MODEL A PUSH-PULL BR/LMR TRAIN IN ‘OO’
How can I reproduce a typical 1950s-era steam-hauled push-pull train for the North of England (EX-LMS territory), without resorting to expensive metal kits? Mark Wilmott, Ripon
Colin Boocock says: On the Famous Trains model railway, at Markeaton Park in Derby, our ‘OO’ gauge model of Chinley station represents the 1950s/1960s era, before the station was rationalised by British Rail. Thus, the short bay platform at the east (Up) end of the station is an important feature. We had been working diesel multiple units in and out of the bay to supplement the variety of trains that call or pass through the other platforms on the four main line tracks. Much as we may like DMUS, particularly the old BRCW units, we wanted a steam-hauled push-pull train alternating with a DMU to increase the interest for visitors. At the time (2014), there was a distinct lack of suitable motive power and rolling stock for these local services. A push-pull-fitted Ivatt 2-6-2T or LYR 2-4-2T would have been ideal, along with a two-coach LMS push-pull set of carriages. However, in the Famous Trains shop, I found a group of Dapol plastic kits for LMS suburban non-corridor coaches. I also bagged a bargain-priced, second-hand Bachmann Ivatt 2-6-2T that, conveniently, was fitted with vacuum push-pull equipment on both sides of the smokebox, together with the altered steam pipes that went with it on the real locomotives. The Bachmann 2-6-2T came numbered as 41221 which, in 1959, was allocated to Longsight depot in Manchester – not so far from Chinley to be unreasonable – so there was no need to change its identity. All that was
needed was the addition of a headlamp at the top of the smokebox door to denote a stopping passenger train. A light weathering job was also employed, dirtying it a little with a mix of black and khaki acrylic paint. Freshly motivated, I set about putting together the two Dapol carriage kits. One was a Second Class compartment coach and the other a Second Class brake van. Before putting them together, I painted the compartment wall interiors a light grey to vary the dark red interiors, and did the same for the guard’s van area, which would soon include the driver’s position. The main surgery involved drilling holes in the driving end (the guard’s van end on the kit) where the corners of the three front windows would be, and cutting the window apertures. Clear plastic was cut to shape and glued in place behind the front windows. All four carriage ends needed painting matt black because that was the BR style up to 1965-66, when a few coaches received maroon ends. A potential problem was how to replicate the rather prominent sun visors that the LMS or BR had fitted above the three front windows, when the railway converted these existing suburban carriages for their push-pull role. My fellow trustee Peter Swift heard me discuss this on one of our working days at Famous Trains and quickly came up with a short strip of triangular section plastic rod that was ideal. All I had to do was cut it into three lengths, glue the pieces in place above the end windows, and paint them black. I then applied a semi-matt varnish over the whole of the vehicle sides and ends to secure the lining transfers and even out any differences in sheen. Assembling the rest of the vehicles was a doddle, with the body, chassis and bogies simply clipping together. I assembled the couplings as per the instructions, and here lay the only problem. At Famous Trains, we prefer our passenger carriages close-coupled, with our main lines featuring 5ft radius curves to facilitate this. The Dapol standard hook-and-bar couplings set the coaches too far apart, so the couplings were modified slightly (see panel) and we’re now much happier with the result. Bachmann is currently working on a Midland Johnson 0-4-4T. Until it’s available, you’ll have to make do with either its ‘2MT’ 2-6-2T or its pretty, if light-footed, Lancashire & Yorkshire 2-4-2T. After all, a small number of these Aspinall locomotives did find themselves allocated to Midland Division sheds.