How the world has changed since the Christmas festivities described in my last post! Like everybody else, we are struggling to adjust to the new - albeit temporary - realities of life during the coronavirus pandemic. However, every cloud has a silver lining: since I am now forced to spend more time at home, I am able to devote more time to my railway.
Sadly, however, my attempts to actually run trains have not been altogether successful! Auric came out for a test run this morning following some workshop attention, but only managed one steaming session before services had to be aborted due to high winds! Although the 'official' wind speed was only 15mph, we were getting strong gusts and our wagons were blown over several times whilst standing in the platform at Rutton. Attempts to weigh vehicles down with some large pieces of scrap metal proved fruitless, and I couldn't risk a train being blown off the high-level section. Never mind, it looks like we will have at least twelve more weekends at home ahead of us...
Sadly, however, my attempts to actually run trains have not been altogether successful! Auric came out for a test run this morning following some workshop attention, but only managed one steaming session before services had to be aborted due to high winds! Although the 'official' wind speed was only 15mph, we were getting strong gusts and our wagons were blown over several times whilst standing in the platform at Rutton. Attempts to weigh vehicles down with some large pieces of scrap metal proved fruitless, and I couldn't risk a train being blown off the high-level section. Never mind, it looks like we will have at least twelve more weekends at home ahead of us...
Regular visitors to this website may notice some new features in the above photographs. Firstly, I have finally installed a new bufferstop at the signalbox end of Rutton station. This is a Peco kit which I acquired second-hand some years ago, and finally managed to put together over the winter. It was designed for a lighter rail section than our LGB track, however, so in order to clip it over the rails I have had to insert extra pieces of plasticard between the uprights.
More importantly, however, you have probably noticed some unfamilar wagons in Auric's train! After several years of restraint with regard to new rolling stock purchases, a combination of circumstances have prompted me to splash out over the last few months. The Accucraft W&L brakevan and sheep wagon have long been on my wish-list, and in January a second-hand pair were advertised at an affordable price. I decided the opportunity was too good to miss!
The grey LGB box van, on the other hand, has been acquired for use in a specific project. For some time, I have been considering the future of two-rail elecric traction on the MVR. From an operational point of view track power has never been very convenient as we have no permanent power supply in the garden, and we do not really want to go to the trouble and expense of installing this. We have therefore had to rely on running an extension lead out from the house, which takes a lot of time and trouble to set up. On top of that, of course, there is the tedious neccessity of track-cleaning! I have therefore decided that it is time to bite the bullet and transition solely to live steam and battery-electric operation. A relative of mine - who is far more confident in electrical work than I am! - has kindly offered to help with this, and he has been working to prepare the neccessary radio control equipment over the last few months. The grey van will be used as the battery wagon, although I hope we can arrange the wiring to allow it to be detached from the loco and used as an ordinary covered wagon when required.
As if this were not already an embarrasment of riches, we have recently acquired a fourth new wagon - although it is destined never to actually run on the MVR! This is another sheep wagon - although rather smaller than our new W&L example - and is being built to 32mm gauge. Now that we are running more regularly on the 'narrow' gauge, thanks to the regular South Oxfordshire Area Group steamups, I felt it was time to expand our small stock of 32mm vehicles. I therefore took advantage of the Black Friday sale at Ash Models and acquired one of their laser-cut kits. I have modified the design slightly as I wanted to fit steel wheels, rather than the plastic ones supplied. I therefore used some IP wheels and axleboxes which I already had in stock, but I had to cut new solebars to fit them. Sadly, the photograph only depicts a dry run - she has since been dismantled again in order to continue painting. However, with SOAG steam-ups now cancelled due to COVID-19, at least there is no hurry to finish her...
More importantly, however, you have probably noticed some unfamilar wagons in Auric's train! After several years of restraint with regard to new rolling stock purchases, a combination of circumstances have prompted me to splash out over the last few months. The Accucraft W&L brakevan and sheep wagon have long been on my wish-list, and in January a second-hand pair were advertised at an affordable price. I decided the opportunity was too good to miss!
The grey LGB box van, on the other hand, has been acquired for use in a specific project. For some time, I have been considering the future of two-rail elecric traction on the MVR. From an operational point of view track power has never been very convenient as we have no permanent power supply in the garden, and we do not really want to go to the trouble and expense of installing this. We have therefore had to rely on running an extension lead out from the house, which takes a lot of time and trouble to set up. On top of that, of course, there is the tedious neccessity of track-cleaning! I have therefore decided that it is time to bite the bullet and transition solely to live steam and battery-electric operation. A relative of mine - who is far more confident in electrical work than I am! - has kindly offered to help with this, and he has been working to prepare the neccessary radio control equipment over the last few months. The grey van will be used as the battery wagon, although I hope we can arrange the wiring to allow it to be detached from the loco and used as an ordinary covered wagon when required.
As if this were not already an embarrasment of riches, we have recently acquired a fourth new wagon - although it is destined never to actually run on the MVR! This is another sheep wagon - although rather smaller than our new W&L example - and is being built to 32mm gauge. Now that we are running more regularly on the 'narrow' gauge, thanks to the regular South Oxfordshire Area Group steamups, I felt it was time to expand our small stock of 32mm vehicles. I therefore took advantage of the Black Friday sale at Ash Models and acquired one of their laser-cut kits. I have modified the design slightly as I wanted to fit steel wheels, rather than the plastic ones supplied. I therefore used some IP wheels and axleboxes which I already had in stock, but I had to cut new solebars to fit them. Sadly, the photograph only depicts a dry run - she has since been dismantled again in order to continue painting. However, with SOAG steam-ups now cancelled due to COVID-19, at least there is no hurry to finish her...
Full details of these new vehicles, and their numbering, can be found on our updated Rolling Stock page. I have a few more things to report, but I will hold them over for a future update. In the meantime, enjoying steaming if you can, but above all, stay safe!