boxerbayrailway

Had a little spare time to run some trains yesterday, excuse the poor camerawork but it was difficult operating and filming at the same time. Now after testing that everything has been wired up correctly and there are no problems (yet) I can move on to the super "enjoyable" task of painting / ballasting ! Also need to paint up a proper crew for the loco. So much to do, so little time.

I agree, eBay & the Internet is convenient, and for someone like me who models 7mm from the US, it is my main way to purchase essential parts, kits etc... However my Dad recalls in the 60's when he was collecting Dinky / Solido diecast models, how much fun it was for him to hunt around in small shops up and down the California coast (in his TR4 !) looking for buys, and corresponding with collectors from the UK, France, Italy etc.... via Mail, and how exciting it was to receive a letter from France and translate it, or send one and have to wait months to receive a reply. All that is mostly gone, seems the modern age has taken a lot of adventure, surprise, and a whole lot of fun with it. I enjoy coming to this thread, and seeing photos of your tinplate railway, I can enjoy both finescale and tinplate, each has their own appeal to me. I look forward to seeing more of it in time. Any chance of a video ?

Actually I had these screws left over in a parts box, but I believe they're size 0-80, I'm not 100% certain. I'll have to order some more to complete all my rolling stock, once I find out the correct size I'll post it here. The advantage to mounting them this way is you can remove them quickly and easily incase one should ever need replacing.

Thanks, can't wait to start the scenery and buildings, but still a little work to do before that, turnout control, ballasting and track painting / weathering up next. The Col. was able to acquire a "new" piece of equipment for the B.B.R., an Ex Midland Railway 1F 1377 class 0-6-0T. Our locomotive Superintendent had a quick look over and gave the thumbs up, despite some history of the loco wanting to only run bunker first ! Here She is being lined up for the official photograph, awaiting re-lettering, and some minor mechanical work to fix a worm gear that is noisy in one direction only.

I can't be 100 % certain as Dad borrowed (stole !) my Betjeman books, he promised to return them - last year ! I haven't read any of his lately but I seem to recall - " something on the coast " ? Seems familiar anyway. One of the old favorites springs to mind Highbridge wharf your hopes have died They float like driftwood down the tide Out, out into the open sea Oh, sad, forgotten S and D

I agree completely, everyday life back in the past seemed to have been a lot more enjoyable with simple pleasures, that didn't even require much if any money (train spotting etc). I wasn't around either, so have to be content with old books, photos & films, and that is why the model railway is rather important to me, it can bring the illusion of the past alive again, if just for a brief moment

Indeed sir ! Read that one many times, also enjoyed Fry & Laurie's portrayal very much. Although I would have liked to seen the original series with Ian Carmichael & Dennis Price, but I guess the BBC tossed them all into the rubbish bin, except for 1 that is up on youtube to enjoy.

Evening All, And Now for something completely different ! This model was built from a very nice laser cut wood kit by B.T.S. (Better Than Scratch), a firm that is somewhat local to me in the US. It's a USMRR flatcar, built in 1860's. Kit #19517. My Dad built and weathered this model, added buffers and used Wiseman white metal archbar trucks. It fits in surprisingly well with the 7mm equipment, so will be used on the BBR from time to time for special duties. Seen here delivering Bertie Wooster's Aston Martin

Nice work, it's these little details that make O scale the best in my opinion. The entire aspect of signalling is fascinating to me, love those semaphore signals !

Busy Busy times, leaves little time for the railway, but one important decision was made. Prototype authentic link couplings, or a choice of auto couplers. There looks to be hundreds of choices, but after some thought I picked the Bachmann OO tension lock type. I was tempted to stick it out with the 3 link chains, but I know my eyesight will only get worse, and there will be a couple spots on my railway which will be hard to reach. With the convenience of auto coupling, and with a tool, easy uncoupling, the decision was easy. I don't think they look too bad, and when the wagons are coupled, I can barely notice them. Buffer locking is no longer an issue ! I tested them on 3 wagons and they worked great on curves down to 42" radius. Kadee knuckle couplers were tempting, but they're just too noticeable and looked odd on English equipment, at least to me. Installation is easy with little work, and I can leave the original hooks, which allows the wagons to be coupled to another wagon which is not yet equipped with TLs, another bonus ! Plus they're cheap - the Colonel will appreciate that

Hi Sam, Just discovered your thread of modeling projects. Some truly great work you've done, very ingenious and inspiring, nice to see proper modelling instead of just box opening ! Looking forward to seeing your future projects, Felix

Thanks Chris. I know I'm stretching the limits of what's doable in 14 x 9 for 7mm, continuous running was a large priority, both for enjoyment and running in equipment. The 4' radius curves haven't tripped anything up yet, including a kit built LSWR 02 0-4-4T which I was a little nervous about ! The track plan has been inspired by many of Iain Rice's great plans from his super book "Light Railway Layout Designs" The video you mention must be this one - hoping to do an updated one showing progress and the lovely Minerva Peckett soon.

Hello everyone, After many scale changes and different areas of interest pursued I've finally arrived at my ideal scale, layout size, and choice of prototype. I've modeled in what seems like almost every scale / prototype starting with TT, and nothing compares to the joys of O. So the Boxer Bay Railway, is a fictitious light railway set on the coast in Sunny Somerset, around the 1930s. Inspired by many Col. Stephens railways which I find fascinating. It also allows me freedom to model exactly what I like. Not being from England I don't have a super connection to any particular railway company or area, outside of Somerset (My interest in Railways being ignited by watching Ivo Peter's S&D films) Location : Somewhere along the coast in Somerset ! Time Period : 1920 - 1930s - Railway : Boxer Bay Railway (B.B.R.) Size of Railway : 16' x 9' 6" - Minimum Radius Curves : 4' (The Pines Express will not be passing through on this layout !) Track : Peco Bullhead 124 - Control : Basic DC Block control Type of Line : Coast Harbour to inland connections with GWR & S&DJR Traffic : Curious Travellers / Coal / Peat / Dairy / Ale / Fish / Farming Equipment / Misc Locomotives : A1 Terrier 0-6-0T / '02' 0-4-4T / 1F 0-6-0T / Peckett 0-4-0T + Anyothers I can get !! Basic track plan - excuses the crudeness but I'm no artist, and I'm certainly not a computer CAD master. Certain details / placement of buildings etc.. will change with construction I'm sure. The layout has been under construction for about 7 months and the benchwork / trackwork is mostly finished with some final wiring to be completed. Then the real fun can begin ! Current state of the railway :

Thanks so much for that Rod, very helpful I appreciate it ! Will be ordering a few packages soon to give them a try. I operated my layout just today and I'm hoping these will work out as I'm already tiring of the 3 link chains ! I'll start a topic for my layout soon, progress is being made and I'm just getting to the fun stage (at least for me), Scenery, structures, details, rolling stock, operation & photography ! Cheers, Felix

Super railway - I've enjoyed following the progress of it. I'm currently building my first O scale layout, and think I'm going to try the Bachmann OO couplings like you use, as I'm surely going to tire of the 3 link chains. Question, which version do you use ? Item # would be handy. I'm located in the US, so it's harder for me to just go to a local shop (almost all gone over here) and have a look at the different ones, and an expensive mistake to get the wrong ones, if you factor in worldwide shipping !! Do you use different ones for different pieces of rolling stock ? Thanks, Felix