The Tale of the Lost Railway (Part – Nineteen)

The following evening saw crowds gather at the Baskerville Arms.

Archie and Flic were seated at a large table set on a dais at the far corner of the public bar. Also seated at the table were Bertie, Bonzo and Colin Penn.

At precisely 7-00pm Archie rose to his feet to a hearty round of applause from the assembled gathering of some sixty people representing virtually the entire population of Baskerville and its surrounding farms and tiny hamlets.

"Good Evening everyone and thank you for attending. First things first the drinks this evening are all paid for by myself [enthusiastic applause].Now, onto the main reason that I have invited you all here...."

Archie went  on to describe his plans for the railway between Newton Abbot and Okehampton in detail. There were several positive questions from the assembled villagers before he continued.

"There will be trains running between Newton Abbot and Moretonhampstead from as early as the beginning of next month. These trains will be steam hauled initially but we expect the locomotives to be replaced by diesel multiple units over the course of the next few years as is the case across the country. My team and I plan to develop a new station here at Baskerville with a proposed opening date of January 1st 1962.


An artists impression of the new station and yard proposed for Baskerville. The station building is bottom left with the SPAM workshop top right. Immediately in front of the workshop is the new public house

Next , I am fully aware that we are in the most delightful public house in the area [hearty cheers] but I plan to open a second such establishment in the grounds of Baskerville station. To this end I would like to invite our genial host and landlord here, if he is willing, to take on the management of the new public house along with this one with each establishment complementing the other.

I have also asked my very dear friend Lord Pandaford, Bertie to you and I,  sitting to my right here, to allow me to construct a small, but lavishly equipped,  railway engineering workshop adjacent to the station. It is plan to which he has readily agreed. The workshop, which goes by the name SPAM, will allow the creation of several new jobs in the area alongside an engineering apprenticeship scheme in conjunction with Newton Abbot Technical College. [applause].

Bertie's brother Bonzo has agreed to help us by applying his business acumen to the project. He intends to draw up a comprehensive business plan over the next few weeks.

I have agreed with senior managers at British Railways that once the track overhauled to current standards  between  Moretonhampstead and Okehampton they will extend trains from Newton right through to Okehampton. The target date for commencement of such through running, Mondays to Saturdays,  is Easter 1962.

On Sundays the section between Moretonhampstead and Okehampton will be operated  by my Estate team, along with volunteers, as a tourist railway utilising preserved steam locomotives purchased from British Railways and maintained at the workshops here in Baskerville. It is my belief that such a railway will bring many visitors to the area which can only be good news for  local businesses. [more loud applause and cheering].

The only  remaining task is to name the new public house. I invite suggestions, in sealed envelopes. The winner will be decided by a public vote of all the entries and the prize will be a place on the footplate of the first steam train to Okehampton".

There was more applause  followed by the landlord rushing up to Archie and shaking him vigorously by the hand, "Thank you so much Archie, what a wonderful idea. It will be such a boost for the local area and I am delighted to accept your invitation to manage the new pub alongside this one".

Meanwhile Colin Penn, who had been sitting quietly at the top table whilst taking copious notes would have the scoop of his lifetime for the local newspaper and perhaps, with any luck, he could sell his story to a couple of the big national titles.

To be concluded next time.........

Quote from: Bealman on Today at 09:24:39 AMThe place is full of women with coloured shirts with names like Dubbo, Yamba, Newcastle, etc.

Blimey! I knew Australia was famous for some pretty odd girl's names but I hadn't realised things had gone quite that far...

Cheers,

Chris

Not when it comes to a club full of women bowlers, mate

Quote from: Bealman on Today at 09:24:39 AMThere is a major bowling fest at the bowlo this week. State championship of women's bowls! The place is full of women

Thank God I'm going down the south coast to Mollymook until Friday. 

I think you need your bumps felt, Chap

Quote from: Ben A on Today at 09:06:18 AM

Quote@Ben A is it possible to add the Pullman brakes to my existing order, not sure if you have committed your order into the factory yet ?

Craig

I have replied via DM.

cheers

Ben A.

Thanks Ben
Replied and actioned on your DM

Craig

There is a major bowling fest at the bowlo this week. State championship of women's bowls! The place is full of women with coloured shirts with names like Dubbo, Yamba, Newcastle, etc.

Must be bringing money into the town.

Thank God I'm going down the south coast to Mollymook until Friday. 

Quote@Ben A is it possible to add the Pullman brakes to my existing order, not sure if you have committed your order into the factory yet ?

Craig

I have replied via DM.

cheers

Ben A.

I have just come across this thread... 

Yes, the omission of an R-T-R BR Class 4 4-6-0 has indeed created a very big gap in the range of R-T-R N-Gauge steam engines...

80 locomotives were built:-
75000 - 75009 built Swindon 05/51-10/51 (Type 2 tenders) allocated to Western Region
75010 - 75019 built Swindon 11/51-03/52 (Type 2 tenders) allocated to London Midland Region
75020 - 75029 built Swindon 11/53-05/54 (Type 2 tenders) allocated to Western Region
75030 - 75049 built Swindon 07/53-10/54 (Type 2 tenders) allocated to London Midland Region
75050 - 75064 built Swindon 11/56-07/57 (Type 2A tenders) allocated to London Midland Region
75065 - 75079 built Swindon 08/55-01/56 (Type 1B tenders) allocated to Southern Region

Nos.75080 - 75089 destined for the Eastern Region were cancelled.
 
BR Type 2 tenders had a water capacity of 3,500 gallons and carried 6 tons of coal, and water pick-ups could be fitted if needed.
BR Type 2A tenders also had a fall-plate and gangway doors were fitted.
BR Type 1B tenders had a coal capacity of 7 tons; the water capacity was 4,725 gallons and water pick-up apparatus could be fitted if required. On the Southern Region there were no water troughs, hence the need for a higher water capacity. 

During 1957, Swindon experimentally fitted No.75029 with a double blast-pipe and chimney - this modification was a success and improved their steamit was planned to modify the entire class, but this did not happen, though Swindon did modify a small number of the Western Region's allocation. However Brighton Works did modify the entire Southern Region allocation of the Class 4s, but their style of double chimney differed in appearance from the original Swindon pattern.

The Class 4 4-6-0s were primarily designed for the Western Region and intended for work similar to that done by the "Manor" Class 4-6-0s (though British Railways placed the "Manors" in the Class 5 power rating), both classes were intended for working over those lines where a heavier engine would have been prohibited because of its axle-weight, and so were given a "blue" route restriction, indicated by a 4 inch diameter light blue disc painted on the cab-sides.

I've been keeping my fingers crossed for a 21st Century N-Gauge model of this class for so long that some deformity may soon be creeping in..! 

@Ben A is it possible to add the Pullman brakes to my existing order, not sure if you have committed your order into the factory yet ?

Craig

Good to hear you've got your (sinus) rhythm back mate!