[10001]

Hi Simon . Thanks for your last post . I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you. The Duke is indeed a very powerful engine and I agree with you . By adding some weight in the boiler goodness knows what it would pull. Instead of that though , I thought I should test him to see what he could do without adding extra weight. We had seen that a seven coach train of Mk1 coaches was no problem ,and that length train was the optimum for the length of platforms, sidings, passing loops , and lay-bys on the G V R. So any more would be superfluous.But here goes with the test . I coupled the Duke up to 8 old Hornby Gresleys and he romped away with those . I added more , this time maroon Staniers until we had 12 on. The Duke coped perfectly not even slipping on the gradients. So here is a short video clip taken by my ever faithful photo-person to record the event for posterity . Enjoy

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/RcAoHRX3K8A?rel=0

Best wishes .

PS I'm sure I've seen Norm. He was sitting on his tractor in the middle of a Model Rail Magazine supplement.

 

[Alan D]

Love watching trains go by

 

[cvr1865]

Hi Tony,
Thanks for this I have model rail and I shall check. Nice vid.
Best
Simon

 

[10001]

Not much has happened down the Goon Valley since my last post other than the arrival of a few new locomotives which in the main are featured in this post.
After waiting for ages the Star eventually was delivered and has been run-in . The first 6 pictures show this at various view points on the GVR the Knight of Grand Cross was coupled to the Cornish Riviera.

Another late comer was Dukedog No 9017 shown here at Eccles Junction

A couple of pics showing double heading ex-Midland Railway 0-6-0s . with the Beyer-Garratt in waiting

The Garratt was tested over the whole trainset checking clearances and radii, and luckily only finding one tight facing point

I hope you like our pictures

 

[Chinahand]

QUOTE (10001 @ 31 May 2014, 02:18) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>After waiting for ages the Star eventually was delivered and has been run-in . The first 6 pictures show this at various view points on the GVR the Knight of Grand Cross was coupled to the Cornish Riviera.

Now that's what I call a loco Tony. Thanks for showing it to us.

 

[Mike Pyers]

Love watching your locos Tony
Regards Mike

 

[10001]

Thank you Trevor and Mike for your replies. Also thanks to the silent and anonymous viewers who have visited the Goon Valley Railway .

We are working on a new post which regular readers may find a bit different .

Keep watching .

 

[kristopher1805]

The Duke is great, like the vids shame I cannot post any myself, however enjoyed yours, nice layout too with a lot going on.

 

[cvr1865]

Aha!!!
I knew it. Definately worth the wait.
Always a treat to settle oneself down to the delights on the GVR.

Thank you Tony, I am sure I heard Fred talking to the mayor about a parade in your honour.

Simon.

 

[10001]

Kristopher . Thank you for your kind remarks.
Simon . Thank you too . Fred's idea about the Mayor's parade has a lot of merit . It has set me thinking . You know that the muck cart follows the parade . well it does down these parts . We will invite Nelly the elephant to join in the festivities, She might get excited and drop a ton on the village green.

Best wishes

 

[10001]

A couple of weeks ago I said I was working on a different sort of post . Well here it is , - not much different to you no doubt but it is to me having never
posted much about diesels. So :-
DIESEL DAWN.

Firstly ex GRW diesel railcar No W30W arriving at Greenslade station. Originally turned out in GW chocolate and cream when built in 1940 it was repainted green complete with speed stripes by British Railways.

D1000 Western Enterprise in sand livery crosses the Goon River Bridge. This Lima model still carries it's incorrect running No of D1023. If this error was on a postage stamp I expect it would be worth a fortune.

D1016 Western Gladiator The striking maroon is one of my favourite liveries

Warship class D823 Hermes

Lima model D1004 Western Crusader crosses the Goon River Bridge.

A platform shot of Hermes at Eccles Junction with a few admirers.

D824 Highflyer leaving Eccles. Both Warship models are by Mainline.

Finally a photo to show that we haven't gone completely ga-ga over diesels. Subject and composition was chosen by my good lady photographer who made sure the coalmen swept the concrete before filming

Thanks for looking in.

 

[10001]

It has been sometime since I lasted posted and the GVR has slipped to the bottom of page 1 - even half-way down page 2.
Hopefully any sort of post would bump the thread up to the top of Premier league

Tri-ang West Country due for modification to the original Merchant Navy class 21C2 Union Castle Line. Watch this space for further developments!

"OK, the signals off. What are you waiting for?

Repaired crab. This is a Wills bodyline kit, made many years ago, using a Tri-ang 2-6-2T chassis with XO4 motor.
Having many attempts at repairing the motion bracket, I eventually stuck it together with superglue, and it now works perfectly.

Tri-ang streamlined Duchess is half way through a renaming to City of Carlisle.
There are one or two other Tri-ang red streaks on the GVR

Beyer Garrett 47972.

Duke dog.

Princess Royal class 6210 Lady Patricia on a down express.

Beyer Garrett 7983

Standard class 9F locomotives have not featured on this thread before, although there are a few of them on the GVR.
Here are a couple of photos.

Lastly Eastern Region, D11 Director Prince Albert at Eccles

Please post your comments - any old comments will do

Best wishes

 

[Chinahand]

Always look forward to one of your GVR updates Tony and am amazed at just how many locos you have. You have some great old locos there and every one of them is a real 'cracker'.

Just how many locos do you have

 

[john woodall]

Great stuff, however note to one self, when staging photos, ensure all the wheels are on the track!!!!

D11 Director Prince Albert at Eccles tender and the carriage immediately behind it appear to have derailed!!!!!

 

[10001]

Thanks John , point taken.

It's all down to the "age" thing really. I find it increasingly difficult to see much below the footplate these days. It was a lot easier in the "good old days" of bright shining wheels.

Mind you it could be the driver's fault ( Fred Fflange 's uncle ) He is a bit heavy on the brakes , He has not got his drivers ticket yet but he is working on it .

Regards from a warm sunny Northland.

 

[10001]

Thanks for your reply Trevor. I have always been a bit shy when it comes to numbers as it could sound like a skite ( sp?) but as the young Bluebottle once said
"it's right it's the troof", so here goes . I have collected over the last 50 years ( and the rest ) or so approximately 400 locomotives .(Not including the Non-working ones Dapol, Kitmaster etc )

I have been busy recently repairing boxes and labelling them ( still not finished )and making boxes for the un-boxed ones .
Some of these are shown in the two pictures below.

I have always looked out for not-so-mint previously owned engines for repaints and/or modification. I purchased many Airfix and Mainline locos when they were being sold off very cheaply and most of these (with careful use ) are still running.

New purchases are limited these days by financial restrictions ,but I still have a pre-order for a P2 .It may arrive in time for my 80th birthday???

To run with these there is a goodly collection of coaches and wagons . Coaches in rakes of 7-8 now total about 400 as do wagons.In addition I have quite a number of coaches wagon kits to build . but where is the time??? The constant problem is storage.

I must acknowledge the support I get from Sybil ,my wife/luvely photographer.

Thank you for your interest in the Goon Valley Railway.

Regards, Tony

 

[Chinahand]

QUOTE (10001 @ 22 Aug 2014, 06:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have collected over the last 50 years ( and the rest ) or so approximately 400 locomotives .(Not including the Non-working ones Dapol, Kitmaster etc )

Regards, Tony

400

My wife would kill me if I bought that many. I've had problems just with the 25 I have and a new loco usually costs me another handbag or pair of shoes so it starts to get expensive.

 

[Grifter_Guru]

400 Loco's? I thought I was bad with 157 and counting, but 400? WOW!!!!!

 

[10001]

It has been very quiet in the Goon Valley recently. Fred Phlange decided to visit his friend, Claude du Trak, in the French village Boitdebleu (where the clochettes grow).
He sent me a postcard showing a few Chinese ground orchids as well.

It was a very pretty springtime here in Bluebottle ( where the bluebells grow), and my photographic spouse managed a couple of photos to capture the scene.

Whilst Fred was away, the GVR engineers have been busy designing and building the engine shed for Ellington freight yard.
For this, I referred to drawings and an article by David Jenkinson, in the Nov 1963 issue of Railway Modeller.
These were based on Midland Railway buildings with the shed bearing much resemblance to that at Hellifield.
Pictures is the nearly completed shed, which deviated from my normal method of "all card and building papers"

Also new was another new locomotive - but I haven't heard any sounds of death threats from the kitchen .....yet!!

 

[10001]

Just a short update from the Goon Valley Railway where the C.M.E has taken delivery of a couple of new locomotives. 'No my Captain, don't deeded me."!!!

First up is what every one else has bought recently, and what a magnificent loco it is, well worth the long wait. I ordered mine in December last year and at one time I thought I had missed out, but luckily it has arrived and before my Birthday too.

I remember seeing Cock o' the North at King's Cross some years ago and was very impressed. It was on show next to a green streamlined version, But I can't remember it's No. I promised myself a model one day . NO, these were not the real ones but were very fine OO models in King's Cross Model Shop at No. 6 York Way { E.A.M.E,S, of Reading ???) The last time I was there it was a sleazy looking kebab shop. That's progress for you !!!

These pictures ( taken by my Luvly photographic assistant as usual) show the P2 at Eccles during running-in and acceptance trials. The second one with A3 No. 68 Sir Visto . The two different shades of green are very obvious.

The next pics show new Rebuilt Patriot no. 45535 Sir Herbert Walker K.C.B. This was bought when I thought I had missed out on the P2 . It is also at Eccles Junction station along -side Stanier's Duchess 46244 King George VI

I hope you find something of interest.

regards