London Festival of Railway Modelling 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

My usual companions couldn’t make this year’s trip to Alexandra Palace for the London Festival of Railway Modelling, so I was undecided whether to go.  But Derek said that if two of us were going, it was worth him driving, so I agreed to go.  I could doze in a car rather than battle London’s railway system. It was an easy drive up there, despite the sat-nav (me) going to sleep and missing a turning, so we circumnavigated Alexandra Park before getting to the show.  Car parking was very well organised, but no-one told us the you needed a team of Sherpa’s to get from the Paddock car park to the Palace.  At least two aging gentlemen got their cardiovascular exercise for at least the coming week! A good range of layouts was on display, from ‘Z’ to Gauge 3.  Not a lot that stood out, though.  Copenhagen Fields is always worth a view, but little progress seems to have been made recently on the ‘bare’ bits.  I did enjoy ‘Star Lane’.  This is just a layout to watch the trains go by, with a looped-8 layout.  It can be viewed from four sides and the storage sidings lie inside of the visible layout.  Best of all, it is Southern Electric, and based on the Star Lane overpass just up the road from us in Hooley.  I have seen a similar concept for a single track USA layout, and it always seems to work.  There was a nice group of 3mm scale layouts, and one of overseas layouts, included a couple of American ones.  Sometimes it’s so hard to find the layouts amongst all the trade stands. The trade were there in force.  Nothing new on the Bachmann and Dapol stands, but some of the forthcoming Bachmann Farish items, like the Merchant Navy 4-6-2, the SR bogie utility van, and the Southern N class 2-6-0 all look excellent.  The N class and a re-run of the Jinty are booked for a boat from China in June/July, so we’ll look forward to them.  There were the usual interesting selection of specialist traders, with ‘bits and pieces’.  I came away with a book and some trees for Earl’s Wood.  Derek spent rather more…. Overall, a good day out, but as ever with this show, it all seemed not quite as good as I expected.  Perhaps I have seen too many of these layouts before, either in concept or in the flesh?  It’s good to have a few layouts that are ‘different’ in some way.

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Copenhagen Fields (photo Craig Tiley)

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This would make a good model!

Posted on March 28, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

This has great potential as a set piece on a preservation-era layout.  I can imagine a locomotive, broken trailer, police cars in attendance, and the curious Great British Public looking on.  And a good way of using up a non-working (or any GWR) loco.

A 65-tonne steam train caused traffic chaos when the lorry transporting it collapsed under its weight and broke the road.

The 95-year-old locomotive was being carried from the Swanage heritage railway, in Dorset, to a steam gala to be hosted by the West Somerset Railway in Taunton.
The low-loader truck had only gone two miles when it buckled under the weight of the former Great Western Railway tank engine.

For more, see here.

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At least you can’t see the details in ‘N’….

Posted on March 26, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

The Daily Telegraph has come up with this gem of a headline:

“Model railways showed an idealised England until ‘sexy scenes’ came along – Forget housewives in headscarves or children waving from the road, the latest figures from Buffers Model Railway will shock you “

It bemoans how idyllic scenes of rural Britain with bucolic yokels leaning on the farm gate have been replaced by……  SEX:

I’d always considered the world of model railways to be the last surviving example of a rose-tinted Britain that no longer exists. Enthusiasts of this quaint and captivating hobby invariably seem to use 1950 as their cultural template when designing their layouts.

But now you can add nudists (and more) to the layout.

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Of course they’re actually a bit out of date, as the Continental manufacturers have been making such items for a number of years.  And frankly they’re a bit of a waste of time in ‘N’ gauge, as realistic anatomical details are too small to notice!  But the article is also an exercise in missing the point.  It concludes:

So will this be the start of a revolution in model railwaying? Will the idealised world of Betjeman give way to a warts-and-all depiction of modern Britain in all its glory? If so, why stop at sex? There’s so much more you could add if you really want to give your layout that extra touch of verisimilitude.

How about miniature fly-tippers dumping stained mattresses by the side of the track; wind turbines and fracking machines surrounded by tiny protesters; badger cullers and hunt saboteurs? Why not go the whole hog and simply cover your green and pleasant landscape with a vast industrial estate complete with out of town superstore and parking for 3,000 Matchbox cars?

Hang on guys.  Some of the best model railways I have seen don’t have a blade of grass (except perhaps between the tracks) and are covered in grimy industry.  The USA are experts in such things.  Even here in the UK, ‘Minories’ is a far more interesting layout than ‘Ashburton’.

I hope they don’t do a parallel article on ‘violence’.  I am old enough to remember the Triang rocket wagon, that was armed with a nasty spring loaded rocket…..

And while we are being excessively tasteful, I was amused by this news item…

England’s first bio-bus (but nobody will call it that) will hit the streets this month, operating four days a week on Service 2 (yes, really). If the route proves a success, the company will consider introducing more buses. Sewage will be turned into biomethane gas, which powers the vehicle. I believe it can also run on political campaign promises.

Once a designer of sewage works, always a designer of sewage works, I suppose!

 

 

 

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Jon’s modules – ‘Earl’s Wood’ returns

Posted on March 24, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Over the past couple of months I should have been getting my modules into a viewable condition for the show.  But work and life in general has conspired against me.  And more to the point, I was having a general lack of enthusiasm.

Perhaps I have been a little slow to apply the best modelling advice – if you are stuck with one project, go and do something else.  Well, I did that after a fashion, sorting out my old trains, and also with my wallet, building up my collection of UK stock.  I looked again at my little ‘Earl’s Wood’ layout.  A 4′ through station, then terminus, I nearly scrapped it, but didn’t have the heart, is it still looks good.  Its problem has been the fiddle yard, that lies behind the layout under the viaduct.  I’ve had 3 fiddle yards back there, and none of them have been very successful.  Partly because the layout stands up against a wall, at home or to exhibit, and the fiddle yard isn’t accessible.

So I’ve done what I should have done a while back, and punched a hole into the outside world at one end of the layout.  I was delighted to find that the PECO curved point that turned away under the viaduct could be simply replaced by a PECO large radius point.  I also bought some new strip lights to illuminate the scene.

Progress after a couple of days is shown below.  The new track bed and the filling to repair the scenery have been added.  The new exit and the non-sequitur with the viaduct will be hidden by vegetation and trees on the bank to the right.  It shouldn’t be too visible from normal viewing angles.  Next jobs are to paint out the new bits, put some scenery on the old main line, and then lay the track.  The same point motor can be used, just moved a inch or so.  And two wires are needed for power.  The challenge will come with the fiddle yard design.  Do I use points, the cassettes left over from a previous try, or build a new train turntable?  I’m not sure at the moment!

I have to admit, I’m enjoying this rebuild.  Earl’s Wood may just reappear at the ESNG show to fill a corner, as I will probably be too busy to operate it.

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New trains for old

Posted on March 22, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

The HST125 must be one of the railway design greats.  But their 40 year reign as an iconic sight on British tracks is coming to an end.  The BBC reports:

A new Japanese train is arriving on British shores today to replace the much loved InterCity 125. Will people take it to their hearts in the way they did its veteran predecessor?

Pendolino probably, perhaps a Javelin, possibly even a Voyager. Not many modern trains are household names in the manner of a Rocket or a Mallard.

A new train is arriving from Japan with big shoes to fill. An early prototype Hitachi Class 800 Super Express will be unloaded at Southampton docks as a first step to replacing the familiar InterCity 125.

Over the next 30 years, 122 of these high tech trains will be assembled at a new plant in County Durham. All will be electric and almost half will be able to switch between running on overhead wires or – where a line has not been electrified – as diesels.

The first trains will run on the Great Western main line from 2017 and the East Coast main line from 2018.

Rail writer Christian Wolmar says the new Hitachi will become the standard UK train over the coming decades. “It is due to become the 747 of the railways.”

IN…..

The Hitachi 800 training carriage is lifted off a boat

OUT….

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Read the full article on the BBC here.

(I suggest the first one should be named, ‘Jeremy Clarkson’, perhaps followed by, ‘The Stig’.)

And more from the BBC on Chinese ideas for hyper-speed trains.  There really must be a rail fan on the editorial staff somewhere!

UPDATE.  Thanks to Glenn for pointing out that XPT’s (or HST’s in disguise) are still running in New South Wales.  Looking  at Wikipedia, these units are a little different from their UK cousins:

The High Speed Train design was significantly modified with the power cars being 50 cm (19.7 in) shorter, the Paxman Valenta engine down rated from 2,250 to 2,000 bhp (1,680 to 1,490 kW), gearing lowered for a top operating speed of 160 km/h (99 mph), suspension modified to operate on inferior track and air filters and the cooling system modified to cater for hotter and dustier Australian conditions. A different light cluster was fitted along with three high beam spotlights mounted to the roof. The passenger trailers cars were based on a Budd design, rather than the British Rail Mark 3 trailers, which were considered unsuitable.

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And a little PS for Paul.  Bet you don’t get these on the greens in Selsdon?  Working in Florida may have the occasional downside!  Brings new meaning to ‘lost balls’?

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ESNG meeting – 18 March 2015

Posted on March 20, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

A sort of routine evening – 9 members, plus a return visit from Graham – we obviously failed to scare him off last time when we had no trains running.  Also good to see Ian Carter, after missing the last meeting with a Tesco roll induced tummy upset, and Peter after another Cyprus visit.

We soon got the usual circuit up and running, and it was a largely Continental evening.  Paul had brought along his Taurus’ and Cargowaggons.  Allan and Derek had been to a swapmeet in Selsdon and were testing their purchases.  Both Allan and Derek were running some double deck coaches, but Derek’s rake didn’t look quite right with a BR Class 25 (or something) on the front.

Apart from that, there was an exhibition planning session.  I need to get the last bits and pieces organised this weekend.  And some more publicity around the town, if any shops will take a poster.

PS Farish 4F 0-6-0 just arrived with the postman.  Looks very, very, nice.  I hoped it would arrive in time for last night’s meeting, so it will have to wait till next time for a test run.

 

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There could be some truth in this?

Posted on March 18, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Sent to me, so I’m unable to give credit where credit is due.  But I suspect it could be very close to the truth”

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Planning the exhibition – again

Posted on March 16, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

A while back, I posted about planning the ESNG show and the room layout that I had come up with.  Indeed, I thought it was all set out nicely.  But over the past couple of weeks, and with four weeks to go, there have been a few changes.  Two layouts have had to drop out, for very good reasons – one a move to Lancashire and one due to illness.  And one trader was having problems manning their stand.  Finally, my progress on my American layout has been pedestrian to say the least – I’ll probably just bring some boards as a static display.

So into panic mode!  Many thanks to the West Sussex Group of the NGS, who have agreed to send a modular layout.  So it’s turning into a real modular show – ESNG, Berkshire NGS group and West Sussex NGS group will all be showing their modular layouts.

Even better news, Invicta are still able to come along with a selection of ‘N’ gauge new stock and relieve us of some hard-earned folding currency.  Thank you, Kerry, for recruiting your father to help run the stand.  And something new – we have Neil Grace coming to sell us some military/railway items.

So it’s still going to be a really good show.  But who’d be an exhibition manager?  This is my fourth ESNG show and I’m feeling it must be about time to retire.  The only trouble is, no doubt I’ll be caught in the rush of volunteers to take over the job!

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ESNG PlayDay – 8 March 2015 #2

Posted on March 14, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

A few more views of our afternoon playing trains…..

We were supposed to be working on the ‘gate’ ready for the show.  But it didn’t get far.  Talk is indeed cheap, and running trains was more interesting than laying track.

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I like this view of Ian’s V2’s on a passenger train.  The wheel slip is caught well and was rather impressive in the flesh.  The photo also shows the terrible joint between modules here.  Most trains just bounced over it without uncoupling.

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The engineer’s train looks good as it goes by, but watch to the end for the ‘slip’ coach, as it leaves the brake van behind.

Martin appeared, having left his Eddie Stobart articulated at home.  Perhaps we could hold next year’s exhibition inside a trailer?  He brought along this excellent modern image coal train to run.  It looks good running through Derek’s board.

Allan’s Terrier and Maunsell coaches made a good show.  Not quite right together for period, but they would look good on a preserved line.

Most of the trains on show were from the UK, but we did have a couple of USA visitors.  Dave’s double headed Alco’s made a colourful show.

I’d brought along all my Lehigh Valley plus other cabooses, so ran the ultimate ‘brake van special’.  It would have made a good enthusiast’s train!

Finally, I brought along my nearly complete ‘O’ gauge LSWR G6.  It needs safety valves, tank fillers, lamp irons and the like.  As it hasn’t been touched since 1993, I suppose it can wait a little longer.  ‘O’ gauge just looks enormous alongside ‘N’.

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Latest Model Railroader looks interesting….

Posted on March 12, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

With editions like this, I might start subscribing again.  This could be September’s issue.

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At least, that’s what the ‘Onion’ thinks…..

HT to  ‘Up Dunes Junction’.

On a slightly more positive (but only slightly more positive), I read that there is an exciting new reality TV show coming on.  After the expose of Birmingham’s (not Alabama) finest, Ossie Osborne, the spotlight is moving to Rod Stewart.  It may just be worth watching to see some of his most excellent model railroad.  He may, of course, sing…..

 

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