SECOND HAND N GAUGE MODELS #2 -- CLASS 42 WARSHIP "HERMES"

Not too long ago I have managed to acquire two non working Minitrix Class 42 'Warships' in N Gauge. Now I know that these are fairly common models and are many years old, but I managed to pick up TWO of them as non runners with a view to try and get at least ONE of them going again. Both were in pretty good condition bearing in mind their age, and even if I could only get one of them going again I would be very happy as I could double head them. Although of course I would have to do something with the numbers and names as both are the same and carry the name HERMES would look odd even on my simple test track unless I could get them changed. The most likely outcome there would be for my to try and seek out another body shell and do a simple replace. I also have found that there are other models in the class available including a maroon one called "Zebra" so will keep my eyes peeled on the auction sites and in the USA sales.  
We know that the class was nicknamed "warship" and almost all carried names of Royal Navy ships. And could be found in model form in a variety of colours similar to their West Country cousins the Western Class. While these are both in BR Blue, if I can pick up a body of a Maroon (Zebra) one or BR Green (Intrepid) that would make a nice pair. If not then I'll just have to find the time and skill to renumber them and rename them two but the original plan was to simply get at least one of them working, and use the other as a dummy and double head them. 

D823 HERMES ON TEST TRACK

When I was first able to get them onto a test track at home was pleased to see that both at least tried to power up, their headlights working both forward and reverse. Took first one apart, all seems to be in good order and wires connected so with body off and some lubrication and cleaning tried again with contact across the pick ups and success. Put the body back on and only lighted tightened it all up again and on it's own was soon underway. Great news I thought and continued to work on the other but already fairly pleased that I had achieved one working model as hoped for. The other so far hasn't come back to running under it's own power but the lights work so there is hope, and does run behind the other so will do for the short term.

D823 Hermes
Entered traffic on 6 July 1960 and was withdrawn on 3 October 1971. Sadly only two locomotives made it into preservation and Hermes along with many of her Class was eventually cut up in May 1972 at Swindon Works.

Two of the class made it to preservation following the mass withdrawal of almost the entire class;

• D821 Greyhound  Entered traffic 25 May 1960 and was withdrawn on 3 December 1972 Preserved and currently operational this locomotive can be found on the Severn Valley Railway and has carried the name Chris Broadhurst in preservation. 
• D832 Onslaught Entered traffic on 8 February 1961 and was also withdrawn in December 1972. Preserved and also operational on the East Lancashire Railway in Bury.

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY -- 8th CAMRA Real Ale & Cider Festival

8th CAMRA Real Ale & Cider Festival & Autumn Diesel Gala
Friday 19th, Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st October 2018

Location:
Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5QY








The Spa Valley Railway runs from Eridge in Sussex to Tunbridge Wells in Kent through one of the most beautiful parts of the country. A return journey takes about 1¼ hours. Eridge is a shared station with national rail trains with most Spa Valley services offering connections to and from services from London, only 30 miles away. Uniquely for a heritage railway for the first mile from Eridge infrastructure is shared with Network Rail with Spa Valley and National Rail trains running side by side.

Not only does a visit to the Spa Valley Railway offer a day out in itself but the railway also serves established tourist attractions at each of its stations – Groombridge (Groombridge Place Gardens & the Enchanted Forest), High Rocks (the ancient rocks) and Tunbridge Wells West (the historic spa town). At Tunbridge Wells West the railway utilises one of the few surviving locomotive sheds still serving its original purpose in the UK together with the railway’s gift shop, buffet and model railway. 

Most trains feature the railway’s award winning buffet and bar car. Dining and Real Ale trains run on selected evenings and a full calendar of special events is offered throughout the year. There is a large free car park available to visitors at High Rocks (below).

One of the biggest beer festivals in Kent & Sussex!

• 160+ Real Ales
• 30+ Ciders
• 25+ Green Hop Beers

Our major Real Ale and Cider event, only made possible through the support of West Kent CAMRA, is back for its 8th year. With 160+ Real Ales, 25+ Green Hop Beers, a craft beer bar featuring UK Keg & European Beers & 30+ Ciders, this is the event you do not want to miss. The main festival takes place in our Victorian Engine Shed at Tunbridge Wells West where you can enjoy a pint or two throughout the day in between train rides if you wish, we're operating a 50 minute interval train service and with the festival continuing on the trains and at Groombridge and Eridge Stations too the whole railway comes life with some wonderful local brews.

We've also combined this event for the 8th year with our annual Autumn Diesel Gala which for 2018 features five historic 1960's built Heritage Diesel Locomotives, all hauling 1960's built carriages.

1960's Heritage Diesel Locomotives:
• Class 25 D7612
• Class 31 31430 'Sister Dora'
• Class 33 33063 'R.J.Mitchell' (Above)
• Class 33/2 33201
• Class 73/0 73140

Tunbridge Wells West
• The main festival location, inside the engine shed with most of the Real Ale, Belgian/KeyKeg Beers & Cider.
• Trains to High Rocks, Groombridge & Eridge.
• Fullers Butcher BBQ.
• Thai Food Stand.
• Live Entertainment throughout the event at selected times - details to be published shortly.
• Ticket office, toilets and main departure point of train services.
• Station shop stocking a large variety of railway and children's products.
• Train travel from 17:30 is just £10, £5 for CAMRA and Spa Valley members on production of a valid membership card.

High Rocks
• Access to the famous High Rocks or Tea Garden Lane which can provide great photographic opportunities.
• High Rocks Inn and Garden.
• A great place to watch the trains from the Inns garden.
• Please note that evening & shuttle trains will not serve High Rocks.

Groombridge
• Trains crossing over all three days.
• Real ale & cider available on the station platform in our marquee!
• Thai Food Stand!

Eridge
• Mainline connections with Southern services to Central London, East Croydon, Oxted (change for East Grinstead) and Uckfield.
• Real ale and cider on sale in our Waiting Room.
• Locomotives can be viewed in the bay platform between trains if timetabled to remain at the station.
• South African Hot and Cold food.

HMRC EXHIBITING GRINDLEY BROOK AT WIGAN EXHIBITION 6-7 OCTOBER

Wigan Railway Modellers host their 51st Annual exhibition over the weekend of 6th and 7th October which is sure to be popular around the north west. 

The Venue for the Wigan Exhibition is:
(opposite the DW Stadium)
Robin Park Leisure Centre
Loire Drive
Wigan
WN5 0UL

They will be running a FREE VINTAGE BUS SERVICE on both days of the exhibition. From the bus stop outside the Wigan North Western Station (WCML) Please feel free to have a ride on the vintage bus if you wish. The service departs from Wigan North Western Railway Station to Robin Park from 09.35. The last bus will run 15 minutes before the exhibition closing times on both days.

 This is a chance to see the work of the Hillingdon Railway Modellers who will be in attendance displaying their O Gauge layout Grindley Brook. This has been built as an add on exhibition standard layout to their existing impressive test track. This layout was shown off at Warely last year and already has a few bookings for 2019. This was the last club that my late father was involved with, and while that might have been a few years ago now, I am still a big supporter of these wonderful people and their outstanding work. Go and catch this exhibition if you can it does look like a great few days out in the North West. 

6/7 October

Grindley Brook to Wigan Finescale Railway Modellers exhibition.

List of Layouts Attending :

O Gauge Layouts         
ASTON - 32mm - O-GWR-1923/47 - MIDDLESBROUGH MRC
STAINDROP- 32mm - O-LNER -1923/47 -CHRIS ROBERTSON
HOSPITAL GATES -32mm-O- INDEPENDENT -1945/47 - EAST RIDING FSG
NEWCHAPEL JUNCTION -  32mm- O-SR/GWR-1923/47 - STEVE WILKINS 
GRINDLEY BROOK- 32mm - O -BR 1957-1957/68 - HILLINGDON RMS
KLINKERHOFEN - 32mm - O - DB - 1969 - NORMAN RAVEN

​P4 & EM Layouts         
LEYSDOWN- 18.83mm-P4 - SOUTHERN 31923/47 - ADRIAN COLENUTT
KETTLEWELL - 18.83mm - P4- MIDLAND RLY-1875/1922 -WEST SOCTLAND 4mm GROUP
EASINGWOLD EAST -18.2mm-EM- NE/BR -1950 - RAINHILL MRC  
GREYSCROFT MINE  - 18.2mm - EM - BR - 1955 - PAUL GALLON 
HEBBLE VALE GOODS - 18.2mm - EM - BR [exGNR]- 1970- KARL CROWTHER 
HARKNESS - 18.2mm - EM - LNER - 1947/57 - TONY BUCKNELL

​OO Layouts 
BILLINGHAM (above) -  16.5mm- OO - BR  [exNE] - 1948/66 - MIDDLESBROUGH MRC
CRINAN - 16.5mm - OO - BR [Sc]- 1970 - RHLY & DMRC
SCORBITON - 16.5mm- OO - BR - 1982 - KENDAL MRC
STRATHMUIR - 16.5mm - OO -  BR [Sc]  - 1982 - WIGAN FRM - SIMON FENTON & CHRIS HEWITT
WESTMOOR JUNCTION - 16.5mm- OO - BR -1967/71 - SIMON CULLEN

​HO Layouts 
MALOJA - 16.5mm - HOm 9 -SWISS - 2006 - GLYN JONES 

​TT Layouts  
SOUTH BOHEMIA -  6.5mmTT e11x2.6 - JHMD [CZECH]N/A2010 - BLAIR HOBSON
​
N Gauge Layouts 
BUNGALOW - 9mm -N-BR -[W]1967/73 - BOB & GARETH ROWLANDS
DUNKOW ROAD 9mm - N - ANDY SMALL
DEANSMOOR- 9mm - N8 -WCML-1985/17 -JON DEAN 
LLWYN GRUG- 9mm - N-BR - [ex GWR]-1948/56LES - NEHRLICH
INVERCALLEY - 9mm-N - BR [Sc]-1960 - DAVID HARRISON
TITHERIDGE JUNCTION - 9mm-N-BR [W]- 1963/72 - BRADFORD MRC 
SOUTH WALTON NSWGR - 9mm-N-NEW SOUTH WALES -1980's - SIMON CHALLIS

2mm FINE SCALE 
ST RUTH - 9.42mm - 2SF- BR- 1965 PENZANCE - Midland Group of 2mm Ass

​OO9  Narrow Gauge Layouts 
GARREG WEN - 12mm - OO9- SNOWDONIA- 1900 - MATTHEW KEAN 
TAN-Y-ALLT/DWFFYR UCHAF - 12mm- OO9 - WELSH NG - 2000 - STAN WILLIAMS
KINWARDINE WHARF - NORTH WALES TRAMWAY - 12mm - OO9 -  1920 - C. INSLEY

Nearest Railway Stations:
Wigan Wallgate [0.88 miles] 
Wigan North Western [0.94 miles] 
Pemberton [1.2 miles]
Ince (Manchester) [1.77 miles] 

MAP:

To the Robin Park Leisure Centre (WN5 0UL)