London Festival of Railway Modelling – 2024 #1

Posted on March 18, 2024 by snitchthebudgie

Saturday, I decided to head for Ally Pally for the exhibition.  I missed last year due to rail driver problems, I do like the venue, and I had a complementary ticket for being a member of World of Railways.  All good reasons for a visit.

Travel was easy.  Thameslink from Redhill direct to Finsbury Park, a few yards to the opposite side of the same platform, then three stops on the local train to Alexandra Palace.  A bracing walk up the hill (it really gets steeper towards the top) got me there just as the early-entry tickets started to go in.  I decided to first rush around and take nearly all the photos I wanted.  I then sat down for a coffee and bacon roll before the rush later in the morning.  And I then spent several hours wandering around, slightly at random, to revisit most of the layouts and look at some of the trade.

I haven’t posted photos of every layout, but just those I liked, or photos that have come out well.

Copenhagen Fields wasn’t at the show this year, but a little bit of it, York Road tube station was.  Away from the layout, one was able to have a close look at this lovely, and unusual, bit of modelling in 2mm scale.  Note the man in residence in the ‘gents’.

I’ve seen Harton Gill (P4) before, and it’s a fine piece of industrial modelling.  If you are lucky, one of the unique Harton electric locos will pop out of a tunnel with some hopper wagons.

More industrial grime from West End Drift (EM).

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I never tire of seeing City Basin Goods.  Such a fine layout, and it always runs extremely smoothly.  It’s been to some excellent exhibitions, too!

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Modular (and American) modelling was well represented by Solent Summit (N).  I’ve seen this layout criticised for lack of trains running, but there was plenty of action whenever I had a look at it.  I do like the spiral, a mini Tehachapi Pass Loop.

I did like the Bremen Tramways (HO), again a modular layout, but like NCI, to no fixed size.

And lastly for today, one picture of Great Bardfield (P4).  Some lovely modelling of an East Anglian byway.  I couldn’t get any more photos, as the owners were wielding a soldering iron just to my right.  The exhibitor’s curse strikes again!

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Potpourri #1098

Posted on March 16, 2024 by snitchthebudgie

Today’s collection of odds and ends follows below.

It’s a Sri Lankan train, but it looks like a Pacer to me, Jim.  Good cab journey, whatever it is!

From the tropic to Amtrak in the snow….  Spectacular!

A little Jago Hazzard is good for the soul….

A Berlin S-bahn trip….

One of my favourite trains….

And for the builder.  Not confident enough to build a double-slip?  Try the Barry Slip also found elsewhere in the country.

Might have been a few of them here (Barry in its heyday.)

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Basingstoke Model Rail 2024

Posted on March 14, 2024 by snitchthebudgie

Another show that I didn’t get to (and it looks a good one), but some photos supplied by Mr Dawes, who got there with a bevy of Derek’s.  Not all layouts recorded, here, just the Chairman’s Choice.

The Royal Albert Bridge (N, 10 ‘x 2’8″) is still a work in progress, but already a beautiful layout.  I look forward to seeing it completed – it should be stunning!

Burnham on Sea (2mmfs, 14’x 1’4″) is a model of the old Somerset and Dorset branch.  This had the interesting feature of a track beyond the station that went down the beach into the sea, to launch the lifeboat, normally kept in its shed next to the station building.  The layout is a refreshed version of a 2mm classic, built by one of the pioneers of the gauge.

Millway Docks (OO, 14’x1’8″).

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Lulworth and Winfrith Rd (OO, 28′ x 10′).

Reading Signal Works (OO) is an Inglenook shunting layout, but with a slightly different theme.  I’ve seen this little layout before, and it’s an interesting little line.

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Ropley (OO, 32 ‘x 10’), is a scale representation of the Mid-Hants Railway works and station.

Whitedown MPD (OO, 20′ x 2′).

Bamfylde (N, 11’6″ x 3’6″).  Always good to see the fiddle yard!

And to finish, the always delightful Copper Wort (OO, 8’x8′.)  There are some layouts that I can see over and over again, and will always spend time with them.  Copper Wort is one.  The concept and prototype is just that bit different, and the modelling excellent.  Just a thought – this is a 4′ diameter layout in N (though we couldn’t get many of our members into the reduced operating well.)

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ESNG meeting – 10 March 2024

Posted on March 12, 2024 by snitchthebudgie

Today was definitely the 59th of the month, as both Brian and Allan produced examples.  Beautiful models, and both quiet and powerful.  We could have run a double headed train with two locos with the same number…..

Also running goods, ancient and modern.

Mr Atfield’s railcar oddities (all of which started as something completely different!)

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My Penn Central (unusually, this was a day dominated by UK trains.)  This mostly ran impeccably, having failed to stay on the track last time out.

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And the full brake van special.

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Just the five of us there today, but it was a relaxed and sociable afternoon, and we ran plenty of trains.

Finally, a slightly out of scale contribution.  Some obscure GWR class, perhaps? 

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And thank you, Brian, for the video – and for joining us for curry!

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St. Leonards West Marina

Posted on March 10, 2024 by snitchthebudgie

Just a quick post today, as my energies are directed in being ‘useful’ at a wedding at church.  Probably means making lots of tea and coffee!  Next post will be of Sunday’s ESNG meeting.

I came across this rather fine picture of St. Leonards West Marina station and engine shed, before it was all raised for a depot for Hasting DEMU’s.  It seems a very modellable location, with a shallow cliff making a good backdrop to the shed.  And lots of LBSCR stock, too.  I especially like the slightly unusual coaling plant.

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Looking on the excellent ‘Disused Stations’ website, I found the following maps and pictures.  In 1880, it looked like this.

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In 1909, it looked much as the BR period station.  Note the rapid housing development.  It seems quite common for there to have been little change on the railways between 1910 and 1960, especially between 1930 and 1960.

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Busy Southern days.

An attractive prototype, and not too large to model.

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ESNG meeting – 6 March 2024

Posted on March 8, 2024 by snitchthebudgie

Back to Wednesday working parties this afternoon.  Some work on or maintenance to the layout boards, followed by a fish and chips supper, then the usual evening running night.

Five of us showed up (Mr Apps was visiting the dentist – waste of time as we could have done the necessary with a Dremel) to look at the poor running on the boards.  I think that we made a little progress, finding some quick fixes and planning some future work.  In particular, a little packing under the Minitrix expanding rails helped support the section and gave a smoother joint.

Allan wisely used his ‘disposable’ 66 to test the track rather than his brand new Revolution 59.

In the evening, our numbers went up to a very respectable nine.  I showed off my new brake vans on an enthusiasts special.

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Chris’ lovely T9 and goods train.

Trains from Simon, Derek and Terry.

 

 

Steve and then Terry got the DCC system out and Steve quickly had his Deltic delivering the beer.  At high speed, by the blurred photo…

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Lessons in DCC.  “Don’t press that button!!”

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I even managed to understand the DCC hand controller, and get it working (it just needed the password re-entered.)  By 9:15pm we all seemed to have run all the trains (and drank all the tea) we wanted to, so we packed up after a good working session and a pleasant evening.

Back on Sunday for more fun and games!

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A sort of Minories of my own – 25

Posted on March 6, 2024 by snitchthebudgie

Progress continues in the loft.  From the original design….

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I have built the British Finescale point and crossover.  I made a few minor changes to the point instructions that improved ease of construction.  I also mastered Code 40 fishplates, horribly fiddly, but a good end result.  “Code 40 fishplates” has entered my vocabulary of acceptable curses.  Since these photos, all the track is down.

Since that photo I have fitted and tested the Cobalt point motors.  I do like slow motion motors, as you can test them by just connecting up a normal controller.  Not recommended for full time use, of course, but OK for a quick look.

I will next start wiring.  Point frogs first, then the rest of the track.  I am very close to going DCC for this little layout.  Not that it needs it, but I reckon I need about seven isolated sections, with all the push buttons, plugs and wiring needed.  A simple power bus would be easier.

Eventually, it will be time for ballast and weathering.  I will not be emulating Lance Mindheim modelling dead chickens left on the track after a little Miami voodoo ceremony.

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Building the layout has taken a slight pause whilst I spring clean the loft a bit more.  The layout is now covered in small boxes of things, and I am awaiting some more really useful boxes to store bits in.

Despite this progress, ESNG work parties will start again tomorrow, and no doubt I shall have some more building to do at home.  And I still have to build my NCI loops ready for our next show.

Retail therapy is still going, of course.  These arrived yesterday morning.  I’m so tempted to buy the other SR and BR ones.  Lovely models and I think that we shall have a brake van special tomorrow night at the club meeting.

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Potpourri #1097

Posted on March 4, 2024 by snitchthebudgie

Quite a lot of modelling progress at the moment, but not enough for a full blog post.  Soon, I hope.  In the meantime, a few more odds and ends.  Two ESNG meetings this week that should produce a few dodgy pictures.

Trams from Tooting and Lisbon.  Both very modellable!

Pont Llanio milk factory suggests an interesting model, but I couldn’t find a station track plan anywhere on the web…. 

A compact but interesting HO plan.  It does have 15″ radius curves, but a little expansion would make a good N gauge shortline.  (Plan: Rob Chant.)

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A ‘big’ Minories.  “Southformoonshine” was a classic OO layout, that included several simplified outer London stations, including Reigate, and ended in a reverse loop to send the trains back again.  (From an old Model Railway Constructor annual.)  Putting the terminus on a curve eliminates all reverse curves.

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Two pictures of Smallbrook Junction IOW in 1960 and 1961 (colour picture by Paul Jay.)

And a still from the epic opening scene from the classic 1955 film “Bad Day at Black Rock.”

All is not as it seems.  The line had bee abandoned for a number of years, so they actually ran the consist backwards at 10 mph and had a helicopter film it. They then reversed the film and sped it up to give the impression that the train was going forward at what would’ve been track speed, 50 mph.  Normal club night at ESNG, of course!

My other modelling job at the moment is to spring clean the loft.  It’s amazing how many small boxes I have containing the same thing as other small boxes.  And I’ve found a number of projects that I really ought to finish!

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West Sussex N Gauge Open Day – 2024

Posted on March 2, 2024 by snitchthebudgie

Tricky decision this morning!  Drive up to Abingdon for what looks like a large and excellent show there, or Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Allan and Derek and a visit to the West Sussex open day?  Then I found out that Nick Falconer had pulled Königshafen from appearing at the Abingdon show, due to a back injury.  This was the must see for the day.  And the weather forecast was very wet.  So I settled for a pleasant morning with friends, a good breakfast and a pleasant little show.  Especially as we know a lot of the West Sussex members, so it gave us a chance to catch up.

The show was a little different from their other open days that I have attended, as rather than a modular layout, they had a number of small, personal, layouts, and some work in progress.

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Some micro-modules with some interesting scenery!

I liked Gilly’s new end loop.  All it needs are a few deer and a solitary man in a kilt with some bagpipes in the middle of the bog.

And a couple of Ian’s ‘Small and Working’ creations.

And here’s the prototype for everything department.  What to do with your low relief buildings.  This is in Kensington, West London.

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Potpourri #1096

Posted on February 29, 2024 by snitchthebudgie

Leap year extra!

Two ways to coal your loco.  Would you dare to model the second one?

Local pictures.  Earlwood in 1979….

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And in 2016.  The Virginia Creeper still puts on a wonderful show every year.  (Nick Slocombe.)

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And some more 73’s.  Rescuing a broken down EMU in the snow in 2016.  I don’t think that I ever saw this rather attractive livery (Photos Tom Bowes.)

New Cross Gate in 1979.  In those days always an interesting place to travel through (Stanley M Chale.)

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And Rod’s train set….

See you in March!

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