End of the Withered Arm

At last I've tracked down a copy of this months Steam Days magazine. I was given the nob (thanks Nick) that it contained an article on the North Cornwall line and was starting to be worried that I'd missed it on the newsagents shelves. Eventually after a visit to a larger WH Smiths I found a copy. That is one of the problems living out in the sticks some magazines take long to reach us if at all.

The article mainly covers the later years of the line from Wadebridge to Oakhampton and mentions Bude, Bodmin and Padstow. It charts the decline of freight and passenger services, closure dates and demolition of structures and trackbed. One interesting fact I found for myself is that the Wadebridge to Boscarne section stayed open until 4th September 1978 for goods traffic. One commodity was slate dust that was transported from Delabole quarry to Wadebridge by lorry. Loaded into Presflo wagons for transportation toTonbridge in Kent via Bodmin Road. This has given me the fleeting thought about my Boscarne Wharf Junction layout as a freight only line in the late 60's early 70's.

Not sure if some would agree (recent excellent Deltic article in MRJ 188/189 in mind) but P4 conversion packs for diesels would seem to be an easier way to get things running. This would be while I build up confidence in steam conversion/kit building techniques. In the era that I was thinking (early 60's) the Wharf siding would have shown signs of being overgrown anyway.

Food for thought while I tackle track building techniques.

Like a duck

Like a duck, there's not much movement above water but there is a lot going on underneath, and so it is with this project. The start of a new month and most would say there's not a lot happened. While there has been no physical progress, there has been a lot of thinking put in last month. Mostly done while painting little men for my wargaming projects but good thinking time. I've never been one to jump straight into a project without trying to think it though. But part of the thinking process is possibly confidence building as much as trying to get it right.

February also saw me dig out an old Airbrush (Aerograph Super 63). No idea where hose and adaptors have ended up. After a little research I gave www.EverythingAirbrush.com a call and found them to be very helpful in identifying all I needed to get up and running. Last month also saw me place an order with Ultrascale for their Bachmann Pannier and Hornby Class 29 wheel conversion packs. (The Class 29 chassis is to be used for a Class 22). With a 10 week delivery I am hoping that by the time these arrive I will have build some track. Might only be a yard on a diorama but there will be track. Talking of track, an order has also been placed with the EMGS for Gauges and track components.

So what will March bring? I intend to start building a wagon or two which will give the airbrush something to go at. Also to put some wood to the saw, if not making a start on baseboards for Boscarne Wharf Junction at least to put together a diorama board.

Slowly but onwards and upwards.

Louth Railway Station

Louth would make a great model, if someone has the space. It was situated on the old Great Northern main line from Grimsby down through the centre of Lincolnshire to Boston, Peterborough and London. It carried large amounts of goods traffic to/from Grimsby, Immingham and Scunthorpe. In its hayday had an overall roof, served two branch lines, had a small engine shed with turntable, there was also extensive goods sidings with a large goods shed. Through traffic included fish from Grimbsy, iron ore for Scunthorpe, coal from Immingham, passenger trains to/from London, mail trains plus all other pickup goods, local passenger workings. Too bigger project for me but it is a little known line that is crying out for someone to pick up the baton.

I took a series of photos of Stations on the East Lincs line during late 70's/early 80's. I cannot state exact dates but the 6 colour slides of Louth do have 1979 penciled on them but I'm not convinced this is correct.



If anyone is interested there are more photos of Louth and other station on the East Lincolnshire Line at:
http://iansrailwaystuff.fotopic.net/
and a more extensive collection of photos at,
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.enefer/lincs/lincs.htm
also,
http://www.leytransport.i12.com/elr.htm
other lines in the area,
http://www.leytransport.i12.com/railcon.htm

There was also an article on Louth in the February 95 Steam Days magazine.

Grimstad line

What a project......I'm not one for continental railways, not yet anyway, but I have to admire this layout. A layout were a train has a journey, even a timetable will have a meaning. Oh to have that sort of space. I'll just have to keep on dreaming. In the mean time I'll watch this layouts progress with great interest.

http://grimstadline.blogspot.com/

Great blog. Keep up the good work......

Signal Box

Another discovery.......looks like this could be the signal box for Boscarne.

This is a Ratio kit that I started may years ago for what layout I cannot remember. I've also started to fit a Wills Interior kit but not put the instrument shelf in yet. Still got all the extra bits to fit though. One finial is broken but that can happen in real life, so not too bothered about that. I cannot remember how I fashioned the landing nor why but does require finishing and painting.


Hummm......16 lever frames is that enough for Boscarne?

It looks too easy (57xx conversion)

I have two 57xxs to convert to P4 and EM gauge society and Ultrascale offer conversion packs. It all looks too easy....The following link is to Ultrascale's instruction sheet and should automatically download the pdf.

http://www.ultrascale.co.uk/reviews/review01.pdf

This will definitely be my first attempt at a P4 loco.

Cambrian SR 25-ton Brake Van

Just been browsing the web and come across this web page,

http://www.clag.org.uk/sr-brake.html

Adding it to my blog as reference as I have one of these to build. There are some interesting comments made about the kit which I may need to identify what age kit I have.