fishytrains

It has been a while since I last posted here. A change of jobs has meant that I have had more evening and weekend time to make further progress. The gardens in the cottages by Walnut Grove station have fences. Lineside fencing is coming along, as is the fields by the side of the railway. I have been adding some height near the track to provide differing views. Trying to make sure the greenery looks alright. Further greenery added on the right. I still need to sort out the embankment section between the mainline and branch line. Trees will also need to be planted, along with some low vegetation. Might even put in some people along this section. Hopefully more progress soon.

Very slow progress over the past few months. Added cable trunking along with some ballasting. Eventually the tunnel portal will have a tunnel over the top of it. Finally added the advert to the side of the building. Just need to add the wires and then build up the scenery around the edges.

Rather a long time since I last posted on here. Work has continued at a snails pace, slowly working on different aspects, trying to get the mainline reconnected so I can give the track a proper test. As I have not got all of the things I need to complete this yet, I have been slowly building up the scenery side of the layout. I l Developing the autumnal theme for the layout. This shows the branchline where it becomes single track. There has been more work, but the photos seem to want to load upside down! I will sort those before sharing. Mike

All the best for the treatment. Mike

I find it totally different, most of the time it is me on my own with the occasional interaction with a customer. I am thoroughly enjoying the change at the moment, even with the wonderful variation in the weather, a wet and miserable day today, a few weeks ago it was extremely hot! Mike

Since the last post I have had a change of career, after 32 years as a teacher, I wanted to do something different, so now I work as a delivery driver. I enjoy it, but it has reduced the amount of time I spend on the layout. That said, I have been working on the tunnel section for the branch line under the mainline between Digby Junction and Walnut Grove. , Still more work to be done, but first I need to complete the raised section carrying the mainline, which is taking time, although I am enjoying building the Metcalfe kits for this! Regards Mike

Under the roof this morning. Different distances, and crops, which do you prefer? I think both work well. The top one because of the extra light. But, I prefer the bottom one as it shows the power of the loco more, in my opinion. Mike

Finally got round to using the airbrush to weather the track and start the ballasting on the section between Walnut Grove and Digby Junction. I have also positioned some dummy point motors, one can be seen centre left. Ballast yet to be glued down, but temperature in the loft means only short periods of work are possible. Mike

After some time running trains round the layout, i found a section where most trains were derailing. The problem was a point, so I removed the point as it wasn't totally necessary. Modified layout for Walnut Grove shown below. Before the change. After the change. I have also been working on the mainline section in the Lilac Grove station, as well as where it meets the branchline at Digby Junction. As well as laying more cable trunking and fitting signals. I am continuing to work slowly and steadily. So more updates as and when. Mike

A little more progress over the last couple of days. The main task yesterday was fixing a Berko platform signal, as well as refitting the Lilac Grove platform 4. This has also had a little scenery added, as shown in the photo below. Mike

Great photos. Thanks for sharing them. Mike

A bit of track relayed to impoverished the access to Walnut Grove station. The surroundings to the station I am now working on. A view under the mainline showing the cottages in place near the station. More of the sky has been painted and the area behind the station car park developed further. The view showing the road leaving the station with the cottages in place. Still working on this area. Laying more grass. The bridges leading into the fiddle yard have also been built and I am starting to bed them, but more work to be done here yet. Mike

Niece, their website is well worth a look. I ordered four different lots of 500ml of static grass and it was delivered in a couple of days. No further progress, just had a couple of days running trains. One problem area of track to sort out, possibly some others. Mike

Neil, I’m using War World Scenics. I came across them at the Peterborough Show. They work on a base layer, then you build extra layers of 2mm, 4mm and 6mm on top of that. I’m really pleased with the effect. Latest picture, with the wagons in place. Mike

Further layers of static grass added. I will leave this area for a while now, just to be sure it feels right! One final one taken through the bridge arches for the mainline. The only snag is this view would not be possible if the mainline was built as originally intended. Fortunately it is not so making sure there is an arch here is now possible. Still lots to do, but with time to do it! Mike

More work done. Both tracks of the branch line are now running. A lot of testing needs to be done before I will be completely happy. I have been interspersing track laying and wiring with some scenic work. The three photos show a corner of the layout behind Walnut Grove station, with a siding, which will be used to store some wagons - mostly Bachmann collectors club models, which are not appropriate for running on the track, but can be used as a preservation There is a newly laid base layer of scatter material, which will have longer static grass added to it over the coming days. You can also see the cable trunking, which doesn’t look great, but once the track is ballasted, the worst of it will be hidden! The backscene is an attempt at hand painting the sky, with card covered in different types of scatter material to give the impression of fields. I am only looking at the overall impression, not an artistic masterpiece! Keep safe Mike

Further progress. I have shot a short video following (badly) a Class 105 round the branch line, from Walnut Grove station, to Digby Fen, then through the fiddle yard, Lilac Grove station and back to Walnut Grove. Apologies for the poor camera stability and the mess around the rest of the layout. At some point I will take photos and upload these, whilst also continuing to make further additions to the layout. Keep safe Mike

Further progress has been made. At the moment no photos, I will take those when I get the chance. The fiddle yard tracks have been sorted. A total of 10 tracks, five in each direction. Just need to finish wiring and fixing the tracks. The approach from the opposite direction to the one shown in the photos above also needs to be sorted, which means building the bridges to ensure that the trains can pass over them without any problems. At the other end of the layout I have been laying cable trunking to hide the signal cable. There is also a siding at Walnut Grove, which will remain in place, but will be overgrown as well! The track is weathered and ballasted. Now working out the undergrowth and how that will look. I have also painted the back scene a nice grey. As the layout is going to be set in the Autumn i felt a grey sky was more appropriate, there will be patches of blue and cloud variation as well. With the current situation progress has been quicker, but at the same time I am enjoying looking and reflecting before doing each stage. From the end of next week I will officially have retired from teaching. Trying to find another job may prove more challenging than I originally thought however! Keep safe Mike

I joined in 2012, just before spending 7 years working Kuwait. RMWeb helped me cope with the loneliness and the fact I couldn't work on my own layout, by providing me with lots of inspiration and ideas for when I would be able to get stuck in again. Thank you all for the inspiration, no matter how grand or small your own layouts. Happy birthday to RMWeb. Mike

Some lovely images as usual Gilbert. The one under the roof is probably one of the best and certainly my favourite. It just exudes power and class. Thank you for the constant supply of images. Mike

Time progresses slowly with the work I have to do on the layout. Maximum of one evening a week at the moment. I have now completed the double track round to the fiddle yard, although the fiddle yard now needs to be relaid. Class 47 approaching the fiddle yard. Class 85 leaving with its train. Now need to decide whether or not to reinstall the retaining wall in the foreground and hide this section under a hillside. I will probably run trains for a while to make sure that it all works fine first, so that there are no derailments. Half-term at the moment, but can’t get up there as we are having the bathroom replaced!

The station area is looking very good. Mike

Looking very interesting. I like the idea and the shape of it. Looking forward to seeing more now. Mike

Progress has been slow, with realigning the track, fitting point motors and rearranging the access to the fiddle yards. The last part is still ongoing, partly due to a few issues with points, which have now been sorted. The picture shows the realignment and simplification of the station approach. The station now needs to be rebuilt. The lines to the right are the mainline and will have OHLE installed once the track is relayed with the concrete sleepers. The track to the left is the branchline which will be the main running lines for the time being, or at least they will be once the fiddle yard is sorted out. The fencing will need to be repaired as well as a general tidy up, after some regular running, I will also be ballasting the track prior to the fixing of the OHLE in the foreground and to the right. Still a very long way to go. There have been a few new additions to the fleet, but more of that next year. Happy New Year to all who bother to read my ramblings. Mike

Looking forward to watching this develop. Regards Mike