1/32 Devoran Quay

[Simon]

Something transferred from the workbench to the layout, the stop blocks for the Bude bay have been planted outside.




I'm quite chuffed with that

I don't know what weedkiller has been sent down from Broad Clyst, but it either isn't very good or the local card school have been pursuing some private enterprise with local gardeners. Either way I don't think they've been in their hut recently

 

[Simon Glidewell]

Hello Simon! This is one of those rare garden railways that really blend into their 1:1 surroundings in a natural and atmospheric way. It has a proper layout feel to it that I've hardly ever seen with outdoor model railways. Once completed you'll have something rather special there! It's a real credit to you.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

I don't know what weedkiller has been sent down from Broad Clyst, but it either isn't very good or the local card school have been pursuing some private enterprise with local gardeners. Either way I don't think they've been in their hut recently

Not quite The Day of the Triffids....

 

[Simon]

Nice day in the garden today, some working on Landrover but mostly trains. Dave Easto arrived with two more bogie bolsters, making a total of seven - quite a train! The weather really picked up through the day.



Must weather some stock...

Simon

 

[iploffy]

Hello my friend , as per usual I am in awe at seeing this masterpiece but I have a complaint to make to the management, when we gonna see moving pictures again please. stills just don't do it justice.

 

[Simon]

After Larkrail we gathered in the garden and ran a few trains. The T9 sadly expired after one glorious circuit, (I have since then sorted the problem out and it is now fine) but the star of the proceedings was undoubtedly Fred Phipps' "Active" pulling his sublime brake composite, and then the usual Southern Region 3 set, with the newly finished PMV bringing up the rear.



And here is the great artist himself awaiting the arrival of his masterpieces:



Photographs courtesy of Steve Cook.

This all made for a very grand end to a grand day - thank you very much Fred for bringing your superb models along to the event and allowing them to be run out in the garden.

I'm contemplating going out there now as the weather is brightening as promised, a bit of "modelling" involving the angle grinder and bricks is on the cards - deep joy!

Another tea first though and after the building work I think I'd better test the T9 out again

Simon

 

[Simon]

Well I got it all done.

First off I ground out the concrete to allow for a point lever on extended timbers on the first yard turnout:




The brickwork was the largest job, not least as I mixed all the muck up in a bucket with my gauging trowel, I couldn't use the mixer as the wheelbarrow is in the middle of being repainted - don't ask, it's something I do every few years, much to everyone else's great amusement.

The area to be tackled showing the spalled bricks, featuring a crass repair attempt with inappropriately bright grout that was left over from a floor laying job earlier this year.



After half an hour's work with bolster and angle grinder...



Part way up and looking better.



The top row of bricks sourced and cut ready for laying and time for lunch. The engineer's blues came from Limpley Stoke station.



Job done!



Plants laid back across top of wall and T9 running past on a down passenger train.



Feeling quite motivated, I have just stuck down the timbers for the new yard B8 on to the Templot plan previously stuck to my trusty ex wardrobe door.

The T9 now runs just fine with its chip fitted, the problem was that the original pick ups were a bit intermittent, replacements made with phosphor bronze from the estimable Dale Senior. It ran several circuits this evening with no problem whatsoever - the next stage is to fit a speaker and try out the sound!

Simon

 

[Simon]

I laid out the new B8 turnout and juggled a few pieces of track this evening and think I have more or less finalised the track positions. This is the scenario with the end loading dock on the outer (shorter) track with an Ashwater style tin goods shed on the loading platform "after" the loading dock something like this:

The innermost siding will be the longest, ending in an overgrown bufferstop just off the above picture, the middle siding will finish as pictured and the end loading siding may be a bit longer or shorter based upon aesthetics. As you can see the plants have been growing fairly vigorously since the concrete yard was laid out!

Simon

 

[Simon]

First off a quick flashback to last Monday, Dave has been working on a vehicle to make sure the newspapers get through to Padstow. There were other things on show, but I'm afraid the bright light rather defeated my photography. Two are LB&SCR in origin and the other is French - all very delectable, pictures will appear after their next appearance.



The signalbox is shown mocked up in position, I have recommenced work on this structure.

 

[Simon]

Chris and Dennis came around again this morning for the first track test of a third new locomotive(!)

One or two issues were identified for attention before painting and detailing commences, but the trial was successful and hauling power pretty impressive.



Later on I ran the T9 and a short train, this completed numerous circuits this afternoon.



Running past the morning's freight recessed into the headshunt.



Tsk, no tail lamp

Simon

 

[Simon]

Getting all the available pre-BR wagons out for the haulage trials prompted me to pose my four diagram 1307 wagons together for a photograph.



They are Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway designed "Furniture and Implement wagons" and they show some differences. The left hand is the most modern incarnation of the type, with doors fitted painted as an unlikely BR survivor. The next along is the same type without doors in a careworn "Southern" livery, which is probably authentic for the type, and finally two S&D lettered wagons in "original" condition.

They were all produced in resin from a Plastikard master, being my first wagon project in this adaptable medium. It slightly depresses me in a "life whizzing past" sort of way that this took place over ten years ago, but on the other hand this passage of time shows just how durable this resin is, I present the following evidence for those doubters amongst you. Before anyone asks, the cast was distorted because I took it out of the mould before it had cured...







I was a young man when I wrote that

Simon

 

[Simon]

A bit more work on the yard today, first off the two turnouts laid out with siding lines to illustrate the track layout I am going to build.



You can just see in the above picture the marking out for the laying of an additional screed for the tracks, I mixed up a small amount and deployed it, which includes a track base for the end loading line - now heading for the top of the brick wall.



Here's a view of the track alignment of the yard, clearly running to a lower level than the main line. The PMV with its roller bearings drops into it by means of gravity very effectively!



I had to partially rebuild the switch and lever assembly on the C10 as I had left too little clearance between the stock rail and tip of the switch rail. Here it is laid outside today, it is very satisfying being able to change the points with a lever



Next job is bolting the two halves of the B8 tiebar, then building it an over centre/lever assembly. Then wiring both up and then laying them permanently, hopefully before winter sets in.

Simon

 

[Pencarrow]

The T9 (one of my favourite locos) looks absolutely superb wandering around the garden in the sunshine.

Do you have a Maunsell 2-coach (BCK-BSK) set to go with it? To me the combination perfectly sum up the SR Withered Arm

 

[Simon]

The T9 (one of my favourite locos) looks absolutely superb wandering around the garden in the sunshine.

Do you have a Maunsell 2-coach (BCK-BSK) set to go with it? To me the combination perfectly sum up the SR Withered Arm

Hi Chris

Thank you for your kind comment, and as for your question, well there lies a bit of a confession...

I completely agree with you, and had thoughts of building a "P" set as you describe. But when I stopped and thought about my rate of modelling and all the other things that I want or need to do to progress the whole scheme, realised it was an unlikely prospect.

So I have commissioned a set from Peter Rogers, who builds beautiful and accurate coaches in G1. The price is not insignificant but I am saving up for the balance, having paid a deposit, and I figured that this was a "one off" situation anyway. I owe you thanks as I used the information you provided in Irwell's North Cornwall book when working out which set number to specify.

Delivery should apparently be this year and I am very much looking forward to seeing them, especially behind the T9 and with the PMV.

I didn't think I'd do anything similar in the future, but if Peter is still open to commissions next year then It did occur to me that a Bulleid brake composite might be quite handy!!

Simon

 

[Pencarrow]

Ah, the Withered Arm book... not something I shout about. I was just pleased to be involved as the original edition inspired our little group no end to build Treneglos. Good to give some of our work back to others. It's not often though that folk link me to the book - what gave me away? ;-p

If you're going for the early afternoon perishables then you'll need a few vans to add as a tail load with the PMV. Yes a loose Bulleid BCK would be a great buy. You could add it to the P Set or run it on it's own. Mind you, if you get the BCK you'll obviously need a Spam can to pull it...

Smashing stuff.

 

[Simon]

Ah, the Withered Arm book... not something I shout about. I was just pleased to be involved as the original edition inspired our little group no end to build Treneglos. Good to give some of our work back to others. It's not often though that folk link me to the book - what gave me away? ;-p

If you're going for the early afternoon perishables then you'll need a few vans to add as a tail load with the PMV. Yes a loose Bulleid BCK would be a great buy. You could add it to the P Set or run it on it's own. Mind you, if you get the BCK you'll obviously need a Spam can to pull it...

Smashing stuff.

Thanks very much Chris, it is the book that I most often refer to at the moment - absolutely full of inspiration.

As regards the tail traffic, I'm just preparing a new book on the Withered Arm featuring Peter Barnfield's photographs and memories which features a brilliant item of stock running as such, disreputable looking and fishy, in more ways than one…..

West Country-wise I do have a cunning plan, "Project Watersmeet", for which I have assembled a lot of useful parts with which I really must do something

So much to do, not enough brain cells

Simon

 

[Pencarrow]

Very interesting Simon, I've noted from MRJ that Wild Swan have a new Withered Arm book due out using Peter Barnfield's photos. I'm very much looking forward to getting a copy. Will be interesting to see if he captured the rather shy Delabole 'Delafilla' slate dust hoppers in any shots.

Not sure what stage you're at in production but if you need an extra set of eyes to add or check the captions then let me know.

 

[Simon]

Thanks very much for the offer Chris, but as of today I'm happy to say its ready for going up to the printers

No Delabole Presflos I'm afraid, shots tend to be nostalgic "whole setting" types but there are nonetheless some good rolling stock shots including what I think are a couple of relative rarities.

Simon

 

[Captain Kernow]

what gave me away? ;-p

Probably one too many mentions of Spam.

 

[Pencarrow]

Probably one too many mentions of Spam.

I think somebody snitched CK.