Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway (Big pictures)

steamnut44 · Post by **steamnut44** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 8:23 pm

As the route is to include the interchange station at Waterhouses, would it be possible to extend the Standard Gauge single track towards Leek, which could include the Leekbrook triangle for turning engines.

This would enable two part activities to be made.

(1) Standard Gauge train to Waterhouses.
(2) Narrow Gauge from Waterhouses to Hulme End.

Maybe this could be added in a Version 2 of the Route. (All run in NSR/LMS Period).
Geoff

mccormackpj · Post by **mccormackpj** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 8:26 am

A tortuous link this, but then the interweb is just such a place! The LM&S did have 'standard' gauge transporters for narrow gauge stock, but I am using the term 'standard' in a 'broad' sense. The NCC in Ulster had 6 wheel and I think at least one bogie transporter to carry their 3' stock from the Ballycastle and Ballymena & Larne railways to and from York Road works in Belfast. I look forward to the day when a Bowman Malcolm 2 cylinder compound narrow gauge 2-4-2T runs on MSTS! The first ones were from Beyer Peacock, loco builders of quality, but subsequent examples were built by the NCC themselves.

Patrick

pitleyfalley wrote: Shows how much I know about the L and M, I naturally assumed the smaller wagons would sit on the bigger ones... In that case reverse my other post... i think it would still work....

PeterBrynt · Post by **PeterBrynt** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:42 am

Wow love those pictures

steamnut44 · Post by **steamnut44** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:41 am

PeterBrynt wrote:Wow love those pictures

Don't get all enthusiastic about the Leek & Manifold. I think this route is one of those that was started and abandoned like so many other over enthusiastic projects.

Someone did the Locos and Carriages, but thats about all and even these were never released for anyone else to enjoy. SHAME really, as they were very good models.
Maybe the author could upload the Leek & Manifold stock, it would be much appreciated.

bravedan · Post by **bravedan** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 8:46 am

1. Maybe "the author" gets totally hacked off with being talked about in the third person.

2. By what definition do you consider it was over enthusiastic? Just because it's not in your hands yet?

3. The L&M locos and all transporter wagons and "ride-on" std gauge wagons modelled by Brian Walker and myself (I'm Dave Bran, by the way) are not released as the route to run them on is incomplete, and the route author, Mike Wilson, has not been in a position to complete it.

4. Mike also did the first trawl at the Carriages, which are as far as I know are still "outside only" first draft models, no interior.

5. I bought all available books, made a special trip to site and took loads of pics of the trackbed, surviving buildings, etc. Cost me considerable money and time, not to mention Brian and my time to build the models. Do I not want to see the route completed?

6. People have real lives to live, and sometimes with the best will in the world they don't go according to plan.......sometimes events happen way above MSTS modelling level....maybe even life threatening.......now reread your comments above and see if they are still suitable and reasonable to make..................

Dave

mccormackpj · Post by **mccormackpj** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 9:17 am

The new book on the L&MVLR is now available from: http://www.narrowgaugeandindustrial.com/books.htm. Anyone got their paws on a copy yet?

Patrick

bravedan · Post by **bravedan** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 10:50 am

And at near to Â£50, is not exactly a steal.........................

Dave

steamnut44 · Post by **steamnut44** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:50 pm

bravedan wrote:1. Maybe "the author" gets totally hacked off with being talked about in the third person.

2. By what definition do you consider it was over enthusiastic? Just because it's not in your hands yet?

3. The L&M locos and all transporter wagons and "ride-on" std gauge wagons modelled by Brian Walker and myself (I'm Dave Bran, by the way) are not released as the route to run them on is incomplete, and the route author, Mike Wilson, has not been in a position to complete it.

4. Mike also did the first trawl at the Carriages, which are as far as I know are still "outside only" first draft models, no interior.

5. I bought all available books, made a special trip to site and took loads of pics of the trackbed, surviving buildings, etc. Cost me considerable money and time, not to mention Brian and my time to build the models. Do I not want to see the route completed?

6. People have real lives to live, and sometimes with the best will in the world they don't go according to plan.......sometimes events happen way above MSTS modelling level....maybe even life threatening.......now reread your comments above and see if they are still suitable and reasonable to make..................

Dave

I have a real life to live too, but if I set out to do something, I get on with it and finish it. Nothing has been mentioned about the L&M Route or Stock since July 2004. which is well over twelve months ago.
What do you expect one to say, when everyone has been kept in the dark.
There hasn't even been a mention that the route is still in progress, abandoned or whatever reason for the delay.

I have been building the Illuminations Version for the Blackpool Tramway, because I promised everyone on the Tram Forums, that I would have another go at it. I am also building a 7ft long model Battleship for Radio Control, so I don't exactly have a lot of time for Train Sim either, but I don't leave people wondering what is happening with the Illuminations Vesion I am working on. I keep people informed.

Talking of the Leek & Manifold, I have all the Books ever printed on this Railway, even the 1956 book by Dr Hollick (now out of print) I have even built 7mm models of the Locos & stock, which I had running in my garden, untill I sold them recently. So as an L&M enthusiast, I was dissapointed that nothing seems to have come of this route for M.S.T.S.

There have been many ethusiastic projects started on Train Sim, only to be abandoned, so naturally, with no mention about this route since July 2004, you naturally get the feeling that it was started and never finished.

I apologise if I have upset you, but at least please keep people informed as to what is happening in future, don't leave it until someone such as I, comment on it to someone who was a new member, so even he was unaware what was happening.

Geoff Holt (steamnut44)

sp762 · Post by **sp762** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 7:51 am

I'm sorry.

Apart from anything else, I've been too busy to look at this site from time to time, even with being a moderator. I just have a life, too, as I'm sure we all do.

This was an enthusiastic project that I roped Dave and Brian into, and then stuff happened. I'm still trying to keep mildly active in the community, but I don't have time to devote to everything in my life - and I'm afraid that this project has been on the back burner, and the gas is now firmly off.

Dave and Brian should feel free to upload the stock, and I for my part will see what happened to the carriages.

I'm truly sorry to have put people out. I shan't be posting in this thread any longer, nor in the forums generally. Life's just too short.

sundog · Post by **sundog** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:46 pm

Well, I guess I'm not alone in feeling pretty devastated that this route will probably never now be completed, but disappointed as I am, I wish you, and all the team well, and thanks for at least trying to get this project off the ground in the first place.

I truly hope that maybe at least some, if not all of the stock, will get released at some stage. Having visited the real site a few times in the last month or so, it will be great to at least replicate it a little in the sim.

Thanks, everyone, for all your effort.

Cheers
Ken

Frsimplex1993 · Post by **Frsimplex1993** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 6:24 pm

Couldn't sombody with time complete the project for Mike?

steamnut44 · Post by **steamnut44** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 6:35 pm

I think most NG fans were waiting eagerly for this route, as it was one of those hidden delights that not many people knew about, due to it's early closure. It has, and always will remain my most favorite Narrow Gauge Railway. It was unique in many ways and the scenery it passed through was some of the most delightful in Britain. "It started nowhere and ended nowhere" is a true definition of it's description.

If I could build routes, I would have a go at the L&M myself, but I'm no good with MSTS Route Building.

I must definately get the new book by Bob Gratton, a little pricey, but I'm sure it will be one of the best on the subject. I have every other book ever printed, including the rare 1955 publication by Dr. Hollick.

sundog · Post by **sundog** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 7:38 pm

steamnut - your name wouldn't be Geoff by any chance? If it is, could you PM me please?

Cheers
Ken

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:34 am

Hello Ken, great to see you around still...

Dave Bran / Mike - I could be persuaded to take up in RE where Mike left off although I no totally nowt about the line apart from what I've gleaned from some websites in the last few days. I'm also relatively local, being in the east Midlands so field trips are a definite possibility.

I did think though that as an MSTS route it would have very limited utility / interest: 2 engines, 4 coaches and 8 wagons with a limited service. Would anyone be interested in a 'based-on' work of semi fiction in which the LMS poured money into the line in the mid-20s, the tourist industry flourished and a couple more industries opened on the line (quarries? mines?). That way you would get the line as-was but with more scope to build interesting stock and run more trains.

Please let me know.

Martin

bravedan · Post by **bravedan** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 12:44 pm

Hi Martin,

If we survive the Midland Madness event long enough to remain standing, I suggest we discuss it then. I'll bring my books. (Though please bear in mind I have been requested and have given talks to the Stephenson Locomotive Society on this line, so you'd best limit the time at the outset!!!)

Publicly, let me just say this, I'm not averse to a ficticious L&M (possibly a modern "as if revived and reinstated in period style, but with diesel assist for the winter period"??) , but in fact once you know the line, the beauty of it IS the restricted stock and trackwork in some locations, which gave them all sorts of operational difficulties, equating to the possibility of very very interesting operation. PLENTY of things to do, believe me...................

While the ride-on wagons are not "useable" within MSTS, We have done loaded and unloaded versions of the ride ons (and loaded and unloaded versions of the wagons on them!!!), so careful but quite simple sequential activities would provide a "total traffic picture" situation and some VERY nice scenic and atmospheric operation ..........

I'd already gained permissions and partially reskinned Terry's "Knotty" 2-4-0T and some coaches to suit both pre-group and grouping.

The Std Gauge Branch to Waterhouses is therefore definitely "on", possibly even more "Knotty" lines than that could be done, to show for example how the milk from Ecton got forwarded into London bound trains??? That would add more than enough possibilities for operational diversity within MSTS.

Then the user could rescale Class 66's themselves to use on it if they wanted.

Dave