I gather you didn't make it, Paul? It was very nice to meet a few new faces as well as seeing the familiar ones I was expecting.
Thirsk is always an enjoyable day out and as a bonus I managed to achieve something as well. None of it was LNER, unfortunately. Before the show, though, I did manage to finish this which has been hanging around the bench for far too long.
This is an NB bogie bolster (also used as a boplate) built by Hurst Nelson. It started life as a Parkside Quad and is based on the drawing in John Hooper's book. The bogies aren't quite right, but I'm sure I've seen some which are much closer - it's just a matter of remembering where.
This weekend, a bonus due to the weather, I've started preparing for an upcoming
Grantham running weekend. This has involved going back to my notes from January when we were last out (Stevenage, for those who were there). I recall that there were more failures and damage than usual and I spent much of yesterday and today working through the list.
The Ruston Hornsby shunter had been unreliable at Wakefield and packed up altogether at Stevenage. Fortunately it seems to have been nothing more than crud, but removing it called for removal of the wheelsets to clean out the bearing cups and pinpoints (which serve as pickups). Not what you'd do at a normal wheel clean. It seems to be behaving now which is just as well as it will have to do until Red Leader stops messing about with pink engines and gets on with his promised scratchbuild of the actual machine.
C7 706 had been parted from its bogie in a manner which I have not been able to establish. I added a plate to hold the captive nut and resoldered the whole thing in place. You can't tell here, but the bogie pivot is ahead of the front axle because of the restricted clearances around the cylinders. It works very well. The pipe runs on this machine really were that messy at the time, honest.
TK 4472 had had several windows punched out and a few commode handles missing as well. The windows have been replaced (glue marks to remove) but I have no .7 brass wire, so the handrail will have to wait. This is an MJT kit built by Dave Scott in the approved MJT manner which does make glazing awkward.
BG 4034 is the one from the Leeds set. I cant remember what I established with this vehicle except that it derailed regularly in the fiddle yard and my note said to raise it. It's had about .75 mm added under each bogie and while I was on the rattle it made was also diagnosed - a captive nut had come adrift - and rectified. These are MJT bogies on a paxolin floor in a Kirk body, so it may be that my original height setting was out.
I didn't photograph the bent pickups and loose lamp irons I sorted, but I did reattach a brake lever to a grain wagon. I understand this kit is to be retooled and it certainly needs it.
Lastly some other jobs which I picked up as I had time:
When I acquired my
Valour, Mike Edge confirmed that he had built it but there was no plate on it. He kindly made me another which he gave me at York and I've attached it today. I also painted over the Kadee mounting I'd added to the tender chassis. For the record, the loco was built in 1988.
Finally I made a start on weathering the two new A1/3s I intend to have running by Spalding. They've both been road tested, so we're safe to go ahead with this now.
I'm told that someone came to Ormesby Hall asking for me recently. Unfortunately the lady who spoke to the people concerned didn't think to ask their names so I'm none the wiser. If they are a reader here, I only operate on the first Sunday of each month these days. If anyone is planning a visit which coincides then by all means let me know.
If all goes well i hope to have something new and exciting to show this week, but please don't anyone hold your breath.