Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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22 July 2024

High Speed Train designer Sir Kenneth Grange passes away

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Sir Kenneth Grange, the designer of the iconic High Speed Train, has died aged 95.

Sir Kenneth Grange became a house hold name for designing items that have become well known, including razors and kettles.

However, rail enthusiasts will know Sir Kenneth most for the interior layout and external styling of the nose cone of the InterCity 125 HST.

Some HSTs are still in active service with Great Western Railway and ScotRail some 40 years+ after they were first introduced, and many have made their way into preservation, both on the mainline and at heritage railways.

The 125 Group, who Kenneth Grange was their Honorary President, said in a statement:

We are sad to confirm that our Honorary President, Sir Kenneth Grange has passed away at the age of 95.
Sir Kenneth became a key designer for many iconic household items – but will be best remembered by us for the amazing transition he made to the front end design styling and livery of the InterCity 125.
Following the Group's involvement with the restoration of the Prototype Power Car, Sir Kenneth became a good friend of the Group, an advocate of our aims and has been our Honorary President for the last ten years – visiting us at events on numerous occasions.
We pass on our deepest condolences to his Wife, Apryl and all of his family
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23 July 2024

German World War I locomotive on display in Welsh narrow gauge railway museum​

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The Brigadelok being shunted into the museum

A historic 0-8-0 German tank locomotive has gone on display in the museum of the Vale of Rheidol Railway (VoR) at Aberystwyth in West Wales, just in time for the Summer holidays.

The locomotive is a ‘Brigadelok' built by Maffei in Germany in 1916 for use in the First World War.

Maffei later became the locomotive builder Krauss-Maffei. The locomotive is typical of those that worked on lightly laid narrow gauge railways to carry munitions and supplies to forces on the front line.
 
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The Brigadelok on display in the museum

The unusual chimney seen in the photograph contains a spark arrestor to prevent accidents when hauling train loads of munitions and stopped the emission of sparks that would have revealed the locomotive's location to British forces when working at night.

The Vale of Rheidol has had the Brigadelok' in its collection since 2002, but this is the first time it has been on public display.

Also in the museum is a petrol-electric locomotive built by Dick Kerr in 1918 for the British Army and suitable for work similar to the Brigadelok.

With two locomotives from the First World War, The Vale of Rheidol Railway has genuine artefacts from both the British and German sides on display.

A large tender is coupled to the Brigadelok because when it was working over lightly laid railway lines, carrying munitions over boggy ground, it was often difficult to take water.

The answer lay in a large auxiliary tender, similar to a water bowser, which increased the locomotive's range, and is why the locomotive is displayed with a tender attached.

A water lifter, similar to a pump, is also fitted to the Brigadelok and could be used to draw water from streams or rivers.
 
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Inside the Vale of Rheidol Railway museum

As well as the Brigadelok, a wide collection of narrow gauge locomotives from across the world are displayed in the new Museum, Display & Events venue at Aberystwyth station.

The railway and museum are open daily until November 3rd, and entry is free for those travelling on the Vale of Rheidol Railway

The museum is also open for anyone not travelling on the train, with tickets costing £5 for adults and £3 for children.

Last year, the Vale of Rheidol Railway acquired the Brecon Mountain Railway to ensure its long-term future.
 

Ffestiniog launches ‘Steam Coal’ Ice Cream in time for Summer​

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FfWHR Fireman Caleb Lovegrove samples the new Steam Coal Ice-cream

Summer has arrived at The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways and to celebrate, they have launched their very own ice cream flavour, Steam Coal Ice Cream.

This will be available on their new Ice Cream Stands on the station platforms.

The ice cream flavour is vanilla and is made by Welsh Ice Cream manufacturer Marios.

It will be available alongside Mint Choc Chip, chocolate, strawberry, salted caramel, and for vegans, a red cherry sorbet.
 
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120ml Ffestiniog Steam Coal Vanilla

FfWHR Catering Manager Elwyn Edwards: It is really important for us to serve local produce here at our catering outlets and choosing a Welsh Ice cream maker was top of my list. Marios were happy to cater for my idea of steaming in with a brand-new product! It is actually a very tasty vanilla and something a bit different which will hopefully raise a smile from our passengers when they come to our new ice cream stand!
 
25 July 2024

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Network Rail develops environmentally friendly sleeper technology​

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Viewing the hedgehog sleeper at Rail Live 2024

Network Rail’s Wales and Western region has developed a new type of sleeper – used on the railway to support the track – with environmental benefits.

The region worked with Network Rail’s Technical Authority, responsible for safety and engineering, to create ‘hedgehog’ sleepers – so nicknamed because the ends look like hedgehogs nesting under the rail. The sleepers contain 90 per cent less embedded carbon than wooden models and 78 per cent less than those made from concrete. As part of Network Rail’s sustainability strategy, research found that sleepers account for 30 per cent of the carbon embedded within railway infrastructure.

New technology was sought to reduce the carbon emissions generated by manufacturing these critical components of the track infrastructure and to make sleepers more resilient to climate change.

Currently, Network Rail installs approximately 350,000 concrete sleepers annually. If those were to be replaced with hedgehog sleepers, it could represent an annual carbon footprint reduction of approximately 24.5 million kilograms of carbon dioxide. This is the equivalent of taking 12,250 family cars off the road annually.

In addition, approximately 150,000 wooden sleepers are replaced each year – if the new hedgehog sleepers were used instead, similar carbon equivalent savings could be made.

The sleepers, developed with Lankhorst Engineered Products, are made up of 90 per cent recycled materials and are themselves fully recyclable. As well as reducing carbon emissions, the new composite design means that hedgehog sleepers will last at least twice as long as their concrete counterparts, reducing the need to close parts of the railway to install replacements as they near the end of their working life. The sleepers can also be laid mechanically, which will make replacement quicker and easier.
 
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Hedgehog sleeper at the factory

Nick Matthews, Network Rail’s programme engineering manager, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work with Lankhorst Engineered Products to develop a new type of sleeper technology that will reduce the carbon impact of the railway quite significantly.​


“Previously, sleepers were either made from hardwood or concrete. The raw material for wooden sleepers comes from South American rainforests, which can result in damage to habitats, a reduction in biodiversity, and decreased carbon absorption from rainforests. Producing concrete can also have a damaging impact on the environment and increased carbon emissions.

“We demonstrated the hedgehog sleeper at this year’s Rail Live event in June in the Network Rail village and the attendees were as excited as we are about a new product with excellent practical value as well as environmental benefits.”

Aran van Belkom, Lankhorst Engineered technical director said: “This project is a good fit with our purpose: think limitless, act sustainable for future generations. We appreciate Network Rail’s engagement to set a new industrial standard.”
 
10 August 2024
1236
Update

Today I was looking at how to isolate the storage sidings to accommodate two trains in each road.

So I've had to redesign and modify the roads by placing two isolating track sections in each one instead of one.


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After some experimentation, I was able to store two locomotives in the single single road.

The locomotives are running from Right to Left

One locomotive is held between Point A [which is set against the locomotive. This means the locomotive cannot move freely due to risk of derailment on the point] and Isolating track section 1, which is switched to OFF.

The points are self isolating which means when they are set against the direction of travel they break the electrical circuit, which creates a 'dead area' to store the locomotive.

The other loco is held at Isolating track section 2 which is also switched to OFF

To allow the Locomotive, held at point A, the point is set to allow the Locomotive to move from point A to the Mainline access point and onto the Mainline.

The locomotive at Isolating track section 2 can move forward when Isolating track section 1 is switched to the ON position.

There will be two locomotives moving at the same time on the same circuit.

The locomotive brought on from Isolating track section 2 can be held in the siding by setting the blade position 'against'.

The first locomotive will travel around the circuit and return to the siding and will lose power after passing Isolating track section 2.
 
The points are self isolating which means when they are set against the direction of travel they break the electrical circuit, which creates a 'dead area' to store the locomotive.

To allow the Locomotive, held at point A, the point is set to allow the Locomotive to move from point A to the Mainline access point and onto the Mainline.

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So my next job is to carry out the same work on the remaining roads of the main storage sidings.

Luckily I do have some isolating track sections I can use to complete the task.

The other job I need to do is fit isolating fish plates to the mainline crossover points to prevent a short when using the two mainline power controllers.

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The Class 73s are highly unusual electro-diesel locomotives built between 1962 and 1967, that can operate either from an on-board 600hp diesel engine or from 650/ 750V DC third-rail.

Until the introduction of the Class 88, the 73s were unique in their electro-diesel functionality following the withdrawal of the Class 74.

They produce significantly more power when on third-rail, so rarely leave the Southern regions - however, some are currently used on the Caledonian Sleeper service in Scotland.

Later in life, some were converted to the 73/9 subclass which provided them with the AAR system for multiple working as well as new engines.

Many are still in service to this day, whilst eight have been preserved.

Sadly 73108 was not one of them, having been cut up for scrap in September 2004. :(

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