The Toad

[Martino]

A few weeks ago, I asked what I should be working on next as far as rolling stock was concerned. The general consensus was that I should do something about the wagon I've been running as GW brake.

This little fellow....

 

[Martino]

Well, in between track laying, general gardening and of course work to earn a crust, I have been working on the Toad.

By no means finished yet, but I thought I'd give a progress report.

The van has been chopped and a new platform has been created.

The planks on one side have been done and we await a couple of more vertical posts.

The door off the platform has been made, although not fitted in these photos.

The end windows are cut and I have the 'glass' and frames made - still in the paint shop.

Most of the platform 'furniture' is finished although not painted and I'm now working on creating an interior with benches, desk and stove.

Anyway, she's coming on!

 

[royale]

That's very impressive - what an excellant job you've made of it.

 

[brianthesnail96]

Very nice- but of course, we expect nothing less from you now. Looking forward to seeing it in a matching train!

 

[stevedenver]

well done !

 

[casey jones snr]

A nice looking Toad.

 

[Martino]

OK - so here is the matching train! Well, it's coming along. Did a bit of work on the toad this past week, and started work on the inside.

Here is the mid afternoon goods, with Lyn in charge, toad, cattle van, gravel hopper, bogie open, two SR vans and an SR brake bringing up the rear - all on the recently completed embankment section.

 

[Martino]

...and a gratuitous shot of the passenger set parked on the stub siding.

 

[Martino]

I was planning a weekend of just running, as Lady Wife is off down the coast visiting with a friend. However, the problems of small rodents nibbling at the wires ruined yesterday but that's all fixed now. Today we've had some light rain, so I decided to do a bit of pottering.

Replaced the polyfuse and microswitch magnet on the last of my Train-Li R7 switches (than you Axel, a great piece of kit) and decided to finish the Toad, which has been dragging on since last May.

As it's raining a bit, the photos were taken on the test track on the garage workbench rather than on the railway.

Just waiting for the 'home depot' stencil of 'Farnham Common' between the G and the W and a coat of mat varnish. But to my eyes it seems to past the 10' test of a run down, narrow gauge version of GW Toad.

Side on

Closed end

Open end

I must paint under the verandah!

..and straighten the lamp bracket

Just to see how it will look with a cattle truck and Number 21

That's yer lot!

 

[Spule 4]

Looks good!

 

[Alec K]

I can see the smoke from the van stove now.... very characterful indeed.

Regards

Alec K

 

[Neil Robinson]

Just waiting for the 'home depot' stencil of 'Farnham Common' between the G and the W and a coat of mat varnish.

Excellent work.

The thought of a superior brake van and stencils reminded me of a cartoon I saw many years ago, I think it was in 4ft 8 1/2 and all that.
It shewed a toffee nosed guard in a penguin suit, top hat and white gloves climbing aboard a brake van marked ' Not In Common Use' .

 

[dragon]

Like it a lot.

 

[mike]

ow very very nice!

 

[yb281]

Great job, inspiring in fact.

 

[Gizzy]

Very nice work!

Certainly recreates the look of a GW Toad....

 

[jameshilton]

What a lovely conversion - very convincing.

The tanks is nice too - a Stainz conversion? Just needs a cast GWR style number plate to finish it off!

 

[Martino]

Yes James, it's a Stainz chassis but with a new body. I agree about the plates, when I get my next project finished (a prairie tank based on an LGB 0-6-0 chassis) I'll be trying to source two sets of GW plates!