One for the train buffs.

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NewcastleFalcon
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

Nice little white gate with the red circle
You may recall the Falcon signal box shed homage, and the white railway gate with the red circle creatively made from a "celebrations" tub lid.
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CitroJim wrote: 29 Jun 2023, 13:54 It's a lovely little railway and very
very friendly and welcoming :D
I spent ages chatting to the volunteers,
especially up in the signal box...
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Newcastle Falcon ....Just noticed the nice little white gate with the red circle.
Would save a bit of wood if I reduced
the full Downham Market homage on my signal box/shed,
which has many vertical bars as well
as the cross and red circle,
to that simpler but still effective design :-D


More white gates and red circles from our recent "Lakes" trip including those from the pilgrimage stop off at Alston to call in on the original model for the scaled down idea turned into bricks and mortar :-D
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Neil
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CitroJim
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by CitroJim »

Now they're proper crossing gates Neil :D The best ones, as at Blue Anchor on the West Somerset Railway, are still operated by turning a big wheel in the Signal Box...

Remarkably, there's still some still operational on Network Rail lines...
Jim

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NewcastleFalcon
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

A paddle around at midnight last night with camera and torch, and the Supermoon out attempted some artistic photos of a "glowing" Alston signal box homage and the aforementioned moon. More missy than hit but every picture tells a story and some have a modicum of artistic merit.
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Neil
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myglaren
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Re: One for the train buffs.

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... years.html

historic British firm which produced model steam trains for 87 years has been forced to close its doors after getting hamstrung by red tape.

Mamod this month closed down production in its factory due to dwindling sales and spiralling overheads, in an era of gaming consoles and social media.

The firm was also hobbled by a government ban on the 'dangerous' hexamine fuel tablets that had long been used in the models to heat water and set the intricate engines chuntering.

Founded in 1937, Mamod's steam trains quickly became a favourite of children across the country, boasting static generators which powered models with wire loops and scaled-down traction engines.

A fire sale of remaining stock was held at the factory in Smethwick, West Midlands earlier this month as long-time fans of the miniature trains witnessed the final models off the production line.
Not convinced, there must be alternative fuel, meths for one.
"We All Face The Raven In The End"
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CitroJim
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Re: One for the train buffs.

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'Chuntering'... What an awful word to use in this context :twisted: They purr when nicely set up...

I had a Mamod traction engine as a boy. That one used a spirit burner in the firebox...

Hexamine tablets, I believe, are also used in some camping stoves...
Jim

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myglaren
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by myglaren »

It is a long time ago but I rather think that it would be hexamine, which we bought as 'dry meths' that we used to start blowlamps up with, camping stoves too.

Could do with some to shoot slugs with.
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NewcastleFalcon
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

Chathill signal Box on the Eastcoast Mainline through the window of the Leaf, and a "train" book in a locked cabinet at Barter Books.
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Neil
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CitroJim
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by CitroJim »

I always loved the evocative pictures on the front of those train box sets... Like similar pictures on Airfix kit boxes - they bore absolutely no resemblance to the contents!
Jim

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NewcastleFalcon
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

Steve's post on the restoration of Whorlton Suspension Bridge over the River Tees led on to the Whorlton Lido Miniature Railway which operated in the 1970's.
I had assumed it had long gone, but no back in 2012 it was literally dug out of its slumbers, repaired renovated and added to and in now the Thorpe Light Railway.

Plenty to read about it here, which no doubt I will do, but a few pictures will give a flavour.
OriginalRestored
Opening on Good Friday 1971 the 15? gauge
Whorlton Lido Railway was another attraction to
Whorlton Lido, a popular destination for family days
out in the North East. Built by professional platelayers
for site owner Raymond Dunn the well-engineered
770 yard line has its station on a straight section,
with a balloon loop on each end.
There is a 33 yard tunnel in the eastern loop.
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Open days are limited to 6 per year. Passenger trains are usually worked by a Severn Lamb ‘Rio Grande’ steam-outline diesel, which used to work in Ireland with the three carriages on the railway.
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Visiting Flying Scotsman at Whorlton Station
Bridge in the background
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“Rio Grande” in the cutting, on approach to the tunnelImage
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Gibbo2286
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Re: One for the train buffs.

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Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. (Albert Einstein)
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NewcastleFalcon
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

Platform Vending Machines 1950's 1960's (in the main!)
CitroJim wrote: 02 Sep 2024, 05:57 As testimony to how the car has been maintained, there's Dymo tape all over the engine bay such as these:
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I'm sure that some will know the particular machine on station platforms in the 1960's that post of Jim's conjured up memories of for me. Durham station certainly had one. I like visuals, but who would bother taking a picture of a vending machine in the 1960's and going to the bother of getting the film developed, and 50 years later stuff it on the internet :-D So for now just a description from RM Web
https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/64 ... l%20labels
Another common machine was the one that produced the pressed metal labels, you got so many characters for 1d, it had a handle you pulled to emboss the letter which used to spring back, one hit my brother on the nose and had him bleeding everywhere much to the dismay of my parents.
Neil
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mickthemaverick
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

Something like this Neil?
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CitroJim
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by CitroJim »

Wow! Never knew about those :D

I guess I'll have to get a Dymo machine now so I can keep the Strawberry tradition going ;)
Jim

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NewcastleFalcon
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

Well found Mick Excellent

There is a clearer image here which you can read the instructions! The Company the British Automatic Company BAC got a mention on the thread I got the description from.

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_edin_t/0_ ... c_1024.jpg

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NewcastleFalcon
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

The 9.46 from Newcastle Central Station to Edinburgh Waverley (direct) holding up the BB Leaf (Rain Sensor Screen (dots in the sky!)) on the way to the Drift!
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Neil
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