Northroader

Having seen what you can produce over in the RMweb Microlayouts section, I’m looking forward to seeing how your fireside thoughts develop.

There’s a similar line which must have drawn its inspiration from Thomas, and that’s “Ivor the engine”, just one engine set with in Wales with the folks round him. I would think that this could be adapted to an Irish setting quite easily. Theres a simple layout constructed on this theme described in this issue of the “Dispatch”, just page down until you reach “Ivor the Engine” https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Issue-6_final1.pdf

Here’s what it looks like at present, the whole lot has shrunk to fit a circuit on an 18” square board, based on the premise “what would the Highland Railway look like if it was narrow gauge?” But you could apply the same principle to most lines.

Would you be tempted by a caricature job, narrower gauge and larger scale, mine’s 1:32 scale, 20” gauge with 16.5mm track, or 1:34 scale, 9mm/foot, 22” gauge, which has some commercial figures available?

You strap them on your upper arm, so that everyone knows who’s doing a particular task, and remind you of your responsibilities. The pilot man comes into use for emergency single line working, any train passing through the affected stretch has to have him with the train, rather like a single line token with arms and legs. The lookout man goes with everyone working on the track where trains are operating, he has to be placed where he can see trains coming in time to give adequate warning for the guys to get clear. PICOP is where you have possession of a stretch of track for engineering work, but you can still get trains wanting to pass through, such as a ballast train, say, and he has to give permission for the train to pass through that stretch, and make sure everybody is clear, also sign for the start and finish of possession. Engineering Supervisor is similar without the possession, mainly worrying about stuff like lookouts. TSC is something stitched on since I retired.

I think with a model the wheels are hardly ever individually sprung like a full size job. If any carrying wheels form a hard point, they’re going to rob the driving wheels of adhesion. Therefore the lead scattered round inside the loco should be arranged so that the centre of gravity is over the drivers, and the bogie, in this case, is allowed to flop about without getting in the way, with enough weight or central springing to ensure it stays on the track. The Swilly engines look in photos to be a bit careworn, so does it really need an out of shops appearance? Just touch up any bare metal that’s appeared.

I was thinking just try increasing the width of your slot, so’s the bogie can traverse sideways a bit more?

Over on RMweb they’ve been going on about the IKEA “Mosslanda” display shelf as suitable for a short narrow run which should fit this purpose.

Highly unusual composition, and works very well. The low relief coach sides are a different way of doing things, certainly.

Having it all formed up into a train, that’s a lovely piece of modelling.

Really involved constructional work, I’d be scared how sturdy it would prove to be if I was doing it, but going through your materials it sounds strong enough. I found there’s a great temptation picking up those canopies for your fingers to curl over the edges, where the daggerboards are, so don't be like Bob. The appearance of the end result will set off the cameo very well.

Ye’ve left no stone unturned with your modelling there.

Marvellous piece of modelling.

You’re right, it’s all the curves in the bodywork. Buried in all the boxes somewhere there’s a few pieces for the NCC one. Will I ever do it? will I ever find it? Yours is an inspirational job.