RMM FEB2017 Preview

RAILWAYMagazine The

GUIDE TO

Modelling FEBRUARY 2017, FREE

FRSEUEE

REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, NOSTALGIA, ADVICE

IS

INDUSTRIAL RAILWAY PERFECTION

SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL

LAYOUTS WE LOVE

A LOOK AT HORNBY'S PAST

From

King’s i g Cross to Leeds in a Victorian schoolroom

MARKLIN GIVEAWAY || NEM-362 COUPLING EXPLAINED || COLLECTORS' CLUBS

CONTENTS

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32 60

Contents 08 ON THE COVER King's Cross modelled in cardboard in a former schoolroom in Gainsborough.

See page 22.

22 32 38

What’s in the shops?

Hawksworth autotrailer, BM PRV and Hornby Peckett.

Get your track fix

King’s Cross station in a Gainsborough schoolroom.

42 46

Getting started

49

Small is beautiful

54

Where to begin if you’re planning a layout.

What is the universal appeal of modelling?

38 Past and present

Why join a collectors’ club?

58

Stockists

Where to get your copy of RMM.

60

Blasts from the Past

Tony Stratford takes a look at Hornby.

Falkirk Show review and this month's giveaway

Win a My World set.

66 68

Layouts we love

What’s caught our eye this month?

Ask a daft question

Looks at NEM362 coupling.

Diary dates

Get out and about.

Places to visit

Mevagissey in Cornwall.

February 2017

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A view of the station at ‘Rumbling Bridge’ which was an intermediate station on the secondary line between Kinross and Alloa. The model is set in the early 1960s transition era between steam and diesel traction. NIGEL BURKIN

From the editor

Staff

Editor Sarah Palmer RMModellingeditor@Mortons.co.uk Contributors Brian Sharpe, Matt Wickham, Tony Stratford, Nigel Burkin, Ian Lamb Production editor Sarah Wilkinson Senior designer Kelvin Clements Designer Libby Fincham Picture desk Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Advertising manager Sue Keily Publisher Tim Hartley Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Subscription manager Paul Deacon Circulation manager Steve O'Hara Marketing manager Charlotte Park

To advertise, contact: Colin Smith 01507 529454 csmith@Mortons.co.uk Fiona Leak 01507 529573 fleak@Mortons.co.uk

Where to find us

Editorial, advertising and administration Mortons Media Group Ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Tel 01507 523456

www.railwaymagazinemodelling.co.uk

Copyright

© Copyright Mortons Media Group Ltd. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or part, without prior approval in writing is prohibited. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in articles or advertisements, or for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations.

Printing

Mortons Print, Horncastle, Lincs.

Tel 01507 523456

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February 2017

R Sarah Palmer Editor

ecently scanning through the BBC iPlayer I came across an old series of Big Dreams Small Spaces. For those who haven’t seen it, it’s a gardening programme where Monty Don tries not to pour scorn on some outrageous gardening projects, while offering some brawn and advice.

The particular episode I watched involved a couple who wanted to build a model village in their front garden. They were duly sent to Bekonscot, the oldest model village in the world, for inspiration (see page 38 for more on this).

Sadly their model village fell short of the installation of a garden railway, although they did toy with the idea.

But it did get me thinking about the dreams people have whether they be for gardens or model railways, and does it really matter if an ‘expert’ tells you it’s not how it should be? Do you really have to follow the rule book, surely it’s the journey that counts not the destination.

Certainly the front-garden model village couple were very happy with what they had created, so much so that it featured

in an annual art walk where they lived.

What are your dreams for this year, and are you planning to do it by the book, or throw the rule book out of the window?

We’d love to hear about your projects, whether they’re a dream or a reality!

We’ve got plenty in this third issue of The Railway Magazine Guide to Modelling to help with your modelling dreams, whether they’re armchair or baseboard based. Nigel Burkin has reviewed the Hornby ‘Peckett’ which he describes as one of Hornby’s most appealing models of recent times, while I went to visit a former Victorian schoolroom to discover a labyrinthine model of the East Coast Main Line from King’s Cross to Leeds Central. Ian Lamb talks about the importance of collectors’ clubs and also interviews a former driver on the Highland Railway about dealing with winter weather. Oxford TRAINing offers some advice if you are thinking of starting on a dream layout, and if you want to know more about NEM-362 couplings, then we’ve got the answers in Ask a Daft Question!

What's in the shops

SPONSORED BY

Industrial railway perfection: The Hornby OO Gauge W4 0-4-0ST ‘Peckett’ One of Hornby’s most appealing models of recent times is described by Nigel Burkin.

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ailway history is adorned with many examples of largely ignored work-a-day locomotives, and the Peckett W4 0-4-0ST is a typical industrial steam locomotive overlooked in favour of more exciting main line steam.

Despite this, the excitement surrounding the development and release of the new Hornby model has demonstrated the appeal of small non-main line shunting engines: the smaller, the better! As if the keen attention surrounding the model’s development was not enough, proof that modellers seek the ordinary as well as the glamorous is clearly evident by the fact all three versions of this model sold out at Hornby within weeks.

The Peckett W4 locomotive (a product of the Peckett & Sons Company of Bristol) was introduced as a rugged, low-

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February 2017

maintenance saddle tank engine to be sold for industrial use. A total of 140 were built between 1885 and 1906 to a basic design using as many common components as possible. The locomotive could be adapted for individual customer requirements and modellers keen on making some changes to the model could usefully spend a little time researching some of the customer specified modifications. The locomotives are identified by their works numbers which are clearly shown on the cab-side works plates.

Industrial steam locomotives usually spent their lives serving industrial sites as part of a process or shuffling wagons over private branch lines and sidings to exchange traffic with main line railways, and the Peckett W4 and its sister locomotives were no different in that respect.

They found homes in foundries, steel works, large manufacturing sites and on private industrial railways serving specific industries such as docks and collieries. Few were passed for use on the main line and most were worked in poor conditions and with minimal maintenance. Despite the dirt and neglect evident in many photographs of them, the locomotives performed well and enjoyed a long operating life, sometimes changing hands from one owner to the next.

Model details: Hornby Hobbies released three versions of the Peckett W4 0-4-0ST locomotive in late 2016, which promptly sold out at all but a handful of retailers.

It is a four-wheel industrial locomotive offered in three livery schemes, with a fourth appearing in the 2017 catalogue.

The model reviewed here is

R3428 Manchester Ship Canal No. 11 carrying works number 654. The other models are dressed in leaf green as No. 563 ‘Dodo’ and Huntley & Palmers blue as No. 832. No. 883 decorated in plain black livery for Lilleshall Co. is included in the 2017 release programme.

There is no doubt that Hornby has done an exceptional job on this small but perfectly formed model.

Body shell and detailing: Modern tooling techniques lend themselves to small delicate components which are a feature of the Hornby Peckett.

Die-casting has been extensively used in many areas of the model to bring its weight up to deliver a reasonably good performance for such a small model. Other areas are moulded in plastic with some very thin sections such as the can end and sides.

While the overall proportions

What's in the shops «

Earlier releases from October 2015 include: • 39-525 SR PLV No. 2186.

Southern Railway green.

• 39-526 Former SR PMV No. S1068S. BR Crimson livery with black ends.

• 39-527 Former SR PMV No. S1101S. BR Green livery with green ends.

• 39-528 Former SR Van U (CCT) No. S1733. BR blue livery.

Bodyshell: Crisp and accurate tooling of the body shell together with the fitting of many additional details such as separate handrails makes this a very good-looking model. Planking is of the correct width and of the correct number. The elliptical profile roof common to SR-based stock is also nicely done as are the tiny moulded details such as door handles, bolt heads on the diagonal bracing and end bracing.

Underframe: A common underframe can be used for virtually all variations of this family of NPCCs van and Bachmann has made a very good reproduction of it complete with delicate trussing, brake linkages, brake levers and footsteps adjacent the loading doors – all separate mouldings neatly and seamlessly fitted to the underframe. Brake shoe yokes are supplied in the box for the modeller to fit if desired.

Couplings and wheels: The model runs freely and

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SPONSORED BY

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February 2017

The version of the former SR PLV (BR PMV) modelled by Bachmann has even-width planking on the sides and loading doors. The body shell moulding represents the shape and character of the vehicle perfectly.

smoothly on metal wheels that are fully concentric.

It rolls smoothly through standard OO gauge track such as Peco Streamline and also performed well through more specialist track products such as that produced under the C&L Finescale label. Close coupling cams are fitted to the underframe complete with NEM-362 coupling pockets allowing the supplied tension lock couplings to be exchanged for a wide range of compatible couplings with the NEM swallowtail fitting.

Livery application: The review model was finished in BR Southern Region green livery,

which was smoothly applied over the body with no hint of dust or other imperfections. Both the green applied to the body sides and ends together with the roof grey colour are opaque with no translucency showing over the sharp body detail.

Printed number sets and vehicle data lettering is sharp, opaque and level. The overall finish is eggshell with very little hint of shine. For many modellers the finish is far too clean for an in-service vehicle of this type and the well-applied livery is perfect for weathering and distressing the model.

Overall: Non-passenger carrying vehicles such as the SR PLVs and CCTs are important everyday vehicles that were expected to earn their keep on the railways. Often neglected and dirty, they are desirable vehicles for modellers because they represent the ordinary or everyday railway – unglamorous, and very often grimy and neglected.

Bachmann does a great deal to offer the unglamorous for the discerning modeller and this model is a perfectly formed example, which should be part of every modeller’s fleet. ■

BELOW: The Southern Railway design with elliptical profile roof is beautifully reproduced.

Starting out

How to get going, keep going and have fun 32

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February 2017

HELP!

I NEED SOMEBODY

HELP!

HELP! NOT JUST ANYBODY

HELP! YOU KNOW I NEED SOMEONE

JOHN LENNON

Bernard Gudgin and Michael Watts are experienced teachers and trainers. They have several decades of modelling and exhibition experience across the gauges from T (scale 1:450) to 16mm (scale 1:19), as well as narrow gauge. They are often seen at exhibitions, where they provide free advice to newcomers and returnees under the brand name of Oxford TRAINing.

IAN MANDERSON

H

ELP! We all need help. It’s true for all of us, however knowledgeable, skilled and experienced we think we are. We are all learning, all of the time.

Here is an opportunity for us to learn together and from each other.

How do you get started – or perhaps restarted after a break or a disappointment?

Nothing succeeds like success. It is far more satisfying to build a smaller layout that works rather than a larger one that can take years to build – and will become a burden. It’s important to realise and be honest about your abilities. Building a model railway usually involves planning, woodwork, adhesives, tracklaying, electrical wiring, soldering, kit-building, creating scenery, etc, etc. Of course, most of these skills can bought in (some firms will even design and build a complete layout for you) but where is the satisfaction in that?

February 2017

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Blasts from the past

T Tony Stratford tells the story behind the best-known names b iin railway modelling. This month he looks at Hornby. m

R

ed boxes emblazoned with the Hornby logo are well known to generations of modellers. However, today’s models are far removed from those manufactured by Meccano and its founding partner Frank Hornby after the First World War. Born in 1863 in Liverpool, Frank Hornby left school at 16 to become a cashier in his father’s business. After his father’s death in 1899 he joined a meat importing company owned by Daviid Elliott, as a bookkeeper. By this time Frank was married with two sons, and a keen amateur inventor. He often made toys for his sons in the garden shed and these included models such as bridges and cranes from metal strips. The breakthrough came when he made three lengths of identical parts an inch-and-a-half wide with holes drilled at half-inch intervals, which could be held together with screws and bolts.

A small spanner and a screwdriver being all that was needed to construct items from them.

Not surprisingly interest was soon shown in the system and in 1901 he borrowed £5 from his employer to apply for a patent under the name Improvements for Toy or Educational Devices for Children and Young People. Manufacturing of the parts were subcontracted but suffered from inconsistent quality ty. y Elliott went on to provided the financial backi king i and some adjacent

empty premises i iin 1902 to allow ll H Hornby b to begin marketing the product as Mechanics Made Easy, with Elliott acting as a sleeping partner. The sets were sold initially around Liverpool by the part-time business; by 1906 the company was making a profit for the first time.

With demand outstripping supply, Hornby and Elliott took a lease on premises in Duke Street and purchased equipment to enable them to produce everything themselves, thus ensuring consistent quality.

In 1907 it was necessary to set up a new company, Meccano, and to move again to new premises in West Derby Road. Elliott decided to leave the company at this point, leaving Hornby as the sole owner.

By 1914, a new factory had been built in Binns Road, Liverpool and the construction sets were being exported to many countries; a factory had been set up in Paris and a working relationship established with Marklin, which produced Meccano under licence in Germany.

Frank Hornby went on to introduce Meccano Magazine in 1916, O gauge Hornby Series trains in 1920 and die-cast road vehicles as the Dinky Toys range in 1934, with Hornby going on to become an international company. Trains were produced for the company’s agents in Argentina, Canada, Denmark, France, Holland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand. Meccano also had a factory in the USA from 1920 until 1928

»

Blasts from the past

ÂŤ when it was sold to A C Gilbert.

By the 1930s Frank Hornby was a millionaire and he entered politics as the Conservative member of Parliament for the Everton constituency in Liverpool.

He resigned, however, just before the 1935 general election and died in September 1936.

He was succeeded as chairman of Meccano Ltd by his son Roland.

First World War Frank Hornby signalled his intention to produce O gauge trains as early as 1915 but the First World War ensured that production was focused on other things.

Following the end of the war in November 1918, there was an unsurprising reluctance by the British public to purchase toys that originated from Germany. Hornby seized the moment and by 1920 was producing the first O gauge trains, which were assembled using the Meccano nut-and-bolt principle.

These were initially freelance in design and were based on the prewar types available from the German manufacturers. Printed tinplate was used and from 1924 items were assembled using the tab-and-slot system favoured by the prewar German companies.

Initially all trains were clockwork and Binns Road struggled to keep up with demand.

Another key development in the 1920s

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February 2017

was the introduction of the first electrically powered trains. The Metropolitan Railway Electric locomotives were the first to have electric motors although the power supply connected to a domestic electric light socket would not find favour today.

The 4-4-2 locomotives were released in 1925 but bore little resemblance to the names of the famous locomotives they carried.

Names such as those from 4-6-2 Pacific Flying Scotsman, and 4-6-0s from the GWR Caerphilly Castle. LMS Royal Scot and SR Lord Nelson carried the correct livery and name but that is all they had in common with the models.

The first realistic locomotives were the 4-4-0s (known as the No. 2 Specials) which represented the GWR 38xx County Class, LMS Midland Compound, SR L1 Class and LNER D49 Hunt/Shire Classes, first released in 1929.

By the 1930s a whole system including buildings, signals, figures and other accessories could be built from the output of Binns Road, and with the introduction of Dinky Toys in 1934, road vehicles could also be added.

The peak of O gauge production came just before the outbreak of the Second World War with the release of what are regarded as the best locomotives; the Schools Class 4-4-0 and the Princess Royal Class 4-6-2

Princess Elizabeth. This locomotive had run a nonstop 401-mile run from London to Glasgow on November 16, 1936, with driver Tom Clark at the regulator and fireman Charles Fleet on the shovel, doing it again the following day in the opposite direction. The model came in a wooden carrying case and was the most expensive locomotive in the range. It was produced for just three years before war work forced the end of toy and model production.

Tom Clark, who later received the OBE for his exploits, featured in Hornby's advertising to promote the model.

Hornby Dublo With Bassett-Lowke venturing into the market for smaller trains with the release of the first Trix Twin products in 1935 in Germany and a year later in Britain, Hornby and Meccano found themselves with some serious opposition.

In 1938, Meccano hit back with the introduction of its OO-scale system Hornby Dublo, the second part of the name being a play on the words double O. Two sets were introduced comprising a passenger set with one of Gresley’s A4 Class 4-6-2s and a pair of articulated Gresley coaches and a goods set using what Hornby never called a LNER N2 Class 0-6-2T but to everyone else

To feature on the map please call Colin on 01507 529454 or email csmith@mortons.co.uk

Where’s my nearest expert?

Britain is blessed with a network of great model shops and outlets, with experts keen to help and advise. Here are some you can turn to... simply look for the number nearest you on the map, and find their details below: 1.

REDCAR MODELS & HOBBIES 01642 494912

12. MONK BAR MODEL SHOP 01904 659423

BARRETT STEAM MODELS LTD 01922 685889

13. GRIMY TIMES 01925 632209

ROXLEY MODELS 01372 452976

14. THE MODEL CENTRE 01947 896040

130 HIGH STREET REDCAR CLEVELAND TS10 3DH www.redcarmodels.co.uk

2.

THE OLD EXCHANGE 47A CORONATION ROAD PELSALL WALSALL WS4 1BG

3.

F & M & S RICE-OXLEY & S BLEWETT T/ AS 4 BECKLEY PARADE GREAT BOOKHAM SURREY KT23 4RQ www.roxleymodels.co.uk

4.

27. MILLENNIUM MODELS 0113 2189286

CHURCH STREET MODELS 01256 358060

HARBURN HOBBIES 0131 5563233

RAILS OF SHEFFIELD 01142 551436

DIGITRAINS LTD 01522 527731

15 CLIFTON STREET LINCOLN LINCOLNSHIRE LN5 8LQ www.digitrains.co.uk

10. GAUGEMASTER 01903 884488

GAUGEMASTER HOUSE FORD ROAD ARUNDEL WEST SUSSEX BN18 0BN www. gaugemaster.com

11. NEW MODELLERS SHOP LTD 01733 704502 25 EASTERN AVENUE DOGSTHORPE PETERBOROUGH PE1 4PH www. newmodellersshop.co.uk

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Ashtree Enterprises 33 Nettleton Road Caistor Lincolnshire LN7 6NJ

16. THE HOBBY GOBLIN 01782 818433

27/29 CHESTERFIELD ROAD SHEFFIELD SOUTH YORKSHIRE S8 ORL www. railsofsheffield.com

9.

25. CAISTOR LOCO 01472 859990

MERCIAN MODELS 01562 884800

67 ELM ROW LEITH WALK EDINBURGH SCOTLAND EH7 4AQ www.harburnhobbies. co.uk

8.

3 PIER STREET SANDOWN ISLE OF WIGHT PO36 8JR wwww.udiow.com

26. COLLECTORS CELLAR 01434 601392

DTL ENTERPRISES LTD 10A CHURCH STREET BASINGSTOKE HAMPSHIRE RG21 7QE www. churchstreetmodels.co.uk

7.

HILL FARM BECK HOLE GOATHLAND NORTH YORKSHIRE Y022 5LF www.themodelcentre.co.uk

24. UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS 01983 406616

15. A C MODELS 02380 610100

1A MARKET WAY HAGLEY STOURBRIDGE WEST MIDLANDS DY9 9LT www. modelrailways.tv

6.

187 ORFORD LANE WARRINGTON WA2 7BA www.grimytimes.co.uk

SIST TREES 4 DAVID HUME VIEW, CHURNSIDE DUNS TD11 3SX www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk

HATTONS MODEL RAILWAYS LTD 0151 7333655 UNIT 17 MONTAGUE ROAD WIDNES WA8 8FZ www.hattons.co.uk

5.

2 GOODRAMGATE YORK YO1 7LQ www.collectable-models.co.uk

23. THE MODEL TREE SHOP 01890 819021

February 2017

7 HIGH STREET EASTLEIGH HANTS SO50 5LB www.acmodelseastleigh.co.uk

54 HAMIL ROAD BURSLEM STOKE-ONTRENT STAFFORDSHIRE ST6 1AU www. thehobbygoblin.co.uk

17. GOING LOCO 01924 824748

38 POTOVENS LANE LOFT HOUSE GATE WAKEFIELD WF3 3JF www.modelrailways.co

18. RON LINES 02380 772681

342 SHIRLEY ROAD SHIRLEY SOUTHAMPTON SO15 3HJ www.ronlines.com

19. POOLEYS PUFFERS 01914 910202

382A JEDBURGH COURT TEAM VALLEY TRADING ESTATE GATESHEAD TYNE & WEAR NE11 0BQ www.pooleyspuffers.com

20. GAS CUPBOARD MODELS 01225 777888

6 ST GEORGES WORKS SILVER STREET TROWBRIDGE WILTSHIRE BA14 8AA www. gascupboard.co.uk

21. BOLTON MODEL MART 01204 382282

58 GREAT MOOR STREET BOLTON, LANCASHIRE BL1 1SN www.boltonmodelmart.co.uk

22. FLAIR RAIL 01621 786198

FLAIR RAIL UNIT 7 SPRINGFIELD NURSERY ESTATE BURNHAM ON CROUCH ESSEX CM0 8TA www.flair-rail.co.uk

11 Hencotes Hexham Northumberland NE46 2EQ www.collectorscellar.co.uk

67 Queen Street Morley Leeds LS27 8EB

28. BUFFERS MODEL RAILWAYS 01297 35557

Colston Cross, Axminster Devon EX13 7NF

29. WELLINGBOROUGH TRAINS & MODELS 01933274069 Mob 07482828898 26 Market Street Wellingborough Northamptonshire NN8 1AT

30. MAC’S MODEL RAILROADING 01575 572397

4-8 Reform Street Kirremuir Angus DD84BS www.macsmodels.co.uk

31. SAWYER MODELS 01925 227835

27 Bridge Street, Earlestown, Newton-lewillows WA12 9BE www.sawyermodels.co.uk

32. AGR Model Railway Store LTD 01525 854788 8 High St mews 28 High Street Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire LU7 1EA www.agrmodelrailwaystore.co.uk

33. THE HOBBY SHOP 01795 531666

122 West Street, Faversham Kent ME13 7JB www.hobb-e-mail.com

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Places

to visit

World of Model Railways, Mevagissey

I

n 1971 the Mevagissey Model Railway was established in the Cornish fishing village of that name near the China clay area of St Austell.

Situated in a former sardine works, the space available has been filled not just with a 50ft long main OO layout, but also a 20ft children’s railway featuring favourite characters, a garden railway (built indoors!) where visitors can operate the trains themselves, and a small N scale American layout inspired by US railway photographer O Winston Link’s visits to Abingdon

in Virginia.

Static displays show models of various scales and gauges from Britain and around the world, including the Hornby Princess Elizabeth that won a Guinness World Record for endurance in 1973 – it ran for eight days, 2½ hours and 273.84 miles. Founder Arthur Howeson is commemorated with a locomotive named after him. The current owner is Paul Catchpole who maintains the Mevagissey tradition with quality modelling and an ongoing programme of scenic conservation work. 

Shunting on one of the six lines in the Alpine scene.

What period is the OO scale layout?

and wondering how the boat works.

Different parts of the layout evoke different eras but generally it is not specific.

When did work begin?

What length of track and wiring do you have?

Track, about 250m, wiring...

Unimaginable!

How long did it take to build?

Basic construction was in three stages of a few weeks each, over five years.

How many models feature?

A harbourside encounter on the Junior Junction children’s railway.

Twenty-seven trains and one boat run over 18 routes and there are about 1600 figures and 550 vehicles.

A Mevagissey-made open-cab tank engine with a guard’s van ‘special’ passes diesels from later BR times.

Have you had any famous visitors?

Many, especially when films are being shot in Cornwall or bands are recording at The Sawmills – but I often don’t recognise the stars!

What problems do you have?

Maintenance and access, which are an ongoing trauma.

How did it start?

The detailed cameos set in scenes within bigger scenes.

So many people came to see what Arthur Howeson was doing in his garden shed that his wife suggested building a layout somewhere that the public could visit.

What do visitors comment on?

Describe the layout in three words:

The Alpine winter scene, the smooth running,

Inspirational, entertaining, educational.

What’s your favourite thing?

Trains of various types and eras run on the various routes.

Spring 1971 with a second stage in 1973 and the Alps were formed in 1976.

The World of Model Railways can be found in Meadow Street, Mevagissey, Cornwall, PL26 6UL. Telephone 01726 842457 or visit www.model-railway.co.uk

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