Mayner

This time some work on the dry goods store a typical concrete and corrugated Irish industrial building of the early mid-20th Century. Although I had a collection suitable(ish Wills Material sheets, I decided to use 3D printing. Building is based on photos of a similar store at the disused Ranks Clara mill over 30 years ago! Building had corrugated iron (steel) cladding above concrete walls served by a siding & driveway. There are separate corrugated canopies over the doorways and individual concrete loading platforms The model was designed using Fusion 360 most challenging part was drawing the corrugated profile of the cladding! Basically traced from a roofing manufacturers drawing of the profile used in the re-roof of our house last year The model is a background building in semi low relief againts the backscene Design wise the concrete and corrugated elements were drawn separately then combined. The overall length of the building is longer than the printer 'build plate" so is designed as two separate 3D models with a halved vertical joint. I have run some successful test prints of the corrugated profile printed vertically, with an approximate 9h print time (overnight) for each full height section. Figuring out how to print the curved roof was the challenging bit, as the terminology/userinterface used by Fusion (Autodesk) is different to a brand of 3D modelling software I had formerly used. I'll add a downstand rib to the inner edge of the roof to minimise deflection and need to add a gutter at the eaves/edge of the roof! I'll probabably print the corrugated roofing separately in a number of sections on its side to minimise the layering effect, minimise the build time and risk of collapse of a relatively thin section. The building/roof is over 300mm in length! I am trialing a (cheap) waterbased Chinese resin for the build, print quality has been good, but some of the settings on the data sheet do not make sense and slicing software is showing signs of confusion possibly age or incorrect info on the dat sheet

Spent a fair amount of time exploring the lines in the North and North West, including Settle & Carlisle, Ravenglass, Alston & even Warcop while working and living in London & the Home Counties between 30-40 years ago. For much of the time I had the benefit of a company car and no questions asked about milage or petrol use. A fan of David Jenkinson I checked out the route from Blea Moor Tunnel to Dent & Garsdale & his fictious branch to Kendal and the Coal Road over the moors from Garsdale Road (Dent Station) to Grasdale. Happy times!

I guess that I have gradually shifted from traditional (kit/scratchbuilding to digital modelling methods over the last 20 or so years as my eye sight got weaker and my hands less steady. First using 2D CAD to prepare artwork for my own etching parts rather than traditional drafting/scribing and cutting out parts with piercing saw/snips/craft knife and more recently 3D modelling to produce resin printed wagons. The shift to 3D printing certainly increased my own productivity compared to traditional methods adding 40 (complete) wagons of my own design to my personal collection during the past 4 years, compared with approx 10 kit built wagons during the past 20 or so years. We subscribed to Onshape & Fusion 360 (Autocad) 3D Modelling software for our commerical work producing successful models with either software. Onshape offer a freeplan for non-commercial use resulting designs become open source to platform users, a free version of Fusion 360 (with limited features) is available for personal use in some countries excluding NZ (I use a pay as you go subscription rather than an annual sub. TinkerCad (Autocad) is a free entry level 3D modelling software (Some of Rob S examples have been produced with TinkerCad). Currently I am beginning to use Fusion 360 to produce models of buildings, including typical Irish early-mid 20th Century corrugated iron/asbestos and mass concrete industrial buildings, I have enough wagons for now and probabably stick to etched brass for pre-amalgamation coaches. To buy or not to buy a printer? I only bought a resin printer after the bureau that successfully printed the test prints of several of our wagons refused to carry out further 'small scale model" prints because it wass not worth while because of the high reject rate and post print clean up cost (special effect and industrial work more profitable. At the end of the day I struggled to achieve an acceptable print quality with our printer (except fantasy animals/creatures for our kid) a Photon Mono. Eventually out sourcing our printing to bureau in China one of which (Facfox) consistently produce consistent high quality prints at a fraction of the price including shipping (to NZor UK) of using a local bureau/printer. I am finally after a lot of experimentation beginning to achieve an acceptable level of print quality with my resin (Anycubic Photon Mono X) printer, but planning to try the "makerspace" at the local Public Library to trial FDM printing of replacement sleepers/track base for my large scale garden railway & possibly buildings. A number of local engineering/manufacturing business that offer CNC milling also offer 3D printing services. Personally I think trialling some simple 3D models on TinkerCad to first get a feel for the modelling process, then some test prints at the library trialling different processes and possibly prints a local or Chinese bureau, before leaying out several $ hundred on a 3D printer. Starting commercially I had the advantage of using a professional designer who worked in the print shop that successfully printed out initial models and a print shop owner who from day 1 told me that he was reluctant to print small scale models. Gauge O and the larger scales tend to be more forgiving than 4mm and the smaller scales, FDM layer lines may be reminesent of wood grane and surface imperfections as millscale on steel

A Missouri Pacific Railroad director/senior manager put it succently in Beeb & Cleggs "Mixed Train Daily" that fast freight and mail had priority over passenger services because they were more profitable than passenger services when a MoPac crack streamliner was side tracked (on several occasions) to allow the freight/mail to run through non-stop. Traditionally 1st Class passengers, Season Ticket , Mails andGoods traffic paid the shareholders their dividends, Parliamentary/3rd later 2nd-Standard Class passengers were just a nuscience. In this part of the World long-distance trains are strictly for Tourists, everyone else can, drive, fly or take the bus. Mail has ceased to exist replaced by Courier/Logistics companies.

Interestingly the GSWR diagram shows No91 with the correct style of splashers. Cambridge Dictionary definition of diagram: a simple plan that represents a machine, system, or idea, etc., often drawn to explain how it works: Never scale from a drawing golden rule during a working life in construction and engineering Extract from GSR Locomotive Drawing Register issued IRN Sep-2014 Drawing 91 Inchacore Class J29 Ironically the Drawing more correctly GSWR & GSR diagrams Drawing 90 Inchacore Class J30 notes that there were several detail differences between 90/99/100 and notes that the only drawings available depict No90 while the actual diagrams appear to depict 99-100 with their curved topped tanks and extended splashers. 90-92 appear to have been built as 0-6-4T combined loco and carriages, 99-100 0-6-0 as tank locos for the Fermoy-Mitchellstown. 90 & 91 rebuilt as 0-6-0 following removal of carriage protion. It looks like the water may have been originally carried in a well? tank under the rear of the loco/carriage portion. Interestingly not a lot of difference in water capacity between 0-6-4T 370gal, 0-6-0T 430 gal and 0-6-0ST 410 gal versions, possibly 91 & 99 beccame a source of spares yo keep 92 (1945) 90, 100 (1959) going.

The Fell centre-rail system was used on a number of lines in New Zealand the most famous application on the Rimutaka Incline opened in 1871 remained steam worked until replaced by a tunnel in 1955. https://www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/history/fell-centre-rail-system. The Incline with its 1:15 gradient was on the then main line from the capital Wellington to the interior, from the late 1880s trains were worked by multiple Fell locos spaced through the train. The Fell system was used into the 1960s for braking on two steeply graded coal branches in the South Island.

Description of "Rowlands Mix"by Dave Rowland. https://www.wis.co.uk/andy/16mm/rowlandsmix.html author of Bradford Barton Tralee & Dingle book, full of excellent photos and drawings of locos and stock https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/Tralee-Dingle-Railway-Rowlands-David-Bradford/32380000274/bd

Unfortunately weed/plant growth on ground level lines are almost impossible to control unless the track is laid on a stone or concrete base, its almost impossible to controll grass/weed growth in top soil. Ideally grould level lines like the Sheehaun should be laid on a bed of fine stone min 75mm thick topped with crusher fines (stone dust) or a bed/ slab of concrete (min 50mm thick). One alternative that might work for the Sheehaun would be to use a sand/cement/peat mix as a track base/ballast instead of a concrete slab, this was popular method among UK garden reailway modellers during the 1980s, the peat/cement mix was more flexible than ordinary concrete/sand & cement and peat retaining mositure apparrently caught that typical BnM 'green track' effect. There was a "Model Railways" magazine article in the early 80s about running live steam in the garden (Greater London) and some track repairs to the peat/cement mix track/base/ballast.

Six 358-363 converted to articulated coaches 1932 apparently used to handle Dublin Eucharistic Congress traffic in No as June 1932 before transfer to Waterford & Tramore. No as 358 (3rd)+359 (1st/3rd/Brake), 360 (1st/3rd)+362 (3rd), 361 (1st)+363 (1st). Interestingly only one set fitted with a brake & a lot of 1st Class accommodation (Tramore race winners/gambling fraternity)

Actually classed as a Goods Brake Van apparrenlly for general use. The H C Casserly photo was described in the IRRS paper as "11 ton brake van No50 built 1892, shown in rebuilt state with 'glasshouse: at Broadstone 1932 A raised guards lookout(s) and drovers compartment/(s) were almost a standard feature of MGW Brake Vans until a 'conventional' van with balconies at each end and no duckets were introduced during the early 1920s Interestingly a pair of 6w 20T Brake Vans with guards compartments (with raised lookout) at each end and two passengers compartments were introduced in 1912. There is a photo of these vans in a decrepit condition in one of the collections in the IRRS Flickr Site. P. O'Cuimin Feb 1970 IRRS paper Wagon Stock of the MGWR includes details of MGW Brake Vans. Brake Vans listed "Generally brown" 1874 type mid-green as running circa 1923-4 Scratch built model of 1874 Brake (1stStandard Type) Brake Vans, plasticard/stripwood approx 30 years ago. My model of the 1874 van is based on a 1931 LGRP photo of No29 in MGW livery still with wooden brake blocks. The HC Casserley photo of No 50 appears to be a re-built verison of a new type of van introduced 1892 for use on the "new Western Lines. O/Cuimin indicated that the van as built was quite different to the 1932 photograph, origonally the 2 passenger/drovers compartments were located at each end with the guards/luggage compartment in the middle, no balcony but retaining a birdcage look out, 56-61 introduced 1904 were listed with differning compartments and 'this design" used for 'renewal" (replacement) of 1874 vans with same leading dimensions as in the 1892 Class. I suspect that these older 'caboose' style vans were withdrawn/taken out of use as more 'conventional" steel underframe Midland, GSWR/GS vans became available during the late 20s-early 30s. In his 'Enginemans Son" IRRS paper PJ Currivan wrote about playing 'cowboys & indians" in the long line of caboose brake vans stored in a siding in Athlone during early GSR days, his father was a former GSWR driver transferred to the Athlone Midland shed following the amalgamation and wrote about his adventures growing up on the railway. PJs two Engine Mans Son papers are a great read. Basically looking at short 14' mainly GSW Cattle Wagons or 14' Convertibles for modelling the GSR/pre-Amalgamation period the longer KN Cattle Wagons only seem to have appeared in CIE days. The Midland mainly relied on Convertibles to handle the bulkof its cattle traffic with covered cattle wagons relatively rare and camera shy 430 Covered, 1613 Convertible still in service 1924

It goes without saying that someone would first have to acquire/purchase the re-production rights before starting production. I would expect that Grange and Hodder would require Allen's permission to use his tooling/artwork for another customer. In my experience in as a manufacturer, demand for Irish outline etched kits and scratchbuilders parts is quite limited. In general there has been sufficient demand to produce a single run of a loco/coach kit or coach side overlays, (10-12), in general once an item sells out there is insufficient demand to produce a repeat run of 10-12 items. All sales are pre-orders. Pete McParlin had a similar experience with disappointing sales when he introduced an extensive range of Backwoods Miniatures 4mm Irish 3' gauge locos and stock during the 1990s and later shifted to British and American outline locos and stock. Peter told me that he only sold one Clogher Valley 0-4-2T locomotive. In recent years I have found it worthwhile to supply etched parts direct from the etchers to individual customers (mainly in the UK) the company I use has no minimum order quantity and charges a flat rate per sheet regardless of quantity.

Progress continues on 181 & 229, most tedious job was opening up the holes in the brake gear frets with an 0.55 drill held in a mini-pin chuck. It was necessary to shim the collet with paper and constantly re-tighten to stop the drill slipping! All holes bored out to size one set loco/tender brake gear 50% second loco. Anyway 36 holes opened out in the loco brake hangers alone, helped keep the mind diverted. The hangers are basically a beefed up version of the hangers used in the origonal TMD J15 kit over 40 years ago. Brake gear as fitted to 124 6-7 years ago I am one of those people who enjoy assembling chassis & brake gear Some cosmetic stuff. Plumbed up the leading splashers "Coey 15" 229 which were not quite plumb, got to sort out the RH buffer shank while I am at it, also re-set the chimney and fitted the lamp irons. one of those niggling details. A bit more work on 229s tender, fitted the coal plate/tank top and added tool boxes I had in stock from the origonal loco kits, replaced axleboxes from my own #D prints I'll probabably add a 3D printed tank filler. Some more work on 181s tender added sandboxes I had cast in brass from 3D master for use with the 52 Class kit and added whitemetal toolboxes. I'll probabably replace the toolboxes with 3D printed or brass toolboxes used with the 52 Class. I have to add axleboxes and spring castings supplied with the origonal kits.

Well into autumn now most of the neighbourhood and railway covered in fallen leaves after completing a major clearing operation on the weekend. yes we have seasons in this part of the World. Railway under there somewhere. We collect fallen leaves for mulch and weed control in beds around the railway. RGS Works Goose #6 managed to navigate her way round most of the railway, but tended to de-rail her leading truck. Some how or other leaves/debris opened one side of the bonnet We cleared the deck and railway by lunchtime but covered in leaves by mid-afternoon, but probabably another couple of weeks left at this stage before end of leaf-fall and beginning of winter & time to bring out the live steam loco.

Provided groups/ individuals come to an agreement to take over Worsley Works items, the simplest & cheapest way to resume production would be to continue using Grange & Hodder to carry out the etching as they are likely to control the photo tooling used to carry out the actual etching. It only becomes necessary to access the "artwork" if there is a problem with the existing tool or intend to use a different etching company. Basically the "artwork" is prepared by the person that designed the original model, 'phototool" prepared by the etching company. Etching companies have a 'set up' or tooling cost for producing a phototool for a particular model and a separate production cost for each sheet etched. Not sure about Grange and Hodder but some etching companies charge a flat rate for each sheet etched & do one off/small orders. It seems a pity that no Irish Model Clubs or Historical Groups appear to have come forward to safeguard WorsleyWorks Irish Broad gauge items which appear particularly significant to modellers of Ulster's railways with Worsley Works collection of sctratchbuilders parts for GN, NCC/UTA locos and coaching stock and distinctive railcars.

Interesting article identifies that the fall off in traffic/declining profitability arose as a slump/drop off in trade, but blames the railway directors for "making no serious effort to avert disaster" (fall in value of railway shares/drop in dividends.). Even during the 1920s the railway sharges would have been seen a good long term investment among the wealthier classes. At the time a grandfather was a GSR driver and my mother spoke about the impact of the General Strike on the family, my grandfather remained at work, but my grandparents with young children struggled to source coal to keep the house heated and posssibly other essential supplies.