CazRail

Thanks for the suggestion! Like that, a building a bit like that in Warrington Arpley perhaps 🤔

Having had a few days to mull it over, and following discussion with some friends, I've decided there are two, but not limited to, possible routes at this stage, a Flask terminal, or a Wagon Repair Depot. I've made up a few possible track plans using AnyRail, so thought I'd share some on here. Flask Terminal Each trackplan has a similar idea with the main line, which is single line up to the station. The idea being, it does carry on through a bridge, but is disused. This plan allows the train loco to run round it's train. Wagon Repair Depot These require a shunter to be used, to release the train loco as it shunts the wagons around. These are my ideas so far, but is by no means final. Thanks, Caz

Having had an invite to this year's Anglesey Model And Collections show in April, and having hit the buffers on my Amlwch branch layout, I've decided to start a new layout to take, which will probably be a 'work in progress' showing this year. As is usual for my layouts, parts of it will take inspiration from various locations in north Wales, although won't be based on any location as a whole. The breif that I've set for myself is: Single line terminus, to hold 2 coaches. A set of sidings, with a reason for them to be there, i.e. an industry of sorts. Use a tunnel as a scenic break, and an under bridge spanning a river. Have all points motorised and working signals, using DC control. Baseboards will be 2x 1200mm x 400mm and 1x 900mm x 400mm lasercut boards from Grainge & Hodder. The fiddle yard/staging area will take up the majority of the space on the smaller board. Hoping to use Peco code 75, with a mix of bullhead and flat-bottom rail. I would really like to include a tunnel portal similar to Blaenau Ffestiniog tunnel, and a bridge similar to the lattice girder bridges on the Amlwch branch. The plan is to get the track down, structures built and some scenic work done before the show.

This came as a bit of a shock. I have fond memories as a child browsing Model Rail magazine looking at Hatton's 4 sometimes 6 full-page adverts, dreaming about the collection I could have in the future. Now, a lot of my stuff has come from Hatton's, from Hornby, Bachmann etc to their own Hatton's Originals brand. Such a sad development.

Thanks for the update Mike, this is very encouraging. R.e the horn, I don't think this will really notice, as Bachmann's 158 is the same in that respect.

In terms of modern units, I’m wondering if Revolution making the 175s and 180s and Dapol making the 323s might just break the mould and open the floodgates for more to be made. Units like Turbostars, 185s, 313s etc are screaming out to be made.

Love that second photo, how the track is hemmed in between all the different structures.

Looks like the decoder is under the air conditioning unit on the roof by looking at the 180. I'm so pleased to see these EPs, I've been waiting for a model of the 175s since I had my first train set on my 7th birthday back in 2001! Looking forward to seeing more detailed photos.

Merry Christmas to everyone! So another year is close to ending, and it's been another year of projects. A highlight for me was finishing the Anglesey Aluminium PAB coke hoppers, which will soon be joined by their intended traction, in the form of the Cavalex 56s! Other highlights include a class 150 and 158 painted into TfW livery, Bachmann Class 37 re-numbered into 37420 The Scottish Hosteller, and a few other bits and bobs. So in 2024, it'll be more of the same... - Spray up a class 60 as 60026 in GBRf/Beacon Rail Leasing livery, this one is a project for @JackB95, and has been in the queue for a good few months. This will be the first into the paint booth in the new year. - Re-chassis for 150144(FNW) and 150256(ATW) to update them inline with Bachmann's latest 150s. - Complete lighting upgrades to ATW 57315. - Refresh ATW mk2/3 WAG set, using my existing Mk2s, but replacing the Hornby Mk3 with an Oxford Rail example. - Continue weathering the fleet, as and when. Hope everyone's had an excellent Christmas, and wish all a very happy new year! Carwyn(Caz).

I quite like Peter down in his man shed. I followed his guide for one of mine. It's a shame it happens though, almost as if the motor's carbon brushes are of a poor quality perhaps? When i run mine, I feel almost as if there's an inevitability for it to happen. Still love the Accurascale 37s though, and can't wait for some EWS ones to be announced 😉😉

37423 in Compass livery would be a winner for me, other than that, it's EWS-era 37s I'm looking forwards for.

There are more than just a few people who are interested in a First Barbie 175 or 180, just not enough at this stage to justify the production of one. I'm one of them, but I totally understand the situation, and have ordered the Arriva versions as they fit my timescale aswell. I'm glad to see that other avenues are being explored though, as it would be a shame for the Barbie ones not to be produced. If all else fails, there is also another option, which is a respray(which I understand is more do-able/affordable/desirable for some than others), which is the option I'm currently exploring as a last resort.

What about... 56049 in Transrail Dutch https://flic.kr/p/X67arE

The Ginsters 158 arrived safely first thing this morning, and is now in the running in process. Here it is alongside 158845 in the sidings.

37422 weathered to 2008-ish condition. The paintwork on 422 was starting to get washed out, albeit kept reasonably clean. Matt varnish did most of the work here. Some subtle black panel line wash does a huge difference on the yellow ends and grilles.

We were diverted to a fault today unfortunately! *should* be there tomorrow. Is there any indication on when they're due into service?

Didn't want to give it away in my earlier post, saw it running today. If all goes according to plan, I'll be working between Talacre and Tyn-y-Morfa tomorrow and Friday.

Ill keep an eye out, I'll be working further up the line on Thursday and Friday.

I remember these passing my house, and they're bang in the middle of my modeling era, so how can I not get one?! Goes perfectly with my Central 158 that I've re-branded to Wales & Borders aswell. Also ran a few years into the Arriva Trains Wales franchise, so won't be out of place alongside one of Revolution's forthcoming 175s.

Just been taking the first few steps of preparing 37422 for weathering, and had my ViTrains 37405 alongside. Of course, detail-wise there's no competition, but shape-wise, the ViTrains example certainly stands up! Now, when will Accurascale announce an EWS loco?! Regards, Carwyn

A new arrival today, Bachmann new tooled 37, 37422 in EWS livery. A nice model, but I think compared to Accurascale's offering, has a couple of drawbacks. Eight screws to secure the body is overkill(are screws even needed?), and the cables/plug socket connectors between the chassis and body let it down. The biggest let down cosmetically are the miniature snowploughs. I've not bothered with the Bachmann ones, and have chosen to fit Accurascale ones to 422. Takes a bit of chopping here and there, but it's 100% worth it. There's even holes, like on Accurascale's model, to take the side ploughs. When I get the chance, I'll fit the rest of 422's front end detail, then weather it to 2008 condition. For me, atleast, Accurascale's loco takes the battle of the tractors.

Not a recommendation for a model, more of something that could be incorporated into locos. To ease the task of wheel cleaning, a socket of sorts underneath the loco connected to the pickups, into which you could plug in a cable from the track(via crocodile clips maybe?). This could allow you to run the model whilst upside-down without having to hold bits of wire or such to the wheels with one hand, and trying to clean with the other.

A little bit of speculative layout planning this afternoon, whilst I get over another dose of Covid, has led me to re-visit the idea of an Amlwch branch based layout. Looking through the book 'Anglesey Branch Lines' by W. G. Rear, and a DVD that I recently bought has inspired me to look at Amlwch station. A little session on AnyRail resulted in this track plan... I've worked out, that for a decent representation, I'd need a total board area of 4.5m x 0.5m minus fiddle yard, which isn't so bad. The fiddle yard board would only need to be about a meter, as the layout would only handle small trains regardless. I'd be looking at using laser-cut baseboards for this. I'd be basing the layout from 1960 to 1964, so would have a mix of Ivatt tanks on push-pull and freight and various DMU types. And of course, Rule 1 will also apply, so an EWS 37 might just appear. Modelling it nearer it's closure means I can model it a little bit run down, things like track bacoming overgrown, near-desserted goods yard etc.

In an ideal world, I'd love un-numbered EWS 37s, but of course detail differences etc make that a bit difficult if you're after a particular loco. It's a nice idea though.

Apologies if this has been asked before, will the decoder and speaker be available separately to upgrade the locos later? Thanks