mark axlecounter

Morning Tony hope you and Mo are ok. I have just been given a photo where I came first place in best kit built and best modified RTR Loco (can you recall where it was ) , it is because of the likes of you and fellow contributors on these forums who have inspired me to enhance my skills as a modeller. I’m not claiming to be up on the top ranks but I have got a few young members from our club to start building Loco kits from the kits I have acquired over the years. I hope you don’t mind putting this phot of yourself with me holding the trophy but it has inspired me to carry on building Loco kits and to help the younger generation. regards Mark This is the latest loco I built a DJH standard class 2 And this is the show at Bristol a few years ago

Cant wait to see them Mike. the pics have made me smile (first in a while ), and don't worry I am still on with the high running black 5 just had to put things to one side whilst sorting my life out buddy.

Hi Jeff, How are you doing, I thought you was moving near Lancaster or have I lost my direction . I've not been on here for a while because of work / life issues but I will get there so apologies for this.

That liz and Mark is retiring. and the shop may not be there unless a buyer comes forward

Thanks Andy I will try and come on here more but with what’s going on it’s hard I’m getting there slowly

Hi Phil hope all is well. how are you doing with this project, you said a bit ago about using foam as the embankment I can say the best thing I did was using the grey polystyrene builders blocks the ones they use for insulation. Bucks lane is full of the stuff. Easy to cut and you can use pva/Gallia glue and it works a treat. Its also fire retarded (as I found out trying to heat the roll of grass on it) Regards Mark

I'm ok just plodding on the best I can. I am at mrx in Manchester in may with bucks lane so coffee and cake sounds good. I've been a tad busy with the new job at work but I have been busy making bucks lane more busy with signals and training the operators to buy more beer . Glad you are well buddy

Just about caught up with you Andy. how are you doing and are you well. Mark

There is a lathe at my stepchildren's school, when asked do the children use the lathe the reply was "non of the tech teachers know how to use it, that's why its in the corner gathering dust ". I must admit my old school didn't have a lathe, but I volunteered on the East Lancashire Railway and helped in the standard 4 (80097) where I was taught how to use a lathe, only basic stuff but they taught me how to use it correctly.

That little room is where Emily my 4 year old goes to play while I have a good look round. Liz always speaks to Emily and spends time listening to Emily's rants . Its sad to know the shop will close but hopefully the staff will find a new job. I first found the shop 7 years ago when I met my partner Lisa she showed me the shop and I've never looked back. Sad times

And here are all the pics I have took but made them a bit smaller to get them in. I will be getting some more pics but it will be next week before I can put them on here, I will also get another pic of the control panel soon as there have been some extra switches added.

And this is the distant signal what (under the section signal ) tells the driver what aspect the IB signal is showing.

I have been working on the layout and adding more signals to it , I’ve confused my operators now here are some pics of the new additions. I must be mad This is now the first signal before the one near the cottages The colour light signal is now the IB signal (intermediate home signal) and the distance is the fishtail under the section signal

Wow Brian I remember sending you the bits and already looks the part. keep up the good work buddy mark

I got it in the end. Had to take a bit off it (the cord )

we Had it at our club years ago, where one of our longest members kept being off with the juniors. we on the committee told him if he keeps being the way he is he will have to leave. he said he would change them in the next breath said to one of the younger members “it’s your fault I got in trouble you little s*#t, now get out of my sight “ he was told to go there and then. he never came back. I understand you get a group of people in one place there is going to be conflict but not bullying. mark

Happy new year buddy , them cranes are very good, one or club members has one but his unwound it’s self I had the job to sort it out. yea it get me in knots ha ha.

This sounds like a big project. Hats off to you, but like all your other layouts it will be amazing to. mark

Happy new year Graham. wow that looks amazing but why is garsdale on there any reason. regards mark

I disappear for a few weeks and Andy has done a new layout well done buddy. how are you Andy what have I missed

Hi George sorry I didn’t get chance to speak to you for long kept getting called to sort the problems out on a Loco

Thanks buddy. who knows one day I might shock you ha ha

The run round are 10 a and 10 b it dose help the operators. the way the control panel sits works very well if I could I would of put the signal box on the up side not the down side as it sits now. we are already thinking of more signals for the layout and where to sit them.

Bucks lane has been out this weekend, to the Blackburn model rail show and it got the best signalling trophy. The crew was over the moon. Here we are at the end of the day