Channel 4 tv programme

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Tony M

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Hi all, has any one seen details of a new channel 4 series due to be filmed by Love Productions from June 19th for 2 weeks for more details
go to www.applyfortrains.co.uk where it gives you more information. They are looking for experienced railway modelers of all types and it looks like they are going to build and run a 16mm sm32 line for 72 miles between Fort William and Inverness along the great glen way in Scotland due to be aired in November in 5 one hour shows. They need teams of people to make it happen
 
Saw a puff in the Daily Mail yesterday for this Love production. Sketchy but picture of loco, on proposed plastic track, looks like a G1 or G3 standard gauge prototype tank engine. Ho, Hum. Strange nothing on the 16 mm NRM/G1MRA/G Scale or G3 sites. Most production company researchers would go first to the societies representing the the subject area to fish for likely suspects. Max.
 
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I don't think they are that clued-up about the subject...
Think they are (sort-of) hanging off the James May 'toys' thing, as much as anything..


There may have been some slight input from around here. - Wait and see what we shall see. :tmi::lipssealed:
 
The real railway along The Great Glen only ever ran from Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus.

The Scottish railway companies spent more time and money challenging each other in the courts to protect their vested interests than they did building the line!

The bit from Fort Willism to Spean Bridge is still running as part of the West Highland Line.

Whilst they could use the disused formation as far as it goes where and how they could lay track the rest of the way is a challenge!

The route of the Caledonian Canal which joins the Lochs in The Great Glen to the sea at either end has to be a favourite. Although the western end is some way from Fort William at Corpach and has an amazing flight of locks to gain height!

James May had a relatively smooth and clear formation for his project!

James
 
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If you look at the FAQ's.. They ain't asking much!!
I do not think they have the remotest idea how long it will take to lay 72 miles of track, to make an (even temporary) acceptable running track. As for their idea of motive power. Just how long / far would a 4-4-0 live steam model go at a time.
The 3 metre plastic track sections might make things a little easier, but what about curves, and the inevitable 'bits' needed to join things up? - Especially as there are supposedly going to be teams working different sections..

<quote>
James May had a relatively smooth and clear formation for his project!
</quote>

Thinking of someone up to their chest in a pond!! :think::giggle::giggle:
 
Just had a look on the Daily Mail site and seen the image of the loco and coach on some extruded track.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4566462/Model-train-track-weave-record-74-MILES.html

interesting, except that the loco looks for all the world like a repainted Tri-ang 3F and the coach would appear to be a Hornby Dublo Tinplate Gresley! This is therefore 00 and not the actual stuff that they propose to use, but perhaps a smaller version?

As Phil has said above a steam loco won't go that far between fuelling and watering. I guess weight would be a factor too.

Something like a battery operated Tri-ang Big Big Hymek would run anywhere on even the least level track, but if you start using heavier things like live steam, you need something Strong and Stable? Maybe Theresa May is going to get involved?

James
 
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PhilP said:
Just how long / far would a 4-4-0 live steam model go at a time.
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With a little sensible running say 40kph scale speed and a 30 minute steaming run netween top ups, a steaming ought to manage around a Km. i would have thought on an old Railway line gradients should not be much of an issue, or perhaps they may be if the line has been hacked about. Without some sensible input they will be having problems.
JonD
 
Jon,

The old railway line or even when combined with the three sections of the canal only go just over half way.

The rest of the Glen is occupied by Loch Ness and there is no formation to use.

The valley is deep with steeply sloped sides. Getting a railway alongside the loch is going to take a lot of work!

James

PS - Like the maths on the steaming - Around 60 hours of running end to end!
 
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The reference to steam includes batteries!. Is it a steam engine - powered by whatever you like I expect. The track looks like a prefab unit - looks a lot like a double glazing extrusion or similar. I tough challenge but I recon they have better plans than we have being anticipating..
 
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stockers said:
I cant see any reference to live steam. Its a steam engine - powered by whatever you like I expect. The track looks like a prefab unit - looks a lot like a double glazing extrusion or similar. I tough challenge but I recon they have better plans than we have being anticipating..
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Alan,

Look under FAQs and then scroll down 'Project Specifics':

"How will we power them?

They'll be powered either by steam or by battery with steam."

I think you are right though - if those extrusions are strong enough - mounting them on wooden poles to give a level run like the Lartigue Monorail would be relatively easy in most places.

James
 
I wonder what the logic was for choosing SM 32 track?

Surely the need for stability when running on a temporary track - and the need for the largest possible locomotives to maximize the range - would dictate that SM 45 would be the logical choice?
 
Trainman 864 said:
I wonder what the logic was for choosing SM 32 track?

Surely the need for stability when running on a temporary track - and the need for the largest possible locomotives to maximize the range - would dictate that SM 45 would be the logical choice?
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Personaly I would use 2 1/2" gauge 3, far more stable and decent size rolling stock.

Shaun
 
TLR said:
Personaly I would use 2 1/2" gauge 3, far more stable and decent size rolling stock.

Shaun
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Well the OP said the project was based on 16 mm scale - SM32 line - in his original post, so my assumption was that 16 mm scale was part of the specification.
Tony M said:
......... they are going to build and run a 16mm sm32 line for 72 miles between Fort William and Inverness along the great glen way in Scotland .................
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However on further checking on the 'Love Productions' website it appears that the defining parameter is that it should be 'O' gauge, which means that it will be to 7 mm scale (not 16 mm) which is, strictly speaking, incompatible with SM 32 track as the 'SM' stands for 'sixteen millimeter'.

However, it is possible to run 'O' gauge stock on SM 32 track because the gauge is the same - only the rail code is different .... :nerd:
 
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TLR said:
Personaly I would use 2 1/2" gauge 3, far more stable and decent size rolling stock.

Shaun
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Shaun,

Can't disagree with your logic, although given the ready availability of G Scale plus the known stability, durability and ability to run for long distances - I am with Trainman.

I wonder if the choice of gauge was partly dictated by the ready availability of a suitably sized extrusion?

James
 
James Day said:
Alan,

Look under FAQs and then scroll down 'Project Specifics':

"How will we power them?

They'll be powered either by steam or by battery with steam."

I think you are right though - if those extrusions are strong enough - mounting them on wooden poles to give a level run like the Lartigue Monorail would be relatively easy in most places.

James
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If they are going to use steam, it will take a fair while. Most 16mm locos have a running time of around 20-30 minutes. Even if the gas tank is large enough, there will still be water stops
 
My Accucraft Shay, hauling a reasonable consist of twelve log cars - some with logs - needs a top-up every 150 FEET.

I'm intrigued by the description 'battery with steam' - anybody care to tell me what that means?

tac
 
tac foley said:
I'm intrigued by the description 'battery with steam' - anybody care to tell me what that means? tac
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I suspect those who were involved with the production have been sworn to secrecy. I can only assume they, Love productions, realized or were advised of the potential running time limits of most 16 mm live steamers (around 1/2 hour at best between gas/water/oil refills). So, the inclusion of battery powered locos, with a reliable run time of 2 hours and more, might help when you are trying to eat up those miles and meet your time/shoot targets. Plenty of diesel/steam outline battery powered locos out there set or re-gaugable for 32 mm. Live steamers for the "wow" factor, battery power for the serious business.

I saw on the FB garden rail site someone noted the production co. were already disposing of the "track"a couple of weeks ago. Max
 
Paul M said:
If they are going to use steam, it will take a fair while. Most 16mm locos have a running time of around 20-30 minutes. Even if the gas tank is large enough, there will still be water stops
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When I did my Live Dteam calculation earlier I was basing it on a Gas Fired one. If using Coal Fired 16mm Live Steam a longer run would be possible say possibly 2 Hours at a time with short stops for coaling and water top ups. But would probably need more down time to clean out the Ash Pan and Smokebox. On my calculations of a 30 minutes run and James 60 Hours based on that, perhaps we can see that it would make for quite a boring TV show! No wonder they appear to be disposing of the 'track' perhaps giving up on the Show.
JonD
 
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