Silver Sidelines

Many thanks to that well known retailer in Sheffield who contacted me on Friday for payment and then delivered the locomotive on Saturday. Hornby R3191 - Duke of Gloucester What do I think of the model? Well it is ‘growing on me’. Straight out of the box there were a number of issues. Most obviously ‘something’ had come adrift in transit and the engine was no longer coupled to the tender. Tender to engine coupling unglued. In the way of things this is minor and can easily be remedied. Engine to Tender Coupling as it should be The front of the tender is easily re-glued (remember to reattach the metal engine to tender coupling first!) Front section of tender / keeper plate A more concerning issue was the poor running quality. The engine would hesitate and there was also a tendency for it to snake or waddle i.e. not run smoothly in a straight line. I would try ‘running it in’. After some thirty minutes there was some improvement. The wheels t...

Before continuing with my journey around the layout I thought I would share a few pictures of the Main Junction Station populated with some rolling stock that might have graced the north east of England in the 1960s. Bachmann Mk1 Pullmans, Hornby L1 and Bachmann WD 2-8-0 The original theme of the layout is BR (LMR/WR) perhaps near Chester or there again maybe Shrewsbury or even somewhere further south. However I also have fond memories of growing up in north east England and with the availability of so many splendid ready to run models I have indulged in a few north eastern and Scottish types. Coincidentally the buildings for the Main Junction Station are those early Hornby Skaledale models based on Goathland on the North York Moors Railway. This was done purely for convenience until I can construct some more appropriate types. So some views with north eastern rolling stock should be a good fit. Bachmann V2 60964 suitably weighted and with blackened wheels First a vie...

I have been rather preoccupied of late and have not been keeping up with the various forums. I have given myself a break today and for some relaxation I will attempt an answer to the question - Hornby Grange or Bachmann Hall – which is better? First why would you want a Hall or a Grange? The old GWR constructed around 255 ‘Hall’ Class locomotives and then proceeded to build a further 70 or more ‘Modified Halls’. With 6ft driving wheels the Halls were designed to provide a powerful general purpose engine. As such they could be seen all over the BR Western Region on both freight and passenger duties, often deputising for the bigger and more powerful Castle Class. In contrast the ‘Grange’ Class locomotives had slightly smaller 5ft 8in wheels. The Granges were supposedly rebuilds of earlier 2-6-0 locomotives and with their smaller capacity tenders they were designed for fast freight and intermediate passenger work. Construction of the Granges was limited to 80 locomotives and looking...

Following on from my last Post I am showing some more pictures of the Main Junction Station concentrating on the ‘through’ tracks that form the Mainline. The Main Junction – overview with two Bachmann Scots in the centre two way road To help locate the pictures I have turned the track plan presented in my last post from the vertical to the horizontal. The Main Junction – not to scale The preferred through routes I have labelled as Up and Down Main. First some trains passing on the Down Main. Hornby Princess Royal on Bachmann Mk1s approaching on Down Main Bachmann Class 20s on fitted freight passing on the Down Main Now some trains on the Up Main. Bachmann Super D approaching on the Up Main The latest arrival from Bachmann with a ‘Parcels’ at the Up Main When playing trains I think it helps to have lots of places to store whole trains. These arrangements are not unlike the UK railway system in the 1950s and early 60s when there...

Onwards and upwards – well I guess it depends on the direction of travel. The Branch Terminus and the Branch Junction described in my last posts are actually the highest parts of the layout being 158 mm higher than the original Main Terminus. Continuing our journey from the Branch Junction the title of this Post should probably read ‘Downhill all the way’ – I think not! The Main Junction –wide angle The Main Junction –panoramic There are two single track lines from the Branch Junction, one supposedly being of GWR origin and the other having LNWR roots. The later circles round and down in true train set style to emerge at a lower level station immediately beneath the Branch Junction. I refer to this lower level station as the Main Junction. The track layout for the Main Junction is shown below diagrammatically. The station and the adjoining curves occupy a length of some 12 feet. The Main Junction – not to scale The majority of my stations tend...

From the Branch Terminus described in my last Post, the single line crosses a short viaduct to arrive at an ‘end on’ junction station where the BR(WR) branch makes a connection with another single track BR(LMR) line. The Branch Junction – a blend of Scaledale and Scenecraft This is one of my favourite track layouts and provides lots of play value with three loops for passing and storage, together with a small goods yard and locomotive facilities. There is also a long siding which doubles as both a ‘head shunt’ and storage for a whole train (in this case Airfix Esso tankers). The Branch Junction Track Layout The track layout is purely imaginary but provides for an island platform with a BR(WR) face and a BR(LMR) face, together with a goods loop. The minimum radius for the station platforms is around 5ft. BR(LMR) train terminating - just imagine the grass! First a view at the branchline end of the station with a BR(LMR) train terminating at the stat...