Reddibus

Shots of a few trains at Smallwood

We never like letting anyone down.

So far this year we have attanded simlar heritage railway based events at the Severn Valley and Great Central Raikways both of which were well run and attended events. We were keen to make it a third.

Many years exoerience of both organising and attending such events showed the organisation of the event at Toddington was not going at all well hence why we did not attend.

From the Smallwood team

Sorry if anyone has gone to the duesel gala at Toddington expecring to see our Smallwood layou.

Due to an inability to confirm any of the arrangements we took the decision not to attend.

From the Smalwood team

PS the layout will still be at the Redditch show in September

To make certain everyone knows what our layout is called at exhibition we have had two name boards specially made.

The names are printed on Dibond to ensure they are as durable as possible and will be displayed at each end of the layout.

from the Smallwood team

Good news for Smallwood fans

The layout will be on show in the diesel depot at Toddington at the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway diesel gala on the 27th to 29th July

See you there ...

From the Smallwood Team

This week we tested the layout using the Z21 control system. This will be the normal dcc control system we will use on the layout. It has proved to be ideal for running our Dagnell End layout and so we will use the same system on Smallwood.

You can use as tablet or phone to control the trains via an app you download and then via a closed Wi-Fi network you can control the trains. We have found having the tablets "fixed" to the layout works best for us though when shunting trains the tablet can be held in the hand so the operator can get closer to action.

The picture shows one of the tablets. On Smallwood there is a control position at each end of the layout. We control both the trains and points from the tablet

This week we tested the layout using the Z21 control system. This will be the normal dcc control system we will use on the layout. It has proved to be ideal for running our Dagnell End layout and so we will use the same system on Smallwood.

You can use as tablet or phone to control the trains via an app you download and then via a closed Wi-Fi network you can control the trains. We have found having the tablets "fixed" to the layout works best for us though when shunting trains the tablet can be held in the hand so the operator can get closer to action.

The picture shows one of the tablets. On Smallwood there is a control position at each end of the layout. We control both the trains and points from the tablet

All our other current layouts are larger round and round configurations and we were keen to build a smaller end to end layout suitable for one day shows where we could test and trial dcc operation

Sayjng that all the exhibition invites si far are two day shows

Our own Redditch MRC show 15th and 16th September 2018

Severn Valley Railway April 2019

Stafford show February 2020

and Warley show November 2020

It is obviously available for other exhibition contact us via our web site

Another view in the early evening at Smallwood. The signal man has switched the lights on in the signal box

A view from the other end. Operationally there will be an operator at end of the layout

Certainly looks good from a distance!

 

Mike

Thanks Mike

Thanks as they say we are getting there! We plan in the next week or so to run the layout in anger in the club room to prove things all work

Tonight at Club we fitted the curtain for the first time which attaches to the layout with Velcro. We have also added the two sloping shelves one at each end for a tablet to be placed on to control the trains and points using the Z21 dcc system    

A view taken this week of the layout showing how the layout is supported on legs each with large casters so the layout can easily be moved around

Thanks

We plan to take to our exhibition in September 

details at www.redditch-mrc.com

Hi

Sorry it has been some months since the last updates

We have however still been beavering away on improving our Smallwood layout

All of the points now switch using DCC decoders and we have extensively cleaned the track to improve the running

The layout is also now back on it's own supporting legs which boost  large casters with brakes ! so when we take the layout to exhibitions we can easily move it around. One person can now easily push the layout around. This makes working on it much easier. Putting the brakes on makes it as stable as a layout on conventional legs 

Here are a few pictures of the layout taken this week

from the Smallwood team

The latest addition on the layout the interior of the shunters cabin. The building will have light fitted to show off the inside of the building.

From the Smallwood team

A couple of Class 25's at Smallwood 

A few more pictures taken this week to show our latest progress on Smallwood

From the Smallwood team

We uprated the lights in the shopping Centre this week which sets the model off far better than before

The attached photograph taken a couple of years ago shows the station canopy without the glazing

Hi

The station canopy is totally scratch built. The shape is created from curved sections cut from thick card that were used as the outer parts of cable drums. The glazing is made from plastic sheet with the glazing bars added with strips of black tape. The whole thing is weathered.

There was much debate amongst club members on how much weathering should be done but we think we have just got it right. We have put the lights in the station buildings in an attempt to brighten this area of the layout up.

From the Smallwood team

Thank you Martyn

It nakes all the hard work worth will

From the Smallwood Team

Just to show we are still making progress with our Smallwood layout. The following are a few early morning shots at Smallwood

The first shows the platforms with the GPO van delivering some mail bags and with lights on at the Travellers Fare they must be open for business

The second shows the Rusty Anvil Pub which must have had an all night lock in

All the weathering has been done by hand by the Club member who owns the locomotives

from the Smallwood team

A few more steam locomotives have visited just for photographic purposes.

so here is a once in a lifetime visit to the Smallwood lower yard

A most unlikely visitor to Smallwood. One of our Club members has just weathered the locomotive and was keen to use part of the layout as a backdrop for a picture - This is certainly a one off !!!