Having undertaken a number of test runs, I have finally been able to do ballasting and weathering.  I decided to mix wallpaper paste powder in with a 50-50 mix of black and grey fine ballast as I had heard it is less likely to set like concrete and given the way I keep rebuilding the damn layout when my "butterfly mind" settles on a better plan, I figured anything that means future track changes won't require the aid of a mechanical stripper must be worth a try.  I have to say it was worth it.  Laying the ballast, then giving it a soak with warm water (with a drop of washing up liquid) was no different to the usual laying ballast and soaking in PVA or Ballast bond, but it did dry much more quickly than previous PVA ballast and withstood being weathered with a brush and paint pigment, so I was quite happy.



Signals have now been added.  These were passed on to me by Simon Barnes when he rebuilt his layout, and whilst they are working signals unfortunately I managed to damage the fine wires leading to the signal so won't be functional on Wednesford.  In any case the way the track threads through the buildings you'd be hard pressed to see them.  The track plan has the left hand line as the "up", uni-directional, and the right hand line as a bi-directional line allowing branch traffic to run through.  The idea is there are a set of crossovers at the other end of the station.  So the "up" signal has a theatre indicator to show which platform is being offered, whilst the bi-directional signal will only allow traffic into Platform 1, with a calling on head to allow the branch shuttle to come into the platform to offer same platform connections with the Birmingham local.  Of course the station is in reality the fiddle yard!

The signal for the bi-directional line.  Fortunately I had accidentally widened the six foot when laying the track allowing room for it!

The ballast after weathering with neat poster paint pigment.  I've tried to get a dusty impression with a leave of dirt which is a compromise between the filthy ballast of the 1960s and 70s, with the slightly cleaner ballast of the 80s and 90s.  I might have a look again tomorrow to see if I need to add some more darker pigment as there was a lot of oily gunk which contaminated ballast during this period, but on the whole I'm quite happy with it.

I've rejigged the new Library.  Councillor Caddy Olwyn, the chair of the Council's Disability Access Working Group parked her blue death trap Invacar next to the ramp into the Civic Centre, and is seen having a chat with another mobility impaired councillor.  The entrance lobby to the library has been turned through 90 degrees and has lost the steps up to the "plaza".  The two librarians have parked their 2CVs next to each other.  The Wednesford in Bloom Ninjas have gone mad with the floral displays.  Finally, Pat Butcher's wall art has been moved to the facade (in reality two Chinese ear-rings from the Bay of Tat, the gold hangers from which were glued together to make the W-Anchor on the Poplars estate).



Shaw Taylor House has been relocated and redesigned, and now has a security gate.  In reality it's unlikely such security measures would have been in place until the 1990s but I look after my thin blue line.  Staffs Constabulary have taken delivery of a new Austin Princess but the Prinny is being held up.  I suspect the Securicor gate guard is watching Wednesford Wednesday's FA Charity Soup Tureen final from Wembley, the team having gone up to the stadium in a special charter train.

Briefcase Encounter.  Two of the support staff from the Member's building in the Civic have a "tryst" in full view of the park car park.  I suspect the bloke has took his inspiration to try it on with the woman from the advert hoarding over their heads for Cock Inn Cider.