Beresford Junction

I don't quite have the room to have a Horfield style long run, but was only just discussing with Scott I think about how good it would look with a long modern train on it. Phil

Enjoy....I did!

Yes it's mine - strangely I have loads of others but didn't have an MTA. I've always loved BRAs (oh er missus) and now have eight - yes Scott I know it should be an odd number. As you can also see, as I was discussing with Arnie and Nigel today that the underneath fiddle yard is a bit full. Phil

After spending all weekend playing trains on Tidworth with the boys, I thought I better update on what has been happening down at Beresford Junction - simple answer is not a lot in terms of the layout but there have been some arrivals: I've got some more EWS steel stock and a little wagon you might have seen elsewhere... A couple more '47s have arrived and are awaiting the return to their era before making an full appearance. Obviously that they have their headlights switched off, and are just showing their indicator lights - surely everyone knows that. And for the up to date Network Rail era, this little beauty has turned up in the post - thanks Neil (Class 66), it looks great. Phil

Another couple of shots of Tidworth today - a great layout that you should all see for real. First a Sunday engineers train basking in the early afternoon sunshine (between about 3 and 3.30 we had sun via a skylight onto the end of the layout) - note the point rodding (is that what it is called) bottom right. Hang on - how did inappropriate wagon get there.... Thanks Ian for letting us play trains on your layout for the last couple of days. Moving pictures currently being edited and uploaded, although a lot has ended up on the cutting room floor due to inappropriate background noise from the 'operators'. Phil

A few photos of events yesterday - great fun, but very stressful remembering the loco numbers, routes, ground signals, reset the ground signals, stop loco before crashing...... Off for day two now.

Thanks - You are sort of right. There was a station, then there wasn't, then there was again, then it wasn't - there is a pattern emerging..... The current state is back under construction/waiting for me to finish the track work and power into the works. Phil

You go away for a couple of weeks and look what happens - the new passenger service from Beresford Junction has proved such a success that 'The Management' has decided to hire in some Mk 3 ex-Virgin rolling stock to run an additional service starting next week. You never know a station may even get commissioned one of these days. Phil

The spotters were out early this morning and managed to catch the inaugural running of the "WAG Express" service from Beresford Junction. Of course I now need to invest in some lighting for the coaches. Phil

Thanks Scott. Turns out that the coaches were the wrong way round - see http://www.flickr.com/photos/33923436@N07/6881859626. Should be first class half of carriage town end, then the buffet then the rest of them - presumably so the peasants don't have to walk through first class to get a buttie..... All now in the right order after a bit of shunting: 67002 arrived on time from Margate and after arriving on one of the service roads coupled up with the coaches ready for the early morning service tomorrow. Phil

The evening maintenance crew were busy last night connecting the carriages in preparation for the start of the service later this week, although they were somewhat confused as to the order to connect the carriages - please let me know if they are in the wrong order. (note the mandatory bus on the bridge) 67 002 is booked to run light engine from Margate to Beresford Junction today.

Sorry, can't do Friday - someone else will have to be responsible for 60-63

The service is booked to start later this week - the only slight issue is that there is no longer a station for it to run from - perhaps passengers can jump on as it goes down the helix All I need now is for Hornby to get the DVT shipped and I'll have the full set.

I see the dock side is taking shape, and that the builders have quickly knocked up some houses on top of the tunnels - fast workers. Phil

Now there's a thought.....

If only I spent some of the time messing about with video cameras and YouTube actually doing some modelling..... DB Schenker class 66 collects the first of the Arriva South Wales coaches in preparation for the upcoming service from Beresford Junction to Cardiff Central. The banging/hammering in the background is my son 'helping out'. Phil

Hi Kevin I've finally got round to editing and uploading the video I took the other night. Cheers Phil

Hi Kevin Thanks for the hospitality and company last night. I very much enjoyed my time allocated to the docks area and limited to macros 60-63 - about my limit. I really love the three (and a half if you include Millway) in one layout. A couple of shots I managed to grab of the goings on.... Phil

Evening all, and I've had a bit of a spring clean. After a few weeks of inactivity, I've finally managed to get some time to work on the layout, however as you can see, my first job has been to have a bit of a tidy up. I've got my list of jobs - starting with extending the fiddle yard and wiring up the new depot area - no more playing trains for a bit then.... Phil

The overnight engineering team did some heavy lifting and removed the body. As you can see not much in there, hence why there isn't much pulling power. Also no lights fitted. A bit of weathering added - starting to look better already. Enjoy Phil

Evening All A bit of info on the delivery today from the Merseyside area. Not sure what to think really. On one hand not bad for £70, i.e. a third of the usual price, but on the other, it's like back to the 1970's It is really light, and could barely make it up the helix on its own, never mind pull anything. It also looks really plasticy (although I'm sure with a bit of weathering this will go away). I think it will be a great addition to the yard, and will be good for shunting/messing about (which is what I seem to spend my life doing), or just idling in a siding. Phil

Erm, should I STOP ?

66101 is caught on the ECC CDA run in front of the part dirtied shed. I think I might need to clean some of it off once it's dried. I've also plonked the newly painted shed #3 in place - dirt applied to the nearest end. Phil

First coat of paint now applied to the building and for a change, a nice bit of Farrow and Ball Estate Emulstion - "light blue". I have also done a quick stocktake of road vehicles and found that I already had both of the Oxford Diecast items I purchased in Stafford - oh well, you can't have too much. Now just waiting for the paint to dry - will it dry faster if I watch it? Phil