Steve Johnson Modelmaker
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BR Locomotives
6 PUL, 6 COR, 6 CIT, 6 PAN, 6 TC Class 404 4 COR, 4 RES, 4 BUF, 4 GRI, 4 PUL Class 415 4 EPB, 4 COM
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Class 501 The 57 Class 501 3 car dc multiple units were built at Eastleigh in 1955 on short frames for use on the LNWR/LMS suburban electric services out of Euston and Broad Street serving Watford, Richmond and the Croxley Green branch. As London Transport shared peak hour services on the Watford line and Richmond, they were built to use the 3rd and 4th rail system. The Class 501's were closely based on the Southern Regions EPB stock. In 1970, the units were converted to just 3rd rail operation. The final units were withdrawn in 1985. One feature of these units were the three window bars fitted to all carriages due to limited clearance along parts of the route, giving the units the nickname of 'Jail Trains'! Always on my 'to do' list, I missed out on buying a DC Kits version at the time. That will teach me! So, how to go about it. One way would be to use the Bachmann 2EPB unit as a basis, although these are on long frames and would need shortening. Another way is to use various Replica Railways components and this is how I chose to do it.
Replica Suburban Brake and MLV Cab Replica Railways sell the cab ends of their MLV body, so two of these were purchased. Their Mk.I Suburban carriages are almost correct for the rest of the body, allowing for the 'classic cut'n'shut' method of modelling. Starting with the Driving Motor Brakes, the MLV cab has to be trimmed back a bit from what is supplied. I found the best place to cut was just behind the door. The Brake Suburban carriage had a similar cut inbetween the Guards Compartment doors. This means that the join between the two sections is disguised in the door joint. It also leaves the body at the correct 57ft. length. There is one window left between the new Guards Compartment and passenger section. This just needs to be filled in, Milliput being my filler of choice. The passenger side Guards doors also need extending as it is only the cab end Guards doors that open inwards and therefore shorter. The centre carriage is one of the Full Seconds, but as these are 64ft. long, they need one passenger compartment removed. Again, the cuts are made along the door lines as this helps disguise the joint. The Driving Motors are mounted on the Replica Railways BG chassis, which are the correct length, although a minor bit of fettling is needed. I had a spare 57ft. Replica motorised chassis that I had decided not to use on my Wickham Class 109 dmu, so thought I would use it in the centre car of the Class 501, where the intrusion of the motor gubbins would not be far less noticeable.
DC Kits used make a kit of this class. Hornby Dublo also made a model of this class, but marketed it as a 2EPB! |