bescotbeast

So far I've only managed to find a glimpse of a Prestwin in 1965 on this video at 04:01 I've never managed to find any pictures anywhere showing Prestwins at Oakamoor.

Simon, it warms my heart to see that people really enjoyed Pendeford Yard. I enjoyed building the layout and learnt some lessons along the way. Hickmans glass works was named after my good friend Richard Hickman who I worked with back in 1998 when I started with Railtrack. Overtime elements of the layout bugged me, and I did try and effect remedies to the issues that arose but the point was reached where I wanted to do something different .So after much thinking and discussion I made the difficult choice to scrap the layout. My new layout as I've said before is one I did dabble with briefly back in 1995ish, back then I based the track plan off pictures and I had no access to WTTs or trip notices. This time around I've managed to source track plans, WTTs, pictures and some anecdotal stories from people who worked the box, I'm hoping this leads to an "almost" accurate portrayal of the location. Cheers Simon

Very kind of you.

It's been a very longtime since I posted on here but with the changes that I've made I thought I'd explain in person. As Mark stated above , I did a rebuild by removing the upper section of Pendeford Yard, this was partly due to operating issues and also trying to find the spark I had when I first built the layout all those years ago. After the rebuild I was frankly still looking for that "buzz" and after a month or two the penny dropped that I still wasn't satisfied with the "new" layout. I come from North Staffordshire and have always had an interest in my local lines, seeing that someone produces North Staffordshire Rly signal boxes over on shapeways got me thinking. Back in the early 90's I'd attempted to recreate Milton Junction as it was in the early seventies, it's always struck me as an interesting location for anyone with an interest in freight. The layout died during birth but the idea always stayed with me. Finding that someone produces Knotty boxes kickstarted my Milton Jcn layout idea. The layout would be set during the 1974 period, some compression with the track layout would have to be made. To add extra interest Leek station was saved and retained an hourly service to Stoke station. The Bullers industrial insulator factory just to the North of Milton station, which had used Rail, was still using the railway to transport in china clay and export it's finished products. Likewise, the old British Aluminium site across Redhills road that had been taken over by, I think Johnson Brothers, also used the railway to export it's finished products, giving me a reason to run a tripper to Milton and undertake some shunting in-between running trains through the layout. So after formulating a plan and some sketched plans, I went to Mark and told him of my idea, then it was to see the Boss to get her blessing. Once I'd done that, it was a month of track lifting and scraping the baseboards. It was sad to see Pendeford Yard go but after 10 years I felt like a change of era and location. I will get round to posting some pictures on here to show what's been done but for those of you on FB here is my new page Down the Junction | Facebook

February's edition of Pendeford Yard today will air at 15:30hrs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klrFjaAm4ao&feature=youtu.be

Christmas is coming and Bescot Televisions Christmas edition of Pendeford Yard Today will premiere at 16:30hrs this afternoon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1biZMiU7ms&feature=youtu.be

Many, many Happy returns to you Andi, the presents look great you lucky duck.

nice brace of 37's Andi, great to see you've got 37501 finally.

Looks good Andi, nice choice of name.

yeah at work at the moment mate.

some nice additions and upgrades on the layout Andi. Simon

I hear what you're saying but the bad feedback and the comments posted earlier put me off.

The 58 looks good Andi and your Large Logo 47 looks at home.

I'm tempted to obtain two of these for a Speedlink working but the customer service and price put me off. That Barrier van is the wrong colour, it should be the same red as the BOC symbol, £65 for an inaccurate respray is terrible.