ptrabant

Thanks all , might have a go and purchase one .

I have a couple of Merseyrail 73s from Lima , DCC Fitted . The Dapol 73 is clearly a better model and at present a great price . I wondered whether to upgrade chassis to the Dapol version and possibly fit / drop on the Merseyrail livery 73 body from Lima. is this possible / a simple solution someone has tried ? ( I dont have the skills to repaint the Dapol 73s into Merseyrail livery) .

Layout has been in storage for over 3 years , only just getting it set up again. Some newer wagons like the in-house ITB ballast hoppers have never even been tested .

The OBB layout will be ready at some point in the next year , until then I start to test all the OBB stock. I have rather big collection including some unique locos , so it may take a year to sort out the stock! some Re super detailed others are older models back in traffic , so be fair I enjoy running the mix.

Scenic fiddle yards . When you think how much space a fiddle yard takes , why not make it look like the yard / carriage sidings? here is the fiddle yard or Edge Hill “Gullet” Sidings. TheLiverpool North Docks traffic has historically gone to edge hill and the passenger services via Edge Hill , so might as well name the yard after the place.

Well it’s taken many years of dreaming , semi retirement , taking the classic car from the garage and a purchase of a second hand fantastic layout to make real progress . it’s the spirit of Alex Dock and the traffic that was in Liverpool in the 1980s. I wish I could find images ( outside of the 2 steam rail tours) of Alexandra Dock LNWR before the 1980s but after 5 years of internet trawling I guess I have found about 20 . Still here is an image of a freight trip on the layout . Lots and lots to do as I turn a rural branch into Liverpool! P

The further away from the main depots and authority then the more interesting it became . I worked at a freight location far away from authority where stories of some of the activity would sound made up. Same applied to operational practice whether driving side or signalling further away from authority working “straight up” was not always the done thing . Most books from railway staff seem to talk about straight up working , yet there was not a Class 08 in the UK that did not have the DSD “chocked” . Lots of tales from steam drivers about coal that’s for sure. f

Well I nearly sold the Austrian Narrow Gauge Collection after loosing my close friend and the guy who really knew everything about the subject . Now decided that I should really produce a new layout and not sell up . It’s only a shelf layout round the edge of a box bedroom but having a track plan is a start .

US modellers are great at doing “what if” local railway companies . Inntalbahn (ITB) is a HOe narrow gauge linking various places in the lower Inn Valley . The railway survived because it had freight and tourism . In truth there was/are several narrow gauge lines together and I have linked together into various routes . pits allowed a lot of fun , using various models to creat this fantasy Bahn .

Timber

A second hand layout and a third hand modelling amateur. Still stock that had been stored for various lengths of time is finally moving as the layout is recommissioned in its new home. There is also a major change of location and era but we will get there slowly.

Well after 3 years of being mothballed as I have been working away from UK its time to come home and start on the ITB . I liked the idea of an Inn Valley Narrow gauge just inside Bayern across the river from the Austrian Tirol that kept going on freight before a real upturn in traffic with EU money rebuilding the system . With money spent on the railways track , stock is mostly second hand and even the liveries don't match , some how its all patched together to run the timetable . The local "lander" is still expecting a new passenger service and big things . Here is an image of the main station Oberaudorf , clearly a public open day showing the passenger stock ahead of the reopening .

Just started out on planning a Tassie layout . Just managed to get some OO gauge kits and it’s a narrow gauge system ! Anybody out there with a Tassie layout?

Just for info - a 502 was wider than a 503 (interior 3 plus 2 seating against 2 plus 2) ... if you seen then side by side (apart from front ends they did look quite a bit different - hope that helps .

Well with the track going down , the stock is being sorted . Bemo German steam locos were never going to be part of the roster at £500/600 of our Uk pounds . However one older version came up at the 009 shop and whilst still £100 , the chance to have a stunning 0-10-0 was too much . So it will join the other steamer on the north branch .