Hi,

Right it's the moment you've all been waiting for!

Hythe has been fully set up with the extension for the first time last night, unfortunatly we could test whether it worked or not because we forgot to but the plug on the main control panel! So today, we went back up and fitted a plug and tested everything and I'm very happy to report and that it all worked first time! We were expecting a lot of problems after we changed a lot of wiring to be able to have Platform 4 and the headshunt controlled from a new controller and the old one by a switch!

Another development is that we've converted all our freight stock to a new coupling system, developed by another member of RMweb (sorry can't remember the name!) and also used by Eldavo on his Cramdin Yard! It's a piece of steel wire soldered to the standard Hornby or Bachmann couplings (the Narrower versions) which is attracted towards a fixed magnet beneath the board, it work very well!

I'm really pleased at the way it blends in with the old layout, but there's a lot still to do, but it's small things such as add people, but enough talking, so here's some photos:

A look at the new extension:

A look at the detail inside the main building, to get a good look at it you have to crouch down abit, which is exactly what I wanted!

Hired-in Cotswold Rail's Clas 08 No. 08847 cross the hard standing in the Marsh Distribution rail site behind a Derek Linch HGV

Having grabbed a quick cupper and newspaper from the yard office, Alan now sets about thinking how he's going to get his delivery across the yard with both his hands full!

The 08 idles at the end of the main building road, while in the background Fred goes into the compound to check the containers

The SESR's Class 33 No. D6508/33008 'Eastleigh' stands at Hythe Parkway's Platform 2 with a service train to Dungeness, standing in for a failed Battle of Britain.

A three region line up! LMS Royal Scot 4-6-0 No. 6133 'The Green Howards', Ex-LNER L1 2-6-4T No. 67717 and Ex-Southern T9 4-4-0 No. 30285 stand on the SESR's Hythe Motive Power Depot, while the SESR's Class 33 waits with a service to Dungeness

This is the impressve sight meeting the narrow boat that's moaring up! The 2 latest additions to the Fleet, L1 2-6-4T No. 67717 and Class 33 No. D6508/33008 'Eastleigh' stand at the MPD at Hythe after a hard days work

A very across the Marsh Distribution's Hythe rail terminal with only the Class 08 and Class 66 No.66135 in attendence.

It's now early evening and all the street, yard and platform lights have been turned on, but Hythe Parkway is still busy; A Southeastern Networker is waiting in Platform 1 with a shuttle service for Ashford International; Southern's Heritage 4-CEP EMU waits at Platform 2 with a train for London Victoria, standing in for a failed 'Electrostar' and a FGW Class 166, still in NSE livery, has just arrived with a train from Paddington.

Comments Welcome!

Simon