THROWBACK MODELLER May/June 2020 Issue 15 The second lockdown edition

The Cruciverbalist insight

Too busy for bizzi

Bereaved for his lost Bulldog

16MM HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE OWNERS AND OPERATORS Throwback Modeller ASSOCIATION ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 I S S U E 1 5 Welcome to Issue Fifteen

New edition, new colour Independent livery, but my scheme, apparently this one OCD wouldn’t let me include is called Grove - whatever it in the photo. However my that means. Welcome to this OCD will allow me to run all #15 with some really great my locos facing the wrong content, quirks and curios. way through Bratton. I’ve enjoyed a bit of respite Coming from Lynton they over the bank holiday should all be running the Beeson L&B, it got demoted weekends. I was due to have opposite way round, cab first! on the priority list while the my first open day, I held the NGG16 Garratt got it’s super With the lack of open days event, but with one person in detailing. I’m hoping that it and exhibitions it’s certainly attendance… me! I caught up will be ready for very strange. My 16mm with some running, and as it Peterborough - will that be activities have been different was a family affair I didn’t November 2020 or April over this past month. I’ve need to behave myself so I 2021? done some modelling catch- selfishly clogged up all the up, rather than “new” November 2020 or April 2021 passing loops without models. One of my coaches will also be when we get removing cooling locos. This finally has it’s running boards another crack at the Heritage did give me the opportunity and the passengers can even Auction. As you recall we for a “family” photo. 761 Cover shot; My own now climb aboard with the were poised to run this Taw - Archangel, 760 Exe - David Bailey, DJB Lew newly fitted grab handles virtually on the April 2020 Paul Bailey DJB, 188 Lew - at Bratton Station with (about time too). I looked at show date. We’re now David Bailey DJB, 762 Lyn - Bernard Clarke the date on the base, ten looking to line that up with Accucraft. There is a second coaches (Moty rolling years, oops the new date. stock winner 1994) Taw in my collection, a Roundhouse example in I’ve not progressed the Mike

Copyright on all materials in this newsletter remains vested in the authors and editor. Reproduction of the whole or any part is forbidden without relevant permissions. P A G E 3 IT'S ALL THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE

Okay, there is a bit of bias in this Sparkes, and of note is the Steamcraft atmosphere in this photo which says photo, but I really like it and it is just double fairlie that belongs to his son that it is not all about snapping trains full of detail. It was sent to me by Sam and is foremost right. There is an when they are running. DEREK

The attachment that was sent out at the all Festiniog enthusiasts. It contains a history of the modifications to the same time as the last TBM breached the superb layout 'Dinas - Blaenau Festiniog' original locos, and scale drawings of the copyright of 'Narrow Gauge & Industrial which is built with a 14mm gauge in 1863 original and 1898 rebuilds, Railway Modelling Review'. What I have 7mm scale. This is an extensive write up together with the c1901 tender. This is learned is that, whilst the author retains running to fourteen pages, with many a very worthwhile issue to get hold of, if copyright over his words, photos etc., photos, some of which are originals to only for interest. The quality of text and once it is laid out in a publication, the the period being modelled. photos in general in the magazine is publisher then has the rights for that excellent. I can only have respect for the skills layout. Furthermore, copyright and involved in building this layout, which The website for the magazine is https:// reproduction rights may apply to any was going to appear at the Warley Show narrowgaugeandindustrial.co.uk, and if photos and drawings not provided by that year and which many of you may you want to search specifics (for the author. It doesn't mean that you have seen? instance by putting in 16mm scale or cannot write much the same for another 32mm gauge) then go to https:// magazine, but it must differ and not be The magazine continues with a piece by narrowgaugeandindustrial.co.uk/pages/ an exact reprint. Lesson learned, and it Chris Walker on the building of both review-index is worth pointing out that Nigel and I Little Giant and Prince, in 16mm. It have copyright in the same way over details his involvement with the Slater's which will also link with available back any piece published in this magazine. kit of Prince, and again has some issues. The buyer of the layout was so drawings of Little Giant and Welsh Pony. impressed with the magazine itself, that I recently was given a collection of he has taken out a subscription. magazines, in which were three issues Finally we come to a piece written by of NG&IRMR. One in particular really Stuart Baker on the 'Festiniog England caught my eye. It is Issue No: 80 of Locomotives - the Early Years' with DEREK October 2009, and will surely appeal to period b&w photos, a chronological P A G E 4 A most Excellent adventure

I dropped out a teaser photo in the last TBM with a “fake” Excelsior. This pair of photos shows the Excellent lined up with the Wrightscale Excelsior. I was fortunate in purchasing Excellent from a local member, and once I did a bit of Detective work I found out a bit more than I’d bargained for; Excellent was built by Geoff Fell a pattern castings and also tweaked the bogies to improve their riding ability. It’s this same coach that features on the cover of this edition of TBM, modestly hiding behind Lew. So there you have it - double winners - featured on the same page of SMT, photographed by Keith, himself an active TBM contributor. Nigel.

member of the Butterley group. I found this out by chance flicking through a 1994 SMT. I found the Modeller of the Year Photos, taken by Keith Skillicorn, showed that the Bagnall wing tank had been entered in the 1994 Moty competition by Geoff Fell. So now knowing the origin of Excellent I was sitting quite happy as this little engine can frequently been seen with a rake of four Brandbright tippers. The 3 volt motor is in the firebox, with the full width of the wing tanks used for a pair of hefty C re-chargable cells. I was reflecting on this when I had a proper eyes-wide open moment, the lower photo in SMT shows the winner of the rolling stock, the Lynton & Barnstaple Observation coach built by Bernard Clarke. I also own this model. It was auctioned in the first heritage auction, and I was fortunate enough to win it, again without knowing much about it. Since purchasing it I’ve changed the couplings to the correct DJB L&B P A G E 5 David Sheliga, a very early 16mmer and regular with TRAMMING AT BLAENAU heritage at Exeter, has kindly sent this piece after reading about the comments regarding Graham Lamb's Tyn -y-Coed project:

Thank you and Nigel for producing Throwback Modeller. I look forward to its arrival. I enclose a pic of my tram and stock on the Tyn-y- Coed 16mm railway 30 years ago, Easter 1990. I seem to recall that it was newly under at Graham's Quidhampton on recreating my first loco construction, the ballast is line, and hopefully one day this from 1976, but instead of ply fresh looking and at the time it might also come to light? and plastikard it will be made only went along the back rock from 3D printed resin. wall of the property. I am keeping busy teaching Incidentally, I definitely myself 3D CAD and have remember people taking video bought a resin printer. I plan David

Quite a few elderly locos have For those of you who remem- just read SMT and the article been finding their way out ber the Wheldon wagon when on Ron Backhouse, then it was onto lines, as people put their it was on its world tour (I have he who made the nameplates lockdown time to good use covered this before), Pephyr for this loco. and begin running the com- was the nominated hauler on plete Sam's PTLR line. If you have DEREK collection day by day. Sam Sparkes recently ran 'Pephyr', which was his first attempt at building in 16mm. The inspiration was an arti- cle that appeared in Railway Modeller and was written by the late Jack Wheldon, proclaiming that you could build the loco 'for a fiver'. The model is based on that article, and there is a clue to some of the mechanics under the saddle tank There is a real charm about this model.. ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 6 Sales, Wants & Solds

As the market place is affected by current conditions, I am not going to take up space with a full list of sales. What you see here is new, and everything else is as per the previous couple of TBM's leaving out what is reported in the Sold section. The same principle will go for the Wants. I suppose I am a bit surprised to still have the ex Don Boreham Mamod, with tender. Given the replacement boiler, r/c and other ancillaries to me it is a worthwhile buy at not a really good condition. It is currently in the States, but the lot of money for a live steamer. Give it a second seller is happy to discuss the costs of getting it back here (if look? I will also mention the Shay kit, but probably necessary) depending upon final offers. because I have one and they are to my eye one of the nicest Shay models. As for the Roundhouse As one of these sold recently on eBay, and was reported in Dylan, and contrary to the owner's beliefs, it appears the last TBM, you have a good guide to its value. Now a to be earlier than he thought, and is now to be popular and sought after addition to any line. regarded as 82/3. These are popular, desirable Merlin Midas 45mm featured in TBM #12 models and have a reputation that they will run forever. At the other end of the spectrum the green Accucraft Excelsiors featured in TBM #13 Beck Anna is also still for sale. Six total, of four different bogie coaches. 32mm. Wooden construction. Individually priced at £50 each, plus p&p. See photos. Roofs are detachable, and there are two each of the brake, and its companion composite.

As for the heritage auction, I cannot update you until we know the situation with Shows, but all the models are still available in the auction “catalogue”, and as soon as we are able we will update you.

FOR SALES. I will begin with something that is not actually for sale - it is a collection of magazines that are free to collect, subject to social distancing. It comprises Tom Cooper's various titles, and Garden Rail and with a few exceptions is largely complete and covers 1983 to Oct. 2010. Located in the Chester/North Wales area. I have said many times that Tom's magazines are a very good read, with a wealth of information on prototype and models.

Locomotion Steam Railcar. This is 45mm, not regaugeable, and is the single ended driving unit with a balcony at the other end. I have six other photographs (just ask) which show it appearing in ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 7

Freelance steam locomotive. Red. Built 1984, with substantial SOLD bodywork, and having a passing resemblance to the Puffing The Roundhouse Fowler that had been listed in TBM sold, Billy Railways locos, it is described as being a very good at a time when there were about three others appearing on runner. Asking price is £850, for which you get a fair amount eBay. It went for £1200, which was right in line with the of model, and carriage will be extra at cost. See photo others, and I can report that is happily settled with its new Garden Railways. A first edition of Ray Tustin's book which owner. The Pearse Earl in the last TBM sold for £1,775, and the owner of that also sold a Roundhouse Pooter Mk1 r/c, gas fired, for £1,850 The wanted list keeps growing…... Apart from the previous lists, buyers are out there for: Merlin Little Wonder. To replace the one he should never have parted with! 2 x Blanche in Black with Penrhyn lining. A Darjeeling B class loco A Steam Tram. Any make or model, and any condition so long as the loco is complete. Some years ago an Outline 7/8ths. scale Simplex was taken. The unhappy past owner would now like to find another one if he can. dates from 1949. With all this time on your hands, and the A Roundhouse Carrie with Hackworth valve gear. R/C lovely weather to sit out in, treat yourself to a good nostalgic preferred. Or DJB Robert, which is believed to have utilised read. the last of the RH Carrie chassis? WANTED A David Hick loco - any model I have a friend with a good stud of locos, including two live A John Brittain coal fired NGG16 Garratt. steam L&B Manning Wardles and a rake of Accucraft coaches. An Accucraft NG15(preferred) or NGG16 Garratt He also has a conservatory he likes sitting in, and a love of tea and good biscuits that mean, on occasions, he doesn't want to A Locomotion Metrovic battery electric loco. stir to attend to his locos, and runs battery diesels instead. Any Hugh Saunders loco. However, he would love to buy a battery L&B Manning Wardle, e.g. the Accucraft electric version or one built from a Dead or Alive - Any L&B loco, by any heritage manufacturer. GRS kit, to run with his coaches. If you want to sell such a Gas or meths firing, age immaterial, happy to take on loco, please get in touch. mechanical or cosmetic work being needed. A Roundhouse Vale of Rheidol 2-6-2, but with a difference. Roundhouse L&B loco. Whilst they can make high money, in this case the request is An Archangel Brick, and also a coal fired Jack. from someone who wants one that is seriously in need of mechanical and bodily restoration, and is priced accordingly. If A tidy, low mileage Roundhouse Vale of Rheidol, r/c if you have one that is embarassingly tucked away, and that you possible, finished in green. think you will never get round to sorting, then here is an Two wants here, and they both came on the same day! One opportunity to move it on. is a Hunslet Jack in 7/8ths. Could be Harvey Watkins, Wilson A David Hick loco, preferably a Peckett but anything Locomotives or w.h.y. The second is a coal fired Wilson considered. The hopeful purchaser is well aware of the Locomotives model. provenance of such models and their value, but hopes that A Roundhouse Talyllyn No:7 Tom Rolt in 32mm gauge. one will become available. I have every empathy with this, after so many years of waiting for a Steamcraft double Fairlie, A returnee to 16mm after a long time away is looking for but now I have one of course. the more exotic/old school/quirky locos and rolling stock to appease the memories of what he sold. Roundhouse Plynlimon & Hafan tram loco Victoria, 32mm Archangel Snowdon Ranger/Moel Tryfan - two requests.

Brandbright/Roundhouse Coffee Pot, with or without roof.

Harvey Watkins Zulu, his incarnation of this South African Avonside loco. ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 8

Cuckoo's Nest Katie. Have you shut one of these away in a Roundhouse Pooter cupboard somewhere? Loving home offered. Merlin Little Wonder Wrightscale Tattoo class loco. Now have two people wanting Large bore Archangel cylinder such as fitted to Brick, Sgt. one. Murphy etc. Alternatively, has anyone replaced the original Wrightscale Excelsior 0-4-2 version small cylinder with anything different? Accucraft Isle of Man loco. Brandbright (Roundhouse) Fiji Fowler. I still think that this is a model that could be reintroduced. Curious? Find it on the LGB Ziller coaches with the matchboard sides. Roundhouse Museum part of their website. Regner Konrad. Tom Cooper Steamlines Rheidol. Makes a change from the David Taylor Steamcraft double fairlie, American outline but Archangel versions, but the owner just loves the model as is. also confusingly named Mountaineer. Archangel Rheidol, must be sound and in good running Either finished or unmade kits by Triassic, of Talyllyn coaches condition. 1,2,3. Also any Talyllyn coaching stock (except no:4 or the Archangel Brick - any cab profile. modern post war bogies). This would include the ex-Corris and GVT coaches. Buyer would also consider buying any TR If you are minded to thin down your locomotive collection, goods rolling stock, as well as locos either steam or electric then consider using Throwback Modeller. There are no traction. auction site charges, no costs for money transactions, and no advertising costs. You also usually get what the market is Any small and interesting steam loco (restricted radius on the prepared to pay, as opposed to finding out later that you line it is wanted for ). could have sold for more. So, if you have any of the following Accucraft W.& Ll Goods van, but must have the W & L to move, then please contact me. Thanks Derek lettering on the side. Tom Cooper Mini Mule.

Things are still moving on the site, but whereas the SM32 listings usually run to eight pages, the norm is now five. A vast majority are recurring ads for small traders, with build ups or kits. However, the following were noted. The Ma- mods at least were hotly bid, and the right items will still be attractive. A collection of loco parts, which I mentioned last time and which were listed at £3500 went unsold, and were then relisted at just under £3000. Someone far cleverer than me recognised them to be made by Phil Jones, and it is fair to say that they have probably now been sold. I know of Phil Jones, and associate him in my mind with Talyllyn, but if you know anything about the man and his models, or even have one, then I would love to hear from you. Currently listed at a buy it now price of £1225 is Blackisle. I knew it in a former life, originally as an 0-4-2 rack style loco with the cylinders against the cab spectacle plate and driving forward, but it has long been rebuilt. Now resplendent in red. Also currently available is a battery Festiniog George England tank, showing 9 bids and sitting at £51 which will surely rise? A G scale 45mm Hustler sold for £45. A Larry Cheesman Shay (not a million miles different to the Steamlines) sold after 3 bids for £660. An interesting Mamod and wagon, described as tatty but r/c (no transmitter) but with a silver soldered boiler and other enhancements attracted 44 bids and sold for £190. Another Mamod, gas fired had 25 bids which took it to £201, and a final one had 9 bids and went for £155. A 32mm chassis with a very small boiler sold for £51 after 22 bids. A small clockwork tram loco, which okay I did look at, had 5 bids and went for £26.53. A Cheddar Iver didn't attract any bids and was listed for £450 but may have sold. Finally a Collins Pixie was listed for £575, had no bids and has been relisted. In closing off this section, and on a recom- mendation from a reader, I put in Cliff Barker 32mm track, to find that he is offering just that. I have no experience of the product, and my whole line is laid in SM32, but there is it seems an alternative. If you have bought any you are welcome to comment. Thanks Derek. P A G E 9 a dispersal sale on the group's second hand stall at a steam KEEP ON TRUCKING up a couple of years ago. All I have done to it is remove the old R/C speed controller and I am very grateful to Robert photographing my Brandbright replace it with a new digital Bance for sending in this piece. rail truck and here it is. I one which gives a little more He begins: believe it to have been built by control. a member of the East Surrey I have finally got around to Robert is aware that I have an 16mm group, as it was part of unstarted kit of this model. I also have the bus variant, also still in the box, so if you have a photo of a finished version of that for me to include, it will hopefully get me started on them both (?). Yes, I like railcars etc. as well as trams. DEREK

I have been asked if we could see if anyone knows any better looking chimney top and history about this loco. The owner says: Have you ever perhaps a sandbox. heard of a Professor Graham Harding in the context of loco Please get in touch with me if you Detective building? I have a model of Russell which I bought in 2014, can help over this. DEREK which I was informed was built by him, being originally owned by Ian Sly until around 1995. It is very nicely detailed , although could do with a tidy up,, new R/C, Derek ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 10

Keith Skillicorn has pointed incident - there's a prototype Finally, and Keith again, he me in the direction of some for everything I have always filmed his GVT tram loco clips - all well worth watching. said, so if your recently. I know, from when I The first is a recent upload of have run mine, that there are train has been blown off the a hitherto unseen film from many who track, you may have sympathy Alan Snowdon. Find it by with this? have never seen or heard a putting in: Gosling run, so when I am Steam in Argentine La Ride (& walk) the FFESTINIOG muttering (often) saying that Trochita accident 2011 RAILWAY in 1961 the performance of 16mm YouTube locos hasn't come on to any

great degree since 1981, If you do nothing else, watch Tony Bird celebrated the watch this and see if don't this. Okay, my 75th. Anniversary of VE Day agree? recommendation, and you by running his first 16mm loco have to be interested in Gosling GVT loco with long and stock, and then posted internal combustion travel, train the clip. but this has everything that

75th VE Day playing on a narrow gauge abroad has to Garden Railway offer. There are a couple of DEREK clips, but this one I like most:

GONDOLA CARRIL t-1024 LOS Keith again. You will find ANDES RIO BLANCO more than one clip of this

By coincidence Marc sent these photos in on the day TBM went to press; Hi All, today’s run was with Archangel’s Eigiau, a funny little engine with unusual Marshall valve gear. As usual, it ran great once the cylinders were clear, after slightly overfill- ing the boiler. Gas is a little difficult to control so the safety was blowing most of the time. Nice, warm sunny morning in Colorado. Best, M Eigiau - from Marc Horovitz ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 11

Bulldog - where are you now?

David Pinniger of Pinnigers Patch writes (and photographs)

“Bulldog” was a quite idiosyncratic loco built by the late Colin Edwards way back in 1989. Colin was of the old school who believed in trying to make everything himself and was a great inspiration to modellers on a limited budget. He was a regular visitor to my AVR, often with his son Steve. They both started with two early Roundhouse meths fired “Lady Anne” locos, quickly followed by Lindale “Caledonia”s built from kits. Colin then decided to experiment with building his own engine using oscillating cylinders. I used to look forward to his visits to see what was the latest creation to emerge from his workshop at Seer Green. Some were successful, such as a tram loco called “Cromwell”, others were more problematical both in performance and lack of aesthetics. He was never daunted by his failures and often the engine would emerge after a reincarnation in his workshop. One such was “Bulldog” based on a Sentinel industrial steam loco. This had twin marine oscillating cylinders mounted at the front of the engine driving the leading axle with Meccano gears. It was originally gas fired, but refused to make enough steam. Colin’s answer was to rebuild the loco with an externally meths fired boiler. This was far better and produced enough steam to propel the engine at quite a high top speed. However, there will still a few problems, at slow speeds the cylinders were often choked by excess water in the exhaust pipe and also occasionally the loco would inexplicably derail on points. Colin then went on to other projects and he carried on experimenting until sadly he died in 1998.

His son Steve had by then become very involved with Gauge 1 live steam with his own extensive 1 ¾” gauge mainline double track in his garden and, as he was not really interested in narrow gauge, he offered the engine to me. I happily bought it from him and brought the engine home to test on the AVR. I soon discovered the reason for the strangled cylinders was that the exhaust pipe ran back over the loco to finally exhaust through the cab roof. This result in the steam condensing in the pipe and the water then throttled the exhaust. Simply removing the offending pipe transformed the engine and so I made a new vertical exhaust pipe attached direct- ly to the cylinder block. I also made a chimney to improve the loco’s appearance and fitted new O rings to the cylinders which made the twin oscillators much more efficient.

“Bulldog” visiting Roy Bernard’s Cookham Light Railway ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 12

Although that prob- lem was simply rec- tified, the regular derailments on points were still a mystery. I checked that the axles were parallel, the back to back measurements were 28mm and the wheels were not out of true. Frustrated, I ran the loco again and watched it very carefully and real- ised that it was actu- “Bulldog” after rebuilding in Cookham Works, at speed ally climbing over on the Ambledown Valley Railway the checkrails of the point! Out with the measuring gauge to find that the main drive gear wheel was 1mm larger than the driving wheels and this was causing it to climb over the rails. Fortunately, Colin had used standard Meccano brass gear wheels on the drive axle and I was able to replace the original with one of a slightly smaller diameter from my spares box. This finally cured the problem, although the loco was somewhat quicker as the final reduction was less. I had some fun then with “Bulldog” and I took some pleasure in running it particularly when I had some visiting “rivet counters”.

Eventually, as I had far too many engines to run, I returned the loco to Steve. The story remains unfinished be- cause when Steve moved house a few years ago, he sold “Bulldog” on a second hand stand to an unknown buy- er. Steve has since “Seen the light” and returned to 16mm narrow gauge steam and built a terrific railway in his new garden with a magnificent Chelfham Viaduct [as seen in TBM Nos 12 and 13].

We would both dearly love to know where “Bulldog” is now and if its owner reads this or another reader has seen the loco, please can they please contact us via Derek or Nigel. It would be great to see Colin’s “Bulldog” running on Steve’s new track if that is ever possible.

CAN YOU HAVE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? I make no apologies for including another photo of the late Jim Wild's Hohenzollern, referred to in TBM14. It has been suggested that it would be a good thing to try and establish a register of where Jim's models are, apart from those kept by the family. If you have a Jim Wild loco, please let me know and I will pass the details to the person who is going to keep tabs.

DEREK ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 13

Continuing on with our theme of looking at heritage rolling stock, thanks go to Keith Skillicorn for this month's article. It’s behind you Frank Howell was Association member 142, so he was there in the hobby from the outset. Extrovert and always well dressed, Frank had quite a collection of locos and rolling stock. In amongst them was this rake of NWNGR coaches, which Frank built himself in 1975. Two of the four are shown here. They are wooden construction, riding on Archangel bogies and wheels. Frank based the coaches on the drawings in Don Boreham's book "Narrow Gauge Railway Modelling", but built them slightly over scale to match the Archangel Vale of Rheidol bogie coaches. Of the four coaches the first is of the Pickering bogie brake built in 1907, the second is the 'workmans' coach built by Metropolitan in 1891, the third is one of the 'summer' coaches by Ashbury in 1894, and the final one is of the "Gladstone" car built in 1891 by

Metropolitan. This last model is quite over length, as Frank wrongly assumed that this particular coach was the same length as the Ashburys. This lovely rake are often out running on Keith's line, and will be familiar to anyone who watches his YouTube clips. DEREK ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 14 My 16mm

Adventure - Chris Dowlen

Chris Dowlen has been our crossword compiler from issue 2. The TBM cruciverbalist (latin for back formation) and the name for a crossword complier. I decided to ask him to write a piece about himself. Because of the interest and relevance of parts of his article, I am not having a separate Electric Avenue piece this time. You will see why when you read through! Chris's background is as an engineer, first in the Motor Industry and then (for a rather longer period) as a polytechnic

and University lecturer (it diesel that was going to be the changed when the Poly chassis for a double Fairlie, a became a University). This Brian Clarke de Winton and a few meant that he did an coaches and wagons. I could engineering apprenticeship never get the systems to work as well as a degree and has very well – something to do with run a few manufacturing poor electrical connections and projects even as a lecturer. the extremely small size and weight of the models that Derek mitigated against everything working as it should have done. And then I saw an advertisement It must have been around for a Mamod locomotive 40 years ago when I first complete with two wagons and decided to build a small an oval of track for the princely model narrow gauge sum of £50 for the lot. It turned railway. At this point the out to be virtually unused. Not obvious choice was the very for very long, though. It quickly small one of the 4mm scale gained a Raif Shirley meths 009. The railway never burner and became much more really got very far – I had a useful. few baseboards built and a few bits of track laid on That must have been in the mid- them, with a model of 1980s. The next purchase was a Dolgoch, a brass model of a big step up – a Wrightscale Wren; Peckett, an Austrian Bo-Bo in fact, the third one made. I ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 15

a Roundhouse Argyll. It still behaves well. During a holiday in North Wales I was nosing around Gloddfa Ganol and found, in a shed there, a 2’ gauge Isetta bubble car. In 1996 I realised that Revell had brought out a 1:18 scale version – not quite our scale, but near enough, for most purposes. So I had to put railway wheels onto one and motorise it. I took it to the 1996 16mm AGM at Stoneleigh and bought that in 1988. Over the still wander their way around promptly won the Jones Cup with years its been a mixture of tracks occasionally. Then two it. Of course, the real joke is that reliable and then for some time BigBig chassis found their way unreliable, but then repaired and underneath other bodies – a now performs very well, provided Kerr Stuart 30hp diesel and a the fire is persuaded to light in Ruston and Proctor ZLH. At the boiler rather than outside of one Merstham Show two of it. us joined forces to buy a second-hand LGB Austrian The East Surrey branch of the diesel – he had the chassis 16mm Association welcomed me and I had the body, and made in spite of my living in South new 32mm gauge chassis London. I could technically say using some surplus Bühler that the A23 is at the end of our motors and components from road and at the end of the road Essel Engineering. where we meet now, but the journey is not that simple. My I was part of the original first significant builds of anything group that re-formed the East were done in the late 1980s or Surrey group in a more early 1990s and were two ‘official’ manner around the start the full-size conversion actually Simplexes (Simpleses?), one by of 1994. existed and is not just a fun Brian Clarke and the other a invention. In 1995 I took the plunge and homemade copy. Glen and Eagle splurged out to buy a new loco – By the end of 1996 the garden line had managed to join up and a rather snowy Boxing Day saw the first tentative service with the Austrian diesel making the first circuit. The line is named after our road and in honour of the local Victorian pumping station and is officially the Gleneagle Waterworks Railway. It doesn’t really attempt to be scenic, but I think it adds something to the garden. The garden ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 16

We were asked whether some of them could be used in Y Lechen, the journal of the Penrhyn Railway Society, so they appear in there from time to time. And then I decided to see whether we could put them into the Throwback Modeller. Each of the crosswords in the Throwback Modeller is over twenty years old, but we have to check that the clues still make some sort of sense, and that they aren’t too parochially related to the East Surrey group to be solved by the general 16mm modeller, and some of the clues or words get changed as a result. Meanwhile the 16mm running carries on… I built a remains a garden, though, not a Either the word in the crossword set of Tenmille Talyllyn coaches railway that happens to be in a or the clue should ideally be when I first had the Wren, and a garden. related to railways, preferably bit later I was offered an narrow gauge, possibly models, In 1998 my wife Jenny thought Archangel Talyllyn to go with or they may be related to that the Oily Rag, the East Surrey them, and then someone’s gardening in some way. The clues bi-monthly publication, needed scratchbuilt Corris coach. have to be mildly cryptic. Not too to have a crossword in it. No 1 is Together they form a fine train: I difficult, but enough of a in the April edition of that year. felt I was being given a super challenge to be able to say that The background to this compliment when I was running the answer is both fairly obvious innovation was the crosswords in the train at an exhibition once and completely hidden. We don’t the Automobile magazine at the and someone said ‘I’m glad to always succeed, as you will see. time, authored then by Bryan see you’ve put the train together Some words we think of as Goodman. These were a in the right order’. It turned out ‘fillers’ where we couldn’t find delightful blend of old car that she had volunteered as a anything that actually fitted. enthusiasm and mild cryptic crossword-ese. We were sad when Bryan stopped doing them and the crosswords that replaced them have little of Bryan’s humour. That was the concept that we had for the Oily Rag crosswords, which now have a life of their own. We have carried on with them ever since, with only one issue missing one (to the best of my recollection). The plan is very simple, but quite hard work. We set ourselves the rules: each crossword is the same 13x13 grid. The grid always forms a symmetrical pattern, with each quarter a rotation of the others. ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 17

fireman on the Talyllyn in its retrospect I think I should have those two locos have to have the early preservation years. entered the Jack Wheldon reversing lever the wrong way Memorial Trophy, but that felt round? Where’s the reverser on At some point I had done a quick too far up in the clouds for the that loco which doesn’t appear to calculation that one of the effort I’d done. The loco was have one? (it’s got slip eccentric smaller Roundhouse loco commended. It’s been joined valve gear). mechanisms would fit quite well since by two other GVT examples under a Glyn Valley tram body I fettle locos, even the ones I – a Finescale Sir Theodore and a shell. The Millie I looked at first have bought new. Argyll, now 25 modified Accucraft Baldwin. has its boiler set a bit too high to years old, has a home-made do it properly, so instead of doing I never set out to have a driver, home-done lining, a name a major rethink of that I decided collection of 16mm Heritage on the side tanks, homemade that I could use a lot of locos and stock – it just seems to crests (from the days before Roundhouse bits and make my have happened. The Wren is now computer-drawn crests could own tram loco from scratch. It’s over thirty years old and Argyll easily be made), glazing in the always a good draw at a Model has just passed its 25th birthday. windows, a different whistle, Engineering exhibition because I Most, but not all, of the additions lighting, brake pipes, and there’s can say that I built it (or most of to the fleet over the years have a large home-cast lead weight it) rather than bought the loco in been second-hand. All locos and hidden under the front to make ready-to-run state. I entered it stock seem to have their sure the loco doesn’t slip; into the Roundhouse section of individual foibles and none are Campbeltown and Machrihanish the MoTY in 2008 – but when I the same to run, which adds to coaches are quite heavy. I still saw Nigel’s entry I realised that the variety of the experience and tend to think of it as a standard mine wasn’t going to win the probably annoys newcomers to Roundhouse product, though. gong for that section, even the hobby no end. Why can’t though he’d used Lightline to do they all have the controls doing the paint job on his Gowrie. I did the same thing rather than the lining on mine myself. In something different? Why do ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 18

First run of the Fowler since its overhaul, on the AVR - Photo Dave Pinniger

Fowler works catalogue. The that Stewart ran it unpainted for model is believed to be a one off, several years, before it was

The although a 45mm gauge Fowler painted in a rather interesting built by Stewart does exist, it sand/yellow livery. looks very different and is gas This model is based on one of fired. Those that have seen the Archangel three 0-6-2 tender Fowlers Peter Dobson book ‘Live Steam (B9½Class), the first of which was Locomotives Vol 1.’, might provided in 1927 to the Innisfail recognise it as the model on and Mourilyan Tramway, Coal Fired pages 16-17, it can also be seen Queensland, Australia, where in the Archangel colour they were used to haul catalogue, sitting behind passenger, sugar cane, banana, Stewart’s lathe. It is understood Fowler timber trains and many other

by Graham Tutt

With the recent articles chronicling the history of Archangel I thought people might be interested in this brief article on this coal fired Fowler, which was built by Stewart Browne around 1978-80, using a general 1980, with Stewart arrangement drawing supplied by at the controls - Harvey Watkins from an original Dave Pinniger ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 19

combustion chamber, 6 fire tubes and two safety valves.

It has a dead-leg lubricator for the cylinders behind the buffer beam, however, at some point Stewart fitted a more substantial 1980, with Stewart displacement at the controls - lubricator in the cab, Dave Pinniger presumably as the latter was found to

supplies to support the local community.

I was fortunate to be able to purchase this model from Simon Whenmouth of Anything Narrow Gauge in 2014.

It features Walschaerts valve gear, sprung driving axles, axle and hand driven water feed pumps, the latter being located in the tender. The boiler has a Peter ‘snapper’ Dob- maximum working pressure of son taking the pho- 75psi and features a wet sided tos….. photo Dave firebox with a dry back head, a Pinniger

have too small a capacity.

Initial running highlighted the usual issues with locos that haven’t been used for some period of time, in that whilst the hand pump clacks (non- return valves) worked the axle pumps did not. Everything else seemed to be in fine order and there Chassis minus boiler appearing to be little wear in the motion. ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 20

Removal of the axle pump, which is actually situated under the smokebox permitted access to its clacks, cleaning and fitment of new ball bearings has cured the water feed issue. However, whilst removing the fitting on top of the water level gauge glass, (so that the glass could be cleaned), it was clear that it wasn’t as secure as should have been, removal of The dismantled boiler show- the fitting showed that there was ing the thickness of the in- no bush in the boiler barrel and it sulation between the boiler was only secured by the short and cladding—which is the length of thread through the same diameter as the thickness of the boiler barrel smokebox, and below Inside itself, which was all but stripped. firebox showing steam feed I understand that this was a pipes. common practice by Stewart, although odd as all of the other fittings on the back head, or the two safety valves are screwed into bushes. There was nothing for it, unless I was to keep it as a display model, but to remove the boiler and fit a bush. I am very lucky in that I am friends with Maurice Cross of MLE Services fame (manufacturer of the Jim Wild designed 16mm De boilersmith and has overhauled fitted a bush and manufactured a Winton), he is a very experienced many locos for members in the new top elbow fitting to suit, engineer, model maker and local area, as well as his work on followed by the obligatory more pressure test to provide industrial scale assurance of a sound job. steam plants. I

was tempted to fit a new Whilst the loco was bush myself, disassembled, the opportunity but being such was taken to repair a broken a historically solder joint between the bottom significant of the cab and footplate. loco, I thought Additionally the hand pump, it better to clacks and other boiler fitting leave it to the were serviced and ‘Sand’ The finished model professional. coloured painted removed from displayed at Exeter Maurice them. I also took the precaution successfully of replacing the steam pipe to ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 21

the cylinders which passes during through the backhead, along with September 2016. the steam blower feed tube, Not having a line these pass above the fire and up at home it took the smoke tubes to the another year for smokebox. Steam superheater it to have a pipes, have been known to proper test, become blocked by burnt steam courtesy of the oil or even burnt through. General Manager of the AVR, David Because of the solder repairs and Pinniger. The some other damage to the loco has plenty of paintwork, the decision was power, is easy to made to have the tender tank, control and has cab and boiler cladding etc. one of the most repainted by Berry Hill Works, I effective steam blowers I’ve enjoyable, bringing back such a hope you’ll agree with me that a come across, which is very useful nice model to fine fettle, such very fine job has been done. when the driver gets distracted that it’s ready for service and the The loco was re-assembled and and lets the fire drop too low! I enjoyment of owners yet to steam tested (on the patio table!) always find this sort of project come.

The finished model displayed on the AVR P A G E 22 available on the internet. A more hair, a moustache and good site to look at is: - no pot belly. ‘ BIZZI’ The http:// Arthur was an excellent tin searail.malayanrailways.com/ smith, turning out some lovely PJKA/Semerang%20Joana% body work from old oil cans. Tram 20Tramway/SJS.htm The body on this model is beautiful example of his craft. Background History to the Mind you, he did have some model Engine problems when he decided to The model was originally built use high temperature paint by the late Arthur Walker who which required baking on to by Graham White

Why ‘BIZZI’ I hear you ask? Well it is my nick name for the model featured in this article. The loco’s allocated engine number is B1221 but ‘BIZZI sums up its character when running. The model represents one of Beyer Peacock’s tram engines built for the Samerang - Joana Tramway in Java which upon closure of that system in 1940, was later transferred to the Surabaya Tramway. The locomotive was constructed was one of the founding cure. He put it in the oven as works number 2577 in members of the 16mm group which melted the solder and 1884, as part of order number at Guildford Model he ended up with a kit of 6176 for £962 making 11.6% Engineering Society. I joined parts. the group a couple of years profit for Beyer Peacock. The After Arthur’s passing, I and after its formation and it’s track gauge was 1067mm. others from the club assisted hard to believe that was over with the disposal of his More history of the railway is thirty years ago when I had workshop equipment and extensive library of railway books. I was fortunate enough to acquire the model from his estate. The Model The model is quite small. It is 160mm long x 100mm wide x 130mm tall. Knowing Arthur’s keenest for accuracy, I believe the model has been built to a scale of 1:23.6. It is 45mm gauge with inside frames which does not leave a lot of space for the mechanics. It has a small pot boiler and is externally heated via gas. As originally built the model had slip eccentric vale gear, used a single Roundhouse ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 23

cylinder block bolted directly to the side frame via what would have been the valve chest cover. Now that makes adjusting valve timing “interesting” to say the least. Eager to see it run, I set it up on my rolling road but it ran very poorly. Over a period of weeks, I tried adjusting the slip eccentric and slide valve timing but it still did not perform well. So, I decided to take a radical step and seek another way of driving the model. In my travels I had acquired one of the later variants of Tom Cooper’s Osmotor which had machined cast cylinders. This motor uses side plates and compression springs to hold the took up vital space below the but to strip it down for an oscillating cylinders onto the boiler and I had to redesign the inspection. I found the ‘O’ ring main frame. I found by removing burner assembly which was groove could have been better the side plates and using the loco “challenging”. machined and whilst I was at it, I side frames I could just about fit took a few thou off the piston Eager to see the loco run on the steam motor in position. To diameter. It now ran better on steam, it was back on the rolling operate the engine, I added a air and more importantly equally road and ran but started to slow David Bailey reversing quadrant. well on steam. down as though it was tightening So, onto an air test where it ran up. After some deliberation I So, following a successful boiler beautifully on the rolling road. I deduced the problem lay with test at GMES, the loco was tried was on the right track. The boiler the Osmotor which had never on our portable indoor test track which has now morphed into “Mwch Grumblyn” which you can see on the exhibition circuit. It ran well but the small boiler capacity was a problem. I added a water top up fitting using a small connector I purchased from Tolhurst Model Engineers. I believe DJB now sell the equivalent. I also found getting the motor to start was a problem due to the steam condensing in cold cylinders and a long exhaust pipe to atmosphere. I eventually added a condensate trap tank adjacent to the motor which can be initially emptied onto the track before switching over to is externally heated but is been used and was effectively as the main exhaust. shielded, combustion is not that it left the factory. So, I hooked The water top up cured the lack brilliant because the exhaust the motor up to my workshop of water capacity but the gas fumes exit through the chimney compressor and ran it for a day tank was very small, it used more and it can be a pig to light. but still it tightened up under gas to initially heat the boiler Unfortunately, using the Osmotor steam. There was nothing for it P A G E 24

than run, so I made a new boiler and when expired, turn http:// larger one. The Surabaya on the external gas tank www.internationalsteam.co.u railway used auxiliary water housed in the wagon. k/java/surabaya/ tankers and I eventually made surabaya1973.htm If you are interested in the one to carry an external gas real railway, there is a DVD One day I will get round to tank housed in a much available from Online Video making some more modified LGB tank wagon. called ‘Tramway Exotica’ prototypical rolling stock. This is connected to the which features the Surabaya Being a small loco I can run it engine via another TME Railway and others. You can on the new Gauge 1 track at connector. I now use the also find some good GMES. internal tank to heat the photographs here: - P A G E 25

A while back, in TBM, I printed a b&w photo of Marc Horovitz's Shay. Built by Larry Lindsay and Mike MIRROR Bigger, I asked if anyone could spot what was wrong, and had quite a few replies. When MIRROR originally commissioned for Marc, the frames were drilled the wrong way round, but when Marc was told he asked for the build to be completed, leaving

him with a running here with 18 cane fairly unique wagons behind. mirror image Dave Pinniger also has one model. Marc of these locos dating from has also 1989, and ran his at almost recently been the same time. steaming a range of his His photo shows the physical locos, and so difference. the Shay came DEREK out to play, though not without one hiccup! It is

This new section is dedicated to the models that you have I SHOULD passed on in years gone by, only to regret doing so. In this case it is Gary Newton who sold this extremely rare NEVER Australian Loco Works meths fired 0-4-0. Do you know where it is now? HAVE More to the point, I asked Gary for a thumbnail piece about the manufacturer, only SOLD to find that he knew nothing. He just liked the loco. So, if you can provide any history on the manufacturer please THIS let me know. DEREK ISSUE 15 MAY/JUNE 2020 P A G E 26

DOWN

1. Peckett formed from mock cage. (8) 2. Is Una able to be transported to Festin- iog station? (7) 4. Animal used for goods trains in the An- des? (6) 5. To see streams differently go to David Shepherd’s railway. (4,8) 6. Extrusion tool found in diesel. (3) 7. Iron oxide found in untrustworthy locos. (4) 8. Cattle ranger moves to Loughborough line. (5,7) 12. Unravel half bend to form battlefield line. (8) 15. Ltd rearrangement around dual leads to another Festiniog station. (7) 16. Martin transformed Shane’s Castle town. (6) 18. Decorates cakes while line freezes. (4) 20. The last clue. Terminus. Stop. (3)

ACROSS 14. Oily smear made by mixing eg muds. (6) 17. Taking the engine to the other end of the train on circular track. (7,5) 1. Disorientated by Great Eastern initially, so change boat’s course with a swing. (4) 19. Less obscure clue or comparatively empty track. (7) 3. Source of pleasantly scented oil near Isfield. (8) 21. Field found in Ewell East station. (3) 9. Qualification found in a railway embankment. (1,1,1) 22. Mad piles rebuilt to illuminate edge of train. (4,4) 10. Artistic railway advertisements go to press in 23. Reverse note to reveal station with Riverside wrong order. (7) and Windsor. (4) 11. Festiniog loco built for Edward I. (6,6) Chris and Jenny Dowlen 13. Nest eggs used to disconnect drive. (6)

Solution to OILY RAG CROSSWORD NO 14A (republished in March/April Throwback DOWN Modeller#14) 1. Bevel; 2. Terminal; 3. Superb; 4. Coco; 5. Evening; ACROSS 6. Eric Treacy; 9. Ten Wheeler; 1. Betws-y-Coed; 7. Rover; 8. Peckett; 10. Colliery; 11. 12. Bethesda; 14. Science; 16. Hudson; 19. Unite; Sian; 13. Reseat; 15. Length; 17. Acid; 18. Mulhouse; 20. Kent. 21. Yankees; 22. Slide; 23. Newton Dale. Contact us.. Provisional Diary Dates

16mm Heritage Locomotive Llangollen Garden Railway Show 3rd October. There will be three 16mm layouts, Owners and Operators and whilst we will be focussing heavily on heritage running on our layout, there is Association still no objection to you bringing anything along. Please come and support us - How to contact us…. there is huge potential here to establish another heritage base alongside the Exe- *** Derek Wiggins; ter Show. Email; [email protected] Exeter Garden Railway Show. Saturday 24th.October. It has really all been said, Phone; 01691 654474 and hopefully we will be there again. Whatever, come and have a great day out.

*** Nigel Town; Peterborough for the reset National Garden Railway show on the 14th November Email; [email protected] to run the auction Phone/Text; 07807 969 400

ryone who has that the model was then impacted, caus- contributed, and ing one of these to distort and seize the I am holding over bogie. I will detail everything when it is items already for finished. With grateful thanks to Chris TBM16. Haley, who also has one though with modified burners, go onto YouTube and With previous just put in '4 May 2020' to see his run- pieces on Arch- ning. Watching that got my emotions angel's Jack and fired up! Just take very good care, all of now the Fowler, I you. would love some more pieces on DEREK early coal fired 16mm locos. As an aside, does anyone have any suggestions for a supplier of rub-down graphics, as I have IN THE BEGINNING - Well, almost. Marc been asked a few times. I have also been Horovitz recently ran his Jack Wheldon asked about butane gas, or butane/ tram loco "Hecla" with some elderly propane mix. I have taken advice, and coaches. A timeless scene. put simply if your loco manufacturer My thoughts remain with anyone suffer- doesn't specify its suitability, then stay ing in any way because of current away from mix. I am open to any further events. As Marc and others have shown advice on this if you want to get in 16mm as a hobby has sustained quite a touch? few of us, and it has brought out some The rebuild of my Steamcraft Fairlie pro- Tail of the long forgotten models to have a gresses. The mainframes of the bogies run. It has meant more photos and arti- had at some point been replaced by a cles, for which we should all thank eve- light gauge steel, and it would appear Lamp TBM #15 score card Team tram (Derek) - 7 Team L&B (Nigel) - 6 A high scoring edition and I even sneaked the L&B guest appearance photo off the Exeter display stand.