Bondale - Jessdale & Jesham

Stock Requirements

BONDALE - PROGRESS & ADDITIONS

Swiss Chris Railways

Although I started planning this layout in 2007 and started construction in November 2011, circumstances have dictated that the layout has to be completely dismantled with the exception of Bustham (2021). The plan is for it to be rebuilt at a new location in a couple of years time. There will be some modifications to it to overcome the relatively few operational faults I have found

RECENT STOCK ADDITIONS AND PLANNED PURCHASES

ADDITIONS

In recent months I have bought the following items

Hornby Class 370 APT-P

As part of their centenary celebrations, Hornby have brought out a new version of the classic APT-P set with enough carriages to make up the full 14 coach length of the train. I have obtained the 7 coach version.

Rails Of Sheffield BR 18000

1 of a pair ordered for the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1946, this is the first of the Gas Turbine Prototypes. Built in 1949 at the Swiss Locomotive Works (SLM). The locomotive was withdrawn in 1960 and then was used for testing in Europe. It was returned to the UK in the early 1990s and is now stored at Didcot Heritage Centre. The model is a special commission, manufactured by Heljan. Being a Swiss design and having been tested over Swiss rails, It is a double must have for my collection.

Bachmann GB Railfreight 66731 Captain Tom Moore.

After a WW2 veteran who approaching his 100th birthday, decided he was going to raise £30,000 for The NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden. His story enthralled the world and he ended raising £35 Million. As a result he was knighted and made an honorary colonel in his old regiment. GBRf named a loco in his honour. While Hornby issued a model in 2020, I already had some Bachmann 66s and felt that the Hornby version did not match their quality.

Network Rail New Measurement Train.

This set has been on my wish list for some time. Hornby have re-released their version of it. Although the carriages were not available when the power cars were released, I had bought a set from the previous issue. I have also installed Hornby TTS DCC sound decoders in the power cars.

KR Models GT3.

A gas turbine Prototype built by Vulcan Foundries. The original was built in 1961 and was successfully tested, but never brought into manufacture. This model was announced in 2018 and finally arrived March 2021

ON ORDER

Hornby Midland Pullman Blue HST (43055 + 43046)

In 2019 an HST set was refurbished to Pullman standards and is now touring the UK. Already having the Bachmann 6 coach original, in line with Rule 1, I had to have this set as well. I hope the coaches don’t take forever to appear as so often happens these days.

Rapido Trains Titfield Thunderbolt set.

A set is to be released in time for the 70th anniversary of the film of the same name, Having ridden behind the Thunderbolt, in its other guise as Liverpool and Manchester Lion, in real life at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry it is a natural for my collection. The 2 sets I’ve ordered will include all the rolling stock used in the film except for Collett’s 14XX 0-4-2 locomotive 1401. Hornby are also doing a model under the guise of Lion.

Rapido Trains Wisbech & Upwell J50 Set

A tramway ran between the town of Wisbech and the village of Ypwell in Cambridgeshire Rapido traions gave produced a set with the J50 tram engine and 2 carriages rgat were used on the line. The model will tun between Bonton and Bustham on the new Bondale layout to be built when I move in 2023

KR Models Fell (BR 10100)

An unusual prototype in that rather than having a gearbox, it had 4 diesel engines to power it and 2 engines to act as generators. Designed for the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS), it was completed in 1950, remained in use until a fire in 1958 and Scrapped in 1960

KR Models Leader (BR 36001)

A Prototype from the Southern Railways (SR) A steam locomotive that looked like a diesel. The original was built at Brighton in 1947 and originally, 5 were ordered. The design was not a success though and only 1 was ever completed. After trials, the locomotive was cut up in 1951.