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Gauge 1-, 2 rail electric garden railway, by Pat Honey.
CHAPTER 5:- PASSENGER STOCK.
When planning this layout I thought that for the 20s period I would only need to consider 4 and 6 wheeled coaches, enough for a pair of 3 or 4 coach trains, remembering that it was intended for a steam rail motor to be added to the passenger units.
In the past I have built some gauge 1 bogie coaches for friends, starting with the bare aluminium body shells and finished with full interiors, under gear, painted etc, so the thought of trying my hand at making some of the etched brass kits now available presented no fears.
However in 1999, a friend told me he had seen 3 x basic 6 wheeled Gauge 1, 5 compartment, period coaches at a show and had made note of the seller at the time. I contacted them and was informed that this firm did not usually make Gauge 1 items but had experimented with these 3 basic units - so I after seeing them, knew that I could finish them off with no worries, and arranged to buy them.
I found that they were strongly built using plasticard, no interior or glazing and the bodies sprayed in maroon with black undercarriages and roofs - no frills or brake gear etc. but good looking vehicles which I could turn out as good period old Great Western stock.
As you will see from the photographs of the finished vehicles, it will be apparent that as with all my stock, I have treated the exteriors to steps, grab rails, door handles (Tenmille Products), plus full undercarriage gear etc.
The interiors have been painted and mirrors and 'old view pictures' put in place (Derek Ascott) before fitting with seats (home made) and passengers etc (Wagon and Carriage Works and Scalectrix) prior to glazing.
The exterior painting has been left to the style of the period where old main line stock, being relegated to branch line duties, were not given the full paint and lining treatment of those vehicles still on main line duty, hence fairly plain above waist rail level.
To complement these I needed more passenger vehicles, with brake / luggage facilities which could make up 2 very nice mixed 3 or 4 vehicle branch trains - so after seeing some on display at the 1999 Gauge '0' Guild Telford show I bought a kit of LNWR period stock (O1d Originals), being the 21 ft passenger brake van, which much to Jim Dales horror, I have given the Great Western treatment.
I find any brass etch kits a pleasure to build and the end results show how attractive they are.
At the NEC show I met Jim Harris and Mr Cousens (Mercian Models) and ordered the 4 wheeled brake / 3rd carriage from their range of lovely GWR carriage stock, I was so impressed by these that I later bought another brake 3rd and a full 2nd comp plus a 1st / 2nd comp, all in kit form.
At the Telford (gauge "O" Guild) Show in 2003 I found 2 brass etches for coaches, on investigation they turned out to be the GWR D10, 38 ft 6 inch Brake / 3rd and the E25, 45 ft 1st / 3rd clerestory. On enquiring it seemed they were single samples produced by Mallard as a trial. There were no plans or other fittings included, just the etches - as I had recently built 4 of Mercian 4 wheeled coaches in brass I decided that as they were from the period I was modelling and that they could be of use and knowing that I could source all the other parts from Mercian, Tenmille, Slaters and Harry Germaine I acquired them for next to nothing. See the pics of the finished products and judge for yourself whether they were worth the effort ?
Later from the Macclesfield Club 2nd hand shop I acquired a 6 wheeled all brown full guards van.
The passenger element of the layout will be to service 2 normal platforms and a bay - and as on most branch line termini, all engines will run round which adds to the interesting operating aspect and with good operators should give me many hours of pleasure.
As was a common practice on GWR branch lines, passenger trains and railcars may also have a van or horsebox in tow, which means that some shunting will take place in the platform roads.
The emphasis will be mainly on the passenger workings and eventually when all the layout is working properly a full correct timetable will be developed which will include the arrival and departure of the daily goods with the necessary movements to break, shunt and reform train.
In 2006 I was able to secure Pete Waterman etches for the 1897 Royal Train and have now built 3 of the coaches and a K12 Brake. (see pics in Gallery).
Pat Honey.
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Gallery:
These photographs - taken at different times - are to give you some idea of what you can see on DENBURY. I can supply hundreds more on disc to any interested party subject to the condition that they are not used for any commercial purpose whatsoever, unless with my written consent. Most basic information is on each photograph but for any queries or further information then contact me.
Pat Honey.
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