7mm Birmingham Moor Street

[Focalplane]

While writing about autocoaches at Snow Hill (above) I knew I had a copy of a photo somewhere but I couldn't find it on warwickshirerailways.com. While looking for something else I came across this shot of the Dudley Dodger with a 14xx class 0-4-2T in between two coaches.



I don't know the origin of the photo so cannot acknowledge it. One aspect of the photo brings back strong memories, the ever present sound of the wheeltapper at Snow Hill back in those days (the 1950s). Although there were two NW facing bays (Platforms 3 and 4) on the DOWN side of Snow Hill, the autotrain was often seen and photographed on the NW end of Platform 5/6, as here. I presume it didn't stay there very long before returning to Dudley.

The landscape behind the train is typical of 1950s Birmingham. In this case the Jewellery Quarter to the left and Hockley Hill to the right.

 

[Focalplane]

Cold and windy today so more time in the Railway Room. This time with something to show on the water tank. Lots of heat applied by iron (set to 400°C) and gas torch. Here is the result so far:


The brass base plate will be hidden under ballast but gives strength while soldering the legs and girders. The tank itself will not be added just yet, I forgot to bring my rivet press. But I will cut all the brass sheets while I am here.

 

[Focalplane]

And I also finished the plinth for the 5 ton crane:



It will eventually be embedded in cobblestone sheets if and when I find a product that resembles the prototype.

 

[Focalplane]

The water tank structure got some more attention today:



The tank itself has been the subject of a lot of thought how it should be put together but no decision yet. Extra detailing for the support structure has been designed but not yet added.

 

[Focalplane]

Earlier today I tried to embed a Vimeo movie in a post but it seems I can only give a link and this doesn't open a new tab. The post has been deleted with this reason given for the deletion. Am I missing something?

 

[daifly]

Earlier today I tried to embed a Vimeo movie in a post but it seems I can only give a link and this doesn't open a new tab. The post has been deleted with this reason given for the deletion. Am I missing something?

You've embedded Vimeo movies several times before. What did you do differently this time? Your previous links only play in a window or full screen. They do not open a new tap.
Dave

 

[Focalplane]

You've embedded Vimeo movies several times before. What did you do differently this time? Your previous links only play in a window or full screen. They do not open a new tap.
Dave

Hi Dave

I couldn't see a way to get an embed code from Vimeo, just a link. I was wondering is the WT upgrade responsible? I am going to do a posting of the two Sidelines coaches instead.

Paul

 

[daifly]

I was wondering is the WT upgrade responsible?

Unlikely. Your post at Prototype - Barry 1967 and 1968 contains a Vimeo and that was posted after the upgrade.
Dave

 

[Dave Holt]

Paul.

Marvellous photo of the 14XX and auto-coaches at Snow Hill. Lots of railway and background interest, as you say. Funny, I've always associated those trains with bucolic country branch lines - yet here we are in England,s second biggest city.

Nice to see progress with the water tank.

Dave.

 

[Focalplane]

Unlikely. Your post at Prototype - Barry 1967 and 1968 contains a Vimeo and that was posted after the upgrade.
Dave

OK, I am losing it! So perhaps Vimeo has changed its uploading menu? Not to worry, here is my pictorial post sans video.

Here is an interesting story about two Gauge O Sidelines coaches that are very special to me. They have been seen before but never described in any detail.

I have several Sidelines kits in various stages of construction, even painting, but only two that are finished. I have to address the bigger picture but for now, here are the two LMS Period III corridor third coaches:

First the corridor 3rd, D1899. This is imaged and described by Jenkinson and Essery (LMS Coaches) on page 103.



Second the corridor brake 3rd, D1968. Also imaged on the same page 103.



Now the interesting bit. As many of you will know, LarryG has briefly dabbled in Gauge O. Twice, I seem to remember. These two coaches were advertised for sale and I was the lucky guy to get in quick! On another occasion I also secured a kit of a Period I coach from Larry which I have assembled but not quite finished. I am not sure how many Sidelines coaches Larry built but I may have cornered the market with the above two!

A couple of notes. The coaches need to be coupled closer which will require stronger springs on the couplers and maybe some shortening. Also, the full corridor third is coupled to a Dapol Mark 1 which had to be modified with a replacement scale link coupling.

 

[Focalplane]

Paul.

Marvellous photo of the 14XX and auto-coaches at Snow Hill. Lots of railway and background interest, as you say. Funny, I've always associated those trains with bucolic country branch lines - yet here we are in England,s second biggest city.

Nice to see progress with the water tank.

Dave.

Hi Dave

Yes, progress on the water tank at last. Your photos from Toddington have been most useful.

Warwickshire had other auto trains beside the one to Dudley (which, of course is in Staffordshire). The Alcester Branch was never directly connected to Moor Street but Rule 1 makes it do-able by reversing at Wilmcote. Auto trains went across country to Leamington. The branch was closed before my time but was in use during WWII.

Paul

 

[Focalplane]

A small update on the water tank construction. The floor of the tank has been fabricated using a sheet of brass and four strips of angle.

Here is the floor resting on the support structure:



The tank sides have been cut to size but need to be riveted when I get back to England, but here is how they will be soldered (from inside) to the flanges:



More angle will be used to finish off the corners, then it will be onward to the roof. Here I may well used plastikard over spaced curved formers. The only other components will be the roof ladder and the water level pulley system. I will order some lineside kits to complete the picture under the tank, based on those very poor photos we started with.

So it may be that I can tackle the wagon hoist design next?

Edited to add that SWMBO came by and asked where is the station building and concourse. She knows Moor Street well so I had to explain that I hadn't started it yet! Pressure!

 

[Pencarrow]

Well, with executive instruction, you'd better crack on with the station building. No time to post updates

 

[adrian]

Hi,

The button for Vimeo and other media is this one.

​

​

and it should pop up the following dialog box for you to insert the link.

​

​

​

If it fails and adds a url link by mistake then you can correct it in the BB code editor - the "[ ]" top right. When you click on this it may show

[url]https://*****[/url]

if so then change the url bit to media i.e.

[media]https://*****[/media]

Hopefully it should then embed.

 

[Focalplane]

Thank you, Adrian, I finally worked out where the media button is located.

 

[Focalplane]

A bit more progress on the water tank. I have decided to keep the rivets to a minimum as my first attempt introduced a lot of distortion. So I drew up a new outline using Illustrator and printed a sheet for punching the two sides and ends:



I then cut out each and glued the paper to the back (or inside) of the brass walls. Having done that I then cut and trimmed the curved roof line of the ends. I then laid out these on the tank base:



The next task will have to wait until I can use my rivet punch.

 

[Peter Cross]

Looking forward to seeing this on the top of the base.

 

[Focalplane]

Looking forward to seeing this on the top of the base.

As they say, Peter, don't hold your breath! I will leave the base in France and bring the tank back with me sometime in May. There is still the ladder to construct.

 

[Focalplane]

I just contacted Tower Models and have reserved a second crimson auto coach so that I can replicate the Dudley Dodger photo at Snow Hill. The train will actually be used to simulate a Rule 1 service to Alcester by Wilmcote. It will probably use the shorter Platform 1 at Moor Street, having no need of a traverser.

 

[Focalplane]

i’ve been sorting out the junk under the layout in the railway room. Lots of cork sheet off cuts that will never find a use, bits of wire, plywood offcuts and so on. But among the “soon to be taken to the tip” were several forgotten finds from before the pandemic. An unopened SideLines open 3rd D1999 kit, an HO Genesis mikado in UP trim and an NRM Bachmann model of Midland Compound 1000. The latter would look much better on a shelf than where I found it!

Also some Micro Engineering flexible HO track. After getting used to Gauge O finescale it looks all fingers and thumbs to me! In fact it has made me think twice about keeping my 4mm Shipston on Stour models for that future rainy day. Though I seriously doubt it has any value down here in HO and N land!

Also the 7mm scale engine shed scratchbuilt for Penmaenpool. This I might turn into a small static display. But no room in the car for the upcoming trip north.

All this housecleaning yesterday was brought about by failing to scale up drawings of the Moor Street station building and concourse to my satisfaction. That will be set aside for another day.