WCML100

The GNER coaches will be the latest 2022 MK3 HST trailer tooling as per the FGW fag packet, East Coast liveries etc previously released in the last year or so - not to be confused with the oxford rail MK3a Loco hauled tooling.

This is extremely promising to hear - are there any further photos for us to have a look at ? cheers

Looking good mate. That wiring is something to be proud of!

Great work on the bridge - really does add so much 'feel' to the station!

Ordered a pair of the super tench. Looking forward to these arriving on the layout!

Wow - seriously impressive stuff that! Well done 👍

Just cane across this thread and following with interest! The push pull sets look great. I would definitely follow these up by purchasing some 68’s / 88’s, matching flask wagons and for sure some more variety passenger stock wise in the form of a couple of 156’s (as others gave mentioned maybe one in the RAF livery as it was s common feature, and even one in the standard northern white livery). Regarding your track layout, I would definitely model a section with a passing loop for operational interest. A single loop in the scenic section would get boring fairly quickly I imagine. Maybe do the old trick where the station is half on scene and half off? (Footbridge as the scenic break maybe?) - That way you save space and it can built into the storage sidings, whilst also meaning plenty of scenic space for the single track section for those ‘picturesque’ parts of the layout! Just my two pence! Looking forward to see this progress 🙂

Great work mate! Footbridge looks good from all angles! Will you be weathering it once complete?

Great news that these are still on course for Q1 next year! Very much looking forward to mine! Quick question (sorry if this has been asked before), will the 66 have the same automatic flange squeal as the 37’s? Thanks

Quality work mate. The transformation is almost unrecognisable! Great job 👍🏻

Nice progress. The Salmons are a worthy addition! Have you had a chance to run them at all or have a good look at them yet?

Truly stunning work on the interiors! Are you 3d printing these interiors yourself?

thanks. I will drop you a PM!

Thanks! I feel they look at home behind the 66! The deck plates look fantastic, can’t wait to weather them down and really bring out the detailing. The sides are a wealth of detail too with the strap ratchets and varied info and data printed in different places as per each prototype which is a lovely touch! Would certainly recommend them! They certainly are! Agreed about the price point very competitive in this day and age… even better now they are lower than the previous batch of the older bogie variants! Will have to try the kadees - it may well be just me not pressing them hard enough!

So, some new arrival have turned up at Greenford this week. Yep, after being impressed with the samples on show at Warley - I took the plunge and ordered 6 Salmons from Flangeway! 5 out of the 6 made it to me last weekend and after some great customer service from Footplate / Flangeway, the remaining one turned up a day later. It is safe to say I am pretty impressed! The weight of the model is impressive for a wagon with such little (if anything) above the sole-bar level! They run freely and well across my code 75 track work too. The printing is great and the variations between each one is very nice too! The yellow seems to be a good shade and the EWS maroon looks spot on too! The deck material is very nice and I look forward to weathering these up with some nice variation and some straps for good measure! A nice bag of accessories came with each wagon in a re-sealable bag - not someting you see very often these days which is good. I also noted that these come with the bolster to add if you so wish as well as 3 hook couplings (though these maybe for aesthetic purposes). Few other little bits in there too. The outer box is very nice however the plastic ice cube was a little odd with its separate pieces but not really an issue just not to my preference. The other odd thing i noticed was the NEM pockets. The new couplers don’t seem to go all the way in? Is this just me being stupid or are others having this issue too? I will most likely fit kadees or something similar to bring the gap closer in between wagons either way. Over all I’m very happy and may add another 2 to the rake in time. Obviously I got them out of the box for some pics and a quick test run! So check those out below! These will be running in the following formation: OBA (mesh sided), YWA, YWA, KFA, YWA, OCA, FEA-S, YWA, YWA, YWA, OCA, OCA, OBA (panel sided). Thats all for now 🙂

Some great service from Footplate / Flangeway to ensure a missing item from my order turned up. All 6 now with me and I am very impressed! A nice bag of accessories came with each wagon in a re-sealable bag - not someting you see very often these days which is good. I also noted that these come with the bolster to add if you so wish as well as 3 hook couplings (though these maybe for aesthetic purposes). Few other little bits in there too. the outer box is very nice however the plastic ice cube was a little odd with its separate pieces but not really an issue just not to my preference. The other odd thing i noticed was the new pockets. The new couplers don’t seem to go all the way in? Is this just me being stupid or are others having this issue too? I will most likely fit kadees or something similar to bring the gap closer in between wagons. Other than these minor points, the weight of the model is impressive for a wagon with such little (if anything) above the sole-bar level! The run freely and well across my code 75 track work. The printing is great and the variations between each one is very nice too! The yellow seems to be a good shade and the ews maroon looks spot on too! The deck material is very nice and I look forward to weathering these! Over all I’m very happy and may add another 2 to the rake in time. Some photos of them up close and a video of them running below!

They look great! Fantastic inspiration, I must start on mine. MENTOR is on the hit list, anyone know if they are still available as a kit on ebay?

Some great photos there, weathering is spot on and I am loving the shots with the lights reflecting along the rails! Just lavvvely!

Hi James, so I understand, will you be using the newly released TTA chassis to upgrade the Bachmann MTA wagons? TIA

Me too… the 166’s always seem to command a high price too. Would be great to see someone tackle the full suite of the 165’s and 166’s across both Great Western and Chiltern variants from NSE up until current day!

Thanks! I quite enjoy the track laying and the satisfaction of running the trains over it once a section is complete. Especially if you can get a prototypical ‘flow’. What we don’t enjoy is the wiring or soldering that goes along with the territory! Nothing fun about that bit! 😂

Thanks, and i think we will, but not 100% sure if or how much of it we will rust them. Yes, a nice ebay find around 10 years or so ago! Perfect for the short formed Bicester MOD - Didcot (& return) runs that went via Greenford. Most of these runs were 1,2 or 3 VGA/VKA vans. Some of them had an odd wagon within the rake, either a FAA, OCA, or KWA warwell wagon. Makes for a great train to model! We will be doing all variants! Some longer ones (another few wagons or so) also included FCA’s (hopefully a manufacturer will release these at some point, I’d take a few for the various MOD workings + the various Binliners they were used on through Greenford!) which all make for interesting rakes and workings! I have added some below for reference which happened during the Bicester - Oxford upgrade works during 2015ish. VGA/VKA van + x2 FCA pairs + FAA + VGA/FKA @ South Greenford on a Bicester MOD to Didcot run x2 FCA Pairs + VGA/VKA van also on a Bicester MOD to Didcot run seen at Castle Bar Park Passing Waddesdon is a Bicester MOD to Didcot working with x3 VGA/VKA’s At Princess Risborough a Royal 67 pulls a singular VGA/VKA on the same working. A great example of the typical setup i remember regular seeing is a VGA/VKA, FAA*, x2 VGA/VKA passing Hanwell heading back towards Oxfordshire. It is seen coming off the Greenford branch having already passed our Greenford itself. *The FAA can sometimes be an OCA wagon or KWA warwell too. See in the video below from 02:00. Just the other side of Greenford seen heading in the opposite direction from Didcot for Bicester with 2 VGA/VKA’s in tow past Northolt. & for a bonus… the shortest binliner working you will ever see through Hanwell..!

A short update on some slow but painful progress. More work was done on the track work to get it closer to being finished on the main national rail section of the New North Main Line. With the ‘re-jig’ of the down main track bed alignment to be closer to the up main as previously mentioned - it was time to start putting back the point-work in. This has now been done and point motors back in place too. We have also trimmed some more track to fit in where we made adjustments too. We have also now wired up and tested the two sidings, not that these will ever see use in our operating period but its good to be thorough! They will mostly be over grown once we get to the scenic phase. We did some ‘testing’ to make sure everything was in order - see video below for some movements over the junction! I also had time to re fix down the remaining sleepers on lifted down main section on the original station board. Again as mentioned before all based on what is left there as of today by using drivers eye view videos ok youtube. I have adjusted slightly as to what how I laid it previously too! That is all for now, more updates im sure will follow soon 🙂

Real quality this is mate! It may take an age but oh it really is worth the results! Will be amazing once all completed! I can imagine the satisfaction once your putting the final details on the station like signage and benches etc! Will be great 😅

Very impressive mate, certainly will be taking some inspiration from your work! May I ask, as I have missed it during the thread… who is this yoda like person you mention, Roland? He sounds incredibly knowledgeable 😃