Narrow Minded

Nice work there - and that's a WHOPPER of a spirit level

(I didn't know there was such a thing as "spirit level envy", but I've now got it!)

Great stuff Callum   I'm glad you shunted your thread into this particular siding on the forum!

Those LGB G Scale Starter Set's have a lot to answer for - it's exactly how I got tempted back into the garden after dabbling with SM32 at previous addresses - ignore any "gauge-ist remarks", they're just jealous

Thank you kindly sir!

Can I be really cheeky, and ask you to pick up 2 sets of "NA36 Verandah Brackets for Coach Roofs Ziller coach style" from Cambrian Models if they're at the show please?

They can take ages to post out, and the postage would probably be more than the price of the brackets

I have a specific use for this carriage Idris (all will be revealed), and hadn't planned on a "ZB rake" - but if you end up bringing your's back from P'boro, yes please

Great start to the thread Idris, and it'll be great to see this years progress on the DFLR  

(Oh, and we don't mention "The Other Place"

Trackshack are the best in the business IMHO, and never cease to amaze me with their speed, quality of service - and pricing !

............. that is 'Narrow Minded'  

.... and I thought you were my friend, but no, you just have to take the mickey don't you?!

After a successful win on Ebay, the "Spring Project" has arrived

Well, "Spring Project" for the bench that is - to run alongside the annual post-winter track fettling

As I said early in this thread Mike, my line is freelance but somewhat influenced by the Welshpool & Llanfair

This is due in part to my own lack of available space (it's only a small garden), finances and modelling skills, but also, I can't resist models of other prototype loco's and stock that I have a soft spot for and so I decided to deliberately keep this option open

The result is that I can run the line in effectively three different guises as the mood takes me - exclusively Welshpool & Llanfair stock, pseudo prototypically with a mixture of stock, and true freelance while the Welshpool & Llanfair stock stays on the shelf   To be honest, the Pickering coaches are really too long for my railway (I have the GRS kits, acquired second hand and in need of 'remedial work' - only one composite coach is in good enough state to run at the moment, as part of a mixed train), so I tend to run the shorter GRS freelance coaches on a more regular basis instead, and they just 'look right'.

GRS composite.........

GRS freelance...........

It really is a case of "having your cake and eating it" IMHO, but remember, rule 1 always applies

Hendey is a beaut Mike, my vote goes for keeping the loco on the roster - especially since it's such a good workhorse and as you say. it was built in Welshpool. (I was lucky enough to pick up some of the old "Welshpool Pottery" buildings and have them on the railway for exactly the same reason)

My interest in narrow gauge modelling started many moons ago when I got a copy of this book....

so the current work-in-progress is this 3d printed loco from PDF Models

A cruel close up of the works plate completes the tribute - I only just made the 2016 deadline for the "commissioning"

It's currently set up to run manually, but when it comes in for lining I'm hoping to fit R/C.

Great job Bob - looks like a good week for it

After that narrow window of opportunity to get the quarry section of the railway fettled, I'm stuck indoors again - a chance to do some more "catch-up".........

Westwood, the 'start' of the line, with Brinsley Lodge

and Robin Square

The first stop along the line is Sylan Halt in Codnor Valley, adjacent to the canal and "the falls"

Then we have Riddings Halt

and then Codnor Castle

where Waingroves Quarry joins the line

The 'passenger section' of the line ends at Loscoe

Sounds like you've got the big day all planned out - and I can't fault you

"posted 22.21 pm" that's the 9hr time difference to here in the UK, and almost 12hrs ago (I work unsociable hours), and a nudge for me to complete my profile info!

I'll be looking forward to seeing your "Golden Spike" post on here - and joining in the celebrations!

As promised to Owd Bob, here's the pair of ex-MCCLR loco's posing in the quarry today - the weathered loco's certainly make the new groundwork look stark

Wow! That's one helluva project, and my hat is off to you sir!

If one were going 'old school' it would be a hacked about lilliput or similar chassis, not sure that sort of thing is still in fashion though!

I've never been a "follower of fashion"   and actually, I'm a bit of a fan of "old school" (still play 1st ed D&D) - here's one of Peter Jones old Compton Down loco's still earning its keep here on the W&L.

Very crude by todays standards, but I love it for its heritage connections.......

....... and I get a regular "fix" of the smell of burning meths and hot steam oil from my old Roundhouse Lady Anne

Thanks for the info - it's gone straight into my 'blue book' and I'll be keeping it for reference   

I've just found the one I was thinking of Killian - it's one of Tom Bell's (TeeBee Models)  https://www.shapeways.com/product/WY2F7UCRQ/oo9-w-l-loco?li=ostatus&optionId=43643642

No idea what chassis would look right under it though

There's an old garden railway saying that goes "Make a mix while the sun shines"   and the Waingroves Quarry was in much need of attention, so, as tempting as it was to 'just run something' it got it today

It's nice to have got the job done early in the running season - not only is it ticked off the "Jobs To Do" list, but it's got time to weather-in before we hit the summer

Great to see the viaduct going in - I know how long you've been waiting for the weather to let you do it

Marvelous set of photo's (as ever!) and I've already spotted a few ideas and 'reminders' for things that need doing on my own line

Certainly looks happy enough in the photo Paul  

Hasn't someone produced a 3D printed model in 009? I'm planning on modelling the "off-stage" ends of my fictitious line in the smaller scales, and both will (have to be) boxfile / micro layouts - it's why I spend time lurking around that area of the forum

You're a man after my own heart Mike, everything is done here on a tight budget! Almost every item of track and commercial stock is second hand (I've become a dab-hand at re-gauging 32mm carriages and wagons to 45mm  ) and it took several years of buying cheaper, basic loco's and adding "bling", then trading them up until finally getting the two Beyer Peacock loco's   Looking forward to seeing your Countess and coaches when they arrive

Totally agree with your comments on the Accucraft Countess Paul, and the cab interior detail on the electric version made me want one - even if it was just to have as a static model indoors

Incidentally, the photo above is a Pearse (Earl) and Accucraft (Countess) in early preservation liveries which confuses some folk at first glance, cos The Earl was in green and The Countess was black.

Just a few more photo's - these show the passing resemblance between the Welshpool & Llanfair and the Westwood & Loscoe light railways............

.......... all credit for the Welshpool & Llanfair photo's goes to the original photographers, who's excellent work I found on the interweb!

That Accucraft quarry Hunslet (and the IP Engineering Ruston) almost tempted me to go 7/8ths Don

I spent so long agonising over the decision, that it was made for me when they were both discontinued............ if they were I reckon I'd still available I'd still be tempted

Bloomin' 'eck - how long ago was that !?

(The simple anwer is "too long", and we'll have to arrange another!)