CovDriver

We are now about to leave Antwerp and head for a place called Pairi Daisa it's Europe's largest zoo and we'll be staying for one night in the Walrus room. But only three pics railway related for Antwerp sadly Cheers Colin

Well as I'm still off work but I'm actually on Annual leave now until the beginning of May. We have gone away to Belgium for a week out first place to stay is Antwerp and what a railway station it is. I'll get some pics later Cheers Colin

Well it's all gone a bit wrong, I had my company medical on Monday and everything was absolutely fine until the doctor checked my blood pressure. When she said it was a bit high that's an understatement it was extremely high. So I've been taken off trains for the foreseeable future until my BP comes down and it's been checked again. I'm now on medication to hopefully stabilise it. So it looks like the only trains I'll be driving will be on the layout. Cheers Colin

Managed to get a Sunday turn in seen as SWMBO and the little one are in Wales for a week. It was basically New St to Rugby and back a few times. I've got my medical tomorrow in Birmingham so that's an easy day then I'm back in Tuesday on a running turn followed by a safety brief on Wednesday, another running turn on Thursday then that's me until May 2nd but I may make a guest appearance for an additional Sunday turn. Here's a few pics from today's job. Cheers Colin

I'll hopefully be doing the same when I retire or win the lottery as we've got family now in the Blaenau ffestiniog area in particular the little village Trawsfynydd.

That's a very rare occurrence getting consecutive unit numbers. As I wasn't required to work anything at New St I've been told to go home. What a result for today's turn an early finish by 2hrs.

A lovely turn this morning with a book on time of 0510 travel pass to Birmingham international to prep a pair of 350's and run ECS to New St then it should have been New St to Four Oaks and then Redditch and back to New St with a single 323 a short PnB and then a 350 to Walsall and back to New St then pass back to Coventry. But there was an instructor with a trainee taking my turn. So I'm now spare at New St as they are short on qualified drivers. Cheers Colin

Well that's today's turn done after all it was a 0351 book on this morning. Taxi to Birmingham international then prep a couple of 350's run ECS to New st and then work the same pair to Northampton for a well deserved PnB then work another pair to New st followed by a quick trip to Four Oaks and back. Get those 323's in as the time is now running out as I'm led to believe the 730's will soon be coming to the cross city. Only one pic for today to try my camera phone a new Google pixel 8. Cheers Colin

Well I'm almost back to full strength, so it was travel pass to New St uncouple a pair of 350's ànd take one to Birmingham International and back followed by a single class 323 to Redditch then to Four Oaks and back to New St for a PnB. On the way to Four Oaks I picked up @Amnesiac I must say a top team for a single unit to Four Oaks and back. Then I had a double set from New St to Lichfield TV. I hadn't been up to Lichfield for nearly 6weeks I can't believe how quick the new houses are going up. Anyway only one pic from today just a pair of 323's at Lichfield TV. I really must get more pics of the 323 fleet before they go. Cheers Colin

Well that was an interesting 6 days at Rugby I'm all passed out now on the Class 730/0 units. Had my ride out yesterday with a driver manager it was a great day chatting about the old BR and listening to his days at Stratford depot and also learning 306 units... I will probably mostly be on the Walsall - Wolverhampton route from now on until the 730/2 units come into service then I'll have to do a 1 day conversion course as there are some minor differences on these units. As I'm rest day today I might do some modelling work on the layout. Back in tomorrow at 0351 to endure a taxi to Birmingham International to prep a pair of 350's then take the 0613 (1W12) as far as Northampton and have a little nap before bringing back the 0840 from Northampton to New St followed by a trip to Four Oaks and back. Cheers Colin

Hi all, Now that I'm slowly recovering from a severe chest infection/early on set pneumonia I've only just returned to worked I'm not firing on all cylinders just yet. That's the excuse for the last couple of weeks without pictures on this thread. next week I'm on my class 730 course at Rugby for six days I believe there is a few paths for us to carry out training runs between Northampton and Birmingham International but I'm not certain of the times as yet. Cheers Colin.

Yet another mundane turn this morning. First it was a taxi to the yard to prep a pair of 350's which had been stabled with the pantograph's down for 2days. I was expecting pages of faults once I had powered them up but surprisingly no serious faults. Once I walked to the North end of the units I could smell fresh paint. Logged it with Control and sent them some pics to let them decide if it was fit for service. As it was only one vehicle that had been painted our control decided to remove that unit from service once I arrived into Northampton. I was then pass to New St for a PnB then I picked up 350371 for a New St-Wolverhampton- Walsall- Wolverhampton- New St and pass back to Coventry. Anyway here are the pics of the 350 with some additional paintwork.

I was held up outside Northampton this morning waiting for 66701 on the ballast to come through via platform 1 and onto the up/down slow.

Was it you on 4M68 as the signaller wouldn't give me the road as it was running a little early...

Well it was a cold one this morning when I booked on at 0351 it was a taxi to Birmingham International to prep a pair of 350's and run ECS to New St for working 1W12 0613 New St to Euston as far as Northampton for a PnB Then it was the 0840 1Y15 back to New St and a quick trip to Four Oaks and back with a pair of 323's and finally pass back to Canley and walk home. Only one pic today as it was freezing so the cab heating was on full blast. Cheers Colin

My favourite 66 seen as its named after my old regiment. I was in this morning at 0351 working a rest day. Like you say it was too cold for taking pics.

Yet another farce this morning, as it was an 0427 book on it was a taxi to Coventry North Yard to prep a pair of 350's to work the 0533 service to New St that all went as expected I couldn't be bothered taking any pics as it was a bit cold. Then I was booked to do the 0623 New St to Bromsgrove service which I dodnt mind as its been a while since I've been down to Bromsgrove. It was a quick.turn around to work the 0703 service back to Lichfield TV, but it all went belly up as I was approaching Longbridge as there was an emergency broadcast on the GSMR. Problems with the overheads near Fiveways I was given authority to proceed to Northfield and await instructions. Almost exactly 2hrs later it was all OK to proceed to New St and terminate. Managed to squeeze my PnB in before a one way trip to Rugby and pass back to Coventry and finish. So here are a couple of pics from today's short turn.

That's always the way Jim the law of sod always applies on the big trainset..

Well time has flown by since my last post, been far to busy sorting DIY jobs around the house and the main reason being that there was simply nothing worth taking pics of whilst at work. But lastnight I had a phonecall similar to what @big jimrecieves regularly. Well I was asked to cover a couple of New St diagrams in particular the New St -Northampton and return parts. I also managed to get a quick trip to Soho Depot as I needed a refresher for it. There was nothing of much interest on the trips to Nothampton but did get a few pics on Soho. I took a 350 up there for stabling and as I was walking back around the shed I noticed that 730002 has had some extra paintwork applied the other unit in front has also had some extra paintwork applied. I'm back in now on Wednesday morning unless I get one of those phonecalls again. Cheers Colin

Well it's been an absolute age since any updates so here are a couple of pics to show the progress of the layout as it currently stands The main jobs I've done recently are the addition of yard lamps on there own power supply and also a ground position light signal which has been wired into the main DCC power bus feeds. But the big alteration was the removal of the sloping road approach at the front of the layout, I felt it was a little overpowering for such a small layout. The main overbridge has been modified accordingly and is 99% complete just the curbstones to add and also bus stop as its the law to add a bus on a bridge so I'm told. Anyway that's enough waffle hope you enjoy the pics. The class 20 is idling away in headshunt I could sit here for hours as the new workbench is just below the layout which for a very long time has been cleared today for some much needed modelling projects coming up. Cheers Colin

I can only think that the reason you've been to Trent Valley is because some of our services do an ECS stock shunt from City.

Dapol 4D-006-006 Class 73 73138 Dutch Yellow and Grey Civil Engineers livery DCC Fitted Another Model that is way out of my modelling area a Dapol class 73 numbered as 73138 in the Civil Engineers Dutch Yellow and Grey livery. This model hasn't been run a lot so could with a full running in session I have added the etched BR logos and the Depot plaques and I've also done the wiring modification for the headlights and I've also fitted a Dapol Imperium 21pin 4function decoder and the address is set to number 3. I'm looking for £100.00 plus postage which will be via Royal Mail signed for with Tracking. As I do with all my sales once the funds have cleared and I've posted the loco I will message the buyer with a copy of the proof of postage and also the tracking number. I can accept PayPal Friends and Family as payment but if the buyer prefers the PayPal Goods&Services then the buyer must agree to pay the relevant fees. If the buyer is attending the GETS this Sunday then I could a deal whilst there to make it easier. Any questions the please message me . Advertiser CovDriver Date 13/10/23 Price £100 Category OO / 4mm scale

View Advert Heljan (BR Blue class 27, 27102) DCC Fitted & lightly weathered. Another model that doesn't fit in plans for the future. A Heljan Class 27 in BR Blue with full yellow ends this model was numbered as D5380 but has been renumbered to 27102 and has been detailed at one with full bufferbeam detail and the other end has the tension lock coupling. I've lightly weathered the bodysides and below the solebar, all the directional lights work as they should. the locomotive is DCC fitted with a Bachmann decoder (not sure what version) but the loco runs beautifully at all speeds especially at slow speed. I'm looking for £95.00 plus postage which will be via Royal Mail signed for and as I do with all my sales once funds have cleared I send the buyer a copy of the proof of postage and the tracking number. I can accept PayPal Friends and Family but if the buyer prefers to use PayPal Goods and Services then they must agree to pay the relevant fees. (If your attending the GETS on the Sunday then I could do a deal there). Any questions then please message me Advertiser CovDriver Date 13/10/23 Price £95 Category OO / 4mm scale  

That is a shame as not on Cross city today I've the delights of New St- Walsall -Wolverhampton-New St then my favourite New St- Northampton -New St.

View Advert Dapol 4D-003-009 Class 52 BR Blue D1021 Western Cavalier, Full yellow ends, DCC Ready Here is a Dapol class 52 western in BR Blue with full yellow ends that no longer fits within my plans. Most of the detail parts have been added on the bufferbeams and solebar, the etched name and numberplates are still in the supplied bag and need to be fitted. The etched lifting eyes still need to be added they're also in the bag with replacement bufferbeam cowling and tension lock couplers. I've only ever ran it up and down a length of flexi track to see it running so could do with a good running in session. The only problem I can see with it is that one cab light doesn't seem to work but all the other lighting work as they should. I'm looking for £100 plus postage which will be special delivery with the insurance and tracking with Royal Mail. I can accept Paypal F&F but if the buyer prefers PayPal Goods & Services then they must agree to pay the relevant fees on the purchase price. As I do with all my sales once I have the funds cleared in my account the item is posted and I message the buyer with a copy of the proof of posting and the tracking number. Any questions then please message me Thank you Advertiser CovDriver Date 11/10/23 Price £100 Category OO / 4mm scale