Me and 009

[Ken Davidge]

Good Morning Everyone,
         I started railway modelling in 1956/57 with a HD Bristol Castle and I still have it and it runs well. However from the 00 beginings, In 1972 I tried the relatively new 009. I soon got fed up with the stalling on dead frog points and sold everything. As time rolled by I eventually graduated to 0 gauge, the 16mm live steam and 0-16.5.
         2 years ago I was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. First the 0 gauge went (the railway room was wanted for a new bedroom downstairs for me). Then the 16mm was sold off as I didn't have the stamina to work with it. The 00 is off to auction soon and will be accompanied by the 0-16.5. Faced with the daunting prospect of no model railway I enquired about 009. My good friend told me therewas no comparison with the older kit and I bought a Bachmann Baldwin and a Peco Track Starter set. Running characteristics are fabulous. I have bought 2 Kato 11-109 and one is now a railbus and the other a diesel shunter.
         I have now bought an unfinshed layout approx 4 x 2. Sanity has returned and I am scratch building and collecting buildings and the Lizard Peninsula Tramway will soon be up and running. Have added some photos of bits and bobs.

[JulienW]

I think that's the first time I've seen the (often mutually exclusive) terms "sanity" and "009" used in the same post on this forum...

Keep up the good work Ken.

[MickT]

Welcome to the "sane" end of the model railway hobby Ken!! (That's our opinion anyway). I hope you find like-minded fellowship and enjoyment in your venture into 009. It's great fun and we all get on well with each other (most of the time)!

Mick

[JulienW]

Welcome to the "sane" end of the model railway hobby Ken!! (That's our opinion anyway).

Speak for yourself Mick - considering the amount of time I've been spending faffing about with 0.3mm wire 'air pipes' I'm beginning to doubt my sanity (assuming I had much if any to start!). :laugh:

[Julian Evison]

Welcome Ken and I hope you enjoy your return to 009. As you have discovered, much has changed since the 1970s and, from the photos, it already looks like you are making the best of it. Please keep posting progress and maybe you would like to write an article on your experience of returning to this branch of the hobby for 009 News.

Julian

[Ken Davidge]

Hi Everyone,
        Today should see the local model shop open so a few yards of track should see some progress on the Lizard Peninsula Railway (LPR). Hopefully can get some running before the Grandson comes to visit. Work on buildings continues and 2 parts of the Cider factory  are now ready for weathering. The diesel shunter has couplings and most of the weathering is done. The terrace of fisherman's cottages is being built. The third class coach is waiting the arrival of decals. I have purchased an open wagon and built it. It has turned out as a rough old wagon now simply used for coal transport. We were having some building work done which meant I had to prune the grapevine. The older wood has a great bark so a good collection of logs have been collected for the sawmill in the boat yard. 3 photos attached.

[MickT]

Coming along nicely Ken. Don't forget to fit Ann's Pasty Shop at the Lizard in somewhere, even if just a private owner van ready to take a batch of them out to the less-informed parts of the world to sample!

Mick

[Ken Davidge]

A mammoth decal adding. 3 locos and 6 wagons have been done this afternoon. Tomorrow all will receive a coat of matte protection and then some use of weathering powders. Couldn't miss the oportunity of posing a couple of trains. In the photo No 3, the diesel shunter, waits to cross. No 3 is rescueing No 2 the steam railcar that has a broken widget valve. Crossing sees No 2, Freda, heading the afternoon goods consisting of 3 wagons of serpentine rock destination the standard gauge interchange. 2 empty fish wagons on rout to Halsferran Cove Fish Factory to collect smoked fish. Obviously a busy as a passenger luggage/brake van has been snafeled by the Ops department for a goods train.

[Ken Davidge]

With the layout moved into my Sun Room I have, at last, I got around to making the cuts in the baseboard for the slipway to the boat yard. Half of the cut out piece was glued back in upside down and the slipway floor has a thin layer of plaster. Next will be the walls and setts which will be painted and glued in.

[Ken Davidge]

Things have gone a bit better today later this afternoon. Most of the track is now laid and test running was almost successful. Freda just fouled the raised footpath outside the cottage row. Otherwise all went well and a couple of buildings have been fixed in place.