Georgie!!

Evening, I know I haven't done a update for a while on the fuelling point, but nothing has changed I'm afraid. The layout is still stuck in storage, but the fleet still keeps growing. 66775, 66783 and 66780 are the new 'celebrity' locos to join. I do have another four but haven't had chance to photograph these yet. With the whole house move saga going on it has given me the chance to start planning a future project and it's rather taken off. A depot building is currently in the early stages of being built and track plan being drawn up and mapped out, currently looking at being 16ft long all in all. Oh, and it's a real location. But, I will reveal more about the project once I know its construction is certain and begun. All the best, George.

Hi there, There will be one soon on some new locos that are going to be joining the fleet in the next couple of weeks. I'm afraid I have been busy with my house and things over the past couple of months. The layout itself is still in storage for now, but a new home is to arrive soon for it. There are also plans to either increase the layout or even a fresh larger layout to house my class 66 fleet. Hopefully the next couple of weeks I will have something to show. All the best, George

Hi, I am requiring the Bachmann GBRF 66731 model as I am wanting to model more of the GBRF fleet. Preferably with original box but still happy to be contacted if not. Thank you, George.

Hi Nick, The latest photos of your stock are great, John's photography is top notch! Looking forward to seeing your new layout progress. All the best, George.

This is a great layout, some fantastic attention to detail. I will follow with interest. Cheers, George.

Hi Mark. Thank you, yes I haven't had much time at all to myself I do get the odd half or when something interesting maybe passing through the local station. Gosh, 6months has gone quick! There are still a few more to add to the fleet, some are in the works and a couple more waiting to go in. To be honest it was a total surprise for me, if it wasn't for Andi Walshaw letting me know I would have totally missed it. Cheers, George

Hi Nick, thank you. Although the layout was out for around 10mins it was nice to see it again. I need to catch up on your thread. Cheers, George.

With the layout still in storage and various modelling bits in storage boxes packed up and the house saga still on ongoing has meant for no proper layout updates just stock updates and I'm here with another stock update. Some of you may have seen photo I posted on the Kernow model centre thread of there new Bachmann release of GB Railfreight 66709 'Sorrento'. The printing quality of the ship is fantastic along the sides, I'm also going to add a DCC sound chip to the loco. Although I do already have 709, the re-sprayed loco I have is now in line to be painted into another GB loco to join my ever growing fleet of class 66s. I haven't had the chance yet to fit its nameplates, pipework and deflectors to the loco, once I have chance I will do so. The other new loco to arrive is another new Bachmann release GB Railfreight loco 66711 'Sense'. Again, it is already a loco I have, but I purely purchased the loco to replace the version I have as that loco doesn't run well at all, just stop starts all over the place. Most of it is due to it being a 8pin chip version and before was a Freightliner model and quite an old model, so its fair to say was a rookie mistake on my part. Both locos were just fresh out there boxes and plonked on the layout for photos. Also, I have been a little busy doodling new trackplans for a layout. It has slightly come to my attention that with the amount of locos I now have a new larger layout is required to house them all, hopefully 10ft should do it. The current layout isn't going yet until at least the house saga is over! That's all for now, Cheers, George.

I pre-ordered mine thinking it was a pre order but postman delivered it the other day, but it says on the website when I checked back that they are not in stock yet? Either way its a superb model with the ship printing along the sides. It also comes with etched nameplates too. I have yet to detail it with its accessories pack. Cheers, George.

Hi all, It has been a while since I last updated the thread, but I'm afraid there still isn't really an update on the layout as such. The layout is currently sat in storage for now whilst we still try and move house, also our second baby arrived the other week, so modelling time is pretty much gone. I am still, however, having the class 66 fleet worked on and more new locos resprayed to join the collection. For a while now have been muttering on about how there will be other loco classes than just class 66s to break things up a little, I can now say its finally come true! After searching around the internet I have finally found GBRF livered 20901. The loco was a little cheap as it needs a little work doing to the outside, mainly on the loco numbers, logos and the TOPs panels as they seemed to have all been scratched off, also I'm wanting to get both buffer beams fully detailed and the loco weathered too. Just need to find some class 20 spares. Whilst I had the layout very briefly set up, I also took a photo of 66704 stabled in the siding: That's all for now. All the best, George.

I managed to see two workings through Brighouse station this afternoon. First was GBRF 66732 working as 6M37 from Arcow Quarry to Pendleton Brindle Heath passing at 16:08. The second was another GBRF working, but this time was the usual Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Aes with 66713 in charge, 6E10, passing at 17:07 running 14 late. 66713 has been on this working for a while now as I passed it on Sunday stabled at Tuebrook Sidings.

A couple of workings through Brighouse this afternoon. First one was Freightliner 66618 'Railway Illustrated' on 492Z Fiddlers ferry power station to Ferrybridge power station with empty HHA's passing 15:56 running 15mins late. Note the graffiti on the front of the loco. Then 12mins later, GBRF 66725 'Sunderland AFC' passed through on 6M38 Arcow Quarry to Bredbury Tilcon with a fully loaded rake passing at 16:08

DRS 66426 was working from York parcel sidings to York parcel sidings, 022V, with what looked like a rail measurement device attached to the front. There where some blue laser type lights running along the rail tops. It seemed a little unusual working as it passed through some stations, like Brighouse, six times and plenty others. Here I photographed it passing through Deighton at 14:42, in typical weather conditions, heading towards Huddersfield station where it terminates and awaits time before heading back to York parcel sidings.

I was over in Leeds today and decided to pop by the Freightliner Midland Road depot, plenty of stabled class 66's about. Here are a few that I could photograph starting with 66571 then 66520, 66546. There was also 66513 behind 520. Also at Midland road was 66413 in de-branded DRS colours with Freightliner logos on the cab sides, stabled with 66591: After the trip to Leeds, I just got home in time to catch a GBRF biomass working through Brighouse at 15:57. 66742 was the loco today:

Hi Nick I have just been catching up on your layout. Got to say I love the latest photos. The class 68 looks right at home on your layout too, looks a stunning loco. Look forward to future photos. All the best, George.

DB 66238 was working an engineering train from Milner Royd Junction to Doncaster up Decoy. I managed to photograph the train as it past through Deighton station at about 10:15.

Nothing really to report on the layout I'm afraid, I have been a little busy with work and family. I have started to do a little work on the warehouses along the backscenes of the layout. A couple have been stuck to the backscene in there final position, and one other has had a roller shutter door fitted, just now requires painted with the rest of them. I will leave you all with a photo of 66732, 66779 and 66719 stabled in the sidings together on a quiet Sunday afternoon. That's all for now, all the best, George

Hi Marcus, Certainly sounds and looks like it was. You have a great selection of locos. I like how the intercity 37s snake about until they reach the fuelling point, looks loads of fun to operate. Look forward to future updates. Cheers, George.

Another loco fleet update today. Firstly, 66732 'GBRF The first decade 1999-2009 John Smith - MD' had to go back to Doncaster depot for repairs on its headlights due to faulty wires. 732 has now re-entered traffic in full working order. Two new locos have been assigned to the Fuelling point now making the fleet a total of 26. The first loco to arrive was 66708 'Jayne'. I wanted this loco modelling as its a bit of celebrity having brought the last class 66's to Doncaster and also my missus has the same middle name too. Here is the loco waiting permission to enter the fuelling point: The other loco to join the fleet is 66737 'Lesia'. I like this loco for the giant 37 on the side of the loco. Also, note the red highlighted wheels and around the buffers too. Here is the loco arriving into the headshunt to stable in the bottom siding, no.1 siding: 66748 has now gone for repainting to be updated. Although I do love the loco in grey livery, it was starting to bug me a little knowing the real version had been repainted and also named too. 704 and 746 have both also gone for some attention. There is also another loco to be assigned to the fuelling point, but more to be revealed in the future. There hasn't been any work on the layout this week, mainly due to me back at work. Hoping to get sometime soon to progress a little further with things. All the best, George.

A snap of 66725 'Sunderland AFC' preparing to leave the fuelling point in the afternoon sunshine with 66743 stabled in the background: Cheers, George.

Hi Tom, Thank you for letting me know with regards to the logo. I noticed on the photo from Marcus that 779's small GB logo on the front looked different. I'm going to have to look out and see what changes are made to the fleet of class 66's. Thanks again. Cheers, George.

Hi Mark, Thank you for the information regarding the brambles. I will have a look on your thread and certainly look into giving them a go. They sound fairly straight forward to make, and very effective. Thanks. Hi Marcus, I love them! Thank you very much for the photos, really appreciate it. Great photo of the fuelling point too, it will come in handy for the future. Here's a photo of my 66779 'Evening Star' filling up before heading out on 4L22 working I would just like to thank everyone who has liked, commented, followed and helped me with my layout over 2016, and wish you all happy new year! All the best, George.

Hi Marcus, Thanks, but don't worry I have removed the main ones that had gotten weathered with the track and no longer looked like weeds. I still have more to add, but maybe not as overgrown as Peterborough depot lol. I would like to add brambles and buddleia bushes to the layout, but I can't find anyone that makes them. The photos would be great, especially of the fuelling point. They would be most appreciated mate. Kind regards, George.

I haven't very much to report on the layout, but I have been working slowly on it over the Xmas period. The main news is that I have been adding fresh ballast around the tracks, especially where weeds and grass seemed to take over. The reason being is that I felt I had gone a little crazy with the grass and thrown it pretty much everywhere, but after doing more searching I decided I needed more ballast and less grass. Also, I realised that I had gone a little crazy with the weathering of the track and it wasn't looking as fresh as I wanted it to, so hopefully this should do the trick. I have, also, been adding more Wills Kits yard lights and CCTV cameras around the fuelling point. Although the yard lights are non-functional I'm planning on adding some tiny LEDs to these so that pretty much the whole layout will be lit. I still need to wire up the lights around the fuelling point yet. The work on the backscene is still on going. Most of the materials and scenic items have now arrived, just painting and gluing into position is to be done now really, but still a lot to be done. After that little update, I will leave a photo of 66702 'Blue Lightening' preparing to leave the front siding: All the best, George.

Hi Marcus, Thank you for sharing the photos of 743, I do like the livery on these locos, but I still need to see the real thing. I also need to get a photo of both my 743 and 746 together on the layout. All the best, George.