tigerburnie

Thanks Andy, the 8F looks fine, though the train was a proper mix up of mixed traffic, hope to get some better rolling stock at Glasgow on Friday. I need to sort out the lighting on this side of the layout, then I can use my better camera and lens too. I also need to do some scenic background work too

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 After not being able to post for most of the day, the forum seems to be functioning again, some rather poor images of todays running

 This is my new(to me)8F, you might recognise it as it was formerly shedded at Kings Moreton

 I've not been to any of them but hope to visit all of them over the year, looking forward to next friday

 The odd thing about this loco is it has DCC fitted, but it runs perfectly on my non digital layout, which surprised me.

Another angle, I need to paint that front vertical so it is less jarring.

That looks nice, the Layout is looking good.

Thanks Andy, a very long way to go yet, but I am getting better at bits as I go along, this countryside section has given me a nice break from the station, which is a bigger task than I thought it would be. A lot of weathering to do later, but I may leave this loco as is, in the mid 1950's they still had engine cleaners and we did see the odd loco looking half decent.

 My new B1 arrived today, not fitted the super detailing to it yet, but very impressed, well done Hornby and great service from Rails of Sheffield, let it have a few circuits of the GC and it looks properly at home.

 I might be tempted to have double track in the open country with the fiddle yards separate from each other and maybe a turntable in the station for some more working interest and opportunities?

 Thanks, swaps would be fine for me, I have 4 Pullman coaches that were on a previous layout, if I can swap them that would be great.

 Just ordered my tickets from Rainbow Railway and booked my seat on the train from Montrose, I have some Pullman coaches that I no longer need, are you able to sell or swap with any of the traders?

 I really like visiting your site and I can't begin to understand the logistics of running a railway like yours as I am several years and a lot of stock, behind you. May I make an observation, is it running the trains or the photographing of them that is getting in the way of your enjoyment, are you not spending enough time away from it playing golf?

For me my loft layout is for rainy days and winter time, as if it's nice I'm either gardening or fishing or out taking wildlife photos, so I spread my time and interests widely, that does of course mean that my railway will never reach PN standards.

 This is far from finished, but depicts an up runner(coal train from Annesley) on it's way past Bluebanks wood(more trees to be acquired) a couple of miles north of Whetstone station on it's way to Woodford Halse. The Hornby 9F requires some detailing, first thing is to remove the front coupling , I hope to get to the Glasgow Exhibition in a couple of weeks and pick up some nice couplings.

Any non DCC or just DCC ready might be of interest Andy, I analogue not digital way back in the 1950's/60's.

 I can help with that storage problem Andy any excess 16 ton mineral wagons and steam engines will find plenty of room in my loft on the GC.....................

 Just had 5 hours grassing the countryside cuttings and beginning the ballasting of this area, will try and get some pictures tomorrow, I quite enjoyed doing that, some fencing going up and even a couple trees and some hedging. The station is still under construction, just built a Wills platform canopy, seems a bit delicate, but looks the part, so more on order from the model shop.

I have loadbearing brick walls supporting my loft, down pretty much the centre of the house, the floor/joists don't move at all, I guess advice would be a good idea before starting, my house is also single storey, if that makes any difference.

  I think most home layouts are a compromise if you want a full circle track, for my layout, my large summer house wasn't really big enough at 14 x 12 whereas the loft accommodates the track and a station that is around 12 feet long including the access throats at each end. The only thing I would say is lay the track in the height of summer, that way you only have to worry about shrinkage and possible uneven gaps. My trains have run with a temperature of plus 30 C and minus 2 C and didn't de-rail after a couple of sliding adjustments during the freeze up.

 Trying to assemble a Wills canopy SS54 together, now I'm an retired engineer, I've built stuff for power stations, oil rigs, even the insides of black box flight recorders, but these instructions make flat pack furniture look simple and coherent and why am I covered in glue again!!

 Not enough hours in the day to list the dislikes, but I used to do a lot of Antique fairs when I lived in England and that David Dickinson was a top bloke, all the smarm vanished away from the cameras, I was quite surprised first time I met him.

My reason for starting on the Great Central is that is where I grew up and spent around 10 years trackside,(I actually lived close to it for longer), but I am already finding that is hard to remember things as well as you think you did, I do have access to pictures, but I think it is fair to say that folk don't seem to be around now who do remember much. My layout will be "representative", and is already giving me pleasure re living part of my "yoof". I walked along the track, climbed trees and built dens and fished on the canal and river along side it, but when I see a photograph, I realise I remember less than I thought I did. I have realised there's not much point asking questions about fine detail as I get different answers to the same question. Fair to say if anyone who knew the area I am modeling sees it, they will recognise it.

Thanks Brian, what paint do you use please?

Brilliant, thanks Brian

 Has anyone tried drying their own moss/lichens for use on their railway, I have tons of the stuff up here in NE Scotland and some miles of hedgerows to do, is there a secret? I am trialing a bit drying on the window sill, I'm guessing it will lose it's colour, although it might just start growing in my loft lol.