New coach on the way

As the man rider wagon was finished I decided to start on the newly delivered coach kit from Phil Sharples.

  

The main units of the kit quickly come together, time for paint.

The inside of the body, the underframe and the floor have been painted, more will be added later today.

Just like Christmas

I had a few packages delivered over the weekend so I have plenty to be getting on with

A couple of Phil Sharples excellent rolling stock kits to be added to the pile.

The PDF Leanne loco kit plus a remote control system from Loco Remote

Elevated section (and bridge) completion.

The elevated section and the trestle bridge have all now been removed, rebuilt/refreshed and reinstated.
The rail is back on and a train has been run so the railway is back in service.

For a 6 year old structure made from interior grade wood its has held up very well.

Looks quite good, if a bit green in places

Actually lets say its very green in places!

Some of the coffee stirrer cross braces have broken.

The coffee stirrers split at the ends which caused them to fall off but they are still as strong as ever.

The new cross brace in place.

A nice cost of preservative later and it looks nice

Ready to be reinstalled

With track down 'Margaret' takes the first train accross

Posing on the bridge

The track was soon laid on the elevated section and the train run over it several times.

One last picture in the evening sun.

Elevated section rebuild 3

The top has been put on the supports using decking board. This is far more robust that what was originally used and is treated for outdoor use. The track will go back after I have removed the trestle bridge for repair and treatment tomorrow.

The new top going in.

All complete.

Treatment added to make it look neat and helps it blend in with the background. More work will go on in this area next week. once the track is relaid.

Elevated Section Rebuild 2

The elevated section base support has been put in place and treated, tomorrow the top will go on.

Elevated section rebuild

The railway has a short elevated section which forms one of the ends of the line. I had originally planned to use lightweight concrete blocks to make the track bed but decided that it wouldnt look very nice so I used wood to build this section with the view to replace it with better quality materials at a later date.
This has lasted very well for something that  used materials I happened to have lying around but it has finally got to a point where it needs replacement.

The pictures show the demolition in progress.

This view shows the construction of the beam made of plywood with wooden blocks between them, supported on plastic pipe columns with a wooden baseboard on top.

The wood on the top was recycled pallet's and has now warped beyond use.

The middle of the curve used a short length of wood to bridge the gap as I didnt have enough plywood.

The plywood at this end of the section was totally de-laminated and fell apart as I touched it. 

The chasm that will be filled tomorrow 

New Video

The Spring Running Day video has been loaded onto my YouTube channel and shows several trains running on the line in the bright Spring sunshine.

The loco stud

Whilst sorting out storage of my models I took the chance to put all the lines current locomotives, both in service and out of service, in a group for a photograph.

8 of the 15 shown (there are 2 more kits plus a powered 4-coupled chassis) are runners so I really need to get on with getting the rest going.

second running day in April

I decided as I had been very busy working in the garden and house, during this lockdown period, I needed to dedicate a day to running trains. The following pictures tell the story.

No 1 on a short rake of Fendyke coaches

The Fowler heads a train of 1 Fendyke van and 2 Swift 16 coaches

The Fowler and the Hunslet await right of way

A busy scene at the station

The Fowler seen in charge of a rake of mostly Houston Gate van kits except for the leading vehicle which was scratch built by me.

The Fowler at the back of the line

The Guard looks happy, wonder if anyone has told him the loco has no driver!

The new PDF LAT gets its first turn as motive power for the PW gang.

The LAT on the trestle

Famous visitors

The Hunslet breezes along with a short freight off to the mines.

I am aiming on running trains every Friday during the lockdown. Hopefully I can get more of the loco stud up and working.

Stock update 2

I have now started to update the stock pages, the new pictures are easy to recognise as they have a white background.
I will do a short review of the photographic booth I am using as it is very useful.

Stock Updates

I am currently re-photographing all my stock and numbering them where I can. The stock pages will be updated soon and I hope to have another operating day on Friday and will do a new train ride video.

Running day

Whilst the Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modelers were having their virtual railway exhibition I broke out the trains and had an operating session on the railway. Everything ran well with no problems and I aim to do the same every weekend for the next month or so.

Kay, the Quarry Hunslet, did some clearance running. light engine.

Margaret, the PDF Fowler, hauls the first train of the year made up of Phil Sharples and Swift 16 coaches.

Margaret passes the Quarry Hunslet at Merrytwit Station.

With the road clear the Hunslet prepares to depart with a short freight.

The Quarry Hunslet runs onto the mine tramway

The Fendyke draws a short train of mine tubs down the mine tramway.

The end of the day and the steam up area is full. I really need to get a point and some more track to increase the areas capacity.