Wednesday 22nd May

2 weeks and 3 days to Burton

Work list:
Unpack Stephen's car.
Review issues noted at Littlehampton.

Geoff and Laurence had unloaded their car straight after the show, but Stephen had waited until the regular Wednesday meeting to return his half. There seemed to be a lot of stuff that now had to be found storage places..... The general opinion was that Littlehampton had gone like clockwork and had been a thoroughly enjoyable event. Parking and unloading facilities had been excellent and the layout had generally behaved itself very well.

1) Investigate failure of lights in the workshop machine shop (as it's now known). A meter test showed no power through the switch, which implied it had failed. However, as it was being removed from the rack, some foam glue (used to reinforce the edge of the hill above) was discovered in the switch at one end. A quick scrape and all was well again.

2) Paint the signal light posts and signal backs silver. This one had simply escaped the final work list and was quickly rectified. (Not a cosmetic feature - it highlights the black disk around the light and makes the post and sign diminish when viewed from the opposite direction).

3) Review fiddleyard storage and the need for additional cassettes. Opinions were mixed on this. The fact there were four operators keen to get their stock on the layout meant that space was a bit tight at times. We didn't have anywhere to store stock that had been taken out of wraps apart from the fiddleyard and cassette shelf. However, the consensus was that two more full-length cassettes would probably help. We will have to be more cautious about the amount of stock 'in-play', in future.

4) The trestles had been carefully marked with dimensions so that we could set them out to suit taped floor markings. However, they were uni-directional and required a bit of maths when working from the other end - say no more. The reverse dims need to be added as well.

5) The bell attached to the signal system was always thought to be far too soft, but at the show, it was totally inaudible. An amplifier was agreed upon and Stephen will investigate small kits which he has used in other projects. Something with a volume control would be ideal.

6) Track cleaning. This had been a non-stop activity with different methods being employed - paper/rags (with and without solvents), our 'tool' comprising a plate with fine emery paper and a hinged handle, and Geoff's favourite, a carbon brush from an electric motor. Geoff now used an HO Bachmann track cleaning wagon (a bogie fuel tank) that had a self-weighted pad. We might investigate something suitable for WC in due course.

Once the debrief was over, we ran a few trains. Stephen displayed a set of timber wagons that had not made the final exhibition running list because they had US style disconnect bars. However, Littlehampton had inspired him to modify them to provide another fulls/empties train (the timber loads being removable). They've been approved for Burton.

Saturday 18th May 2019 - Part 2

Some more photos of Worton Court at the Littlehampton show by Chris Holmes:

Saturday 18th May 2019

SWING - South Downs Area Group of the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association
Model Railway Show and 7mm NGA AGM - Littlehampton


Friday 17th

Our exhibition started on Thursday afternoon, as we packed the two cars with everything we needed for the show. Midday on Friday, we made our separate ways to the Premier Inn in East Preston where we met up with Chris Holmes - friend and co-operator from Cottesmore days, before driving to the Littlehampton Academy. At the easily accessible venue we unloaded everything in the cavernous reception area and started to set-up in the space allocated to us. Once the trestles were levelled, the rest of the layout just rolled out and an hour and a quarter later, it was finished. We ran-in a temporary power supply and breathed a huge sigh of relief as everything (bar one set of building lights) came to life. We went back to the hotel for a relaxed and well-deserved meal (and a couple of drinks).

Saturday 18th

After another quick test of all electrical items and a track clean, our first main task was to load stock onto the layout, the storage cassettes and the display stand. The show opened and we ran trains, talked to the public and generally had a wonderful day. A few people remembered the Worton Court/Cottesmore era, but most people had no idea and were generally surprised to hear that the core of the layout was 40 years old. Towards the end of the afternoon, two awards were presented - Best in Show voted by the public went to Bridport Town (0-16.5), but Best in Show voted by the exhibitors went to Worton Court. With Geoff tending to a call of nature, Stephen was pushed forward to accept the trophy.

Laurence Murray, Stephen Brown, Geoff Thorne and guest operator Chris Holmes

We had enquiries to attend 5 more shows and will be considering them carefully in due course. However, our focus has now switched to the 7mm NGA show at Burton-on-Trent on Saturday 18th June - 3 weeks time - but are now more confident of putting on a decent show.

Wednesday 15th May

Littlehampton - 3 days to go!

Worklist:
Fit name board.
Fit new control panel diagram.
Test everything.
Practice shunting movements.
Review figures, vehicles, oil cans etc.

Homework - Stephen (and Christine) had previously made the name board panels from laminated foamboard covered in black vinyl and Geoff had used his 'Silhouette' cutter to produce the lettering. Geoff and Stephen then had a long evening session to bring it all together and it had looked very presentable. The first job today was to offer-up the three panels and check that they fitted ok and that the proposed fixing method worked. The panels all had horizontal pieces on the back that sat on the pipe brackets. Strips of black duct tape were attached to the panels, with Velcro pads engaging on reciprocal pieces on the pipes. Flexible, solid and easy to remove.

Geoff had also produced a paper overlay sheet for the control panel. This was attached with double-sided tape. Essentially a stop-gap solution until we can have a proper panel made, but it really set the panel off nicely.

We then went around testing points, switches, lights, magnets etc. Worryingly, one or two faulty items were found, but fortunately spares and/or solutions were found. A few more items were glued down. The coal lorry had the owners name added (much to Laurence's delight). Geoff had fixed a few more figures he'd been working on over several weeks, which added a good 'feel' to the layout. The layout is set during the inaugural Easter Open Day of the Supporters Group running of the passenger service. A few early visitors are wandering the site and a few more may well appear before our show.  It was all looking good.

For the rest of the session we tried out some of the train movements Geoff had prepared, which showed up some interesting issues, but they were eventually worked out to everyone's satisfaction. We also discovered a problem with the one uncoupling magnet on a slight curve in the platform. We spent a long time checking couplings and adjusting the magnet without finding a specific fault, but finally, an adjustment to the magnet achieved a working solution.

We'll take everything apart tomorrow and pack the cars ready for the drive to Littlehampton on Friday afternoon.

Wednesday 8th May

Littlehampton - 10 days to go!

Worklist:
Practice setting up.
Check for loose wiring.
Fit speaker for signal bell.
Review fascia board 'sample'.
Review and fit the new fiddleyard display unit.
Review coal lorry work.
General titivation.
Running session using the new 'Movement Schedule'.

There was an expectant air about the workshop, it being the penultimate work-session before the show. Following last weeks practice dismantling, it was a practice set-up this week.  Before the boards were bolted together, they were individually clamped upright on the trestles for a final check that all wiring was secure. On the platform board, Stephen fitted and wired the speaker for the bell signal and replaced a dodgy wiring connector, just in case. With the layout complete, Stephen presented his progress on the fascia board, the Scale/gauge panel. Laminated 5mm foamboard with Wilkinson self adhesive black vinyl and printed designs. All were happy for Stephen to continue.

A few minor issues arose during setting up, but they were solved by more labelling. Generally, all went well. Geoff had been busy with the framework for a display case for the fiddleyard and its final fitting took place. The perspex front had not yet arrived, but the frame, with shelves and routed track slots looked superb. A small, round platform had been incorporated to support the ends of cassettes, whilst being rotated.

Geoff had also been busy weathering the coal lorry and making more sacks of coal. The coal yard is fast becoming one of the main features of the layout; a busy and colourful area as would the real thing, on the fictitious line.

All of the lights and electrical features were tested and general titivation was undertaken. In this case, a long overlooked red thread was blackened with a magic marker.

Mid-afternoon, the stock came out and running to Geoff's 'Movement Schedule' took place. Rather than a specific running schedule, Geoff had produced a list of possible movements, allowing the operator and fiddleyard manager to use their own initiative. Chaos or interesting variety? We'll find out next week!

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The Worton Court Companies and associated operations

Cottesmore Light Railway:
Virtually a shell company now after financial collapse after the second world war. 51% of the shares are now held by Worton Court Estates and Worton Court Minerals. It still owns the line between Burley and Langham Halt which has the interchange siding with British Railways, London Midland Region, and Cottesmore West. This route is regularly used by mineral trains and estate trains.  Beyond Cottesmore West the track is still in place through Greetham, Stretton and Clipsham but the traffic to various quarries en-route has recently decreased. The track beyond to Landsdowne Green and Stoke Goldington has been lifted.

Worton Court Minerals Ltd
This provides the majority of traffic through Worton Court to Burley and Langham Halt. The majority shareholder is still the Worton Court Estate. It shares railway engineering and maintenance with the estate, but provides its own rolling stock and staff.

Worton Court Estate Ltd
This operates the Worton Court Estate Railway and provides the minority estate traffic through Worton Court and Burley and Langham Halt. It undertakes all the maintenance of track and infrastructure necessary for the mineral and estate traffic. The main inward traffic is coal and estate supplies, whilst the dwindling outward traffic is agricultural produce.

Worton Court Estate Railway Supporters Group
The supporters group (of volunteers) has come to an agreement with the Worton Court Estate with the hope of eventually operating a passenger service between Burley and Langham Halt, Cottesmore West and Worton Court.  It has long term plans to re-open the section to Greetham, Stretton and Clipsham, now that quarry traffic there has virtually ceased. It has acquired the use of the disused locomotive shed and sidings at Cottesmore West and has moved an extensive collection of rolling stock there, much of which is non-serviceable. It has recently upgraded the track over the short section between Cottesmore West and Worton Court and has just been given permission to operate a passenger service under a Light Railway Order.

The opening for the passenger service is at Easter in 1963, making it one of the pioneer narrow gauge preservation groups to operate a railway in England.  The scene depicted is a trial service day immediately before the official opening.  On this trial day mineral, estate and passenger trains are all running, but the passenger trains are only open to members of the supporters group.