As Peter has already said finding suppliers for tram bits and pieces is somewhat difficult . There is a fair bit of HO/00 stuff around , probably the best one I have found so far is East Lancs Tram Supplies although they seem to be starting to cut back on the variety of stock they  carry and Terry Russell at Horsham specialises in O Gauge trams and accessories . There are others such as Alan Kirkman and a enthusiast site known as  Blackpool in a Box which obviously specialises in Blackpool seafront vehicles  with links to small suppliers plus one or two who concentrate on London Trams but all seem to be one man businesses. Just not a UK demand I presume but if you look at Sweden , Japan , USA and Germany where trams have seen much greater commercial use in real life and the systems have not had a break in continuity being rebuilt if suffering damage rather than scrapped like here then modelling trams has flourished . I think it was the Swedetram site which said they had 60 different trams available RTR .

I am still seeking a tram track in 0n30 but it looks as though I will either have to have it specially made or use railway track heavily disguised . I know it has been made in the past - just cannot seem to find it.

Swedtram was one of the suppliers I looked at for track Richard.  Prices were horrendous - £33 for a single turnout ex Sweden !!!

They do make a good range of continental trams but, like here in UK, most people seem to use railway track rather than the grooved girder tram track.  Making your own using an idea Martin (I think) mentioned with flat bottom and bullhead rail together would work but I jibbed when I thought about the points.  I just couldn't see me being able to make points with 2 rails - it's going to be tough enough with just one !!

As you say, tram layouts are certainly more popular both here on the Continent and in the States but I'm not sure that, even there, "flourishing" is the word that would spring to my mind !!

I spent the housekeeping at an online auction site before I went to UK 10 days ago and had the proceeds delivered to my brother for me to bring back after my trip.

Those who are following this thread will know that I'm using Leeds City transport trams as the basis for my models.

I managed to acquire several, some at sensible prices, others slightly less so.  None of them is motorised but I did also buy a motor to try out on one of the "Horsfield" 4 wheel type EFE trams.  If that works OK, then other motors will arrive in France in due course.

Leeds bought 90 "Feltham" type trams from London when the capital closed it's tramways down.  They were much smarter, more modern trams than the more common Leeds "Horsfields" but, being much heavier, their routes were restricted.  They had two bogies and in addition to the weight restrictions, these bogies also prohibited routes with tight corners.

I remember we were always very excited if we were lucky enough to catch one - "look Mum, it's a London Tram" was the gleeful cry as we waited at the stop.

Here's a couple of shots of one posed infront of some Metcalfe high street kits and plonked on the Maxmill module for photographic purposes only.  Corgi "Original Omnibus Models" tram range.  Die cast so quite heavy and, IMHO, really good models for their price although the "people catchers" are a bit plastic looking and the windows leave a bit to be desired.

How will these people carriers fit in with diesels from UK & USA & sound ? ( & I presume kettles!)

It's my layout and I'll do what I like with it !!!!     Wait till you see the nuclear power station I'm planning …..

The trams will obviously fit in well with the kettles Sol but they'd just about gone by the steam/diesel transition.  I think around the late 50's Leeds got rid of the trams.  I'm planning a little poetic licence to give the trams an extra 10 years or so of life.  As the layout won't be portable, the only rivet counting critics to notice the time warp will be called Sol …………:It's a no no:cheers

The US outline stuff is for my proposed shunting puzzle and won't come anywhere near these beasties. (ought I to change my name to Sam ?:roll::roll::roll:)

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

I remember we were always very excited if we were lucky enough to catch one - "look Mum, it's a London Tram" was the gleeful cry as we waited at the stop.

That quote probably summarises one of the principal reasons we model……nostalgia….memories of yesteryear.

Thats a very neat model, Peter, of a rather smart tram. Much smarter than anything we had in Liverpool, even if it was second hand (previously owned we call it in North America)

Not sure about the Vernons advert I used to work for Littlewoods in a "former life"lol:

For someone who claims to have limited technical expertise I rather admire the casual but confident remark about installing motors……:roll:

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

Not sure about the Vernons advert I used to work for Littlewoods in a "former life"lol:

And I think my Dad must have paid your wages John - probably at the rate of a shilling a week……….

 

 I won the 'pools' 3 times, i still have the cheques somewhere……………………..they add up to about Â£2.50

Peter, Have you been on the Bordeaux trams, yet? I do fancy a visit…….

For those who don't know, they have an opening and closing system that collects power from between the tracks in areas of architectural interest where overhead lines are not allowed, and on bridges.


Doug

I haven't Doug but Liz has.  She says they're great.

The pickup system is a modern version of the old central London conduit version with the power in trunking under the road surface - a sort of "Man-size" Scalextric.

Maybe a lunch in Bordeaux via tram sometime ………………..?  :roll:

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

Maybe a lunch in Bordeaux via tram sometime ………………..?  :roll:

Only if you don't get drunk and sing the Marseillaise in your underpants this time………:thumbs

[Liz can be the guide]

Doug

This will certainly be a post I shall follow with great interest. Playing with trams is certainly something I would love to do in the long term.

looks like Peter  has been bitten,hope it all works out mate,

thumbs:cool:

I like the look of that Feltham tram Peter - didnt Leeds have a steam tram set up at some time ?

I think I will keep clear of HO/00 trams for now  but as I get more into it I dont think they will be ruled out completely as there certainly seems to be quite a lot of stuff around and although I have not looked at it in any detail motorising some of the available models or kits seeems quite straight forward.

I am still having trouble locating a supplier for the tram track I wanted - I got as far as placing an order with a well known supplier over here only to find three weeks down the line they have also decided not to continue stocking that range due to its cost and difficulty in getting a guarranteed supply and cannot complete the order.  They suggested I contact a very well known shop in Cornwall that they understood was one of the only firms who would now continue to supply. However although  CT has a little stock listed on the web  site there is not much so I suspect he may have or may be considering stopping as well.

My current two tram experiments are  " Cratch Tram Museum" a small N Gauge demonstration track and depot  for which I have got most of the component parts ready to be assembled - not doing anything fancy or complicated with it as its really just to see how practical it would be for me to develop the idea further , basically it will be an oval and museum building but not a lot of scenery initially. The other project is in 0n30 , two trams already obtained which are USA types but being converted to British appearance and two more on  the way from kits  (tram and trailer) which are British type. I am going to try an automatic shuttle system for these which will be very much another first for me

Progress updates as and when.

 

 

 

 

If you're going to use overhead pickup Richard, there's what seems like a very easy method of having a tram arriving at the tram stop triggering the one that's already waiting there to set off.

Have a look at this :    Model Trams and Tramways Home Page

Sorry Richard - I didn't answer your question regarding steam trams.

Leeds did indeed have steam trams, and horse-drawn ones too.  Horse drawn trams were used up until final electrification was completed in 1901 but a steam tram continued until 1902.

The end of trams in Leeds came in 1959.  I'll bet they regret it now ……………:roll:

Following on from the photo of the ex London "Feltham" tram, here are some shots of the earlier Leeds "Horsfield" tram - named after one of the tramway chief engineers.

Firstly, in the final red livery:









This earlier blue livery lasted until the 1930's before the red came in although there was also a khaki livery during WW2:

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

If you're going to use overhead pickup Richard, there's what seems like a very easy method of having a tram arriving at the tram stop triggering the one that's already waiting there to set off.

Have a look at this :    http://www.gordonstrams.net/index.htm

 

Actually I am in regular contact with Gordon  . He does fantastically well with his modelling considering he is nearly blind but freely admits there is stuff he just cannot do  , so we share a  similar problem as he also gets other modellers to help him out.

Interesting the steam trams outlasted the horse drawn . I have a feeling I have seen photos of a steamer pulling a 4 wheel horse tram - would itb have had a name like Horsfield on it ?

I served on HMS Amazon with a CPO Artificer Harold Horsfield. He said his father was the black sheep of the family for having run away to sea instead of joining the family firm, and for encouraging his son to join the Navy……I wonder…..?  He was from up near Eskimo land , too…


Doug

[user=312]dooferdog[/user] wrote:

I served on HMS Amazon with a CPO Artificer Harold Horsfield.

When was that Doug?