Andy R

From a wet and wild Sunday evening as cyclone Pam approaches NZ from the Pacific, all is calm at Hawkinsfield junction. County of Flint glides into Platform 2 then will go south to Weymouth, ...while later in the morning a Collett simmers in Platform 2 awaiting clearance and a Prairie sits quietly with a local stopping B set in Platform 3. I am very conscious of the locos not having crew and to that end I am likely to plunge in and purchase some from Monty's range. Another New Zealand modeller Les (Somewhere out west) appears to have a very good service with his order recently. I find the service for on-line ordering from most of the main model shops very good back to NZ. There is no way we can purchase such specialised items here. Andy R

I had visitors into the railway room the other night so tidied and cleaned layout track etc for visit and running. After they left I snapped a few new photos and will post these in the next wee while. A couple are attached to this post, to illustrate an evolving busy morning indeed at Hawkinsfield junction; County of Flint heads south past Hawkinsfield goods yard heading for Weymouth. N15 class no. 751 heads a stopping passenger and parcels from Weymouth out of the junction heading north. A coal train spies and opportunity to roll into the goods loop. Andy R

Alan -and I note from your recent posts that you are getting on with it. The first couple of weeks of retirement I hope to spend some quality time down in the railway room and press on with several mini projects, as outlined in earlier posts here. I do havea general idea of the layout design outcomes as shown in the layout sketch above, so I agree with you that there is no reason not to also up the tempo on this project after end of March. thanks for your layout inspiration. Andy R

looking forward to it Les- one of several 'refreshment' ideas I am working on. Initially it would be good to get some quality work time down there in the train room. I will try to aim for Saturday also at Cambridge. Andy R

Les -that's great service. I will work on doing same in the near future. 2/1/2 weeks to my retirement and new things. The other GWR layout (Dymstock) booked for Cambridge show and I should be helping John with that so if you come to the show make yourself known. Not sure which day for me yet. Andy R

Les -enjoying the pictures and construction commentary. Have you got the Montys figures yet? Andy R

Westerner- I value your encouraging feedback very much, and hope you enjoy watching my effort unfold. I have read your whole topic threads (archive and current) several times and your modelling skills and execution of your projects are exceptional in my view. The speed at which you are able to make additions and changes I marvel at. I am a tortoise by comparison. I have learnt from your postings in developing my on meagre efforts, so I am honoured to receive your post. There must be thousands of people who have been inspired by what Per Denny achieved. As you can see from earlier introduction I have had the pleasure of visiting Buckingham twice at Tony's and it was an absolute treat...first to see his wonderful effort of restoring while keeping its raw integrity, and also just to meet and talk to Tony and several of his helpers- also fine modellers. I count myself very lucky to have done this although living downunder. I am retiring from full time work end of March and will try to devote at least one day a week to the train room (I am moving into part time work and community assistance), so not everyday for modelling!. There is much to do. regards Andy R

Hi John -appreciate your feedback on the SB- I had been pondering location and size for a while since a friend visiting suggested it was wrong. I had two built SB's and therefore used them -here and at junction end. The problem is one is smaller than the other. his small one will be sent packing to the branch terminus in due course. I will look for a larger GWR SB for this goods yard end location. I also have a query on oo scale figures that would be appropriate for the late 1930's period -station passengers, loco crew and general station workmen? From my reading Monty's range appears to be used by many on this forum. If appropriate I may look to ordering some and have them posted out to NZ- any member observations on this please? Thanks, Andy R

Moving further down the layout we go beyond the station road bridge (still under construction from foamboard and awaiting stone cladding- either Slaters stone or scribed plaster as per the junction bridges -still unsure). I am in two minds about the signal box, which maybe too small for the mainline trackwork in this vicinity?? any observations invited by members here please... The road bridge also feeds the goods yard corner via a lane descending from the bridge, behind the signal box. The goods yard area consists of a dirt yard (I have tried to represent the local chalk land in this part of Dorset) with goods shed, loading dock with crane and a second siding for the future cattle dock. I am thinking of a half relief, disused industrial building at the back of the yard to break up the landscape bank and greenery and add variety of scene. That's the current state of play on the junction station from right to left, with much more to do on the island platforms 2/3 and the turntable area. My next project is to start installing the point levers along the front of the station fascia to operate the bluepoint mechanisms that sit under each point in the station area (20 so far). I have imported GEM levers from UK but do note that they have very little 'play' so transferring the movement from the lever to the bluepoint mechanism under each point will be a challenge -work in progress. Another project is to realign the storage sidings opposite to a) get three sidings in each direction, and B) relocate to the front of the branch terminus (see layout plan in earlier post). Both projects seem good winter projects as we move out of summer. regards, Andy R

David, I am enjoying this layout unfold on the forum. Can I ask what brand your figures are standing next to the plate layers hut in post #40? Just by way of enquiry, would any members be able to point me in the right direction of suitable figures (the brand) that cover the 1930's era please. many thanks Andy R

Another couple of views across the station area and marshalling yard. The yard will be the focus of operations eventually as goods trains are broken and reassigned to other places up or down on the main or made up for the branch itself. Because of this the choice of an automatic coupling system and fitting that on the wagon fleet and working magnets into the tracks are a future challenge. (the advice in John's Hintock on Kaydees is keenly digested on this matter). While not in a hurry on this, there is a need to decide soon which way to go. Andy R

Les- another lovely set of photos and informative text. I was wondering how you have done the stone sets/cobbles in the goods yard please? They look greta. regards, Andy R

Further along the layout the station building and platform1/bay area has been basically finished, but platforms 2 and 3 (island platforms) are not yet finished and need work with lamps, passengers, and the island building properly attached to the platform. The engine shed scene opposite the main station is basically finished but the station approach road bridge and the turntable road are work in progress. Andy R

Moving along the layout into the station and yard area; Second one looking along platform1 and the bay platform with M7 taking on water in the bay. This is a kit built by a friend who has since passed away. It needs a lot of further running in. It is DCC chipped. First one is looking along the small lane into Ralph and Sons Coal and Wood merchants which is feed from the front rail siding (front to facia) of the marshalling yard, which also provides a feeder into the engine facilities (see plan above). In this general area telephone poles, more embankment vegetation and also some further roughing up of the lane hedge is likely having looked hard at the photos...the camera doesn't lie and is a harsh teacher. Grass base along the facia edge is carpet felt as covered in earlier posts and worked over with static grass, woodlands scenic and other bits and pieces lying around. regards, Andy R

Les- two layouts going at once...you are a clever lad indeed. NZR is a challenge, boy I admire those who do it. The Hamilton Club has some excellent NZR modellers don't you think? Regards, Andy R

David, Les and others who have pressed like I thank you for your comments. The Y junction that Peter Denny built at Grandborough Junction has always been at the heart of my thinking about creating a similar junction effect in any layout I created. I think I have achieved a reasonable comparative but never as good as his work. The branch line is not yet wired up so locos are yet to actually drive through the cross-over exiting the branch. A treat in store one day when I get to that point! Regards, Andy R

Looking at these photos I do apologise to members as they are not, on viewing on the forum, the great quality of others. I am using a vary basic digital camera and clearly have more to learn! I will just keep plugging away on getting better quality. Thanks, Andy R

...through the junction and arriving into Platform2 of Hawkinsfield Junction station. First photo from under the junction road bridge, and the second from the main station approach road bridge which is still under construction with foamboard as the base (hence the white ness in earlier overview photo) Andy R

....and looking the other way across the junction towards the bay. The layout concept is joint running rights between GWR and Southern in this section of Dorset, somewhere northward of Weymouth- Dorcester area. Andy R

Les- enjoying the hedge photo thanks. It tells me that I need to invest more time with my puffer bottle along the bottom of the hedge with more grass and more general scatter to 'rough' my hedge rows up a little more. Thanks for sharing this detail with us Andy R

And the next photo moving further left along the layout shows the passenger slowing through the junction itself to enter Platform2 of Hawkinsfield Junction station.

Sorry -I have tried to resize the photo a little

The next photo is looking back towards Budden Lane at the junction bridges.

That is a very nice bit of weathering Nick. Great photo. I also noted the comments on buying direct from UK retailers and landing price assisted by VAT off set. That is also my experience with all my SMP track products, most locos and stock and plasticard- which we don't get any decent supply of locally in NZ. Regular visits to UK are not financially practical for me but the mail order service I have had from several well-known firms has been great. regards, Andy R

And the first of the recent photos from the Budden Farm end, with the branch line curving away between the farm fields connected by Budden Lane bridge. regards, Andy R