Elmham Market in EM

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James Spooner

James Spooner

Western Thunderer
Well, a very enjoyable week in Porto and the Douro valley. I managed to persuade Mrs B to travel on the entire remaining tram network (not difficult as there are currently only two routes operating and they both go to the beach). Much wine and port was consumed, much of the latter in port tonics…

Anyway, back to Blighty and the workbench, with the dreadful weather being experienced in these parts. I have managed to apply more details to the F6, with much cursing and burning of fingers. More to go tomorrow. A couple of photos attached.

Nigel

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James Spooner

James Spooner

Western Thunderer
I don’t know why but I always find the detailing part of building a kit seems to go on for ever. More detailing this evening. All the tank side steps are now on, more pipe work on the boiler, clack valves in (they were a bit more complicated than planned as the pipe work on 67227 - and most F6s in BR days - wasn’t a straight run from the footplate to the boiler but had a dog leg in them so the cast whitemetal pipes weren’t long enough and had to be replaced by brass wire) and a start made on making up the under footplate steps. A couple of photos attached.

Nigel

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James Spooner

James Spooner

Western Thunderer
I have had a few weeks of radio silence as Mrs B and I have been in Wales for a few weeks; she to work on the Ffestiniog Travel 2025 brochure and me to do a few days driving, enjoy the local beaches and chill out. I also took a number of wagon kits with me in case of prolonged periods of Welsh liquid sunshine, but surprisingly the weather wasn’t as bad as I had feared it might be, so only one mineral wagon was made.

Back home now so I need to get the F6 back under way. Looking at it with fresh eyes, I’m not very happy with the smokebox front/door casting and am tempted to see if I can create an improvement by carving out some plasticard.

I attach a couple of photos; one of the Airfix mineral wagon and one of a loco line up at Boston Lodge as we all waited to go off shed…

Nigel

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James Spooner

James Spooner

Western Thunderer
Phil O said:
Wow, the Garrett is massive, seen next to the double Fairle.
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You are quite right Phil, they are massive and as D6356 says, the master of the tasks given to them on the WHR. They are allegedly the most powerful two foot gauge steam locos built. An NG15 is currently being restored at Dinas and it will be interesting to see how the two types compare.

Nigel
 
James Spooner

James Spooner

Western Thunderer
Best intentions and all that but sorting out the house and garden after a few weeks away collided with another planned weekend away, in Norfolk, partly seeing family and partly helping out driving on the Norton Hill Light Railway in Snettisham, a privately owned 7 1/4” gauge railway opened on three weekends a year for charity. Two quite chunky models of narrow gauge Yugoslav engines do the honours. A photo of yours truly and Michael Whitehouse respectively on the regulators is attached.

Nigel

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James Spooner

James Spooner

Western Thunderer
Another diversion this week as the weather has some better days. Back at the start of the first lockdown my eldest son (who was just finishing uni and locked down with us) and I finished the Wey Valley Light Railway in the garden. This panders to my narrow gauge interests and is 16mm live steam/battery diesels, initially using some Roundhouse Lady Annes inherited from my father but now with a leavening of Ffestiniog locos and an L&B prairie. Anyway, it all worked very well thank you until the weather started attacking the only bricks we could obtain in lockdown. They are spalling very badly so I have initiated a programme of removing the top course and replacing them with engineers blue bricks. Not as bad as I had feared but it will take time to get around all of the affected areas. Day one’s progress is shown below.

Nigel

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A

Allen M

Western Thunderer
My 16mm outdoor track was laid in a similar way except the outer wall were paver blocks. 2 or 3 slightly different types but all for free when neighbors & friends had a few left from a major project.
The track was lifted about 4 years ago, the concrete in fill remover and now for long flower beds.
Regards
Allen
 
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James Spooner

James Spooner

Western Thunderer
Allen M said:
My 16mm outdoor track was laid in a similar way except the outer wall were paver blocks. 2 or 3 slightly different types but all for free when neighbors & friends had a few left from a major project.
The track was lifted about 4 years ago, the concrete in fill remover and mow for long flower beds.
Regards
Allen
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I think Mrs B would rather not have a railway in the garden but we have come to an accommodation on different zones…. She also now realises the grandchildren love seeing the trains chuff by!

Nigel
 
Dave Holt

Dave Holt

Western Thunderer
Yes, new loco on the left. However, although very recently constructed, it is a sort of re-creation of, cum tribute to, an even earlier loco than the one on the right.
Dave.
 
Rob R

Rob R

Western Thunderer
Merddin Emrys ( built 1879) is only the third oldest.
Josephine (Vulcan Foundry 1872) and
R28 single fairlie, (Avonside 1217/1878) are still with us down in NZ.
 
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James Spooner

James Spooner

Western Thunderer
Rob R said:
Merddin Emrys ( built 1879) is only the third oldest.
Josephine (Vulcan Foundry 1872) and
R28 single fairlie, (Avonside 1217/1878) are still with us down in NZ.
Click to expand...
OK, I did say double Fairlies so I’ll compromise on second oldest . I could change it to ‘working double Fairlies’ as I think I’m right in saying Josephine is plinthed?

Nigel
 
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