Page 17 - May June 2010

CPR coal dock captions
W A Corkill
1 This shot captures the appearance of the real Alyth coal dock at Calgary around 1946. That was the year it was rebuilt, and nobody is quite sure what all the details were like at any given time. Pictures show the coal chute under the main bunker (on the right) attached to the left­hand side, but on the model it was found to be easier to attach it to the right­hand side – modeller’s licence, maybe? – as shown in this view. Beneath it the sand pipe is quite correctly shown as in the prototype. In case it may be asked how sand pipes could reach over and down to suit all shapes and sizes of steam locos, and their boiler­mounted sandboxes, the answer is that they had telescopic sections enabling them to do what may seem impossible. The model has no such luxuries, and simplicity is needed in a structure designed to be lifted off for switch motors etc to be cleaned, as in grain elevator models previously discussed.
Real coal docks have masses of ladders, wires, ropes, chains and so on that would be a nightmare to reproduce accurately. So the idea is to have just enough to create an impression of complications. In this shot, the wires from which the coal chutes are suspended (with cannonball type counterweights) are oversize ones, made from 0.20 mm copper wire. They are strong enough to withstand wear and tear, it being considered better to have oversize wires than badly buckled ones.
To the left of the guy with the red shirt may be seen an open vertical panel containing the guide rails for tubs loaded with coal. No, I was not tempted to include actual tubs slowly rising and falling to amuse the kiddies. But by all means have a go if you feel the urge!
2 shows the main bunker reduced in width by one panel between supports with “X” bracing, to suit the layout. The real thing had four such panels, so we may assume the “400­
ton main bunker” actually holds more like 300 tons than 400 tons. That is modeller’s licence, again. Everything else is a fairly good representation of things as they were around 1946, with the drive mechanism in the engine house at the left, and the sand drying house at the right. Raw sand is unloaded into open bins off the picture to the right. In this shot, the elevated coal car track has been omitted for clarity.
The “cannonball” counterweights are of no standard size but may vary between 2 and 3 mm diameter in HO scale, or be a mixture of the two, as in the CNR Fort Rouge coal dock at one time. Or even replaced by cylindrical tubes like window sash counterweights. Take you pick!
3 shows the coal dock on a typical working day. In the left foreground is a loaded coal hopper car with Crowsnest Region coal on one of the car tracks. Next comes Rid class 2­10­0 No 5787 which is oil fired but still needs sand when pushing heavy cuts of cars over the hump (or would do if there was one). A switcher pushes a loaded hopper car up the elevated track for unloading while a rusty old empty car appears on the left.
F2A class 4­4­4 Jubilee type No 3001 formerly used on The Chinook train between Calgary and Edmonton may be seen poking its nose out from under the main bunker. The real Alyth coal dock dispensed 600 tons of coal each day at one time. The model can’t compete with that, but it is nevertheless a busy place.
4 shows the sand house and sand pipes as well as perhaps half the numbers of ladders and handrails to satisfy modern safety regulations.
5 shows a loaded coal hopper car on the elevated track in the “thawing out shed”.
Modelling with the Masters
We are very pleased to be able to bring you this series of modelling clinics at “The Six Five Special” 2010. This is the first time in BR history that we have tried to do something like this; we hope you enjoy it.
To book, all you need to do is go on­line as soon as you read this in the June RH. Please go to the NMRABR website www.nmrabr. org.uk and select the clinic you wish to take part in. Then download the form and email it to me right away and I will book a place for you on the clinic of your choice, depending on how many places we have left at the time. No matter if you are lucky enough to get a place or not, I will email you back to let you know. If you do not have access to email, please see your local library, who can help you with this! You will stand just the same chance as anyone else, as long as you do it right away.
Tools for each MWTM: you will be asked to bring some tools with you. These are a “must” and you will not be able to take part on the day if you do not have them with you! A list of what tools to bring will be on the booking form when you sign up. With most classes you will be taking home what you have made.
MWTM classes are as follows:
1: Scratchbuilding in styrene. Tom Winlow will present this
“hands­on” session on Friday afternoon, starting at 2:00 pm. You will be guided through the construction of a small HO scale structure as an introduction to scratchbuilding in styrene. All necessary modelling materials (styrene sheet and strip, windows, doors etc) will be provided, but you will need to bring your own basic modelling tools, such as modelling knife, tweezers, steel rule etc. Size of class 10. Friday 2 pm.
2: Craftsman kit. Mike Carter. If you have ever thought about making a craftsman kit but have been put off, now is your chance, with Mike to guide you along the way. This kit is part of a range of HO Craftsman kits by Model Junction. Size of class 10, day of class to be arranged.
Nobby Clarke
3: Digital photo – model railroads. A practical hands­on clinic. Tom will be guiding you on the best way to take pictures of models around the convention, and then you will show them to each other and get advice from our expert. Size of class 15. Sun 10 am for briefing, 12 noon for Tom Watson.
4: Converting N scale locos to DCC operation. Covers both N Kato and Atlas type chassis, suitable for Plug and Play conversion as follows (this class, with Richard Czaja, is in two parts, 4 and 4a).
4a: Decoder programming using JMRI Decoder Pro N and HO (practical demonstration) including setting up etc – Basic function – Speed matching – Lighting effects – Sound effects. Size of class 10. Sunday 10 am. (Both 4 and 4a are the same class.)
5: Weathering box cars, using skills described in Pelle Soeborg’s wonderful range of books. You will need to bring a couple of your own boxcars and, with Pelle’s help and expert advice, he will shows you the steps he uses to weather his boxcar fleet to the high level he achieves. Because of this class’s popularity, and with great thanks to Pelle, it will run twice! Friday 2 pm. Size of class 6. Pelle.
6: Weathering boxcars as above but on Sunday morning! Sun 10 am, size of class 6.
7: Making trees from scratch. This class will be in two parts, lasting one hour each. You get the chance to make trees with a skilled craftsman who supplies model trees to the film and TV industry. Size of class 10. Friday 2 pm and Saturday 11 am. Jacqui of Cynic Model Trees.
This event is kindly sponsored by Model Junction I look forward to hearing from you.
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