Balloon_726

Wolverhampton MRC Exhibition 2013 - Show Report Hello all, just recovering after Thornton Gate's appearance at this years Wolverhampton exhibition. Im very pleased to announce it was a fantastic success, and I can not praise the Wolverhampton Model Railway Club enough for there professional and organised approach to running this show. The new venue was fantastic, we could park and unload really easily, floor space was more then ample, we were fed and really well looked after by the club staff, and I even got 2... yes 2! plug sockets ready and live right next to our allotted space! So if your reading this Wolverhampton MRC, your should be very proud and what you achieved, and I wish you as a club all the very best going forward :-) Down to the business at hand. All in all we had a very good show, no real failures of any tram cars, very positive feedback from the public and I even got to do some operating for a change! Above: A busy yard! The new upgrades to the layout for this show have really come into there own, here an additional 'hired in' EWS class 08 shunter joins the resident '04' on the rear line, P'way car no 701 working solo again for this show is seen also stabled in the yard, whist the ever popular 'Kit Kat' centenary class tram no 641 passes on a north bound Fleetwood service. It should be pointed out that this time both Centenary cars ran perfectly during the two day show, a far cry from the normal predictable failure of at least one of them, sister car 624 doing the honours last time at Stockport! Above: Speaking of 701, during the exhibition Thornton Gate had a visitor in the form of John Marfleet's version of Balloon 701 which normally would traverse the rails of Huncote Tramways Johns own N gauge UK tramway exhibition layout. His version of 701 originating from the same mould as my version. Seen here lined up in front of mine for a photo. Above: As John's 701 was also fitted with a DCC decoder, it seemed only right that it go for a spin on Thornton Gate's rails, with Mr Marfleet driving of course! Above: Also, on day two widened Balloon car 719 was bought over to the exhibition for a test run after being out of use for some time. After some testing before we opened to the public, it was pushed back into life and used some of the day, seen here waiting on the down line in the station area. So overall a very good weekend, everything worked very well, the layout looked fantastic and we even had our first visiting tram! Next stop for us if our final outing for 2013, that being the Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury Exhibition on Saturday 23rd of November 2013.

Final Upgrades and the Wolverhampton Exhibition Hello all, just a reminder were appearing at this years Wolverhampton MRC Exhibition on November 2nd and 3rd. This will be the first show since Stockport back in August, this has given us time to get the remainder of the major upgrade work done early, allowing us to show case the new developments within what's left of the 2013 season and ahead of our very packed 2014 season. Above: So first up we have a new 'Sound App' which i've custom developed for Thornton Gate using extracts of audio recorded at the real location and of rolling stock movements in the area. Now im finding along with DCC, Sound is becoming an increasing demand from the public and when done well can really add another dimension. Unlike most systems which use expensive on board chip sets, Our system uses to discreetly placed stereo speakers, which are plugged into a PDA computer running the software, sounds such as traffic and trams are then stereo balanced and played over any stock movement. How well this system is going to work is anyone's guess, but having fallen in love with the idea when I saw a smilier 'atmos sound' system in used on the layout 'Grange Over Sands' http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/image/3467-grange-over-sands-1jpg/ I knew this is what I wanted for Thornton Gate, but in a more random and interactive form. Above: The new look! A lot of work has gone into improving the exterior of Thornton Gate, making it more contained and framed better. Thanks to a new top board we now have new strip tube lighting replacing the old spot lamps and tubes. The side panels help to hide the fiddle yard and make us operators feel less overlooked, in addition we now have a large blue fabric area to help raise the back scene making the fiddle area less exposed. Above & Below: Cosmetically the main layout has also received some attention in the form of new custom printed back scene elements, which have been printed onto self adhesive paper and attached onto the boards. The buildings are taken from photographs of the real location and so are 90%ish correct. After being blended into the foreground scenic with the application of scatters and paint, the end result is really quite good and really helps to lift the layout and give it a real sense of depth and grounding. So all being well and tram fleet back together, Thornton Gate can be seen next weekend at Wolverhampton.

Thanks very much... yes 167 is the prototype im using and trying to re-create, its one of those that it just seemed a good idea seeing the amount of scrap brill shells that had built up! Must do another update as its coming up quite nicely... Thanks for the info...

Pantograph Cars, and our summer break. Hello all, realised its been a while so thought i'd do an update. Its been a busy summer, I have been grateful for the break in our exhibition schedule, this has given me some time to work on the much needed updates, ahead of our return to finish off the 2013 season, starting with the Wolverhampton MRC show the beginning of November. I will post again soon, about the layout work, but for now I wanted to share a little ongoing project... A 1923 Blackpool Pantograph Car. With some of my other projected delayed or on hold for now, Thornton Gate is in need of more single deck vehicles, currently only having the two Centenary Class cars (when they work!). So I was looking at the large amount of scrap this project has produced, such the numerous Brill trolly body shells, and wondered if they could be used for any Blackpool prototype. The solution ... A preserved Pantograph Class car. Brill trollies have been used before, in the form of our previous engineering car No.753, which despite being re-chassised a number of times was a complete liability and so was withdrawn at the end of our 2012 session being replaced with Balloon 701 which is more prototypical and due to its brilliant TM-03 chassis, much more relabel. 753 was then broken up for spares and has existed as a half broken up shell in my scrap box ever since. Second time lucky? The Brill trollies do look a little like Pantograth cars, and with a bit of work the main body shell can be 'de-Americanised' to give it a more 1920's European look. 753 is also going to give up its tower for the new project. One of the key things to do was to capture the shape with in the confines of the existing body shell. One of the ways to do this is to remove the front window frame to give a move wider modern look. Above: Left the original 1800's looking American Brill trolly cab, Right: The windows widened out with the curved framing removed. So very much a work in progress. I have tried were possible to keep the car intact. Brill trollies were not manufactured with the best plastic, so tend to be thin and either brittle or very soft. Originally I was hoping to keep as many of the window supports as possible, but as none of them line up with the new required window layout of 6 large windows per side, almost all the original frames had to be cut out with new plastic strip and panelling sections built into the shell to create new window frames and to add strength to the car. In addition attention has gone into the roof, which on a Pantograph car has the raised vent section sloped at each end. To replicate this I have cut away the end sections of the vet area, filed down the undersides then reattached them pointing down, once filled and sanded this should give the smooth curves required for roof profile of the prototype. Above: A lot of work required, the soon be be Pantograph class tram seen here with its new TM-03 chassis unit being test fitted, even if it was to remain as a Brill trolly I would have still replaced the chassis. The side frames (which will be pained green) have been selected due to there closeness to the prototype, however they work and look best if fitted upside down! So are due a little bit of modification. I dont know when I'll get this ready, im hoping soon, maybe ready for November, just have to see how it looks once sprayed in primer. As for the rest of the layout... watch this space! Another update due very soon!

Addition: Just thought id add some detailed side shots of 701 and 708 in there very distinctive Virgin Trains branding (Shortly to be removed)

Stockport Railshow 2013 : Report The end of our busy summer season has come with TG's outing to Stockport. For me this has to be one of the best but oddest shows we've done to date, but never the less a really positive experience. It was a bit odd carrying the layout though the subway at Stockport station but oh well! Above: So lots happening during the day Including the naming of a Virgin Pendolino by Mr Pete Waterman! This of cource ment the crowed has really gathered for the show so we knew we were going to be busy! Above: DB also entered an exhibit in the form of Class 60 no. 60020 which stabled in the station for the duration of the day. Above: And if all this excitement wasn't enough 45231 made a pass though the station on a live rail tour! WOW.... Above: So despite all this going on Thornton Gate was still billed as the 'Main attraction' as seen here on the notice board half was down the public subway that connects the stations platforms... no pressure then! Above: As before! Anna sits with the layout as the doors open at 10 AM, for this show id linked up a Netbook computer to show looped video of Blackpool and other related contact throughout the day. Above: Due to the level of excitement at Virgin and the work they'd done in promoting us, it was only right that we returned the favour, so the night before the show and sadly a little pushed for time Balloons 701 and 708, which have been working in multiple for most of this season were giving 'one off' Virgin Trains Stockport branding, with this photo being rushed over to Virgin the night before. Above: Jubilee 762 was also given temporary Virgin banners for the event, in addition to the balloon cars the stunt went down very well indeed! Above: Scenes of other stock during the day in operation, we only had two failures these being 719 (gauging issue again) and 624 (Electrical failure). Although these failures were annoying, they were not that surprising considering the back to back nature of the last 3 exhibitions we've done, having been somewhat pushed for time. So deep breath and a rest is now the order of the day, Stockport marking the end of 2013 summer shows for us, however we can announce an addition to our schedule, this being the Wolverhampton Model Railway Exhibition on November 3rd and 4th (TBC) this in addition to out final show of 2013 at Bayston Hill Shrewsbury at the end of November. We have lots to be getting on with repairs and upgrades so keep posted!

Our next show back up north! Stockport Station 4th August 2013

Show report : Cambrian Railex event in Oswestry A busy summer season for us, having just got back from doing the Cambrain Railex show in Oswestry, Shropshire, A really enjoyable and busy show heres some of the highlights. Above: This event had been very well planned out and advertised including at the preserved station site were the show was being held. Above: The Cambrian Station in the town played host to this show, the organisers making the most of the heat wave of recent weeks by placing most of the trade support outside! A brave move! Above: Our corner in the ticket office! Yes we got a whole corner to ourselves, which I was most happy about, Anna seen here at the start of the day with the layout set up and ready for the days running. Above: Before we turn our attention to the layout, just wanted to show the pic of the platform outside with the LMS 20 Ton brake and shunter in operation giving rides though out the day. Sadly I did not get a chance to ride this one due to the fact we were so busy. Above: So on with the show! This was to be a long one with doors opening at 10AM and not closing until 5PM which is a late closing time for most exhibitions, anyhow here is 147 and 762 on the down line at Thornton Gate Station. Above: Reliability of the stock has now improved, we had no failures at all during the show, this allowed Balloons 701 and 708 to stay together on the works train all day, seen here shunting off the centre road and back across to the yard sidings. Above: Balloon 710 is seen on the up road station area now sporting a new Tomix chassis, the car did a valiant service all day. Above: Also working very well, Centenary 624 retuned to service with it new Bachmann PCC chassis, seen here approaching Thornton Gate from Fleetwood. Above: The final runners of the day as 5PM loomed, Balloons 710 and still fitted with its original brill trolly chassis Balloon 726, the two worked a skeleton service, whilst everything else was quietly packed up in readiness for the mad rush to get home. During the day the local paper (The Shropshire Star) took a photo of myself with 726 for an item in the following days edition, not the first press coverage we've had and I some how doubt the last! It can be viewed online here: http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/07/22/full-steam-ahead-for-fun-in-shropshire-sun/border-21rail-4/ Above: And finally a little gift the layout was presented with by the exhibition manager, a solid cast replica railway works plate, a very nice item indeed but a bit to large and heavy to put anywhere on the layout its self! All in all a very good day, a few things to sort out and repair before we head off to our next show, that of the Stockport station rail festival on Sunday 4th August.

Its Show Time! (Again) **Warning Post Contains Workbench Content That Some Views My Find Distressing!) Hi all, its the middle of July ... the hottest July for some time and quite a contrast from the appalling weather at our last outing in Blackpool. However It time for Team Thornton Gate to hit the road once more with show number 3 of our 2013 exhibition season, that being the Cambrian Railex event in Oswestry, North Shropshire. Now as this is relatively local to me, I was up at the station site the other day, taking a few photos, so can show what to expect on the day. Above: The Brake Van (LMS 20T) and industry shunter loco as mentioned in the poster, this will be operating off the platform for the duration of the event. Above: End of the line, a place that I doubt will be available come running day, but this is were I think the train will run to before pushing brake van first back into the main station, so I reckon a 10-15 minute round trip, as with Crewe last year it will be nice to have a ride on a 4 wheeler! So if the weather holds should be a good day! doors open at 10 AM Oswesty Railway Station, Shropshire. Right, no TG photos in this post as I have been hard at work getting the stock, after the long list of failures during the last show. Above (from left to right) Widened door 719, Re chassised 708, Brill based 726, P'way Car 701, and failed Brill based 710. Above: One of the first major jobs was to deal with Centenary 624 this split gears again.... It was going to be pulled from service due to the poor state of the PCC chassis, however luckily I was able to pick up a band new Bachmann PCC (right) for just £5 as a token gift for doing Totally Transport. This tram forms the donor chassis unit to replace the one under 624. This ment the awkward process of wiring the unit and switching the DCC decoder over. After testing this should allow a more reliable 624 to re-enter service for the remainder of the season. Also of note is the difference in scale between 624 built to 1:148 scale and the PCC built to 1:160 scale hence it look a little small against 624. The problem also occurs with the busses in the top right of the photo, they should be the same height! Above: Balloon 710, which also failed has had its Brill trolly replaced with a Tomix unit in line with 719, 708 and 701, 710's original chassis is seen (Left) ready to have its 8pin DCC decoder removed and re-wired to the tomix unit (Right). In the mid shot the now scrap PPC unit out of 624. Above: 710 fitted with its new Tomix chassis, awaiting testing and the refitting of its under cages, hopefully the tram will be a lot more reliable in the future. Brill trolly wise this just leaves 726 and 761 running on theses units, however I think come the end of the season I will switch these over as well ready for 2014. Right well thats it for now, I will try and do a TG layout update before the weekend.

Its was good to see you as well Paul , do let us know when you get around to building that Balloon :-)

Thornton Gate at Totally Transport 2013 June 23rd saw Team Thornton Gate head its way to Blackpool on invite of the Totally Transport Festival, which is held each year at the Solaris Centre, New south promenade. We were to form part of a small model tramway exhibition which formed one of the attractions of the day, the remaider of the fetisval including vintage bus and car rally was to happened along the prom. However..... The weather was utterly appalling with driving rain and gale force winds battering blackpool, when i did get a change to look out side all i could see were a few busses lined up getting covered in salt and grit being blasted off the beach! So this ment indoor exhibitions such as us were unusually busy , and hence here we are all set up and read to go for 10AM after battling the conditions to get Thornton Gate out the car and indoors! Above: New for this show where custom printed T-shirts in our adopted corporate blue style complete with TG insignia as seen here modelled by myself and Anna. I admit I was very tired by this point and was running on energy drinks, we had been up since 4 AM! Anyway down to the business of the day ... Running trams! As always we give our fleet a full service before going out on show, for some of the fleet, mainly balloon cars, this is already there 6th public outing since first appearing last year, so as you can imagine the 1:1 scale miles are starting to clock up! Above: Running well, reactivated Jubilee 762 returned to action for Totally Transport and is seen here on a up working being passed by vintage standard car 147, both cars representing the corporate green liveries of Blackpool Transport. Above: 719 the widened balloon car was again borrowed for the show (its not part of the TG fleet), It however surprising was the first failure of the day despite being fitted with a better Tomix chassis. The tram body slipped down jamming the bogies and due to its width with the widened doors become out of gauge for the layout and was oddly hitting every pole and fence on the layout! So regrettably 719 stabled very early on the centre road for the rest of the day as failure no.1 :-( Above: As the day wore on discipline began to get shaky to say the least! not mentioning any names... ANNA cough cough... Above: With 719 and now Yellow centenary 624 the later failing with gear issues (Again) my team ... not helpfully suggested quick fix tram replacements ... Ha Ha NOT FUNNY! Above: As planned Balloons 701 and 708 had worked together on the p'way train for most of the day, however as seen here passing the now increasing line of failures, the pair were split up and leaving there wagons in the yard sidings and spent the final part of the day running independently in active service as cover for the 4 expired trams. Seen here Kit Kat Centenary 641 had joined the cue along with sister balloon 710 both were having electrical issues with 710 being completely dead! 710 is now likly to be the next tram to be fitting with a Tomix chassis to replace its Brill trolly which as done well over a year of service and has failed before. Above: with the centre line getting a little jammed to say the least, Standard 147 took its crew break in Thornton gate yard, the re-patching of the concrete rail sections had worked very well with 147 not stalling once whilst working this section. The show finished a little early so we could battle the elements and the increasing winds! and get home. As we had made good time we took the opportunity to do a bit of sight seeing. Above: Bolton Car no. 66 seen as we drove past stabled in the gale force winds at North Pier station. Above: a quick evening visit to Rigby Road depot, were two boat cars which were ment to be used during the day had been shoutering from the storm. Now something a little bit special to end our day... James hadnt been to Thornton Gate so on our way out we stopped off, bearing in mind we had the layout in the car.. so Thronton Gate actually went to Thornton Gate! ... odd I know but had to be done :-) Above: Parked in Thornton Gate yard entrance, with Thronton Gate (the layout) seen in the back of the car! Above: So i'll end this long post with a view of old Thronton Gate station as it is today .. or was when taken on the 23rd June 2013. All in all a very good show our first Tram only event, It was very nice to meet so many RM web users at the show :-) We're out again in under a month when we do the Oswestry Cambrian Railex event on Sunday July 21st at Oswsetry Railway Station.

Hi, thanks very much, yes i do remember (once you'd mentioned the 5 year old) Nice to meet you both all the same.

Totally Transport 2013 Probably one of the busiest shows this years for us is almost here! And with any show the weeks leading up to it are normally spent trying to stick your layout back together! Thornton Gate is no exception! Above: A busy scene at Thronton Gate Due to other commitments I've not really had the time to bring rolling stock and other updates together, however I few improvements are almost ready. Above: First off, welcome back 762, the incorrect styled second Jubilee tram. In its short time since being built early last year, 726 has been in and out of store and has been robbed for spares giving up 2 chassises and DCC decoders amongst other parts, Since failing at the end of last year it had been reduced to a shell, however in time for Totally Transport 762 has been repaired, given a new '3rd' chassis and fitted with a Kato pantograph. 726 has also received some cosmetic attention hence the odd coloured replacement headlight! Another area that im now addressing was the reliability of the yard lines and point work, which for the past year has been somewhat overlooked as the mainlines have taken priority, so I have now started to dig out the groves and test trams running over the little used lines, hopefully allowing stock to use the whole of the rear most line if needs be. In the next few days a fresh coat of paint will hide the white of the plaster were the rails have once again been dug out. Above: Tram trains concept: So for this show we'll be trailing a full tram train with 701 and 708 working in top and tail formation with the p'way trolly wagons, seen here stabled in the yard, 701 has also gained a snowplough for that common occurrence of a June snowstorm ! Hopefully this will add some interest to the layout and keep the operators happy! The train has been trailed and pending any failures 701 and 708 will work together in this formation for the duration. Above: Another view from the yard road way entrance with of the p'way tram train stabled in the yard surrounded by contractors clutter. Pantograph down... 708 waits for a tow home..... So Thornton Gate will be at Blackpool for the Totally Transport festival from 10:30 this Sunday (June 23rd 2013) at the GLOBAL ROOM SOLARIS CENTRE, NEW SOUTH PROMENADE Hope the locals like us.... Wish us luck!!

Craven Arms 2013 Exhibition Report. Saturday 4th of May 2013 was Thornton Gate's first outing of 2013, and im pleased to say it all went very well, for the first time no major technical failures or tram breakdowns. Above: Plenty of space! Sam & Anna man the layout. Above: Jubilee Class 761 arrives at Thornton Gate station. Now sporting its new Kato pantograth unit 761 is 1 of 5 trams to retain Bachmann US chassises, as we have found with the exception of our two Centenary Cars which use PCC units, the remainder of the Brill units have now stabilised and for this show were running very well, so It's been decided to put back replacing the chassises for now. As for the Centenary Cars... well both were running but began to have issues come the end of the day with 624 sounding very sick and looking like its in the verge of splitting a gear once more! Above: Sam on the master DCC control unit, showing the fiddle yard loop lines around the back of the layout, and a number of trams waiting to go on front or being withdrawn early such as the two Centenary cars, although technically not failed. Above: And finally, New balloon 701 with its P'way trollies in tow. Refurbished 708 in green and cream is seen running on the opposite line. Both these cars, along with Sam's 719 were fitted with our new Tomix chassises, which were being tested under exhibition conditions for the first time, and all performed well, apart from a slight issue with 701 which picked up a bit of dust in its driving bogie which jammed it. Luckily it could be removed and looking to have done no damage to the drive wheels (such as splitting a gear) so 701 was able to carry on for the remainder of the day, but will be fully cleaned and inspected before our next show. So with a successful opening show, Thornton Gate is next due at Totally Transport festival, Blackpool on June 23rd 2013.

Thanks, Always try my best to keep these forums updates during the year. As for a cheerful look, well just trying to do something a little different :-)

This Saturday (4th of May 2013) Thornton Gate is attending the Craven Arms Model railway exhibition, the first of 3 shows we're attending this year in our home county of Shropshire. For the first show of our exhibition season this year we have bought a number of key upgrades to 'the gate', to help improve cosmetic appearance, interest and reliability. Above: New for 2013 and ready for service, Standard Car 147, (my attempt of converting the old Typhoo Matchbox toy) and dedicated P'way balloon 701, which has had some modifications to give it it's 1993 rebuilt look, The tram is the first to have standard type couplings fitting under the cabs allowing it to be used with wagons whist not affecting its over all appearance. Tram 708 which has also gone thought a rebuilt and is the only other tram to be fitted with the same configuration, and hence can be used in the same way as 701. Above: Talking of wagons... here is the new wheel wagon as used in Blackpool, scratch built and based around a single US 'model power' bogie, the cable drum its self is from Peco with the side fences and end steps from old 00 gauge diesel after market etchings such as Class 37 side frost grills! Above: And finely, also ready and making its debut is flexiy widened balloon 719, built by my brother Sam, and as with 701 and 708 it is fitted with a Tomix chassis, but dose not have the coupling configuration set up like the other two. So we're almost packed and ready to go! everything works (Hopefully) and myself and the team are looking forward to the weekend! Well that's it for now... do come and see us if you can, Doors open at the Craven Arms Community Centre, Shropshire at 10:00 AM.

Exhibition Season Arrives! Battle of the Pantograths and Thornton Gates new sister! Hello all once more, I can finally confirm our Exhibition calendar for 2013. The first show will be Craven Arms, Shropshire which is on the 4th May. (I wrongly suggested it was the 4th of April on my last post) So with only 2 weeks (ish) to go its full steam ahead to get everything ready for the start of our season! Hence the work bench area has become rather full of late. Above: For those who are interested I'll run though whats going on with what.... From Right to Left 708 (Green & Cream) After looking rather tired at the end of last year, 708 is the first of the original exhibition fleet to receive an overhaul. (see below for more details) 719 (flexi Purple) Not my tram, but a new project from my brother Sam and his Princess Street, layout which will form the sister layout to Thornton Gate. 719 has widened door pods, rebuilt front end as the prototype and will again be fitted with a Tomix Chassis. It will be used this year on Thornton Gate. 701 (yellow) My new P'way tram replacing the odd ball Brill trolly we used with littel success last year, fitted on a Tomix unit the tram will have standard N gauge couplings allowing it to link up to wagons and trollies. 147 (Green & Cream) Still only in its cream base coat, 147 will be my first Blackpool standard car built from one of the 1950's Matchbox typhoon tram diecast toys. Having been extensively modified and rebuilt 147 will be powered by a heavily striped down Kato short chassis. Above: Above a more close up view of 708's re-fit, It will be fitted with a new Tomix Chassis replacing its Bachmann Brill one, as well as major cosmetic attention, including a part repaint and the application of fresh transfers and replacement bumpers. As seen in this shot pantograths are also going to be replaced. Here 708 test demonstrating a Kato unit which ive adopted as the new standard replacement for the scratch built wire ones we had been using to date. Above: So which is best? For his stock Sam has gone for sommerfeldt pantograph units, where Ive opted for the Kato ones... which is best? its hard to decide so we'll have to see once the new trams come online and the re-ferb of the older fleet is complete.

A trip to Blackpool, Gearing up for the 2013 exhibition season & A right of passage Right its been awhile (mainly due to have limited internet access!) but with that issue now solved its time for an update ahead of Thornton Gates first outing of 2013 next month (April 4th). So end of last month (March 2013) my self and Ms Fellows embarked on another trip to Blackpool, It was bloody cold! and other then flexies no vintage tram action However the opportunity was taken to return to the real Thornton Gate, to see what was happening and how the site had changed in the past 12 months The former station area now with revised closed trackplan remained mostly as before, however fencing has now gone up along the yard side including the blocking off of the point that would run into the yard. The yard its self was still being used for tramway supplies store but with no tracks in the yard , the contractors had also vacated by this time. This the view looking back though the old station area towards the new Thornton Gate station platforms in the centre distance. And finally a view of Rigby Road depot all locked up, A number of Balloons on shed during the week we visited, sadly none came out to play! Now as for Thornton Gate the layout... well...... We're gearing up for April 4th and the Craven Arms exhibition this the for runner before we take 'The Gate' to Totally Transport Blackpool on June 23rd (TBC) Now something I have been working on for the new season is a working model of Blackpool Standard 147, based on the old Match Box diecast toy, Now considering im doing N gauge trams and most use this toy as a base for there fleets it came apparent as a 'Right of Passage' I must have a go to! So not be be left out here is my very unfinished attempt at converting a Match Box diecast toy into a new Standard class member of my fleet, once primed and painted I hope it will look the part, Here it is stabled on the centre road with balloon 708 for scale and reference. power will be provided by a heavily striped Kato chassis, which like the rest of my fleet will be wired for DCC. at the moment it still requires a lot of tweaking and test running before it can be added to the Exhibition fleet. Hopefully with some warmer weather on the way I can get around to painting and finishing some of the new stock ahead of April 4th!

A scary looking box arrived today.... but inside that box it was utterly awesome! Imported from japan a new tomix chassis which im looking at being a more relabel replacement for Bachmann brill trolly units, and one of the few that are of similar wheel base and dont require major modification. Above: Tomix (top) vs Brill (bottom) Wiring for DCC was done in all of 4 minutes, with in 20 minutes of arriving the chassis was wired, fitted under a spare Balloon shell and now on test on Thronton Gate, all being well and moneys pending i'll be ordering more and start phasing out brill trolly chassises in the exhibition fleet. As for the new balloon, once complete it will be the 4th in my fleet, numbered as 701 and used for exhibition P'way duties and as a test bed for other developments and modifications.

Thornton Gates first outing for 2013 is confirmed.... it will be Craven Arms (SALOP) show on 4th May... Getting ready for a hectic exhibition season, been working on the missing buildings, now almost finished the 'Entertainer' warehouse building adjacent to the station area. The chain link fencing is also half done... just need the other side painting and gluing in place. Work continues .... Our 2013 exhibition calendar will be announced shortly, once I've got a few more shows confirmed!

The bad weather of the past day or so has given me the opportunity to start looking at Thornton Gate yard and p'way stock. Originally Thronton Gate was chosen because of its p'way depot, however over the past year, the mainline areas and tram stock have taken priority, leaving the yard underused. It was originally planned to have a number of tram, plat and ex BR rolling stock operating as 'hire ins' for the fictional contractor 'Brill Engineering' based loosely on Blackpool's 2011 upgrade where Bam Nuttal took over Thornton Gate as there base... It was my plan to bend the rules a little and introduce rolling stock types that ive seen photos of being used on other tramway and metro lines upgrades over the past 20 years or so.... Above: A busy 2013 in Thornton Gate yard, Balloon 726 visits , Industrial class 04 shunter can be seen with works wagons on the back of the far line. Its also important to give more action on the layout and more weird and wonderful things for the paying public to view and watch, opening up the yard and adding rolling stock such as shuntable wagons and locomotives adds more interest for the operating team as well... during 2012 we found on slow exhibition days we got very very board of just driving trams round and round. So adding a 'play factor' for operators helps relieve boredom!. So Ive got the farish 04 shunter working and now branded along with some peco wagons with 'brill' logos, also adding other items such as vans and trailers... with more to follow in 2014. Above: Brill industrial shunter with ex-BR vac piped opens ready to leave the yard for the weekend works site. Above: Some of the wagons forming part of the 'Brill Engineering' private owner fleet. The LMS brake van is used as a observation car when the train has to propel for long distances, it can also be used as a mobile mess, crew transporter and tools store. This model was converted from a farish SR van, when I was about 14... it now has a use once more after sitting in a stock box for the last 10 years or so. Above: One of the temporary tram wagon flats, standing in until i get around to custom building the trolly wagons Blackpool use. This wagon currently is towed by the engineering dept US Brill trolly car, which like the wagon is only temporary untill i get around to replacing it with a Blackpool prototype. At present the plan is to run Thornton Gate with an active yard and p'way stock during 2013, hopefully it will be well reserved, but I am aware they will be a few that due to its 'modellers license' basis will not like it... However its the wider paying public that I feel Thornton Gate must cater for, whilst still being professional and plausible in relation to operations and the stock we run.

Its 2013, first time back working on the gate. After new year and xmas is over I finally get back to Thornton Gate and assessing what needs doing to ready the layout for the 2013 season, and well... the list of things some minor some very major is growing by the day! priorities have to be of course the upkeep of rolling stock, infrastructure and the general cosmetic appearance of the layout. At the end of 2012, some ware and tear was beginning to show, Mainly from the tram stock with some members having failed during our November outing and others just showing signs of being carted about over the past year, myself having taken items of rolling stock out to show people, separate to the layout. Another priority was to finish the layout as must as possible, prior to our first outings of 2013, mainly this ment looking at the buildings and sheds many of which were still not built leaving large empty areas, mainly around the station end of the layout. Well after getting back to it today, one of these empty spaces has been filled, with the completion of the missing station 'sub station' hut building. Above: This is the prototype taken in April last year, the building is of a very similar pre-war prefab construction as the main station house building, even being painted the same awful pink colour! Above: And my version, now finished and glued in place, it has been built using the same digital card print method as used on all the other buildings. A still to be repaired and incorrectly numbered 624, poses for the photo. The tram requires a new truck after splitting a gear and jamming at the 'Puffin' exhibition in November. Else where ive been looking at sorting out the numerous vans and p'way items the layout requires so hopefully some kind of order will be established this year! Above: Busy scene at Thornton Gate Pway yard as a road convoy enters the site, Blackpool route master engineering bus bringing up the rear. Above: And finally with all this talk of snow and cold weather ... and partly inspired by developments at Blackpool, with there snow plough fleet, here is a rather tatty looking 708 with its new plough stabled in Thornton Gate yard, The photo was extremely difficult to capture... this is N gauge remember! 708 will probably have some work done to it to freshen it up a bit before going back out on exhibition this year, if or for how long it will keep its snow plough is another matter! So work has began once more! Exhibition dates will follow when confirmed but its looking good with some big shows on the cards for 2013 and even bookings for 2014!

Right its taken quite a while... But Ive just uploaded my presentation I did in early October about my Thornton Gate project to the Association of Shrewsbury Railway Modellers. So If you got a spare 40 minutes then please enjoy 'The Making Of Thornton Gate' http://youtu.be/Qk1rC7ucgC0 Happy New Year! see you in 2013?

Just wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas from all of us at Thornton Gate N gauge tramway! Above: Balloons 708 & 726 working together, battling though heavy snow at Thornton Gate on clearance duties heading up to Fleetwood. 708 is fitted with a custom scratch built snow plough which can just be seen in the snow ! It was as fun as it looks to shoot this scene :-P Merry Christmas!

Last tram! Thornton Gate calls it a day for the 2012 exhibition season. Well after 4 shows starting with our debut in July we did our last public showing of 2012 and what will most likely be my last blog update until the new year, so big thanks to everyone that has support us and helped the team and myself in getting this project off the ground. Ok so whats been happening well...... Thornton Gate got into a magazine! well ok a small local rail society news letter but hay its a start! Above: A very small article appeared in 'Abbey Lines' SRHT's local members newsletter (It might have something to be with being based in the same building as them! ) The other big news was our outing on Saturday 24th of November to the Shrewsbury Puffin Rail Day at Bayston Hill. Despite it clashing with the opening Saturday of the Warley Show at the NEC which is only about an hour or so away from where we were, the show as packed, at times the crowds were 3 deep around the layout! Above: Set up in the main church, we had a prime spot and with just me and Sam operating, we were kept busy all day. Above: Still much work to do, new centenary class 641 waits on the down line at the station area. Above: Yes a new tram! Built by myself but now owned and funded by Sam, the gates second centenary class member 641 in Kit Kat red livery, this its first outing, the varnish was still drying, having only had its custom transfers fitted the night before! Above: Despite sounding 'sick' for most of the year balloon 710 performed well and has kept going being surprising reliable. 710 is seen here using the centre road to reverse and head back towards Starr Gate. Above: Far less reliable were 642 which had suffered a split gear (mechanical failure) and for this show a recently re-introduced 762 which had been out of service having given its trucks and DCC chip to 642, now on a new set of trucks and fitted with a 8 pin chip it failed with some sort of electrical problem.... in fact both trams had failed with in the first half hour of opening. And because the yard was somewhat full, both trams were left on show on the centre line for the whole day, This left just 6 working trams to run at the show :-/ Above: The final staged lineup of 2012, taken in the last half hour of the show... just before the final tram of the season! A lot more to be getting on with, upgrades, buildings and repairs, im now going to get on with the much delayed Brush Car project so hopefully a few more classes of Blackpool tram for the start of the 2013 season. Once again thank very much for reading, hope you enjoy my updates, Will try and do a Xmas update and we'll do this all again come 2013!