Aldgate Box Boy

Latest pics of the loco. Cheers Tim

Hi All, well I'm making progress with the new layout. Boards ordered and some dual gauge track ordered too. I've made a start on 'Thor', here are the first images. Thanks for all the comments of support Cheers Tim

Hi Julian, I use Marcway points and they are DCC ready they automatically switch polarity as they through, this is a great advantage especially in terms of 3 ways the wiring diagram scared the life out of me. Generally speaking I am very happy with mine best Tim

Thanks Simon, yes I am going to try and 'Build Back Better', as someone once said. I will have a lot more space. My idea at the moment is to keep the essential layout as is, but extend it either end with a mixture of scenery and hidden siding (which I didn't have on the old version). The big addition is, as I mentioned, the inclusion of some 0-16 narrow gauge. I currently experimenting with a Hornby 'Smokey Joe' chassis and a Smallbrook 'Thor' narrow gauge body. If I work out fitting DCC to this it will allow the potential to have some dual gauge track and points. The plan forming is to be able to run the narrow gauge the length of the layout at the back, with a larger section at one end for pure narrow gauge. That is the plan! thanks for everyone's comments and support. I'll post the progress on the build if you are interested. Cheers Tim

End of the Line for Green Leaf Hi everyone, due to Covid and my wife needing a space to work at home I am having to dismantle Green Leaf after nearly three years of work. Here are some last images. The positive is I am moving my hobby to my study and I am hoping to create the brewery on a larger scale. I have my eye on three boards 1800x750mm the old layout was 3200mmx 800mm. There is a strong possibility of narrow gauge 0-16 and potentially dual gauge track. anyway thanks for all the kind comments. Cheers Tim

Hi David, some other layouts you might be interested in: https://yeovilmrg.org/hobsons-brewery/ and my own Best Tim

Hi David, as Ray was kind enough to point out my layout Green Leaf I thought I would add to the discussion. One of the reasons I chose to do a brewery was because it offered so many wagon possibilities. I don't know what gauge you are working in - I'm 'O' so there may be more possibility in 'OO'. As people have said Coal, but also coke, and oil. Hops traffic - and also spent grain and hops which was used as animal feed. Barrels in wagons, covered wagons or vans Parkside do a LMS Beer Van As was said cattle trucks were converted for beer traffic. There were beer tanks - both oo and o kits and RTR available Then grain hoppers - Connoisseur do an LNER one and a more modern one from First Class Kits in o, There are RTR in oo. You could have wood for barrel making. there was also Yeast traffic from some breweries Guinness sold their spent yeast to Marmite. Don't forget brake vans. Ian Peaty's Brewery Railways is worth a look. best Tim

Hi All, I'm building a larger loading dock for the brewery. Here are some images of the build. Cheers Tim

New arrival inspected on shed

Loco nearly finished, here she is on the brewery layout. Cheers Tim

Hi all almost finished the painting of the loco. I have the number plates but still waiting on the name plates. cheers Tim

Hi All, body now with green livery applied. Still a way to go but progress. Best Tim

Hi all, painted the black parts of the loco today. Cheers Tim

Hi all, here is the body married to the chassis. I think the plungers have now been fettled I just need to refit the DCC chip, stay alive and speaker. cheers Tim

Hi All, loco now in primer. cheers Tim

Hi All, Loco body pretty much finished off. Cheers Tim

Hi All, some more progress over the weekend. I primed and painted the chassis. The last photo is a shot with the body attached. The white metal detail isn't soldered on yet. Cheers Tim

Hi all, here are a couple of pictures of the brake gear fitted. That is the chassis completed so now I need to paint it over the weekend then fit the plungers. Cheers Tim

Loco Progress Here are some images of the build. I've done some more work since these which I will post later in the week. Cheers Tim

Hi everyone here are some pictures of the loco build. I've fitted the roof tabs so it slides on and strengthened the guard rails. cheers Tim

Hi All, I've pretty much finished all the brass bits of the loco, back to the chassis now. Here are some images of the cleaned up loco with handrails, footsteps and lamp irons. cheers Tim

Hi all, these are the latest pictures of the loco now soldered up with the smokebox plate on the front. best Tim

Hi All, here is the loco with the boiler bands in place and fitted in to the loco - not fixed here. Cheers Tim

Hi All, more progress on the loco. The smokebox isn't fixed yet and needs to be cleaned up. Cheers Tim

Hi, sorry I don't know your name. I haven't done the Presflo but have done the Grain hopper kit. I would certainly recommend the kits generally, they are more challenging than say a Connoisseur kits although the Grain van was quite a complex beast. I think the instructions are all online so it should be quite easy to see in advance what you are facing. best Tim