Today On Ruritanian Railways

Dtsteam


So was this unfortunate slippage caused by a revenge attack of cheap french mustard, or a mongoose bearing curry sauce ? We have to know....

I blame the French.  Mind you, that's more of a generic reaction. 
 
It could be the "revenge of 3Valve".... after the last Open Day when his 2091 diesel had some issues with haulage power.   Not having any, for example...   

Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Today has been a red-letter day in Ruritania as Prince Rudolf's eldest daughter has returned from her finishing school in Switzerland.  Ruritanian Railways felt it prudent to acquire a dedicated baggage van for the VIP train to accommodate Princess Katarina's acquisitions:
 

 
Ruritania is profoundly grateful to Mr RH Prague for brokering the sale of this vehicle.  Now fitted with metal wheels, it forms a valuable addition to the nation's premier train, the whole of which was captured on film "somewhere in Ruritania".
 
 

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Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Ooooohhhh, now that does make a beautiful train .

Mel, CMO and chief sausage knotter, the Wetton Gooey Light Railway.
The advantages of simplifying origami are two-fold


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wetton-Gooey-Light-Railway/246392918762922

Very Nice you lucky chap

Steve

When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car. 
 
4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul.


Head of Utensil Organisation, Matinence, and Distribution
http://www.youtube.com/user/stationjade?feature=mhum

Nice wagon, nice train.
Neat. - Me likes.

Alan.

The Oxney Island Line in the heart of Kent.

http://www.pendleburymodels.com/

Now here's an idea. I'm not sure what the flag of Ruritania looks like, but a big posh headboard with crossed flags would set the front of that royal train off rather nicely?

Mel, CMO and chief sausage knotter, the Wetton Gooey Light Railway.
The advantages of simplifying origami are two-fold


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wetton-Gooey-Light-Railway/246392918762922

yb281


Now here's an idea. I'm not sure what the flag of Ruritania looks like, but a big posh headboard with crossed flags would set the front of that royal train off rather nicely?

 
Our flag is nice and simple:
 

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Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Lovely lovely. But i must say how does something that beautifully made come with plastic wheels? Know what I mean. (sorry don't mean to open a can of worms- just an idle thought)

Mmmm I like the sound of the haulage challenge. I might bring my ballasted WP&Y alco to the open day - I think it might set the Ruritainia haulage climb record

CoggesRailway


Lovely lovely. But i must say how does something that beautifully made come with plastic wheels? Know what I mean. (sorry don't mean to open a can of worms- just an idle thought)

 
You may well ask, but probably best not to set me off on a rant.... 
 

Mmmm I like the sound of the haulage challenge. I might bring my ballasted WP&Y alco to the open day - I think it might set the Ruritainia haulage climb record

Brave words my friend.  Pootank Pass is the supreme test of loco power.   If you think yours is hard enough..... 

Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

lol!!

A quiet early evening scene at Zenda station.  The railcar stands in the middle road awaiting its last run to the border later tonight while a train of hoppers - hauled rather unusually by one of the ex-Austrian diesels - departs to find another load of Ruritania's famous invisible ballast.
 

 

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Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Ruritainia has an invisible ballast quarry!? They should start exporting it. I think the board of the Cogges Railway may well become a customer. It would look much better than cotswold stone does after my 1 year old has spinkled it into the lawn....

I brought a couple of bags back from my last visit.
It was spread on some of my unballasted track, and seems to have stayed in place well.
If there is room in my car, I'll ask for some more at the next open day.

Moderation in all things - including moderation.
 
The Great Westcott Rail Road YouTube channel
Building the GWRR

Westcott


I brought a couple of bags back from my last visit.
It was spread on some of my unballasted track, and seems to have stayed in place well.
If there is room in my car, I'll ask for some more at the next open day.

With pleasure Hamish.  I must let you have a sample of our bottled air too.  The invisible exports drive is going well! 

Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

whatlep

Westcott


I brought a couple of bags back from my last visit.
It was spread on some of my unballasted track, and seems to have stayed in place well.
If there is room in my car, I'll ask for some more at the next open day.

With pleasure Hamish.  I must let you have a sample of our bottled air too.  The invisible exports drive is going well! 

In my experience, the Ruritanian cake is much more palatable . Their cake mines are renown the world over .

Mel, CMO and chief sausage knotter, the Wetton Gooey Light Railway.
The advantages of simplifying origami are two-fold


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wetton-Gooey-Light-Railway/246392918762922

But I'm hoping the cakes are of the visibile variety

CoggesRailway


But I'm hoping the cakes are of the visibile variety

They tend not to stay visible for long on open days .

Mel, CMO and chief sausage knotter, the Wetton Gooey Light Railway.
The advantages of simplifying origami are two-fold


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wetton-Gooey-Light-Railway/246392918762922

yb281
In my experience, the Ruritanian cake is much more palatable . Their cake mines are renown the world over 

Would that be the world famous Ruritanian Rock Cakes
http://www.ruritania.net/

Regards, Nigel.

yb281

CoggesRailway


But I'm hoping the cakes are of the visibile variety

They tend not to stay visible for long on open days .

Is that why you're never sure how many you've had?

Charles Dickens once wrote; "It is a far, far better thing" then spoilt it by continuing!

Amidst all this talk of special trains and restaurant facilities, it's easy to overlook the solid service Ruritanian Railways offer to freight customers.   We spotted this train of vans near the border today, full of exports:
 

 
Tail traffic also features on passenger workings, such as this one caught by our aviator friend Baron von Richtupem:
 

 
A close up suggests that the Customs officials are advancing with purpose.  Hopefully, departure will not be too much delayed as the railbus must follow on too:
 

 
Ruritania - land of enchantment (and Mallets)!

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Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

It's Sunday and the track gang have had fun as usual.  Their train is now stabled and Mallet 104 is cooling off as a local passenger service heads out of Zenda.
 

 
As is common on a Sunday, the local services are handled by a 2-car railbus.  Less luxurious than the usual service, but it keeps things going.  The railbus draws up to Pootank Halt, where at least two walkers are waiting.
 

 

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Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Nice pics , is the rail bus chipped ?

Steve

When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car. 
 
4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul.


Head of Utensil Organisation, Matinence, and Distribution
http://www.youtube.com/user/stationjade?feature=mhum

I like them railbuses, neat

Steve


Nice pics , is the rail bus chipped ?

Yep - Massoth XL, my customary decoder.  It just fits in the toilet compartment.  A little trickier than some conversions, but no real difficulty.

Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Back to normal weekday working.  Passenger trains pass at the border station.   In the background, the hopper train will have to wait for the up passenger working to get clear of Pootank, before taking its turn to climb the pass.
 

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Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Today has been a "back to basics" day.  Take a pair of 1998-vintage starter set Stainzes and a few basic vehicles.  Add a cup of coffee and a railway magazine of your choice and you have a fine afternoon in Ruritania, no matter how grey the sky may seem.
 

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Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Couldn't agree more, some days less is more isn't it?

Also it will be good for the Ruritanian Railways to have a few easy days before the tomato harvest??????????

Mel, CMO and chief sausage knotter, the Wetton Gooey Light Railway.
The advantages of simplifying origami are two-fold


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wetton-Gooey-Light-Railway/246392918762922

yb281


Couldn't agree more, some days less is more isn't it?

Also it will be good for the Ruritanian Railways to have a few easy days before the tomato harvest??????????

Ho, ho: very funny.    Look - I only stopped listening to the General Manager for a split second or thereabouts.   Certainly not more than a minute or two.  How was I to know the fifteenth set of instructions would be important? 

Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Yeah! Come on, even God only managed ten, tell her that (but don't say I told you to...please )

If the world is round how come I always fall flat on my face?

Our peripatic photograher Erich von Traesi captured a rare working today on camera today:
 

 
A short train of oil tanks has arrived at the oil terminal, complete with barrier wagons, one of which has an "outhouse" guard's facility. 
 

 
The terminal can only handle two tank wagons at a time, so the third will have to be left nearby for shunting by one of the local trip workings.
 

 
Erich used his trusty Vespa to capture the end result of some shunting at the border station with the last tank wagon and one barrier wagon parked beyond the goods shed.
 

 
Finally, the locomotive and guard's wagon left to return to Zenda, our nation's beautiful second city (top class hotels - many with both hot and cold water; 5 asterisk restaurants serving only the finest black pudding and pork scratchings; direct air services to all major airports of Montenegro and Moldavia; twinned with Walsall).

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Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

LOL.
 
Better get those open wagons back to Zenda in time for the tomato harvest .

Mel, CMO and chief sausage knotter, the Wetton Gooey Light Railway.
The advantages of simplifying origami are two-fold


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wetton-Gooey-Light-Railway/246392918762922

Yesterday was "minimum Monday".  A day for just watching a minimum length train run through the landscape.....
 

 

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Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Bet you've been wondering what happened to the oil tanks (post #110), haven't you? 
 
No? Well, too bad, because Erich's friend Osnock was up early today and from atop the oil depot he caught a trip working arriving to to some shunting:

 
First, shunt the arriving train onto the two tanks in the terminal and bring them out onto the goods loop.

 
Now use the passenger loop to run round the two open wagons and propel them to attach to the remaining oil tanker and barrier wagon which have been occupying valuable space at the customs shed since last Thursday.  Then pull the whole lot past the tanks from the oil depot...

 
...so the barrier wagon and oil tank are neatly placed near the oil terminal.  Now the open wagons can be uncoupled and propelled past the other vehicles...

 
...and placed as desired at the customs shed, ready to be filled with fresh tomato plant growing medium, a much needed commodity in our nation's capital.

 
Now simply push the solo tank wagon into the terminal, draw back into the goods loop and run round the train, ready to depart as soon as the railbus has left the single track section from Pootank Halt.   Simples!

 
As we say in Ruritanian - the day is brighter after a little shunt.
 

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Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Top shunting .

Mel, CMO and chief sausage knotter, the Wetton Gooey Light Railway.
The advantages of simplifying origami are two-fold


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wetton-Gooey-Light-Railway/246392918762922

The citizens of Ruritania voted recently to acquire a fifth and final vehicle for the Royal Train.  This vehicle will be strictly reserved for members of the House of Rassendell and their personal guests.  The remaining vehicles will continue to be available for other VIPs and - if unavoidable - politicians.
 
The complete train at the border station and a close-up of the new vehicle in its customary place behind the locomotives, enabling Prince Rudolf to drive, should it please his mood.
 

 

 
 

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Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

Luverly .

Mel, CMO and chief sausage knotter, the Wetton Gooey Light Railway.
The advantages of simplifying origami are two-fold


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wetton-Gooey-Light-Railway/246392918762922

Very nice... I am sure if the Royal Family need more space in the future a triple header would do the trick on the Pootank!

CoggesRailway


Very nice... I am sure if the Royal Family need more space in the future a triple header would do the trick on the Pootank!

  
 
Mind you, I did check that more weight could be tagged on the previous train before bidding on EBay.  I just couldn't have faced Gareth if the extended train had come to a grinding halt on Pootank Pass!

Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)

whatlep

 The citizens of Ruritania voted recently to acquire a fifth and final vehicle for the Royal Train.  

 
Errrrr. this vote. It was properly observed I hope? 


Any evidence of ballot rigging could result in sanctions, and you know what that means? Real Gooey's forthcoming football tour could be in jepordy .

Mel, CMO and chief sausage knotter, the Wetton Gooey Light Railway.
The advantages of simplifying origami are two-fold


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wetton-Gooey-Light-Railway/246392918762922

yb281

whatlep

The citizens of Ruritania voted recently to acquire a fifth and final vehicle for the Royal Train.  

Errrrr. this vote. It was properly observed I hope? 


Any evidence of ballot rigging could result in sanctions, and you know what that means? Real Gooey's forthcoming football tour could be in jepordy .

Promises, promises....
 
Prince Rudolf observed the vote personally and checked that every voter had made the correct decision.   What could be fairer? 

Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)