meurglys3

As another Wiganer, I have to say this is brilliant. even since I was at art school on Library Street in the 80s, the town centre has changed greatly, particularly around Darlington Street and the casino area, all replaced with a fuggly shopping mall. Thankfully we still have the weind, and Wallgate (the street) doesn't look much different. That multistorey at North Western though - I remember walking over the iron bridge to get our lunchtime pies from Pooles, when we weren't in the John Bull.... I play in an acoustic folk rock band, and regularly perform at the Old Courts, the people who run it now are all lovely, and I have told them about your layout when chatting outside the bailiff bar looking up at the coops building. My layout "Hope Springs", while not an accurate model of Wigan in any way, definitely has the town in mind, in terms of atmosphere. Great work and keep the updates coming. Did you make it back to Wigan as you mentioned? All the best Pete

Congratulations, she is gorgeous! Pete

Looking REALLY good now. Are you using Slaters sheets? I might try this technique on a little lineside hut sometime soon Pete

Looks good. Do you apply das straight from the pack? I tried it a while ago and couldn't get it to go where I wanted. Realistic brickwork is something I struggle with.

This one would have been interesting, had it not been cancelled.... I'd love to see regular freight trains on the Haydock branch again. Used to be bitumen trains to Kelbit, the site is now Hanson aggregates.

Thanks Mick. Running an hour late at the moment. I'll keep an eye on it. Pete

Got any diagram/RTT information for the 73s Jim/anybody? I'd quite like to pop out & see them. Keep the updates coming, I love reading about what you are up to :-) Pete

The full service seems to be running today. Missed it here though :-( http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H68716/2016/02/03/advanced

There's one on RTT for tomorrow, through Golborne at 10.45, will nip out and have a look if I remember. Might even go to Wallgate & see it there

37 422 was on today's 10:04 from Preston. Seen at Preston and Arnside. I haven't seen this one mentioned before, and is has no DRS decals/branding. Has it been moved in from elsewhere? The DRS blue paint didn't seem that freshly applied, but no decals.

Happy hundredth page Jim, keep it up. Always interesting stuff. Pete

Yes, saw some pics of 401 last week, it looks superb.

Hi Jim Is it the ads8fx? I have one of those and have been wiring (Peco) point motors from it (with a lot of trial and error). My layout is DC but I can confirm each output throw two motors simultaneously. Just make sure you get the wires the right way round! I ran both sets of wires from the points through a terminal block into the "Solenoid" output on the board, then to the switch. I found that if I ran the wires from one point motor to the next then to the board, there was a delay before the points threw, and it sometimes took several attempts. You only need one power input from your controller by the way, although there are four inputs on the ads8fx. One thing I haven't been able to do is solder led wirings to the pads underneath, just too fiddly for my skill level. And there's already enough wires to contend with. I used single strand wire sold in packs from Tandy, spent ages braiding it, but I couldn't find suitable 3-core stuff anywhere. It seems OK otherwise though, you would probably pay that just for the onboard CDUs. Let us know how you get on!

Apologies, I'm not well up on attaching pics etc.... It was great to see the 37s providing such sterling service though. Also (didn't get any pics but) there were upwards of 20 class 47 and 57s on shed at WCRC at Carnforth. I didn't know they had that many. Even the wife was impressed!

I had a nice little jaunt from Preston to Barrow yesterday (Monday)

I called in at Jim's shop (The Locoshed) today after dropping the ladies off in Bury. Jim was really friendly, asked my name and remembered it, made me a coffee and made me feel right at home.. We had a good chat as he is from Wigan like me and knew my local area and Springs Branch depot which we reminisced about. And he had everything on my list. Again it was a Saturday afternoon and the shop was busy and very friendly, with regular customers, one of which said the shop was like a model railway club. I will definitely call there again. And he gave me a discount. :-)

Popped into Sawyers Models in Earlestown today and who should be in there but Jim, chewing the fat with Andy, the owner. He was killing time before going to Warrington to collect the log train & take it to Chirk. Had a chat about model railways and real railways with him. Nice bloke. :-) Good to meet you Jim. Pete

If Jim is on 676T today I'll give him a wave. Due through here (Golborne) at 15:33 edit: 56113 in charge sounding good, but couldn't see who was in the driver's seat. Don't know if i would recognise you anyway Jim! There was another bloke on the car park looking out for the train to pass but I didn't engage him in conversation. I watched from the car ;-)

87023 - thanks for the info about the previous tour. I must have been busy with the kids that day! Yes the Bickershaw line was lifted quite a few years ago. Probably mid-late 90s. Pete

Another pic from Ashton Road bridge looking the other way towards Haydock. (the line is truncated a few hundred yards further down)

Plenty of people turned out to see this. Weird to see passengers on this line, I never have before today!

Gary - Yes, part on the Lancs Links tour on Saturday. I will be posting pics! http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/index.php/tour-calendar-reader/events/the-lancs-links.html

On the Haydock branch at Golborne. First train down there for years. Not my pics, but used with permission. Nice weathering!

That's it, thanks! Railtour on Saturday. Definitely popping out to see that!