Sunday 15 January 2023

Reorganising my blog posts

I've been wondering what to do about this blog for some time. Even though, after our move up to Cumbria, I have a "Man Cave" that could accommodate Grogley Junction my thoughts and ideas have moved on. I was also wondering what to do with my Tredethy Wharf web site. This Web site had no blog element and was coming up for renewal. I 'd already started a separate blog for my engine shed project, Rospeath Lane and there could be a new exhibition layout project started in the very near future. There are also my Wargaming blog, Panzers and Muskets along with a very old Shanks Pony blog about walking the Coast to Coast. As I'm now living in Cumbria and hope to tackle a few fell walks I might use this last blog to record my efforts. 

So what to do? Should I combine all my hobbies into one blog? My thought was this could get very unwieldy and some readers might not want to read about all my projects. So I've made the decision to create separate blogs for each project and put links on each to each of the others. In doing so I've been able to create pages on the Tredethy Wharf to mimic my Web site.

So Grogley Junction blog will stay live as there might be some useful information. To create the new blogs I'm extracting relevant blog entries from this blog into each of the new ones. Then moving forward I'll only post entries in the each of the project blogs.

Until things settle down with adding historical blogs to each of the new blogs the title of the most recent on the links might not be the most recent entry by date stamp. Over me this should correct itself.

Many thanks for all support and comments that have been left on this blog. I do hope you find the time to link to the new blogs and follow the ones that have you have an interest in. 

Hope that all makes some sense...


Sunday 31 January 2021

Apologies.

 

I must apologise to followers of this blog. My wife informed me that there was a problem as she was not now a follower. When investigating I found a quantity of comments awaiting moderation and approval. I’m still trying to understand why I’ve not received emails when comments have been left. In the meantime I have approved all genuine comments and hope you will all forgive my oversight.

Regards, Ian

Sunday 23 August 2020

An itch that might need scratching (3)

This one is still bubbling away, not quite mature enough yet but it's certainly up for consideration as a project to replace Tredethy Wharf.

Since my last blog (An Itch that might need scratching (2)),  I've been trying to make an acceptable track plan. Using the previously mentioned Railway Modeller article as a starting point I'm hoping the result below is not too far fetched from reality as a potential GWR Branch Line Terminus


Though I've made a couple of minor tweaks to the time table mention in the previous blog this design should fit the bill nicely.

Buildings will primarily be kits modified from the Ratio and Wills ranges. I'll also be making use of Petite Properties and Scalescenes products for some of the non-railway buildings. The plan above shows that I've allowed some buildings to lie over baseboard joints. My thinking is that these buildings will be removable and when in place will help to disguise the baseboard joints. I took the decision to moved the Dairy to the opposite side to that proposed in the magazine article to help hid the exit off the layout under the road bridge. To reduced space and to make track building a "tad" interesting there is one single slip plus one double slip in the arrangement.

I still need to thrash out ideas for the fiddle yard but I think overall the layout should work well. If built it will definitely give me plenty of operation interest, at home and at exhibitions, way beyond those I currently have with Tredethy Wharf.

Sunday 5 April 2020

Deciding on the next project


As previously mentioned, my Man Cave has been reduced in size, so Grogley Junction is now a non starter. For the past year I've been musing over what will replace it and I now have five possible ideas which are:
  1. GWR Branch Line Terminus - one that I've written about in a couple of 'An Itch that might need scratching' posts.
  2. Boscarne Junction - I've thought many times about this junction as a project and it was in the frame as the basis for my first P4 project.
  3. Bodmin General - one station that in my opinion is the ideal GWR Branch Line Terminus and one that I've pondered building for many years.
  4. Bodmin Road - a station that, many years ago, was used as the basis for the first layout the Mablethorpe and District Model Railway Club built. This then gave me my continued interest in the railways in Cornwall and especially around Bodmin.
  5. An Engine Shed - It's always been a dream to be able to construct a layout based on an Engine Shed.
Below are the five plans that I've drawn to evaluate each proposal.

1)
GWR Branch Line Terminus (Bigbury Bay)
Though I've posted a number of thoughts on this one, I've never been fully happy with the track plan. I have plenty of rolling stock (and this is certainly a possibility) but not sure if I'd be totally happy with the result or feel I'd achieved enough when completed.

2)
Boscarne Junction
Oh yes this is a definite possibility as it would be the ideal project to follow on from Tredethy Wharf. I have numerous photos of the junction including many of my own of the bridges from the river level. I'd have no excuse not to produce a convincing model. I've applied a certain amount of compression to the track plan, even so, there are a couple of anomalies that I'll have to live with. The first is I've had to curve the Bodmin North line to the right not left (away from the Bodim General Line as in the real junction) but still feel it will convey the correct feel of the junction. The second is that to have a convincing length of sidings I'd have to operate the layout with the Man Cave door open. Though the board between the Level Crossing and fiddle yard could be excluded for operation at home.

3)

Bodmin General
Well this was an early front runner but with every man and his dog building a model of Bodmin General, along with my thoughts that I'd struggle with not meeting the standards that North London Groups achieved with their model, it has slipped down the list.

4)
Bodmin Road
Bodmin Road became a distinct possibility after I acquired a number of P4 locomotives from a modeller who was reducing his collection. After drawing numerous plans I think I have decided that is is not really practical due to not having enough space in the fiddle yards and also access to the Up fiddle yard. Just cannot make it work in the space available... Shame.

5)
GWR Engine Shed
Finally we have my proposed Engine Shed. This would fulfill a long-held ambition, one that I never thought I would be able to contemplate until a couple of years ago with the acquisition of a number of Western Region P4 Locomotives. My outline thoughts for this project are (i) to be based on a GWR Engine Shed; (ii) it has to be scenically based and not just a flat board with mainly track; (iii) It must have some other interest to justify its location and not just be a diorama to display a collection of locomotives. The above is loosely based on Leamington Engine Shed. I've incorporated four Carriage sidings that would be operated in conjunction with loco movements along with three coal wagon sidings. The idea is the landscape would slope up from the river to the back.  The carriage siding would be lower than the Engine shed and yard, then the Coal Wagon sidings being slightly higher still.

My current thoughts are it is a close thing between Boscarne Junction and the Engine Shed.

So which one is it to be?

Thursday 16 January 2020

Well... New Year...New start...

2019 was not a very productive year for my modelling projects, either model railways or wargaming. Back to my school report: "If Ian puts as much effort into his studies as he does on the rugby field he would achieve good results". For Rugby read Golf. Golf did take over much of my time last year which enabled me to win three competitions plus some good finishes in others. Think I should change the strapline on the blog header from  "an attempt to get out of the armchair" to "an attempt to to spend less time on the golf course". I feel that I can make better use of my time so plan to become more focused on modelling projects while at home.

So outline plans for 2020:
  1. Complete the Beattie Well Tank
  2. Create my own Grizer train
  3. Build better support structure for Tredethy Wharf
  4. Complete minor modifications to Tredethy Wharf
  5. Make a start on the next project (more about that later)
  6. Investigate DCC mainly for the next project but may also be for Tredethy Wharf
At the moment I've been honoured with invites for Tredethy Wharf to two shows during 2020:
  1. Scalefour North, Wakefield (28th & 29th March)
  2. Helston, Cornwall (25th & 26th April)
This does mean that for the next couple of months I must get my head down to some serious modelling before the better weather kicks in and I'll be tempted to spend more time out in the fresh air on the Golf Course!


Friday 9 August 2019

An itch that might need scratching (2)

Due to the reduced size of the "Man Cave" my intention for the rest of 2019 is to continue to sell off "stuff" that I've accumulated over the years. This is a double edged sword in that it will make space for the next project and will also help to raise some cash for future expenditure.

Since my decision to bin Grogley Junction I've been thinking about what's next. During 2017 I found the Ratio building kits along with rolling stock that I've collected over the years for a possible GWR Branch Line Terminus. All I need is a suitable location.

Two articles mentioned in a previous post "an itch that might need scratching", have been at the back of my mind for several years. If I used the research from one and the trackplan from the other they would make a very good starting point for a fictitious BLT. At the end of this post I've quoted in full, from the January 1975 Railway Modeller to show the diligence that Mr Pocock went to with his research and ideas. The depth of the article captured my imagination but with no offence meant to Mr Pocock, his track plan did not. For illustration I've placed a scan below of his track plan to show his thoughts on how it would fit into a garage setting.


When the April 1979 Railway Modeller landed on the door mat, the Plan of the Month article struck a chord. This plan is based loosely on Swanage so has some prototypical resemblance. Back in 1979 I was not in a position to create a layout of this size, but I always thought it would be a good starting point as a track plan for a BLT.



I'll offer no excuse in admitting that the 3D illustration of the track plan is probably why it has had such a lasting impression on me.  It also ticks all the boxes for including all features for a West Country Rural Branch Line Terminus. As for Bigbury Bay, the road over the bridge could be the B3392 from Bigbury-on-Sea to the A379. Then with a few minor amendments to Great Westernise the plan I think it would suit the location well. Whether these minor amendments could include features from Iain Rice's "Witheridge" track plan (from his "An approach to Model Railway Layout Design") we'll have to wait and see.

Well that's it really, the track plan will have to be finalised before this project progresses any further. So, for now, the Ratio kits along with all the rolling stock will be kept. Don't think there is any harm in dreaming of future projects, just wish I had more time available... don't hold your breath, this project has a very good chance of not getting beyond the dreaming stage, especially as I would also like to build a GWR Engine Shed layout.

Anyway, less of this frivolity, nearly a year has past since Scaleforum with little progress on Tredethy Wharf and I really need to focus on getting the layout ready for the Caistor show in October

"Plan of the month
Bigbury Bay 
A beginner's line by N. J. Pocock

A BRANCH IS BUILT: The GWR built the Kingsbridge branch late in the 19th century. It is assumed that the GWR also decided to construct a line from a junction just to the east of Ivybridge viaduct to run south over the undulating terrain to terminate on the coast, passing by the villages of Modbury and Aveton Gifford, and thence via the Avon estuary to Bigbury Bay. Fig. 1 gives the route chosen for the branch line. Originally, the route was drawn out on a 1 inch Ordnance Survey map but this was found to give insufficient contour detail so a 2 1/2 inch map was used in the end.

Despite the difficult contours of the terrain, only four major engineering works are necessary, viz. Sheepham Viaduct (300 yards long by 120 feet high), Modbury Summit Tunnel (500 yards long), Aunemouth Bridge (350 yards long by 25 feet above mean sea level), and Aunemouth Tunnel (1,000 yards long). The last two items, strictly speaking, are only there to provide. a natural scenic break for the model of the terminus since it is quite feasible for the tracks to continue around the estuary, dispensing with the tunnel and crossing the estuary at its mouth in the bay. It is assumed that the GWR built the line economically (to the “yellow” colour axle-load restriction) and hence only the lighter tank engines would be allowed over the metals- effectively, the ubiquitous 45xx and 55xx 2-6-2T’s. The line is situated in the heart of the Devon farmland so there would be no heavy freight trains; but a modest freight service would entail general goods transported into the area and milk and farm produce transported out of the area. By the 1930s, when West Country holiday traffic was at its peak, facilities would exist (like the Kingsbridge branch), not only for a local passenger service, but also a daily through-coaches service to and from Paddington. These would be supplemented with extra coaches and workings on summer Saturdays. Ivybridge Station was rebuilt to function as a junction station for the branch.



PREPARATIONS FOR A TIMETABLE:


Fig. 5 gives the final compilation of a timetable for the branch, but there are a few preliminaries before arriving at the final product! First, there is the drawing out of a Gradient Profile (see Fig. 3) to get an idea of the gradients the trains have to negotiate over the branch. This was done by drawing the proposed route on a 2 1/2 inch Ordnance Survey map and calculating the rise (or fall) in feet of a stretch of line and dividing this into the length of the track, also in feet of course. The neighbouring Kingsbridge branch had the convenient use of the comparatively flat Avon valley for most of its route, but the Bigbury Bay branch has no such convenience until it reaches Aveton Gifford and the Avon estuary. Nevertheless, after several attempts at route planning, it was found best if the branch turned south after leaving the main line just east of Ivybridge Viaduct and descend steeply (1 :42) at the steepest part to Ludbrook Halt where after a short level stretch, the line rises again towards Modbury before entering a level section to reach the station. This was found to be the most difficult part of the line to route-plan because of the undulating nature of the terrain and deep valleys of the river Erme’s tributaries which the line has to cross, yet in the final route chosen only one large viaduct (at Sheepham) was found necessary. At Modbury station the line turns east up a valley of one of the river Erme’s tributaries and ascends to Modbury Summit Tunnel; and after the line has emerged out of the gloom it finds itself in another valley, this time of a stream that flows into the Avon estuary. The tracks descend down this and into Aveton Gifford station, thence to use the Avon estuary as far as Aunemouth Halt, and then cross the estuary and enter Bigbury Bay by use of a tunnel through the earth cliifs. This last section is level. From the Gradient Profile the running times “up” (towards London) and “down” (from London) can be calculated. The first two columns of Fig. 5 shows these; allowing for a maximum train speed of 35m.p.h. and stopping times of passenger trains at stations and halts en route. These are realistic running times for the average branch line speed for this kind of branch on the GWR was 21-22m.p.h. (as per the Kingsbridge branch among others) and the Bigbury Bay running times correspond to this very well.

Fig 4
Finally, Fig. 4 shows a table of all trains stopping at Ivybridge, Monday to Friday, 4th July to 25th September, 1938. This was compiled from the official GWR working timetable at the Transport Historical Records Office in London. The table is not entirely accurate for the simple reason the branch from Ivybridge to Bigbury Bay is fiction, not fact. Thus, one of the North West expresses (Manchester and Liverpool via Bristol, South Wales, Shrewsbury and Crewe) has had its‚ schedule altered to stop at Ivybridge in both ‚”up”  and ‚”down” directions; likewise, one of the Paddington- Penzance expresses to stop and attach the through coaches from Bigbury Bay on the ‚”up‚” working, and detach the through coaches on the ‚”down” train; the parcels train, Paddington to Penzance via Bristol, has also had a stop inserted into its timetable at Ivybridge since it stopped at Brent for the Kingsbridge branch; the ‚”up” Tavistock Jnc. - Ivybridge goods originally carried on to the sidings at Brent so that the loco could help out with workings on the Kingsbridge branch but this now terminates at Ivybridge, and the return evening trip starts from Ivybridge, so that the loco can serve the Bigbury Bay branch‚ - Kingsbridge being served by a goods trip to and from Newton Abbot instead! I will end this section with a brief comment on the GWR mainline workings in the West Country - there was nothing that was symmetrical about them in the “up” and ‚”down” directions, as Fig. 4 bears out, and the official working timetable shows.

 

THE WORKING TIMETABLE FOR THE BRANCH: 
Fig. 5 is a working timetable for the branch, Monday to Friday, compiled from the running times and Fig. 4, taking care of course not to put a branch train on a collision time with a mainline train over Ivybridge viaduct! The table is more or less self-explanatory, but a few words need to be said here. Two locos only are required to work the branch, two “B” sets and a three coach rake of corridors, a couple of milk tanks, either a syphon “J” or 40ft. Dean luggage Van for the parcels, and an assortment of 30 or so wagons. All these are available in kits. A spare all-3rd coach‚ - how about a 58ft. Clerestory made up from two Triang brake/3rd Clerestories ?‚- can be kept in the coach siding for Saturday local passenger trains, to supplement the “B” set. Any parcels from Bigbury Bay branch would be taken in the van as far as Ivybridge and then put on a local passenger to connect with the appropriate parcels train at either Plymouth or Newton Abbot. The perishable traffic from the branch for the Crewe and Paddington freight expresses is attached to the rear of a local passenger train to Totnes and Plympton (for Tavistock Inc. sidings) respectively. The milk tanks are taken on to a dairy between Ivybridge and Cornwood by the 45XX that worked them up from Bigbury Bay, and at the dairy sidings marshalled into the appropriate train-set for their destination. A Saturday timetable has not been worked out since this would mean more coaches for through services, a longer traverser in consequence, and into the bargain the afternoon goods would not run, thereby detracting from variety in operation."

Tuesday 6 August 2019

New "Man Cave"

In a previous post I alluded to a building project that will have an affect on my modelling hobbies. This was the building of an extension between the house and garage (Man Cave) creating a small study and a passageway through to the garage. This project also included stealing a good seven foot off the length of my "Man Cave" for a downstairs shower room and toilet. Even though I've lost space I now have direct access to the "Cave" from the house.
  • No more venturing outside in the dark and cold winter evenings.
  • No more worrying about security while opening the door that gave access from the street. This door is now firmly bolted.
  • No more having to boost the temperature with an electric fan heater during the cooler evenings as it now has a radiator running off the house central heating.
All in all, losing seven foot off the length of the room along with having access direct from the house has enabled me to create a more cosy welcoming space in which to while away the evenings. The only down side is that, due to the reduced space, it would seem my proposed Grogley Junction project is now "dead in the water".


I'm still getting use to the new room and sorting through all the stuff I've collected over the years but it's coming together nicely.