Next week (all being well) I will be allowed to have my grandchildren here running trains. Two of them like to run 0.4.0 and 0.6.0 steam locomotives. They are easy for them to handle rather 'the big stuff'.
Therefore I have been running them again ready for action.
Two views of Clarence Dock. 'Katie' is in charge of the four wheeled carriages. 'Harwood' is doing a bit of shunting.
An overal view of the small Yard and Dock
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
How many times do we know there is a locomotive or train there, but we cannot see it (properly).
View from the control area looking over Roseville School railings towards Crown Point Yard.
Bescot based (near Birmingham) Class 47 47474 Sir Rowland Hill on its way to Leeds Central for its next turn of duty.
The same time, but a view over the bushes. In the Yard is Gateshead based Class 47 47404 Hadrian. 47404 was regularly seen around Birmingham.
Class 58 locomotives were built mainly to haul coal trains from collieries to the power stations.
Here is Class 58 58001 with train of coal hoppers. The hoppers are of 1910 (or so) era and operate mainly on my steam engine running days. At least the Class 58 is hauling real coal.
(I thought) In real life Class 52 locomotives never ventured to Leeds and I always operated my small fleet of them on the Rule 1 basis. Two weeks ago I was informed (on the odd occassion) Class 52s on the Swansea to Leeds Central did the whole journey.
Here is Class 52 D1057 Western Chieftain on a diverted Leeds Central to Swansea train at Crown Point Junction signals. Class 58 58001 is in the Yard.
Two pictures of diesels at Clarence Dock. The little station platform is from a diorama of Lybster Station I did a few years ago.
When running steam locomotives at Clarence Dock thing are okay. Changing to diesel running a few minor problems are happening. I shall have to alter the track plan a little. A bigger run round is needed.
Meanwhile Class 25 25237 is reversing trucks at Clarence Dock.
Little things added here and there.
People waiting at the crossing as Class 47 47402 Gateshead passes on its way to York
Class 142 arriving at Leeds Sovereign Street Station on its way to Wetherby. A driver and passengers have been added.
A rarity A former Autocoach converted to run with a Cravens DMU power car. The Autocoach was originally powered by a small steam engine. Now converted and repainted blue and cream is on the Wakefield Kirkgate to Leeds Central service.
It is still raining outside, but not as heavy.
Class 47 47515 Night Mail has been at Doncaster Locomotive Works for a major overhaul. Her first run before being put into service properly is on a Doncaster to Leeds Central local. Seen here passing the Junction.
Here is 47515 again at Crown Point Junction. Ash Farm Fields and The Lake are at the rear. Workmen at J.H. Thompson's Builders Merchants are hard at work oblivious to the goings on on the railway.
I was having a challenge with one of my carriages; forever derailing. It was always at the same place and I thought it was the track.
Anyway it turned out to be a set of wheels. Not sure why, but I replaced them.
I then decided to run the carriages on test runs.
Sometimes I get weird and wonderful pictures depending on the 1-1 world outside the train room. It is raining. Raining hard.
A misty, eerie feel as Class 25 25 218 waits at the signal with a Leeds Central to York local service.
25218 now has right of way.
Near Canal Corner. A shaft of sunlight. Does Stevie Steel (in the heavy yellow coat) get a good picture?
I have been running a few trains after some ballasting and painting figures.
Edinburgh Haymarket based Class 47 47711 Greyfriars Bobby passing Leeds Sovereign Street on its way to Crown Point Yard.
At Crown Point Yard. Class 37 37417 Highland Region, 47711 Greyfriars Bobby and Class 52 D1035 Western Yeoman.
Amongst the staff on duty is photographer John King. (The figure at the rear, near the wall.) He has been given a Yard Pass to photograph locomotives.
Not as off topic as one might think...the first Shermans were built by Lima Locomotive Works.
Alyth Yard
Canada
SeeYou190 I was providing some product and modelling information to Dave with my response, let's not go any further in this direction unless David leads us that way. -Kevin
I was providing some product and modelling information to Dave with my response, let's not go any further in this direction unless David leads us that way.
-Kevin
As interesting as it is and my father being in a Tank Regiment, I shall continue painting some figures.
OK, no need to hijack David's thread with a bunch of nonsense about Fireflys and Easy-8s.
Happily modeling my STRATTON & GILLETTE RAILROAD. A Class A line located in a personal fantasy world of semi-plausible nonsense on Tuesday, August 3rd, 1954.
LastspikemikeCould these be Firefly tanks?
Just having a bit of fun. Now let's get back to more stories, which to me are some of the best part of model railroading...
Those buffers indicate maybe those flatcars were in England as part of the D Day mobilization. I see a Bren Gun Carrier (a British design) on the flat car behind the Shermans? No buffers on that car? Maybe that unit is a different type of APC derived from modifying a gun carrying unit, there were several developed during WWII. Definitely not a tank at this point.
Could these be Firefly tanks? Britain fitted their guns to Sherman tanks and named them Firefly. I think the British gun was longer barrelled and maybe larger caliber.
Looked it up. The Firefly used the Vickers 17 pounder anti tank gun (3" or 76 mm caliber) and those tanks appear to have that gun. The standard US gun was much shorter and smaller caliber. Later American Sherman's did fit their 76mm anti tank gun to the M4. Interesting photo.
hon30critterThe loads were extremely rare, and the reasonable price concept was even rarer. However, perseverence paid off and a couple of years ago I scored six unmarked Sherman tanks for peanuts.
Dave,
There is a Russian company called Zvezda that makes a good assortment 1/100 scale armoured military vehicles. These can be found at very low prices. I order them on eBay from sellers in Russia. I usually have them within a week!
Normal plastic cement does not work on these small Zvezda models, but super-glue does.
Believe it or not, the 1/100 scale vehicles actually look better to my eye on HO scale flatcars. They fit better, and are still large enough to have the proper amount of "heft".
I have used bits from Zvezda models of German WW2 vehicles in scrap loads.
These Lionel Shermans on flat cars are quite a bit more undersized than 1/100 scale models on 1/87 scale flatcars, but they still look hefty and heavy.
Here is the real deal. You can see the "duckbill" tracks hang over the sides, and two tanks barely fit. Earlier Shermans would just fit onto a flatcar deck with no overhang. The barrel from the main gun on the lead tank extends over the flatcar in front of it. The two tanks are different, so this picture might be post war. The front tank looks like it might be a field modified "Jumbo", and the second one looks to be a late-war M4A3-E8. That might be an M7 armoured howitzer carrier on the second flatcar.
It looks like there are buffers on these US ARMY flatcars, circled in red.
NorthBritBecoming the Royal Ordnance Factory it made mainly tanks; Churchill, Conqueror and Challenger tanks. They also made other pieces of ordnance; hence the Bofor Guns.
I intend to model a military transport train on my layout so I have watched eBay for several years for suitable loads at a reasonable price. The loads were extremely rare, and the reasonable price concept was even rarer. However, perseverence paid off and a couple of years ago I scored six unmarked Sherman tanks for peanuts. Now I just have to acquire six shorter flat cars with roadnames from the same railway so I can run the tanks. I recognize that I could use longer flat cars and put two tanks on per car, but that will make for a much shorter train, and that's no fun!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Lastspikemike I had not realized things were getting so dangerous in the UK. Even model railroads need air defence?
I had not realized things were getting so dangerous in the UK.
Even model railroads need air defence?
Those look like excellent models. Roco?
I received an email from my model store (on Monday) they had arrived and was I still interested in them?
A quick reply and payment. As can be seen 'on the train' by Wednesday.
Just waiting for a crane now. I have been waiting 18 months. Told it will arrive in September.
NorthBrit40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft Guns.
New arrivals today.
40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft Guns. I have them loaded on Lomac wagons.
Here they are on their first run on the layout. Class 47 47404 Hadrian in charge.
A little scene. Margaret Griffiths and her daughter Sally in the garden
I have been in the process of painting some figures. Once done I will place them around the layout in little scenes.
Meanwhile a new locomotive has arrived. A Class 50 50036 Victorious. It was at a bargain price (not from Ebay) that I could not refuse. A few circuits of the layout; I am really pleased with it.
First pose on the layout ; at Leeds Sovereign Street Station.
Passing Charlie Marston's Yard. She was actually pulling carriages effortlessly. The Class 50 locomotives were/are named after Royal Navy warships.
A final photograph at the Locomotive Depot.
Lastspikemike And is the town council planning on repairing that pavement any time soon, I wonder?
And is the town council planning on repairing that pavement any time soon, I wonder?
You should know already that very little is perfect on my layout. The large number of broken pavement I have seen.
As for any murders. We have no faith in the BBC. The only murders here are "I could murder a cup of tea."
Handy to have a phone box for civilians and one for the Bobby so convenient. Probably on account of the staggeringly high murder rate in such locations. In some country villages there can be one a week, sometimes multiple murders in just one village. I watch a lot of those murder documentaries on BBC Canader so I know.
I have been rather busy lately and not run any trains. I must try tomorrow.
Meanwhile two views taken some time back.
Policeman P. C. Henderson on duty.
L.M.S. locomotive 5699 Galatea passing Wyndham Farm on a 'Steam Special'.
NorthBritHere it is again
Thanks David,
I printed a copy for future reference.
There is a plan on page 1. in more detail regarding how it works.
Here it is again (not to scale).
11ft X 8ft over all. The bridge lifts off (sometimes )
This thread delivers a lot of entertainment value and a UK perspective.
A track plan or overhead photo would add to the already interesting ongoing storyline, I'm sure.
Hi David,
Have you ever posted a track plan? I think people would be interested in seeing one.
Thanks for the picture, Jock.
Leeds Dock Street is about a mile from Clarence Dock (now Leeds Dock.) on the opposite side of Crown Point Road. Dock Street got its name from being near Brewery Wharf; which was originally used by Tetley Brewery.
I do have old pictures of Clarence Dock and surrounding area. My model is about 60% correct. I do not have the space to build a proper model, but what I have done is a representation.