Despite the slow but steady resurgance of coronavirus, it is - for now - still possible to hold steam-ups in Hertfordshire, albeit restricted by the new "rule of six" law. As such, I have been able to make two further visits to Brambleton since the last update. Both Russell and Auric came with me for the first of these, which was blessed with glorious autumn sunshine. Other engines in use included a very smartly turned-out pair of Roundhouse locos (a "Lady Anne" and a "Katie"); an Accucraft "Lyn"; and a delightful Accucraft 1K 0-6-0T, the latter running with a complete train of matching Saxon narrow-gauge stock.
For our second visit, the weather was not so favourable; but it was a joyous occasion nonetheless, for I was able to show off a newly-acquired locomotive! It had not originally been my intention to buy another loco this year but, now that I am regularly attending both South Oxfordshire and West Hertfordshire Group meetings, both Russell and Auric have been used intensively over the last few months. Accordingly, I felt that a third loco would be valuable in order to ease the wear and tear on our hard-worked fleet. Well - that is my excuse, and I am sticking to it!
The loco in question is an Accucraft "Mortimer" 0-4-0ST. This is, in my opinion, an extremely pretty design and it has long been near the top of my "wish list" of 16mm locomotives. It is no longer in production, but a second-hand example in excellent condition was recently advertised online; its acquisition was therefore a natural move. It brings some welcome variety to our fleet, being quite different from our exisiting steam locos in several respects: it is our first saddle tank, our first manually-controlled loco, and our first engine with inside valve gear. On the other hand, it is of similar proportions to Auric and therefore makes a particularly good companion for the latter. Her previous owner gave her the number 6 and the name Lord Percy, which will be retained for the time being.
The loco in question is an Accucraft "Mortimer" 0-4-0ST. This is, in my opinion, an extremely pretty design and it has long been near the top of my "wish list" of 16mm locomotives. It is no longer in production, but a second-hand example in excellent condition was recently advertised online; its acquisition was therefore a natural move. It brings some welcome variety to our fleet, being quite different from our exisiting steam locos in several respects: it is our first saddle tank, our first manually-controlled loco, and our first engine with inside valve gear. On the other hand, it is of similar proportions to Auric and therefore makes a particularly good companion for the latter. Her previous owner gave her the number 6 and the name Lord Percy, which will be retained for the time being.
The Brambleton meeting was, in fact, our first opportunity to run the new loco, and it acquitted itself well. Other locos in use included a battery-powered Simplex diesel, as well as a return visit from the Accucraft Lyn.
The following weekend, Lord Percy made its first outing on home metals. No. 2 was also on test following some further modifications. After the problems identified during its recent visit to the Vale of White Horse Railway, it has now had its electrical pickups removed. Whilst this will make it more difficult to re-convert the loco to track power (should this ever be neccessary), it should mean that any problems with short circuits - for example, if running on a track with a balloon loop, or alongside steam locos with non-insulated wheels - will now be eliminated.
With so much going on outdoors, my workshop projects continue to take a back seat at present. Nevertheless, the new Box End station building is inching forward: both main doorframes are now fitted and work has commenced on painting the interior.