Howdy folks,
It's been a long time (well over a month ) since my last missive about the goings on in Sproston, - my only excuses are 1. it's been cold in the loft, and 2. I have had a bad cold.
The major project which had been ongoing for at least a month, and had been held up by a lack of available parts ( Bachmann 14mm dia coach wheels ) was the improvement of the Dapol Stove R. This has now been completed successfully, by carefully following the steps outlined in Ray's ("Silver Sidelines"
Hello again. very little new here to report- except for the latest pictures of the new signalling... ( at last lower quadrant inner home bracket signals! ) and the arrival and refurbishment ( via EBAY ) of an ex LMS. 42' bogie CCT, ( LIMA ) finished in BR. maroon, more npccs....!
Well, here we are, and this is my first blog entry using the new software/website, so fingers crossed here we go!!
I have always intended to add some illumination to the layout, and the first item was the Hornby class 121 'Bubblecar', using a lighting kit by 'Blackcat' models, this provided internal head and tail lamps (polarity sensitive), plus passenger compartment lighting. All this work has probably now been eclipsed by the new model from Dapol, with future offerings from Bachmann too
A somewhat belated Happy New Year to everyone, the latest blog entry is a general look into the nooks and crannies of the layout, and it could be easily retitled 'where abouts can you put a compact camera'?
Anyway enough of all that malarky - on with the photos.
The first depicts the business end of platform one - looking towards the Stationmasters house. Unfortunately the noticeboard cannot be read on this shot - but it says 'Summer Timetable now available at the Booking Office'. - Useful i
Good evening everyone, following on from the news of the layout extension, we have a short progress update.
The grass is now 'growing' well over the new bank area, some railway clutter has started to appear and the grounded ex GWR van has received dramatically accelerated weathering. Vegetation is once again starting to encroach around the perimeter of the site including a new hedge, and the bufferstop along with the turntable deck has been re-instated.
The 'war
After a 2 month gap, I have some news to report. - Sproston is being extended... (by 4 inches!!) Whilst I realize that this is not earth shattering news, - it is nevertheless a useful and important event.
The extra 4" of code 100 streamline track is on a new sub-base of ply on the far side of the Heljan Turntable. This was originally just a bufferstop, but is now a short spur capable of comfortably holding a 16t loco-coal truck, and with a hidden magnet located just under the baseboard to allo
Hello again everyone, after a considerable gap, the more comfortable temperatures in the loft have enabled some modelling activity to resume on Sproston.
One of the pannier tanks arrived light engine from the junction, and after a brief visit to the loco shed for water has been shunting the yard, assembling an up freight.
This train consists of five fitted wagons and a BR standard brake van. Once shunting has been completed, and the line is clear, the train departs.
Hello again, having said that the Gresley BG was to be the LAST item of rolling stock purchased for the branch, I have a confession to make, I lied...! - Though not intentionally, as this has come about by carefully checking rolling stock and their couplings, - I found a spare Brian Kirby type hook fitted where it was not really needed ( on the driving end of the Bachmann autotrailer - the loop here is sufficient as it is only going to be required occassionally to haul a tail load ). So, hook re
Hello everyone, well I suppose this was inevitable, I have given in and purchased ANOTHER BG - this time it is a 61'6" Gresley one, ( and very nice Hornby model ) in BR maroon. This will make a pleasent contrast to the BR MK1 BG from Bachmann, in crimson and cream that I purchased last month. This will also be the last vehicle for which I have two sets of B.K. modified couplings for - so technically my last rolling stock purchase. - We shall see...
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Since then both models have had new
Hi People,
Well it has happened, it was inevitable that it would - I have given in and purchased a BR MK1 coach, - a BR MK1 57' BG in crimson and cream livery to be precise...( Bachmann ). I did however ask the knowledgeable people on RMWEB, if this vehicle was likely to have appeared regularly on such a branchline.
This latest item has now joined the growing ranks of NPCCS seen at Sproston and will be assigned to: Parcels Special no.1 (as per the new timetable, see the blog ent
Hello Everyone, - this is the first blog entry of the year, and as you can see there has been very little to write about in Sproston!.- After a nasty attack of 'lack of modelling mojo' I have completed a long outstanding task painting, installing and detailing two coach loads of passengers. (don't laugh!) This consisted of 35 'little people' from my store, obtained from China (via Ebay!). Unfortunately they have all had to have their feet amputated to enable them to sit correctly in the Bachmann
Just time to sneak this blog in before Christmas.
After much prevaricating Sproston now has a Timetable to operate from. This all started out as a posting on a discussion thread on RM Web some time ago, requesting help creating a timetable suitable for a branch line - not my work I hasten to add, but I could see it had potential, and so have spent some time 'adapting' it to suit the layouts requirements. Who ever you are who came up with this idea, then I would like to say, thank you!
This i
Hello and greetings once more from Sproston.
With Autumn now here I thought a few more general views of the layout might be appropriate, rather than just concentrating on the locomotives and rolling stock.
At the present time I am busy attempting to construct a timetable for the layout - trying to provide a suitable framework and purpose to the running of the railway.
This is proceeding fairly well, using a template previously published in RMWEB and adjusted to suit the circumstances and l
Good Evening people,
Life in Sproston is generally quiet, but occasionally something happens to upset the 00 gauge apple cart, as has happened just recently.
The Hornby 'B' set has had the incorrectly painted black roof extended down to and including the cant rail (which in this case now becomes the 'can' rail ....!! feeble attempt at humour).- one step forward.
The Hawksworth autocoach now has its roof painted white internally, the non driving end inside wall is finished in a fet
Greetings from Sproston,
The Hornby 'B' set is now back in service after some protracted modifications that involved removal (by filling) of the incorrect window next to the Guards door (on one side only) on each coach.
These windows were not installed on the real vehicles by the GWR, - but Hornby thoughtfully provided them anyway!!
If you couple two' B 'set coaches together correctly with the brake ends outermost, then the windows concerned to be removed are on the left hand vehicle fa
Good evening everyone,
Time to update on the 'goings on ' on the layout, first a few small new scenic additions - a bench behind the loco shed, parcels platform weighing machine, chocolate machine for the passenger platforms, oh and some guy sitting on a bench with his hand on the stations wall!.....Not very interesting but this leads us on to..
The main subject which is the alteration of the existing layout wiring to allow for the installation of a Woodlands Scenics 'tidytrack'
Afternoon people, have been looking around for a small project - to fill a couple of days of otherwise idleness, and I suddenly remembered the Corgi Trackside horsebox I had bought a few years ago for the layout.
This had sat on my modelling shelf in the spare room for some time, as I had become unhappy at the lack of internal detail in the cab - along with the fact it was possible to look through the windscreen and down the full length of the vehicle,- this was obviously not correct...!
Hello everyone,
I must admit that I have been rather remiss and have not updated this blog for over two months, but I have not been idle during all that time, the latest project involved the cleaning up, painting and fitting of no less than nine sets of "Springside Models" fireirons to all steam locos (This is a project that has been 'in the pipeline' for some six months or more) -
The Ivatt 2mt mogul however did not require them, as it has I have found out a purpose made "fireiron tunnel" o
Good day people. I have been occupied lately with adding some new details to the creamery, to make it more accurately resemble that which it is supposed to be!! First on the list was constructing a small canopy over the milk churn unloading bay, using offcuts from a Wills platform canopy kit, painted in colours to match the buildings woodwork, and some Metcalfe platform surface card for the canopy's felt roof. Next it was necessary to 'brick up' the double doors on both floors that were immed
Hello everyone, as mentioned in my previous (short) blog entry, I am attempting to improve reliability issues that are occurring with the replacement BK style magnetic tension lock couplings that I have fitted to all the rolling stock used on Sproston.
Like most small layouts Sproston suffers from a common problem found, that nearly everywhere one wants to couple/uncouple something it is on a curve!
I find the small tensionlocks fitted to most stock today don't work well in this situation -
Hello again everyone, I hope Christmas was full of good cheer for you all! Things were very quiet here, likewise in Sproston, where I have only a couple of minor changes to report....
Last month's free gift in the' Railway Modeller' (market trader's stall) has been assembled and painted, - but instead of the wares supplied in the kit, several potted flowering plants and shrubs have been placed on the stall, which has been positioned near the searchlight mounting - this must be a new enterpri
"Evening all", as George Dixon used to say,-this update is concerned mostly with "little things" ( with apologies to Dave Berry...)
There have been some minor changes around the layout, a small utilitarian 1925 built low relief factory belonging to 'MKA', who manufacture nuts, bolts and screws for the trade, has recently appeared on the corner of Station road, replacing an overgrown area of wasteground containing advertisement hoardings - said hoardings - promoting the forthcoming appearances
Hello.
Latest new project for Sproston is the construction and installation of a vertical milk storage tank in the creamery, along with some new pipework associated with it (this is still very much a work in progress - particularly with regard to the present extent of the pipework), which eventually will allow the loading and washing out of the rail tanker traffic.
I have been aware for some time that the design of the main (Metcalfe) three storey building lends itself to the fact that th
Hello again everyone - as you will be aware from reading a previous blog entry on here, the method of 'seeing' where the trains were, ( or indeed where they were not!! ) in the hidden sidings was achieved by means of eight photo-electric detectors positioned two under each of the four tracks, and linked to a clever ic 'gizmo' that connected them to red and green LEDS on a small indication panel, red being track occupied and green track clear.
Good though the system was, it suffered from the in
This is a short entry to describe how I made a rotary steam churn cleaner/washer for the creamery at Sproston.
I had seen several illustrations of this device, and it appears that no self respecting creamery would be without one, so I thought I had better get cracking!
Let me say from the start that this is a 'representative' model, just using a couple of photos and not modelled on any one particular machine.
The idea is that the full milk churns arrive from the outlying farms by lorry.
