Paul Townsend wrote:I was disappointed by Mostyn.
I watched it twice for about 6 minutes each time.
On both occasions there were derailments that stopped all movements.
Also on both occasions they were running un-fitted freight trains (surprising in BR times) with no brake van.
I was so peeved by these trangressions that I didn't take notice of the signalling which seems a
shame as it got an award.
I've shown this post to Richard Oldfield, as he's unable to post on here, he has asked me to reply with the following:
Dear Paul,
I am sorry that you were disappointed by Mostyn – we try our best to present a reliable railway but, with over 630 items in intensive use throughout the weekend, it is not surprising that we suffer from the occasional gremlin (just like the real thing). We also try to keep operators available to talk to the public and make visitors welcome inside the layout.
If you do not understand the rules relating to the use of brake vans in Mostyn’s 1977 time period then myself (or one of my fellow team members) would have been happy to explain them to you. We carry the relevant Working Manual for Rail Staff (and a whole host of other BR publications) for Mostyn’s 1977 time period with us to exhibitions.
Mostyn’s trains run in fixed formations, apart from those required to call in and shunt at the yard.
The only trains running without a brake van are:-
Up Continuous Welded Rail empties – a fully fitted formation consisting of converted LMS and BR double bolsters = does not need a brake van.
Up Penmaenmawr – Manchester Hope Street stone train – consisting of 16 Dia. 1/185 MSVs (i.e. vacuum-braked iron ore tipplers) = does not need a brake van. Built by garethevans1986 from this forum.
Down Trafford Park – Holyhead Freightliners – consisting of 3 x 5-car FGA/FFA/FFA/FFA/FGA air-braked sets = does not need a brake van.
Down Anglesey Aluminium Empties – consisting of 23 vacuum-braked pipe wagons from Diagrams 1/460 and 1/462 = does not need a brake van.
Down Block Vans – consisting of 14 assorted vans from Diagrams 1/208, 1/213 and 1/224, all of which are vacuum-braked = does not need a brake van.
Up Holyhead – Willesden Freightliners – consisting of 4 x 5-car FGA/FFA/FFA/FFA/FGA air-braked sets = does not need a brake van.
Up Penmaenmawr – St Helens Ballast train – consisting of 3 Walruses, a Shark and 10 Mermaids, all of which are vacuum-braked = does not need a brake van.
All the above rakes correctly carry a tail-lamp on the last vehicle.
Furthermore it is not a surprise that BR was still running unfitted (or partially-fitted) freight trains in 1977. All the trip workings on the North Wales coast at that time were Class 8 or Class 9 for all or part of their journeys – see http://www.2d53.co.uk – and explore the trip diagrams there.
You only have to examine the coal/coke wagon fleet in 1977 (figures derived from Bartlett et al Volume 1). There were still 70000 unfitted wagons compared with 36000 vacuum-braked and 10000 air-braked examples.
I would like to think that the Mostyn team, together with that of Kettlewell, can take some satisfaction from the fact that we provided P4 entertainment to large and appreciative crowds throughout the weekend. Some might see it as odd that the only criticism I have seen (of either layout) comes on this forum. Surely landing three of the available trophies between the two P4 layouts is something to feel good about?
Cheers,
Richard