Rail Express December 2013

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Essential reading for today’s rail enthusiast

East Coast

RAIL EXPRESS No. 211 DECEMBER 2013 £4.10

DfT issues specification and calls for bidders

48 page modelling section...

Ones that got away: Class 129

● ‘O’ gauge ‘Western’ ● YKA ‘Osprey’ track carriers ● GWML electrification MPV ● Layout focus: Dragonby

www.railexpress.co.uk

● DRS Class 57/3

Editor’s comment

Cover image: Newly reliveried East Coast Class 91 No. 91125 stands at York on October 31 working 1N32/19.30 King’s Cross to Newcastle. Phil Precious

Paul Bickerdyke Rail Express Editor

PRINT & DISTRIBUTION Newstrade & distribution

Welcome...

W

HAT a month it’s been! So much seems to have happened since the last issue, with seemingly one amazing thing after another.

There’s certainly much for modern traction fans to savour right now.

At the start of the month came the stunning repaint into DB livery of Class 92 No. 92012 for its new life in Romania. What’s most pleasing to see is the retention of the original BR doublearrows, Channel Tunnel roundels, and Crewe Electric ‘Eagle’ depot plaque.

Classic traction then took centre stage here in the UK, and who would have thought back in pre-privatisation days that 2013 would see a ‘Western’ at work on steel and stone trains. Not only that but a ‘Deltic’ on freight, which was never that common anyway, and Class 20s heading an East Coast express (albeit as a rescue). We have pictures of all these on the following news pages.

Traction would seem to be at a premium at the moment, which is not untypical during the autumn leaf-fall season, when pairs of locos are kept busy working railhead treatment trains.

But even discounting the demands of RHTT, new orders of Classes 68, 70 and 88 locomotives don’t seem to be enough, leading to companies like DRS, West Coast Railways and

COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE. 01895 433600

possibly Colas switching back on examples of veteran ‘37s’ and ‘47s’ – locos which are now around 50 years old but still capable of giving useful front line service.

Then there are the 20 Class 60s sold by DB Schenker to Wabtec. This is a batch of serviceable ‘Tugs’, and so it seems likely that most (if not all) will be returned to traffic with an as yet to be confirmed operator.

The variety and interest in the modern railway scene seems to be getting better and better right now – and long may it remain so!

Regular readers will have noticed we have a great new look from this issue. Thanks for this must go to the production team here in the editorial office, in particular our designer Rosie Ward. It’s also a bumper 116 page issue, not least because of the major Warley National Model Railway Exhibition on November 23-24.

Both Simon and I will be there if you would like pop along to the stand and say hello.

Next month there’ll be a 2014 calendar free with the issue. And, with Christmas looming, can I send out a reminder that subscriptions make a great present, whether in print or digital format.

Paul Bickerdyke

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The Rail Express team

Power by the Hour Shunter Spot Name Game Spectrum

Advertising deadline December 4, 2013 Next issue out December 19, 2013.

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NEWS

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As the DfT was releasing the East Coast prospectus, the currently Government-run franchise launched a new look IC225 set. No. 91125 and a Mk.4 rake have been covered in vinyls advertising a television programme about the rail company which will be aired from mid-November. Jamie Squibbs.

DfT issues East Coast franchise specification Bidders are asked to think creatively to maximise the potential of new trains and route improvement works.

By ‘Industry Witness’ THE Department for Transport published the East Coast franchise prospectus on October 25 as it seeks to reprivatise the now Government-run operator. The DfT wants the winning bidder to have a closer working relationship with Government to deliver a long-term plan that puts passengers at the heart of the business.

The goal is to extract the full potential of the franchise, reflecting the investment being made to improve stations and infrastructure as well as the introduction of new Class 800/1 rolling stock provided as part of the InterCity Express Programme.

The DfT has emphasised that it wants to see a revitalised offer to passengers that rekindles a spirit of competition in terms of East and West Coast services between London and Scotland as well as between other operators on the East Coast route by maximising speed, quality and customer service.

It also expects that route improvement works, such as the

Hitchin flyover, will create additional paths and so has asked bidders to consider improvements to services on lines off the East Coast Main Line.

These could include direct links from King’s Cross to Sheffield via Retford, Nottingham via Grantham, Lincoln, and perhaps Harrogate and Scarborough for which bi-mode Class 800 units could be diagrammed.

The policy reflects the Government’s desire for bidders to enhance rail network investment through private sector skills and innovation. Franchising now has three objectives across the network: that the passenger gains; the industry thrives; and the taxpayer benefits.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The prospectus calls for genuinely creative bids that offer improved timetables building on the core service requirement, and a transformation of the passenger experience.

The process now is for bidders to complete a pre-qualification questionnaire to enable a short list to be drawn up of those who will receive

Invitation to Tender documents in February 2014. In past competitions, it has been usual to have a list of three or four potential operators at this stage.

Bidders are required to demonstrate they can meet core obligations such as access to sufficient financial resources to cover the season ticket bond (£10 million), performance bond (£20 million), rolling stock leases (up to £7.2 million), and a further £10 million if a ‘full repairing’ station lease option is chosen. Parent company support is also necessary, with a suggested figure of a minimum of £50 million, with further bonding required to ensure the funding of proposed premium payments.

The winning bid will be announced in October 2014 for a start date in February 2015. The contract length has yet to be confirmed but is expected to be eight or nine years, with a possible two year extension if business plan benchmarks are achieved.

■ First Great Western extension agreed

FGW has been awarded a contract extension to continue until September

2015, which is the maximum allowed at any one time under EU Law if there is no bidding process.

A further extension is then likely to allow the continuity of services until July 2016, which is the start date for a new long-term agreement with services operated by Class 800/1 Hitachi Super Express units.

Some passenger benefits have been negotiated, including increased capacity on Night Riviera services, additional local services serving Paignton, and on the route between Swindon and Westbury. FGW has also taken on responsibility for managing the rolling stock cascade that will follow main line electrification and the introduction of Crossrail services.

The Thames Valley Class 165/6 Turbo trains will be retained within the franchise for use in the Bristol area and West of England as they were built with a wider loading gauge (reflecting the broad gauge heritage). New rolling stock is promised for Thames Valley local services and a 110mph specification is likely to assist future pathing constraints.

First TPE Class 350/4 arrives as London Midland details use of new ‘350/3s’ THE first Siemens Class 350/4 ‘Desiro’ for TransPennine Express arrived at Crewe from Dollands Moor on November 7. The unit was hauled via the West Coast Main Line behind No. 92043 as working 6X50.

No. 350401 has been delivered in a neutral light grey livery with dark grey

doors, but is likely to receive First vinyls. Once commissioned the fourcar unit will be used for driver training ahead of the type’s introduction to passenger services, which is expected before the New Year.

Two further deliveries were due in November. The fleet of 10 units will be

used on services between Manchester and Scotland, accessing the West Coast Main Line via the newlyelectrified Chat Moss route.

Meanwhile London Midland has detailed how it will use its 10 new Class 350/3 units also currently being built by Siemens for delivery in 2014.

Seven of the units will be allocated to the West Coast Main Line to strengthen peak services.

The other three will be used on local services in the West Midlands, replacing Class 323 units which will then be used to provide more services on the Cross City line.

December 2013 RAIL EXPRESS 9

TIME TRAVELLER

YEARS AGO... DEC 1973

40

■ TEN passengers were killed and 53 injured on December 19 when the 11 coach 17.18 Paddington to Oxford was derailed between Ealing Broadway and West Ealing.

The cause was found to be an open battery box door on the loco, No. D1007 Western Talisman. It dropped open and struck a ‘limit-of-shunt’ signal at Old Oak Common, cable supports at Acton, and platform coping at Ealing Broadway – which forced it down from its horizontal open position.

Shortly afterwards it hit and damaged a points mechanism, which forced the points to move at Longfield crossover. The speed restriction here was 25mph, but the train was travelling at 70mph. No. D1007 had been released from repairs at 14.00 the same day, and an unidentified fitter must have failed to lock the battery box door properly.

The signalman at Old Oak Common’ box saw all the track circuits change to ‘occupied’ and the signals to ‘danger’, thereby concluding that a derailment had occurred and alerted the emergency services.The loco turned over on its side and the Mk.1 coaches jack-knifed behind it. As the ‘Westerns’ were then being withdrawn, D1007 was never repaired and it was sent to Swindon Works. Two of the coaches were cut up on site.

After the crash, the remaining ‘Westerns’ were fitted with new long yellow clips to supplement the original screw design on the battery box doors.

■ THE few remaining ‘Hymeks’ were still working hard. No. 7029 hauled the 14.05 Paddington to Birmingham on December 8, No. 7093 worked a Chard Junction to Exeter milk train on December 1, and No. 7028 was on the 15.05 Paddington to Hereford on December 4. It was noted that although the ‘35s’ had little trouble keeping time on the Cotswold route, their replacement Class 31s were always hard pressed and prone to failures.

■ BRITISH Rail applied for listed building consent to demolish Brighton station and redevelop the site with a conference centre. Proposals included a 14 storey office block over the new station. Not surprisingly, the proposals were vigorously opposed by the Brighton Society, and permission was never granted.

■ TEN new Class 87s were in traffic by December 22, with No. 87010 working the 12.05 Euston to Glasgow as far as Preston.

YEARS AGO... DEC 1983

30

■ BR launched an InterCity executive saloon converted from a former IC125 Mk.3 TRUK (trailer restaurant unclassified kitchen) vehicle. No. 40513 could be hired for attaching to a HST set between the power car and first class coaches at a charge of £200 single or £300 same day return, plus the standard first class fare for each person travelling and catering was extra. The vehicle had a single saloon at one end with a conference table and eight chairs, with eight high-backed swivel armchairs and four small coffee tables at the other. Externally the coach was finished in InterCity livery of black and light grey with a red stripe at the waist and was labelled ‘InterCity Executive Saloon’.

■ DURING acceptance trials of the first of an order of 15 trains for the Jubilee Line, London Transport discovered they were about three-quarters of an inch too wide.

Builder Metro-Cammell said it would be possible to ‘pull in’ the bodies of the carriages by adding strengthening material at an LT depot, while modifying those still under construction.

■ A MEETING held in the BR Staff Association at Bristol temple Meads on December 10 saw the formation of the Class 50 Society. The society aimed to fill the gap left by the winding up of the defunct Class 50 Locomotive Group and aims to kindle interest in the class and provide news and information.

■ RAILWAY Hotels were no more with the sale of the last two by December 31. The former British Transport Hotels’ The Queens at Leeds was taken over by Trust House Forte while the North British in Glasgow went to a private owner.

32 RAIL EXPRESS December 2013

10

■ CLASS 101 DMUs became extinct on the main line from December 24. The last duty was the 20.28 Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill and 21.10 return. The units were withdrawn because their fire protection systems were outmoded and they did not have central door-locking. A farewell tour was organised by First North Western on December 21, which One of the last ‘101s’ in action around ran from Manchester Victoria to Barrow using Manchester, No. 101693.

Nos. 101685, 101693 and 101676.

■ SCOTTISH MSPs gave the green light to the £37 million Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail reopening project on December 11. The private railway bill then went to committee before gaining royal assent from the Scottish Parliament in the spring.

Crash caused by ‘drink driving’

20

50

■ THE largest single trainload of petroleum products to run on British Railways to date was loaded on December 2, 1963, at Fawley near Southampton. Made up of 54 highspeed rail tanks, the train was more than 500 yards long with a gross weight of 2000 tons, carrying 1200 tons of petroleum products – mainly petrol, paraffin and diesel oil. Destined for Bromford on the outskirts of Birmingham, the train ran at speeds up to 60mph.

The Esso terminal at Bromford served a large part of the Midlands and was fed entirely by rail.

■ THE first reconstructed platform at the new Euston station was number 3, which came into use on December 8. Platform 4 was opened for Watford locals on January 5, followed by Platforms 5 and 6 in March.

■ THE Queen Mother was conveyed by Royal Train from Liverpool Street to King’s Lynn on December 23. Power was provided by double-headed Class 31s Nos. D5695 and D5699.

YEARS AGO... DEC 2003

DEC 1993 YEARS AGO

YEARS AGO... DEC 1963

EARLY on the morning of December 1, the driver of a train from London Victoria made it all the way to Tattenham Corner station while under the influence of alcohol. However, he then forgot to stop at the terminus and the unit, Class 455 No. 5826, went through the buffers, onto the station concourse and into a ‘temporary’ wooden station building that had managed to survive intact for 92 years. No one was hurt in the crash, but the station was completely demolished, and it led to the introduction of a new drugs and alcohol policy for the railways.

The leading coach, DTSO 77630, was removed the following day, but not before the station had been dismantled to allow engineers access.

Passenger services were suspended until December 2.

Driving trailer (DTSO) No. 77630 buried in the station building at Tattenham Corner on December 1, 1993.

■ CLASS 92 No. 92002 became the first of the type to leave Brush Loughborough, when it went to Derby RTC for testing on December 10 and returned six days later. Before it could leave it was moved around the yard at Brush by pilot shunter Spirit, then undertook a rigorous gauging process that took three hours. It was hauled to Derby by Class 31 No. 31145. By December 10, twelve body shells had been delivered to Brush by Bombardier ProRail. Nos. 92001-004 were on test and Nos. 92005-012 were being fitted out.

■ CLASS 165s took over the Reading to Gatwick ‘North Downs’ route completely from December 10. This coincided with moving the first seven Class 165/0 units from Aylesbury to Reading depot. Heritage units were also due to be replaced on all Thames Valley local routes, with many of the displaced Class 117s reduced to two cars and moved to Bletchley.

■ A SERIOUS collision occurred at Burngullow on December 3 when Lairaallocated Nos. 37411 and 37669 collided head on. Both received serious damage to both ends and required major works attention to be repaired. To cover the traction shortage, Nos. 37521 and 37668 were transferred from Cardiff.

■ A TRANSFORMER failure underneath two Class 323 units – Nos. 323216 and 323217 on December 6 and 8 respectively – grounded the fleet for the rest of the month. It had been planned to reintroduce a few 323s from December 20, but this was cancelled.

■ RfD-OWNED Class 90 No. 90025 was renumbered No. 90125 at the beginning of December, moving it into the Class 90/1 sub-class and restricting its speed to 75mph and non-passenger duties.

traction & rolling stock

Autumn has well and truly set in along the former Grassington branch in North Yorkshire on October 29, as DBS No. 66125 heads the Hull to Rylstone empty Tilcon stone train near Hetton, north of Skipton. Dave Rodgers

Name game

by Simon Bendall

Loco NamiNgs

08011 Haversham Chinnor station 05.10.13 Reapplication of nameplates to the preserved Class 08 as part of the Wolverton 175th anniversary celebrations at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway.

08629 Wolverton Chinnor station 05.10.13 08649 Bradwell Chinnor station 19.10.13 Official rededication of the two Wolverton Works shunters as part of the same series of anniversary events. Following their repaints in Knorr Bremse colours, the nameplates have been swapped between shunters, No. 08629 having historically carried the Wolverton name since the 1980s. When first applied in April 2011, the nameplates were fitted on the wrong locos, an error that went uncorrected until now.

37402 Stephen Middlemore 23.12.1954-8.6.2013 Carlisle Kingmoor TMD 10.13 Named without ceremony after DRS’ safety and training officer (engineering) who died suddenly earlier this year after a decade with the company.

Previously named Oor Wullie and Bont Y Bermo.

66718 Sir Peter Hendy CBE London Victoria station Named after the Commissioner of Transport for London. Previously named Gwyneth Dunwoody.

05.11.13

92012 Mihai Eminescu Softronic Works, Craiova, Romania 09.13 Named after a Romanian poet and author (1850-1889) following the export of the loco to the country by DB. Now numbered 91 53 0472 001-3, the name has been applied in standard Class 92 style as vinyl letters under the Channel Tunnel ‘polo mints’, these having been retained along with the BR arrows and Crewe Electric depot plaques upon repainting in DB red. Previously named Thomas Hardy.

UNit NamiNgs

321418 The Poppy Express Supporting The Royal British Legion Welwyn Garden City station 24.10.13 Named to promote the Royal British Legion’s poppy appeal in Hertfordshire, the unit also carrying poppy vinyls on its First Capital Connect livery.

507016 Merseyrail – celebrating the first 10 years 2003-2013 Rock Ferry station 07.10.13 Named to mark the 10th anniversary of the start of the 25 year Serco-Abellio Merseyrail concession.

De-NamiNgs

08629 Bradwell 08649 Wolverton 92012 Thomas Hardy 156409 Cromer Pier Seaside Special

54 rail EXPrEss December 2013

Wolverton Works Wolverton Works Softronic Works, Craiova, Romania Wolverton Works

09.13 09.13 08.13 09.13

YKA 'Osprey' track panel carriers how to model in 'OO' gauge and full prototype history Su pp This No lem .1 en 16 t

DIESEL AND ELECTRIC ERA MODELLING

DRAGONBY RISING The story of how Acton Main Line was reincarnated

month

Britannia Pacific releases ultrasonic test train coaches Modelling Direct Rail Services’ new Class 57/3 ‘Thunderbirds’

Invicta Model Rail releases Great Eastern liveried Class 08 Hornby’s all new Railroad Mk.1 coach first review inside Full review of Heljan’s ‘O’ gauge ‘Western’

NEWSDESK

Delays cause exclusive model ructions Rail Exclusive and Kernow Models both announce project postponements as manufacturer agreements fall apart. monies, which has now been resolved in the favour of Rail Exclusive.

The company is now in discussions with another manufacturer over the production of the high-specification BRCW Type 3s.

Meanwhile, Kernow Model Rail Centre has announced that all of its exclusive model projects commissioned from Dapol have been withdrawn from the manufacturer. In terms of the ‘OO’ gauge D&E subjects, this affects the North British D600 ‘Warships’, the Bulleid prototype diesels Nos. 10201-3 and the ECC ‘Clay Tiger’ wagons. All will still be produced but under a new arrangement, the full details of which are still to be revealed. In the meantime, work is continuing on the projects with the latest stage of the ‘Warship’ development illustrated to the left. This now exists as a scale 3D

THIS year has undoubtedly proved to be a difficult one for many companies involved in the model railway business. The four main manufacturers – Bachmann, Dapol, Heljan and Hornby – have all experienced considerable delays in bringing their latest models to the market for a variety of reasons, some of which can be attributed to issues in

China, leading to frustration among customers as release dates are revised ever backwards. Caught in the middle are those retailers who, having commissioned exclusive tooling at considerable cost, see little or no progress on their projects.

Matters have come to a head for two such retailers in the past few weeks, leading to D&E projects being postponed. The Rail Exclusive retooled ‘OO’ gauge Class 33/0 ‘Crompton’, first announced back in March 2011 but in difficulties for some months, will no longer be produced by Heljan. This follows a lengthy legal battle between the two companies over the delays and reimbursement of

Dapol secures Class 68 rights

Additional departmental transfers new from Railtec

DAPOL has fended off competition from both Bachmann and Hornby to secure the rights from Direct Rail Services to produce the new Vossloh-built Class 68 diesels. With the first examples now completed at Vossloh’s Valencia plant ahead of deliveries to the UK commencing in January, the Caterpillarengined Bo-Bo locos will be one of the traction stories of 2014. No release date has been given for the model, which will be produced in both ‘N’ and ‘OO’.

To accompany the locos, Dapol will also be producing the new WH Davisbuilt IDA ‘SuperLow 45’ intermodal flats.

Featuring an ultra-low deck height, the twin-platform container wagons can carry 9ft 6in high containers within the standard ‘W8’ loading gauge, making them highly versatile. DRS is currently in the process of receiving a fleet of IDAs with examples already in use on its intermodal services. www.dapol.co.uk

AMONG the latest transfer packs from Railtec Models are a number of departmental subjects. These include Derby RTC vehicles No. ADB975051 Test Car 5 (2745, 4mm £4.50, 7mm £5.50), ex Class 103 Nos. RDB975089/90 Lab 5 (2715, 4mm £4.50), No. RDB975422 Lab 6 Prometheus (2716, 7mm £9.90), the tribology test train (2721, 7mm £19.50) and, more up to date, ex Class 101 Lab 19 Iris II in Network Rail yellow (2902, 4mm £4.50).

Staying with the departmental theme are packs for breakdown train coaches, particularly in the Railtrack era (2980, 2mm £5.50, 7mm £12), Western Region HST barrier coaches Nos. ADB975665/6 (2865, 4mm £4.50, 7mm £7.50) and Southern gauging van DB975807 (2807, 4mm £4.50).

On the loco front, there is a pack

for No. 25912 Tamworth Castle during its ‘ice cream van’ days (1102, 4mm £3.90, 7mm £7.50), numbering and detail packs for 7mm BR blue Class 03s and Class 33s (1203 & 1233, £7.50 each), painted names and numbering for BR blue Class 40s (4mm, 1240 £6.50) and Class 58 No. 58038 in its export Vos Logistics black livery (2658, 2mm £8.75). Lastly in 4mm is a pack covering a host of Buxton-based vehicles from BR sector days, including DMUs, snowploughs and departmental coaches (1282 £5.50).

New wagon transfers in ‘O’ gauge include a numbering sheet to suit the Parkside Dundas BR ‘blue spot’ fish van kit (6328, £5.50) along with markings for ex Great Western Railway ‘Toad’ brake vans (6330, £8.50). www.railtec-models.com

Bachmann shows off latest Farish samples RECENT weeks have seen Bachmann release the first images of its new ‘N’ gauge Class 31 and Mk.1 CCT. A replacement for the existing Graham Farish model, the Class 31, will be released in two body versions, both of which cover the Brush machines after fitting with an English Electric power unit but before removal of the

Supplement No. 116

bufferbeam cowls and body banding. One will feature gangway doors along with the boiler exhaust port and associated bodyside steps while the other will have these features plated over; Incorporating a prototypical four-axle drive with smaller

diameter unpowered centre wheels, it will have a 6-pin DCC socket and directional lighting. Initial liveries are BR green with yellow panels and full yellow ends along with BR blue.

Meanwhile, the Mk.1 CCT will appear in BR maroon, BR blue, Express Parcels/Red Star blue and Tartan Arrow. www.bachmann.co.uk

model, which will be scanned once the underframe is completed to produce the CAD files needed to create the tools.

As a result of Kernow deciding to go it alone, Dapol has cancelled virtually all of the retailer’s 4mm scale limited editions that would have employed standard Dapol tooling, namely the weathered Class 22s, Class 73s, Class 121/122 ‘bubble cars’ and the YCV ‘Turbots’.

Many of these liveries are now set to appear as part of Dapol’s own range in due course. Kernow will still receive its second weathered blue ‘Western’ and two more Silver Bullet clay tankers as these have already been manufactured. Lastly, the project to produce an ‘O’ gauge BR design china clay open wagon has been cancelled outright due to disappointing pre-orders.

IN BRIEF A FURTHER ‘OO’ gauge limited edition has been announced by Invicta Model Rail, this being a Class 419 Motor Luggage Van in BR standard blue (31267Z). Depicting No. S68004, which was the only one of the class to carry this livery in revenue service between 1967 and 1970, the model is due for release around the turn of the year. Limited to 512 examples, it is priced £94.99. www.invictamodelrail.com

THE latest additions to Shawplan’s 4mm scale Laserglaze range are packs covering the Mainline/Bachmann Class 03 (EEFG0301) and Bachmann Class 04 (EEFG0401), both priced £6.50. In the case of the ‘03’, this covers the original tooling only. A pack for Bachmann’s current Class 03 model is under development along with a set for the Hornby 2-BIL electric multiple unit. www.shawplan.com IN conjunction with the Diesel Traction Group and Dapol, Cheltenham Model Centre has commissioned a ‘OO’ gauge model of No. D1015 Western Champion in its unique Golden Ochre livery with standard yellow panels, as carried between January 1963 and November 1965. Limited to just 300 pieces, it will have factoryfitted name/number plates and roof panel lifting rings, and will be supplied in a special presentation box with a certificate. Now available for preordering, the price is £149.99 with £10 from every model sold going to the Diesel Traction Group. www.cheltenhammodelcentre.com

December 2013 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller IX

REVIEWS LAYOUT FOCUS

– a classic reborn T

he story begins many years ago, back on May 2, 1989, when the Croydon Model Railway Society’s clubroom was devastated by a disastrous fire. This resulted in the loss of the clubroom and layouts, meaning the society had to start all over again.

A church hall was soon found to hold meetings for a few hours a week but this lacked storage facilities. While other groups got replacement layouts under way, the society’s ‘N’ gauge group held back. With no storage space at the church hall, the group could not see the logic of planning a replacement until more suitable premises could be found, so that they would have an idea of what space would be available.

Things came to a head when the ‘N’ gauge group was told by the society’s committee to submit a plan. It was agreed that the new project could be

Some model railway layouts never die, instead going on to find a second lease of life under a new owner. One of the seminal ‘N’ gauge layouts of the 1990s, Acton Main Line, has undergone such a transformation as Geoff Buttler describes. approximately the same size as the destroyed club layout, Shawbury, which was 16ft x 2ft 3in. At this stage, things became a bit of a rush as the committee wanted a firm plan submitted within a week.

It was decided from the outset that the layout would be for exhibition use.

The next hurdle to overcome was the diverse interests and rolling stock collections within the group, so it was felt that a layout located in the London area gave the greatest scope in this direction. Another consideration was to meet the expectations of the viewing public at exhibitions; therefore a good degree of action out front was required to provide entertainment. A few

A Cargowaggon ferry van awaits collection having disgorged its palletised load. The attention to detail is noteworthy, including road markings, barbed wire on the fence and signage on the rail gate.

XII RAIL EXPRESS Modeller December 2013

evenings were spent driving around various locations to find a prototype location that satisfied the criteria, this being found at Acton Main Line.

Overcoming obstacles

After committee approval, the ‘N’ gauge group began to realise the enormity of the task that lay ahead to build this ambitious model. It was decided at the outset to plan the layout in detail and to base it all on comprehensive research in a quest for true authenticity. The first task was to undertake a detailed photographic survey from one end of Acton Main Line to the other. This encompassed detailed studies of the buildings,

bridges and other infrastructure along with the various types of rolling stock in use at the time.

The next stage of the planning was to design the boards to fit in the mode of transport available at the time, a Ford Granada Mk.3 estate. Another consideration with the baseboards was that the only storage available was in a member’s flat, which happened to be in an attic, four floors up. A construction method was needed where strength and durability were allied with light weight, this being copied from the legendary Copenhagen Fields.

With a clear set of goals in place, the final task was to produce a full-size working plan. This was achieved by using wallpaper held together with masking tape, enabling the group to draw out the baseboards on the paper at full size, including baseboard joints, position of box sections and cross members. This was vital to avoid the obvious pitfalls of placing point motors across cross members or box sections.

At this time, the only appropriate choice for track was Peco Streamline code 80 as this featured concrete sleepered track in its range.

With the trackplan finalised, the track centre line positions were marked out along with the points, which just left the task of marking out the sizes of the bases for the various structures.

Although a lengthy process, this careful planning ensured a solid foundation for construction to commence.

Supplement No. 116

REVIEWS

Trigger airbrush new from Iwata Now available from The Airbrush Company are two new Iwata airbrushes, both featuring a pistol trigger.

THE latest release from Iwata is the Neo for Iwata TRN2 side-feed pistol trigger airbrush. Also available is an identical airbrush but with a top gravity-feed in place of the side-feed cup (TRN1).

Pistol trigger airbrushes are designed to make getting started in airbrushing easier than ever, and are ideally suited for use with the Neo-air

miniature air compressor, but of course they will work with other compressors.

The innovative pistol trigger design offers simple, ergonomic operation and the handle allows the beginner to preset spray performance for the job in hand. The needle size for the TRN2 is 0.5mm, ideally suited for high paint flow. For more detailed and finer work, the TRN1 gravity-feed model with the 0.35mm needle is more suitable. Two side feed cups are included, 7ml and 14ml, along with a much larger 28ml bottle. The ergonomic handle fits

smiths releases screw tensioners A NEW 4mm scale product from W&T Manufacturing, the makers of the well-known Smiths range of couplings, is a pack of dummy screw tensioners, as used for securing heavy loads such as railway stock and earth moving equipment to vehicles for transportation. Stockists of the range include Gaugemaster.

The tensioners are designed for self-assembly, being made from etched brass, with the pack containing sufficient parts to make 10 tensioners (LP12, £4.20). Usefully, all the parts have been chemically blackened which saves the purchaser having to do this part of the job.

Assembly is very easy with the pin that represents the operating handle being passed through the hole in the centre section and the end flattened out to stop it falling out.

The two shackles are then bent round a suitably sized piece of rod and hooked over the locating points of the centre section.

The pin resembles a small nail and is rather long for 4mm scale, so cutting it down is recommended. It would also benefit from filing to a more prototypical shape. These tensioners are a useful attempt to provide an essential part of the equipment needed to fix loads to road vehicles but are somewhat oversized for 4mm scale.

Review by Terry Bendall

neatly in your hand, and is very comfortable and simple to use. Spray pattern ranges from 0.5mm-38mm.

Trigger airbrushes are commonly found in the automotive paint industry, and usually work on much higher pressures. These new releases are unique in the fact that they have introduced this type of airbrush to the modelling sector, and have been specifically designed to work at low air pressures.

Benefits include minimal overspray, precise control, fine atomization and detailed spray patterns. Also worthy of note is that this airbrush has new PTFE solventproof needle packing instead of the usual perishable rubber.

Quality is to the usual Iwata high standard, with only the best materials and finishes used. The prices are good

Miniature Tornado from Farish

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GAUGE 2mm:1ft

6

DCC

PIN

FOLLOWING on from the 4mm version featured last issue, Bachmann has now produced A1 Class ‘Pacific’ No. 60163 Tornado in British Railways express passenger blue as part of its ‘N’ gauge Graham Farish range (372-800B, £157.35). The model of the new-build steam locomotive looks every bit as impressive as its bigger cousin with

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GAUGE 2mm:1ft

ExprEss rating

1960s1970s

✓✓✓✓✓ ✓

Supplement No. 116

too with both types available at £130 per set. Considering the free five year warranty provided by The Airbrush Company (www.airbrushes.com) together with the Iwata brand name, you are getting a good deal on a quality all-round airbrush.

Review by Alex Carpenter

ERA

READY

20122013 ERA

ExprEss rating

✓✓✓✓✓ ✓

excellent detail and finishing. Features include a hard-wired tender, separate handrails and a dull finish on the motion. Notably the tender correctly has roller bearing axleboxes, something that the ‘OO’ version lacks.

The accessory bag includes various detailing parts, etched nameplates and a replacement bogie with scale size wheels for use on layouts without sharp curves.

Featuring a tender-mounted mechanism, this also accommodates a 6-pin DCC socket. A nice release for fans of present day main line steam operations.

Also new in the Farish range this month is a BR 12t Fruit Van, this representing the plywood-bodied diagram 1/233 wagons. Numbered as B875772, it carries the later version of the bauxite livery with ‘boxed’ lettering style (377626A, £9.50); they were used to carry a variety of agricultural produce.

Review by Simon Bendall

December 2013 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller XXXV

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