I ordered yesterday two North British Railway six wheeled carriages. The reason being, every day one carriage would leave Edinburgh and make the whole journey to Plymouth. The carriage would either leave Edinburgh in the morning, or arrive in the evening. The Great Western Railway would send one of their carriages from Plymouth to Edinburgh on the opposite service.
Both services traveled thru Leeds New/Central Station.
As I say one carriage did the whole journey; no harm in having two.
Considering I ordered them late yesterday afternoon (15.20), the carriages have just arrived (12.48). Now to open the boxes and give the carriages their first run. Photos to follow.
David
Edit - The pictures.
On their first trial run.
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
For a few days now I have been thinking of altering the layout. Drawing plans and wondering where the scenery I wanted was to go. Everytime it came back to what it is now. So no alterations; just run trains.
Here is a picture of a southbound troop train. On board is part of 19th (1st North Riding of Yorkshire) Regiment of Foot. The locomotive in charge is Ex-Calder Railway 'Bezel'
The same train passing Crown Point Junction. Ash Farm Fields and the lake are beyond.
The scene at Clarence Dock. The goods train hasn't arrived yet. A 'little scallywag' is being 'told off' by the policeman. Has he been stealing (again)?
Another view of 'Thor' and 'Allan Water' as they pass at Leeds Sovereign Street Station. Some snow is still lingering. (A lite scattering of talcum powder.) It was a hard Winter.
The guard is seen in the 6 wheeled Brake Van (Caboose). Note the lamp attached at the back.
'Allan Water' and the goods train at Canal Corner. The coal bunker is in front of the locomotive cab. Coal was fed into the boiler by a series of levers. In real life it was not a successful idea, but makes an unusual locomotive to the fleet. A good, little, running loco at that.
Some scenes from the last running session.
Kirkstall & East Seacroft Railway locomotive, 'Zephyrus' on a goods train to Number 1 Filling Station, Barnbow. K&ESR locomtives are named after Greek Gods. The Greek God for the West Wind is Zephyrus.
The locomotive was formally Percy from the Thomas the Tank range. It has a tendency to travel fast, hence its new name. It hasn't any crew yet. A trip to the model store is required.
A scene at the locomotive depot. The scene all around is set for when I run diesels. The locomotives on shed are - at the rear 'Vivienne' and 'Katie'. 'Allan Water' is in front of them. To the left is 'Leefy' and on the right 'Huxtable'. All are former Calder Railway locomotives now in Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway livery.
In real life by 1929 all the locomotives were scrapped. But this is 1914/1919 and are good 'workhorses'.
Still in her resplendant pre 1913 K&ESR livery is 'Thor' on a passenger train to Kirkstall. It is waiting whilst an L&Y goods train passes, 'Allan Water' in charge.
Thank you for your kind words, Lastspikemike. They are most appreciated.
When I run trains it is not just to a staging area. I imagine its journey to its destination; say to Dewsbury Market Place. A railway station that closed to passenger traffic in 1930, but remained open for goods traffic. A station that regularly had trains of Special Trips to the coast. Journies I often took as a young lad in the 1950s.
Dewsbury Market Place Station. A Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Station. A Station that was dark, dingy and very smokey. A train arriving would 'explode' out of the tunnel in smoke and steam as it then entered the station; once again enveloping itself in more smoke. Loved it. Loved it.
Leeds Central. Its narrow platforms. Elevators down to the platforms for staff with barrows of parcels. It was a main terminus station with crews changing all the time as long-haul expresses arrived.
Other stations too full of memories. Maybe. Just maybe we move to a larger property with a huge room for a layout. More scenery for the trains to travel thru; yes!! The thought of building Dewsbury Market Place Station? No! The smoke, steam and dingy amosphere is a wonderful memory. I would leave it there.
Thank you for your comments, Douglas. They are much appreciated. Most of what I write here can (hopefully) give ideas for modelers over the pond.
Originally the layout was diesel running only (by myself). Then the grandchildren wanted to join in. (Great) I had a small collection of little steam engines and four wheeled trucks. They liked them as they were easier to put on the track and run. 'Like Topsy it has grown.'
It was then I wrote 'History of the Line' and reason why it is there. Having a history, especially if most of it is true gives a layout credibility (imo); even a ficticious line can become 'real'.
The history of my line serves both the steam era of 1914/1919 and the diesel era of 1970s, because the factories the line serves are still there; both wartime and peacetime.
Most of the little people on the layout have nothing to do with the railway, but are a very important part of the scene.
Scenery is not football pitch perfect. Nature decides otherwise. There are 50 shades of green in the trees and grass. Rain clouds are a magical mixture of greys to almost black; then a shaft of sunlight.
The factories on the line. What do they make? The raw products required? The end product taken away? Is it coal or oil heated? Uniforms for the staff. A boxvan of uniforms once in a while. Paper, pens and other stationery items? Okay they probably would be delivered by road, but not today
Dare to be different. Bringing a model railroad to life. A Living Model Railway that has a reason to be there.
Simple really. You learn such a lot on the area modeled. I lived not fifteen minutes away from Barnbow and saw many a tank being built there, yet knew nothing about it until I read about it. The same with Blackburn's Aircraft at Olympia Works. For a short time I worked not far from there.
Most of all it then becomes enjoyable. A railroad to be proud of. A railroad proud to operate.
David) Incredible shots! Heavens to Mergatroyd it looks like a very busy line. I see the hustle n bustle in it. I like it!
Douglas
'Leefy' with a southbound ammunition train. The loads are lifted out and the wagons can return empty.
The Kirkstall & East Seacroft Railway (K&ESR) ran both goods and passenger trains to East Seacroft and Barnbow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnbow
At the time carriages were of different heights. Here is a K&ESR passenger train at Sovereign Street on its way to Barnbow.
Leaving Roseville Station. 'Titan' is in charge.
Near the Junction.
Read about businesses and companies on the railroad brings up some surprises. Not just what they make, but the raw products required. Coal or oil for heating. Special items -- at Barnbow Munitions Factory they had their own cattle to feed the workforce. Every week a cattle train would arrive.
The beauty of a railroad with two timeframes.
It is back to 1914/1919 There are three railroad companies on the line. The Calder Railway, Leeds, Scarcroft & Wetherby Railway and Kirkstall & East Seacroft Railway. Both the Calder Railway & LS&WR are now owned by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway hence both locomotives & carriages are now in L&Y colors. The K&ESR was absorbed into the L&Y at the end of 1919.
Ex-Calder Railway locomotive 'Katie' waits at Leeds Sovereign Street platform with her carriages whilst ExLSWR locomotive 'Wetherby' passes with a northbound goods train.
'Wetherby' thunders thru Roseville Station bound for Blackburn's Aircraft Factory at Olympia Works, Oakwood, near Leeds. By researching the area of the rail line brings up information for different wagon loads and gives a layout a reason to be there.
Robert Blackburn & Olympia Works - http://www.loveoakwood.co.uk/oakwood-history/olympia-works/
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
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.
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.
Living the dream and happily modeling my STRATTON AND GILLETTE Railroad in HO scale. The SGRR is a freelanced Class A railroad as it would have appeared on Tuesday, August 3rd, 1954, in my personal fantasy world of plausible nonsense.
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...
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."
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'.