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 allow a loco to shunt a wagon onto the spur and uncouple from it.


This allows the turntable or locoshed road to be cleared if required, - and as there was no other suitable place to shunt said coal wagon,this represents an operational improvement!
The only structure on this small new land area is to be a grounded ex GWR ventilated van body, in use as a store. This is a timely free gift included in Decembers Railway Modeller.

A small raised grass bank has been constructed on the left side, continuing the contours of the existing ground located behind the turntable.( Foam offcuts, cut to shape and glued with PVA, Then covered with a couple of layers of 'MOD ROC', and painted with poster paints (Burnt Umber). This will have extensive low foilage growth added once the ground cover Jarvis 'rough pasture' (scatter) has been applied to it. Behind the bufferstop there is low stone walling.The track has already been ballasted and will have some DAS clay added later. Jarvis brown earth scatter has been applied to the 'ground' elsewhere.

Due to the larger locos in the rewitten timetable using the coaling and turntable facilities at Sproston frequently, I assumed that the 'powers that be ' i.e. BR.(WR) and BR.(LMR) would consider the cheapest option to solve the problem that increased coal consumption had caused.- a larger capacity coaling stage would appear to be required. I already had an old section of a Metcalfe loading bank in the scrapbox which seemed suitable, and this was mated with a R9727 Hornby Lineside Platform with steps at each end- this proved to be an exact fit. Add a large pile of real crushed coal ontop with the handle of a shovel protruding from the pile and 'Voila!!', a second coaling stage..

This was positioned alongside the track just before the points leading to the turntable, allowing a visiting loco to take water at the crane alongside the platform loco release spur, then come onshed, coal and turn without having to draw alongside the smaller capacity coalstage outside the branch shed. This seemed a feasable solution to the problem, along with the new spur off the turntable, to accomodate the additional loco coal wagon deliveries to the shed.

Well. thats it, no more news, so its TTFN!!
Comments good or bad always welcome.

Regards.
SIGTECH.
Steve.