to be somewhat fraught........ In fact so fraught I dont bother. Time for a rethink Having just survived the blitz, poor Edith Jones, in the blue dress, has now temporaly lost not only her house but the washing line on which, moments ago, she was hanging out her smalls to dry. Not sure who is the more astonished....Edith,her mum or baby Gareth. Joe Morgan the shunter looks quite gobsmacked. Panning round to the station ...........hopefully the Austin 7 has good brakes! This busy street scene will soon have to be lifted clear so that the second double slip can be removed. Lots to do.......when complete I hope to finish up with two parallel smooth running storage sidings......each siding divided into three separate detected blocks........thus, in addition to the auto train and diesel rail car that are currently stabled there, I will be able to store and operate 4 additional trains on the lower level. No complicated manouveres in the hidden sidings but opportunity for automated shunting in the open So here is a look into the future as the Pick up goods (hopefully hauled by a soon to be delivered Dean Goods) passes over the lower lock gates at Richard's Wharf basin Regards from Vancouver where thankfully it is a little cooler and the smoke from the forest fires has finally cleared

They are pretty old and very dusty.....I probably need to refresh the coal again. The loads on the long train are permanent. I used black artists mount board glued to card supports with a generous amount of crushed real BC coal glued on top. Spraying with dilute PVA, as per ballast, dulls the finish so I spread a thick layer of neat PVA, scatter the coal on top and when dry give it a good shake to get rid of the loose stuff. When I have finished the branch relay I am going to run a pick up coal train to the brewery,dairy etc and that will need removable loads. Richard from Buckingham West has done it rather well so I think I will be copying his method Cheers John