Lapford station in N gauge.

[Iskra]

Here are the driving controls of inspection saloon Caroline. I wouldn't say they were crude. I don't know if the were all as advanced as this though.
View attachment 106848

Thanks for the clarification. An interesting photo too!

 

[Gloster]

Thanks for the clarification. An interesting photo too!

I think that Caroline, a former Hastings buffet vehicle, is rather more advanced than most of the older vehicles. I think that all they had was a horn (or even a gong) and a brake handle; they probably also had a few instruments such as brake pressure and speedometer. The driver of the propelling loco actually drove the combination using his controls under the instructions of an Inspector who was at the controls of the saloon: these were relayed over a cable that used to be precariously strung across so that it went in through the driver’s window. I am not sure if it was a telephone circuit or a microphone and speaker one.

 

[Iskra]

I think that Caroline, a former Hastings buffet vehicle, is rather more advanced than most of the older vehicles. I think that all they had was a horn (or even a gong) and a brake handle; they probably also had a few instruments such as brake pressure and speedometer. The driver of the propelling loco actually drove the combination using his controls under the instructions of an Inspector who was at the controls of the saloon: these were relayed over a cable that used to be precariously strung across so that it went in through the driver’s window. I am not sure if it was a telephone circuit or a microphone and speaker one.

I don’t know anything about Hastings units -Southern units are not my thing- was Caroline cut down in length for the purpose? And, if so what was the underframe for the inspection saloons previously?

That sounds incredibly primitive

 

[Gloster]

I don’t know anything about Hastings units -Southern units are not my thing- was Caroline cut down in length for the purpose? And, if so what was the underframe for the inspection saloons previously?

That sounds incredibly primitive

The Hastings DMUs were narrow-bodied due to some restricted clearances in tunnels: Caroline was originally one of the buffet cars, but was withdrawn in 1964. Roughly, the work involved in converting it to an inspection saloon would have been removing the end gangways, and fitting end-windows and a control desk; gutting it internally and fitting a new interior; and possibly some alteration to the window and door arrangements. The basic body structure, including its length, were unchanged. It was a typical example of the SR making do with what it had.

 

[Cowley]

The Hastings DMUs were narrow-bodied due to some restricted clearances in tunnels: Caroline was originally one of the buffet cars, but was withdrawn in 1964. Roughly, the work involved in converting it to an inspection saloon would have been removing the end gangways, and fitting end-windows and a control desk; gutting it internally and fitting a new interior; and possibly some alteration to the window and door arrangements. The basic body structure, including its length, were unchanged. It was a typical example of the SR making do with what it had.

Interesting stuff @Gloster. I think my model is of an ex LMS saloon, not sure if they ever came down here though?
I just liked the model and it was something a bit different.

Right then. 12/12…

The 33 and its inspection saloon have been stabled in the yard:



The regional inspector and his crew are clearly not too pleased with what they’ve seen in the area (this country is going to the dogs mutter mutter, wouldn’t have happened in my day mutter mutter, I remember when we’d have been happy with a clip round the ear for Christmas mutter mutter…), so they’ve ordered a hastily made up train to come and clear all the detritus from the lineside.
Here it is having run around and reversed to pick some old rail up:

 

[Gloster]

Interesting stuff @Gloster. I think my model is of an ex LMS saloon, not sure if they ever came down here though?
I just liked the model and it was something a bit different.

The LMS saloons, and their BR derivatives, were fairly widespread around the country, except (possibly) on the SR, which may have been because folding steps and the third-rail are not a good combination. In my day they still had GWR design vehicles, but the LMS types outlived them and so may well have invaded the south-west.

 

[Cowley]

The LMS saloons, and their BR derivatives, were fairly widespread around the country, except (possibly) on the SR, which may have been because folding steps and the third-rail are not a good combination. In my day they still had GWR design vehicles, but the LMS types outlived them and so may well have invaded the south-west.

I remember being at St David’s with a friend sometime around 1986 when a seriously ex-works large logo 37427 ‘Bont Y Bermo’ rolled in from the Plymouth direction with a beautiful wooden inspection saloon.

I think it might have been an old GER one possibly but it was a long time ago and I’m not completely sure.
We were amazed to see not only a 37 at Exeter in daylight but also such an ancient wooden carriage being hauled by it.

 

[Gloster]

I remember being at St David’s with a friend sometime around 1986 when a seriously ex-works large logo 37427 ‘Bont Y Bermo’ rolled in from the Plymouth direction with a beautiful wooden inspection saloon.

I think it might have been an old GER one possibly but it was a long time ago and I’m not completely sure.
We were amazed to see not only a 37 at Exeter in daylight but also such an ancient wooden carriage being hauled by it.

It might have been track testing car W139W (built 1911), which seems to have lasted until the late 1980s. It was used to check the track alignment and would deposit large quantities of red or white paint on the track at rough spots. I can remember it racing over the points at Salisbury Tunnel Junction (the ones they have just had to relay) and disappearing in a cloud of red as it went into the tunnel.

 

[Cowley]

It might have been track testing car W139W (built 1911), which seems to have lasted until the late 1980s. It was used to check the track alignment and would deposit large quantities of red or white paint on the track at rough spots. I can remember it racing over the points at Salisbury Tunnel Junction (the ones they have just had to relay) and disappearing in a cloud of red as it went into the tunnel.

It was more like this one, it may actually have even been this one because it had a veranda:

Verandah at the Rear..

Ex-GER Inspection Saloon No. 1 - re-bogied by the LNER - at the rear of a special, in the 80s.. This carriage was owned by McAlpines, and today is at the private railway at Fawley, near Henley, where it was seen in 2014: www.flickr.com/photos/rgadsdon/14220872824/ Restored from an under-exposed...

www.flickr.com

 

[Gloster]

If it definitely had a veranda it probably was indeed that one as it was just about the only vehicle with one that was allowed out. (Not the most elegant sentence.) I think McAlpine had some special arrangement allowing his vehicles out on the BR Network, or maybe it was just that he could afford the hefty costs.

 

[Cowley]

If it definitely had a veranda it probably was indeed that one as it was just about the only vehicle with one that was allowed out. (Not the most elegant sentence.) I think McAlpine had some special arrangement allowing his vehicles out on the BR Network, or maybe it was just that he could afford the hefty costs.

I saw an article about that working on the Cornwall Railway Society website a couple of years ago but I haven’t been able to find it (despite looking) since. There were some photos of it in Cornwall somewhere.
I’ll try and have another look tomorrow.

 

[Gloster]

I saw an article about that working on the Cornwall Railway Society website a couple of years ago but I haven’t been able to find it (despite looking) since. There were some photos of it in Cornwall somewhere.
I’ll try and have another look tomorrow.

Just put McAlpine in the CRS’ search box and it is the ‘Items added...2017’ item.

 

[Peter C]

Right then. 12/12…

The 33 and its inspection saloon have been stabled in the yard:

View attachment 106872

The regional inspector and his crew are clearly not too pleased with what they’ve seen in the area (this country is going to the dogs mutter mutter, wouldn’t have happened in my day mutter mutter, I remember when we’d have been happy with a clip round the ear for Christmas mutter mutter…), so they’ve ordered a hastily made up train to come and clear all the detritus from the lineside.
Here it is having run around and reversed to pick some old rail up:

View attachment 106873

Love it
That second photo, with that angle and the two trains is really cool. Also interesting for someone not old enough to remember BR to see what I'd consider a steam-era thing, such a small train with a brakevan, a fair bit later than I would have expected to see it. But that just shows my lack of knowledge
Also getting quite a few ideas for how to do various bits for things particularly around the roads on my own layout; that hedge-lined road is so common in my area and it'd be really cool to somehow replicate it.

-Peter

 

[Cowley]

Love it
That second photo, with that angle and the two trains is really cool. Also interesting for someone not old enough to remember BR to see what I'd consider a steam-era thing, such a small train with a brakevan, a fair bit later than I would have expected to see it. But that just shows my lack of knowledge
Also getting quite a few ideas for how to do various bits for things particularly around the roads on my own layout; that hedge-lined road is so common in my area and it'd be really cool to somehow replicate it.

-Peter

Thanks Peter. Yes there were still quite a few brake vans knocking around back then and some really varied traffic on the line too.

It’s the Somethingth day of Christmas and a DMU is heading from Exmouth to Barnstaple on a mince pie special (this is getting somewhat tenuous!) and passing all the going’s on at Lapford:



Once at Eggesford the passengers strain to see what’s happening in the signal box but unfortunately they can’t because they’ve turned their lights down low…

 

[Peter C]

Thanks Peter. Yes there were still quite a few brake vans knocking around back then and some really varied traffic on the line too.

Just shows I've got a fair bit more reading to do - thanks
Fascinating stuff for someone who doesn't remember it to look back on mainly because it's all so different to what we have now.

It’s the Somethingth day of Christmas and a DMU is heading from Exmouth to Barnstaple on a mince pie special (this is getting somewhat tenuous!) and passing all the going’s on at Lapford:

View attachment 106941

Once at Eggesford the passengers strain to see what’s happening in the signal box but unfortunately they can’t because they’ve turned their lights down low…

View attachment 106943

This is like The Twelve Days of Christmas - "on the somethingth day of Christmas, Control gave to me, a three-car DMU!" (that worked better in my head to be honest...)
Liking the toned-down lights. That signal's really good too - did you say you'd be replacing the pair of them at some point, or is that not as likely to be happening now?

-Peter

 

[Cowley]

Just shows I've got a fair bit more reading to do - thanks
Fascinating stuff for someone who doesn't remember it to look back on mainly because it's all so different to what we have now.


This is like The Twelve Days of Christmas - "on the somethingth day of Christmas, Control gave to me, a three-car DMU!" (that worked better in my head to be honest...)
Liking the toned-down lights. That signal's really good too - did you say you'd be replacing the pair of them at some point, or is that not as likely to be happening now?

-Peter

Yes hopefully to be replaced with working ones at some point which I’d like to tie in with the point motor.

You’ve got me thinking about that rhyme now…

 

[Iskra]

Personally, I think those lights are a little too dark now...

 

[Peter C]

Yes hopefully to be replaced with working ones at some point which I’d like to tie in with the point motor.

Ooh very fancy - if I suggest the idea of proper interlocking, I fear I may receive one of two responses...

You’ve got me thinking about that rhyme now…

I've tried to think of some better railway-related puns but keep losing my train of thought...

-Peter

 

[reddragon]

Thanks Peter. Yes there were still quite a few brake vans knocking around back then and some really varied traffic on the line too.

It’s the Somethingth day of Christmas and a DMU is heading from Exmouth to Barnstaple on a mince pie special (this is getting somewhat tenuous!) and passing all the going’s on at Lapford:

View attachment 106941

Once at Eggesford the passengers strain to see what’s happening in the signal box but unfortunately they can’t because they’ve turned their lights down low…

View attachment 106943

I didn't know there was a Barnstaple to Barrow service?

 

[Cowley]

I didn't know there was a Barnstaple to Barrow service?

Shhh!

 

[Cowley]

I’ve got a couple of days worth to do.

On the thingy day of Christmas my true love gave to me a failed DMU that ran out of coolant somewhere near Umberleigh (and had to be rescued by spare loco from Exeter):





This unfortunately delayed the (oh this is today’s by the way) Christmas market shopping special from Birmingham to Barnstaple which is a Network Southeast set hauled by a pair of 31s.
Obviously the shopping in Barnstaple is superior to the shopping in Birmingham so it will have been well worth the trip to purchase Christmas pasties, Christmas surfboards and pirate trinkets…

 

[xotGD]

A 37 on a unit drag - that brings back memories!

 

[PeterY]

Lovely photos Cowley.

 

[43055]

I’ve got a couple of days worth to do.

On the thingy day of Christmas my true love gave to me a failed DMU that ran out of coolant somewhere near Umberleigh (and had to be rescued by spare loco from Exeter):

View attachment 107058

View attachment 107059

This unfortunately delayed the (oh this is today’s by the way) Christmas market shopping special from Birmingham to Barnstaple which is a Network Southeast set hauled by a pair of 31s.
Obviously the shopping in Barnstaple is superior to the shopping in Birmingham so it will have been well worth the trip to purchase Christmas pasties, Christmas surfboards and pirate trinkets…

View attachment 107060

View attachment 107061

Nice pictures. Don't think I have seen a loco hauling a conventional DMU before!

 

[Cowley]

Nice pictures. Don't think I have seen a loco hauling a conventional DMU before!

Yes it was quite a common occurrence back in the day as @xotGD remembers. This is one such working leaving Barnstaple:

Barnstaple - RAILSCOT

RailScot, a history of Railways with an emphasis on Scottish Railways. Photographs, maps, news, queries and more.

www.railscot.co.uk

I’m going for a bit of night activity for yesterday and today (actually I think I’ve missed a day probably).
D1009 on another excursion coming back down the line in the evening:





And a 50 on the night mail after delivering presents to the people of North Devon…

 

[Peter C]

I’ve got a couple of days worth to do.

On the thingy day of Christmas my true love gave to me a failed DMU that ran out of coolant somewhere near Umberleigh (and had to be rescued by spare loco from Exeter):

View attachment 107058

View attachment 107059

This unfortunately delayed the (oh this is today’s by the way) Christmas market shopping special from Birmingham to Barnstaple which is a Network Southeast set hauled by a pair of 31s.
Obviously the shopping in Barnstaple is superior to the shopping in Birmingham so it will have been well worth the trip to purchase Christmas pasties, Christmas surfboards and pirate trinkets…

View attachment 107060

View attachment 107061

I don't know what it is, but there's something about those 31s I really quite like. Plus the NSE rake is always a good addition

I’m going for a bit of night activity for yesterday and today (actually I think I’ve missed a day probably).
D1009 on another excursion coming back down the line in the evening:

View attachment 107236

View attachment 107237

And a 50 on the night mail after delivering presents to the people of North Devon…

A Western is always nice. The lights in the headcode boxes are really a lovely addition; that, and the lights in the rest of the coach. That second photo shows just how much detail there is on these new N gauge models - amazing!

-Peter

 

[Cowley]

I don't know what it is, but there's something about those 31s I really quite like. Plus the NSE rake is always a good addition


A Western is always nice. The lights in the headcode boxes are really a lovely addition; that, and the lights in the rest of the coach. That second photo shows just how much detail there is on these new N gauge models - amazing!

-Peter

Yeah. The 31s paired up look good on the NSE coaches, very 1988.
I really love that Western too. It makes an interesting thrumming noise under power which almost makes it feel like it’s sound fitted…

Ok. For muntingth day of Christmas we’ve got a couple of shots of locos heading away from the camera.
I don’t know why these sort of views appeal to me but they just do:

 

[hexagon789]

Yeah. The 31s paired up look good on the NSE coaches, very 1988.
I really love that Western too. It makes an interesting thrumming noise under power which almost makes it feel like it’s sound fitted…

Ok. For muntingth day of Christmas we’ve got a couple of shots of locos heading away from the camera.
I don’t know why these sort of views appeal to me but they just do:

View attachment 107292

View attachment 107293

Because they are an art form perhaps?

That Whizzo is superb, I can orwcticalky hear the exhaust roar of the twin-Maybachs and the whine of the transmission taking up the load...

Edit - I don't know what orwcticalky is but I meant "practically"!

 

[Cowley]

Because they are an art form perhaps?

That Whizzo is superb, I can orwcticalky hear the exhaust roar of the twin-Maybachs and the whine of the transmission taking up the load...

Edit - I don't know what orwcticalky is but I meant "practically"!

For The Orwcticalkyth Day of Christmas my true love sent to me, a Christmas tree delivery…





I believe that this was sawn down by the driver somewhere near Cowley and dragged into the wagon by the crew…

 

[reddragon]

50 on that curve ???