Nathaniel

Regrettably I have some very bad news for this layout. It has been decommissioned in haste due to a panic attack. I had recently purchased the peco levers I mentioned in a previous post, along with some plastic tubing to control the points by wire in tube underneath the board. Yesterday i went to operate the layout when on of its odd difficult to overcome quirks decided to play up. One the y point which served the two main sidings directly after the right hand point, rather actually the fishplate joint for one track between the points, would only work when pushing the track on the right hand point down. After about and hour if trying to remedy the issue, i have given up on getting this layout running. Not been feeling great lately, coupled with this issue I have taken apart the layout and saved as much as I can. Really enjoyed running the diesels i have, which are now in storage. Had decided a while ago I will keep these which meant I had thrown away their original packaging. Given current circumstances and last year having to use most of my savings to support myself through two operations while away from work, is likely to be a while before i can start a new layout.

58039 and 67018 has received a bit of weathering using my DCCconcept weathering powder. And a drone view of the 67018.

Hello, After an accidental break of another light, have removed the two lights i have broken at the bases. Have two others from my original purchase which i can use to replace them with. While doing this after deciding that the levers next to the points look bad, after also breaking one, i have removed these however I do need to vacuum up the loose ballast around where they sat. Have seen some point levers online that i will plan to get to replace these. The planned levers are the, Peco SL-428 OO-9 Gauge Dummy Turnout/Point Lever's. Here is some photo's of the points of interest from the post.

Thank you @rob D2 Appreciate your post alot.

Been finishing the security fencing today. Some of the holes are not clear of glue and as my hands shake at the best of times not attempted to use a pin vice drill to clear the affected holes. Couldn't get all the way up to the right handside low relief unit. You'll also see infront of the back of the back of the warehouse some missing security wires, maybe someone has been cutting away the wire. Before pictues, And after pictures.

Recorded a video of a short running session. Regrettably have no sound and one of the turnouts decided to play up a little with the blades not connecting.

They look great, seen them in situ in various locations in the southwest, never been able to find model versions. Great find, hope to see them on your layout.

Your current project is really looking great. Hiding the corners really works well.

Hello all. New locomotives have found their way in to my collection. Have numbers 67003, 67018 and 58039 all arriving in the sidings while 66209 is in the depot. The 66 awaiting its service to be finished before heading out for duties. While all 3 locomotives await in the yard, with 67003 next to go in to the depot. The 67003 does not have its fittings in place yet, and found that the motor was loose which is now rectified. The class 58 seems to struggle to find power while travelling over the points or any of the slight curves at slow speeds. Not sure why this is the case, though it only has 2 pairs of effective power feeds. Meanwhile my class 56 has been finding more use, however it still does not run well. It is nice to get it in to the yard visually though. Now with 7 locomotives I am looking to see how to make a puzzle out of the layout. I remember a layout a few years ago that used a card system but i cannot remember the layouts name. It would be great to try out any suggestions provided by the community. I hope you all enjoy, would any of you like a video?

Very nice to see more work on this layout Luke, inspirational. Enjoy your layouts.

No real news, the new electrical changes are working. Plans i have currently involve: 1 getting some depot internal equipment including some lighting. 2 buying either a class 58 or a class 67 in the new year. 3 buying a walk about control and wiring it to the layout as a dedicated controller. 4 complete the security fence. Have no further plans yet however that could change.

Thank you so much. I sent a picture to of my layout to a friend and they thought it was a real place at first. 66209 is very nice model, and is my 37704. Have used little bits of weathering powder on them all, even the 66209 which was preweathered. Your comment has motivated me to install a switch for the most forward road, to all me to turn it off and then run in or out another diesel on one of the two lanes. Included a couple pictures of the wiring overall with the close ups of the new switch fitted in after the overall pictures were taken.

Hi all, just a quick update. Earlswood is in storage right now. I did get the couplers and not yet installed them. One thing i find frustrating with operating 0-4-0's is that they'll find issues with the track where there is none. The smallest one i have will one moment go over a length of the track no problem, then do the same exact track again and stop every few cm's and will find electric again if i tap the baseboard or the loco. Is very exhausting and takes the fun out of operating Earlswood for me.

66209 entering the depot for a check after its long night of duties.

Just popped on again and see none of my photos have come back. Recently taken my beloved layout from storage. A few plans to upgrade it but nothing major. Fit the controller from the other layout to this one being the main one. As with times getting tough i will look towards selling my other layout, offers welcome in pm's. Anyhow, heres a couple photos of Ember Lane.

Today created cards for each movement I have created a short story for operating the layout, with simple 2 to 4 steps for each of the 9 trains throughout the day. The exchange train is mainly an excuse to operate any goods, as well as coal works. With the way I have numbered them, I can easily create a random running session quickly using just a sample of the typical trains. I would be able to do this by shuffling the card and draw 2 to 4 (or more) to determine which trains I'll run and from these drawn cards, collect the movement cards specific to that train. Easily done with the cards numbered 2.3 for example, 2 being the train so just need to find the other 2. cards to get its full movement order. So if I drew two cards 5.1 and 8.2 I just get the other movement cards for each train and away I go. Otherwise, I can put them all in order, maybe slip any leaving movements after the next train arrives. Oddly this used up two suits, and I do plan to use a card system toward my other layout. Another nice photo, the last t rain of today ready to leave.

Took these photo's last night before sleeping, to capture the layout at night. And 3 rabbits hidden in the darkness of the night.

Is so easy to build and create lovely little layouts where space is very limited. Looking forward to your own creation.

Another update, have installed the controller and placed 4 of the lights. Have also added a switch for all the lights using 2 of the pre-existing holes from Ember Brewery.

Made some recent purchases with two arriving today. Firstly a model W controller which I am fitting with a little amount of re-wiring and two new holes being drilled to accommodate the install. I also have received 5 lights which will find homes on the station and yard areas. Whilst working on the layout the water crane has. One loose and considering it replacing it somewhere else, maybe at the start of the platform.

Here is my first attempt of making a video of some of the operations of the layout. New to video editing and just noticed while typing this message up that there is still some hand of God moments. Note: all the grass Tufts for popping up the uncouplers have been removed for various reasons including they come loose, prevented me from using the smallest locomotive I have, and causes frustration with some rolling stock either derailing or just uncoupling even under full tension (yes I am looking at you two 4 wheeled coaches).

Thank for all your tips. Viewing all the advice I will plan some stage to get some screw link and 3 link couplers. When citing them, they'll appear on one end of of one or two of the diesels and on the VGA van and any newer rolling stock for Ember Lane Depot first and see how it goes. Regarding Earlswood, I'll review that at a later date. However, mentioning Earlswood I am giving up on the Tufts already used to decouple the tension lock's. Some just pop up even under full tension. Other times the coupling doesn't even find the tuft. So already made a little hook to manually pick up the coupling bit, to decouple most of the shunting work, getting torch to attach the hook to though, haha.

Doing a little short running session today, found that I can have one train waiting to leave while another arrives. This is only doable with the point accessing the loading dock running into the dock, so even if it is a passenger or goods train it needs to push forward, have the point switched over and pull a little in before running round. Only had it running in with a goods train so far, but can see how this might make sense for the lines two coaches and maybe, maybe the visiting GWR passenger coach.

That is a great link. Given that Ember Lane Depot would only have the odd excess VGA, and Earlswood being early steam in era, I would only need the normal three link, unless I am wrong about the latter.

May I ask what is the difference between instanter and screw versions?