MattR

Definitely. I think I'm going to empty the trunk today.

Speaking of which -- I just saw this photo today this morning on Peter Fisher's Smugmug page -- is this the result of a fire as well? https://peterfisher.smugmug.com/History/Rawtenstall-train-related/i-QQc8KNT/A

Viaduct successfully ripped out, dismantled, rebuilt wider, added a wider portion at the back of the layout and all track reglued. This was a job I had been putting off since the summer and was holding up production. Now I can ballast the rest of the track and start finishing the front half’s scenery. The line is reopened by the Class 105 with homemade headcode and custom destination blind transfers from Railtec.

25083 ceremonially hauls in the ballast repair train before I rip out the viaduct for widening and sort out the wonky track on the rear of the layout.

For the last week or so, I’ve been pouring over images of the Summerseat signal box and other L&YR boxes with a view of 3D modeling a “kit” of the signal box that I could print off on the 3D printer. Tonight the final pieces were printed and it’s all ready for paint.

Awesome! I’ve often thought if I ever do a big shunting layout, it’d be one based on the 1890s John Olive & Sons Springside Wagon Works or the brick factory that took its place. Even after the buildings had long gone, the lone disused siding there was still referred to under John Olive’s name.

I’ve gotten the book on order, so it should be a big help. Speaking of Olive’s Siding, does it have other info on the old signal box that was once there?

Don’t be sorry, that is great news! I had thought about getting that book but I wasn’t sure Summerseat would appear in it. Thank you!

Excellent! Do you know any more or have any photos of the box?

Same here! As a dedicated FOMO Hattonsist, it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings!

Fascinating! Thanks for this information. It will definitely help when I get around to putting an interior inside.

I definitely voted for the platform seating. Lots of companies make the simple GWR-style benches, but I'd love to see the LMS style with the curly arm rests and legs. Very delicate, I'm sure, but would look beautiful.

I'm in the process of trying to build an OO version of the old Summerseat signal box (demolished in 1970) and I've come across a few oddities (sorry for the grainy photos -- they're the best I have of it). #1 - According to research, this box was built in 1922, during the one year that the L&YR was owned by the LNWR, however, it appears to be a L&YR-style signal box and not LNWR, correct? #2 - The chimney for the stove comes out of front of the roof right above the front windows. I can't find a photo of a signal box of any kind with this type of arrangement. Surely the stove wasn't in front of the lever frame, right? I'm assuming then that the stove was in a different area of the box interior with bent piping to allow it to exit the roof in such a spot?

My layout IS my workbench!

He also sells on Etsy as starboc2. I've bought from him many times. He currently has an 8-sheet pack of that stone for $14.23 (£11.21), but you have to spend at least $18 (£14.14) or he has to cancel the order -- some stipulation from Greek mail for being able to qualify for the tracked shipping. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1465011919/new-8-sheets-landscape-wall-187-ho-scale?click_key=2778ede2fb5f6502f25dac06886536a289145a4e%3A1465011919&click_sum=cc441598&ga_search_query=HO&ref=shop_items_search_40&frs=1

I just don't know what to say. I first got into British OO back in December 2020, and all I could find was the old Dublo, Triang and Mainline (mostly gostude) listings in eBay. Discovering Hatton's a few weeks later (especially with their great international shipping prices), I was like a kid in the biggest candy store in the universe. Since then, I'd say a good 95% of anything model railway-related that I own has come from Hatton's. I check the second-hand listings religiously multiple times every day, (even on vacation!) Am I obsessed? Thanks to their great sales back in November, I was able to pick up a ton of stuff I'd been wanting for ages at bargain prices. It's sad to realize now that those sales were probably part of the wind down of stock. Their customer service folks have always been absolutely the best and I hate it for them to be losing the jobs they did so well. Hatton's was life. I'm not sure what to do now.

Heck with new tooling -- I wish they'd re-release some stuff that's impossible to find, namely their 2005 run of LMS Period III corridor stock.

Bringing in 2024 with 2474 (it’s still 6:39 pm here on the east coast of the U.S.)!

I think they came out pretty decent, definitely as filthy as I’d hoped.

I don’t think anyone will mistake this for a real plate — for one it’s only 3 inches wide. I’ll go on the front edge board of the layout. I’m also going to try and whip up an 8-inch or so Summerseat BR totem.

Time to get these hoppers sorted.

Got my daughter a 3D printer for Christmas, but couldn’t help sneaking in something of mine first.

Ever since I got into British outline trains, I wanted a filthy Black 5. Here’s 45318 in 1968 condition. Allocated to Bury between September 1964 and April 1965, she ended up at Lostock Hall by July 1968. She had the honor of pulling the final regularly scheduled mainline service by a BR steam locomotive — the 21.25 from Preston to Liverpool — on Saturday, Aug. 3, 1968. She was scrapped in March 1969, but on my fictional layout, she was preserved.

And 3 days after making that statement, I found myself buying something I did not particularly need -- a Heljan Class 33. With layouts based on the LMR (preserved) and the SR (1923-1930), I have absolutely no place to run this thing. But I've always wanted a Class 33 (I find them more aesthetically pleasing than any other diesel locomotive, especially in BR green with the yellow panel and those white window frames) and it was only £40 ...

Airfix made a model of this wagon! https://www.hattons.co.uk/1549542/airfix_gmr_great_model_railways_54391_po19_7_plank_open_wagon_stalybridge_corporation_gas_no_15_in_brown_pre_owned_missi/stockdetail