Running trains again

Lots of visitors during the summer keep the model folded up against the wall, but a visit from a train enthusiast gave me the chance to get the model down for a demonstration. It ran surprisingly well considering the break from the last run. I've also purchased a few more trucks during the summer, second hand ones found at Tavistock Market and West Somerset railway, so I can now make longer goods trains. Hopefully during the winter I will have more time to add more bits and pieces to the model and fix trees etc into place so they don't have to be removed when it folds up. Also the trucks need proper loads to be put inside. I may also try some weathering as some of them look very new. The video is just a few short clips of the trains in motion.

(Oh, and I suppose I'd better ballast a bit more track.)

Model Rail Operations (without cat)

I need to work out a way of keeping the camera steadier, but this gives you some idea of what the layout looks like now.

Model Rail Operations (with cat)

Some model rail operations, with slight interference from Morgan the cat.

The Stations get their nameboards

The terminal Station in the middle of the Board gets a nameplate and Platform No.s made from a Scalescenes names kit pasted onto a bit of card and supported on Matchsticks. It looks ok to me. A few seats, lights and passengers have been attached so they can be left in situ when I fold the board up against the wall. (I have yet to test this - they may all fall off!) The lights will be functional when I get round to wiring them under the baseboard to a 12v supply.



The second Station, which has three platforms and is on the main line is Knittingham, more labels have yet to be made for this Station. The buildings are Scalescenes kits and the platforms are made from a Metcalf Kit. I need to stick them down a bit more as gaps can be seen between building and platform. The third picture, below shows also the new Signal Box (Metcalfe) at Knittingham Station.



You may note that i have put off the Ballasting of the track as that is the boring and tricky bit. I will do some soon!

More scenery

I bought a Townscenes backdrop at the Model Rail Exhibition, but it did not cover the whole area so a couple of Peco Backdrops were purchased yesterday and they are all now in place.



As usual, You can click on Images to see larger version.



Next project is to ballast a bit more track using a ballast layer purchased at Alexandra Palace.

More buildings

I note I haven't posted here for a while, that's because I have been doing other things, including a trip to the Model Railway Exhibition at Alexander Palace last month. I took a few photos of layouts to give me some ideas for my own layout.

I have now finished building most of the kits I had for Christmas and today put them on the layout. Next step will be to add a background, which I bought at Alex Palace.





I remember that one reason I moved to Devon was due to the untimely death of a friend, Rod Brown, which encouraged me to retire early to enjoy life while I still can. In memory of Rod the shops include "Rodney the Barber" and "Browns Bakery".

Click on pics to see larger versions.

Updated views of the model

The picture is an overview of this 6 x 4 layout with some of the trains visible.



The turntable now is in a yard with at least a partial wall around it. A road runs down between this yard and the brewery, which is access for the brewery lorries and to the goods yard.

Below is another view of the model as it is now. Still lots to do with it. Remember you can click on image for larger version and then close that window to return to this page.