Maiden Newton in EM

R

Robin Gay

Member
Gerry Beale said:
In an earlier posting I included a photo of Maiden Newton showing a van train hauled by a 44xx 2-6-2T. There is a bit of a story attached to this model - a case of being in the right place at the right time.

I attended the EMGS Skills Day at Didcot back in March - just before the lockdown - which seems like another age now. At the meeting there were several trays of models for sale from the estate of a deceased modeller. The models were all GWR but the majority of them seemed to be cast white metal locos - Will's Saints, K's Bulldogs etc,. so of no particular interest to me. But I did spot a 44xx in one of the trays which looked promising having been built from a Mitchell kit. The model was slightly battered and in need of a repaint but the price was very attractive so I bought it and took it home with me. Later I decided to try it out and it appeared to run reasonably well but was in need of a good clean up. I started to dismantle the chassis and when I removed the front pony truck I was absolutely astonished to find a Guy Williams makers plate!!

I have subsequently learnt that the deceased modeller was none other than Pat Garland and Guy had built the engine for Pat as a present. The model represents 4405 which was a regular engine on the 'Ashburton Goods' which ran daily - I think - from Newton Abbot, over Dainton to Totnes where it reversed and ran up the branch to Ashburton. 4405 is therefore a highly appropriate engine for Pat given that he - along with Pat Whitehouse - was one of the founders of the Dart Valley Railway - and incidentally a co-owner - also with PW - of 45xx No 4555. So I am delighted to have her as a memento to both Guy and Pat but her presence at Maiden Newton is difficult to explain. So far as I know no 44xx ever worked in Dorset so in this case I think Rule 1 will have to apply!

I stripped the paint , replaced a few of the fittings with more up to date items and repainted her. I could find only a few photos of 4405 and those that I did find showed no sign of any lettering or insignia on the tanks either in later GWR or BR days. I did add the 'shirt button' totem to the tanks initially but was unhappy with it so have recently removed it and now I feel happier. I added more weathering - I hope I haven't overdone it but she was in a bit of a state in the post-war GWR period. She must have gone to Swindon for a 'heavy general' later as she survived to become one of the last of the class to be withdrawn from service in 1955. Sorry to have gone on a bit but I think it is quite an interesting story and I do love these Great Western 'small prairies'!

Gerry

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That is such a lovely loco Gerry, though you have told me the story before you were very lucky there.
I have a Mitchel 45 to build o e day. I gave no use for it but l just like loco.
 
G

Gerry Beale

Western Thunderer
I had a few friends over yesterday to view progress on Maiden Newton - all within the regulations and 'socially distanced' of course. During the preparation for the visitors arrival I had a good tidy up in the shed and set up some of the buildings and other models. Whilst the layout was uncharacteriscally tidy I took a few photos showing the current situation which may be of interest. There is an elevated view showing pretty much the full extent of the modelled area and several 20200916_163523 (2).jpg 20200916_163551 (2).jpg 20200916_163613 (2).jpg 20200916_163721 (2).jpg 20200916_163915 (2).jpg views along the track - apologies for the alien fighting machine that appears in the background of one view!

Gerry
 
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Gerry Beale

Western Thunderer
No progress on the layout as such but I have been working on the Hall shown in the photos. The engine was built from a Finney kit - not by me - and the tender was built from a Mitchell kit running on a High Level chassis - by me. I have been weathering her this week and there is still a a little to do - the boiler backhead has to be made up and fitted and the tender needs some coal but she is nearly there. It was such a balmy, sunny morning today that I thought I would take a few photos of her in the sunshine. 4927 Farnborough Hall was a Westbury engine and I intend to use her on the 12.30 PDN - WEY express hence the class A lamps.

Gerry

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Gerry Beale

Western Thunderer
I'll just add this new photo of Maiden Newton here. It shows the recently completed Farnborough Hall by the signal box which has lately been embellished with a lovely etched brass nameplate in proper GWR style.

I have now returned to track laying and am presently working on completing the Up mail line. It is my intention to continue with the track until it is all complete, wired and in working order - even though it is very tempting to get on with the set of coaches to run with the Hall! Further photos will be posted when significant progress has been made.

Gerry

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Gerry Beale

Western Thunderer
I have been working on the Up main line and the double track now runs from Maiden Newton station around to the storage sidings on the opposite side of the room. I would estimate that the complete circuit of the room is around 2/3 done but the newly laid track is not yet operational as it still has to be wired up - but I shall have quite a bit of time over the next few weeks so no excuse for not getting it done!

I have been able to pose a train to get a flavour of how it will look. The view from the bridge shows an Up 'stopper' - perhaps for Westbury or Bristol - leaving Maiden Newton. The lower view is in the opposite direction and shows the same train heading off in the Yeovil direction. All additional models - buildings, signals, etc - have been temporarily removed from the layout to prevent damage whilst work is in progress.

Gerry

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Gerry Beale

Western Thunderer
The modelling time in the last week or two has been spent on finishing off this ROD 2-8-0. It is of course a Bachmann model that has been converted to EM using Gibson wheelsets - on which Philip Hall did quite a bit of work - and then detailed, upgraded and weathered. Whilst Bachmann claim to have altered their O4 to represent a GWR ROD they only did part of the job and the tender tank required quite a bit of reworking. I used GWR fittings from Brassmasters for the new tool boxes on the tender as well as the safety valve bonnet and other fittings on the engine. The pony truck also required a bit of work to get rid of the mounting for the NEM coupling and adding dummy frames which permitted the guard irons to be properly modelled. After Philips ministrations she runs very smoothly and steadily and will easily handle the longest train that my storage sidings can accommodate so I am very happy. Now back to more tracklaying!

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Gerry Beale

Western Thunderer
Having spent some time on tracklaying I have now gone as far as I can with the storage sidings. The top photo shows that I have run out of track to complete the long siding on the right but I will leave it now until after Christmas to order more track from the EMGS. To me the sidings bear a resemblance to somewhere like Bristol East Depot and and indeed I know of an O gauge layout where the storage sidings have been ballasted and sceniced to represent Bristol West Depot so there's a thought!

The second photo shows that some of the residents have moved in temporarily but they will have to move on again soon as I intend to do the wiring up next. The additional space on the right will, in due course, be the site of the run round loop and head shunt at the end of the Bridport branch - but that's for another day.

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simond

simond

Western Thunderer
Bulwell Hall said:
Chris, thanks for your kind comments - much appreciated.

It is my intention to shunt the Bridport branch train by gravity if at all possible. The branch train comprised a B set which I propose to build from etched brass kits - so the coaches should have sufficient mass. On these two vehicles the bogies will be sprung which will help them roll with little resistance - I don't normally spring bogie vehicles - so there shouldn't be any problem with them rolling a sufficient distance. There is no problem in holding them in the 'gravity siding' whilst the locomotive is released - see Robin Gays 'sprag' on his Rolvendon layout - so the only difficulty I foresee is stopping the coaches in the right place! This may require some form of retarder - perhaps very slightly tightening the track gauge - so some experimentation will clearly be required. As the B set does not exist as yet - well only in kit form - I am unable to carry out the experiments but I am confident that it can be made to work.

I have had it suggested that it could be done using DCC and a powered bogie in the B set but I am not at all convinced and in any case Maiden Newton is very definitely an analogue railway! If I could I would have mechanical signalling and interlocking and my locomotives would be powered by steam!

Incidentally, former railwaymen have told me that the recurring problem with the gravity shunt at the real Maiden Newton station was not that the B set would run away and hit the buffers but that an over cautious guard would apply the hand brake too soon and stop the coaches before they were clear of the turnout thus preventing the locomotive from coming back on to the train. On such occasions a spare sleeper would be employed to pole shunt the coaches clear - all very unofficial of course but a pragmatic solution to a local difficulty. Gravity shunting of passenger stock was employed elsewhere - Yelverton and Wellington come to mind on the GWR but I would be interested to know where else this method was employed.

Gerry
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Gerry,

might I suggest that magnets might provide a reliable & repeatable means of ensuring your gravity shunts work?

I could imagine using them as brakes, or indeed, using them to drag the coaches to the right position, though there is the difficulty of the magnets causing your coaches to suddenly accelerate. Electromagnets (retarders!) perhaps - the current can be reasonably easily controlled to prevent unseemly behavior?

hope these thoughts are helpful
Simon
 
Phil O

Phil O

Western Thunderer
Many years ago there was an exhibition layout of Wellington (Salop) which had gravity shunted coaches, as the branch didn't have a loop. I think that it appeared in one of modelling magazines of the time and had a description of how they achieved it. Sorry that I can't remember any more details .
 
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
Phil O said:
Many years ago there was an exhibition layout of Wellington (Salop) which had gravity shunted coaches, as the branch didn't have a loop. I think that it appeared in one of modelling magazines of the time and had a description of how they achieved it. Sorry that I can't remember any more details .
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MRJ 64: Issue 64 - Tenshodo motorbogie, a remote uncoupler and section brakes is the answer in that case. I saw it in action at Bristol, I think. Obviously that requires a careful bit of driving or some clever DCC stuff. I think I prefer the sound of magnets to be honest.

Adam
 
Phil O

Phil O

Western Thunderer
AJC said:
MRJ 64: Issue 64 - Tenshodo motorbogie, a remote uncoupler and section brakes is the answer in that case. I saw it in action at Bristol, I think. Obviously that requires a careful bit of driving or some clever DCC stuff. I think I prefer the sound of magnets to be honest.

Adam
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Thanks Adam,

Bristol, would be where I saw it too. It was a great layout.
 
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G

Gerry Beale

Western Thunderer
Thanks for your comments chaps. I never saw the Wellington layout but do remember it in MRJ of course. Gravity shunting will certainly be a challenge to get working satisfactorily but until I get the B set I can't progress with it. Plenty to be getting on with in the meantime though!

Gerry
 
V

Vectispete

Member
Superb work Gerry. It is great to see the progress. I keep drooling over photos of your Saint and the excellent buildings. Coaches too......

Will there be enough storage sidings there? I am making inroads to my layout but keep changing my mind on how many storage sidings I will need.

Pete
 
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