Well Llangunllo as you knew it, is no more, but as promised I had an extensive photo shoot before the axe fell, and here is the first batch of farewell photos. I've always had a soft spot for the Baby Warships and Hymeks, which are now more commonly known as classes 22 and 35, and this is why...
Picture the scene if you can, its a summer Saturday in the early sixties. Our train from the North West, with one of Hawksworth's 'Counties' in charge, has just arrived at Bristol Temple Meads. In the adjacent platform stands a rather nicely turned out Castle, 'Earl Waldegrave' on 'The Cornishman'. From the end of the platform the modernised Bath Road shed could be seen, its sidings full of new Hymeks, and D63xx hydraulics, not to mention examples of the larger Swindon and NBL built 'Warships', each bearing a name from navel history. Being used to the large English Electric and BR 'Peaks' (Classes 40 /44/ 45 to younger readers), the small compact WR diesels took me by surprise, and so started an interest and love of all things hydraulic. Well apart from the transmissions used in fire engines and buses which I encountered later in life!
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This sequence of photos charts the arrival of the fictional Leominster (Ford Bridge) - Llangunllo milk empties. Milk trains did indeed run to the Cadbury factory at Ford Bridge, but certainly not from Llangunllo!
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In true prototype fashion I mislaid the lower body panel, its since been found, but I'm in no rush to refit it. As you can see, I've still not got around to weathering the model either !
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The train will draw forward to clear the level crossing, and then set back into the dairy siding. With its so called 'super creep' motor, D6331 glides along ever so smoothly. The model has seen very little use, but it didn't take the illuminated cab interior, headcode boxes and tail lamps long to fail. Not that I'm bothered, because I've not got much time for such gimmicks.
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There are currently no replacement 'EM' or 'P4' wheels for this model, fortunately those of us who work in 'EM' can get away with pulling the wheels out to gauge. That is what I did when converting my own model, though the tread is wider than the correct 'EM' standard, the flange is fine enough to clear the rail chairs on C & L track, and to negotiate point crossings. The only other job involves removing some material from the rear of the bogies to give some additional clearance. Some modellers find the coarser wheel profile unacceptable, and have turned them down. But it doesn't bother me, as the loco rides very well, and you can hardly see the wheels behind the bogie frames.
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Journeys end, as the empties are gently propelled down the siding to the dairy. I've filed the buffer heads flat as the originals have a weird oval face, I should have removed the silver paint from around the drivers door window frame whilst I was at it.
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Its been said that the Heljan 'Hymek' is the best RTR diesel ever produced, its a heavy beast, and looks it to boot. It goes without saying that its slow running is superb. This was another easy 'EM' conversion, I used a Gibson conversion pack, which means transferring the original drive gears from the old axles and fitting them to the new. The wheels also have to be mounted on the axles, set to the correct gauge and new pick ups made up. If that puts you off, then Ultrascale do a drop in replacement wheelset, which will give you an 'EM' or 'P4' diesel in not time at all.
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D7039 is seen here passing through Llangunllo, like D6331 she doesn't get used much, but the grandsons do like their diesels.
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My only other Hydraulic is this Class 14 'Teddy Bear', its the Heljan / Hattons model, and was an impulse purchase that I came to regret. Its a nice enough model, despite its cosmetic faults, but I don't really have any need for it. I used an Ultrascale drop in conversion for this model, and what a doodle that turned out to be! Like my other diesels its a superb runner, but see's little use, I suppose they are all kept on the books for sentimental reasons if truth be told.
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Built for trip workings, and similar duties, which had disappeared by the time they entered service, most passed into private ownership. I often wonder what might have happened, had the '08' been built to the same off centre cab design?
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The future of this loco is still undecided, so the Ultrascale wheels have not yet been chemically blackened, or the crankpins trimmed. Who knows it might be sold off and need converting back to '00' gauge ?
Picture the scene if you can, its a summer Saturday in the early sixties. Our train from the North West, with one of Hawksworth's 'Counties' in charge, has just arrived at Bristol Temple Meads. In the adjacent platform stands a rather nicely turned out Castle, 'Earl Waldegrave' on 'The Cornishman'. From the end of the platform the modernised Bath Road shed could be seen, its sidings full of new Hymeks, and D63xx hydraulics, not to mention examples of the larger Swindon and NBL built 'Warships', each bearing a name from navel history. Being used to the large English Electric and BR 'Peaks' (Classes 40 /44/ 45 to younger readers), the small compact WR diesels took me by surprise, and so started an interest and love of all things hydraulic. Well apart from the transmissions used in fire engines and buses which I encountered later in life!
This sequence of photos charts the arrival of the fictional Leominster (Ford Bridge) - Llangunllo milk empties. Milk trains did indeed run to the Cadbury factory at Ford Bridge, but certainly not from Llangunllo!
In true prototype fashion I mislaid the lower body panel, its since been found, but I'm in no rush to refit it. As you can see, I've still not got around to weathering the model either !
The train will draw forward to clear the level crossing, and then set back into the dairy siding. With its so called 'super creep' motor, D6331 glides along ever so smoothly. The model has seen very little use, but it didn't take the illuminated cab interior, headcode boxes and tail lamps long to fail. Not that I'm bothered, because I've not got much time for such gimmicks.
There are currently no replacement 'EM' or 'P4' wheels for this model, fortunately those of us who work in 'EM' can get away with pulling the wheels out to gauge. That is what I did when converting my own model, though the tread is wider than the correct 'EM' standard, the flange is fine enough to clear the rail chairs on C & L track, and to negotiate point crossings. The only other job involves removing some material from the rear of the bogies to give some additional clearance. Some modellers find the coarser wheel profile unacceptable, and have turned them down. But it doesn't bother me, as the loco rides very well, and you can hardly see the wheels behind the bogie frames.
Journeys end, as the empties are gently propelled down the siding to the dairy. I've filed the buffer heads flat as the originals have a weird oval face, I should have removed the silver paint from around the drivers door window frame whilst I was at it.
Its been said that the Heljan 'Hymek' is the best RTR diesel ever produced, its a heavy beast, and looks it to boot. It goes without saying that its slow running is superb. This was another easy 'EM' conversion, I used a Gibson conversion pack, which means transferring the original drive gears from the old axles and fitting them to the new. The wheels also have to be mounted on the axles, set to the correct gauge and new pick ups made up. If that puts you off, then Ultrascale do a drop in replacement wheelset, which will give you an 'EM' or 'P4' diesel in not time at all.
D7039 is seen here passing through Llangunllo, like D6331 she doesn't get used much, but the grandsons do like their diesels.
My only other Hydraulic is this Class 14 'Teddy Bear', its the Heljan / Hattons model, and was an impulse purchase that I came to regret. Its a nice enough model, despite its cosmetic faults, but I don't really have any need for it. I used an Ultrascale drop in conversion for this model, and what a doodle that turned out to be! Like my other diesels its a superb runner, but see's little use, I suppose they are all kept on the books for sentimental reasons if truth be told.
Built for trip workings, and similar duties, which had disappeared by the time they entered service, most passed into private ownership. I often wonder what might have happened, had the '08' been built to the same off centre cab design?
The future of this loco is still undecided, so the Ultrascale wheels have not yet been chemically blackened, or the crankpins trimmed. Who knows it might be sold off and need converting back to '00' gauge ?