BobM

Cheers for the kind comments Garry.....are you aware of information regarding 00 platform dimensions and advice on construction.....? Regards Bob

Evening All..... There is perhaps mild cause for celebration this evening as I believe I have in fact completed stage 1 of the wiring up of Cambrian Street, in that all the points have been wired onto the bus wire and I am happy to report that the power seems to be running through all of them with the loco moving across and through them without faltering. stalling or halting....(save for occasional judder from perhaps tarnished rails, which when clean move freely)........ The next stage will be too wire up the isolated and switched sections......I will be placing plastic joiners on the 'live' rails initially and them progressing on to order the switches to begin the wiring up process..... I have indicated here a possible slight 'tweaking' of platform 2.......shown here...comments appreciated as always...... My thinking is that by extending the length of the platform 2 with the addition of a right hand point rather than curing round to match platform 1......a five coach length set can be comfortably accommodated...or a two coach local...allowing the loco to uncouple run through platform 1 and reverse on the set and depart away......the five coach set arriving into '2'.....the loco uncouples pulls forwards to the buffer stops and a stabled loco in on of the two centre roads runs through platform one (or from the engine shed) to couple up and then haul the set out on the next service......the incoming loco then freed to depart to the shed...... Regards as always to all...... Bob

Thought I'd share these images of some of the sights to hand yesterday on a days volunteering....gala Sunday to boot too! The day began (very early after a detour to avoid the cyclist road closures) with this....beautiful sight in the glorious sunshine of a late September Sunday morning .... Followed by.... as the dusk settled across Arley... 43106 awaited the final service and (afterwards) went light engine northbound the reason why I volunteer at Arley.... Regards Bob

Hi Guys..... Just a couple of images taken today at Arley..... Regards Bob

Evening All..... Just a quickie..... Have soldered another few wires from one of the points withing the engine shed / mpd / turntable area to the bus wire beneath.....power from the wires beneath the boards (still thankfully - shown here) appears to be flowing correctly through the track and powering the locos.....wonders never cease! The (target) point for tonight...... and the associated wiring beneath.... Regards to all as always.... Bob

My dear Dan...... Hope you have a speedy recovery my friend.....build the confidence back using the bike bit by bit......... I was always told that you never forget how to ride a bike....so borrowing neighbours bike to try cycling again after 40 years gap, promptly fell off it on first attempt within 10 yards of the house....! Ouch.....Stabilisers please ...! All the best mate,,,, Regards as always... Bob M

Evening Guys..... Firstly I must say sorry for the lack of postings and few catch up's with you......there has been a good deal going on in 'Bobby's world' lately with some of this quite worrying concerning family health matters (things still quite not there yet a while but progress) and so as you can imagine the layout has not been uppermost in my mind......? Secondly I hope that all you kind guys are well and enjoyed summer 2017.....where did it go eh......? Anyway back to matters Cambrian Street and just an update in that I am continuing to wire up for the droppers to the bus wire in the first phase and shortly should be in a position to commence the wiring of the (isolated) switched current sections...... also there is a slight reorientation made to the main platform to accommodate a smoother curve than previously so to platform 1 and 2 shown here on the images.....seems to be more pleasing to the eye...only rough here but does fit in quite nicely......with 22xx loco here with a five coach set.....easily would now accommodate 6 coaches and larger loco...... Regards as always to all.... Bob

Hi ...This is Mrs. Jones, wife of the then Station Masters Fred Jones (who both lived int the station house and ran the station at the time), she is indeed offering the token for the Arley to Bewdley North Section..the token machine at that time housed within the SMO.....2207 running south from Highley Colliery and sidings with a load of coal for Stourport on Severn power station....atmospheric for sure.... Regards Bob

Hi Guys.....Hope that summer 2017 has generally been 'okay' for you.....now that it is 'dark' at 8:30ish here ....will be resuming normal wiring service on Cambrian Street....that is after a 'jaunt' down to Portland Bill for a week doing absolutely nothing hopefully....and after a summer which seemed to see all free time being spent at the end of a hose pipe watering....it'll be good to think that, that particular 'Ariadne thread' will be severed.....and a bit of solitude will ensue! Folks always have a habit of finding you..when you are at the end of a hose pipe! Regards as always Guys....'speak soon'.... Bob

Hi (No copyright infringement intended here at all........this remains firmly with artist images reproduced for illustration purposes only)...... Can just about recall similar memories such as this (standing at the end of platform 5 at Birmingham Snow Hill) as a nipper (sadly perhaps?) I was 8 when steam disappeared off the mainline.... cannot (although have memories of seeing steam in platform 7 from the top of the steps) recall scenes such as this though, 'Kings' had just gone as I became 'switched on' to steam loco's..... Have to contend myself with looking at prints of this fine artists work....now have both prints hanging in the hallway here at home...superb work! Recommend a visit to the Rail Art Exhibition Kidderminster.... Regards Bob

Hi Guys...Hope you're all okay my friends...... Just to let you know that after an enforced lull in proceedings....wiring has recommenced once more..... Have a great weekend..... Regards as always.... Bob This how the '2nd home' is looking at the moment....

I'm with stupid - Pet Shop Boys

Hi Guys...... Hope 'we' are all okay and enjoying the summer...or what remains of it, as the lighter evenings are certainly and noticeably shortening here in south Staffs..... Just to say that after what seems like an eternity....I have recommenced wiring on Cambrian Street, remains much to do, but will be moving on to wire up the engine shed area shortly and then be moving on to the perhaps more involved switched / isolated portions of the layout...... Will update as and when, but still here, upright, waking up in the morning and remembering my name (which is always a good start to a new day for sure)..... Regards as always....take care.... Bob

Are we talking about the noise emanating from visitors or the exhibitors here? I Jest here...

Please guys let's now leave the comments about personal hygiene to one side and stick to the shows (positive or negative) aspects and to discuss responsibly.....as they say 'Beauty is always in the eye of the B-odour'......! Have been attending Warley ever since they were in the Harry Mitchell, Smethwick as an 8 year old, now 57.....always found it a friendly, enlightening and enjoyable show.....yes the NEC is akin to an aircraft hanger, the ensuing background noise is horrible but goes with the territory I am afraid.....have always purchase advance tickets and I get there early, not for any other reason than 'my stomach' for a breakfast before the queues build up (not the Bachmann stand rush, which is always amusing to watch), which once on I am on a full tummy can wander around at my own pace..... Take care guys.... Regards Bob

Hi Guys....I am sorry if this topic is in the incorrect place or has been created previously....but just wondered whether it may be worthy (or not) to share images of various locations across the heritage and rail network that may provide inspiration for modelling.....or just for that ahhh feeling,,,? Regards to all as always Bob To start us off...here is my second home as it once was in 1959....with 2207 carrying coal to Stourport Power Station (Copyright to Kidder Railway Museum) and one of my own of Arley Station as it is now....! (Totally different motive power though for sure)

Hi.... With the gorgeous and melodious sound of a GWR Castle 'barking' through the tunnel at Snow Hill still resonating within my head....thoughts have turned to memories of what I recall seeing.....now a sad reflection of a once grand GWR building, even though as a young lad the station I knew was decaying badly and from under investment as the electrification of 'west coast' was nearing completion and closure loomed..... but how on Earth did we get from this..... not my copyright (unknown) to this ugly state of affairs (only the same girders for the roadway beneath remain as a reminder)....from nearly the same spot!! Oh deary me what a mess....I can sympathise with folks who sometimes say ' I've had enough' just let me off this particular bus? Makes me so sad... Bob

Hi Guys....Thought you may like to see this...? Had a day out on the Shakespeare Express that runs from Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon - wonderful trip....here is 'the lady' herself at Stratford....even though 'he' is an 'Earl' (even I'm confused)......! Regards Guys..have a great week... Bob

Hi 45568.... Unsure of the exact details but I believe it was private charter? Certainly was 'different'.....! Regards Bob

Not something we see everyday at Arley...a bit of 'a beast' for sure...! Regards Bob

Still plodding on.... Have a great, peaceful and happy weekend guys.... Regard as always... Bob

Hi..I am attempting to add an background image to my signature section....but it asks for a URL....? Stumped....help please... Thanks Bob

Hi Guys....Hope Saturday went well for you..? Although some rain here today (South Staffordshire)....not so wet as yesterday turned out to be......watching the live feed radar images earlier, saw that some of you my friends received some appreciable and perhaps 'welcome' rainfall.......? Enough of the 'Jack Scott' talk though (anyone old enough to remember that 'proper Met Man', he was the TV forecaster who was my inspiration in all things meteorological)..... I continue to 'plod' on with the wiring up of Cambrian Street and it is with that in mind that I have an observation....having not undertaken any wiring prior to Cambrian Street, I was very nervous about this stage of the layout and indeed remain somewhat 'jittery' every time I begin another round of soldering of further droppers to the bus wires beneath boards.......however I have perhaps increased the rate and not as close now to the title of 'Mr Blobby' I once was where soldering to the track is concerned, although I am hoping that the combination of a bit of 'rust coloured' paint and ballasting will help disguise certain areas....... Beneath the boards when wiring the droppers to the bus wires.....I find that rather than using cutters or a knife to remove the plastic coating, I use the shaft of the soldering iron to soften the coating then it is easily parted or removed with finger nails to expose the bare wire.....the dropper end receiving the same treatment prior to it being wrapped around the bare wire......to solder these together I have found it easier to slightly heat the combined wires for a few seconds with the soldering iron..... then touch the solder wire directly onto it, which then for me flows quite readily into the combined strands, further solder can then applied with the iron...... I may be teaching my grandparents to suck eggs here but thought I'd pass on a technique that seems to work for me......and has as yet not raised any issues....... Regards to all as always.....hope Sunday is peaceful and happy..... Bob

Hi..... Thanks Gary.....I do love my time at Arley.....it is akin to one big family....to think 10 years ago 'we' nearly lost it due to the two severe thunderstorms that hit us a month apart and severed the line in 38 places along its 16 mile length...9 months to the date of the final storm we reopened.....after loads of goodwill, generosity and hard work pulled us through...that dare I say it...... British volunteering spirit and peoples love of heritage railways at its best... Bob

Hi..... Yep....probably blue brick and a girder bridge..... Still raining here and has been since around 2pm...pleased though......as we need it so desperately....prefer cool and (at times) wetter weather....too much time this year has been lost being on the end of a hose pipe.... Regards Bob