Ryedown Lane - Locomotives and stock, part 2

In a previous blog we looked at the original locomotives that operated on Ryedown Lane when first built. These still see regular use to this day but, like most modellers, I can't resist the urge to expand the fleet.

Two other locomotives built from white metal kits, that had seen operation on my previous layout, were also suitable candidates for use on a Colonel Stephens inspired light railway. I've long been fascinated by the early diesel locomotives constructed by Kerr Stuart & Co. As is well known the prototype had a short stint in use on both the Welsh Highland and the Ffestiniog in 1928/29 and is currently the subject of a volunteer led restoration on the modern F&WHR. My original model of this locomotive was built from the popular Meridian Models kit and mounted, as per the instructions, on a modified Minitrix chassis. It's a distinctive locomotive but the second hand chassis has never been a great runner, or at lest not until it has warmed up! In more recent times it's been joined by another example built from the etched kit made by A1 Models running on one of the ubiquitous Bachman Plymouth diesel switchers chassis, the so-called 'brick'.

The Kerr Stuart diesels. Earlier Meridian white metal on the left with the later A1 Models example in etched brass on the right.

Also built from a Meridian kit is this Protected Simplex. Numerous examples of the former War Department Light Railways petrol tractors saw service in a variety of locations in peacetime, including the Ffestiniog. My example was originally powered by an Arnold Koff chassis but in recent years this has been replaced by one of the inexpensive units made by Tomix of Japan.

                                                                'Tin Turtle' Protected Simplex.

There are a number of alternatives to the 'traditional' white metal kit for modellers working in 009 narrow gauge these days, including etched brass, resin and 3D printed materials. Examples of all of these now appear in the Wessex Light Railway's stud and we will share the story of some of these in future blogs. It's not the end of the white metal kit though and plenty remain on the market. The most recent locomotive of such origins is 'Alfred', another Kerr Stuart Skylark built from the excellent Chivers/Five 79 kit. This time the assembled body was fitted to one of the superb Minitrains chassis, in this case the outside frame 0-4-0. 'Alfred' has become another mainstay of operations on the layout.

                             Kerr Stuart Skylark 'Alfred' about to leave Ryedown Lane with a passenger train.

 

Flashback Friday -The Class 33s

For Christmas I received a copy of Simon Lilley's excellent book 'The Class 33s - A Sixty year History' http://www.crecy.co.uk/the-class-33s Growing up on the Hampshire/Sussex border in the 1970s and 1980s Class 33s were a familiar sight. In fact, other than the Electro-Diesel Class 73s and the occasional visiting Class 47, they were for a long time the only locomotives that we saw among the constant procession of EMUs. It's been an enjoyable read and I've certainly found out a lot of things I didn't know about these familiar engines.

Looking at the well illustrated volume has been quite a nostalgic exercise, seeing many of my favorite individual class members and even reading about a few events at which I was present. In the mid 1980s I decided to try to photograph as many of the class as I could, only a handful having been withdrawn by that time. If memory serves, by the time of large scale withdrawals in the 1990s I'd photographed all but one or two of the 33/0s, all of the push-pull fitted 33/1s and was only short of two of the slim-Jim 33/2s.

Unfortunately, most of my photographic collection from the 1980s is not accessible to me in the current lockdown but I have had a sort through some images from the early 1990s including these two from late 1992:

A personal favourite was 33 008 'Eastleigh'. Named in 1980, in 1986 Eastleigh depot started a gradual process of restoring it's original and attractive green livery. This was retained until 1990 when it was repainted in the departmental grey/yellow 'Dutch' livery. Happily, Eastleigh were allowed to restore the green livery in 1992 and it is in this condition, with original D prefix numbers, that I saw it at Salisbury on 18th October that year.

A few weeks previously, on 13th September, I took this picture of 33 102 at Bournemouth Depot open day. This is far more typical of the way that I remember the class in day to day service.

Although cited for withdrawal in the 1990s, amazingly a few Cromptons soldiered on to work on the privatised railway network of the late 1990s. A small number are  still to be seen at work on mainline duties, including three with West Coast Railways.

Slim Jim 33 207 is seen at Yeovil Junction in July 2017 when involved with the working of the 'End of Southern Steam' railtour which it top 'n' tailed with 34046 Braunton. The Crompton worked the non-steam leg from Yeovil Junction to Weymouth via Yeovil Pen Mill. Hopefully it wasn't my last mainline run behind a Class 33.

 Workbench projects - ending the old year on a high.

Making the most of the time off work, the school holiday and the need to stay at home to comply with the Tier 4 restrictions, Christmas 2020 proved to be a quiet and enjoyable time in and around the house. With the children now at an age where they are able to entertain themselves, for some of the time at least, I was able to escape to the workbench for an hour or two on most days which enabled me to tinker with various projects that i have under way.

I spent some of the time trying to finish this standard gauge Hibberd Planet locomotive built from the excellent Planet Industrials kit designed by James Hilton. I bought it from the Narrow Planet stand at the 2019 Warley show (ahh, model railway exhibitons ... remember them?) but didn't get round to starting the build until the summer. In keeping with the designer's intentions, it's an easy kit to build combining 3D prints and etched panels running on a Tenshodo Spud chassis. The length of time taken to reach this 'nearly-finished stage' is wholly down to my own inability to stick to one thing at a time rather than any issues with the kit itself. The picture shows the almost completed model, which now just needs couplings, the addition of a driver figure and a little more weathering to complete. 

Check out the Planet Industrials website https://www.planetindustrials.co.uk/ to see their range of interesting products and to see their exciting plans for 2021 (I have no connection with Planet Industrials other than as a very satisfied customer and the occasional exchange of banter with the proprietors at exhibitions over the years). 

There are several other things on the bench at present as well, and slow progress is also being made with a permanent loft layout, but we'll finish here by wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year and let's hope it's not too long before life returns to normal.