esngblog

The trouble with this social distancing, and not being an essential worker, is remembering what day it is…..

But here are a few pictures that caught my eye recently.  First what to do with old stock?

Sydney I think?  A comment on Facebook…

There is a story told about operations at the former waterside Darling Harbour Yard in Sydney.

A freight car went off the end one day (despite the stop blocks etc) was reported as a mishap. A floating crane and a hard-hat diver turned up a few days later to retrieve it.

The diver went down and hooked up the submerged freight car and when returned to the surface he is reported to have said… “What do you want to do about all the other ones down there?

Next, Morden depot during a lockdown – even less trains out than on a Sunday?  More trains not moving than the average fiddle yard???

Victoria station in the 1950’s or 1960’s.  Lots of green EMU’s, including, I think, a couple of those elusive 6-PUL units with a Pullman car included.  Every time I see a photo like this, I start to look at those Minories plans!

Meanwhile, in 1962, a ‘Schools’ 4-4-0 approaches East Croydon.  This train can be modelled off-the-shelf in ‘N’.

A Lehigh Valley lash up….

Snow on that rarely seen, but interesting Lehigh New England line.  It’s locomotive roster was mainly FA-FB units, in an attractive black and white livery.  That snow’s a real modelling challenge for you….

And a modern tribute….

Finally, an interesting little yard – with potential for an N-mod module.  Vestry Depot was owned by the Corporation of London, and had a rail-fed yard just behind the Walworth Road, near the Elephant and Castle, on the Herne Hill – Holborn Viaduct line.  It disappeared during the 20th century, but is an interesting, and tiny, site with its slip points and a sector plate.  I think the red spot is a wagon lift down to the yard below.

And finally, one to challenge the rivet counter….

The modelling mojo has been a bit low the past few days – too many potential projects to actually do any of them!!  And I’ve also been ‘instructed’ to paint a wooden garden seat donated by our neighbours.  I’ve never seen such thirsty wood – the first coat has disappeared as fast as the alcohol at a Stuttgart N-club meet.

I’ve also been distracted by this rather excellent purchase.  I’ve been looking for the original book, but then realised that there was a newer and more comprehensive version.  It’s an excellent read, especially as there are lots of pictures of odd corners of stations, rather than 3/4 views of locomotives.

And somewhere inside was this brilliant picture of the small Redhill ‘A’ signal box.  No longer there, but it would make a very attractive model.

Very similar was the box at Deal.  No external staircase, ,making modelling even easier.  The ladder nailed to the front of the box was the emergency fire escape.  At Redhill, it was permanently in place – perhaps the locals were stroppier around here?

And today’s modelling challenge.  Some Guardian photographs of South Africa under lockdown showed this empty market.  But what a wonderful canopy for the market.  It looks as if it is collapsing, but a closer inspection shows that it is designed to be this rather funny shape.

Build one and wait for the comments…..

Just a potpourri of photos and things today!

Makes me cold just looking at it!  There’s a little bit of snow still on the ground at Sayre, on the Lehigh Valley.  Evocative photo, including some early container traffic….

Here’s one to model in ‘N’ – tractor shunting.  In fact it has been done, but the tractor has to push the (British) wagons, rather than tow them.  But shunting with a large British Railways horse – that would be a real challenge….

Dover Marine would make a good model.  (It has been done, but this view foreshortens a large yard into model size.)

Here’s a scenic cameo for you – repainting a zebra crossing.  Of course, if you are of a certain age you’ll recognise this as no ordinary crossing – Abbey Road’s markings have no doubt been worn down by thousands of tourists.

And finally, all this modelling time is all very well, but I wouldn’t mind a walk in the woods!  It would be bluebell time, somewhere out there….