mark axlecounter

Well done Simon on the best layout and best N gauge you deserve it. well bucks lane is back at the club and I want to say thank you from us (the motley crew ) for having us there it was a privilege to go. We got the signal engineering trophy for excellence in signalling. I’ve already though about more signals on the layout watch this space. thanks again mark Towers and the Bucks lane crew

I can see myself lol

Well bucks lane is packed and ready to go in the van on Friday. It will have the new curve sections for the show, so if you are coming say hello and comment on the layout please. mark

I am privileged to be bringing Bucks lane to this years show, I’m looking forward to it.

Well how do buddy yes long time no see how are you doing. How is the family and most important where the h#ll have you been. thanks Jason for the kind words yea it was a shock in on my birth month and also the 70th anniversary.

Thanks Brain. it was good to speak to you tonight

Andy I have my copy and I’m over the moon with it. paul you wanted pics of the control board hope these are ok. the N and R means normal and reverse I still need to do the off and on symbols but I have tried to replicate a lever frame

Hi Andy hope you are well. sorry for the absent from me work and life getting in the way again. You have done a grand job on sms keep up the good work and the pics

Hi Paul, I do have some photos of the control panel I will try to put them on here in the next day or two.

Thanks all it has changed since the phots were taken

Thanks Paul it was a shock

Well it’s been a long time that I have been on here but I have been busy with other things like work family and life just non stop, but there is light at the end of the tunnel (no pun intended ) lol. bucks lane is in the November issue of the railway modeller I’m over the moon with it and.

I went yesterday as a visitor and what a show, well worth a visit. Both martin and Pete said I will be there next year with my weathering demo even if I’m kicking and screaming ha ha. I couldn’t do it this year because of work commitments.

Thank you. I will be there next year with spray guns in hand ha ha. Mark

I’m still angry that I can’t make it. But I might be down on the Sunday morning before going to the course. I would love to do it next year I WILL be getting the time off. Sorry Mark Towers

Thanks, You are right that you don't see them often on a layout. I wanted to put them in not only to look the part but to see if I could do it. They are c&l chairs glued onto peco bullhead sleepers (the guard rail is c&l to). Even straight viaducts have guard rails. Mark

And here is the curve with ballast and guard rail in place

Hi all who has been following this topic, sorry I have not kept it up to date but I have had things getting in the way. ( I keep saying that but it’s the truth) I have now done 95% of the new curve just need little bits to finish it off , but here are the latest pictures and I am happy with how it looks. Any comments are welcome (good or bad )

It's people like my self who show there stock or layouts at shows who tried to capture the era they model in, but I never saw the 1960's so most of my information is from books, internet and people who was around in the 60's. I went to Bristol show last year with a friends layout but ran my stock on it. I had an inspection saloon I made and weathered it running on the layout and Tony came up to me and said " the cleaner would of had been given his cards for letting the saloon out in that condition" , so I thanked Tony for his advise and now it has been cleaned up to represent a clean inspection saloon. And how to apply replica railways lining on it to. I always appreciate comments and respect the information given to me, and if I can improve it or try to get it right, We do need people to steer us in the right direction. My English is terrible but I try. Mark

I have a photo of the same Loco with top feed at the front and with the self weighing tender that’s why I did the model. Confusing isn’t it when the real Loco gets modified ha ha. The modelling in the signal box will stop , but I knew that when I went for the job. But I can do them at home from now on and concentrate on Bucks Lane on Monday’s and open days when I go to the club.

I can build my kits at work still. Well at the moment but I have had some good news. A few months ago I applied for another job ( still on the railways ) the position is for mobile operations manager. Well I got it and I am just waiting to be released to go to mom school then the fun will begin.

Thanks Andy I have had this idea in my head for years but didn’t have the guts to do it until now. BL is going to the lydcc show in may so this has to be done by then. Nothing like a deadline to get the blood going ha ha

I went down to the club on Monday and did some work on the new curve section. Here are some photos of the new curve but it’s still work in progress the front of the layout is comming from the right

I was at towneley roasting in front of the fire. Back at Horrocksford next Thursday to Saturday

I did noticed someone on the pic spot ( we have a name for the stone wall ) 4M00 reverses to the siding but if it’s 6M90 that runs round in the siding. it is a good job but I am a relief not a resident signaller. I do hellifield, Horrocksford ,Daisyfield ,towneley and Bamber bridge. Lots of modelling to be done.