St. Mary Hoo - P4 Southern Region third rail

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
CIMG000p.jpg The all too familiar view of the Hoo I'm afraid! I am experimenting with creating late afternoon Summer sun effects and getting the compass position of the light source just right. If I ever get the layout to a show I would set the light up like this, as I've always visualised the railway at this time of day. The view is looking due SW with the EPB curving round to the west to either Gravesend or Cliffe.
 

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
CIMG000k.jpg More of the lighting effects. I have to say that it is very satisfying watching the EMU's slowly creak over the three way point into the station with the third rail pick ups negotiating the conductor rail and ramps; the class 73 is especially good in this respect. The latter uses a Hornby power bogie and this has proved to be ideal for the job; it's quiet; smooth and very responsive; in fact it seems to be impossible to stall this loco, probably in part due to the extra current from the third rail.
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Nothing if not thorough, Simon!

It certainly pays off in terms of realism. Hard to believe it's a model. Cliched, perhaps, but apt with this wonderfully compact composition.
 

Peter Insole

Western Thunderer
Thanks Simon for posting that wonderful bit of film - I had a jolly good wallow watching it!
I know it was filmed in "Superwobblescope", and the editing was a little frustrating but oh, what a gem. A precious and fragmentary reminder of a whole era now passed!

Back in the late seventies and early eighties I trolled around the railways with a stereo tape recorder. Trouble was that it weighed half a ton, both itself and the miles of cable, microphones, tripods etc., and had a voracious appetite for expensive batteries. The whole kit and caboodle was lugged around in the precious little spare time then available, so it is with huge regret that I have to admit that I missed the 4-SUB and EPB's.

I did however get some half decent tapes of "Shenfield" and Manchester - Hadfield units, Mersey 503's, North London 501 (EPB on steroids!), "The Drain", IoW Standard Stock and a smattering of old LT CO/CP, R, 38 and (last of the line) 59/62 tubes!

It feels like a lifetime worth of memories held in little boxes from a lifetime ago! I dare not play them for fear of accidental damage or loss, especially bearing in mind the natural tendency of magnetic tape to deteriorate anyway.

One day, I hope (before it is too late) to get them copied on to digital media so that others can share, but have no idea where to get started or even whether I could afford it now?!

Pete.
 

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
Hello Pete! Many thanks for your fascinating discourse about the railway recordings you did; being a film maker myself I can totally identify with the physical nature of actually lugging the gear around and then setting it all up! To some, a rather glamorous business, to others a bit of a pain in the Harris, especially when working to tight deadlines. I for one would love to hear your recordings if you ever get round to transferring them. When I posted the video above, I actually had you in mind; mostly from the sound point of view! This was in response to your earlier post. Thanks again for taking the time to describe your audio experiences.

All the best
Simon
 

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
Colin1.jpg A 2 BIL is seen departing for Cliffe; this will take the right hand fork of the junction and follow the course of the estuary. The model is semi complete. It started off as the basic Kirk kit with a Branchlines detailing pack added plus many scratch built items. The unit was originally built by Colin Parks who is noted for his amazing scratch built SR EMU's. It was originally built to OO gauge and Colin kindly gave the model to me as he had just purchased the Hornby version. When I received it, the unit was devoid of two bogies and had no buffers. I then converted it to P4 using a Black Beetle motor bogie with Hornby side frames and new transoms. The driver trailer has a correct pattern leading bogie which is built from the Roxey etched kit. The Hornby 2 BIL uses the same bogie frames as the driver motor coach, which is completely wrong for the driver trailer. The remaining plain bogies are the original Kirk mouldings. Black Beetle wheels are used throughout. Other detailing parts in white metal are also Roxey, such as the shoe beams; the Hornby version has awful looking shoe beams that are the wrong shape and massively over scale (I have to add that Colin modified these on his Hornby unit, and made many other refinements not seen on the out of the box model). Colin added some exquisite roof conduits to the Kirk BIL that really lift the model no end. I will eventually add working third rail pick ups to a new improved design, plus paint all the white metal bits and weather everything to a suitable degree. I still need to refine the shape of those buffers...
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
A couple of thames barge masts in the background will set the scene if running as 1950's/60's. Your layout does evoke the bleakness of the North Kent estuarine marshes :thumbs:.

Real Magwitch country.
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
Seeing the 2-Bil reminds me of of my dad telling me when he lived in Sheerness he travelled on the then new 2-Hals introduced on the Maidstone and Gillingham services in 1939.

Perhaps a 2-Hal to run on the line as well....?
 

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
Thanks for your comments Dave; some very nice ideas of yours! I like the sailing barge masts suggestion. That could even be included in a more contemporary BR scene as there are several still operating on the Thames, albeit in leisure mode I believe.
 

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
Colin3.jpg A slightly closer view of the Kirk 2 BIL seen on running trials. It took quite a bit of tweaking to get the unit running reliably in its new P4 set up. Now it's performing very well and on a par with my Bachmann 2 EPB. Lovely old fashioned traction! The model started life in west Wales (where I used to live) and now resides in the south of France.
 

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
Another atmospheric short film about off the beaten track SR third rail. This time it's the Hayes (Kent) branch with standard BR built EPB's. Great traction motor sound, especially the bit onboard the train as it pulls away from a stop...

 

Peter Insole

Western Thunderer
Ooh, stop it!! I don't think I can cope with much more pleasure, I can hardly stand up as it is!

What's all this about "Spritties" as well? Oh dear, that's another unfinished project! When we lived at "Sarfend" we used to go down the end of the pier to watch the barge matches. It is frightening to think that back then some of them had only just come out of trade, and although they were converted to yachts many of them have since been sunk, hulked or rotted away beyond redemption, including some quite famous ones.

A few years ago I spotted a Billings kit of one at my local model shop so I just couldn't resist. It turned out to be so b....y awful that after vainly attempting to correct all the errors I was left with a box full of junk and an almost completely scratch built vessel - and it still wasn't right! Mind you, as I was effectively starting over, I decided to make all the rigging, winches, blocks and gear work, and it is only just on 16 inches from stem to sternpost. Little wonder it is incomplete I suppose?!

If anyone is interested, or consider it not too far off topic I could post a pic or two of it.

Pete.
 

Peter Insole

Western Thunderer
Oops, you got there first. I was of course referring to your previous picture and video posts!

I must admit though, the arable look on rural branch lines adds so much character, but appears dreadfully out of place in a mainline context!

Pete.
 

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
Ooh, stop it!! I don't think I can cope with much more pleasure, I can hardly stand up as it is!

What's all this about "Spritties" as well? Oh dear, that's another unfinished project! When we lived at "Sarfend" we used to go down the end of the pier to watch the barge matches. It is frightening to think that back then some of them had only just come out of trade, and although they were converted to yachts many of them have since been sunk, hulked or rotted away beyond redemption, including some quite famous ones.

A few years ago I spotted a Billings kit of one at my local model shop so I just couldn't resist. It turned out to be so b....y awful that after vainly attempting to correct all the errors I was left with a box full of junk and an almost completely scratch built vessel - and it still wasn't right! Mind you, as I was effectively starting over, I decided to make all the rigging, winches, blocks and gear work, and it is only just on 16 inches from stem to sternpost. Little wonder it is incomplete I suppose?!

If anyone is interested, or consider it not too far off topic I could post a pic or two of it.

Pete.

Why don't you post it on this thread Pete? Being a radio control model boat builder as well, I'd love to see it, as I'm sure others here would too. I have three vessels at the moment; one of my favourites being a tiny RC steam coaster, which has heaps of character. I also have a small diesel tug and a modern coaster (my largest model).

Cheers
Simon
 
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