Update No.68 - 27.07.16

Hello everybody, I hope you are all well. It has been a while since the last update...longer than I would have liked. Unfortunately poor old Corky has once again been suffering with a recurrence of a long term back issue and this has severely limited his ability to work on the Corkscrew-Lines. I am pleased to report that things are now returning to normal and works on the layout are about to recommence so hopefully next time there will be far more to report.

8 car unit 700 007 glides through Redhill on a training run

I thought I would start this update with some images of the new order on the Brighton main line. The long awaited class 700 units from Siemens have now started regular passenger workings on the Thameslink route so I have taken a few photographs of some of the early workings. As regular followers will already know, I have a limited interest in the current railway scene, preferring to wallow in nostalgia and pop on my rose tinted specs and travel back to the good old days of the 1960s on the Corkscrew-Lines. I do realise however that time moves on quickly and what is cutting edge and modern today quickly becomes "classic traction" for the next generation. I remember taking medium format images on a Bronica ETRSi at Gatwick Airport of the first of the class 319 units when they were being tested in the late 1980s. The medium format film cameras are now a thing of the past as will be the 319s on the Brighton line very shortly. Not taking a few photographs at the start of the next era for the Brighton line seemed daft so I took a few snaps.

12 car unit 700 108 heads over Keymer Junction on the 2nd day of booked running - 21.06.16

The same train as above heads through Wivelsfield station whilst heading for London.

My great mate Rooster invited me to accompany him and his lovely family on a trip to the seaside back in the middle of June. I was happy to join him on the GBRf staff charter from Ashford to Weston Super Mare (well I am an ex GBRf employee so kind of belonged!) so I joined the train at Clapham Junction as it headed west. Traction for the day was provided by a pair of the recently re-engineered class 73/9 locos which performed admirably. Acceleration on diesel power was far more impressive than I remember from the 1980s! That'll be the 1600hp MTU diesel engines strutting their stuff then! As this was more of a social outing I did not take very many shots but thought I would share a few here. Class 73s working passenger trains on the western region! Whatever next? - Hellfire!

A pair of Steroid-Eds approach Clapham Junction - 18.06.16

73 964 & 73 961 at Weston-Super-Mare - 18.06.16

A bonus treat for Bristol cranks at Weston

My back issues have unfortunately ruined my plans regarding the rate of layout construction this year. I had hoped the main line on the lowest level would be completed by now including the swing bridge section at the layout room entrance. Alas this has not been possible but maybe I can now start to make some progress once again. There has been some limited construction activity however. The one and only Gibsy-Wibsy took me out for a mornings shopping the other week. We visited the wonderful Hobby Box in Uckfield where I started to accumulate a collection of materials ready to begin my first adventures in ballasting. A further visit to the Engine shed in Ford with Posh Colin and a few more purchases mean I have all I need to start spreading the ballast around in Harbinger Yard. It is early days but I seem to be improving with my technique and the sections I have completed look quite presentable. This area will ultimately be covered by Doombe Carriage Sidings so it is the ideal location to have a go at the dark and mysterious art of model railway ballasting. It is going to be a long and tedious process but I am sure the finished results will make it all worthwhile.

Starting to gather together some ballasting essentials

One of those delightful small models shops - an endangered species

More bits n bobs from the Engine Shed in Ford

The first area to be selected in Harbinger Yard

Ballast is spread and tamped ready for adhesive 

Almost ready for weathering

Latest arrivals on the Corkscrew-Lines

Only a couple of packages have arrived at Jones-Towers over the last couple of months. The first contained a rake of the latest Bachmann 20 Ton anchor mounted oil tankers. There are plans to install a medium sized oil storage and distribution depot on the layout so these have been eagerly awaited. The modelled depot will include large storage tanks and road tanker loading bays to display my collection of 1960s road tankers. I have a pre-order in place for the Heljan 4 wheel tanks which were announced last year so hopefully I can make up a couple of representative rakes of filthy tankers - Dreadful!

The start of my oil tanker collection - more to follow

The other arrival was the magnificent Hornby model of the gorgeous Adams Radial Tank locomotive. The real Adams radials only just managed to linger on into my chosen 1960s time frame and of course will always be synonymous with the Lyme Regis branch line. That's not going to stop me adding another ex-LSWR steam locomotive to the collection however (he says whipping out his well used modellers licence for anybody to scrutinise) especially when it is as good as this. Straight out of the box the loco silently glided around the Jones-Towers Test Track in a most impressive fashion. As the Hornby ex-LSWR Maunsell coaches are due imminently I will take some photos of an assembled full train with the Adams in charge on the test track for the next blog. In conclusion another fantastic steam loco release from Hornby and I am happy with my decision to wait for this release rather than purchase the previously released Oxford Rail model.

Such an elegant locomotive

I am pleased to report the loco performs as well as it looks

So there you have it my friends. An unusually brief update (make the most of it!) to get you all up to speed. Next time I hope to confirm that track laying has restarted and to show progress in my ballasting adventures. I will try not to leave it so long next time so take care everybody and that's all from the Corkscrew-Lines for now.


That's all for now folks!


Corky!