Chesham Branch set

[roythebus]

I've recently seen a model of the Chesham Branch set on the Mantle's wood thread so decided to check it out. It's a 3D printed model, 00 gauge, made by CDC Models. I decided to order one from his eBay shop, cost £130 plus postage. What a lovely little model it is.

I had to wait a few weeks while another batch was made, it's finshed in a wood-scumble effect, I'm not sure if this painted on or printed, but it looks right I haven't checked the models for dimensional accuracy s they look very small compared to other 4mm-1ft scale models, but then the rel thing is very small! The bogies are fitted with pin-point axles with metal wheels that are very free running. They are fitted with standard tension lock couplers with NEM couple pockets. I fitted mine with Kadees which I use as standard on my layou. I found the no.18s are a good fit but might cause a bit of buffer lock on train set curves. All that's left to do are the coach numbers and fleetname if ever that was carried. I wonder was this set ever painted or was it always unpainted wood?

Anyone interested in making this into an electric unit will need to find a 28mm wheelbase motor bogie.

It was £130 well spent. Quite how they can make it for such a price is a wonder.

[spsmiler]

I think he prints them at home and sells them direct to the customer, so there is no middle-man. This will save on costs.

[metroland]

From discussion with Charlie I'm pretty certain the teak effect is painted on (no idea how). AIUI there were 2 sets at the end exchanged on a Saturday morning. I haven't been able to track down a repaint date but pretty sure both sets were in brown by the end of steam on the branch. A C13 could legitimately work with either teak or brown but the Ivatts only worked with brown sets. I have no numbers on my cars as from photos they seem pretty much unreadable from normal viewing distance.

[metman]

I was planning to do a four car electric set (and already have the 28.5mm motors for it and my 1905 saloon stock set too.

They are a good price which is why I decided to pack up the idea of finishing the late Phil Radley’s plan.

Re the Chesham set they were painted in brown not long before withdrawal but we’re in teak (or faux teak) until the late 1950s.

I know the dreadnoughts were painted in a teak colour early in the LPTB era but I wonder if the Chesham set was looked after better as they were a bit different? Colour photos seem to show real teak right up to the re paint in brown.

[roythebus]

Next question which may have been answered already, which locos took the branch set back to Neasden? A met or BR steam loco, or loco change at Ricky?

When did the 4-car electric sets get withdrawn?

Is it possible to make a 4 car set from the existing cars, or was it 2xDM and 2x trailers?

[tjw]

More on the History of the Chesham (Ashbury) stock here, www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/bash/hist.html

[metroland]

Sept 14, 2023 11:30:14 GMT roythebus said:

Next question which may have been answered already, which locos took the branch set back to Neasden? A met or BR steam loco, or loco change at Ricky?

I don't think it's been answered as it's something that's been puzzling me too.

[metman]

The Chesham set was taken to and from Neasden by Met Electrics to Rickmansworth and then by steam onwards in the same way the other steam stock was operated.

Regarding the Bogie stock in electric days, there were three types of formation:

W stock - MW motors with Bogie stock trailers usually 8 cars
N stock - 2x All bogie stock in 6-4 car formations with driving motor at each end
M stock - 2x All bogie stock in 8 car formations with driving motor at each end.

There were only 8 driving motors and 6 driving trailers. The 6 driving trailers allowed the W stock to work half trains.

The M and N stock worked until WW2 with the Stanmore shuttle being the last bastion of service.

The last W stock train ran in 1942.

[metroland]

Great in brown as well!!!!
rev bay buffers 2 by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

[metman]

Does look good!

[tjw]

Thanks Metman, What carriages made up these sets?

The set in the photo above has
Driving trailer third formerly 7 compartment third.
Composite (6 compartments)
Motor third formerly 5 compartment brake third.

Where there any other types of carriage?

[metman]

That’s more or less it. The when the sets were converted in 1940 there was till a requirement for first class accommodation on the main line until 1941.

The two driving trailers were 7 compartment thirds (one has been converted back at Bluebell Railway) and the two brakes were former British Westinghouse equipped driving motor cars. I don’t know if they retained driving facilities like the driving trailers? I think these cars only had 4 compartments (3 in electric days when the guard used the last passenger compartment!).

[metroland]

I'm trying to fathom out which compartments were No Smoking in the 1950's. Am beginning to think it was different on the 2 sets which doesn't help.

Also there's a sticker in the window of the compartment next to the louvres on the motor third which I can't read. Would this have been Ladies Only?

[metman]

In electric days that compartment was for the guard but as you’re modelling the 1950s I think you’re correct about the ‘ladies only’ tag which was the case on the steam stock and T stock.

I have seen photos of the same coach with different positions of ‘no smoking’ and different types too.

I think the middle two compartments on the old composites were non smoking.

[metroland]

Thanks, I might just have to plump for what I think best represents the no smoking compartments.

[spsmiler]

I've scrolled though all my photos of the Bluebell Railway's 'Chesham Set' on this web page and to my surprise have not seen any 'no smoking' labels on windows.

But the push pull control trailer at the LT museum has window labels on the 'Ladies Only' compartment.



citytransport.info/Vintagea.htm - big page, you will need to scroll down the page

[metman]

I take preservation with a pinch of salt! All sorts tends to happen, having said that the ladies only Compartments were usually next to the driver or guard on the MET stock.

Interestingly, this driving trailer was a Neasden built coach. You can tell that by the way the top beading line follows the curves over the door top. The Cravens and Ashbury cars didn’t have this feature.