Longcarse West - P4 Model Railway http://longcarsewest.fotopic.net/ 5 rows en-gb 60 Longcarse West Rolling Stock http://longcarsewest.fotopic.net/c1521441.html In this collection you will be able to see pictures of the Longcarse West rolling stock that has been featured in the OMWB section and is now finished and ready for service. Monday 2 June 2008: In this collection you will be able to see pictures of the Longcarse West rolling stock that has been featured in the OMWB section and is now finished and ready for service.

Photo by J.Wealleans Photo by J.Wealleans Photo by J.Wealleans 27024 is a Heljan loco. As one of the original Thornaby batch this loco did not have a train heating boiler. So the water tanks have been removed. The bogie sideframes have also been modified to set the secondary springs back to a more prototypical position. A Howes sound chip is fitted 20046 is an early Bachmann loco with very few modifications. Just etched headcode discs and flush glazing. Originally a SWD sound chip was fitted but this has now been reblown with much better sounds from Olivias Train. Photo by A.Weston Photo by A.Weston 25029 was one of a batch of four locos of this bodystyle to be built without water tanks. This model is a combination of a modified Hornby body and a Bachmann chassis that has been rebuilt using the method pioneered by Jim Smith-Wright. A SWD sound chip is fitted to this loco. The coal merchants lorry waits for a recently plated 16 ton mineral wagon to be unloaded. This CO2 tank is an Appleby kit running on Bill Bedford sprung W irons. As the real wagon was only built in 1974 I have kept the weathering to a minimum. This is the Siphon G from the OMWB section in it's completed state. A Bachmann GUV required minimal work consisting of new buffers and MJT bogies before renumbering and weathering. The 2009 DEMU Showcase exhibition brought an unusual visitor in the shape of Mike Ansons Hymek. The Howes sound chip fitted to this loco is very very good.

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]]> Mon Jun 2 2008 Alloa Railway Photographs http://longcarsewest.fotopic.net/c1237499.html As Longcarse West is based in the Alloa area I've created this collection to show some pictures I've taken of the area. Most of these photos were taken in March 2005 just after the removal of the trees and undergrowth that had taken over the line. Friday 23 March 2007: As Longcarse West is based in the Alloa area I've created this collection to show some pictures I've taken of the area. Most of these photos were taken in March 2005 just after the removal of the trees and undergrowth that had taken over the line.

The old station site looking east Looking west from Alloa station. The dock branch used to diverge to the left here. Looking towards Alloa West Junction The portal for the dock branch tunnel Brewery site just east of the station. This is the location for a new superstore and the new Alloa station East end of Alloa station looking west East end of Alloa station looking east. The former Devon Valley line diverges to the left here. Alloa station retaining wall showing the characteristic pink stone that is common in the area. Alloa station site looking west Alloa station retaining wall Site of Alloa New Yard looking east towards Alloa West Junction. The line from Longcarse Junction came in from the right in the distance. Site of Alloa New Yard looking west Looking east at Cambus Looking west at Cambus. After the closure of Alloa New Yard the trains of molasses to Menstrie ran round here. The bridge across the old station site at Alloa. The view from the top of the Wallace Monument. The trackbed of the Stirling to Alloa line can be seen curving through Causewayhead beside the river Forth. Photo by G.Furmage Alloas new station and superstore under construction in December 2006. Photo by G.Furmage Tenament buildings alongside the Devon Valley line. These buildings will be a feature of the backscene on Longcarse West. Photo by G.Furmage More lineside tenaments. The childrens playpark in the foreground is built, I believe, on the site of the Co-op coal depot that closed in the early 80s. Photo by G.Furmage Lineside housing in Alloa. Photo by G.Furmage Points lever on the run round at Menstrie View from the overbridge at Menstrie looking towards Cambus View from the overbridge at Menstrie looking towards the factory Run round loop at Menstrie The factory at Menstrie Former loading bank at Menstrie Road overbridge at Menstrie Cambus looking towards Stirling Cambus looking towards Alloa Industrial estate on the site of the NB goods yard at Alloa. A representation of the church spire has been used on the Longcarse West back scene. Maltings at Alloa. One of the buildings on Longcarse West will be based on these maltings The trackbed of the Alloa harbour branch looking up hill. A view from the road bridge over the harbour branch looking downhill. A picture from about this viewpoint taken in 1977 was featured in 'Scottish Rural and Urban Branch Lines by George C O'Hara. A view from the harbour branch road overbridge looking up hill.

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]]> Fri Mar 23 2007 Round Trees Sidings Freight Stock http://longcarsewest.fotopic.net/c1190966.html As a member of the North East area group of DEMU I have built some of the freight stock that runs on our EM gauge layout Round Trees Sidings and those wagons are featured here. For more information on the layout and the prototype Tyneside location it is based on have a look at http://roundtreesidings.fotopic.net/ and http://roundtreessidings.fotopic.net/ Monday 22 January 2007: As a member of the North East area group of DEMU I have built some of the freight stock that runs on our EM gauge layout Round Trees Sidings and those wagons are featured here. For more information on the layout and the prototype Tyneside location it is based on have a look at http://roundtreesidings.fotopic.net/ and http://roundtreessidings.fotopic.net/

Tyne & Wear Metro brake van B954553. This van was experimentally rebodied by BR in 1975 but was not a succes and was sold to T&W PTE in 1979 for use on engineering trains on the Metro system. The model started of as a Bachmann flush sided van with modifications to the roof and vestibule doors. As a diagram 1/507 van long oleo buffers and hooded roller bearing axleboxes were also required. Two medfits from the Parkside kit. One is built as per the kit but the other runs on a Parkside LMS pattern clasp brake underframe. Both are loaded with spoil and run in the T&W engineering train. T&W PTE no.15. Formerly vacuum braked bogie bolster D B927478 this wagon had the sides and bolsters removed and was used as an open flat wagon on the Metro system. A Cambrain BDA kit was modified with vacuum brake gear, lever handbrakes and David & Lloyd bogies. The lack of any load restraining equipment is quite prototypical and more 'rubbish' will be added soon. Two rebodied HTV coal hoppers converted from Airfix/Dapol wagons. The wagon on the left was featured on the contents page of Rail Express Modeller magazine. Another two HTVs, once again converted from Airfix/Dapol hoppers. The one on the left is in original condition while the right hand one is a rebuild. Dave Bradwell etches were used for the door operating levers and the handrail stanchions. Two VEAs from the Parkside kit. The one on the left represents an early conversion in freight maroon while the one on the right is a later conversion in the much more common red/grey livery. The only mods to these kits was the replacement of the door handles with 0.33mm wire, the removal of the end label boards on the maroon one, and the addition of MJT buffers heads. RBX runner van made from a Triang VIX ferry van that I picked up the DEMU showcase a couple of years ago for two quid. Most of the work on this van involved gouging big holes in the chassis to make room for Bill Bedford sprung W irons, refining the rather chunky Triang detail and removing and replacing the sliding door apparatus. Another VIX. This time a new Hornby van was used and has all the mods that were done to the Triang van. A full body repaint was avoided and the body only required touching in where new parts had been added Another early style VDA in bauxite livery. This one has a representation of the black rubber rainstrip that was fitted to some vans to keep the rain out. This VDA is from the later batches with the exposed door hinges and carries Railfreight red/grey livery. One of the fleet of VDAs used on the Rowntrees chocolate traffic. This one is in freight maroon and has the characteristic white roof that was intended to keep the chocolate load cool. Rountrees VDA. Our VDA fleet is built from Hornby bodies running on scratchbuilt resin cast chassis. All are compensated with MJT internal rockers and have etched brass handbrakes from Colin Craig This VDA represents one of the later batches and has modified hinges on the outer doors. This VDA is from a batch of 20 that were built with clasp brakes. All of this batch including 'whitey' was used on the Rountrees chocolate traffic. Diagram 1/503 brake van based on the Airfix/Dapol/Hornby LMS brake van. Weight boxes between the wheels, brake gear in line with the wheels and 0.33mm wire handrails are the main ingredients in this conversion. A good article on these vans by Ian Fleming was featured in the July 1996 edition of British Railway Modelling A standard diagram 1/507 brake van from a Bachmann donor. Roller bearing axleboxes, long oleo buffers, new rainstrips and battening around the lookout duckets were the extent off the work on this example. The Bachmann plastic handrails look terrible and really need to be changed for wire ones. Diagram 1/506 brake van based on the Bachmann example. Plating of the veranda ends, battening around the lookout duckets and new rainstrips were all that was required for this van. Although I've replaced the handrails with wire I've used 0.45 mm diameter wire which is too big. This needs replacing with 0.33mm dia wire instead. Another 1/507 brake van in Railfreight red/grey livery this time. Roller bearing axleboxes, long oleos and replacement rainstrips are the only modifications here and only the roof and underframe have had to be painted. Diagram 1/477 bogie bolster C modified from the Mainline/Bachmann bolster. Scratchbuilt bolsters, lever handbrakes, vacuum brake gear and Cambrian Davis & Lloyd bogie sides on A1 frames are the main elements of this conversion. Buffers are ABS Oleos bored out and sprung with 51L 16 Unique white VDA 200987. Rather luckily, the decals for this van were on an old set of Woodhead decals which I had tucked away.

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]]> Mon Jan 22 2007 On My Work Bench http://longcarsewest.fotopic.net/c1173957.html Here are some pictures of the stock that I am building to run on Longcarse West. Most of the wagons are either plastic kits or modified RTR bodies on scale chassis. Although they are all built to P4 standards few are compensated. Only experience will tell whether this has been the right decision. Tuesday 2 January 2007: Here are some pictures of the stock that I am building to run on Longcarse West. Most of the wagons are either plastic kits or modified RTR bodies on scale chassis. Although they are all built to P4 standards few are compensated. Only experience will tell whether this has been the right decision.

This Base Toys Leyland FG has had a tail lift added and has received a repaint into BR yellow. The body needs to be moved forward a little and I'm waiting for BR decals. Photo by J.Wealleans The old way to do a HTV. Nowadays you'd just buy the Parkside kit. Diagram 1/477 bogie bolster C from a Mainline original. I've since changed the buffers and bogies to the correct ones for the wagon modelled Diagram 1/260 gunpowder van made from a shortened and narrowed Wrenn body on a Parkside 9' wb chassis. Quite an involved but not very difficult conversion Diagram 1/261 gunpowder van, also from a narrowed and shortened Wrenn body on a Red Panda 10' wb chassis. Note that the side panels on this van are different sizes compared to the 1/260 van. Old Airfix 5 plank wagon modified to represent a BR 1/042 high goods. Built unfitted it has been vacuum brake fitted early in the braking program hence the extended spindle buffers. Another Airfix 5 plank. This time modified into an ex LMS high goods. This one has been vacuum fitted in 1959 and is therefore fitted with Oleo buffers. ex LNER grain van from a Parkside kit. Most of the mods are the same as in Geoff Kents book although I've also added brass W irons and whitemetal axleboxes. Parkside kit for an LMS/BR medfit. I built it years ago and have recently brought it up to P4 spec. New axleboxes, capping straps, body mounts and door control equipment have been fitted. Diagram 1/271 grain hopper made from a lengthened Wrenn body on a scratchbuilt chassis. A very long and arduous conversion and I'm not keen to do another even though I need a few more for Longcarse. Ex LMS tube wagon from a Colin Ashby kit. Modified brake levers and capping straps added as per Geoff Kent's book and BR Heavy duty W irons and roller bearings were fitted to match a picture in the old Bradford Barton book 'Pre Nationalisation Freight Wagons on British Railways' A Parkside kit for a BR highfit. Just a couple of bits of brass added to bring it up to my spec. A Parkside BR steel highfit built with very few mods. An excellent kit that is a joy to build. A (very) old K's kit for a GWR grain hopper. Now running on Bill Bedfords bouncy W irons. This is going to be a slow project as I'm not sure how well it's going to work out and it may not be suitable for my 1975ish Scottish setting An Airfix RTR based brake van. New rainstrips, battening around the duckets and end panel repairs can be seen. Diag 1/220 shocvan based on the Red Panda kit. I built this one about ten years ago and have brought it up to P4 standards. MJT Dowty buffers, repositioned brake gear and a few bits of plastic and brass strip complete the conversion. Parkside diag 1/217 Vanwide. Another upgrade from my OO wagons with 0.33mm NS wire door handles and ABS 2'0 Another vanwide. This one runs on a new Parkside vanfit chassis with slightly modified axleboxes. Diag 1/204 van using the old Airfix body on a Parkside LMS chassis with modified axleboxes. A Lima cl.40 body on a Bachmann chassis. Following an article in Rail Express on modelling 40s this one is going to need a lot more work, especially around the cab front windows, but at least the body is the right shape. Bachmann 08 running on Gibson wheels with Brassmasters con rods. Although 08s weren't seen at Alloa in the 70s this will probably become 08725 (Perth) or 08726 (Dunfermline) and I'll pretend it was outbased there. Bachmann 25. The cabs don't look much like a 25 to me so I'll probably replace them with the cabs from a Silver Fox body that I have. An excellent article on modelling 25s by Jim Smith-Wright appeared in issue 48 of the DEMU Update magazine. Heljan 27. This one will become non boilered 27024. This will involve removing the water tank and plating the boiler exhaust. Although this loco had sliding cab windows fitted later in life the droplight type were still fitted in the 70s. This 25 will become 25029, one of the four original style 25s to be built without boiler water tanks. A modified Hornby body sits on a mcuh butchered Bachmann chassis frame. I was handed a rather sorry looking bogieless Bachmann bogie bolster at the Blyth exhibition. A quick couple of hours work and it's well on it's way to being a model of a diagram 1/477 bogie bolster C with plateback bogies. An old Lima Siphon G that has been modified to represent on of the BR built versions of this type. The body conversion uses the Blacksmith Models etch and the underframe is a combination of MJT bogies and a mixture of Blacksmith, ABS, Parkside and scratchbuilt parts. An Airfix kit built up to represent one of the 16 ton minerals that was built with vacuum operated clasp brakes. This conversion uses a mixture of Ambis, Parkside, Red Panda and MJT parts Another Airfix kit. This time built up as a standard unfitted diagram 1/108 wagon but with a replacement rivetted door from a Parkside kit. Parkside also provided the brake gear and handbrake levers. An Appleby CO2 tank kit edges towards completion. This is my first attempt at whitemetal soldering and has been a very straightforward built. The only minor complications have come from the fitting of Bill Bedford sprung suspension This tank will become a CO2 tank from the third batch built by Motherwell Bridge during the 1960s. It has a lengthened Hornby barrel on a Bachmann chassis.

Published in Longcarse West - P4 Model Railway

]]> Tue Jan 2 2007 Longcarse West http://longcarsewest.fotopic.net/c1173920.html The pictures here document the construction of Longcarse West my 4mm scale P4 layout which is based in the Alloa area during 1975-6. This is my first attempt at building a layout so I learned the layout building techniques as I went along. Longcarse West was entered in the DEMU/S4 Society Diesel and Electric Layout competition which was held at Scaleforum in September 2008. Visitors to the exhibition voted for the layout to be awarded a commended certificate and many positive comments were received over the weekend. Tuesday 2 January 2007: The pictures here document the construction of Longcarse West my 4mm scale P4 layout which is based in the Alloa area during 1975-6. This is my first attempt at building a layout so I learned the layout building techniques as I went along. Longcarse West was entered in the DEMU/S4 Society Diesel and Electric Layout competition which was held at Scaleforum in September 2008. Visitors to the exhibition voted for the layout to be awarded a commended certificate and many positive comments were received over the weekend.

25th April 2006. The Baseboards have been built using 9mm plywood and 4x1 timber. Point templates are used to fine tune the track layout 18th August 2006. The first pointwork complex has been built and installed 5th September 2006. Most of the pointwork is now in position and I've been able to do some test running. 12th December 2006. Tracklaying is finished and I've laid 1/16th cork around the track to raise the ground level up to the height of the top of the sleepers 12th December 2006. A shot of the traverser 12th December 2006. A further shot of the finished trackwork. Most of the track is from the P4 Track Company with the exception of the concrete sleepered sections which are C&L. 1st June 2008. An unusual view of the layout. The electrics are designed to allow the layout to be operated from the front (at home) or from the rear (exhibitions). As you can see, neat wiring is not my strongpoint. 1st June 2008. Lots of work has been done recently on the presentation side of the layout. 1st June 2008. This view show the illumination from the lighting rig. Two 30w under cupboard flourescent lamps provide the lighting. 28th February 2007. Bit of a rethink. I laid these two sidings with check rails thinking I would have this area set in concrete. Having checked all the pictures I can find of the Alloa area in the 70s I've decided that this would not be prototypical so I've started to lift the rails so that I can relay in plain track. 12th March 2007. The two sidings on the left have now been relaid in plain track. The backscene has made an appearance too. 23rd March 2007. The road overbridge at the entrance to the layout is nearly finished. A ply shell has been faced with Slaters stonework a few bits of plasticard and a Wills Vari-girder. I'll have to try to resist the temptation to do the usual model railway thing of putting a bus on this bridge. 26th July 2007. A brewery building has been built using DPM modular parts. 26th July 2007 26th July 2007. The brewery will feature a disused loading dock and siding. 26th July 2007. A mock up of the tenament buildings at the east end of the layout. Work will be needed to remove the perspective, satelite dishes and modern childrens playground. 26th July 2007. The west end bridge is now finished and is ready for painting. 26th July 2007. The east end bridges are also now finished complete with capping stones. 3rd March 2008. After a bit of a quiet patch things are moving again and I'm almost at the stage of doing the ballasting and ground cover. 3rd March 2008. Another view of the preparations for ballasting. 3rd March 2008. 3rd March 2008. I,m not sure that the mirrors under the bridges looks that good from this angle. 1st May 2008. Ballasting is now complete and scenic work is now underway. 1st May 2008. Another view of the half complete ground cover. 1st May 2008. Here you can see that the scenic work has progressed halfway down the layout. Having never done any scenic work before I am finding this very difficult. Longcarse West is now more or less complete and attended it's first exhibition at Thirsk on Sunday 10/8/08. Here the coal merchants lorry prepares for another delivery while a lorry passes over the road bridge. The Wallace Monument is in the background. 10th August 2008. Grain hoppers and an oil tank await the daily trip freight. Photo by A.Weston 10th August 2008. 27024 prepares to leave with empty bogie bolsters while the gunpowder vans are unloaded. Photo by A.Weston 10th August 2008. 20046 shunts the vans and bogie bolsters. Photo by A.Weston 10th August 2008. Photo by A.Weston 10th August 2008. 27024 prepares for departure back to Townhill with the empty vans. Photo by A.Weston 10th August 2008. 20046 prepares for departure with the oil tank and brake van. Photo by A.Weston 10th August 2008. Photo by A.Weston 26th Sept 2008. Scaleforum D&E Layout Challenge. Vanfits and grain wagons wait for the daily pickup service. 27th Sept 2008. Scaleforum D&E Layout Challenge. 20046 prepares for departure with a brake van while a 25 waits on the other side of the road bridge. 27th Sept 2008. Scaleforum D&E Layout Challenge. A BR Leyland FG has turned up in the yard to recover some p.way materials. 27th Sept 2008. Scaleforum D&E Layout Challenge. 25029 shunts the gunpowder vans. 20th January 2009. I've decided the dissused loading platform looks a bit bare and could do with a canopy. This mock up has used most of three Dapol platform canopy kits but I'll need to beg, borrow or steal another pair of legs from somewhere. 20th January 2009. I think the canopy looks a bit tall so I may have to shorten the supports a little to get it to sit just right.

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