November 2012

After a whole summer with no railway, due to my Daughter moving back in with us, I have managed to get the layout down for a while, and ran a few trains to clean the track.Here are a few pictures, including Jubilee class "Drake" which arrived during the summer (a special price from Hattons) and the repainted ex Somerset and Dorset Loco now a BR Jinty. A Wolverhampton Corporation Bus is seen on the bridge near the brewery, and a Ford Anglia 105E is waiting at the level crossing.Layout is staying down until after the weekend just in case I buy anything at the Warley Model Railway Show at the NEC and need to test it, but it will then have to go away so we can have more visitors to stay. I wonder if a bigger house is the answer?

Itching to update the layout

I have the components now to replace the manual points in the sidings with electric ones, so I need to get layout down soon. I just have to wait until after our next lot of visitors. I also need to add more ballast, and clear up the loose ballast that moved last time the layout was folded up.

Putting the layout away.

In order to put the layout away, folded up against the wall, anything tall has to be removed. Anything that is low enough to remain on the layout is now glued on so it can be left there when the layout folds away. The pictures below show the layout ready for folding up against the wall.

Visiting loco

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A friend came to stay last weekend, and as is normal he brought a visiting loco, in this case 46521. It is an analogue loco but can be run on my DCC layout using address zero on the controller.

Here's a link to a short video, which shows I have a few running issues with jerky motion which have yet to be resolved Click here for video

A wall for the brewery yard.

Making a wall for the brewery yard

I have been running a couple of trains recently, the track really needs a clean after it's been folded up for a while as the trains sometimes stall unecpectedly, I think I need a track cleaning truck, but they are very expensive, unless I can design one of my own. Here is the link to the latest video of the trains in action, the GWR is one I have been trying to repair for my Nephew, but I failed so the motor has been removed allowing it to be pushed round by another engine. Click here for the video

2012 - new year new additions

Following Christmas and my birthday on the following day, I found myself with a number on new items to add to the railway. Thanks to all my family for buying these items or providing vouchers so I could select the items myself.

Railway Modeller magazine for December had a model kit attached for a signal box, ideal for use near my new level crossing and my presents included a couple of Amazon vouchers which enabled me to get one or two more additions.

All I need now is time to get the layout down and to start sticking the items in place. Here is a picture of the Christmas and Birthday 2011 collection, clicking on the picture should bring up a larger version:-

and one I forgot when taking picture: