The 4F's.
Although the same prototype, these models are entirely different.
One is an Airfix, with tender drive, renumbered 44467 and dirtied up, the other is a
white-metal kit with re-wheeled chassis and motor in the loco. This has been numbered
44056 as this was shedded at Mirfeld.
I look forward to comparing the two in intensive operation!
Ivatt Class 2
"Mickey". This started life as a green Hornby version! Now numbered
46498 of Holbeck, this loco did some work on the Penistone line from Huddersfield when Low
Moor or Huddersfield were short of engines.
Dirtied to a lesser extent, as these locos tended to be used on lighter duties.
Hughes 'Crab' 2-6-0. 42721 certainly operated over the Standedge line hauling the Leeds-Manchester trains. It was based in Lancashire in the 1950's and 60's. It is seen here running out of the bay platform and also leaving the tunnel. This is another white-metal bodied loco, with a modified and re-wheeled Hornby 2-6-2 chassis. The valvegear is etched brass, and everything moves. Boy, did that take some constructing and setting up! (See below).
(Left) The Crab chassis
wheeled with the main coupling rods in place and the cylinder etching fitted. The piston
rods, slide bars, cranks and cylinder sides can be seen.
(Right) The completed article after many, many hours of assembly and re-assembly to
get it to work. Even the upper valve rod operates, so it is quite satisfying to see
running!
EE Type 4 - class 40 - with split headcodes leaves the bay platform and into the tunnel with a train of empty coal wagons. This Lima product is D335 and runs very well, having pickups on most of the many wheels.
Brush Type 4
- class 31 - D5531 leaves the station with passenger train. A 'blood and custard' coach is
in view.
This is another Airfix model, and is rather lacking in pickup capability, being the
worst runner in the fleet.
A Halifax single deck bus looks on from the river bridge.
A Prototype
Deltic sometimes makes an appearance; here it leaves the tunnel with a train of
maroon coaches. Tested on many lines in the UK, I have no evidence that it ever came
through Huddersfield, but it certainly strayed 'up north' occasionally. Of course the
prototype was never numbered.
This is a motorised plastic kit with etched brass plates.
A 5-car
Transpennine Set stands in the bay platform before crossing the down line and
heading into the tunnel. These sets were used intensively on the Standedge route, and
started life as 6-car sets with a buffet, but this was later removed.
This is a Trix set. I have added a number of transfers to make it more complete. I had to
make the centre cars (two saloons and a brake) from maroon coaches.
While not strictly prototypical for the Ridings (a 101 would be better), there were many small 2 and 3 car DMU's running all over the area, which this represents.
(Left) The TP hurtles through the station on a non-stopping service, while the local hums gently in the bay platform.
(Right) A worms-eye view of the station throat from the tunnel.
Note that the bridge is temporarily removed in all these shots for more scenic work to take place.
(Right) This shows a 110 DMU. These are available as a 3-car set, but I managed to acquire an extra centre car. No weathering of this unit has yet been undertaken.
This
Bachmann example is a useful addition to the fleet as these were used on various duties,
and I can use it to haul my planned coal trains around.
It arrived weathered, but needs some more work done on it yet.
These Lima models can still be obtained in various liveries, but I only need the green 'whiskered' and yellow-panelled versions for my era.
I ought to prefer the whiskered version, but oddly enough I don't, perhaps because the yellow-panelled one had had some of the errors removed by Lima by the time they had released it.
