GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

Just lovely John, so much to look at and go "ooh!".  It must be immensely satisfying to see those beautiful trains running around…

Michael

[user=2126]81C[/user] wrote:

Intersting to see some else happy with the Manors apart from the cab roof rivets need a piece of sand paper on them they are fine my 4 run perfectly they all have the latest chassis with the flywheel, I find the armchair modeller wanting all their loco's new withinthe past 2-3 years they are unfortunate not to be able to do a bit of handywork on their models these "B" sets which I bought my first one 30 + years ago are a long time coming.

 Enjoy your railway I do. Bob

                                                                                                                                                                                          

Thanks  Bob…. thats a charming comment

I do apologise for not replying earlier……I have no excuse other than old age……you were on a list but I guess that I lost the list :oops: :oops: :oops:

Now you mention it the Cab roof rivets do look rather obvious……..should they be removed entirely or just reduced in size?

I am told the Non Corridor Collets will arrive towards the end of the month so with any luck they will be running on Granby towards the end of March

Another question……You called them B Sets…….I am planning to run a 4 car set…..do you know what letter GWR used…..I have a feeling it varied by division…..I am inclined to call mine a D Set

Best wishes

John

[user=19]Marty[/user] wrote:

Cracking shot of the Dukedog (weathered, crewed, coaled AND lamped!!) John.
Marty

 

Hi Marty

I guess I could cut and paste my apology to Bob but that would only compound my rudeness!

 I am so glad you liked that shot and I am truly sorry that that it has taken me almost a month to tell you!

Glad you saw the lamps…..they are a bit of a pain to fit and it does mean locos have to have dedicated roles but to my mind they do look naked without them…….particularly when one knows they would be stopped at the first box without the correct code!

Best wishes

John   

[user=1512]Headmaster[/user] wrote:

Just lovely John, so much to look at and go "ooh!".  It must be immensely satisfying to see those beautiful trains running around…

Michael

 

Hi Michael

I am truly mortified that I failed to thank you for your nice post until today. As I have said earlier I have no excuse other than old age.

Sorry to bang on about it but when members take the trouble to reply to ones posts the very least one can do is respond……I do apologise

I guess I am just spending too much time in the train room watching the trains go by…….and yes…..when everything goes to plan it is very satisfying

Best wishes

John

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:                                                                                                                                                                                        

Thanks  Bob…. thats a charming comment

I do apologise for not replying earlier……I have no excuse other than old age……you were on a list but I guess that I lost the list :oops: :oops: :oops:

Now you mention it the Cab roof rivets do look rather obvious……..should they be removed entirely or just reduced in size?

I am told the Non Corridor Collets will arrive towards the end of the month so with any luck they will be running on Granby towards the end of March

Another question……You called them B Sets…….I am planning to run a 4 car set…..do you know what letter GWR used…..I have a feeling it varied by division…..I am inclined to call mine a D Set

Best wishes

John

Hi John,

You are right, they did vary division by division, I believe that Birmingham 
called their 4 car sets…………B sets!

"Spending time watching the trains go by" ?  Now that will make you old John !!   :lol:

You need to be spending time "filming" the trains go by - I need to enjoy some more of a "live" Granby.   :thumbs

I second that!

No need to apologise John - certainly no offence taken, but it was kind to comment.  Another video as penance, please!

Regards

Michael

[user=1460]jcm@gwr[/user] wrote:

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:                                                                                                                                                                                        

Thanks  Bob…. thats a charming comment

I do apologise for not replying earlier……I have no excuse other than old age……you were on a list but I guess that I lost the list :oops: :oops: :oops:

Now you mention it the Cab roof rivets do look rather obvious……..should they be removed entirely or just reduced in size?

I am told the Non Corridor Collets will arrive towards the end of the month so with any luck they will be running on Granby towards the end of March

Another question……You called them B Sets…….I am planning to run a 4 car set…..do you know what letter GWR used…..I have a feeling it varied by division…..I am inclined to call mine a D Set

Best wishes

John

Hi John,

You are right, they did vary division by division, I believe that Birmingham 
called their 4 car sets…………B sets!

 

I had heard that as well……..I just hope it didnt extend north of Birmingham to Chester/Granby……….I will make further enquiries. :hmm.

Regards

John

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

"Spending time watching the trains go by" ?  Now that will make you old John !!   :lol:

You need to be spending time "filming" the trains go by - I need to enjoy some more of a "live" Granby.   :thumbs

 

Headmaster wrote:

I second that!

No need to apologise John - certainly no offence taken, but it was kind to comment.  Another video as penance, please!

Regards

Michael

The cast have been busy rehearsing a new production tentatively titled "Coal to Granby" or something equally unimaginative………but it will be a few weeks before we start shooting.

Meantime I can at least post some photographs of something completely different  :lol:
Most of my modelling time last week was devoted to the 4 out and back passenger services that I mentioned in a previous. Two will start from Granby and two from "Chester" (Up Storage sidings  U5 and U1). All 4 will terminate in the Down Storage siding D5 …..Whitchurch/Oswestry/Barmouth/Shrewsbury

Lots of planning and testing…..quite apart from setting up the uncoupling magnets and RR&Co stop and brake markers I cant have the trains lingering in D5 because it provides the only access to the storage turntable and is the principal down freight route! 

This week I have been setting up the Chester-Oswestry Schedules …….seen here departing for Chester (U1) from Granby Platform  5








Both Carriages and Loco are temporary understudies. The plan is to eventually use the new Hornby Collet non corridor coaches hauled by the new large Prairie. Hopefully the coaches will be in Vancouver towards the end of March but the Prairies are not expected until the fall.

So the train spotters will be seeing 1202 Ivatt 2-6-2T for a few months

 
She is a real Granby veteran……in fact I think it was her arrival almost 20 years ago that caused me to stretch Granby's time period to the spring of 1948. She was probably one of the first split chassis locos that I chipped. This was before I appreciated that when it comes to decoders you get what you pay for…..low price doesnt necessarily mean good value. She is still a good reliable runner but lacks the precise stopping I now expect. I have bitten the bullet and a Lenz replacement decoder is on the way.

I digress……..here 1202 continues her journey to Chester


Incidentally, there is nothing too incongruous about a LMS loco hauling GWR stock out of Granby. The Chester-Birkenhead line was a joint railway and I have just stretched the boundaries a little. In fact with a new decoder she may well share duties with the Prairie on a permanent basis.



Having climbed Granby Bank the train approaches Chester…….storage siding U1









Sorry about the focus…..I needed the shot to show the relief  loco temporarily stabled in U2 Up Parcels/Milk trains.




Some of the Metcalfe Terrace screen temporarily removed as 1202 approaches the uncoupling magnet





Typically I set the stop marker so that the loco overruns the magnet stopping with the coupling 2" in front. After a suitable pause the loco moves back 3" another pause and then having uncoupled…. forward  6"…….the Kadee Shuffle.



I like the loco to move a reasonable distance forward (without fouling the other train in the siding) so that I can actually check over the terraces that it is clear and to be far enough away from the coaches that they dont re- join when the relief couples at the other end

Talking of which…..while the uncoupling takes place the relief moves out from U2 on to the main line






6694  56xx 0-6-2 last seen hauling a coal train from Bersham up Cynwyd bank……with the lamps to prove it………..I did say these are understudies! 56xx were used for passengers services in South Wales but I understand it was unlikely in my area……however needs must until the Prairie arrives

Couldnt get an actual shot of 6694 coupling because the Warehouse got in the way but here to finish is an overall shot of the storage yard from the other end of the room …….you can just see 6694 at the head of the 4 coach train on the left (Chester!)






On the right by the back scene with the LMS 4 coach set is D5……LMS coaches are there so it must be Shrewsbury……when 6694 arrives it will become Oswestry!

The loco exchange here is much more complex and hopefully I can get some better photos of the process for next week.

Finally its Six Nations time and this year I am able to watch it live again……it takes forever for the repeat to be shown so on Saturday I was up at 6.15am for the Scotland v Ireland game…….fortunately the England games have slightly  later kick offs. For those who follow rugby, you can imagine I am pretty ecstatic about England's first two games :Happy  

Regards from Vancouver where it is snowing quite heavily

John

Good morning John from a frosty but bright and sunny Loire Valley. Your latest post was a lovely gentle and entertaining way to start the day, as you slumber onwards, dreaming of another England performance like the last. Poor France!

I can only dream of modelling sessions becoming running sessions, but I'm fascinated with your ongoing work and research with your operating.

The varying roof lines and detail of the coach stock in photo 6 is so representative of GW practice and captures the atmosphere of the times wonderfully, not that I was there of course!

Like you, I too am anticipating the imminent Hornby Collet non-corridor stock and look forward to some gentle weathering.

Keep warm,

Bill

 

Hi Bill
I think the real test will be the week end after next in Cardiff…….I am dreaming about that result!

Glad you liked the post…..I try and write regularly but when I am developing automatic routines,which involve so many endless running sessions testing stopping distances etc, I always worry that it will be a bit boring and repetitive.

So you spotted the roof lines:thumbs……In this instance it requires a lot of dedication on my part to strive for an authentic jumble as opposed to nice neat military uniformity…….but then I am a Gemini:lol:

How was the Pendon course……will you be posting about it?

Still snowing here with more to come…..off out to clear the driveway….. fortunately not too long

Best wishes

John

Oh yes John, very well worth the effort and getting to Pendon was a challenge sucessfully accomplished in heavy snow and then ice the next morning! I've already booked my next course in May, the advanced weathering one and I'll take my new airbrush along with me!

I've a particularly important interview this Friday to prepare for, all in French, so will not be posting much until the weekend at least. Brexit has much to answer for!

Best,

Bill

Bonne chance au vendredi:lol:
John

[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

I've a particularly important interview this Friday to prepare for, all in French, so will not be posting much until the weekend at least. Brexit has much to answer for!

Ah-ha - the infamous "Carte de Sejour" ………………………?

We haven't got ours yet Bill but, from what others have told me, it's not too difficult here in Lot et Garonne.  The Gironde I think, is a different matter but then it does include Bordeaux.  I'm told getting an appointment is the most difficult thing !!!

Sorry John - your thread so I'll delete this after a few days …………………….

I wouldnt bother Peter ( deleting it that is:roll:) it adds a unique contemporary note to the thread
Cheers

John

Sucess, nous avons nos Cartes de Sejours!! Huh, we can now spit in the face of Brexit!

Right, sorry John, now back to railway modelling.

Bill  :)

[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

Sucess, nous avons nos Cartes de Sejours!! Huh, we can now spit in the face of Brexit!

Right, sorry John, now back to railway modelling.

Bill  :)

 :doublethumb  Felicitations Guillaume !!!

I have continued developing/testing/playing with my 4 car suburban passenger routines. Last post finished with a shot of a recently arrived LMS set….allegedly in Shrewsbury

Here we see LMS 4F 3851 at the start of the return journey to Granby. Although primarily used for freight it was not uncommon to see these 0-6-0 locos on local passenger services.

I probably should have given a health warning before showing this shot……although I have never claimed that the track on Granby is particularly well laid…….with good reason some might say




1206, the loco by the coal stage, is another Ivatt 2-6-2T. It will eventually relieve the GWR 4 car set which you last saw at the other end of the storage yard.



The LMS set will eventually be composed of Hornby's excellent non corridor coaches….Brake 3rd at each end sandwiching an all 3rd and a 1st/3rd composite. This set came about when, before Christmas, Kernow offered the coaches at 25 GBP……amazing value ……current price is close to 40 GBP!  Right now its a bit of a mish mash….in my excitement I ordered two in BR livery so I have to wait for the replacements to come back.

No head code lamps as yet while I sort out which locos to permanently allocate.

A couple of years ago I built a street scene over the turntable  roads featuring the Bilteezi tenements. It looked quite effective but as  the turntable usage increased I proved, yet again, that covering high  usage storage lines is not a good idea! The tenements have now found a  permanent home behind the other turntable. Refinishing the wall is on  the lengthy to do list





Once the train has cleared the D5 storage block 3001  Ivatt 2-6-0, the original incoming loco, is released and reverses on to the Turntable Entry Road

At the same time the tank engine 1206 crawls forward on the Exit road as it is the next loco out




 3001 on the turntable and then turned ready to move on to the Exit road

 



Meanwhile the LMS train continues towards Granby






As 3851 passes Granby Shed its relief loco, another 0-6-0, a Collet Goods in war time Black, moves on to the turntable to exit the shed





After that tale of two turntables now something different





Granby Junction with most of the roof removed showing both the new scratch 4 car LMS set at Platform 6 in the rear and one of the long established north bound sets in Bay Platform 2 in the foreground.

The Collet Goods has left the turntable on to the shed exit road and can just be seen under what remains of the roof




 4 coaches can only just be accommodated on Platform 6. After the train has arrived there RR&Co has to do quite a lot of shuffling. Both uncoupling 3851 and moving the coaches forward so that the relief loco can enter the P6 road to couple at the other end

 






While this is going on the cycle continues as the GWR set featured in the last post enters the station on the main Up line








Regards from Vancouver where it is cold, icy and quite treacherous underfoot

Great little story there John giving us photos of Granby from differant angles.

Shouldnt worry to much about twisty track thats more prototypical of the time period.

Even to this day if you go to Truro station the HST`s coming into the west end of the station go down a thumping great dip and back up again.

Brian

Wow john - first you amaze us with your modelling, now with running so many trains!  Beautiful, and super pics too

Michael