Which Prototype Railway do you model?

[croned]

On the subject of track what about a facing point lock. Most of us model smaller prototypes with single lines which need point locks. It would probably be feasible to make them working in G3. I'm only familiar with LMS NCC 5'3" version several of which I have laid in 12 " to the foot but I'm sure they are a fairly standard components. Some other components such as point rods cranks and stools would be needed to compliment.

Interestingly the NCC also used a two bolt chair secured with bolts screwed into a triangular fang nut on the underside of the sleeper. A nightmare to work on as with time they rust solid. To remove a rotten sleeper they have to be dug out underneath and the sleeper cut in half with a chain saw to get them out. They are highly resistant to gauge widening when old and kept trains running ar Downpatrick for several years. They are virtually all gone now having been replaced with concrete sleepered tack. BCDR and GNR(I) used 3 bolt chairs very similar to the GER ones.

In the ideal world I would prefer to model BCDR however the broad gauge does not work well with standard gauge tracksystems as you end up with the Thomas the Tank Engine wheel splasher syndrom. In G3 therefor I take the path of least resistance and model GWR 1930's despite being a GER society member !

David Crone

[454]

It is appreciated that most members want accuracy but I am amazed at how bogged down we can all get in specific detail about chair types, sleeper lengths and buffer stop designs with a relatively small membership. Why can't all these "background" details be designed generic and functional and be happy with it? The complexity and abundance of British outline railway parafinalia from track detail to locos and civil engineering architecture is so vast. If we in G3 want something specific it is down to each individual to make it themselves if they really want it that badly. However, to get something up & running in a bearable timescale we have to make compromises as life is too short. So we can then concentrate on building our favourite more substantial items like locos & rolling stock, signals and buildings or whatever takes our fancy. These major items are the ones that may take our time to make and might not be readily available in kit form etc. I could not care less if my track is bullhead or flatbottomed. I am happy to use any buffer stop so long as it looks about right. Even signals, lower quadrant or upper quadrant, somersault or disc, or colour light. Who cares? I love them all. So long as the visuals give a superficial correctness does it really matter? When it comes down to period the problems become a whole lot worse. Pre-grouping? Pre-war?  Post-war? Which war? Pre- Nationalisation? Post-Nationalisation? Victorian? Modern Image? Preservation scene? Steam Diesel Electric? Overhead wires? Third rail? My brain hurts!

So which prototypes do I model? I just love seeing my British Railways liveried Y6 hauling the unique No 9 GE luggage van with an LNER teak liveried Wis&Upwell tramway bogie coach. Sometimes I even haul them with my Hudswell Clarke 4 wheel diesel when the batteries are flat in the Y6. Oh yes and the goods train will have a non common user GW Toad trailing behind.

Everyone has their own taste, I defend their right to pursue it.

Hope I have not lost all credibility with you all, because the sheer variety keeps me happy and amused. 

[Guinness 040]

Well I have chosen IRISH RAILWAYS of the period 1950 to 1970 and having to construct all of the railway from track to traction seems a daunting task as no bits are available . I have approx 400ft of garden for an end to end run and double track  and hopefully duel gauge, thankfully I am able to work with resins and silicone due to my profession so lots of fun ( why could I not choose another hobby ? )  like knitting  or something ? anyway hopefully I can open it once a month to others in gauge 3 and other garden scales here in East Sussex.

[midnight miller]

Hello All

Regarding the above , and my lack of doing anything for myself the asperation would be industrial . Smallish locos and coal trucks to infinity . Mud for balast and not a coach in sight and very few signals

                                                         John .T

[Len]

Sorry, Only just joined the forum. The 4 bolt chair Cliff Barker uses is from an original GER one of 1905. I know this because it was I that rescued them from the Silvertown Tramway when it was being destroyed, sorry, developed. I gave one to Andrew Townley who lent it to Cliff. I still have one sitting on my garden wall !

On the subject of chairs, I remember finding some GER ones in a disused siding in Reepham. These though were much "thinner", slightlt different in shape,  and probably a lighter rail section, say 65lb. Often when mainlines were renewed,  the old chairs etc were moved to sidings, not scrapped. If you look carefully at old photos of 1900 to 1950s you can sometimes detect the thinner rail sections. From a modelling point of view it means you may be able to utilise your old Gauge 1 rail/ chairs in sidings. Len

[John Candy]

Hello Len,

I am involved with the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway and until about 3 years ago we had a large stack of GER chairs at Brockford which were dated around the 1900 - 1911 period. They were sold as scrap after first  being advertised as door stops or garden ornaments at 5 Pounds each!

Somewhere I have the photo of the one which appeared in the poster but I was surprised to find the 'kite mark' (as used by the BSI) cast into a great number of the chairs. There was no 'BS' number included.

I know nothing of the history of the BSI but had always assumed it to be a post-war institution, so I wonder whether the mark indicated something else (perhaps identified the foundry which cast the chairs)?

Regards,
John.