Jules

I've gone round the bend! I haven't done much anything to the layout (after from play) for a while now, but I have been doing that dangerous thing of thinking! I have never really liked trains just appearing through the bridge into the station without any 'build up' for want of a better word. In the layouts previous location there was no choice but for this style. Since moving the layout to a different room, the space to extend it 'round the bend' was there, so after much mental procrastination, I've decided to go for it. It means the part of the scenic bit and the fiddle yard will be in front of the window, but as it is quite narrow at that point (400 mm) I do not have any problem reaching to open them etc. The room only gets the sun first thing in the morning (on the odd occasion it shines) so I don't perceive that being a problem. The board basically curves the line round (24" radius) to the fiddle yard. If my 'planning' is correct, there should be room for a short siding into the corner, for a small dairy (oh no not another one!). I have built the new corner board, and I am reusing the old fiddle yard (cassettes). Here are a couple of snaps of progress so far - the fiddle yard is still to be fitted - now I have warmed up a bit I am going back out into the garage to build the legs for it. Seems like the LMS have been contracted to do the new trackwork...

Great pics Les. I too find painting people a bit of a pain, and I also have a box of them to do! Perhaps I might find some time now the dark evenings are here...

Captain, The train was early at all stops despite the damp - I think there is a lot slack in the timetable (as you probably know!) Not sure what the delay was - the National Rail site said delays were due to an 'incident' at Worle. That said, it didn't seem to be running as well from Exeter.

A couple of shots from Par yesterday. While tehy don't show a huge about of the surroundings, I did manage to get a signal in! While the sun was attempting to shine here, a couple of miles towards Bodmin it was damp and drizzly, which made an interesting climb to Doublebois, Hemmerdon was even more interesting!

Thank you both for your kind comments and suggestions. I think the idea of keeping it open with a few more bushes etc is a good one - watch this space!

No changes to the layout or anything like that, but the morning sun caught the layout this morning, so I thought I would take a few snaps. Not brilliant, a bit too much glare in some, but it gives a bit of a different feel than the previous piccies. Basking in the sun, as a GW BLT should! The branch passenger drifts in, no rush here A railway working ambles home as 4550 runs round in the background Jules

Can never have too many GW BLTs! Really like what you have done here - look forward to seeing more

That station building is immediately recognisable as Staverton - I'd clocked it before reading the text! Great job

Nothing to add to the above except that I think the slaters kits are some of the easiest and best around to put together. I love 'em!

That pic of #59 framed by the water cranes is brilliant

I'm only guessing, but would they have been in conjunction with the GW 150 stuff in 1985? I seem to remember there were various steam trains only the docks and to Portishead.

Hi Ric Seems like you have a similar set of wagons to build to me! I have done nothing on the layout in recent weeks - not even played with it. There was a week or so when it was 'packed away' while I had new windows fitted, and I have now moved it into a different room. It is no longer in front of a window (the window is no at the fiddle yard end and gets the earlier sun) so hopefully when there is something to photo, they will turn out a bit better! I gave it a quick run after the move to check it still worked, which fortunately it did. Jules

Thanks Les I shall look at the kit details and see if it meets my needs

Hi Les nice to see the quarry extension progressing. In your pics of the 7th May, i spy a small barn type building. Is this scratch built or from a kit? I am looking to do something similar for an empty space on my layout! Cheers Jules

Again, thanks for the kind words and 'likes', they are much appreciated Trevor - I like the idea about the barn, when the rain stops I shall venture out with the camera to photo a few local examples for inspiration. Cheers Jules

Thanks for the kind/encouraging words chaps! I am quite pleased with the way it has turned out. I wish I had put a curved corner in the corner (!) rather than the right angle, but it might be a bit late for that now. Another lesson learnt! 81C - the cows are on a bit of clear plastic, so none of them are actually stuck down. I think I had just chucked that one there out of the way! I want to repaint them into better colours for the time period - I do not think Fresians (sp?) were common or even present at that time. Another job for the list... Anyway, because I took them, here are a few more pics! Never really noticed that kink in the track before! This is the next part I want to do something with : I not sure whether to just add some more trees/bushes/livestock, or to bung a cottage or something on there.

Righto - here are some piccies of the corner of the goods yard in its new state. I have created a raised curved bank, fenced it off, added a tree to disguise the join in the back scene (I found a spare bit in the tube - I don't know why I didn't use it a year ago!), and plonked a couple of bushes down. It currently looks a bit 'parkland' rather than meadow, but that can be worked on. Looking the other way, I have toned down the bright green grass to something a bit darker and also more varied - a lot less offensive on the eyes! Some general layout shots. Showing all of its 6' length! I also found a couple of 'scotts pine' type trees in a box, so I have added these behind the station fence - I think they help to 'close in' the station a bit. I don't think the pics really do them justice. Hope you like

Thanks for your thoughts and comments chaps. Trevor - I was thinking along the same lines as you re curving into the goods yard with a slightly raised grassy 'verge', some trees, fence or hedge, so it's nice to see the same thought from a different source! Mr Hill - no problems with your 'criticism', it is most welcome, after all, how else would we improve? I have never been happy with the goods warehouse in that position (or indeed anywhere else on the layout) - but it has turned out to be a longer temporary solution than originally intended. Now my thoughts have crystalised with your help and suggestions, hopefully I will get on and improve this area and move the layout onwards a bit. Cheers Jules

Hi Jon Thanks for the reply and suggestion. I hadn't thought of the process you suggested, so I think I might experiment. The gap in the backscene is just a bit narrower than the building, so it isn't too big. Cheers Jules

Just a few more shots... Small prairie arrives with the afternoon passenger... ...and then indulges in a spot of shunting in the hazy summer sun Pannier arrives with another interesting set of inter-regional box vans! I need to sort out this corner - it's a bit of something and nothing. I blame lack of planning!

A quick update - I have added (most) of the transfers to the wagons. As they are pressfix, the numbers are individual which is a bit fiddly. The numbers for the LMS wagon are currently missing, as being only 1mm high, I couldn't face doing those at the moment. Here are a couple of dodgy pics of them in a short freight, the combination of which I'm sure would not have occurred in reality!

More great pics Les. Looking forward to seeing the quarry develop. Jules

Hi Les, thanks for the complement. The loads in both wagons are from Harburn Hamlet ( www.harburns.co.uk ). They do a wide range of wagon loads and other 'stuff' as well. They are plaster so add a useful bit of weight to kit built wagons as well. They need painting, but that's about it. Cheers Jules

Nothing done on the layout, but a couple of wagons to add variety to the fleet, an ex MR 8 ton 3 plank wagon and an SR 10 ton 5 plank wagon. The former is by Slaters (I think my favorite kit maker), the later by Cambrian. Both obviously need lettering to complete - hopefully I might get that done over Easter!

Thanks for the info - I'll add them to my shopping list!