GNRi1959

Thanks everyone. Tonight I'm calling on the home of Joe McGrew who was a boy porter with the GNRi at Omagh and progressed to shunter. We'll be talking about everything that was happening in Omagh and his daily duties as a shunter. I'll report back during the week.

Truly amazing. I wish I was there.

Omagh North Progress - Some life is coming into the layout though not until my 1950s Bachmann staff arrive! I've finished the platforms, added a little detail (wall and fencing) and the name board awaits the Slaters Alphabet - bought today on eBay for £2.99 - bargain. I have yet to do a final paint of the stonework on the goods yard shed, lighten the colours and bring out the detail. At the other end, the card mock up of the bridge looks good and this will be fashioned out of Wills rough stone, I have the plate girder bridge panels, ready to go. The rolling stock is all rubbish that I have lying around and a new Christmas pressies loco that I use to test the track. I have yet not got round to automating my point work or even thinking of ballast.

I think if I were to continue investing money and time in scratch building - I could have bought as many RTR kits and supported the sterling effort of the companies here.

It actually arrived yesterday but hasn't been set up yet!

By the way, the new laser arriving next week is the Epilogue M32 Dual Laser. I think its big money!

John, its nice to know all safety aspects of the task however I will be emailing the dxf to an operator and she does all the work. Now since the laser is in a College I don't imagine they would be using anything that would promote hazardous or toxic substances. I've no knowledge of the equipment but I do know that they cut me a piece of 4mm perspex and did a fantastic neat finish, hopefully this will manage to do similar with something much lighter. I plan on buying acrylic sheet anyway.

With facilities in my workplace to cut plasticard/Perspex by laser it dawned on me just yesterday that I should be able to produce wagon sides and ends using autoCad drawings. As an autoCad trained user I can work both in 2d and 3d to produce very accurate Cad drawings that could be used to drive the laser cutters on plasticard. I could produce a vast array of rolling stock using this technique. I have absolutely no desire to compete with our existing manufacturers, this would be simply 21st century scratch-building for my own pleasure alone. Has anyone tried it - I'm meeting the design people later to hear more about setting up the drawing templates to drive the laser cutting machine. They have a new machine being installed next week that can enable various layers/depths of cut.

Lovely scenics and no doubt lovely people!

Weshy, I noticed that. Very detailed too. Thanks

Who makes the most authentic looking platform 'people'? I'm looking for pre-painted only.

Also, today in conversation with ex-GNRi carpenter I was told that my grandfather has a Permanent Way hut next to the 'convent siding' on Omagh North. The carpenter called Billy Caldwell said he had a Carpenters store next to it, both huts he said were build from upright sleepers. Later, he set up a small workshop under the water tower. Incidentally, the water tower remained right up to the mid 1980s.

John, this was lowered after much storm damage. The same storm took the roof off the Engine Shed at the turntable.

Today I called with Billy Caldwell, a retired Carpenter from the GNR(i). When the railway closed he was 'clerk of works' on the lifting train and was contracted to lift the line between Portadown and Derry. I called briefly and will call again. Today he explained how the contours of the area around the location of the station had changed over the years and what was once the road that took grain away from the railway is almost unrecognisable. I have enhanced the Des Coakham picture below. The wagons were emptied into Scotts lorries and were driven by two other men, of whom are alive today. He said lorries were loading all day, every day.He said that the drop from the shuts of the wagons to the lorries below was more than enough for them to reverse in with ease.

I find it quite difficult to work at very small components and now that I think I can scratch build a few wagons I'm wondering how on earth I'll be able to see anything, let alone handle it. What type of light/magnifier do scratch builders use thats a necessity.

Thank you Nelson. I studied pictures of the shed and was round looking at what's left of it today. I'm quite pleased even though I've taken a few liberties to suit my board size and track.

I concealed the joints in the model when I made major changes to suit the track and increased the openings slightly. I added the Wills corner quoins which help lift the stone.

More progress today at Omagh North as the build and detailing continues at the rear of the Goods Yard shed.

Do you mean the tapered ends? I think it is essential with some rolling stock that simple need a little extra clearance when entering the station or bays. With Omagh, their were no tapers, the platforms just got narrower in general.

Nelson, no problem. I'm quite busy too assembling a goods yard building that's not that difficult but testing! I look forward to your information, thanks

Paddy, it can be as wide as you wish,

Paddy, tyhis platform is part-commercial part scratch built. I used the Peco stone faced platform edging strips (LK -62), faced with Wills course stone SSMP200 (cut into 15mm strips) and glued direct to the Peco platform edging. When I am happy with the clearances and shape of the edging I stuck it down with UHU glue. When dry, I decked it with Will Victorian paving SSMP221, carefully scribed to fit. It works! Don't forget to throw away those awful printed stone stickers that come with the Peco platform edging.

Before I start looking through the various suppliers catalogues of parts I wonder if there is anyone out there that has scratch build GNRi wagons and can identify a source of suitable W-irons, axle boxes and brakes. Its an interesting project as a sideline to buildings and scenery.

I am looking for 2 x banks of 4 GEM mercontrol levers as shown. Will pay reasonable price.

I'm working on the rear end of the Goods Yard shed at the moment. I am only modelling this to give me a scenic break and give engines a purpose to stop. Its quite nice looking because I am cutting large door openings in the Wills Course stone and laying brick arches above the curves openings. Its quite effective. The goods yard building is built against a huge retaining course stone wall and I have taken the liberty to add a two extra openings to the wall to 'lift' its appearance, as it is bland. It seems to have worked. These small openings above roof level were built up with red brick so they are purely cosmetic. Everything is just sitting loose at moment held together with masking tape until I am certain that it works. I've still got two openings to cut for wagons etc and then I'm ready to assemble.