Gunnmere Going Green

Over the past couple of weeks Gunnmere Junction has had something of a make-over.

To begin with, and probably most important, is the addition of two new signals to control the three goods sidings - these can be seen in the photos above.

One of the signals is a two-aspect junction signal controlling both sides of the long freight transfer platform.

The second one is just a two aspect signal to control trains departing the small loading platform to the left.

I have also 'built' a wall between the sidings and added some greenery here and there to try and soften the landscape a bit.

White edging has also been added to both the freight transfer platform and the loading platform since health and safety is always paramount on the railway!

In the top two photos we have 37251 getting a green light from the new signal, at the head of a rake of scrap wagons.

In the bottom photo we see Hymek, D7035, with a short rake of ventilated vans while, at Platform 4, there is Class 43, D865 'Zealous' waiting to depart with a semi-fast.

Type 1 Turkeys

Here we see, from slightly different angles, four of our Type 1 diesels in action, in and around the coal depot.

None of these four proved to be a great success on BR and, indeed, were considered a total failure and were all withdrawn quite quickly.

In the Coal Depot siding we see two Class 17s or Clayton Type 1s as they were also known.

These models, like all of those featured here, are by Heljan with the one in the rear being D8568 Ribble Cement, Catalogue Nº: 1706. 

This is actually a model of the only Class 17 (of the 117 produced) to be preserved and is currently at the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway in Oxfordshire.
She was introduced in January 1964 and was withdrawn in October 1971.

In front of her is D8529, in BR Blue livery, Catalogue Nº: 17021.

The prototype of this model was introduced in May 1963 and withdrawn in December 1971. Sadly, though, unlike Ribble Cement, she suffered the same fate as the other 116 members of this ill-fated class and was cut up in September 1975.

On the main line, and hauling an NCB coach, doubtless full of workers for the depot, is Class 16, D8407, Catalogue Nº 1603.

The Class 16s were only 10 in number and were built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow.

Unfortunately these locos proved to be every bit as unreliable as the Class 17s and all were withdrawn in 1968.

Our loco was introduced in September 1958 and withdrawn exactly ten years later, in September 1968.

Sadly none of these locos survived into preservation

Finally we have a British Thomson Houston Class 15 at the head of a rake of TTA tank wagons.

Our model is D8239, Catalogue Nº: 1508.

These locos were very similar in appearance to the Class 16 and, in fact, both classes were fitted with the same Paxman 16YHXL engine.

The fleet of these BTH Type 1s numbered 44 and were only marginally more successful than the Class 16 with the problem, in both locomotives, being oil and water leakage, which would in time cover the engine room floor. This, and the general accumulation of dirt, leading to several engine room fires.

Our Class 15 was introduced in January 1961 and was withdrawn in March 1971.

Happily, D8233, a former Train Heating Unit, was preserved and, I believe, is currently being restored on the East Lancashire Railway.

This is the only Class 15 survivor.

New Brewery Siding

When we first created the Gunness Brewery, several years ago now, we only allowed for one siding and, since then, have often wished that we had created a second one for the storage of extra wagons and / or a brewery shunter.

Although, to be honest, in the beginning we only ever thought that there would be a couple of wagons serving the brewery at any one time and that it was never likely to have its own allocated shunter.

Well, times have changed and we now have a rake of nine Oakhill Brewery wagons and, well, you have to do something while you are furloughed, so I decided that now was as good a time as any to install that second siding.

The photograph, below, shows how the brewery looked, when first constructed, and with its single siding:

While the following photographs show it as it is now, with the second siding installed and, I hope you will agree, looking much better too.

You will also note that there are a couple of the Oakhill wagons in the new siding plus the brewery seems to have acquired its own shunter in the form of a Hornby 'Ruston & Hornsby' 48DS plus Flatbed Wagon - Catalogue Nº R3707.

This will, eventually, have a sound decoder fitted with Stay-alive as I would like to use it without the flat wagon.

The next three photos show the little loco in better detail.

Sulzers A-plenty

Moving, now, to the southern end of the railway, we see three Sulzer Type 2's at Petersfield station.

As with the Hydraulics and Class 37s, all of these locos are fitted with sound decoders but only the Class 25 has been weathered.

The locos are, from left to right:

Class 24 D5040 in BR Green Livery
She has just arrived at Platform 1 with a train of ventilated vans.
Produced by Sutton Loco Works in 2019. Catalogue Nº: 2407.

Class 25 25248 (Ex 25245) in BR Blue Livery
Arriving at Platform 2 with a local passenger service.
Produced by Bachmann in 2009. Catalogue Nº: 32-326DS

Class 24 24081 in BR Blue Livery
Standing at Platform 3 with a semi-fast.
Produced by Sutton Loco Works in 2016. Catalogue Nº: 2402.

In the background we can also see Class 07 (07010) shunting a couple of wagons in the Brewery.

This loco is by Heljan and is Catalogue Nº 29031.

The two Class 24s, by the way, are fitted with the SLW sound files and, I believe, twin speakers. The sound from these two locos is quite amazing.

The Class 25, meanwhile, came with Bachmann's own sound files fitted but we have had this one reblown with Howes sound files.

Tractors in Abundance

Following on from my 'Hydraulics Times Six' posting, the other day, I thought I would feature the four English Electric Class 37s that we currently have in our fleet.

Therefore, in the photograph above, we can see the four 'tractors' at Davemoor, our northern terminus.

As with the hydraulic locos, all of the Class 37s have sound decoders fitted. 

Two of them (057 & 251) have also been weathered while the other two, which are more recent acquisitions, are still in pristine condition but will be weathered eventually.

From the top of the picture they are as follows:

37057 'Viking' in BR Large Logo Livery
Standing at Platform 1 having arrived with a local passenger service.
Produced by Bachmann in 2007 - Catalogue Nº: 32-781DS.

37116 in BR Blue Special Livery
Arriving at Platform 2 with a parcels train.
Produced by Bachmann in 2018 - Catalogue Nº: 32-781SD.
This model is a Special Sales Area Exclusive.

37251 in BR Blue Livery & Domino Headcode
Awaiting departure from Platform 3 with an express.
Produced by Bachmann in 2011 - Catalogue Nº: 32-781.

37506 in Railfreight Red Stripe Livery & Thornaby Depot Motif
Standing at Platform 4, probably at the head of a goods train.
Produced by Bachmann in 2011 - Catalogue Nº: 32-387.

Ale By Rail

So, from a previous abundance of trains at Gunnmere, to just one this time!

In this photograph we see North British (NBL) Type 1, later known as Class 16 under the TOPS classification system, at the head of our complete rake of Oakhill Brewery wagons that were commissioned by the Burnham & District Model Railway Club.

Eight Oakhill Brewery wagons were produced by the Club with two differently numbered tank wagons, two differently numbered ventilated vans and two differently numbered ale wagons. 

One Fruit 'D' van was also produced, of which we have two, plus a Grain Hopper wagon and the hope is to add one more of the Hoppers but these are increasingly hard to find now.

The Class 16 is by Heljan, of course, and is Nº D8407, Catalogue Nº 1603 and is, I believe, a Limited Edition of only 750 models. 

It has been fitted with a sound decoder using the Howes sound files and, unlike its big sisters, does seem to perform quite well.

Hydraulics Times Six

In this panoramic view of a very busy Gunnmere Junction we see all six of our diesel hydraulics in a single photograph.

All of the locos have had DCC sound decoders fitted and three of them (Classes 22, 35 & 42) have been weathered subsequent to purchase. The other three are still in pristine condition but will probably be weathered in due course.

From left to right they are, in TOPS number order:

Class 22 'Baby Warship' D6319.
At the head of a short rake of ventilated vans.
Produced by Dapol in 2011 - Catalogue Nº: D1000d.

Class 35 'Hymek' D7035
In charge of some milk tankers.
Produced by Heljan in 2004 - Catalogue Nº: 3508.

Class 41 'Warship' D603 'Conquest'
With a train of vee tanks.
Produced by Kernow in 2019 - Catalogue Nº: K2603.

Class 42 'Warship' 812 'Royal Naval Reserve'
Standing at Platform 4 with a local passenger service.
Produced by Bachmann in 2010 - Catalogue Nº: 32-061

Class 43 'Warship' D865 'Zealous'
Arriving at Platform 3 with a matching rake of maroon coaches.
Produced by Bachmann in 2013 - Catalogue Nº: 32-065

Class 52 'Western' 1067 'Western Druid'
Arriving at Platform 2 with an express.
Produced by Heljan in 2004 - Catalogue Nº: 5202.