GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

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

Hi John,

Congratulations on an impressive Post Office build. A most clever bash to fit your available space, just as in real life urban redevelopment.

I also saw in the Granby Courier, that this latest edifice is to be complimented by the Granby Grand, as fine dining comes to the good and the great! Excellent stuff!

I’ll be watching with great interest and enjoyment.

Many thanks and all the best from a cool Loire Valley,

Bill

Thanks Bill. So glad you like it……….it sure took a long time coming. I think the Post Office crew have been on the Platform for about 5 years waiting for somewhere to deliver their Mail bags  :roll:



(Just by the running in Board)

Hopefully the Hotel will not have quite such a long gestation period :roll:

Dont raise your hopes too high about the cuisine……..three course lunch special 2/6. Bread only came off the ration in 1948

Cheers

John 

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

Another great build John.  I rather like the irregular shape, many buildings were constructed to the available space and it makes a change from the standard rectangle.  It suits the scene perfectly and is another great example of your craftsmanship.
Michael

Thanks Michael. Its very gratifying to know that you and others find the odd shape acceptable. Uncertainty regarding how it would look was probably the biggest reason for the 5 year hesitation!

Very best wishes

John

That unusual building shape reminds me a lot of Franklin & South Manchester buildings
http://modelersforum.com/gallery/18-281014210242.jpeg
http://www.horailroad.com/fsm/fsm6.jpg


well done John.


Thanks Ron……..its very flattering to be compared with that level of modelling

Those buildings are superb…….I will be a very happy camper if I ever reach that standard.

Best wishes

John

[user=1338]Ed[/user] wrote:

Brilliant build John  :thumbs

Rather reminds me of many places I walked around in London in my yoof (I know it's not suppose to be London).

I'm probably being a bit nit-picky, but is that not the wrong style of phone box for 1948?



Ed

Longchap wrote:

Looks  like a 1929 K2, limited to London use due to cost, but the Granby PO,  being on the up and up, probably had sufficient pulling power with HQ to  acquire a kiosk of taste and refinement!

Well spotted Ed!

Bill

Thanks Ed………..you dont miss a trick :lol:

I knew I had reservations about that box :roll:……..its normally by the pub at the other end of the station and I just plonked it there for the photo. I have two K6 kits on order to go there permanently.

According to Wiki the 1929 concrete version were K3 and some (a few) did go beyond the Metropolis……..but I am just quibbling Bill :lol:……..I suspect it is actually the common or garden K6 incorrectly painted :oops:

The model is a genuine antique…..it was built for Granby I circa 1995………and I have no idea why I instinctively painted it in concrete! Could the memory have been planted in my brain when I was a school boy in Crosby or Formby?   Whatever if it looks like the new arrivals I will repaint it red…….and find a new home for it

The fun of modelling!

Cheers

John




 

[user=644]Campaman[/user] wrote:

As already said excellent build, just wondering will there be enough space to pull the trailer out of the post office with where the Hotel board is at this point, looks a bit tight for the driver.

Glad you like it :thumbs

You may well be right about the trailer……I bought it (and another :oops:) when I hoped to fit in a yard on the railway side behind the GPO.

As it happens one of my pet hates is model lorries in inaccessible positions……if needs must I will replace it with a van :lol:

I am still playing with the exact positioning of the hotel…….its a bit like a jigsaw with just a few wrong shaped pieces to fit in :roll:

Cheers

John

Nice job John it fits in well.

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

[user=644]Campaman[/user] wrote:

As already said excellent build, just wondering will there be enough space to pull the trailer out of the post office with where the Hotel board is at this point, looks a bit tight for the driver.

Glad you like it :thumbs

You may well be right about the trailer……I bought it (and another :oops:) when I hoped to fit in a yard on the railway side behind the GPO.

As it happens one of my pet hates is model lorries in inaccessible positions……if needs must I will replace it with a van :lol:

I am still playing with the exact positioning of the hotel…….its a bit like a jigsaw with just a few wrong shaped pieces to fit in :roll:

Cheers

 John

I'm with you there John. I've had to put a few in what you'd think is inaccessible. It was always good when someone says "by 'eck lad (I loved the lad bit) you've done reet well there.  :)

                                  FOUR BRIDGES and a CANAL




Last week, apart from snow clearing, I spent most of my modelling time on maintenance. Resurrecting Signals and Lamposts that have fallen by the wayside, glueing back chimneys, replacing head lamps and fire irons……..and so on……..all fascinating stuff but not particularly photogenic……so for a change of pace I spent a morning taking shots of Richard's Wharf.**


To set the scene here is a wide angle rather fuzzy shot of the duck under at the entrance to the room.



The Post Office and Hotel site featured in last weeks post can just be seen on the right







The tunnel mouth leading on to Bridge #1 conceals the entrance to hidden twin track storage sidings for the low level branch line.


All 4 bridges can be seen in this shot ….although you will have to peer under the arch of the Viaduct (#3) to catch a glimpse of Bridge #4







Hmm another lamp post to add to the list





Close up of the downstream lock









The Girder bridge (#2) connects the branch to the upper level via two more hidden sidings which store long coal trains

































The upstream lock is quite difficult to photograph so it is rarely seen. You will need to peer under the arches again


















 To get a better view point I dismantled the tripod, crawled under the canal and re -assembled everything on the other side







The branch autotrain crosses over the lock on Bridge #4





Definitely keyhole photography with the cropping tool working over time.













Hope you enjoyed these shots……..more to come.


John



** Richard's Wharf is named after "Wheeltapper" late of this parish. Richard was an absolute expert on canals…..he lived for a while on a narrow boat and during the last months of his life he took a great interest in this canal build. He sent me all manner of photographs and helpful advice……I literally could not have built it without him. I like to think he was rather pleased when I asked him if I could use his name. Most days I go to the train room, I duck under and am reminded of a kind,charming gentleman and one of those internet friendships that will always be cherished.



 

Super photographs John… and great to see some more of the detail on Granby.  
So does your duck under have 4 bridges, or am I seeing it wrong?  

I love the canal and associated features, and that some is tucked away, almost a secret to you - and now us!

Michael

Thanks Michael …..glad you like it.

Yes there are indeed 4 bridges crossing the canal……..the canal bed is the actual duck under. Very early on I gave up the idea of making it moveable………given hindsight that was a mistake………I have no problem (yet) ducking….keeps me fit………… but it is a deterrent to casual visitors.

One lives and learns


John

Hello John,

I enjoyed your latest photographs of this seldom seen (at least on the forum) aspect of Granby, which really brings the urban canal side to life. It was charming to hear of the kind assistance you received from Wheeltapper in capturing this realism and not at all surprising of this forum, where so many people are happy to help others so much.

Thank you also for your previous advice regarding duck unders, which I assure you, has been taken on board with adoption of a lift up section, probably a bridge module.

I also smiled when I spied passengers on board the branch autotrain and pleased that you maintain such focus on detail.

Continued thanks for sharing.

Bill

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

Hello John,

I enjoyed your latest photographs of this seldom seen (at least on the forum) aspect of Granby, which really brings the urban canal side to life. It was charming to hear of the kind assistance you received from Wheeltapper in capturing this realism and not at all surprising of this forum, where so many people are happy to help others so much.

Thank you also for your previous advice regarding duck unders, which I assure you, has been taken on board with adoption of a lift up section, probably a bridge module.

I also smiled when I spied passengers on board the branch autotrain and pleased that you maintain such focus on detail.

Continued thanks for sharing.

Bill

Hi Bill

That was a lovely reply and much appreciated.

Sharp eyes to spot the passengers……..I must confess they are the exception rather than the rule……..I should really get a load of seated people for the main line passenger services…..they do look a little odd being completely empty

Cheers

John

Hi John,

I found these seated little people and had two sets delivered and am looking forward to painting them.





www.dartcastings.co.uk/dart/PP1.php
 
14 Figures for just £8 is prety good for carriages, although I'm not sure on the shipping cost, but the painting will keep you amused if you don't have too much snow to shift! Ha, I've just noticed that there's 15 figures, so even better value. I must check the other pack and hope 13 is not my unlucky number!

Best,

Bill

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

Hi John,

I found these seated little people and had two sets delivered and am looking forward to painting them.





Dart Castings - PP1

14 Figures for just £8 is prety good for carriages, although I'm not sure on the shipping cost, but the painting will keep you amused if you don't have too much snow to shift! Ha, I've just noticed that there's 15 figures, so even better value. I must check the other pack and hope 13 is not my unlucky number!

Best,

Bill

My apologies Bill……….I am afraid I forgot to thank you for this ……..old age is no longer creeping it is clearly galloping.

Better late than never many thanks. I like Dart Castings and that looks great value

Regards from a very wet Vancouver

Change of direction this week.

Something  new and rather different on Granby


Dapols Parcels Railcar



I know this will not be news to some….Bill (Longchap) received his a 10 days ago of weeks ago………but two weeks from Liverpool to Vancouver must be a record……normally its 4-6 weeks






No worries I am not going to give you the entire mind numbing unboxing routine! This is the first time I have bought a loco from Dapol and I have to say I am very impressed with the packaging. In addition to the thick foam surrounds the outer box had a rather pleasing feeling of quality……made me feel better about parting with over a hundred quid.

The box did not belie the contents……..its a very impressive model



The body is very easy to remove from the chassis….no screws…..just gently press to release two clips on the sides

The wiring mounted on the internal ceiling is for the internal and external lighting which will be a first for Granby




The valances or skirts which hide the bogies are easily detachable. ………just like the prototype!  They complement the streamlined design but were fairly quickly removed in service for ease of maintenance. They certainly would not have been on in 1948……so off they will come.The accessory pack has a mock drive mechanism for the rear (?) bogies





Side view showing the nicely detailed parcel racking. The slot in the chassis is for the DCC decoder





Two easily accessed screws release the floor exposing the 5 pole motor and 21 pin PCB assembly.

The model ran perfectly straight from the box on my DC test track. Fitting the decoder was a breeze and I had hoped to finish this post with a quick video. Unfortunately the 21 pin decoder I found unused in the drawer was not the Lenz Silver I imagined. After struggling in vain to get the the top speed to a realistic level it slowly dawned on me that it was a Bachmann decoder that I had bought some years ago and quickly discarded as not fit for purpose.
A Zimo chip is on its way as I write……and eventually a video will appear

For now I will have finish with a few of quick shots……not very crisp I am afraid. No tripod just point and shoot

At the KIng Street Parcels Depot looking rather incongruous among the Victorian buildings particularly with that pristine roof!








And in the siding alongside the yet to be built Warehouse next to the GPO





Note the new posters on the Post Office.



Next week …..the hotel…..well at least a mock up

Six Nations time again. Not sure if its the aftermath of the World Cup or the Saracens scandal but this year I dont have quite the same sense of enthusiasm. Hopefully it will all change on Saturday when England play France

Regards from Vancouver

Hi John,

Yes, it is a magnificent model and a heavy one. It must be all those parcels!

As an aside, I saw a passenger version of this on an equally magnificent layout last weekend at a UK model railway exhibition. I was even more impressed than usual with a GWR model, as it had the most realistic sound project installed from YouChoos (on a Zimo decoder). The sound added a surprisingly large degree of sophistication to the model and with the sound level CV adjusted down for realism at a realistic scale viewing distance, I was enthralled and spent a happy five minutes following the railcar along the layout. They also had equally good steam sound. Oh dear!

Regarding the dummy drive shafts John. I understand that before too long, only one bogie was driven, the drive shafts having been removed, so may have not been fitted by the late '40s.

Glad you liked the little people and they also add useful weight to lightweight coaches, such as Ratio 4 wheelers.

Will that roof be turning grey and sooty?

Best,

Bill

Yes, starting with WW2 there was no bearing metal coming from SKF in Sweden for the cardon drives, so they simply ran them with one engine and removed the cardon shaft from the opposite side. No idea whether they removed the engine or not, as there was no means of driving the wheelset on the other side of the chassis. They probably did, good source of spare engines. The second drives were not reinstalled after the war.

The wheel covers were not there after the late 1930's, too inconvenient for servicing.

Most of the engines never got above second speed between stops, so I had my DCC decoder programmed as such and with only one engine not 2.

Nigel

It is indeed a super looking model John.

Looking at it parked in the station, I did wonder why they went to all the trouble and expense of moulding a full parcel rack - can it be seen through the windows ?

You touched on a point I hadn't thought about Nigel - the lack of SKF bearings during the war.  Where did we get them from I wonder ?

Hi Bill,Nigel and Peter 

Thanks for the comments…….collective reply if I may……..hopefully I can pick your collective brains because I am notoriously unmechanical.

I believe that in 1948 the car would be operated by one engine and run with valances removed from both bogies  on both sides?

I have been supplied with two mock drive shafts……….if I am running with only one engine are they both redundant?
 (I dont really understand what the mock drive shaft represents   :oops: :oops:)

I know the unit is bidirectional but am I right in assuming the nominal "front" is the end nearest to the tube on the roof?
(conduit for ATC wiring I believe)

If this is correct would the remaining engine be at that end? Helpful to know from a weathering point of view.

And yes the roof will soon be sporting Granby Grime :lol:

You can just see the racking from the centre door Peter but I will not be adding any parcels!
 
I guess there will have to be a driver at both ends….usual dilemma.

 Technically, from 1937 onwards, there should be a conventional loco tail lamp in addition to the electric lights………It was found that the fitted electric lamps were not sufficiently visible from the rear. Dapol have actually supplied lamps to fit into pre drilled holes on some models…..although not this one. I am not going to bother. Its impractical to change it around at the end of each journey so better to be wrong but not too obviously than be correct half the time and lead with a red lamp for the other half……..even Mrs D would pick that up! :shock: :shock: 

Cheers

John

Hi John,

As built there was one motor on each side, driving one bogie each via a gearbox, a rreversing gearbox and a Cardan shaft to one axle.  The second axle was driven from the first via a short shaft. Lots of expensive Swedish roller bearings on the ends of both axles, which was the problem. This shaft was removed along with the Cardan shaft. The bearing covers were apparently left in place, although I seem to remember finding a photo where the bogies had been replaced. It is the short shaft on one bogie that needs to be removed. The Lima model is a snap fit, No idea about the Dapol one.

All the pictures I have found show the driven bogie at the ATC cable end, and all valances over the bogies removed from both sides soon after they were built. Bound to be exceptions.

Lamps were used as the lights were totally inadequate. That said,  photos from the late 1940's and 1950's indicate most of them ran without lamps. The klaxons could be heard at 3 miles, plenty of warning. E sharp, F flat I think.

Nigel