Society Railcar Challenge

[Julian Evison]

As I am building a new 009 layout and needed a variety of pieces of rolling stock, the announcement of the railcar challenge seemed like a happy co-incidence.

I have been talking a little about this on the appropriate thread on NGRM-Online, so apologies to some here for duplication. However it seems appropriate given this is a Society Challenge

I started in September, but progress has been slow due in part to problems in getting a suitable power unit. My plan has been to build a 2 car EMU inspired to some extent by the standard gauge LNWR Oerliken units which ran in North London, though mine will be overhead powered rather than third rail. Here is a set when new.



Source: Suburban Electric Railway Association

First step was to mark out the sides in pairs to make sure that I was cutting in the right place:



I have then made the cuts and done some re-arrangement. The truss bars have also been removed and stored for potential re-use. My plan is to join the two halves of the EMU with a corridor connexion and have a driving compartment at each end. The equipment compartment (with something like the distinctive louvres of the Oerliken units) will be in the gap on the right hand side. 



I'll bring this up to date in a few more posts.

Julian

[Julian Evison]

I was looking for some louvres and found some very nice house shutters from Grandt Line on the 7mmNGA stand. I was expecting to use them in an extension of the body, but they are a good fit in the window recesses of the coach sides, so I put them there instead. Unfortunately I did this without thinking and the vehicle ended up too short for the chassis I bought from Hobby Plaza in Japan. I thought I could then use a power unit from one of the Tomytec railcars, but that also got abandoned.

My railcar is a twin unit, permanently coupled and will have a corridor connection between the two. Passenger access is via the rear door of the powered unit and the second door of the unpowered part. Access to the cabs is via the doors at each end.







Julian

[Julian Evison]

I faced a problem with finding a suitable motorising unit. The one I had bought from Japan was too long for the revised body it was meant for. A few other things were tried until I managed to pick up a Bachmann US GE U23 (apparently unused) for

[Julian Evison]

The lull between Christmas and New Year gave a little bit of time for modelling. I more or less finished the bodywork, by adding lights at each end (from a Coopercraft road tanker trailer), grab handles and door handles (both from staples). I tried adding on the "eyebrows" which are a prominent part of the Oerliken units, but have removed them again because they looked wrong. Here is where the bodies are now, just about to be painted.

Firstly, the motor car:



Secondly, the driving trailer:



Both have now been painted in the 1926 'Jazz' livery of the Selborne Light Railway (though it neds a lot of cleaning up):



I hope to finish off tomorrow.

Julian

[Julian Evison]

So, to finish off the thread, here is how it ended.



It was fun making it and I have ended up with a piece of rolling stock which will sit happily on the Selborne Light Railway. It was intended to be a straight electric, but I couldn't find the pantograph, so, for the moment at least it is a diesel electric!

I look forward to seeing the photos of other entries in the News as I know some very nice models have been produced.

Julian

[clayliner]

'Jazz' indeed, Julian, and very '20s. I hope that and the diesel engine won't frighten the horses too much down in rural Hampshire.

Nice work, if I may say so.

David.

[Julian Evison]

David,

Thank you - it has been fun making it.

I have a few carriages in the same colours, probably not appreciated by the regulars at the Selborne Arms the day after a lock-in.

Julian