Today on the WGLR

[yb281]

Well, as many of you will be aware, the electric powered Accucraft Earl/Countess has arrived and (after some slight modification) is now performing well on the WGLR. I decided to fit the 822 The Earl number and nameplates as Glyn Williams casts doubt as to whether Countess ever ran in black during BR days.

Today I ran a train that I've been looking forward to running for some months, a rake of cattle and sheep wagons for the cattle market (empties on this occasion).

Passing through the Narrows, the train doesn't even distract the boys from their hi-jinx.

Crossing Church Street and heading out into the country.

Passing the stone circle on the approach to Stumpy Junction with the spire of St.Marks in the background.

Coming out of the cutting.

Having dropped off the brake van ............

........ the empty wagons are positioned alongside the cattle market ready for next Tuesday's market day.

 

[Richie]

Looks fantastic Mel realy lovely photo's
Looks like it might do with a run on Rockery Ridge:love:

 

[knotty 823]

Excellent mel brilliant pics and stunning layout mate, look forward to more pics

 

[yb281]

Cheers guys. Yes Richie, definitely .

 

[jameshilton]

Mel 'The Earl' is crying out for a coat of satin varnish and some powders on the running plate to tone down the finish and blend in with the wonderful rolling stock and scenery... a brave man who tackles that on such a lovely model though! I suspect the reduction in sheen would also make photography easier as black can be hard to capture otherwise as I think you hinted at when you were talking about weather conditions yesterday?

As ever though - inspiring.

 

[Steve]

Brilliant Mel as always , its little details like the stone circle

 

[dragon]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmn. Luvly.

 

[yb281]

All in good time James .

As the man with the clever 3 legged pig said, "when you get one as good as this, you don't eat it all at once".

 

[railwayman198]

That's a lovely looking train Mel

 

[C&S]

Fantastic pictures, Mel. The line's really bedding in well.

 

[owlpool]

lovely engine
really looks the part on the Wetton Gooey

 

[whatlep]

I saw The Earl in the flesh today. There is a trail of drool back toward Malvern...... :love:

 

[pugwash]

Mel 'The Earl' is crying out for a coat of satin varnish and some powders on the running plate to tone down the finish

No, Noo, Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, you can't, we may have to surgically remove your air compressor

I would be happy to lend mine... 8|

 

[yb281]

Mel 'The Earl' is crying out for a coat of satin varnish and some powders on the running plate to tone down the finish

No, Noo, Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, you can't, we may have to surgically remove your air compressor

I would be happy to lend mine... 8|

Would need a long air hose!!

 

[Bram]

Now Mel, that is the muts nuts and be honest with us all (we wont tell another living soul will we guys) do you take it to bed with you at night

 

[yb281]

Now Mel, that is the muts nuts and be honest with us all (we wont tell another living soul will we guys) do you take it to bed with you at night

Well, OK mate, I did - but now it's covered in Whatlep drool :bleh::bleh::bleh::bleh:.

 

[flyingsignalman]

Well, OK mate, I did - but now it's covered in Whatlep drool :bleh::bleh::bleh::bleh:.

Despite the fact I'm on nights, so I shouldn't have any nightmares soon, I do feel that I've just been a victim of "information overload"

Cracking set of pics by the way, being (as usual) financially challenged I'm starting to get jealous (but not drooling in any way, you understand.........................................)

 

[yb281]

Ah Bejaysus Mel. A lifetimes ambition fullfilled ?

Yes indeed mate. Just had another half hour's running and The Earl is going really well now.

Looking at the old photos that Neil posted last night, I need to get the Narrows ballasted .

 

[thecsmann]

looking very good , i just got a live steam one last week end!

 

[yb281]

Inspired by Peter's recent musings over in far off Ruritania, I've been having a think (I know - pretty dangerous) about introducing some "different" workings to the WGLR. The first result is the early morning newspapers, post and milk train departing from Gooey at 05.30 (not that I'll ever be getting up at that time to operate it in reality). It's a train that's difficult to photo most of the time due to the fact that it's dark, but with mid Summer approaching (Ha!!), conditions are just right at the moment.

The train is loaded up in platform 2, the newspapers, post and parcels having been off-loaded from the standard gauge (might need some more suitable rolling stock ; ). The consist includes a couple of vans and a brake/third/baggage coach which provides limited passenger facilities as very few people seem to want to travel at this ungodly hour. However, an all third coach is added on market days and special occasions such as Cockshutt Show in August.

Attached to the end of the train is an open wagon (ex L&B) for the milk traffic. This runs empty on down trains and will be loaded with churns during the return trip. At some time during the day it will be attached to a goods train in order to deliver empty churns ready for collection the next morning. The churns are dropped off and collected at all the stations plus a couple of locations where special wooden stages have been provided for the bigger dairy farms. Here the down train pulls out of Gooey past the goods office and interchange siding.