Leon

Hi both, Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. The last layout was too big to operate alone and also the pointwork was not wired too well so was unable to run trains. Pulling it up and starting again was a long time coming. Should have the signals wired up this Thursday, around 7 in total. Just the coal mine to complete then scenicaly and detailing to be added elsewhere. Once the coal mine are is complete I can work on the locomotives and rolling stock then continue to detail and improve the layout.... And run trains... Currently 4 locos are sound fitted out of around 12 so need to build on that.

I came across a photo on Flickr of an unusual working of VDA box vans from a colliery in South Wales. It was bagged coal. Could be a use for the 4 VDA’s I own.....

A few from this morning. Centro 158 on a diversion, blends in too well with the green hills.

Thanks Tim. The look really, not sure if I need to tone down the grass a little ? Has been a bit rushed the last week or so.

Good evening guys, Had a bit of a clean up this evening. Cleaned the tracks and ran a steel train up the valley with 66068 in charge. Not 100% happy with the layout yet, any advice very welcome. Thanks guys

Good morning, bit of a video update.

This a fantastic post, Very useful. My layout South Wales Freight is being built around a South Wales Coal site.

The area has changed a bit since 2009 then the layout was starting out as a busy freight yard based on the local steelworks.

A recent visit to the local model shop for some static grass and I ended up with these two wagons. Not really a priority but I have always liked them. Although the layout is based on a coal loading site it does have one civil engineers train that these two wagons will now complete. Fresh out of the workshop YCV Turbots by Dapol.

A couple of shots this morning of some coal movements. Still a lot of work to be done. Bit out of era class 66 arrives to collect a short train of loaded MEA's. Then Canton's 37800 is seen arriving up the Valley. A "Crippled" HAA is seen in the siding, soon to be a bit more overgrown. Behind the Class 37 will be a crossing gate between the stone wall, this will be for the local farmer and also used for track access to the power and relay boxes further down the line. A couple of Speed restriction and "Whistle" signs to be added along with other trackside detail.

Work carried out on the headshunt to the service depot, this is seen in where the HAA is sat. Will need to add more detail and oil stains where the locos idle.

Started the day applying some static grass, need to be careful not to over do it and blanket the whole layout in grass. Still away to go with toning down and adding more detail. Most of the area is still pretty wet so the colours seem a bit off at the moment, also didn't really just the spot lights to take the photos.

Good evening all. Gave in and bought a static grass aplicator for the new layout. I had been using a ballon rubbed on the chest but due to the large amount of grass on the new layout I went for the tool. Thought I would do a few short videos for a change to try to make the thread a little more interesting. I’m not going to go professional so don’t worry. I think I can see the finish line now for the build side of the layout, mostly hills and static grass so not too time consuming. Hoping to ballast this weekend also.

Thanks Rich, Yes the moss is fragile I have learnt, I ordered 3 tree's from the Model Tree shop yesterday funny enough.

Short low quality clip of 37415 testing the electrics on the track this evening. In the background can be seen the trees I have been working on. The loco is heading down the valley from the Coal loading site then past the servicing point and out onto the mainline. The coal point will be the last part of the layout to work as its at the end of the layout. This representing the top of the valley. Still to get a name for the coal loading point, any suggestions are welcome.

Hour or so spent on the layout. Still sporting original Railfreight livery 56040 hauls and empty steel train. I couldn't resist a little play now that all the track electrics and points work. Continuing with the scenery around the back of the layout first, then scenery to the front which will mostly be static grass, lastly I will ballast the track. The hoppers in the foreground are stored in the coal loading sites headshunt. Been trying to source some trees for the Valley area of the layout, then i found some "sea moss" or whatever its called i had in the attic for years, a little bit of hairspray and some scatter added, pretty happy for now until if/when I see anything better.

I managed to find some old "sea moss" if it's called that, Had it for years in the attic. I sprayed with hairspray and added some scatter and clumpage. Not yet fixed in place, I think i will use if/when anything better comes along.

Apologies I just found a thread below with plenty of help, Admin please delete. Thanks

Hi all. Can anyone give some advise on ready made trees please ? I have seen lots on eBay but just can't tell if any good from the pictures, I want them to look a realistic as possible. (Layout based in South Wales) Many thanks

Hi Rob, Its foam used to go under laminate flooring, really cheap in some DIY stores and cuts in no time with a stanley, you can pva it down then cut along the track to farm the edge. I have thicker board then left over from underfloor heating which i use to form hill, bridges etc.

Hi All, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I have missed my completion deadline of Christmas 2018, but im happy with the track electrics and trains are running well so this January I can push on with the scenics.

And a Queen Mary and also a 10ft container with a hole cut into it on a flat.

Quality modelling mate, really neat track and ballasting. Just need a respray out of that Maroon and Gold now...

Thanks Jamie, Agree they are a nice livery, Im also trying to build up a rake of NSE when I see them cheap enough, I have the brake buts that's it so far, not really South Wales but I like them so i'm thinking of using them on the Rugby weekends.

Update. Hi all, Cut down the girder bridges (Im glad I cut them down as they now don't look like the run of the mill ones) and laid the mod roc on the embankment at the end of the layout this afternoon. Still a way to go yet but looking forward to working on the coal site, loads of black stuff ! Noticed in the background the MDF board is moving due to the temp in the attic and causing the back ground to warp/bubble. The bridge furthest right is the track to and from the "Upper Valley" fiddle yard, on the left is the road access to the loading point. In the last photo the main loading "pad" is on the right, there will be a built up platform for the diggers to load from (shovel) The 2nd track on the left will be used to house the shunter or the Railfreight coal wagons (MEA & HEA) for blending or washing.