LNER4479

I used to own a Morris Minor (1275cc, 5-speed box) and drove it down to Bath every year to get it mended. That's the closest I've ever been to Seaton Junction. Or Haverfordwest.

Now you leave off Super Barry-O, Ballast-meister extraordinaire! Plied with cups of best Yorkshire tea and warmed by a glowing brazier, he worked his way down the goods lines until he ran out of baseboard. If I hadn't have put that end piece on I'd swear e'd have ballasted the carpet below. And here's the results of his efforts. Excess bits still to be removed (and reclaimed by the well known stocking-over-the-end-of-the-sucker method) but otherwise we have all the lines in this area now treated. From left to right: Up Goods Reception; Up & Down Goods through line; carriage siding 2; carriage siding 1; Up relief; Up main; Down main More soon...

Nice watch you're wearing there, Tony

It was only case of when... What amuses me is that the original thread dates from Aug 2010 and there was then a 5-and-a-half year gap before an innocent posting yesterday supplying some prototype information. Blue touch paper lit and fizzing from that moment. Meanwhile, there's a man here doing some ballasting. Must away - I think he might need another cup of ba gum tea.

Yer know what it's like. You don't know where to put something so you say 'I'll just put them in there for now'... 25 years later and the money-box-shaped-like-a-tram is the wagon wheels box and will no doubt be so now until the end of my days. Dunno where it came from - Crich possibly?

SO 'wot's been happening since the Stafford show?', I hear you ask.... Anybody? Well, nothing earth-shattering, just the usual mixture of working through the 'snag' list, a spot of maintenance and some additional details. An offer by the ever-helpful Mr Wealleans to do some loco servicing was far too good to turn down, so here he is, busy working his way through his pile of cotton buds (dipped in thinners). His offer came complete with the services of a little person who quite enjoyed rummaging through my stock of even littler people, some of whom can now be seen bringing platform 5 to life Whilst we were in mood, we set up this little scene at Belvoir Baby Carriages, showing a delivery of osier (willow) being unloaded. At the rear of the dray, the opportunist yard hand is there with his brush looking for a free supply of 'fertiliser'! I'm also hoping to squeeze in the fixing up of the water column at the north end of Plat.3, seen here being tried in position prior to painting. And in three weeks' time, it'll all be over for another show!

Mine's metallic, 8" long and expands with heat

There will undoubtedly be a reduction in mainline steam in the immediate short term. The only other currently approved operator* for mainline steam is DB Schenker who are unlikely to be able to pick up all the work; they don't in any case operate vacuum braked stock. (*before someone else mentions it, North Yorks Moors have a limited approval for operating from Grosmont to Battersby and Whitby). Provided the will is there, the industry usually has a way of working these things out over time so I expect that will happen in the longer term. Now - back to the modelling! T minus three hours and counting...

I'm leaning more towards Jessica, myself...

Cabbages and Kings

Have no fear - the cavalry is just around the corner

'...and I'm on my knees, looking for the hamster' (The Killers)

I trust that she's promised not so to do likewise...?!(!)

Now that analogy I do rather like! Spooky as well - whilst at York station waiting for the above, I happened to notice one of them cl.158 DMU thingys - sporting the name 'Fred Trueman - cricketing legend'! Howzat?!

My goodness - an actual train on the SOSJ thread! It'll never catch on... Thanks to Duckie's tip off, I 'just happened' to be in York at the appropriate moment as 1Z67 Hove into view, right time - and in sunshine as well. Something to Brighton up the day! (did you see how I deftly wove a Southern station reference into that? It's just a knack...).

...or the bubble for the spirit level and the sparks for the grinder. And - above all else - how could we forget the bucket of steam? (perhaps we get that from the Pecoboo thread?)

Couldn't agree more!

Hey Jesse, Apologies for not responding your post of a few days ago - I was rather busy with a model railway exhibition! Anyhow - check your e-mails; you should find something of use in there.

Wow Tom, that sounds great! I don't suppose you'll have your Coronation with you? If you have, we could certainly do something with it in the last hour on the Sunday, even if it's just to pose it for a photograph or two.

Wow! I take a break from looking in (whilst preparing for the Stafford show) to find that all these superb recent photos have been posted! I'm almost gasping for breath in recovering from having read the last few pages. Glad you have a working solution to the steam loco haulage issue. A solo Jub. with 9 on just looks so right in an S&C setting. Great work on the SM's house. And as for that pic of the 4F emerging from Rise Hill tunnel... One quick modelling question if I may? I've noticed from some of these pics that the dry stone walling you're using in the foreground seems different from that used on the fellside beyond? It may have been covered many pages back but, to save my trawling through (very pleasant though that would be!) can I ask what is the basis of the dry stone walling in the foreground? (I'll be needing to use some for my 'next project' - which may well be more to your liking!)

No - it was the midday signal one minute late...

Boom! Boom!

Very much looking forward to exhibiting it at Nottingham. Only 4-and-a-half more weeks to go. Looks as if you won't have far to travel to see it! I hope it behaves itself for you.

Yes - nothing gets past you guys. Unfortunately another 'casualty' on Saturday was my beloved North3 signal, the power supply to which failed just as the show started. Nothing for it but to disable and carry on. Fortunately, the associated interlocking was unaffected. Nothing that can't be repaired before the next show. But can see what a torrid time we were having on the day!