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Hi all, Thought I would post a few photos of the near completed Fuel Tank wagon, it has had an overall coat of 'dirty black' leaving just the handrails and pipework to pick out in white and apply some suitable transfers. I am really pleased with the outcome. The first 3 show the inspiration taken from the Cheona Publications book 'Engineers Stock' Now the model version Hope you like guys. Should be a YouTube update tomorrow if all goes to plan.

Hi all, There is a bit more to this weeks YouTube episode (17). The usual hour of traffic is between 20.00 and 20.59 and has a couple of additional CM+EE special workings. There is also a Fuel Wagon conversion shown with the job completed apart from painting, this vehicle was used to provide fuel to outlying stabling points, yards etc. which had no permanent fuel storage facility. In addition there is my own method of producing loco lamps for pennies rather than £6 for 5! I have just been looking for cylinder drain cocks on the web and was shocked at the cost of £5 per pair so I will be developing my own generic design in due course. Talking of design I am in the final stages of commissioning my design for 'Turnbuckle' tensioners to suit the Type 'A', 'B' and 'L' containers seen on Conflat wagons. More of this in a week or so! Episode 17 is available here:

Just you wait and see Steve! Seven booked southbound in next instalment but I intend to add a couple of northbound special workings such as...............

Hi all, Hardly had a moment to myself over the past few weeks and it has meant my usual YouTube weekly timetable slot is some 4 or 5 weeks late which is even worse than the old BR! Anyway here's the link to episode 16. It is slightly different to the previous as all my template thingy's all disappeared from! the program - I do hate technology.

Hi Mick, I had a look at the music issue but although I seemed I could lower the volume I found it altered the whole piece and not just the music no matter how I tried, maybe this tutorial will help fathom the depths of audio for me next weekend, thanks once again Mick you are a star! I did try to fade out the music but messed that up also. DOH!

Sorry to disappoint Steve, the steam roller came over from Garsdale not up from Cowbeck

Hi Peter, Well now we can't have er'indoors unhappy, now I really don't know how to fix this issue but I will at least try, thanks for letting me know.

Hi all, Just a quick update on recent projects. The fuel carrying wagon I'm scratchbuilding has got no further I'm afraid but it will be completed at some point. I'm currently working my way through a more detailed working timetable which will provide a loco roster allowing sufficient 'real' time before a loco reappears. Currently the timetable shows 88 northbound workings and 73 southbound workings passing through Dent in a 24 hour period. I am hoping to include some additional CM+EE specials, odd light engine moves and perhaps another pick-up goods just for some shunting interest. If you have a look at episode 14 of Mike's Dent Station on YouTube it shows more detail. Some weathering work has been started on new stock so that should soon be available. It's been a bit too cold in the den recently so things have taken longer than normal but the better weather is on the horizon. Cheers guys, see you soon.

Hi Andy, Great to hear from you, hope all is well down south mate. I don't suppose we'll be bumping into each other much at exhibitions due to covid and your new location, pity though, it was always nice to have a chat. As for the videos, I'm no Cecil B De'Mille but I think I'm getting a little bit better with each attempt - I think and hope. Haha. Its also nice to see Jeff making progress with Gill Head, my god that man has the patience of a saint or 48 hours in a day, whichever it is I could do with catching some of it. Unfortunately for me covid has not benefitted me with free time as I am still busy at work and when the cold weather set in I decided it was a waste of time trying to heat the den during the week and now just go in there on Friday evenings and weekends. I do hope you continue to keep a look in and of course look after you and yours mate. Best wishes and stay safe.

Hi Mark, There you go, always trust a man of experience! Lisa sounds like my Laura, understanding and more, this hobby can be overwhelming to some. The first time I met Laura she came to my birthday party with her sister and her niece and following the initial introduction the first thing I said was "Do you want to come upstairs and see my model railway", The reply was "That's a new one". At least she knew from the off what she was in for eh!

Hi Paul, Apologies for delay in replying. The backscene is actual photos I took around the area and a company called "Art Printers" in Telford stitched them all together in several banners.

Cheers Shaun, it's always nice to get a bit of feedback on a light-bulb moment, with you and Ade that make two. My current deliberations for an etch are container turnbuckles initially for the 'L' type mineral so watch this space!

Hi Ade, I just came up with the idea in order to get rid of those ugly massive wide bar types and it seems to work well but you have to be delicate as they are only thin nickel silver and easily bend.

Hi Mark, Aren't you the big brave type, be a man - the bruises diminish after a week or so

Hi all, Just to let you know episode 9 is now available on YouTube and thanks to 'Donnington Road' I now know how to embed a link here - YIPPEE!!! I am working on several projects v e r y s l o w l y it seems. The timetable card system has taken longer than anticipated but looks to be working well and will help rotate the loco fleet for varied interest. However not a lot done on much else this week.

Hi guys, Just a note to let you know episode 8 is currently loading onto YouTube if anyone wishes to have a look just search: Mike's Dent Station. Apologies, I forget how to attach a direct link. In the episode there are details of the new timetable system and a snapshot of a scratchbuilt wagon I am currently creating plus all the trains featured between 12 Mid-day and 1pm on the working timetable. Hope you enjoy!

Life is strange, 40 years ago I used to laugh at the antics of old men trying to couple 3 link chains, now I'm an old man I'm laughing at myself (hence the cutting out). As for the clay I think you may be regressing into childhood dear boy!

Hi Steve, Many thanks for the comments, makes it all worthwhile. I was just about to commence filming earlier but my mate called in so it will have to be tomorrow, I just hope I have enough time as the editing and uploading can be tedious at times.

Hi Jeff, Apologies for the enforced absence, just had a quick catch-up and WoW what a viaduct! You really put yourself through it mate but it looks fabulous.

Hi guys, My god doesn't 5 months pass quickly, I hadn't realised I have not posted on the forum since August until I just looked at the last post! I'm still suffering with this leg issue but just having to put up with it for now. I have had a little burst of enthusiasm over the past few weeks having had a break from work. One task was to configure a working timetable which works on a card system rather than just reading from the sheet, I'm hoping it offers the opportunity to rotate the rolling stock better than my biased judgement alone. Another time consuming job has been the fitting of 3 link couplings to a selection of my goods stock. I had fitted Kaydee magnets under the track in strategic locations but I was disappointed with the operation each time I performed a shunt move for various reasons including coupling which failed to open or close, wagons which 'took off' when crossing the magnet due to the steel axles, apparently American stock has brass axles to prevent this, the other point is the good old British problem of non matching coupling heights even with NEM pockets its just pot luck at times. I also find it almost impossible to shunt Dapol and Heljan stock due to the 'droop' on the tension lock couplings so all in all I'm intending to change a fair proportion of my goods stock to 3 link. On the block workings such as Oil and Freightliner I will be fitting my own coupling etch which performs well on the Anhydrites and old Lima parcels stock. The passenger stock will be left as it is. Christmas saw the arrival of a Class 27 in green, a couple of ex LMS Porthole coaches, a Mk1 RMB, 3 Accurascale PCV tanks, 2 Warwell wagons and a few more Oxford Hillman Imps for my Linwood car train, all of which (except the Imps) need weathering before release to traffic. Due to my leg issues I have been busy collating my large photograph collection and have once again revisited my writing interest and have compiled an article detailing one of my early spotting trips which has been accepted for publication in a forthcoming issue of British Railways Illustrated and will include relevant photos from my archive. I am really looking forward to seeing this and have commenced a second piece. The only other item of note is of course my version of Dent Station can now be seen on my YouTube channel, just search 'Mike's Dent Station'. Content to date features an introduction to the layout followed by a train by train account following the working timetable from 06.00 with two episodes covering a timetabled hour, this was due to length restrictions which I have only found out how to remove this weekend. At present the episodes to date take us to Mid-day and I hope by tomorrow evening to reach 13.00 It has been very interesting following an actual WTT and setting up the relevant train types makes for interesting workings. On the last episode the Carlisle pick-up took up part 1 on its own and I cut out all the fiddling with the 3 link couplings, I did enjoy it though. So once again I apologise for my absence and I will strive to update more often and also have a look in at other favourites on the forum such as Jeff 'Physicsman's Gill Head which I took a look at today and suddenly there is a massive viaduct taking shape - typical Jeff eh! Edited to correct: YouTube search title

Hi Dave, I'm the archetypal 'humbug' sort of guy at this time of year but I do look forward to your Christmas card, thanks for all the wonderful images posted throughout the year, labour of love on your part and love it a lot on my part!

Hi Martin, Always a pleasure to view Crinan. I like your choices on the additions to the fleet all of which I worked on in my time at Glasgow Works, the less said about the Cl.29 the better, all I will say is they were a nightmare to work on, the panels surrounding the drivers controls must have had at least 50 probably more self tappers securing them and of course you never got the original panel to refit so all the holes in the framing had to be re-drilled and ended up looking like a cullender! Keep up the good work and stay safe.

Hi Jeff, I have hardly been on RMWeb for several weeks due to some painful affliction affecting my left leg which is driving me bleeding mad, I don't even feel up to operating or working on Dent due to the level of discomfort. Anyway my mates came round and one told me about your resurrection with Gill Head so naturally I just had to have a look having followed KL and KL2 with much interest (and dismay BooHoo ) I am delighted to see you have some quality plan under your belt and I know it will be a fabulous journey for us followers and I will be dropping in to see your progress especially after the building work is complete as I see enough of that in my day job HaHa. All the best Jeff, keep safe mate.

First the loco in charge: This was originally bought as 'ALBERTA' but the name changed to 'BERMUDA' to suit my exhibition layout 'Bermuda Road MPD' as the depot pet! Bachmann 45T Breakdown crane was a combined Christmas gift. The Tool Van conversion was featured earlier and is based on a MK1 CK The Mess and Tool Van is an altered Hornby Midland Clerestory Brake 3rd. The Dormitory Coach started life as a Ratio Midland Brake 3rd kit Seen from the rear the train makes an impressive sight, I think. Still not up to much due to this nerve pain in my leg, just can't get a comfortable position either standing or sitting it seems. I have not attempted to do any filming at the moment either. Back again once things get a bit better. Take care everyone.

Hi all, Finally the three breakdown coach conversions are all complete apart from a touch of weathering. Jubilee 4-6-0 45600 'BERMUDA' heads out of Widdale tunnel with a sneaky peak of the train The breakdown train comprises: A: 45T breakdown crane B: Tool Van C: Mess and tool van D: Dormitory Coach plus a standard 12T van and Brake. The whole train which now needs attention of the weathering department! Next up; the various sock in close-up.