ColinW

I like the way that the deck has turned out Ron, will be interesting to see it altogether when you have finished it. Colin

Thats a great job you have done Chris, with the painting and weathering of the building. Hopefully the signal box won't be delayed too long. Colin

They only run the high speed services during the rush hour, as was stated in another answer. I know that East Farleigh there is a service through there in each direction about every half an hour during the peak time, so can't see it being much different beyond Maidstone West. Colin

The high speed service from Maidstone West to St.Pancras only started at the end of May and was introduced by South Eastern after complaints because they had withdrawn the Ashford International to London Cannon Street service via Maidstone East, to accommodate the high speed services when it originally started. Colin

As I have mentioned before Marcway points are used on Avon Junction, using Seep or Peco point motors. However we have had some point failures with the blades coming away from the tiebars due to the harshness of the movement of the pointmotors, especially after continual useage, the 3 way points in the fiddleyards most common. Luckily for us we have a retired signalling engineer in the club, who has looked into and has come up with a solution that will hopefully solve this problem. It is a diode matrix, using Fulgrex point motors to control the pressure used by the motors when being activated, and also a rotary switch to provide sequential movement of the motors to set the track required, along with illuminated panel for the operator to see what track has been selelcted. At the moment this system has not yet been fitted to the layout, but will be fitted to one of the fiddleyards before it is due out again in November. Should this prove to be successful, the other fiddleyard 3 way point will probably also receive a similar system. In the pics below, the 3 way point to rceive the system and the system itself.

I have still got the station building here at East Farleigh, although closed to passengers. We have been told Network Rail's plans for the Medway Valley line for the future, providing they get the funding. Snodland box is due to close next year, with everything moving to Aylesford, but at the moment the rest of the line won't be touched until 2024! Colin

This is what I love about this hobby and building models with others. You think you know what is going to end up looking like - but actually you don't. When good friends have spent immense amounts of time and turn up with such things - well its just magic. The saying goes jack of all trades master of none, this layout proves when you get a group of people together that are happy to work in the different aspects of this hobby you can produce a stunning layout. the number of hits you have had is because everytime something is posted everyone wants to see what has been done or what has been said about said work. B) Colin

This building is going to be stunning on the layout, even if it is at the back of it Colin

Hi Mike, Sadly no they re signalled the line about 6 years ago and all the semaphores were taken down however I can claim to be one of the few box's left with manual crossing gates, where we have to go out to close them, no wheel here! Colin

the West line ran two cars all week, and still does, all be it class 466 Networkers! Occaisionally 4 car 375 Electrostars are used on the line if the Notworkers, sorry Networkers are in for servicing! I am a signaller based at East Farleigh on the line. Colin

More great work there Chris Colin

It's good to see work recommencing on the buildings. The one you are working on looks stunning. Colin

Hi Peter, You have done a great job with the scenery and photographing it in natural sunlight really makes it stand out. Colin

Thanks for the comment devondynosoar, the gentleman who built the layout built and fitted the uncouplers that are on the layout at the moment. We are considering fitting some more in the future and when that happens we will consider various options as to how to operate them and then we may change the current ones over as well. Colin

As I have mentioned we have a couple of automatic uncouplers in use on the layout, currently 3 but more may be added soon. In the first pic you can see 2 of the uncouplers in the grounded position and cicled, while in the second pic you can see one in the raised position (apologies for the photo, was done on my mobile). The uncouplers are small pieces of brass that have been cut to sit inside the track and drilled to allow a main wire to be soldered to the top then dropped down to a seep point motor. This wire is then wrapped around the locating rod on the point motor until the optimum height to allow tension lock couplings be raised. Two counter balance wires are then dropped down, I have had to solder these in position to make sure the whole plate raises to the same level. When the stock is in the correct position it uncouples smoothly, if in the wrong position or wagons aren't weighted they can get thrown into the air Colin

What a great layout, and another request for more pictures please Colin

Hi Ron, you have made a great start with the turntable. Colin

As if watching your build of the viaducts wasn't enough, three projects under way together will probably have me watching this thread all day now! Colin

Note to myself, if you don't watch this thread everyday, don't be surprised by how much has been done Hi Ron, looks like you have made a good start on the station canopies as well as continuing with viaduct spans. Will you be splitting the station canopies into another thread or keep them within this one? Colin

Some more pics for you. Pic 1. A busy scene on Avon Junction with the Southern passenger entering the station while the Grange and two panniers await to depart. Pic 2. A pannier shunts the local goods while another sits quietly in the siding. Pic 3. Panniers wait to depart Avon Junction Pic 4. Small prarie hauling heavy goods through Avon Junction platform.

Here are some pics I got of the layout at the weekend, more will be added later this week. Pic 1 is the view over the cattle dock towards the station whilst the grange awaits the signal to depart. Pic 2 is of a brakedown crane sat in the siding. This is a cambrian kit that was made by one of the other owners of the layout. Pic 3 has a T9 with Southern passenger service waiting whilst the GWR passenger departs in the other direction.

We had a good weekend at Basildon with the layout, only a couple of minor faults occurring with broken point blades, and getting lots of compliments coming from the public and a possible two more shows to do in the future. Have got some more photos to put on here once I have them off my phone. Colin

Hi Jo If you go to the BBC news website, there is a page on there that gives the route the 4 Hercs are taking. Believe the take off is at 10.30am. Colin

As said in the previous post, Avon Junction is going to Basildon this weekend, so will try and get some more pics to put on here. Colin

Hi Ron, Great to see the progress you are making with the spans, one question though, exactly how did you get those modelling blades past customs Colin