Diesel Shunters

Following on from last week's posting: Coaching Stock - Part 1, I thought I would continue, this week, by describing the shunters that we currently have working on the layout then follow this with future postings showing all of the other locos from Type 1 to Type 5. 

Currently we have just three true shunters working on the layout and these are as follows:

CLASS 4wDM 0-4-0 SENTINAL SHUNTER

This little loco was acquired, primarily, to work the Ballast Yard, shunting and marshalling the various hopper wagons, as they arrive. The loco is by Hornby, Catalogue Nº R3180, and is in Tarmac Green livery and was factory weathered. This loco is fitted with a DCC decoder although, as yet, is one of the very few locos that does not currently have sound.

Class 03 0-6-0 DIESEL MECHANICAL SHUNTER - 03162

I love the Class 03 shunters and this particular model is a cracker and is full of detail so we just had to have it working on the layout. However, like other Class 03's that I have heard about, it is a poor runner and hates traversing points! It could be that some, or all, of the wipers need cleaning but it certainly is a very contrary beast. 

The loco is by Bachmannan, Catalogue Nº is 31-363, and it was factory weathered although we have had extra weathering applied since purchase. It is fitted with Howes sound files and it does sound very good although, strangely, it does seem to run better with the sound off! It is also quite weighty for a little loco and can easily handle whatever duties we give her.

Happily the prototype of this particular loco survives and is currently awaiting repairs at the Llangollen Railway. It was built in 1960 and was originally numbered D2170.

Class 08 0-6-0 DIESEL ELECTRIC SHUNTER - D3105

Finally we have the Class 08 and, for the moment, there is just one of this archetypal diesel shunter working on the layout although we do plan to add a second one in the fullness of time. 

This model is by Hornby, Catalogue Nº R2903XS and, as the number suggests, this model came with factory-fitted sound, however, we have since had it reblown with the Howes sound files. 

This is a much better runner than the Class 03 although it is, occasionally, a bit stuttery over some of the points. 

The prototype of this model was renumbered 08080 in June 1974 and, although I cannot find out what happened to her, I do not think she is amongst those that survived into preservation.

Sueston At Dusk

We have now installed lighting in all but one of the ten stations on the layout with the majority now being LEDs rather than the filament bulbs we originally used. 

We chose to convert to LEDs after we allowed some of the bulbs to get a bit too warm such that they melted part of the plastic lamppost!

Sueston was one of the more recent conversions and here we see 50020, in the fading light, at the aforementioned station, as viewed through the entrance to the station from the main road.

Coaching Stock - Part 1

Now that most of the construction work on the layout is complete, we are finding ourselves with more opportunities to actually run some trains. So, I thought it would be a good idea to feature, during the coming weeks, all of the rolling stock that we use on our various trains, beginning with the coaches. 

I must admit that we do have several rakes of coaches, in various liveries, which means that we can run a wide variety of passenger trains.

The majority of the coaches are Lima Mk1s as they tend to be more forgiving of some of the less than perfect trackwork encountered in some locations on the layout. 

However, having said that, I will start with the most modern coaches that we use, namely the Bachmann Mk2s, together with some Lima, Hornby and Mainline 'oddities'.

Bachmann BR Mk2 Brake / Second Class (BSO)

First up is the Bachmann Mk2 Brake / Second Class Open Coach (BSO). We have two of these coaches, both with the Running Nº SC9424, which means that it was a Scottish Region coach. The Bachmann Catalogue Nº is 39-381 and they date from 2006.

Bachmann BR Mk2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO)

Next up is a Tourist Standard Open coach (TSO), of which we have four, three with the Running Nº 5361 (39-361) and one with the Running Nº 5311 (39-351). All models date from 2006.

Mainline BR Mk1 Buffet / Restaurant Car (RBR)

We have only the one Mainline Buffet / Restaurant Car, primarily for use with the Mk2 coaches. The Running Nº is M1709 and the Catalogue Nº is 37-113. This particular model dates from between 1981 and 1984 and is a really nice coach, for its age, and is always popular with passengers serving, as it does, a variety of hot meals, teas, coffees and light snacks.

Bachmann BR Mk2 First Class Corridor (FK)

Now, for those passengers who wish to travel in greater luxury, we also have two of these First Class Corridor coaches, one with the Running Nº S13393 and one with the Running Nº E13472. Their respective Catalogue Nºs are: 39-330 and 39-340. Both models date from 2006.

Bachmann BR Mk2 Brake / First Class (BFK)

Our final Mk2 coach is the Brake / First Class Corridor, of which we have two, both with the Running Nº 14033, Catalogue Nº 39-400. As before, these models date from 2006.

Lima BR Mk1 Full Brake (BG)

Another coach that we often use with the Mk2's is this Lima Full Brake coach of which we, again, have two. Both have the Running Nº M80855, Catalogue Nº L305343 and this model dates from 1977.

Hornby BR Mk1 Sleeping Car

Finally, for now, we have four of these Hornby Mk1 Sleeping Cars, which we use with either our Mk1 or Mk2 coaches. All have the Running Nº 2510, Catalogue Nº R339. These coaches date from the mid-1970s and are a bit long in the tooth now so, maybe, we ought to start thinking about providing our night-travelling passengers some more modern sleeping accommodation in the not too distant furture!

Thunderer Under A Cloud

The latest locomotive to be added to our fleet although, admittedly, not one that will be used very often, is the Lima Class 50 50008 'Thunderer', which I acquired at a recent Model Railway Exhibition.

This particular model was produced in 1992 and was limited to just 550 thus making it one of the rarer Lima Class 50s.

It came boxed and with its original Numbered Certificate and, as you can see, she is Nº 340.

The loco has also been DCC-fitted (although not by me) with an address of 508 although, in typical Class 50 fashion, not long after we had started running and testing her on the layout, she failed! It seems that one of the wires had been poorly soldered and needs to be resoldered - and made slightly thinner too!

Below are some photos that I took of her showing both sides, both ends, the roof and the underside.

As the photos clearly show, she is in a really nice condition, for her age, and once the wiring is repaired, she will be up and running once again - although, unlike the Hornby Class 50s that we have, I doubt she will ever be fitted with sound.

Until then, here are a few photos of her on the layout beginning with a shot of her pausing at Carswater at the head of a rake of Royal Train empty coaching stock.

Finally, a couple of photographs of her in the service depot, awaiting repairs in the company of 50007 'Sir Edward Elgar'.

As a footnote I must say that, unlike the prototype Class 50s and, indeed our newly-acquired 'Thunderer', the other three Class 50s that we have in our fleet are amongst the best locos that we have in terms of reliability and sure-footedness and we regularly use them for all manner of duties.

Coming Back To Life

With the layout fairly moribund during December and January we thought that it was high-time to start running some trains again and, for me, to post some photos on the blog. 

So, with this in mind, here are some pictures taken during a recent running session, featuring trains at Gunnmere Junction, Sueston and the Ballast Yard.

First we see a Class 45 at the head of some oil tankers at Gunnmere while, in the background, is a Baby Deltic with a rake of green liveried coaches.

Next we see 50020 Revenge waiting to depart Sueston, while 37057 'Viking' arrives with a train from the north.

Now for a few photos taken at the Ballast Yard and we begin by peeking over the closed crossing gate at the entrance to the yard. The signal is at red so, obviously, no trains are due to arrive.

Moving inside the yard we see a Class 03 shunting some currently empty seacow hopper wagons.

Finally, a couple of photos looking from the other end of the yard and we can see that one of the seacows is already full of ballast. Judging by the amount of hoppers here there is some serious ballasting work due to be carried out!

The ballast yard is almost complete now, in terms of trackwork and buildings, but it does still need to be populated with workers and final detailing.
For those of you interested, the buildings here are the 'Mine Top Buildings' by Nightwing International, Catalogue Nº: PM 113 while the blue portakabin 'office' is by Hornby.
The Seacow hopper wagons are also by Hornby while the large Yeoman Ore Tippler, in the background, is by Lima.