No.81 All change – a northern eastern perspective

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 view of my very first Bachmann model, purchased from MG Models of Sheffield back in 1996 for what was then the immense sum of £62.95. I think it still looks a good model and can be relied upon to run well. This early model came with larger diameter carrying wheels beneath the cab rather than the undersize wheels fitted to some of the later Bachmann variants.


Another view of Bachmann V2 60964 after a trip around the reversing loop

In the 1960s the north east of England was still dominated by heavy industry, particularly the huge steel works that used to be Dorman Long on Teesside. The predominant inward rail traffic was iron ore, coking coal and in return steel fabrications and castings.


Bachmann J39 with Bachmann Austerity 2-8-0

Lighter freight trains were handled by 0-6-0 J26 and J27 types. However as these types are not yet readily available a model of a J39, which were occasionally seen, will have to suffice. For heavier trains there were Q6s and WD 2-8-0s – so the Bachmann model is a good fit.


Bachmann A1 Kings Courier on express, note Hornby WD 0-6-0ST shunting

Express passenger trains on the East Coast Mainline were hauled by A1s, A2s and A4s with plenty of A3s in evidence on the lighter loads. The view above shows a Bachmann A1 passing a Hornby WD 0-6-0ST, another engine type used for short haul heavy goods trains in the Darlington Teesside area.


Bachmann A4 Dominion of Canada passing Hornby WD 0-6-0ST

No North Eastern experience would be complete without a view of a Gresley A4. Over the years I have owned a number of these models. With a bit of added lead they produce a model with a truly representative haulage power. Dominion of Canada was a recent purchase and I have to say that it was one of those models that was ‘nearly very good’. In hindsight I should probably have returned the model. The engine ran well and the bodywork was unmarked. However the more I studied the engine the more I realised that the front buffers were pointing skywards. Time had gone by and I couldn’t bring myself to return the model – so what about some hot water and some gentle manipulation?


Bachmann A4 bodyshell – disassembled?

I must have been lucky because with the influence of the hot water the ‘buffer assembly’ was readily detached. It was then a straightforward job to clean off the old glue and to reattach the buffer beam with the correct orientation.

Bachmann A4 William Whitelaw - chassis

I will just add two more views of Bachmann A4s. Well actually the chassis plus my additional lead weight.


Bachmann A4 Dominion of Canada - chassis

When I first purchased William Whitelaw I was surprised that the motor was totally enclosed – might it over heat?  Now with Dominion of Canada there is a gap in the chassis – is this an acknowledgement that there might be problems?


Bachmann J39 and Bachmann WD 2-8-0
A final shot of two freight trains to remind us of the industrial heritage that was the north east.

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