Leaderboard

As was mentioned before I'd ordered some 'Easy Street' girder rail for the proposed extension to'Grime Street', it's produced in the US and available from http://www.proto87.c...tcar-track.html (usual disclaimer) So what do you get? Well this is a twin left hand points module, as you can see you also need the plain and curved track sections to complete a working point, so I duly ordered some! Also shown is one of the downloadable drawings available on the Proto 87 website, these are available in quite a few figuarations right up to a 'grand junction' crossing and in various formats (oo/ho, proto87 etc). These I found very handy as you can play around with them to your hearts content. So, time to do some track laying, armed with tweezers, super glue gel and bits of wire (used as joiners) this was the result. I've literally built this road section on a plank, 18mmx144 as I had it to hand and wanted a soild base, which I'll let into a baseboard unit when finished, the points on the trailing crossover will be sprung as this is going to be the line terminus, so little in the way of operational flexibility is required. Overall, very happy so far, need to do some soldering and get it wired up to check for any faults, but it's lived up to its' name so far and been very easy and user friendly, I have a feeling that 'Grime Street' will be being relaid in the near future.

Time to start on a new layout. After Brafferton, I want a bit of a change; a smaller layout and a different era. Hull Bridge will be a Hull and Barnsley layout set in the early c20th. Hull Bridge itself is a fictitious location and supposes that the H&BR built another small goods yard just east of Sculcoates goods station, on the opposite side of the River Hull. It will be urban in nature with ranges of warehousing and goods handling facilities. I already have a baseboard, built with foamboard, that was originally intended for a BR blue layout subsequently aborted as James lost interest in model railways. I have successfully used this technique for baseboard construction before on Masham. I have also decided to go back to basics, so the trackwork is all copperclad soldered construction and of necessity I will have to scratchbuild/kitbash much of the stock. The buildings will be generally of card construction with brickpaper rendering. So far I have developed a track plan and applied this to the existing baseboard. I have made a start on track work with some lengths of plain track and one crossover manufactured. ] I have yet to finalise the scenic features and would welcome any input on the nature of the buildings and any photographic examples that might help me along. As always, any comments are more than welcome.

Finally got around to numbering the mainline fleet with plates from Narrow Planet.... 805 'Suddery Cathedral' - needs N W letters still. 503 'Colonel Henry Regaby' 704 'Duke of Gordon' Much better I feel!

After much feverish activity Grime Street board 3 made its public debut yesterday at the Festival of Tramway Modelling in Manchester, despite all the recent activity it's not quite finished but nearly there had to be good enough. The Magnorail cyclist performed faultlessly all day, even though I've still not got round to painting the figure yet, seemingly more interesting than the rest of the layout put together! Faller car system needs a little work yet but in general will be ok. Andy Burrows gave me a lift for the day and his build of Leeds post war car was guesting and looking very striking in its 'as brand new' light blue livery. So a few shots which with my usual planning only one shows board 3.....I'll do some more today if I get chance. pics are by myself and Andy....his are the good ones.....