GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

hi John

having just read your thread over the past couple of days i'd just like to say stunning,absolutely stunning.the black and white photos are particularly evocative.if i get anywhere near 10% of Granby when i start my scenics i will be a happy man.

Thanks Alan :thumbs

Glad you like it…….I was beginning to wonder if the number of pages was becoming a bit daunting……..I have been recording the trials and tribulations of Granby on this forum for about 5 years:roll:

Thanks for the comment about the Black and Whites…..I agree they do seem right for the atmosphere I am trying to create…..I am still playing with photoshop elements……so I just hit a key…..no finesse I am afraid:oops:

Hi John,

Like Trevor and Alan I have spent a few hours reading through these pages and all I can say is WOW.

I am quite new to modelling and I am also modelling this period GWR in N on my fictitious layout Lanmoor.  

What I,ve read and seen on your layout is inspirational to me, the quality and realism of the modelling is truly superb and I must admit that I have picked up a number of ideas on "how to do".

It is difficult to pick a favourite scene as there are so many and the atmosphere and detail you have created is just amazing.

I think you are creating a truly "great" model railway which you should be very proud of as I,m sure you are.

Thank you John for treating us all to it.

regards

Ron

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

Thanks Alan :thumbs

Glad you like it…….I was beginning to wonder if the number of pages was becoming a bit daunting……..I have been recording the trials and tribulations of Granby on this forum for about 5 years:roll:

Never think that John. I, along with many others, look forward to all your postings on the layout progress.

John. I have just spent a happy hour reading through the latest additions to your thread. As others have said, I think the way you have blended the backscene and buildings together is superb. I really like the corner industrial unit and the way it blends into the layered backscene. Superb.

Bob

Ron Laden wrote:

I am quite new to modelling and I am also modelling this period GWR in N on my fictitious layout Lanmoor.  

What I,ve read and seen on your layout is inspirational to me, the  quality and realism of the modelling is truly superb and I must admit  that I have picked up a number of ideas on "how to do".

Hi Ron

Thank you so much for that charming post. I think you rather flatter me but I am glad that you have found some ideas from Granby . I suppose I can no longer describe myself as a beginner…….although it sometimes feels that way! However I did have to start from scratch in my middle age with no previous background to call on (The Dublo set was never under the tree!). The learning experience, particularly through forums like this, is always ongoing and very enjoyable. If I can help with any GWR specifics for Lanmoor just ask away!l 



Robert wrote:

John Dew wrote:

Thanks Alan :thumbs

Glad you like it…….I was beginning to wonder if the number of pages  was becoming a bit daunting……..I have been recording the trials and  tribulations of Granby on this forum for about 5 years:roll:

Never think that John. I, along with many others, look forward to all your postings on the layout progress.

Thank you so much for the kind comments Bob

I was kind of thinking out loud with my comment about the number of pages……I was wondering whether it would be easier, particularly for the newer members, if I started a new thread or had shorter threads devoted to a specific topic (a bit like the Roof and Warehouse builds)

Personally I like the idea of one thread which contains a complete record of Granby's development and would prefer to keep it that way.

I do hope you are keeping well

Novice wrote:

John.  I have just spent a happy hour reading through the latest additions to  your thread. As others have said, I think the way you have blended the  backscene and buildings together is superb. I really like the corner  industrial unit and the way it blends into the layered backscene.  Superb.

Bob

Thanks Bob thats very kind of you……It took an inordinate time to complete and given hindsight I spent to much time on cosmetic stuff on the track area that didnt last too long once I started operating…….but the height and viewing angle are such that its not noticeable………..one lives and learns……………….however overall it has created the  location/era feature I was looking for

We havent spoken for a while…………are you home or in Liberia?

Best wishes from a very damp Vancouver

 

The storage sidings at Granby are normally concealed by an assortment of Metcalfe Housing



For the last few weeks the front modules have been removed (as well as  the stock) while I adjusted the lengths of the blocks to match the  reality of operating RR&Co as opposed to what I imagined I would  need some 5 years ago.

I also took the opportunity to repair (yet again ) a couple of misfiring points…..naturally in really key locations.




All done and dusted….. I have now set up an array of set  trains……both passenger and freight…..varying in length ……some  will just be roundy roundy others will undergo some shunting adjustments  when they arrive at Granby



To prove Granby isnt all about GWR Panniers here are some shots of one  of the longer roundy roundys……………..an Iron Ore train hauled by  an LMS 8F 2-80




This is a Hornby Loco that I have had for 7 years…….superb model…..excellent reliable runner…..factory weathered



Head Lamp Code Class 8 Through Mineral Train………I discovered fairly  recently that LMS didnt change to white headlamps until after  nationalisation so I have been doing a bit of painting!…..At least  this has the correct LMS fore and aft handle (as opposed to the  "borrowed" GWR lamps on some of my LMS locos)








So here she is ready to haul the 8.55 from Birkenhead Bidston Docks to  Wolverhampton. A lot of the iron ore shipped through Birkenhead went to  Shotton Steel Works at the end of the Dee Estuary……but I think I  have used enough artistic licence with Granby's location already…..so  this journey has to be further south to the Midlands……if anyone can  suggest an actual location that would be brilliant.



Sorry about the debris from the block adjusting



There is an assortment of RTR hoppers that have been fairly heavily  weathered……some came with a rather unrealistic plastic  load……this has been replaced.

No shunting so the original Tension Locks remain but every third wagon has a resistive wheel set.


8042 on the long haul up Granby Bank past the Brewery in the valley below








I think this is one of those locos that is better suited to black and white (or more accurately black and 50 shades of grey)




Under the Up gantry approaching Granby Junction





Crossing over the throat to the goods relief line that avoids the passenger platforms




Mostly LMS locos but somehow an out of focus Pannier crept into the foreground

Next week the end product from the Ore returns to Birkenhead

Thanks for that, John.
Always a pleasure to be reminded of Granby.

Just a word of criticism:

You're too modest.
It really is very good work.

A great ride in the 8F there, John. I agree with DD, and taking us around your layout with that train shows just how much you have achieved on a large layout. On the one hand you have invested a great deal of time on the control side with RR&Co, yet you have also built in a huge amount of detail including a very realistic collection of signals.

The black and grey photos are very pleasing.

Great work :pathead

Having returned from UK again late last night, seeing another "Granby" post was just what I needed for a "lift". :cheers

You probably know I agree with the previous 2 posts John - really great modelling. :thumbs

I'm assuming, from the photo, that you have also used real coal in the tender but what have you used for the iro ore ?  It looks very good.

I have yet to install my storage roads and yours look excellent John.  You appear to have 10 roads - how "deep" is that area ?  I'm not sure how many I can get into my designated area but, unlike yours,  it unfortunately won't be scenic I fear unless I cut down on the number of tracks. 

Regarding the B/W photos - I think I'd leave the "shades of grey" to someone else - it would allow you more modelling time ………………….:roll::roll::roll::roll:

Another great post John !:thumbs
I especially like the photos in 50 shades of grey -  no wonder the pannier was playing up he must have read the book and was keen for some Smoke and Motion
 

Thanks guys…….that was one of the nicest collections of responses that I have received on this thread………much appreciated  :cheers……..I am glad my throw away shades of grey didnt go unnoticed:lol:


Peter: the storage yard board is 30.5" deep…………..10" is for the lower level branch line……3.5" for the front of yard scenic modules and 17" for the yard itself.  Into that 17" I have squeezed 10 tracks! Squeezed is the word……….nothing actually touches (I use thinners when I paint my stock:shock:)……….but any stock adjustments almost inevitably disturb trains in the adjacent tracks………………..given hindsight another 1" ,at least, or one less road would have been better

I always use the term storage rather than fiddle…….because on my layout fiddling is supposed to be done by the computor…….if the yard will be used for a lot of manual fiddling then I think that you would need even more space between the roads.


I wouldnt worry about the absence of foreground scenery……….provided there is a clear delineation between the scenic sections and back stage I dont think it is that important……..if I were to produce Granby IV (which I am not) I probably wouldnt bother with the foreground

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

……..if I were to produce Granby IV (which I am not)

I have heard many statements like this & tend to dis-believe them exclam: 

( I can't talk - always doing "minor" changes)

A change is as good as a hoilday I am reliably told.

……………at my age Ron…….no chance……………although I concede I have one or two minor changes in mind once the main construction is completed…….some time late next year

Best Wishes

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

- here she is ready to haul the 8.55 from Birkenhead Bidston Docks to Wolverhampton. A lot of the iron ore shipped through Birkenhead went to Shotton Steel Works at the end of the Dee Estuary……but I think I have used enough artistic licence with Granby's location already…..so this journey has to be further south to the Midlands……if anyone can suggest an actual location that would be brilliant.

Round Oak Steel Works - Brierley Hill ( now Merry Hill shopping centre), or Stewarts & Lloyds - Bilston were 2 huge steel works in the Black Country that would take train load iron ore, but most of Stewarts & Lloyds ore came from Wroxton in Oxfordshire.

Thanks Paul……thats very good of you:thumbs………..quite by coincidence I did some googling and hit on Stewart and Lloyds at Bilston as well………………I think artistic licence would allow for a bi-weekly delivery from Birkenhead?  Its certainly better than edging Granby (which is loosely….. actually read extremely loosely……based on Wrexham) north of Chester:shock: 

This is a short post about a short train on its way from ??? to Cammel Lairds Shipyard at Birkenhead.




Hauled by an LMS 0-6-0 3F……..passing the GWR sub shed at ??? on its   way up the incline to the viaduct that will carry it over the   Granby-Northwich canal





Now that I have replaced the Bachmann chip with Lenz it runs quite  well…….it would probably benefit from additional pick ups on the  tender and I am not over keen on the "coal" load that doubles up as a  tender weight (the interior space is used for the decoder)………  other than that it is excellent……beautifully detailed.

I have added Class 6 Head Lamp Code….through freight train running not  less than 15 miles without stopping…….crew and some fire irons.






Ships boiler chained and wedged on a "Crocodile"…………… GWR 40   ton well bogie…………how did they devise those telegraph code names   ?





Followed by four 30 ton LMS bogie bolsters



Without a load these wagons look a bit mundane and the stanchions can be quite vulnerable.



Plastic tubing cut to size and sprayed with Metallic paint plus some  weathering makes a big difference. I suspect the loads should be chained  as well…..but that has to be a long way down the to do list



The train is completed with a private owner wagon which serves both as a  place marker and if the truth be told a way of avoiding having to fix a  kadee to the rear Bogie Bolster:eek:……………this  train is one of my roundy roundys but I may in the future devise a loco  exchange routine at Granby Yard where a Collett 0-6-0 and Toad would  complete the trip so the train has to be topped and tailed with Kadees




Pity about Workington…..but these wagons did travel around.

Finally a very ancient LMS brake van which is standing in until the new  Bachmann ex Midland vans are delivered. The advance photos look a  distinct improvement





My apologies….despite my best efforts a pannier still crept into this post

Very nice, John.  :thumbs  Just like being there.

I like those pipes.  What are the coppery looking ones?

A great series of photographs John. I particularly like the atmosphere of the black & white ones.

Those pesky panniers -  a green one that may not do much book reading :lol: