wigancg

Hi Jon,

Just stumbled across your stunning layout. Wonderful details and life within your models and scenery. Excellent!

I've happily spent a great deal of time just now browsing here. You've just gained another follower.

Chris

Evening all,

A couple of recent additions to life here at Berry Pomeroy of late including our newly weathered pannier tank, but I'll let the photos do the talking instead.

Stopping for a brew in the mid morning warmth between jobs, Reg Jones perches on an empty crate on the yard crane's base.

Not wanting to miss the opportunity for some banter, Len Cotterley pauses for a natter with Reg on his way round to the yard.

A short time later, 9794 arrives with the morning goods and shunts the yard. The weathering effect and detailing aspects are highlighted nicely.

Fireman Ernie Askby takes a breather as he keeps an eye on shunting activities in the yard.

Finally, here is a low level, wide angle shot towards the fiddle yard through the road overbridge.

Chris

Hi John,

Just read your most recent posting on here and enjoyed reading it. For many of us, you have summed up our feelings nicely. Some of us may be young yet in terms of expert modellers or our skill levels are still developing (come to think of it, nobody ever stops developing their skill levels - all part of being a human and not a machine) but it is the enjoyment and relaxation of the hobby that keeps us fired up (pun intended there!)

You have clearly taken a great deal of time, care and attention in your modelling and you can reap your rewards gladly.  

Some modellers do prefer the designing and building aspect compared with having running sessions which isn't a problem at all - to each his own. Whatever aspect it is, it's the enjoyment and relaxation that are the greatest rewards I feel, especially after a long day at work. Nothing better than to disappear back to the good days for a few hours and escape.

Anyway, keep the photos coming. Oh, and thank you for your advise on the running in board - it has proven to be most useful!

Chris

Thanks for the kind comments Chris.

 

I have often thought about some background sounds for the layout - birdsong used to be available on digital radio but sadly is no longer. I understand it is available on line, but I don't really want to start importing computers into the railway room! How do you get your sounds?

 

Les

Hi Les,

I use the method of having the PC in the railway room as my work desk is in there also. I often find a birdsong clip on a well known video sharing website to have on in the background when having a running session or when modelling as well. I have considered having some sort of sound device underneath the baseboards with bird song to use instead of the PC sounds which would help when exhibiting. I think Nick, the chap who owns the lovely Much Murkle layout, has a sound device fitted to his layout. I actually forgot to ask him when I spoke to him at Stafford show earlier this year. It was either a sound system or else there were actual birds in the room or, better still, someone was making the sound effects themselves!

Anyway, Bishopscombe oozes that GWR BLT countryside atmosphere that lots of us crave for! Keep it up and the photos coming too.

Chris

A good summer's evening greeting to all,

Recently, the weather outside is reminding me of the weather here on the layout at Berry Pomeroy...sometimes. I mean, don't get me wrong, it must rain occasionally at Berry but not half as much as up here in Wigan!

Anyway, some local chaps were out and about today having a mosey around the yard and took a few snaps for us. Folk in Berry are good like that!

Ex GWR 8750 Pannier Tank No. 9761 simmers happily after running around her suburbans. She awaits the 14:02 departure.

I think one of the chaps must have climbed a tree for this shot of 9761 waiting for custom:

Not sure whether Bert, the signalman, has forgotten to return the shunt signal back to the 'on' position or whether he's making a brew. Anyhow, 9761 has completed her run round.

In a stoke of fortune, one of the wagons in the yard this afternoon was the 1 plank with cable drum load. I enjoyed tinkering with this a few months back. A dab of paint here and there with a few detaily bits and weathering looks the part.

Chris

Hi Les,

Well, I must say, I've had such an enjoyable period of time browsing through your thread. I haven't noticed it before on the forum!

Perfect and plenty of lovely details and some smashing weathering too! Belting!

Sometimes it's good to have a bit of summertime background noise on, such as summer bird song whilst having a running session or just observing your hard work. That's what I do anyway and it would work wonders with your lovely layout.

Keep up the super work and...you have gained an extra follower!

Chris

Nice to get back from holiday to kind and supportive comments – enough to encourage me to further posts. 

 

In answer to specific queries:

 

William – yes, I’m familiar with ‘A nod to Brent’.  In fact when I first found it last year I did no modelling for several days while I avidly read through the lot!  Great stuff.  And I’m also following Fatadder’s Brent project with interest.  Both of these of course are much more closely based on the real Brent, whereas my semi-freelance effort merely borrows the concept of a small S. Devon junction station and the main outlines of the track plan.

 

Dennis – the clerestories are simply the old Hornby items.  Nothing has been done to them yet, save to paint the droplights (I used Railmatch SR venetian red as a proxy for the GWR shade).  This can be seen on the first pic below, and makes a bit of a difference.  The next stage is to add decent gangways and sooty black roofs.  The lack of relief panelling is pretty obvious, but I rejoined this game just too late to acquire the etched replacement sides that 247 Developments used to do. (Not that I’m certain I wouldn’t have made a pig’s ear of fettling them!) They’ll be fine as ‘layout coaches’, in Tony Wright’s useful phrase.

 

More on the layout in due course; in the meantime here are a few more pics.  

 

 

Layout, 11 July 16 002-min.JPG

 

 

R1.JPG

 

 

R9.JPG

 

 

R5.JPG

 

 

R13.JPG

 

 

(My apologies that I haven't yet worked out how to stop rotated portrait format pics from reverting to landscape when I attach them!)

 

 

John C.

Hi John,

Just had to return and browse this wonder of a layout on here this afternoon. Please may I ask; how did you make/put together your platform running in board with the correct font?

Amazing!

Cheers,

Chris

Just spent a pleasant hour reading through this thread.  Great stuff!  Seeing a new (to me) layout like this from inception to completion in one browsing session is like speeding up time. 

 

I particularly like your placement of figures and some of the lovely detailed photos of them.  Ted the porter, asleep on the bench, is a great one.  And I love the close up of the 45xx tank (even if it is black!).

 

(Funnily enough I nearly called my own layout 'Stoke Pomeroy' before settling on Stoke Courtenay.  It was one of several semi-fictitious contenders mulled over in my mind.).

 

Keep up the good work.

 

John C.

 

 ​(My layout: STOKE COURTENAY. See layout threads.)

Hi John,

Many thanks for your kind words and comments here. Always a pleasure to chat to a fellow friendly GWR modeller. I thoroughly enjoyed browsing your thread earlier for Stoke Courtenay. Incidentally, have you combined two locations for your layout name? I recall a station on the Southern's Withered Arm around Okehampton with a similar name - Sampford Courtenay?

As for the figures, I do enjoy painting them and deciding and deliberating on their poses and postitions. Judging from the photo selection it may be obvious that 4560 is one of my favourite locos to use, however, there are a ridiculous amount of Prairies and Pannier tanks here!

Kind wishes,

Chris

Hi Chris

 

Have just spent a very enjoyable time reading through your thread - I don't know how I could have missed it before! A WR BLT set in the late fifties, just my cup of tea.

 

Some lovely detailed touches, and I particularly like the growing 'population' - figure painting is not my forte, but you have done a great job.

 

Will follow, and look forward to further posts.

 

Regards

 

Les

Hi Les,

Thank you ever so much for such lovely kind words in your comment. They are greatly appreciated. I must admit, Berry Pomeroy doesn't feature as often or as heavily on the Layout Topics thread as I tend to grab time on here as and when I can.

As for the population, yes indeed it does continue to grow, however, I think the limit has been reached. I think a layout gets to a stage where population has reached the maxiumum, otherwise it looks very cluttered and unrealistic. I have always presumed back in the day that, especially on branch lines in the fifties and sixties, there tended to be more staff at the station than actual passengers, particularly towards the end. Such a sad thought!

I also find that figures look better when posed in realistic positions - chatting in pairs or small groups or doing something if they are alone, such as reading a paper, gardening, checking a watch or sleeping etc.

Many thanks for following too.

Kind regards,

Chris

Dear John,

What a smashing layout here after just catching up with it on the forum! Such skill, time, effort and dedication and you can certainly reap the rewards for your talent. Amazing!

It's always a joy to see a well turned out GWR layout and this one is easily one of the best! My hat goes off to you.

You have certainly gained an extra follower here...

Kind regards,

Chris

Hello everyone,

Following on from the last update, I have been working on a new 8750 pannier tank that has recently been acquired. Some additional weathering has been done and good, quality crew have been painted and fitted. Photos of the new loco in service should be following in due course in a future posting.

However, for now here are a couple of shots from earlier this week:

Autocoach W231 stands patiently in the summer sunshine ready for the 14:02 departure.

Meanwhile, the lunchtime quietness decends in the goods yard as the local delivery lorry stands idle.

I have often found older rolling stock mouldings to be tiresome sometimes, especially when obvious details are missed out during production. Fellow GWR modellers have probably picked up the fact that Bachmann's toad brake vans never seem to have their windows glazed. I often find things like this annoying but, still, it gives us another job to tackle.

So, the other week's activities included glazing all of the windows on the toads here at Berry Pomeroy using liquid glazing. I found that it worked pretty well and shows up nicely.

At least the guard will be happy when the seasons change!

Chris

Hi Dave,

Brilliant! Good use of the free space from the remodelled point work.

The platform and edging look great too. Keep the photos and updates coming...

Chris

I like the autocoach Chris are you waiting on the new 14xx release like me.

I have an old airfix 14xx and Dapol autocoach but might save for the Bachmann autocoach and new 14xx release by DJM.

 

Mark

Hi Mark,

Yes indeed I am. I have two new DJM 14xx locos ordered - unlined black and lined green which will match perfectly with the auto coaches.

I have a Hornby 14xx which is fine for running in and out on the autocoach but that's about it. They tend to be very unreliable and terrible for realistic shunting in the yard. It will be lovely to actually use a 14xx on a pick up freight to do some shunting for once

Chris

Great pics as ever Chris, please keep them coming.

Thanks very much, Andy.

Glad you found a new home for your wonderful fishing port layout. I must say, I was most tempted...

I am currently thinking of a similar layout for my next one.

Chris

Evening everyone,

The camera has been out again of late catching some snaps of some stock and locos that have, until now, dodged the local photographers on the branch around Berry.

So...

Ex GWR Pannier tank, 9786, trundles into the terminus after arrival with the early afternoon passenger service from the junction. This is the 12:38 from Harbourton General. All change please!

We see the accompanying autocoach W231 standing at rest after arrival. The coach has been lightly weathered with powders around the bogies and underframes as well as smoke and soot effects on the roof.

Finally, as 9786 gently propels her autocoach down the platform heading for the platform water crane, the photographer has just time to snap the front end of the coach. These much awaited rolling stock additions are wonderfully detailed and perfect for any GWR themed layout. It will go wonderfully with a new 14xx tank...

Thanks for stopping by as ever,

Chris

Hi Chris... Thanks...lots to do on the scenery....yes it will only have this platform as it is a single line working, the other line next to it is a passing/shunting loop... as for the signal box it is an oops moment  , the box is not yet finished and the roof is loose so I can fit an interior and was placed to take the pic.......

 

as it should be....

DSC04345.JPG

Hi Dave,

Haha, brill. I thought so. Don't worry, we all have oops moments. I very often have those 'sack the signalman' moments when points are set wrong which causes a dead section or the occasional SPAD

I like the shot of a train at the platform. It looks like it fits a loco and 2 coaches on nicely?

Cheers,

Chris

Hi Dave,

Super progress here with some great scenery work going on. Is your station just a one platform job?

Also, I couldn't help but notice the signal box - is the roof removeable? The chimney might be better off at the back where there would be a stove perhaps? I could be wrong but usually the window view was unobstructed by a fireplace/chimney breast?

Anyway, forgive my noticing. Lovely updates here and looking forward to seeing how the station develops further.

Chris

Hi Rob,

Excellent details and weathering here. Amazing skills!

Just how vans and wagons should look for that authentic touch.

Chris

Hello everyone,

It has been rather busy earlier this week since the last update on here with not much in the way of modelling.

Some of the stock has been serviced as we had an exhibition to attend on Saturday and we took some of the stock to use as well as taking a large majority of our products from our model shop as we had a trade stand too. Plenty of interest in both which was pleasing!

Anyhow, I recently purchased some newly released Bachmann box vans. They caught my eye with their level of detail and quality and, being fruit/vegetable vans, they would be ideal for a rural branch line look. Here they are after shunting and resting around the yard waiting for their return trips, one of which is to Spalding it seems.

Finally, after shunting the yard, 4560 takes a breather and simmers in the sun.

As always, thanks for looking.

Chris

Hi Kev,

The developments on the layout are looking good! I especially like the Hippodrome sign and building end for the scenery.

I mentioned this to my grandad earlier today and he recalls "being a bit naughty" and getting into there for free a couple of times by sneaking in some way or another. Tut! Recalling these tales of his youth and looking like butter wouldn't melt!

Anyway, the L&Y book is a good read. Incidentally, my parents now work on the industrial estate on Cricket Street where the shed used to be next to the line to Southport just outside Wallgate. Fancy that!

Cheers,

Chris

Good afternoon all,

I have enjoyed a few more painting sessions recently from a few new additions to the population. So here we go:

Alongside Alf Springton (he popped up in an earlier posting whilst busy kneeling down gardening. Watch those knees!), Arthur Lumbrette is eyeing up a prize broccoli with his pitchfork down in the allotment.

Meanwhile, over at the station, William Barnlow busily has a catch up with porter, Harry Oldburn, whilst waiting for his train. What could they be nattering about? - The latest cricket scores? The glorious weather? The EU Referendum debate? (Ed: Sorry, just remembered, we are in 1959 here).

The 15:30 afternoon pick up goods saunters into the yard from under Tanner's Hill Lane bridge behind grubby 4680.

Thanks for taking the time for a browse,

Chris

Hi Andy,

Lovely sequential photos here of the 8750's arrival, shunt and departure. That milk tanker is crying out to be weathered, it's far too clean. Unless it is its first day out in the big wide world?

Have you any crates, boxes or drums etc to by the quayside? Not too many but maybe one or two bunched together might be nice?

Chris

Hi Les,

Lovely updates on here. The station building is coming on a treat. Very impressive and will look wonderful when completed!

The weathering on the 43xx and the wagons is superb. Plenty of atmosphere and detail here. 43xx is looking like a right little medium sized workhorse.

Keep up the super work and enjoy your photography with the layout.

Cheers,

Chris

Looks good

Nice detailing Chris. really like the mail bags on the trolley in the first pic.

 

Cheers, Les

Thank you, Danstercivicman, for your kind words.

Thanks also to you, Les. I was after some mail bags for ages but didn't want any cheap looking plastic ones. These are white metal ones with much more detail. I mean, the creases in the bags and tie marks are just amazing. Also, I had some issues with the platform trolley and barrow as I had originally ordered them from Cooper Craft. However, that company is so lackadaisical with meeting the needs of the customer (I waited over 6 months for a non-existant delivery) that I cancelled after much arguing with the owner and instead I found these ones.

Chris

You are most certainly getting into the finer details, I am a bit away from that stage.

The deck chairs reminded me of one of our trips home and seeing two holidaymakers sitting in deck chairs complete with picnic hamper on top of the Bluff at Penarth near Cardiff ( My wife's hometown ) Thing was they were facing out towards the Severn estuary but between them and the water about 6' from them was an 8' high hedge!

Thanks Katwigan,

I really like the finer details. It's what brings a model railway alive and interesting to look at. I suppose the two people on the deckchairs weren't too bothered by the hedge after all? I'll have to keep my eyes open for a figure or two sleeping to put on the deckchairs. Sort of like an older chap fallen asleep whilst reading the paper

Chris