Trainload Coal Class 31s

Trainload Petroleum No. 31319, one of the new Graham Farish ‘refurbished’ Class 31/1 models released by Bachmann in recent months, is the foundation for our latest weekend modeller project.

Transform the Graham Farish ‘N’ gauge Class 31/1 in a weekend without repainting and at minimal cost.

RECORDS from the 1990s show that it was a time of change for the Trainload Coal Class 31/1s, many of which were transferred to nuclear traffic and coal train pilot duties from Trainload Petroleum after the arrival of Class 60s at Immingham.

After being allocated to Crewe Diesel Depot (CD), the locomotives migrated to Toton (TO) for maintenance purposes, although usually outstationed at various locations including Workington for nuclear traffic.

In 1994, the locomotives were transferred from Trainload Coal to the newly formed ‘Transrail Freight', based at Wigan Springs Branch (SP), with duties including infrastructure and general freight making them an ideal choice for a layout based in the West Midlands or the North West. By 1996 and the acquisition of Transrail Freight by NorthSouth Railways (EWS), the locomotives were allocated to CD and SP depots for infrastructure duties, or were soon out of traffic.

Choosing locomotives

Graham Farish produced two body shells with headlights, useful for modelling 1990s condition Class 31s. While the one with the headlight at the bottom of the cab fronts is perhaps the best one, the mid-height position has its uses, particularly as finished in Trainload Freight colours as No. 31319. It became the base for modelling a pair of Trainload Freight Coal Class 31/1s; a reasonably straightforward re-refinishing project.

Strangely enough, one of the choices was No. 31319, which wore Trainload Coal markings when documented working freight in the north west in the mid-1990s alongside No.

31304. Both had the headlight mounted at mid-height in the driver's side of the cab front and the revised radiator group arrangement portrayed by the model.

Unfortunately, another interesting choice, No. 31201, with its odd yellow cab door and grimy 1997 condition was ruled out, with headlights located at the bottom of the cab fronts.

The applied livery is as close to the colours as the Trainload Coal locomotives as one could wish, saving time and the cost of a full repaint. However, a survey of Trainload Coal Class 31s showed how the position of the coal sector markings differed between locomotives.

Consequently, the re-livery of No. 31319 was not a simple case of covering the printed logos. Furthermore, the chosen transfers from Fox Transfers are a slightly different size, making the project less straightforward.

Nonetheless, a re-livery project up to the weathering stage (if desired) can be completed in a weekend, starting with a long Friday evening modelling session. Beer helps!

Preparation

Gathering the required materials before starting will ensure no time is lost. Transfers for number sets and the coal sector symbols are essential.

Also required are Crewe Diesel Depot plaques with the cat symbol and etched stainless steel double arrows, unless the very end of the locomotive’s life is being modelled when such embellishments were removed, to be replaced with damaged paint and staining.

Having the livery colours to hand is also useful, just in case some patching up of the livery is required alongside the preferred varnish for the final coating.

It will seal in the transfers with a consistent eggshell finish to match others in the collection. With everything to hand, the project should not take long to complete. The project is a minimal one, so after the body shells are separated from the chassis, the models are worked on with glazing in place to save time.

Drying time

Friday evening is spent preparing the models for varnishing early on Saturday morning, especially as enamel varnish was to be used, which would need about 24 hours of drying time, depending on conditions.

Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) is more than a match for the Trainload Petroleum symbols, double arrow and number sets, that were removed gently to keep the paint finish intact (the model which was to remain as No. 31319 retained its numbers). It is a messy job, and care was needed to prevent the released ink from staining the glazing or other parts of the model.

Removal of symbols and numbers also takes off the top finishing coat to leave glossy surfaces which can be used to apply new transfers. Note that the small strip symbols applied adjacent to the cab doors must be removed too.

Fox Transfers provides a white undercoat transfer for all of its Trainload symbols, which is applied first. Carr’s Transfix beds it in after about five minutes and it is usually secure enough to receive the coal sector symbols, also bedded into place with Transfix transfer setting solution.

Next task is to fit the Crewe Diesel Depot cat plaques (the Fox Transfers ones are slightly oversized and will be replaced once scale ones are sought) with a spot of acrylic gloss varnish, alongside etched double arrow plaques on the opposite cab side. They require finishing with a file to remove etched tags before application to the model. While varnish and transfers are drying, the chassis may be detailed if desired.

Bachmann supplies very fine details as add-on parts in the model's box, applied with tiny spots of superglue. If time permits, the chassis may be weathered with frame dirt, oily black and a little brake dust. Mask off the electrical contact first.

Before finishing for the evening, a final check is made to see that all of the transfers are fitted, in the right place for the locomotive concerned, and that the

etched plaques have not shifted slightly while the varnish set. Little more can be done now until the next day.

Saturday session

To give the finishing coat of varnish enough time to dry before Sunday, the bodyshells were treated as early as possible.

With glazing left in place to save time, it was necessary to mask off the windows. The engine room windows were masked with tiny pieces of tape shaped to fit. Cab windows were not covered in the same way. Masking was applied to the black finish around the cab windows and doors. Bachmann is particularly good at this shade of black and it is worth protecting.

Running light contacts on the inside of the body shell alongside the inside surfaces of the glazing are also covered.

The varnish (Phoenix Precision satin varnish) was gently warmed up, stirred thoroughly and applied to the model in thin coats. It matts down the various finishes and the too-shiny finish applied to the roof of the models by Bachmann, creating a more even appearance.

It will also have a slight texture when applied lightly for an eggshell finish, which will accept some weathering applied with dry brushing. The varnish can be immediately followed by a dusting of roof dirt on the area adjacent to the exhaust ports to add some initial weathering; the chosen paint has to be compatible with the varnish.

The body shells were placed to one side to dry for 24 hours, or longer if possible. During this time, the chassis were given further weathering treatments. The ends of the relevant air brake pipe details were painted with tiny dabs of either red, yellow or white, right on the ends. If you have a very steady hand and a good size 000 paint brush, a dab of orange on the multiple working

fittings is also a nice touch.

Final painting work includes finishing the buffers and brake pipes with matt ‘rubber’ black and a spot of dark grey in the buffer centres as grease spots.

Sunday

Leaving the models in a warm, dust-free place until Sunday evening will give finishing coats and weathering time to thoroughly dry. The masking is peeled away from the glazing and electrical contacts, paving the way to reuniting bodies to chassis. Wheels are cleaned of weathering paint and the chassis checked before the bodies are refitted, and the models tested on a layout to see that the running lights function correctly. If not, remove the body shell and adjust the contacts on the chassis.

Finishing off

There may be time to complete some weathering of the body shells with photographs as reference, using acrylic paints for speed. This was not done to the two models featured, other than a gentle spray of roof dirt to the roof area. They are to be run for a while before dry-brushing a little acrylic grime to the lower area of the body shells and roof, using photographs as a guide. Although the project was relatively simple, it resuts in quite a transformation.

Weekend stabling: A coat of egg-shell varnish and some weathering to the roof around the exhaust ports finishes the models nicely. They could be weathered further for a mid-1990s look, but for now, they will have a run on the layout for a few months.

The livery will be largely retained to save money, time and effort in creating two different locomotives that match the modelled bodyshells.

Starting point for modelling a brace of Trainload Coal sector Class 31/1s is one of the new Graham Farish ‘N' gauge ‘refurbished' or late life Class 31/1 models.

Close-up detail of No. 31319, showing the radiator arrangement and a black cab window surround which has clearly been touched up with fresh paint. Note the worn upper flint grey band. This is an ideal match to the Trainload Petroleum version of the Graham Farish model. Recorded on August 28, 1995.

The revised cooling group area, plus a square headlight in the upper driver's side position, determines that Nos. 31304 and 31319 will be suitable candidates for the models.

No. 31304 is a good match for the modelled body shell too. It was photographed on pilot duties at Warrington Yard in December 1992, where coal trains reversed to access the Warrington Bank Quay lower level line via Arpley Junction.

Fitting Crewe Diesel Depot cat depot plaques to the models is an added attraction! Livery materials purchased from Fox Transfers, including coal sector symbols, numbers sets and etched depot plaques, which were found to be a tad too large. Trainload Petroleum logos are removed from both of the base models. The new logos are not the same size and cannot cover the old ones. Furthermore, the position of coal sector logos varied slightly from locomotive to locomotive. Re-finishing one of the models includes removal of the TOPS numbers so its identity can be changed to No. 31304.

One stripped body shell ready for new logos and numbers. Some areas of worn-through paint is either touched back in or covered by the transfers if not required for a worn look. The body shells are completed with etched depot plaques and double arrows. Masking is applied to the glazing and cab window areas ready for varnishing.

Trip workings on the main line, where the models ran smoothly straight from the box. Trainload Coal Class 31s were used on a variety of light duties and infrastructure trains in addition to nuclear traffic after transfer to Transrail Freight.

Some masking is applied to the interior of the body shells to protect the inside surfaces of glazing and running light circuit contacts.

New coal sector logos are applied over the top. The white undercoat transfer prevents paint colours from affecting the appearance of the new logos.

The white undercoat transfer is applied first and is allowed to set after treatment, with transfer setting solution to soften it.