Nassau65
CCCUK Member
The space issue is what has slowed my collecting down to a snails pace over the last few years.
What have you done today ?
- Thread starter Chuffer
- Start date
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
When I was young I too filled my bedroom with Airfix models - planes, cars, ships, the lot. When I moved out of the parents house, they shoved them up in their loft in boxes. When I got my first house, they gave them back to me. They sat in that houses' loft for ages. Moved house in 2020 and the models came with me, and again back in the loft. But this time I have a plan - they are going to be part of my model railway I'm creating. Yes, I know the planes are "just" the wrong scale (72 vs 76), and the ships are vastly too small for an OO gauge railway, but meh, I don't care. Its more a celebration of my youth as the model railway features all my trains from my youth, and some second hand ones including some donated to me from family that were their childhood trains.
Some of my Airfix planes might be a bit battered now, and you can tell the earliest ones I made from their "quality", but it'll all be displayed somewhere along my loft railway.
Some of my Airfix planes might be a bit battered now, and you can tell the earliest ones I made from their "quality", but it'll all be displayed somewhere along my loft railway.
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
Over the last two days I did my best impression of Chuffer.
My ride:
Cooking the bacon:
My rides to and from the station, on different days (obviously):
Day 1:
Day 2 (when I found out I could park in the staff carpark). Yes, its not the Corvette, and its not even the steam loco I was on (its Witherslack Hall), but it makes for a nice photo:
Q&A:
1) Why on earth didn't you take the Corvette on day 2 so you could park it like that and get an amazing photo?
a) My neighbours would not have been pleased with a 6am Corvette startup. It also made a funny noise for a short while the day before, and I need to investigate before using it more.
2) Where was this?
a) Minehead at the West Somerset Railway.
3) Why haven't you given any more details?
a) I might be thinking of writing an article for Corvette News.
4) You could have at least cleaned those cars!
a) I live in the country. As in the real country, with tiny roads, tractors, the lot. Cars stay clean for as long as they drive off the driveway. You can't tell in the Corvette photo, but its really dirty.
My ride:
Cooking the bacon:
My rides to and from the station, on different days (obviously):
Day 1:
Day 2 (when I found out I could park in the staff carpark). Yes, its not the Corvette, and its not even the steam loco I was on (its Witherslack Hall), but it makes for a nice photo:
Q&A:
1) Why on earth didn't you take the Corvette on day 2 so you could park it like that and get an amazing photo?
a) My neighbours would not have been pleased with a 6am Corvette startup. It also made a funny noise for a short while the day before, and I need to investigate before using it more.
2) Where was this?
a) Minehead at the West Somerset Railway.
3) Why haven't you given any more details?
a) I might be thinking of writing an article for Corvette News.
4) You could have at least cleaned those cars!
a) I live in the country. As in the real country, with tiny roads, tractors, the lot. Cars stay clean for as long as they drive off the driveway. You can't tell in the Corvette photo, but its really dirty.
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Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Congratulations ` Skipper` , you finally did your footplate experience on the WSR , I just know you will have loved it on Odney Manor , the Manor Class are cracking locos . I bet the run up Crowcombe Bank was a blast and made the old girl cough a bit !! I have my very own Odney Manor on my layout !!
I hope they are taking care of Witherslack Hall as it is one of our locos on loan from the Great Central Railway where she is known as ``Slack Alice`. We had the boiler off last year for maintenance work then one of the paid staff lads did a complete repaint all on his own complete with hand painted lining out . That`s why it still looks in prestine condition .
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
Yup, they deffo are looking after "Slack Alice". I saw her in steam at the gala and looked really good. Got a photo of her with Mayflower someone, and a video of her clearing out the drain cocks all over a bunch of photographers waiting at the platform with Mayflower - me included 
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Catches the photters out every time when do depart with the drain cocks open . Us drivers love that but as you probably learned on your sessions it an absolute must to clear any condensed steam from the cylinders or you will do serious damage .Yup, they deffo are looking after "Slack Alice". I saw her in steam at the gala and looked really good. Got a photo of her with Mayflower someone, and a video of her clearing out the drain cocks all over a bunch of photographers waiting at the platform with Mayflower - me included
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
After a couple of short trips recently it was crying out for a good ol' Italian Tune Up which it certainly got
Had a meeting in Manchester today so dropped the alternator off this to get rebuilt at a tired looking shop (Middletons) and was served by a couple that had to be at least late 80's
Had a meeting in Manchester today so dropped the alternator off this to get rebuilt at a tired looking shop (Middletons) and was served by a couple that had to be at least late 80's
Mad4slalom
Well-known user
Watched big gob fury get put right in his place !!
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Roasted in the sun and had great fun ! We had eight Corvettes turn out for the Oakham Wheels classic event at Rutland Showground today . Cloudless blue skies all day , great cars , great people and approx 500 other classics , moderns , customs , beach buggies and commercials plus live music , food stalls , crafts and auto jumble . What`s not to like . We had C3`s C5 , C6 , C7 & C8 . There should have been 10 cars but there was the usual % of FTA`s ( failed to attend ) and I would like offer a HUGE thank you to those members that travelled from far and wide to attend what was ostensibly a BBNC Region event . Without you all it would have been a big flop to say the least . Coming from as far afield as Thanet , Cheshire , Lincolnshire and Chestefield it was a great to renew old aqaintences and make new ones .
There were plenty of other Americana to be admired too and some stunning custom jobs too . A bunch of club members attended last year too and it`s show that doesn`t disappoint .
We had eight Corvettes turn out for the Oakham Wheels classic event at Rutland Showground today . Cloudless blue skies all day , great cars , great people and approx 500 other classics , moderns , customs , beach buggies and commercials plus live music , food stalls , crafts and auto jumble . What`s not to like . We had C3`s C5 , C6 , C7 & C8 . There should have been 10 cars but there was the usual % of FTA`s ( failed to attend ) and I would like offer a HUGE thank you to those members that travelled from far and wide to attend what was ostensibly a BBNC Region event . Without you all it would have been a big flop to say the least . Coming from as far afield as Thanet , Cheshire , Lincolnshire and Chestefield it was a great to renew old aqaintences and make new ones .There were plenty of other Americana to be admired too and some stunning custom jobs too . A bunch of club members attended last year too and it`s show that doesn`t disappoint .
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
In the guard's room, he was explaining all the equipment in there, and mentioned the most important of them all - the pie warmerForgot to say Captain , there is one vital peace of equipment missing from the cab in your photo on the footplate . The Tea Can on the ` Mashing Tray `
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
We sure did. Lots of little things I'd heard and seen at steam railways before, but didn't know why. Like also the funny noise the loco makes when its making vacuum to release the brakes before it sets off. Didn't know why a loco would make that noise before, but now I do.
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
I guess you mean the farting / snorting sound that GWR locos make when the vacuum relief valve activates when you create too much vacuum . Always causes looks of consternation amongst the punters .
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Not as tasty as sausage , eggs and bacon fried on the shovel .In the guard's room, he was explaining all the equipment in there, and mentioned the most important of them all - the pie warmer
Or a large onion wedged on top of the steam manifold in the cab to cook in its own juices then peel it and eat like an apple .
Roscobbc
Moderator
But will it be more attractive to us?I've been to Cheltenham General Hospital today and had Botox injections in my oesophagus. I don't recommend the experience.
antijam
CCCUK Member
Definitely, my wrinkle-free oesophagus now looks 20 years younger - shame about the rest.......
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
That noise too, which is hilarious, but there was another noise the loco makes when its making vacuum. I can't quite remember it now, so can't really remember it. But the "snort" noise is definitely a distinctive one.I guess you mean the farting / snorting sound that GWR locos make when the vacuum relief valve activates when you create too much vacuum . Always causes looks of consternation amongst the punters .
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
The other sound would be the softer sound up the chimney as the steam operated vacuum ejector exhausts the steam plus the air being sucked out of the brake system to create the vacuum . I guess they explained the large and small ejectors too you . As you were on a GWR loco , the also have a vacuum pump mounted on the side of the running plate and driven by a link to the piston cross head . From a speed of about 10 mph and over the pump should maintain sufficient vacuum of 25 inches Mercury without the need to use either large or small brake ejectors . This saved on steam consumption and therefore water and coal too . On most other designs of locos you have to run with the small ejector permanently on .