BR Class 03 at Tredethy Wharf

A new addition:

BR Class 03 where briefly used on the Wenford Branch when they replaced the WR 1366 locos and before Class 08s took over haulage along the branch.

A couple of years ago I'd purchased a High Level Chassis kit along with Gibson wheels and all the bits to build a chassis for an 03. Though I'm being told that High Level kits go together very well, with instructions that are second to none, I still feel this kit might be a step too far for me at this moment in time. This is mainly due to the fact that I've not yet completing a simple 0-6-0 chassis successfully.  So, I was very pleased when one of our local area group (Clive Impey) offered to build the chassis for me. Clive embellished the kit with his preferred method of current collection which is  split axles.

The loco requires renumbering along with some very light weathering to tone down the paint work of the Bachmann body, even so, I'm over the moon with this seeing this little loco running on Tredethy Wharf.

Thanks Clive...

Web site update

eBay sales have been going well, which has enabled me to fill in gaps of coaching stock requirements for my ambitious Grogley Junction. Oh, golf clubs have also been purchased.

On the modelling front I've made a start on converting a couple of Class 08 shunters for Tredethy Wharf. These two will eventually be St Blazey engines but a little more research is involved as I'm realising that the differences between 08s is a potential minefield. Also on my workbench are four 7 plank wagons.

Three of the above are Bachmann models which are receiving either a complete repaint and/or weathering. A fourth is a very old wagon of uncertain parentage which I've had for some time in a part-built state. My plan for the next few months is to try and clear as many part completed wagon projects as possible before starting on new builds or conversions. These part-built projects include a Cambrian LMS steel box van; a repainted Bachmann steel open wagon with wooden doors and a SR Plywood 12T van which I've also repainted; aalong with a couple of part-built Cambrian Models 16T mineral wagons. I'll then make a start on a few Brake Vans and people for the Brake Van Special. Once these are completed I hope to have cleared more "stuff" via eBay and created a reasonable hobby fund for making a start on Grogley Junction.

The title of this post of "Web site update" is due to time also being spent updating my Tredethy Wharf Web pages. The updates have now been applied and the new pages are now live. If anyone is interested the site can be found at: http://tredethywharf.co.uk/

Tredethy Wharf at Lincoln show 2017

Last weekend was an excellent experience on a number of fronts.

Firstly for the help I received from Gordon prior to the show and during. Also from a good friend, Nick, who travelled from near Ilkley just to play trains on the Saturday before nipping to Derby to visit his son. He enjoyed the show so much he called in on Sunday morning on his way home to offer help for a few hours. To both I offer my sincere thanks.

Secondly for the organisation of the show. From setting up on the Friday to leaving on the Sunday I cannot fault Alan and Nigel for their help and organisation (along with the friendly banter). May the show grow.

Thirdly my thanks to all the people who stopped to have a chat. I think this was the icing on the cake and what made the weekend a truly excellent experience. Not just because of the kind comments but because people took the time to stop, look and try to appreciate what I was trying to achieve with the layout. This is something that I have not done enough when visiting shows as a member of the public, I must change that in the future.

One couple kindly gave the two characters on the layout names, the Wharfinger is now Nancy, the farmer is Tom. One surname proposed by Nick is Trevorrow. So Nancy Trevorrow it is, just need to decide whether Tom is her husband or neighbour.

My only regret from the weekend was not being able to fully appreciate the other layouts at the show. Though Diesels in the Duchy was very close by I was able to sneak off a couple of times to take in this excellent layout.

A few pics of Tredethy Wharf taken over the weekend.

Overall view of Tredethy Wharf

A very busy Wharf

Wharf close up

Tom and Nancy

A less busy wharf towards the end of the show.

Show outcomes:
Apart from building up my own loco roster, Beattie Well tank is a must, other outcomes from the show are:
1) The layout requires more storage cassettes,
2) One point needs looking at as it stopped working,
3) A few wagons need looking at due to poor performance,

Other work required on the layout will include:
1)  The installation of auto-uncouplers and finally decide on type of couplings,
2) I'm not sure about the back screen. Might look at creating one the wraps around the corners and is continuous which will remove that join line,
3) I'd always had plans for a couple more trees and still think they are needed,
4) Tom requires a dog,
5) Some live stock are required at the right hand side of the layout, not many just enough to add a little cameo.

Item one on the "other work" list is because I became very aware that shunting wagons in the wharf meant standing in front of the public and blocking their view. Oh... and operating three link couplings while being watched gave me the willies, the result is often pulling a wagon off the track after ten attempts at coupling the darn thing :-).

So enough to get on with and keep me busy for a while.

Empty clay wagon train

Well, I think, for the moment, the empty clay wagoms might be finished...

In the future I might do a bit of extra weathering but they will definitely be OK for the Lincoln show next weekend.

Farmer and wharfinger (maybe his wife?)

Being regularly away from home for work has stopped me progressing Tredethy Wharf as much as I would have liked. This has had a major effect in the preparation of the layout for next weekend's Lincoln show. I'm hoping that what I've been able to achieve will be enough to show the layout and the Scalefour Society in a good light.

Anyway this week I decided to take with me a couple of figures to paint while staying in a hotel for work. After my colleagues had departed during the day on Wednesday, I found myself being "Billy no mates" for an evening, so I broke open the paints and splashed a bit about on the figures. After a quick dry brushing last night and a coat of matt varnish I think they are ready to be installed on the layout...

Empty Clay Wagons

Just to prove I have been doing something relating to Tredethy Wharf during the last few weeks. I've posted a couple of pics below of the next batch of china clay wagons that are now ready for the paint shop.

These five clay wagons are being built using the Ratio kit with modified axle boxes and brake gear. The intention is for these wagons to be empty versions of the early unfitted British Railways Dia. 1/051. British Railways built the first 300 unfitted but quickly converted to vacuum brake but I'm hoping that a few might have remained unfitted until the early 1960s. The next batch will be the vacumm fitted versions.

December 2016 update

Another month has passed and only a small amount of progress has been made on Tredethy Wharf. My wife and I hosted this month’s (December) Area Group meeting during which one member (Gordon) ran some locos on the layout that are being offered as motive power for the February show. This small running session did bring to light a few small problems that I have since worked on and hopefully solved. A further running session (dress rehearsal) will have to be planned for late January/early February...

What else have I been up to? Well... not much, certainly not as much as I'd hoped with building rolling stock. A couple of open wagons are nearing completion while the second rake of clay wagons have, for some reason, been problematic. On most of the clay wagons the sides had started to bow inwards, this is a first for me. So I spent some time dismantling the bodies then, after a little corrective work, reassembling them, they're now starting to look better but still much to do...

For me, the Christmas break never seems to be a good time for modelling. I find time is taken up with family and friends combined with relaxing in front of the log fire (glass in hand) reading a book or two received on the 25th. Over Christmas my son and I dismantled the layout and managed to squeeze it into the car, a bit of a two man job, but it looks like it will be possible to transport it in one vehicle...phew! Unfortunately, there will be no room for a passenger. My planning regarding transporting the layout to shows has not been up to scratch, mainly because I was never confident that Tredethy would develop into an exhibitable layout.

(End of Year School Report)  Yan must have more confidence in his modelling and better planning is required for transportation if he constructs something that might be taken to shows. Also spare time organisation needs to improve to allow him more visits to the 'Man Cave' during 2017.

May I take this opportunity to thank all who find time to read this ponderous blog and hope you have had an enjoyable, relaxing Christmas. May I wish you a stress free New Year with plenty of modelling time to boot.