The BRMNA Journal

BRITISH RAILWAY MODELLERS OF NORTH AMERICA No.369, Jan/Feb 2016 ADMINISTRATION THE SIGNAL BOX PRESIDENT: by The Editor Jim Jarrett, 839 Denison Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario, K2A 2N4 This really will be my last issue as Edtor of the JOURNAL, Garry 613-728-1491 Cornel will be taking over beginning with No. 329. We have some material to start him off (thank you to those who responded to my SECRETARY/TREASURER: last appeal), but he will need more as the year goes on. The Editor’s Dave Venables, 6 Trevor Crescent, Nepean, Ontario, K2H 6H8 e-mail address will remain the same (see the Administration column), and his address 613-829-1377 for post office mail is in the Directory. Please give him at least as much support as I have had over the years, and keep the JOURNAL as lively, useful and feisty (as it EDITOR: was once described by a contemporary) as it has always been. Graham Parsons, 5 Butternut Court, Gloucester, Ontario, K1B 4V6 I will not be giving up BRMNA administration altogether though. As described 613-824-6402 elsewhere in this issue, I will be taking over from Jim Jarrett as President, purely on a temporary basis, to develop a process for appointing a new President in time for INTERNET: BRMNA’s next year. http://home.ca.inter.net/~brmna/index.html Secretary: [email protected] FORTHCOMING MEETINGS Editor: [email protected] OTTAWA - all at 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted: REGIONAL DIRECTORS: May 01 Paul Gale, 7 Laurentide Road, Nepean 613-828-3961 May 30 Jim Theaker, 89 Frontenac Cr., Deep River (Saturday) 613-584-4480 Montreal: I. Dow 514-636-9665 *** Note Change of Date *** Toronto: M. Stapleton 416-696-2457 th Alberta: J. Wrenn 403-569-1765 Sep 04 Ron Price, 3037 9 Line, Beckwith, Carleton Place 613-257-5376 Vancouver: C. Frame 604-434-1172 VANCOUVER AND AREA - Regular meetings 8:00 - 10:00 pm unless noted. Georgia: R. Kemp 770-591-8938 Illinois: D. Buchanan 630-655-2330 Top Link Model Railway Association: Maryland: P. Shaw 301-572-1978 New Jersey: R.W. Hess 732-899-0738 Apr 24 Norio Renovich (Modelling Competition), 4537 Nanaimo St., Vancouver th Minnesota: S. Knight 612-972-2619 May 08 AGM, Centennial Rec. Centre, 65 East 6 Avenue, New Westminster Washington: T. Elliot 306-733-4072 HALIFAX AND AREA - BNAMRA - Saturdays from 2 to 5 pm: Articles in the JOURNAL provided by BRMNA Visitors to Nova Scotia always welcome. Contact hosts for directions. members may be published in any other club magazine on the understanding that the original TORONTO AND AREA author and the JOURNAL are credited. The Toronto British Railway Association meets on a monthly basis in members’ The editor is not responsible for the content of any homes and new members are always welcome. For more information contact Ray article or advertising published. Sambrooks through the following e-mail address: [email protected]. Members' private advertising is published free of THE PLATELAYERS charge. Members' commercial advertising is published at the rate of $36 per page, $20 per half The Platelayers meet at the homes of their members. Unless otherwise noted page or $12 per quarter page, per appearance. meetings run from 2pm to 5pm The current membership year is 2008/2009 from Apr 19 Tony Ross September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009 at a cost of May 02 Symposium $15. This year's membership card is white and the Jun 28 Brian Fayle directory is also white. The number in parentheses Sep 26 Mike Walton after your nam e on the address label used to mail your JOURNAL shows your dues situation.

Printed by PRO Printers OttawaADMINISTRATION...... , Ontario. ISSN 0229-05553 Articles in the JOURNAL provided by BRMNA members may be PRESIDENT : published in any other club magazine on the understanding that Derek Uttley, 97 Pheasant Run Drive, Ottawa. Ontario. K2J 2R3 the original author and the JOURNAL are credited. 613-825-0038 328.01 SECRETARY: The Editor is not responsible for the content of any article or Dave Venables, 6 Trevor Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario, K2H 6H8 advertising published. 613-829-1377 Members' private advertising is published free of charge. EDITOR: Members' commercial advertising is published at the rate of $40 Peter Cunningham, 2272 Iris Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K2C 1C2 per page, $25 per half page or $15 per quarter page per 613-558-0384 appearance. INTERNET: http://brmna.org The current membership year is 2015/2016 from September 1, President: [email protected] 2015 to August 31, 2016, This year's membership card is grey Secretary:[email protected] and the directory is white. The number in parentheses after Editor: [email protected] your name on the address label used to mail your JOURNAL shows your dues situation.

Printed by PRO Printers, Ottawa, Ontario. ISSN 0229-05553

369-1 THE SIGNAL BOX...... Cover Photo...... By The Editor On a road trip through Nova Scotia a few years ago, I visited a fascinating museum in Stellarton, The Nova Well I hope Santa was good to you all this year and that Scotia Museum of Industry. I was completely surprised your model railway has prospered as a result. For those to discover this hidden gem called on display. of you who enjoyed answering the Christmas Quiz, while It is perhaps the oldest “original” (i.e. not a replica), digesting the Christmas Pudding, and are keenly awaiting in Canada, if not North America, and Richards answers, you will find them on pages 7 and 8. certainly the oldest 0-6-0. The locomotive was built by My modelling over the winter so far, has been some heavy kit bashing of a rather European looking Heljan O Timothy Hackworth in 1838, at the Soho Works in scale two road engine shed, into a smaller, single road , dismantled down to component parts, and shed, that could at first glance could pass for something shipped along with two other Hackworth engines, British. This follows a decision to scrap the larger two Hercules and John Buddle, to work the Albion mines in road shed (also a Heljan kit), that was part of an earlier Nova Scotia. The mines standard gauge railway ran for version of my layout. The smaller single road shed 6 miles, (on iron rails), from the Albion mine to a wharf should, I think, look more at home at the end of my at Pictou, on the East River. The coal was carried in branch line layout. I have been taking photographs as the Chaldron wagons and these were emptied directly into build has progressed and when I find time, will put ships. The museum also have a mystery locomotive together an article. called Albion and supposedly built by Hackworth in Dave Venables would like to mention a new feature in the member zone of our BRMNA website, called 1854. See the link below. The industrial archeology of Member Portfolio. This was successfully launched just this area is fascinating and for a far more in depth before Christmas thanks to some overtime work by Dave history of early mining and coal haulage in Canada see and at the moment features just one member’s layout. this paper by Herb MacDonald. We would like to encourage you to log in to the members http://www.exporail.org/can_rail/Canadian zone, and at the right hand end of the header you will see %20Rail_no474_2000.pdf BRMNA Portfolio. There you will find all the information and for the Nova Scotia Museum of Industry.. on how to proceed with submitting your images. This will http://museumofindustry.novascotia.ca/collections- be a great opportunity to share your layout with the rest of research/locomotives/albion the membership. When I recently visited the Shildon collection I planned on seeing the Hackworth museum which is housed in the old Soho works at the same site.... it was closed!! Peter Shepherd, Ontario. Directory Updates: New address: 201-93 Bold Street, Hamilton, ON, L8P 1T8 Corrections: New phone: 905-393-8268

Mike Pearson, Ontario. James Smith, Ontario. Interests (Correction): GWR/LMS/BR-1930 to New email: [email protected] 60-N-DCC-16-30-N Jonathan Abolins, Maryland. Updates: New address: 8775 Centre Park Drive, Apt 115, Columbia, MD, 21045 Dylan Littlewood, British Columbia New address: 644 Fernhill Road, Victoria, Alastair Millns, New Hampshire. BC, V9A 4Y9 New email: [email protected]

Tom King, Ontario. New Members: New email: [email protected] William Jones, Texas. Russ Mawby, Ontario. Address: 3406 Fairview Drive, Corinth, TX, New email: [email protected] 76210-2614 Phone: 940-321-5601 Peter Philebrown, Ontario. Email: [email protected] New email: [email protected] Interests: UK/DB/LIRR-All-OO/HO-DC-70-100-N

369-2 Smart rolling stock and loco packaging...... ! ...... Tom Schwarzkopf (ON) There are probably more ways of safely transporting our Now a small problem arose. Murphy’s Law states models than there are modelers. I have seen all manner that whatever wagon or coach you want will always be of custom lined attaché cases, Lee Valley tool boxes, on the bottom layer. So one has to un-pack all the stock Rubbermaid bins, copy paper cases with custom dividers on the top to get at it etc. And while you are lifting out the or trays, … the list goes on. And you may have a system wanted coach, the other ones from the top layer are that works perfectly well for you. So then read no further. merrily rolling away down the table and on to the floor. But, if what you use is wanting, or just plain lacking, this Bad words inserted here! may be an economical way of transporting quantities of A fellow OB-er suggested a tray of sorts, so I cut rolling stock and locos. a piece of foamcore to be the divider and could then lift I take most of my equipment to shows where our out the whole top layer in one go. And, while I was lifting Ottawa British layout, Marmadale, is invited. I needed out the coach from the bottom the ones from … . Bad rugged, lightweight and configurable containers for my words again. stock. By configurable, I mean that I often mooch a ride What I came up with in the end was a mini tea with another Ottawa British member and we may need to tray with sides and ends of foamcore, and handles to lift put my kit in left over spaces in his vehicle after all our it out. Now all the top layer comes up in one go and modules are loaded. everything stays put on the table. Enter the Home Depot plastic shoe box. No I do Details: cut a bottom piece 11-7/8” X 6¼” I think not work there, but these sturdy boxes are light and 12” long will bind, but you can try it with the height of cheap – on sale as little as $1.00 per. They have a snap your equipment and see. Ditto for the width. 6¼ is a bit on top and resist crushing etc. They are deep enough to snug for fitting in 4 coaches using 1/8” foamcore, 6-5/8” hold two layers of rolling stock and can hold 4 rows on will probably work. Again test it against whatever stock each layer: that is 4 coaches or 4 rows of 3-4 wagons. I you use and whatever shoe boxes you get. Sides are cut cut strips of thin packing foam to put between each row to fit and about 2” high or high enough to keep the rolling to cushion the stock and protect it from marking. A sheet stock from escaping. I made the long ones the length of of the same material was cut to go between the layers. the base and the ends to fit inside. (see photo 1 below).

369-3 I found good old white glue (PVA) mated the sides/ends to the bottom with a little weight overnight. I glued up two side-and-end assemblies and then fitted those two ELs together and to the base. I had some 1½” thin woven fabric strapping, probably used to tie some boxes down and I cut it into 14” long strips and glued 1½” of each end with the white glue to the bottom, with both ends on the short end so I had a looped handle at each end. Again I weighted it overnight and it seems to be quite firmly fixed. I still am using the foam between the rolling stock and under the tray (maybe that one is overkill). So far all the trays have stayed glued together and seem to be quite rugged even full of locos. (see photo 2, right).

Cost was minimal; foamcore is often used on shop signage and tossed afterward; ask your local store if they have any (no one cares if one side of your tray advertises ladies knickers). I also found that fruit boxes/trays such as Food Basics gives away will, if you find the right size, hold three shoe boxes snugly side-by-side and has carrying handles. (see photo 3, left). If flat space does not permit stowing it that way, I just put each shoe box in whatever cubbyhole is available in the truck and use the grape tray to carry them in to the show. By the way, the shoe boxes will also hold other layout stuff: buildings, automobiles, trees, people etc. So, Keep Calm and Carry On (your railway equipment cheaply and easily.)

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Abingdon to Abington...... Ralph Transue (IL) Those who have seen my N scale layout know that it includes an English Village. Incongruously, the village of Abington is on high ground somewhere in New Jersey between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. The layout grows slowly as time permits. It runs from Red Rock Canyon in Colorado, to Jersey City. Abington has a connection to the commuter rails from Jersey City. Abington is also a junction on the main line where a branch leaves the main line and disappears behind the backdrop to become a return to the main line forming a western division. Abington’s track plan is based on the plan of Abingdon, which was at the end of a GWR branch from Radley. The history and plan of Abingdon is well covered in Wild Swan Publications Ltd. “The Abingdon Branch” by Nigel Trippett and Nicolas rises to Red Rock Pass. A branch leads to a mountain De Courtais, 1985. While I followed Abingdon’s plan for village that grew up around the Itzal Mine. The grade to the Abington yard layout, I needed help with the plan for a bridge over a stream in Red Rock Canyon is 2%, and the main line junction and Abington station since my the branch grade to the mine is 4%. Models of U.S. Abington is the main line junction rather than Radley. diesel locomotives handle the 2% grade better than British Train Society member Martin Venn came to my models of British steam engines, but the British trains rescue. Martin’s assistance began when I showed him make the grade with fewer coaches or wagons. my initial version of the junction and asked him where I Speaking of which, I’d like to find an N scale siphon to should place the signal box. Martin replied that he could add milk service to the layout. The 4% grade to the mine not properly advise on the placement because the does not prevent short trains of empties rising from the junction station and track plan was not correct! I revised main line. the tracks to better reflect British practice, including a Some of you may have read my story of The Red station bay and two through tracks. The improved Rock Canyon Line. It explains how an English village junction works well, just as one should expect for a British came to lie west of Jersey City and how it provides Rail junction. Abingdon was the station from which MG commuter service to the city. The story also explains motorcars were shipped by rail. why it is now common to see on the layout Erie The model village, Abington, has been populated locomotives in Colorado and Rio Grande locomotives in with representative buildings with changes based on New Jersey. Of course all of this is imaginary and about availability. For instance, the Abingdon gas works, on half of the scenery does not yet exist. Track work is private tracks off railway property, is a mill and warehouse mostly complete, the major exception is the yards in in the Abington model. The Abingdon station, which had Jersey City. Management has designed a coach yard, an attractively lighted forecourt, is replaced by a bus receiving yard, freight sorting yard, turntable, station in the Abington model. This is necessary because roundhouse, caboose storage, lift bridge to serve river my Abington is a branch junction rather than the end of barges, engine facilities and eight station platforms. Of the Abingdon branch. Abington railway facilities include a that, the construction crew has installed only the goods shed, engine shed, water and coal supplies. The passenger station tracks so far. BTS member Grant only automobile road modeled in Abington is not based Harrison has contributed some ideas to improve on any real road in Abingdon, but it forms the heart of the switching in the throat to the platform tracks and the village with a church, a pub, a chemist, a baker, shops placement of the coach yard and roundhouse. and workers’ homes. The road out of Abington crosses a Management is considering Grant’s suggestions. drill track from the yard, which is protected by gates of The overall track plan configuration is a double British design, and heads west to the U.S. Midwest farm track dog bone providing continuous running through country. Beyond a Midwest farm village with a team hidden tunnels at each end, under the mountain village track, a hotel and farm-support businesses, the elevation 369-5 and under the city. It also provides point to point to operate in a western division, an eastern division, operations from Itzal Mine to the Hudson River, with and on dedicated commuter tracks that do not interfere destinations along the way including the Midwest farm with main line traffic. BTS members have enjoyed town, Abington, and a suburban passenger station. running their N scale trains on the layout as it has Several cross-over and connection tracks permit trains grown.

366-6 The Christmas Quiz Answers.... Thank you to those of you who contacted me with their Wikipedia for help. The answer to question #3, on solutions and to the lads in Alberta for their patience in standard gauge locomotive manufacturers could fill a book, waiting for Richards answers ! I was stumped by some of and in fact it does, “British Steam Locomotive Builders”, by these questions and had to resort to reference books and James W Lowe. It was reprinted in 2014.....Ed

Question and Answers for The quiz published in the December 2015 issue. Please email me at [email protected], if you can either from my own experience of from reading a railway provide more complete or different answers. I am sure I journal or book. I hope you enjoyed it and found do not know all the answers to every aspect of British something interesting. Railways but most of the ideas for these questions came Richard Turle, Ottawa, October 2015

1, Piers were a famous means of leisure especially in the early 20th century. Which pier had the longest public railway? A, Southend on Sea. This pier was near my home so I went on the pier quite often. The railway was about 3/4 mile long and was double tracked with two scissors crossover.

2,The “Dockers Umbrella” was the nickname for which railway? A. Liverpool Overhead Railway which incidentally had one end in a tunnel at Dingle!

3, There were a number of private (i.e. not railway owned) standard gauge steam locomotive manufacturers which existed in the UK during the early and mid-20th century. How many can you name? A, I know of 7. Kitson, North British, Vulcan Foundry, Beyer Peacock, Armstrong Whitworth, Hunslet and Bagnall. Were there others?

4, During the LNER period, Kitson experiment with a unique means of propulsion for a locomotive. What was it? A, This was a diesel steam combination 2-6-0. The steam engine drove the loco up to a speed at which the diesel engine could be brought into action.

5, Gresley was known for building locomotives for certain routes e g the K4 and P2. But he was not unique. What was the reason and route for the Stanier built special class of 2-6-4-T locomotives? A, three cylinder version was built for the London, Tilbury and Southend lines to improve speed as well as to handle the increased loadings.

6, A4 locos were modified over their lifetime. For example, the skirts or valences were removed during WW2. Double chimneys were added in the 1950s. What modification and why was performed on the initial members of the class? A, The coupling hook was originally recessed in to the streamlined front of the first A4s. However, after a fireman was killed, the design was modified so there was extra room when uncoupling.

7,The LMS received in 1923 10,316 locos in 393 different classes from its constituent companies. How many locos did the LMS hand over to the new British Railways in 1948? A. The number of LMS locos was 7850 locos in over a 100 classes. 8, What was the last LMS designed loco produced? A, Built in January (?) 1954, it was number 47009, a 0-4-0 saddle tank based on a Kitson design for the LMS, but modified by BR.

9, What records does ex-LNER Flying Scotsman hold? A, Flying Scotsman holds two world records, in the first verified operation of a steam locomotive at 100 mph in 1934 and the longest non-stop steam run of 422 miles in 1989.

10, Can you name the pre-grouping railways which operated Pullman cars? A, LB & SCR, SE & CR, the Caledonian Railway, and finally, surprise, there were two cars on the Metropolitan Railway!

367-7 11, How many wagons did British Railways take over in 1948? A, The best estimate is 1.2 million 12, Streamlining was in vogue before WW2. Can you name ALL the classes streamlined prior to 1939? A, Gresley’s A4 and B17 (one example). P2 2-8-2 class and the rebuilt 10000 (hush-hush) as W1; Stanier’s Duchess or Coronation class, and the GWR Castle class of which there were two examples resulting in the ugliest locos ever to run on British rails!! 13, Where was Prince Charles when the birth of his grandson, Prince George was announced? A, He was at that in York on the occasion of the Great Gathering of A4s. At least he has his priorities right!!!! 14, Railway enthusiast often had nick names for their favourite steam locomotives. What were...... a) Spam cans, b) Bongos, c) Micky Mouse’, d) Streaks, e) Big’uns, f) Space ships, g) Bulldogs. A, a) Merchant Navies or BB/WC classes. b) LNER B1 class. c) LMS Ivatt and BR 2-6-0 classes d) LNER A4. e) LMS Duchess or Coronation class Pacific’s. f) Austerity but mainly BR 2-10-0 g) GWR 4-4-0 with outside frames 15, Can you name British stations that had a triangular layout at some time in their existence? A. Shipley, on the Airedale and Wharfdale lines, Ambergate on the Derwent Valley line and Earlstown on the Liverpool and Manchester, Bishop Auckland which was part of the Stockton and Darlington line 16, From which two stations was it once possible to arrive from London and then return back to London by a second train travelling in the same direction? A, St Davids, Exeter. GWR trains running to Plymouth passed in a southerly direction. LSWR trains from Waterloo to Plymouth travelled northwards through the same station. Similarly at Plymouth, Trains from Paddington travelled due west. The LSWR trains from Waterloo due to their route, travelled in an easterly direction. I wonder how many passengers got on the wrong trains!! 17, From which major termini was it possible to depart and arrive back on the same train and through which stations did they pass? A, It was possible, but I do not know if it still is to leave Waterloo and pass through Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington, Kingston and Wimbledon for Waterloo. Similarly one could leave London Bridge and travel via New Cross Gate, Norwood Junction, Streatham Common, Tulse Hiil, and Peckham Rye to arrive back at London Bridge again. From Glasgow Central the Cathcart circle operated via Polkshields West, Shawlands, Cathcart, Mount Florida and the Polkshields East before arriving back at Glasgow Central 18, Bulleid is best known for his revolutionary locomotive designs: Merchant Navy, Q1 and Leader classes spring to mind ,but can you name three innovative ideas Bulleid introduced to coaching stock. A, The first and most long lasting, was to stop the lining out of new SR coaches. Modern and functional, this style lasted well into BR years. Secondly, to increase capacity he introduced double deckers, really interlaced coaches. Not too successful as they increased station dwell times as egress was slow. These were known as 4DD. Finally, he built the mock Tavern cars for the Atlantic Coach Express. The interiors resembled the interior of an English pub. The Jolly Tar was the name on the exterior which even had fake brickwork. 19, The LMS experimented with a turbine driven locomotive, and a Pacific, 6202 was built and was moderately successful. In BR days. It was rebuilt as a 4 cylinder Pacific and was called Princess Anne. What happened to it? A, It was severely damaged in the Harrow and Wealdstone disaster of October, 8th, 1952 and later scrapped. 20, The LMS was not the only railway to build one –offs. Can you name any GWR locomotives that were one offs? A, The Pacific Great Bear no.111 built in 1908 was the only GWR Pacific. It was scrapped in 1924. Churchward also built in 1906 a four cylinder Atlantic No. 40 Lone Star, rebuilt in 1909. There may well be others.

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