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.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
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.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
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'.
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 )
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.
You might be interested in this photo of pre-gentrification warehouses on Leeds Dock Street.
A beauty of operating a secondary rail line that has diverted trains running on it sometimes is, I can run those trains when I feel like it.
Here are two pictures of 'The North Briton'. A Leeds Central to Edinburgh Waverley Pullman Service.
Inverness based Class 47 47517 Andrew Carnegie is in charge.
Passing Leeds Sovereign Street Station.
and passing Charlie Marston's Yard. The railroad seems secondary to what is going on.
I ran some trains yesterday. Here are some pictures.
When I was 16 years of age a work colleague let me read his copy of Model Railway News. One of the articles was about 'Western hydraulic locomotives'. I loved the names they had. I shall have to have one or two. The total now stands at eleven.
Here is Class 52 D1013 Western Ranger passing the signal cabin with right of way to enter Crown Point Yard.
The running of a Steam Special.
From an unusual angle of Charlie Marston's yard Ex-London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) locomotive 5699 'Galatea' caught in the afternoon sunshine.
The real 'Galatea' is still operating. Sometimes it carries the name 'Alberta'; depending who is paying the Charter.
In real life one knows there is a train there, but cannot see it. Just how I like it.
A view from the control area of 'Galatea' passing.
A model of 40ft canal boat 'Kingfisher' has arrived and when I run diesel trains it is berthed at Clarence Dock.
In real life Clarence Dock now has been regenerated with the area turned into apartments and chic restaurants etc. and The Armouries Museum. The area is now called Leeds Dock.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_Dock
Kingfisher is the third boat on the layout.
Here is 'Clarice'. A 55ft Holiday Boat
We find Ada at Clarence Dock when I run steam engines. Ada is a 60ft working coal barge.
PM Railfan Mrs NorthBrit says 55 locos is too many???? Ill pretend i didnt hear that. Love the pics. Especially the last one - that is definately a double taker! The salvage yard shot too. Makes me wanna shrink down to a kid again and go exploring all over it. Douglas
Mrs NorthBrit says 55 locos is too many????
Ill pretend i didnt hear that.
Love the pics. Especially the last one - that is definately a double taker! The salvage yard shot too. Makes me wanna shrink down to a kid again and go exploring all over it.
Douglas
Thanks, Douglas. Glad you like the pictures.
I have 55 diesel locomotves plus 23 steam locomotives when I change to the 1914/1919 scene.
At least Dawn knows where I am.
The layout has been 'freshened up' a little.
Here is Crewe based Class 47 47423 Sceptre with a twice weekly oil train to Immingham.
After 'another fall of rain' at Clarence Dock. The red post box has been changed to a Victorian style one in keeping with the area.
Keeping the magic and enjoyment when running trains. The trains I run have to have a reason to be on the line. They must have a start point and destination; no matter whether it is a passenger, container or freight train. The 'humble two carriage local' is as important (if not more) as a 12 or 14 carriage inter-state express.
I have a core timetable of local trains that used the lines. To add variety I have mentioned the running of 'diverted trains'. Those trains are the proper trains that would use the 'main line' and would be diverted because of engineering work etc.
Then there is the running of 'Steam Specials'. I have six steam locomotives that 'travel the line' when I feel like it.
The running of local trains.
A Leeds Central to Dewsbury Market Place Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) waits at the signal whilst a Class 121 Seacroft to Leeds Central clears the junction.
The Class 121 has arrived at Leeds Sovereign Street. Passing is a Edinburgh Haymarket based Class 25 25237 on its way to Crown Point Yard.
Keeping variety and enjoyment on a layout
On my layout I have 55 locomotives. (Too many says Dawn, and probably right.) To be able to run them all I have a small locomotive yard, Crown Point Yard.
In real life it was a refuelling yard for locomotives using Balm Road Quarry Sidings, and Stourton Container Yard
On the layout locomotives from Leeds Central Station also use the yard, giving more reason to run my collection. Therefore the scene at Crown Point is always changing.
A typical scene in the yard
left to right -- Class 27 Glasgow Eastfield based 27037. Class 55 York based 55021 Argyll & Sutherland Highlander, Class 47 Crewe based 47567 Red Star, and Class 37 Inverness based 37026 Glencairn.
By knowing where the locomotives were based and types of traffic they were used on, I then know what service they 'will be on next'. Can I put them on a service that is in the direction of their 'home base'? Most times I can, but sometimes not.
It keeps it all a fun layout to operate for me.
Scenes from the last running session.
Here we have a Gateshead based Class 47 47404 Hadrian in charge of a Leeds to Birmingham parcel service. In all the many times my son and I looked around Gateshead shed we never saw 'Hadrian'. It was later we found it spent most of its time around Birmingham. I guess they must have liked it.
There wasn't a model available of 47404, so I made one myself. Three days later Bachmann Europe introduced the model.
There was a gale blowing 'yesterday', so Matt Summers has his wheelbarrow out to tidy the garden. He stops to see a rare Class 50 50007 Hercules pass. The Class 50 is a Plymouth Laira based locomotive on a late, diverted Plymouth to Leeds Central Express.
In my book about Leeds Central Station there is a picture of a Class 50 about to depart back to Plymouth. The caption stated that Class of locomotive was rare to be seen in Leeds. Good enough to run my 50007.
Matt Summers is not getting any work done in the garden. He sees a Class 55 55023 9th Queen's Royal Lancers pass on its way to Crown Point Yard to refuel. There were only 22 Class 55s built, but I wanted one with the name of the Regiment my father was in. The number 55023 follows the other 22.
(In 1921 the 9th Lancers became The 9th Queen's Royal Lancers after Queen Adelaide. In 1932 the lances were withdrawn. In 1936 the horses were no longer required and The 9th became a Tank Regiment. Although now part of the Royal Tank Rgiment the name of The 9th Queen's Royal Lancers still lives. About 18 months ago we saw a young man in uniform. His cap badge was of the 9th.)
Lastspikemike Your Rocket derailed
Your Rocket derailed
A minor detail.
I guessed it was a joke, Mark.
As for old houses; our family home was built in 1787, the second oldest in the village.
It's older than the original of this little fellow --
Actually David, I was making a poor joke. But the story of your layout is very interesting! Thanks!
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Pruitt Very nice David! 17th century, huh? Just how old IS your layout, anyway?
Very nice David!
17th century, huh? Just how old IS your layout, anyway?
Thanks for your comments Mark.
Seven years ago Dawn said I could have 'the small bedroom' for a layout.
The plan was an L shaped layout with a strong Scottish flavour. It was purely diesels running only and most of the locomotives I have their 1-1 counterparts were seen in Scotland.
Among my collection I have a few small 0.4.0 steam locomotives. As My now growing up grandchildren wanted to 'run trains' those locomotives were ideal for them. A few small trucks and carriages and all was well.
I then wanted to the steam railroad to look more realistic, so Leeds Sovereign Street Station was built. I now had a U shape layout. A lift-off bridge was constructed and a continuous run was made.
I was running a Scottish based diesel layout and a Leeds based steam layout. I was getting confused.
I knew more about Leeds, so I re-wrote the history of my railroad set purely around Leeds. The scene around Leeds Sovereign Street is set during the time of the Great War and is Wintertime; hence a dusting of snow. i wanted a Winter scene
The rest of the layout is a Summer scene.
I then wanted a small canal dock and the only one suitable in Leeds was Clarence Dock. That is set mainly during the time of the Great War, although it is easily changed to the diesel era. Clarence Dock scenery is just after a fall of rain. I wanted puddles etc.
To answer your question, Mark, the layout is seven years old. It has gone thru a few changes and I am happy where it is now. No more extensions, but a tree or two might grow somewhere. I like altering the scenery a little; just like Nature does.
Oh! the 17th Century Coach & Horses Inn is a model of a real one just outside Leeds that was built 1697.
NorthBritMore 'birthday flowers' planted at the 17th Century built 'Coach & Horses Inn'. The local Hunt is in attendance for their 'drink'/. David
Little scenes to make a big picture.
More 'birthday flowers' planted at the 17th Century built 'Coach & Horses Inn'. The local Hunt is in attendance for their 'drink'/.
The signal box at Leeds Sovereign Street Station. A little snow has fallen. Geoff Nicholson as arrived for his next shift of work. A Leeds City Corporation bus is behind on its way to the bus station.
In the real world the rail line from Leeds to Wetherby wound its way this direction then that. By the 1960s/70s it was a secondary route and as time passed became a little overgrown. Eventually the line closed to traffic.
The model is becoming a little overgrown, and traffic stills run.
A misty morning along the line. In the distance a Seacroft to Leeds Central Class 121 is approaching.