Tom F

Much appreciated Chris, thank you! Well tomorrow is my birthday, so other than doing a little bit of weathering, I plan to do some more posing of the new figures that have arrived freshly painted from @Dan Evason

'Autumn 1950.... With Bill Thwaite now retired and Ben Taylforth leaving to become a cleaner on the North Western, Ivo Hugh puffs on his pipe and ponders the future of the Skarloey Railway.' Many thanks to @alanbuttler for producing some figures based on scenes from the Railway Series, and to @Dan Evason superb painting skills.

Morning all Just waiting for a friend to come over before we head out on a hike up Gunnerside Gill in Swaledale. In the meantime, No. 2 'RHENEAS' is running around the War Department vans, in preparation to propel them towards the ammo depot. There are rumours flying around at the moment.....rumours of some interesting things arriving in the post from a certain Dan Evason.......there are also rumours that No. 1 'SKARLOEY' may make a big step forward to completion by the end of the week. I can neither confirm or deny this hearsay.....

A touch of post holiday blues. So decided to head off to the layout for a bit of a pick me up. 'A moment between workings'

Back from a fantastic time away in Snowdonia. Everything feels a bit flat and down today. Definitely feeling the post holiday blues.....but I've come away with some great memories, and a lot of modelling inspiration.

Some Mid Sodor exploration today! We ( Rmweb member @Quarryscapes and by my Border Collie Lass) hiked alongside the Ffestiniog to the Dduallt Spiral, then onto the old Ffes track formation down to the Tan y Grisiau Hydroelectric Power Station's Reservoir. A fantastic day, with the odd shower more than made up for by the glorious autumnal sunshine. A lot of railway modelling inspiration today!

Many thanks for those Geraint. Funnily enough I saw one today, at the back of the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, which we snapped today while travelling on the Galslyn Venturer.

Morning all, here is a little something from me. Currently tweaking Scaca Forestry Crossing and have some additional trees on order from polish company, MBR. Adding some ever green types into the hillside foliage. Here is a few using the garden as a bit of a backdrop. Next week the layout goes to North Wales.....being an Awdry location based on the Talyllyn Railway, some shots of the layout with mountains of south Snowdonia is a must. Looking forward to seeing Tony the week after. I have motion to build for No. 1 'SKARLOEY' which I've kept putting off through fear of messing up. Tony is kindly going to give me a hand with putting it together.

74XX sold E147 kit coach sold Toad Brake Van sold pending payment 58XX currently reserved.

Guilty as charged!

'That b*gg*r David just nipped in front of me! Doesn't he know we can't brake!' Yelled driver Bill Thwaite

Just replied (apologies in the delay)

I have a Hornby modified Toad, with Ruabon branding in BR Grey. Only loco in green was a 74XX which retained grubby green throughout its life. I was modelling late 1950s so most things are black.

Afternoon all. I have some developments. A large number of the Pannier's are now sold to my friend Geoff Taylor, along with one of the Bala Toads. I do have left one 74XX, 57XX and a 58XX. Additionally I have three kit built coaches, E147, E157 and E167 Non corridor Brake's. The E157 and E167s are not available as kits. I had the sides commissioned by Worsley Works and the rest were made from Comet components and built by jwealleans of this parish. Ideally I'd like these to be sold with the layout but I understand that might not be possible. I almost decided to not sell the layout and stock over the weekend, but I was then reminded of the new projects I really want to work on...... now is the time to let it all go.

David is back this morning to check on the Shorthorns.

They are a fantastic range Rodney! Which reminds me I should really finish the rest of my kit piling up!

Thanks Chris, they are the Rodney Stenning Talyllyn style bolster, which I think is now under the Dundas Models label.

David Vickers, farms high on the hillside looking over the Benglas and Hawin Dooiey valleys. The farmstead has been in the family for several generations. David has a prize herd of Sudrian Shorthorns which graze the valley floor, which gives David access to the forestry tracks. With the cattle all accounted for, David heads back up the Scaca Fell track with his two border collies, Fly and Nell. Just in time for tea and piece of home made fruit cake, baked this morning by his wife Julia.

Simmering in the exchange sidings. Fireman Ben Taylforth has the footplate to himself, while driver Bill Thwaite has a wander up the yard to have a chat with a few of the quarry lads.

More War Department arrivals pass by the forestry crossing.

Thank you for all the kind comments. I am genuinely touched. There will be some stock available, but at the moment I'm unsure how much. Geoff Taylor (of Barmouth Junction) is now working on Bala Junction and it looks like he maybe having some of the stock, but not all of it. I'll have a better idea in a week's time. I'm very much hoping someone maybe interested in Cwm Prysor. The space in the shed will certainly help with my current 'Sudrian projects'.

Emerging through the woods, No. 3 'SIR HANDEL' passes by with a mysterious goods train.....little branding other than the initials 'M O D'. In 1953 the MOD approached Sir Handel Brown II, regarding the purchasing of the Ward Fell Quarry. The quarry had recently been closed, and its future looked bleak. Negotiations took time while the site was cleared of the last workable slate. The MOD still had one of its ammo dumps in situ at Ward Fell from the War, so began increasing its goods working as well as bringing in other large amounts of infrastructure. "The Whitehall boffins think we do not know what goes on behind their locked gates. Let them think. It is not the first time they have underestimated the Sodor grape-vine; but their secret is safe with us. If you, dear reader, are Sudrian born you will know it already; but if you have not had that good fortune then we regret that we cannot enlighten you.'' W. V. Awdry

Farewell to Cwm Prysor…. I have made the difficult decision to sell Cwm Prysor. I feel the layout got mixed up in the baggage of my Dad’s death and it’s time to let it go and move on. Feel free to get in touch if anyone is interested. Some of the stock maybe available for separate negation.

With it now being revealed that Crovan's Gate has a triangle. Locos can be depicted smokebox or cab first. It evens out the flange wear after all! No. 2 make a start away from Ward Fell with another load of slate for the Wharf at Crovan's Gate.

Morning folks! On with the war department brake. Hope to get it finished over the coming week.