shanks522

Looking nice 👌 very professional. So what’s going to be on the top then?? 🤔 Graham.

Hello all, little push forward this weekend, completed the track work for the new goods loop, wired, tested and then ballasted, just weathering to do. Also started pouring some realistic water in to the canal, I’ve been playing round with colours over the last few weeks and oddly in the photo it looks a lot darker than in person. Graham.

Just had an email from Rails, 66302??? Limited edition? not on there website (yet) more temptation! 🤔 Graham

Just seen the article in the magazine David, congratulations! Have followed your excellent work on here but nice to see in print. Graham.

Hello all, Not done much on the layout but have been collecting more stock! Should be reducing it!!! Another Freightliner 90 on the books has sorted the haulage problems on the gradients. cheers Graham.

Recently discovered your thread Duncan, absolutely fantastic, such atmosphere in a small space! Superb 👌 Graham.

Hello all, More of a play day today, testing a pair of 90’s with an intermodal train. I’ve been having a few issues with different container wagons, some derailing for no reason, others uncoupling on the gradients, just general annoyances that need to be sorted. One of the first things to change is couplings! I’ve tested a few vehicles with Hunt swivel magnets but because the vertical movement is non existent this was a major factor for derailments, my solution, Dapol easi shunts, these have cured 99% of the problems! Lots of testing to do but so far so good 👌 Graham

Hello all, weekend engineering work! I’ve been pondering on this for a while, trains leave the storage yard in the Up direction, once on the main layout I built a return loop to get them onto the Down line, all works ok but I’ve now developed a new scene which will hide the pointwork and I’d rather not do that. So, move the point back to the junction, this will mean I can have two trains running on the layout and bring out a new one ready to join in the Down direction, the benefit being I have no need to block the Up line. Red circle point to be removed, yellow line will be Up slow. existing. planned The point is in and wired, need to destruct the scenery a little to get the new track in place. Still very much work in progress is the new scene, all that will be in view here is the viaduct and a small station, im taking inspiration from Low Gill and features from the S&C. just something a little different and an excuse for some semophores and a 158! A short video of the return loop in action. cheers Graham.

Thanks to some advice by your good self a few years ago, you mentioned that removing the wheels and painting the face a rust colour really brought the bogies to life and it certainly has! cheers 👍 Graham.

Hello all, ventured into the loft to work on the layout and spent most of the time tinkering with rolling stock and track cleaning! I saw a post somewhere about using WD40 contact cleaner for the track, I’ve been using it for a little while now and it really does seem to do the job, sprayed on a cotton cloth and wipe on/off. Everyone’s a winner. Rolling stock wise I’ve been persevering with my RevolutioN mk5s and not much luck! Tried all the recommended things and have also removed all the electrical pick ups hoping to make them free running but still no success, can run 8 but only with a Farish 60 which struggles on the gradients, think it’s time to model Wembley carriage sidings and leave them there! 🤣 Also been playing with a 92 to try and add more weight to it, it’s better but still no good with the sleeper, I’m considering using a new class 60 chassis and making a Frankenstein 92! 🤔 I did give some trains a run! Graham.

Spring announcement in a couple of weeks time??

Definitely 👍 be rude not to add another to the collection, orange or green though 🤔 Graham.

Hello all, New loco for the new year, Another Farish 90 on the books, this one wasn’t a great runner straight out the box but an hour on the rolling road seems to have cured it, only issue I have now is haulage capabilities, it’s fine on the level but on gradients / helixes she’s not happy! Problem is with the weight of the loco, just not heavy enough! I might try to add more but running it with another 90 will be the solution I think. Graham.

Dave the cant looks brilliant 👌 nice long rakes are going to be fantastic sweeping through there. Graham.

Happy new year to all. Some more work on the depot, well turntable area. most exciting job, wiring! Not! Rather than wire droppers to each track and drop through the board I simply piggybacked them all together then dropped them at either end. Then onto placing blue tac in-between the check rail and running rail before coating the whole area in easifill. Graham.