Max Legroom

Here are a few pics showing how the bridge and scenery were constructed. And here is an overall view of the right-hand board showing the progress to date. Next up is the loading platform and low-relief storage building.

Here is the right-hand end of the layout. I've added a small extension board so that I can stage two shortish trains on each of the main and freight lines. There is also an offstage area for the line to the docks in the foreground. The siding at the front will be used as an exchange siding to justify some of the nice industrial shunters currently available. In reality, the exchange would probably have taken place further down the line but this arrangement does add more operational fun! All of which means that I need to get on and build a bridge to disguise the exit through the hole.

I remember seeing 50023 in large logo heading north around the curve at Westerleigh Junction and it was an incredible site compared to the regular rail blue we were used to back then.

I agree about large logo really working on the 50s. I think it was because of their length and the way the cab ends wrapped around the buffer beam. It just made the 47s/56s look a bit dumpy.

Hi Paul. The driver is one of the excellent figures from Modelu. Best wishes Max

A quick trip back to summer 1978 to catch 55011 on a BR excursion from Newcastle waiting for the single track section. On the platform Legroom seems more interested in that former sand tippler full of spoil!

Another industrial diesel would be nice.

Can anyone confirm if the 2 plank in olive and labelled Sole is a genuine livery?

1970s trains and John Cooper Clarke - you can't go wrong with that combination. I love the atmosphere you have created in a small space. Fabulous!

Here are a few photos of some of the more recent details. A Chopper bike is a must for any 1970s layout. Here is one from Smart Models. Shuggy, who works in the ticket office, fancies himself as a bit of a mod. Here is his scooter parked where he can keep an eye on it. The colour light signals are now in place though non-working at the moment. Finally, here is Legroom himself checking out a mineral wagon. I was scanned by those lovely folk at Modelu a while back as a birthday present.

What a fabulous little book - right up my street! Perfect for a bit of holiday reading.

The 37s always looked good in LL with mini-ploughs. Something almost North American about them. Can't wait for a 1980s version.

I've added a few details recently. The wagons on the nearest track contain scrap from the shipbreakers and molasses from the docks and destined for Fife.

Here are a couple of pix of my PBA 39 with a few modifications. The small lamps have been sliced off, overhead warning flashes added to the inside of the windscreens, and a non-working orange beacon added (a US HO part). A bit of light weathering and three-link couplings complete things.

I finally got round to weathering a Pilchard and have to confess it was great fun. I picked out a few of the internal planks and the iron-works in rust and wood colours, added some rust (Games Workshop Typhus Corrosion), lots of washes and finally a bit of dry brushing. Lovely wagon for the price.

Here are a few photos showing recent progress.

Very nice little model. Just needs a few rust patches and some overall grime. Agree with the comment above about how the coupling socket can be removed without the body and chassis coming apart.

Looking forward to seeing your progress with this.

This is great news. Looking at the locos around in my preferred timeframe (late 70s/early 80s) I think it's just the class 40 and 50 left to bring up to the latest standards.

I’m planning a few modifications to model the PBA version as it was on entering preservation. Does anyone know a source of OO non-working cab roof warning beacons? If not, it looks like one of my HO switchers will have to donate their beacon!

Jeez this logo is depressing. Someone needs to tell them that Cool Britannia was 25 years ago. All we have left are naff symbols.

I couldn’t resist one of these at the price even though I don’t model the ER. Should be a lot of fun weathering and distressing!

I agree. I think the new Accurascale 37 will be a big step up from the Bachmann version.

Here is the area next to the location of the signal box. The toilet remains for the use of local staff, as does the lamp hut. Note the shiny class 47 lurking in the background - straight from the box. This is the first 47 I've ever owned as it's taken me all this time to appreciate them! I was recently watching a video on the remains of the former lines north of the Clyde when I spotted the remains of a lineside hut. All that was left was the chimney which I thought would make an interesting feature. One Wills chimney (from their lineside hut) and a bit of filler/paint and here is the result which I'm really pleased with. All the best.

Here are a couple of photos of 08883, one of the original Bachmann releases and now with a dcc chip hardwired (surprisingly straightforward). It's imagined that there is a freight yard about a mile west of Jamaica Road which caters for petrochemical and steel traffic (for marine use). An Eastfield 08 is based there but shunts Jamaica Road when required.