British Trams

[tramcar trev]

Overhead is probably not so much of a problem with a pantograph, but what about with a pole which is more standard with British designs?

My perceived problems were not with operation, but with the human interface...
ie Stepping over it for access and of course, the dreaded washing line.

Excatly my problem so I'm actually going to "elevate" mine onto marine ply "shelves" suspended around my perimiter fence from the concrete fence posts or on brackets... a mere detail that iw will sort, but that will eliminate the problems with the hound of the baskervilles that lives with me and my own size 13's tripping over things also make construction easier as it can be set at working height..... als will give me acess underneath things to hide any facy electrical stuff....

 

[tramcar trev]

I used to be in the TLRS as well. In the larger scales they tended to try and build more like the real thing - hardwood frames and plywood panels. Presumably Rob remembers Peter Gavins excellent models, amongst others. In G scale there were a few notable builders, and one, Tony Parkinson, who absolutely excelled at plasticard. Troys balsa & track pin technique, however , was robust and straightforward. As John said, he is very modest, but for me the Blackpool Standard in the second shot is absolutely spot on.

Years ago I met a retired bus driver who had a 12" gauge tramway set up at Beerwah near the Sunshine coast in Qld.... do'nt know what ever happened to his trams they were very nice and big enough to ride in. But at larger scales they are easier to build, yes it's more like making the real thing than a model...

 

[MRail]

I see the similarity of the L.C.C. to the Bexleyheath tram, were they an "E" class or something like?

Actually 132 was the LCC "B" class. The "E" class were a larger bogie car.
Several ended their days as snowbrooms, and 106 was rescued as restored at Crich in early open top condition.
They originally used the conduit power system, but 106 has been given a trolley pole for operational compatibility.

 

[bobg]

I see the similarity of the L.C.C. to the Bexleyheath tram, were they an "E" class or something like?

Actually 132 was the LCC "B" class. The "E" class were a larger bogie car.
Several ended their days as snowbrooms, and 106 was rescued as restored at Crich in early open top condition.
They originally used the conduit power system, but 106 has been given a trolley pole for operational compatibility.

Cheers Rob, "B" class does sound better. This is where my (tram) education is lacking. I do know of course that the Bex trams finished up with the L.C.C. anyway when the whole system was integrated. The Codg. used to spout them off when needed, this with that and that were this etc. but I'm afarid not too much stuck, cos they were gone by then, and I was too young when we moved out from the 'smoke' to remember them much.

 

[bobg]

Excatly my problem so I'm actually going to "elevate" mine onto marine ply "shelves" suspended around my perimiter fence from the concrete fence posts or on brackets... a mere detail that iw will sort, but that will eliminate the problems with the hound of the baskervilles that lives with me and my own size 13's tripping over things also make construction easier as it can be set at working height..... als will give me acess underneath things to hide any facy electrical stuff....

Trev, if you check this thread out you'll see how I've minimised the problem, just as you suggest.

http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=66719&high=Problems+on+the+T.V.B.L .

 

[Dtsteam]

Wow what a great video Rob, I remember seeing most of those models at one time or another. I didn't go to that show but I did exhibit some G scale for Bob Moores annual do at Croxteth Hall.
Everyone goes on about the G scale rubber ruler, but in fact its nothing new - there were 3'6" and 4' (?) gauge trams on that film, and 'Manchester' gauge was a compromise between 3'6" & 4'81/2".
A number of guys built layouts along fences - the one Rob may remember was George Mellors (GEM models) layout at Rhos on Sea. Its a very good idea if you can cope with little or no scenery.
I reckon 45mm is a good gauge for trams - the models aren't too big, there are motor blocks that will do, and the construction is more straightforward.

 

[MRail]

Everyone goes on about the G scale rubber ruler, but in fact its nothing new - there were 3'6" and 4' (?) gauge trams on that film, and 'Manchester' gauge was a compromise between 3'6" & 4'81/2".

A number of guys built layouts along fences - the one Rob may remember was George Mellors (GEM models) layout at Rhos on Sea.

I reckon 45mm is a good gauge for trams - the models aren't too big, there are motor blocks that will do, and the construction is more straightforward.

Yes - we used std gauge, but Bradford Trams were 4'0" and the LCBER tram was 3'6" having been bought from Accrington and regauged from 4'0". A real mismash. I did see Leo Taylor's Luton car (3'6") on his std gauge layout!
There was also Peter Hammond's Brimingham 3'6" "might have been" on the std gauge.
One of our Liverpool guys (Harry Moore) was keen on the 3'6" LCBER, and built an ex Darwen car to strict gague - 2_5/8". We could never run it.
Darwen were originally 4'0" gauge.

Sadly I never saw GEM's line.

In the 80's I entertained thoughts of elevated shelving along the garden fence, but legal eagle Peter Gavin warned that to attach anything to a "party" fence would need agreement from the (hostile) neighbours.

Looking at 45mm motor blocks, a few years ago famous woodworker Richard Blizzard featured in a TV series on Discovery, where he built a London-ish E1 style car on LGB motor blocks. This was largely an exercise in woodwork, and not stricly accurate.
It looked pretty good though.

 

[bobg]

In the 80's I entertained thoughts of elevated shelving along the garden fence, but legal eagle Peter Gavin warned that to attach anything to a "party" fence would need agreement from the (hostile) neighbours.

Not sure that applies when the fence isn't 'joint' owned, but it's still polite to ask if they mind. Fortunately all my fences are my own.

 

[themole]

Morning all, the "00" tram is a kit by Bec, of a "Preston" 3 window car. The Wolverhampton cars are pictured here, in the B/W photos. There is one double deck car at The Black Country Museum, Dudley in the West Midlands. The single deck cream and green cars, are Tividale cars all 3 foot six inch gauge. Alyn

 

[themole]

The Tram Depot, St Peter in Nuremburg, has a IIm layout, with many of the trams based on LGB cars . The depot also houses a large tram and tramway collection. Alyn

 

[themole]

In Hanover, there's a very large group of modellers, and they build some superb German Trams again in IIm. Alyn

 

[themole]

For tramway modelling, two books which I have found very helpful, the third picture is a Birmingham destination box, off a Birmingham tram, which I have had for a few years. Alyn

 

[eye-kay]

Those German layouts are fantastic. They are just incredible. Somehow I don't think SWMBO would let me build one in the spare room.

Ian

 

[nicebutdim]

I've always enjoyed riding the Seaton tramway. Little tight for my 6ft 2 large frame to get into but still very enjoable.

 

[Miamigo259]

Our Ipswich tramcar which spent 50 years as a garden shed (1926-1976) before being rescued for preservation.

A Lisbon truck was obtained in the early 1990's for it and the body has just been fully restored, with most of what you see being built from scratch at great expense, over a 10 year period.

Ipswich ran on 3'6" gauge tracks, but had the narrowest trams in the country due to the narrow streets in the town centre (5' 11" from memory).

 

[MR SPOCK]

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I never remember how to load a link
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[MR SPOCK]

http://www.swehs.co.uk/swehs-trams/index.html < Link To Tramways and Cliff Railways in The South West


[align=center]Interesting link to all sorts including some info on the Dolter system

the pic above is the tunnel inside ST Micheals Mount at Marazion, its an electric tramway used to bring the shopping up to the castle
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[tramcar trev]

In the 80's I entertained thoughts of elevated shelving along the garden fence, but legal eagle Peter Gavin warned that to attach anything to a "party" fence would need agreement from the (hostile) neighbours.

Not sure that applies when the fence isn't 'joint' owned, but it's still polite to ask if they mind. Fortunately all my fences are my own.

Fortunatley in Australia the law is a little more relaxed or maybe tighter... there is a technical 150mm no mans land either side of a fence from it's theoretical centre line so anything actually attached to the fence within that 150 MM can be claimed by either party, I once had a super passionfruit vine that only fruited on my neighbors side but it was me who nurtured it.... As I live in Canberra I don't own anything, it's all on a 99 year lease from the Crown ( cue the republic debate) and the Crown really dosen't care what I do or don't do with the fence as long as it's kept in good repair. Maybe I should apply for benidiction from the Crown? The I could have a tramway "by apointment" ???? Chas and Camilla could cut the opening ribbon and SWMBO could serve scones in our conservatory....
I am taking this seriously..... we have been americanised to the point of neighbours litigating over their dislike of the colour or number or shape of cars one has parked in ones driveway but as we also in the main live in huge bungalow single story houses with Double attached garages the neighbours rarely are a problem as they can't see into my yard from the upstairs windows so won't know what is going on in there.... And the intstant you tell anyone you have something the lower socio economic element think they have more entitlement to it than you so Mums the word....Loose lips sink ships and all that...

 

[eye-kay]

the pic above is the tunnel inside ST Micheals Mount at Marazion, its an electric tramway used to bring the shopping up to the castle

I was there a couple of years ago and was intrigued by the rails on the harbour side which disappeaed into the hill side. Fascinating.

The picture of the Cambourne and Redruth tram reminds me that the C&R had a couple of electric locos which used to haul tin ore to be processed. There was a book called 'Cornwall's Electric Tramcars' by Fisher Barham (published 1972) which gave a good history of the line.

Ian

 

[dunnyrail]

St Michaels Mount Tramway is not a true Tram system as such, see the roller at the Left hand Side. It uses/used? a Cable to haul a Wagon up the grade with supplies.
JonD