If you have been waiting for an update to my blog, apologies for the length of time it's taken to put one up. As a quick précis of my recent life, I was suspended from work on 4th March and after a long (6 month) time my suspension was lifted by the Governors (I work in a school, but as Network Manager, not a teacher) and I returned to work on 17th Sept. Since then I've been pre-occupied with getting life back to normal and have hardly done any modelling. Hopefully this is just about to change!

So, to this update. I've not done anything dramatic to the layout that I call Brancaster Mill, so I thought I'd put up a few pics of the locos that I've got to operate the layout. At the moment the layout will be goods only, but I've got plans for extensions in the future that mean I will be able to run passenger trains as well.

The first loco is a J17 built from a Stelfox kit. The building of the loco is finished, it now just needs painting after which it will be numbered 65582. I include this to show people that I'm not a cheque book or R-T-R modeller. Although I don't mind going down those routes, I also enjoy building stock and want to prove I can do just that! The loco has a Branchlines 50:1 gearbox with a Mashima 1020 motor and flywheel and pickup on all wheels (tender included). Although I'm biased, I reckon it runs rather well.

The next loco is a Heljan Class 15 - I was going to buy a Dave Alexander kit but Heljan then produced a R-T-R model of such high quality that I didn't have to! The only work I have done so far is convert it to EM using Alan Gibson wheels - a very simple job. As the layout will be based in 1958 which allows me to mix steam and diesel, I need diesel locos that don't have yellow warning panels, and this high gloss version is the only one that I could find. In time it will be de-glossed and weathered to look like a loco that works for its living.

The next loco is a Hornby Class 31 - also converted to EM. As with the Class 15, it also needs to look like a work a day diesel, which it currently doesn't!

The last loco is the classic GER steam workhorse, a J15. This one was built from an Alan Gibson kit by John James of Liverpool. It was built for a friend and came to me by a very roundabout route. John is a loco builder of the highest calibre who has built an N7 for me (it sits in front of an Ian Kirk Quintart and looks rather nice, even though I say it myself) - these locos give me the standard that I aim for, both in terms of running quality and finish.

The last loco I have for the layout is a Bachmann Class 24. At the moment it's been converted to EM using Alan Gibson wheels but it's missing some glazing as I've started putting in Laser glazing. I will also put in some Extreme Etching grills, fans etc. in and weather it. I'm also tempted to try one of the Penbits sprung chassis, but the Bachmann chassis runs so well I'm not sure it's really necessary.

Well, that's the locos I've currently got, I hope you like the pics. As for the layout, I hope to give an update a little quicker than the last one!

Phil

PS - If you're curious about the background for the pictures, I've used the plan for Brancaster Mill and the pictures are taken where the track will, eventually, go over the river on a bridge.