And then there were 3

After getting a load of money for christmas, I've placed a order for two more NG15s for delivery in the new year. This time representing NG124 in Apple Express condition and NG134 in what will eventually be its operating condition on the Welsh Highland Railway.

NG124 in Apple Express Condition

NG134 in WHR Condition

 

As much as I love the beasts, I don't think I'll have room for more than 3 (or the money due to the cost of the Chassis) although I might try and make some more space for at least another in SAR in Service Condition to complete the set.

Cheers,

Jon

Christmas Projects

Its always good when you can finish a project off. Over the last 2 days, I've managed to finish:-

SAR NG15 No.17

FR Coach 14

 

FR Coach 26

 

FR Coach 111

 

FR Coach 119

 

Also, I got for christmas a new loco from Lilliput in the form of a Zillertalbahn Bo-Bo D13 which should hopefully be able to manage some of the longer FR/WHR trains I'm planning to start running on the 009 Society's test track.

Zillertalbahn D13

 

Hopefully I'll be able to fully test the two engines on the 3rd of January along with some full length trains.

Until next time,

Jon

Carriage Updates

After a long painting session, I've got 4 more coaches painted for service as part of the FR/WHR rakes. 3 of them require bogies/couplings while the 4th is good to go once the paint work is neatened up.

FR Coach 22

 

WHR Coach 23

FR Coach 111

FR Coach 119

 

Hopefully, I'll be able to test my WHR freight train behind Conway Castle on Friday evening along with testing a repaired Linda to see if it can manage a 5 coach train like Blanche can. Hopefully the first of the NG15 pair will be here in the coming days which will see the first of a eventual fleet of SAR monsters to pull the WHR stock.

 

Cheers,

 

Jon

More Load testing

After another successful 009 society meeting running longer than normal trains, engine ratings have been revised and updated. Plus some pictures this time of some of the trains.

EoM:- 10
DLG:- 10
Rhur:- 9
Conway Castle:- 7
Mountaineer:- 6
Ciccirth Castle:- 6
Harlech Castle:- 6
Palmerston - 5
Blanche:- 5
Linda:- 4

Despite Linda not being able to pull B set in its current 5 coach form, B set is most likely going to be the visiting coach set due to its shorter lenght making it easier to fit into runround loops. Alternatively, 123 can be moved from set B to set C as it has run in real life in both sets to form a more standard 6 coach train which most of my fleet can manage easily. I never got round to trying Palmerston with 6 but I was pleasently surprised that it would pull 5, just not in reverse as the coupling fell out.

I've also got a shot of the NG15 project. I'm hoping to have two of these in both South African and WHR conditions.

 

Hopefully they'll both be finished in January ready for some serious running on the society test track with some 12 coach trains.

Cheers,

Jon

Superpowered 009 - Locos and train sets

After another successful running session at the local 009 Society group, I managed to do some more load tests including the first 10 coach FR trains which is the absolute maximum that I intend to run. Here's the results:-

Earl of Merioneth - 10
David Lloyd George - 10
Rhur - 9
Mountaineer - 6
Ciccirth Castle - 6
Harlech Castle - 6
Blanche - 5
Palmerston - 3
Linda - 3

The only loco out of the FR Mainline locos that didn't run was Conway Castle simply because I forgot to take it.

I've also had a think about what I'm going to run as part of my standard sets for the longer trains.

FR 10 Car set - 123, 107, 119, 14, 110, 117, 112, 114, 105, 102
FR B set - 22, 107, 119, 14, 111
FR C set - 123, 110, 117, 112, 114, 105, 102

I've also resurrected the old idea to have a small WHR set although based on what the current locos will pull, I don't think it will end up being very small.....

WHR F Set - 23, 116, 108, 2021, 2045, 2040, 2090, 2011, 2115, 2100
WHR Short Set - 2021, 2045, 2040, 2090, 2115

The problem that then follows is what locos can be used to pull them. Conway Castle has been based on the WHR for a number of years as has Upnor Castle which is a potenial 3D printed project I'm working on. Caernovean Castle is another possible but a lack of suitable chassis is a sticking point. Ideally, a NGG16 or NG15 would be the ideal loco for the set but with only a NGG16 existing in kit form, it may end up being another 3D printing project to create a NG15 if a suitable chassis can be found.

Just need to start saving up to be able to afford them all now........

The return of Alco - The 3D revolution

As the title suggests, the latest kit to be finished has been of the Ffestiniog Railway's Alco Mountaineer. I had one a while ago but frustaited with the poor running, I got rid of it. After regreting it for a while now, I managed to get a unbuilt kit from the 009 Society along with a suitable chassis. The only problem being that the cab was the eariler 1960s-1980s design, not the current version I wanted. So i decieded to remove the top half of the cab and replace it with a custom 3D printed one which included the top of the Oil tank. Its safe to say that it worked as intended which I'm very happy with. The rest of the kit fell together nicely and after a gap of about 18 months, I've got a Mountaineer again. This time with a much better running Chassis.

Mountaineer in its Black Scheme



 Also after getting hold of some more paint, I've finished off the 2 3D printed coaches in the current FR paint scheme along with most of the Earl's Green scheme.

Coaches 110, 117 and 123 in the platform/run round loop with the Earl on Shed and Mountaineer in the Headshunt

The 3D printed pair together

The Earl of Merioneth in Green

Cheers for looking,

Jon

Old Square Tanks

Finally, after nearly 18 months of waiting for another manufactour to make one for me before giving up and doing it myself, I've finally recieved the final double fairlie to complete my trio of FR double engines. The Earl of Merioneth aka the Square. I'm absolutely delighted with how its come out and after a few shots in black undercoat, I've finally started work on transforming it into its current Green scheme.

I've also had 3 new coaches arrive today as well. Coaches 110 and 117 from Shapeways (117 is currently on bogies with couplings and is under test) along with the new Peco L&B composite coach. All 3 are lovely pieces of work and I'm definately looking forward to recieving the Peco L&B Brake coaches in due course.

Peco L&B Coach

Coach 110

Coach 117

Coaches 117 and 114 together

Cheers,

Jon

Haulage ratings

One of the joys being a member of the 009 society is the area groups. My local one, Sussex downs, has a huge test track which runs around the outside of the club room. Apart from the fact its a great aid for mastering control of the Group's layout Evalight, it also has the ability for use as one hell of a long run for 'stupidly' long trains as far as 009 is concerned.

With the arrival of Blanche, I decided to take her, DLG, Rhur and the little Gmeinder loco along to see just what they could pull using my main FR corridor coaches/Bowsiders (8 Corridor and 3 Bowsiders). Despite the fact that the layout seems to have wildly variable gradients, I was pleasantly surprised with the results.

Blanche managed to pull 5 around which a lot better when compared to Linda (limited to 4 to stop the motor falling out its cradle). I did try 7 but the loco just sat their spinning its wheels. Both DLG and Rhur managed 9 coach trains which was surprising considering that DLG wouldn't even move itself at home the night before. The little Gmeinder just about managed 3 which puts it in the same league as Palmerston except it wasn't trying to pull a wheelie when running in reverse....

Overall, not a bad set of performances although I await to see what the Square will do once it arrives from the 3D printers with the other two coaches to form a full 10 coach corridor set of FR stock.

Blaencwn Rolling Stock updates

Afternoon all,

Its about time I did some work on the 009 side of things again as it does seem like its been a while.

With the relative success of the 3D printed S stock, I've moved onto a selection of 009 coaches and loco bodies based on Ffestiniog Railway prototypes. Currently Coaches 110 and 117 along with a new cab for a GEM Mountaineer and the final Double Fairlie for my collection, the Earl of Merioneth.

The Earl of Merioneth in CAD form

Also, after EXPOng I've managed to get a second Penhyrn Lady to run alongside Linda. This time, Its Blanche and unlike Linda, is a great runner most of the time. The reason it's most of the time is due to the fact that it continually derails over the points in the run round loops.

Blanche

Like Linda, Blanche was brought second hand although this time from the 009 Society second hand stall unlike that famous auction site where Linda arrived from. Following on from what the FR did, I've repainted both Blanche and Linda into matching FR Paint schemes . I've also converted Linda back from a Oil burner to a Coal Burner something which I won't be doing for Blanche/DLG simply as they're how I remember seeing them..

A newly repainted Linda and Blanche side by side

 

Also at EXPOng, I brought a Minitrains Gmeinder diesel along with one of the limited edition bogie box vans to celibrate the 40th anniversairy of the 009 Society. Both are lovely items and great runners. At home, I finally have managed to build the remaining two 009 Society Hudson Coach kits to form a small deicated passenger set for Blaencwm. Both are painted in a similar style to the one on the WHHR which I personally like. I also repainted my VoR coach and VoR Brake van into a similar scheme to form a second set to run on the layout.

 

Gmeinder in the Loco headshunt with the small Passenger set sitting in the Platform

In the above shots, you might notice to big sheds that have appeared on the layout. Both are halfs of a GWR carriage shed kit by Ratio and is the same kit as the one used for Billington Road's Carriage shed. The two sheds are the result of moving the engine shed off Blaencwm to another layout and the fact that the other half of the layout looked very bare. Now, I feel it looks a lot better plus I have extra siding space to hold 3 trains on the layout (2 Passenger and 1 goods).

The Layout as a whole showing the two sheds along with the revised platfrom end showing the additional sidings

 

Hopefully, the next part of the Blaencwm work will involve designing and then rewiring the layout to give a load of isolating sections and optional power section switches. Hopefully it'll make the layout a lot more flexible to operate and possibly a good time to install point controls/motors.

Cheers,

Jon

 





Underground goes 3D

Afternoon all, After succesfully getting a new job, I've been able to invest in more LT stock for a new LT based project I'm working on.

 

Bachmann Panniers L94 (LTM exclusive) and L89 (L97 model brought and renumbered)

 

Left to Right:- B558 (Smallbrook Studios kit), BW234/BW259 (Hornby 4 plank wagons repainted) and B553 (Bachmann Limited edition for Kernow Model Centre)

Plus, I've finally invested in 3D printing! I've started off with a model of the former District Railway Hunslet Goods Engine L.30 and have now moved onto the Refurbished A, Refurbished C, Refurbished D and  Brand new S stocks in use on the Metropolitian, Circle, Hammersmith & City and District Lines. So far, only 1 car of the S stock has been printed along with L.30 . The S stock coach arrived distored and with printing errors so its being investigated by Shapeways. However, L.30 which was my first print came out better than expected and is now available for anyone who wants one on Shapeways (Search L.30 to find it).

L.30 with the Maunsell Set

 

S Stock DM - Front end

 

S Stock DM - Rear end

S Stock and 59/62 Tube stock together

 

The start of running trials - Using L.30 and B581 as a coupling convertor from 'Wedgelock' on the S stock to Tension lock on L.30

 

Cheers,

 

Jon



London Underground

You might have noticed a lot of London Underground posts on here considering I don't have any 4 rail stock/additional layout room for a LU based layout. That said, since I was young I've regularly been going up to London and nearly everytime going on the Tube. Only once I've gotten older have I been able to start endulge into this unique system on which so many Commuters/Londoners rely on. Admitally, it all started when I brought the Midnight Metropolitian set later last year and since then, I've been on the hunt for a small selection of stuff from the Tube trains I remember when younger (not the modern S stock which looks ugly) along side the LU Steam trains from the 1960s/Early 1970s. To date, its a motley collection of:-

Steam Engines:-

L97 - 57xx in London Transport livery
L150 - 4575 in London Transport livery

Electric Multiple units - 1959 Stock:-

 

'A' end DM Car 1028 - London Underground Coorperate Livery
Trailer Car 2028 - London Underground Coorperate Livery
'D' end DM Car 1029 - London Underground Coorperate Livery

 

Loco hauled Engineering Stock

 

BW260 - 3 plank Ballast wagon in London Transport livery

BW260 - 3 plank Ballast wagon in London Transport livery

B581 - 20 ton Brake van in London Transport livery

 

 

But, there's no point having London based stock without the 4 rail track to run it on. Mainly because it just looks stupid/unrealistic. Having had a large amount of broken or unneeded set track from Hornby/Bachmann/Lima for a long time without a use, its finally been sorted though and the worst of it being dismantled to provide rail for this:-

 

 

 

A setrack oval featuring both 3rd and 4th rails. For a first attempt, its not gone badly and has been a very interesting practise in adding the conducting rails. Althought I don't think I'll ever build a London based layout, it does provide somewhere to run the London Transport stuff with the correct rails. That said, after seeing how easy it is to get the effect of the conducting rails, never say never..... Just not at the moment.

Review - 32-136Z LTM Exclusive GWR 4575 Prairie L.150

Its time for another Review. Again its a London Transport Liveried engine, only this one is a bit different.

Produced for the London Transport Museum in London for the LU150 celibrations, here is the first of what looks like a series of limited edition models by Bachmann: 32-136Z LTM Exclusive GWR 4575 Prairie No. L.150. Available from here:- http://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/models/trams-and-trains/product/bachmann-former-british-railways-prairie-l150.html

Taken on the Bluebell Railway where the engine is for the summer

L.150, also known as 5521, is owned by Bill Parker and was given this special paintscheme for the Steam on the Met events that will be taking place both this and possibly next year. I personally like the scheme but it's been very controversial with others.

But back onto the model, as to be expected with the latest Bachmann models, the livery is crisp and finely applied. The mechanism features a 8 pin DCC socket and is a beautiful runner. Compared to my other 4575 (the old non DCC ready version), its not as strong however its still able to pull 4 Mk1s around my test oval. I'll be honest, there's not a lot wrong with it. Except the Price.

Its £97.99 which is £17.99 more than a standard 4575 (based on the RRP). I can understand that its a exclusive and I can also understand that any profit goes towards a good cause, but that's a bit excessive. Compare it to the second model in the series, a model of preserved Pannier 57xx L.94 which is only £6 more than a standard version, it makes you wonder why they needed such a big price difference on L.150.

But, apart from that, It's still a good buy and I would still recommend it to anyone who wants a model for the LU150 celibrations and this unique (for this class of engine) paint scheme.

Billington Road's Fiddle yard/Carriage shed

For the Layout's first show, a small single track fiddle yard was built to increase the running line and give some additional room on the layout. Since that show, it's sat in a corner not being used. Unfortunately, not using it does limit what I can do when 'playing trains'. So after knocking up a couple of legs, I'm now able to use my full layout again.

The full layout at home

 First train onto the reconnected fiddle yard

Also, I've finally been able to get hold of a new shed to hold DMUs/Spare Coaches. Using a Ratio 2 road Carriage shed minus the walkways, it's been a lovely kit to build along with giving the two long stock sidings a purpose apart from being a stock dump.

Just got to work out what to do with the grass areas then I think the layout's nearly done.