Brookhall Mill - A GNR(I) Micro Layout

[Patrick Davey]

A minor diplomatic incident at the mill this afternoon.  Someone from York Road thought it would be a good idea to send over two LMS posters to Brookhall but Mr. Weaver is having none of it.  He is currently telling his station supervisor and head porter what York Road can do with their posters. 

 

Edited September 14, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[Patrick Davey]

They’re still hard at it at the mill, arguing about what to do with the posters from York Road. And to make matters worse, Nosey Neville from Near Newry has just arrived in his brake van to offer his unwelcome tuppence worth. The poor driver decided to take his tank loco away to get some peace from the bickering but he was then accosted by Barmy Barry the Banbridge Busman, whinging about the lack of affection shown to his beautiful buses by Mr. Weaver.

[Patrick Davey]

So the York Road posters are at last on display at Brookhall. Mr. Weaver was never going to just promote a rival company, especially after they stole a lot of the GNR’s Antrim traffic when they opened their fancy loop line in 1934, so he decided to make a point, in his usual subtle way. The station supervisor, Wilbur Whistler, is about to burst a blood vessel over it but Mr. Weaver is close to retirement and thinks he can get away with anything. Nosy Neville thinks the whole thing is hilarious and can’t wait to recount the whole story to everyone in Newry shed.  
 

[Patrick Davey]

It's a very happy day at Brookhall Mill, or is it....

Mr. Weaver's only daughter, Millie, is getting married.  Now, in more enlightened times, this would be a cause for unrestricted joy and unlimited merriment but this is rural 1950s Ulster, and as it happens, Millie Weaver's new husband is from 'the other side'.  Mr. Weaver was horrified when he found out and did everything in his power to derail the relationship, and he was particularly incensed when he found out that the two had met through the columns of the dating magazine for steam locomotive enthusiasts, called 'Tender'.  

Mr. Weaver earnestly tried to dissuade Millie from proceeding on such a foolhardy enterprise....even going to the extent of using his considerable local influence to convince all local clergymen to decline any invitations to officiate at the nuptials.  

But it was nothing to do with religion - Millie's fiancee was, wait for it, an NCC man.  Oh, the shame of it at Brookhall.

His name was Malcolm Bowman and his family were from Drumsurn ("Never heard of it..." sneered Mr. W) and when later asked for his opinion of his prospective son-in-law, Mr. W's educated response was 'Well he's obviously not Wise...."

Anyway Millie was adamant and it was only after threatening to have a BCDR fireman act as best man that Mr. Weaver reluctantly gave his consent.  He even allowed the marriage to take place at the oratory at Brookhall and arranged for the mill chaplain Fr. Flax to officiate.

 

Mr. Weaver arrives at the oratory with Millie, meeting Fr. Flax at the door.  The guests arrived by private GNR bus, organised by Barmy Barry.  Mr. Weaver even allowed one of his many vintage cars to be used as the wedding car.  Barmy Barry was eyeing up Millie's Matron of Honour, and later gave her a tour of the back seat of his bus.

 

And the happy couple emerge in wedded bliss.  Mr. Weaver discusses the rest of the day's plans with Barry and of course Nosey Neville just had to have his brake van positioned to give him a bird's eye view of everything.

 

Malcom and Millie Bowman pose beside the car prior to Mr. Weaver driving them off to have their photos taken at the very picturesque Knockmore Junction signal cabin, before returning to the mill for a four-course meal and an after-dinner céilí, with music from 'The Steamin' Shamrocks'.

 

Edited September 23, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[LARNE CABIN]

Ah Patrick, super story telling. Love the way you have introduced this aspect to Brookhall Mill over the recent past. Love the characters and the names! Would I be correct in thinking that Millie's husband Malcolm's name was inspired by Bowman Malcolm, the BNCR Locomotive Superintendent?

[Mayner]

5 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

It's a very happy day at Brookhall Mill, or is it....

Mr. Weaver's only daughter, Millie, is getting married.  Now, in more enlightened times, this would be a cause for unrestricted joy and unlimited merriment but this is rural 1950s Ulster, and as it happens, Millie Weaver's new husband is from 'the other side'.  Mr. Weaver was horrified when he found out and did everything in his power to derail the relationship, and he was particularly incensed when he found out that the two had met through the columns of the dating magazine for steam locomotive enthusiasts, called 'Tender'.  

Mr. Weaver earnestly tried to dissuade Millie from proceeding with such a foolhardy enterprise....even going to the extent of using his considerable local influence to convince all local clergymen to decline any invitations to officiate at the nuptials.  

But it was nothing to do with religion - Millie's fiancee was, wait for it, an NCC man.  Oh, the shame of it at Brookhall.

His name was Malcolm Bowman and his family were from Drumsurn ("Never heard of it..." sneered Mr. W) and when later asked for his opinion of his prospective son-in-law, Mr. W's educated response was 'Well he's obviously not wise...."

Anyway Millie was adamant and it was only after threatening to have a BCDR fireman act as best man that Mr. Weaver reluctantly gave his consent.  He even allowed the marriage to take place at the oratory at Brookhall and arranged for the mill chaplain Fr. Flax to officiate.

Inter-Company rivalry was a serious matter and loyalty to the old companies survived amalgamations and nationalisation.

There is a great story in one of the 1970s/80s RPSI Journals about the "Great Race" between  GSWR & DWWR Waterford-North Wall cattle specials shortly after the opening of the DWWR Waterford Extension in the early 1900s. The two trains were made and apparently departed  Waterford Yard (simultaneously) in different directions, the GSWR special hauled by 101 Class (Standard Goods) 184 , the DWWR train hauled one of the companies recently introduced "Standard Goods" possibly No 13 (Waterford) or 14 (Limerick).

The GSWR special arrived at the North Wall before the DWWR special (not really surprising given the longer more heavily graded DWWR route and two reversals to reach its destination). The GSWR & DWWR drivers did not depart on exactly good terms threatening violence if they ever met again.

Twenty or so years following the GSR amalgamation with Waterford and Grand Canal Street sheds in the same promotional area the former GSWR Waterford driver and DSER rival met and put their differences aside as a result of an invitation from a son or daughter to meet the parents.

[Patrick Davey]

8 hours ago, LARNE CABIN said:

Ah Patrick, super story telling. Love the way you have introduced this aspect to Brookhall Mill over the recent past. Love the characters and the names! Would I be correct in thinking that Millie's husband Malcolm's name was inspired by Bowman Malcolm, the BNCR Locomotive Superintendent?

Yes indeed, well spotted! There is another subtle reference to a legendary BNCR name as well!

I’m glad you’re enjoying the stories LC, credit has to go JHB Who has inspired me with his Dugort Harbour antics

[LARNE CABIN]

You had me stumped there for a while Patrick, 

9 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

There is another subtle reference to a legendary BNCR name as well!

...... but I think now I've got it.......

When Mr Weaver was asked for his opinion of his prospective son-in-law, Mr W 's educated response was "Well he's obviously not wise......" presumably a reference to Berkeley Deane Wise.

Very subtle, and ingenious.

[Patrick Davey]

1 hour ago, LARNE CABIN said:

You had me stumped there for a while Patrick, 

...... but I think now I've got it.......

When Mr Weaver was asked for his opinion of his prospective son-in-law, Mr W 's educated response was "Well he's obviously not wise......" presumably a reference to Berkeley Deane Wise.

Very subtle, and ingenious.

That’s it! Well spotted again! 

[Patrick Davey]

Hi all, just received these nice looking lamps and would be grateful if someone could tell me if my wiring diagram is correct - thanks!  The power source is a 9v battery pack and R is resistor.

 

Edited September 26, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[Patrick Davey]

If I recall O Level physics correctly then the above is wired 'in parallel' which has the advantage of keeping the other lights illuminated if one blows..... the other option is to wire them 'in series' which is easier but if one goes, they all go......

[Broithe]

If they came expecting a 9V supply, then they will work happily wired up like that. The resistor would, ideally, need to be of a slightly different value, if they are intended for a 12V or 16V supply, but they should still work adequately off 9V with the supplied resistor, maybe just a little dimmer, which is not usually a problem.

[Patrick Davey]

Only moderate success with the lights so far…. electrics were never my strong point anyway.  I can only get one of the lights working so obviously my soldering skills leave a lot to be desired and I also managed to burn myself with the soldering iron so back to the drawing board tomorrow! 

But at least the one working light looks decent!

[jhb171achill]

I met Mr Weaver tonight in the gospel hall and he says it’s impossible to get a good electrician these days…… plus, a four shilling call-out fee!

[Patrick Davey]

7 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

I met Mr Weaver tonight in the gospel hall and he says it’s impossible to get a good electrician these days…… plus, a four shilling call-out fee!

He says the electricians who work at the mill are all wired up anyway.  He nearly blew a fuse when these lights didn’t work so he sent them all ohm. 

[2996 Victor]

27 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said:

He says the electricians who work at the mill are all wired up anyway.  He nearly blew a fuse when these lights didn’t work so he sent them all ohm. 

Groan

[Patrick Davey]

So the electricians put up a lot of resistance to Mr. Weaver's criticism and pointed out that they have been on the circuit for a while and could easily help him fix the current issues.

And so they did!

 

 

[Galteemore]

More power to them…

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Patrick Davey said:

So the electricians put up a lot of resistance to Mr. Weaver's criticism and pointed out that they have been on the circuit for a while and could easily help him fix the current issues.

And so they did!

 

 

That’ll save him Lodging a complaint.

[Patrick Davey]

Mr. Weaver supervising this evening’s road departures from the mill. He likes the new lights more than he likes the buses.
 

 

[Patrick Davey]

A few more scenes from the mill this evening.   Mr. Weaver is telling the driver “Sure just a few feet more until you hear the crunch…..”

 

[Patrick Davey]

More excitement at the mill tonight - a party of reverend ladies went to the wrong platform at Lisburn, intending to travel to Loreto College in Cavan, but instead managed to join the Brookhall evening staff shuttle. Now Mr. Weaver doesn’t know what to do with them as there are no more trains tonight and Barmy Barry won’t allow any unscheduled bus runs. Mr. Weaver really wants to use some choice language but for once, he’s biting his tongue.

[David Holman]

Hope you didn't do what I did when researching how to paint my nuns. An internet search resulted in some very interesting suggestions of how to dress up for the weekend!

[2996 Victor]

9 hours ago, David Holman said:

Hope you didn't do what I did when researching how to paint my nuns. An internet search resulted in some very interesting suggestions of how to dress up for the weekend!

Did it involve parachutes?

[Patrick Davey]

So the reverend ladies ended up staying the night at Brookhall Mill.  Mr. Weaver gave them access to the guest suite on the top floor of the mil and ensured they were not disturbed.  In the morning he arranged for Fr. Flax to lead a short service for the ladies then things went a bit haywire as two of the younger nuns went AWOL, as they couldn't resist exploring the delights that Brookhall had to offer.  Mother Superior was rather perturbed by their absence as they needed to catch the train to Lisburn and travel on to Loreto College in Cavan....

Fr. Flax and Mother Superior deep in conversation outside the oratory.

 

The disappearing nuns have found a quiet spot down by the river.

 

Watching the world drift by......

 

 

Oops they're in trouble now!

 

 

Earlier on they got up to serious mischief.......

 

They were chilling out at the ammo platform when guess who trundled up in his brake van to see what was happening..... more scandal to tell the lads in Newry shed!

 

Doing a spot of birdwatching at Mr. Weaver's birdtable but Barmy Barry just couldn't leave them alone.......

You'll all be glad to hear that this will be the end of the insanity....for a while!

[Patrick Davey]

After a hectic week involving unwelcome posters, a controversial family wedding and some misbehaving nuns, it’s all quiet at last this Friday evening at Brookhall Mill.
 

 

[jhb171achill]

A quiet night? And now a moon-landing buggy thing appears?

[Patrick Davey]

Platform lamps installed at the mill this evening.

[Patrick Davey]

Apologies, I couldn’t resist another bit of insanity…..

It’s the annual fire safety inspection at Brookhall Mill this evening.  The local fire chief, Dennis Wailer, does not look forward to this evening each year because he never gets much co-operation from Mr. Weaver, who hates anybody coming and poking their nose around his mill.  Anyway that’s it over now for another year…..

[Patrick Davey]

Grumpy Mr. Weaver, glaring at the fire engine as it leaves......

[Patrick Davey]

Oops my last post was No. 666 so this is to cancel that out......

[jhb171achill]

23 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said:

Grumpy Mr. Weaver, glaring at the fire engine as it leaves......

Ye need to get that guy out for a feed’o’pints in the Robin’s Nest in Railway Street…..loosen him up a bit.

He’d have to miss his corrugated iron mission hall “meeting” on Sunday morning, though…..!

[Patrick Davey]

New residents at the mill stream.

[Tullygrainey]

That water is very convincing!

[Patrick Davey]

1 hour ago, Tullygrainey said:

That water is very convincing!

Thanks!  A few bubbles in the resin but sure that can be frog spawn