1977joey

Many Thanks for that MGR Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone, I just wondered if the cab end couplings have NEM pockets on these units? If so I might be tempted to get a couple of provincial ones to run with Farish my Class 150s ... Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone, Another summer saturday instalment. Today we see Network SouthEast 47581 in charge of the 1325 Shrewford to London Euston at Platform 7 Which is then seen making it's departure.. A Class 20 & 25 are over on the stabling point. A couple of Class 150/1 Sprinter's are about to attach at Platform 6 ready to form the 1355 to Birmingham New Street A Class 31 is in charge of the Margam to Dee marsh steel & waits on the centre road until the Birmingham to Llandudno DMU which is due shortly has cleared.. Next the Birmingham New Street to Llandudno approaches Platform 3 formed of a 6 car Tyseley Class 101 combo Cheers for now, Mark

Hi Everyone, The summer timetable came into operation in May (circa 1987 ) It's a summer Saturday session, the 1241 Cambrian Coast express to Aberystwyth (Ex Euston) approaches Platform 4 behind 37426 having taken over this train at Wolverhampton, formed of a rake of Network SouthEast Mark 1's... Seen at Platform 5 is the 1230 Sprinter to Wolverhampton (The 1015 from Aberystwyth), strengthened to 4 coaches from the usual 2 37426 is quickly uncoupled & run round the train ready for reversal for it's next leg of the journey towards Welshpool & onto Aber She is then coupled to the other end of the train as a 3 car Met Cam DMU approaches Platform 6 with a terminating service from Cardiff After a break test, 37426 departs Platform 4 right time at 1241 Cheers, Mark

Thankyou Jonas, Glad you like it Thanks for that info James & for the kind comments, much appreciated Cheers, Mark

Well a couple more pics, this time from today & DMU's. First up the 1601 local service from Wolverhampton formed of a pair of Tyseley Bubble cars has arrived at Platform 5, these will be cleaned & watered ready for the return working at 1625 One of the 'New Kids' of the time, a 150/1 Sprinter is stabled over at the disused Platform 1, this will be forming the 1705 Shrewford to Aberystwyth & will shunt out to Platform 5 when the Wolverhampton DMU has cleared. Then finally at Platform 4b stands a 3 car Class 101 DMU on the 1605 Shrewford to Bangor Gwynnedd service, this train is all stops to Crewe before heading towards Chester & North wales Cheers for now, Mark

Many thanks Nigel, I'm glad you like it A couple of zoomed in shots of the daily InterCity 125 Plymouth to Liverpool yesterday (circa 1987), making it's call at Platform 4 at 1550. This HST service I've pinched with modellers license to swing on/off the WCML at Crewe to run via Shrewsbury/Shrewford as an excuse to run the HST, a train that's always impressed me since I was a kid! One issue with my dummy power car is the tail light's don't seem to work anymore, the white headlights are fine but just not red the tails, She is 10 years old this year so not sure if the light's have just had their day.. Cheers for now, Mark

Hi Everyone, I have now finally painted the canopies at the northern end of the station in the creamy/beige colour to match much of the rest of the station, a job I should have done when I constructed it, but at least it's now done. Here is a couple of shots of the canopy: Then some train running from last night: First up 47710 having visited Crewe works is on the 1859 Cardiff to Manchester & is seen after arrival at Platform 4 Over in the Bays, a Network South East Class 101 covering the none availability of a Class 116/117 (In reality a model of this type of unit sadly does not exist in N gauge) is on the 1857 to Nottingham at Platform 5 next to a welsh Class 108 which will go forward on the 1905 all stations to Cardiff A look over at the stabling point showing a 47, a 20 which has been on station pilot duties, & a DMU which was detached from the NSE 101 when it arrived at Platform 5 off a peak time service from Birmingham New Street. This unit will stabled overnight A little later, 50040 causes a stir when it arrives on some vans from Bristol Temple Meads to Chester & arrives at Platform 3 Then a Class 25 changes drivers at Platform 7 taking some empty wagons from Shrewford North Yard to Bescot Finally a 33 is on the 2038 Manchester to Cardiff Cheers for now, Mark

I absolutely agree with this statement & share the frustration. I've been praying for the Class 117 DMU to be shrunk as we have a real lack of choice regarding first generation passenger DMU's with just the 101, 108 None headcode box type (short framed units) & Dapol's bubble cars (long framed) on offer. In OO gauge, you can choose from: Derby lightweight (Bachmann), 101(Bachmann), 104 (Forthcoming from Heljen), 105 (Bachmann) 108 (Both small destination cab dome & headcode box versions by Bachmann) 117 (Bachmann) 121 (Bachmann) When the Class 117 DMU was announced in 2015 I really thought this would hit the shrinkray too, but even with already produced models in new liveries (such as the 101, 108 & 150) have taken/are taking years to hit the shops compared to OO offerings after being announced It is very frustrating. Cheers, Mark

Thanks Mark I've had a little running session this eve after completing the new storage sidings extension. This is now fully operational I'm glad to say, now to sort out a scenic screen to hide them from view behind the north end of the station. Here is a couple of pictures of the new sidings... Then a wee running session while I recover from my hangover A Class 20 is on station pilot duties & shunts some vans into Platform 3, a Sprinter is at Platform 7 on the 1625 Chester to Wolverhampton, Cardiff based DMU C814 is at Platform 6 to form the 1657 to Swansea Via Llandrindod, & finally 37429 is on the 1638 Liverpool to Cardiff Cheers for now Mark

Thanks Jonas, Glad you like it Can't beat a bit of 80's Cheers, Mark

Due to the none availability of a Class 37/4 tonight, Banger blue 37254 has the honours on tonight's 1J11 the 1847 Cambrian Coast Express to Aberystwyth (Ex Euston) Cheers for now, Mark

Love your layout Nigel, fantastic room for it too Another’s fellow Welsh borders modeller too Looking forward to seeing more Cheers, Mark

Many thanks Melangoose, I'll do my very best to do more vids, glad you enjoyed them Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone, Well the first train has now run under it's own power onto the new extension where I am adding the new storage sidings/fiddle yard for my longest loco hauled trains. As you can see from the pictures how cramped the sidings currently in use behind the scenic section are & my sausage fingers adding/detaching coaches & wagons is a nightmare. I did like the compact feel to the layout how it was, but needs must. Only down side is, it is now far more awkward to get good views of the trains at the north end of the station There will be 7 new sidings on the new section once I get hold of more track. Cheers for now, Mark

Many thanks Dave & Graham The 37 coupled up a little too quick, though not bad going considering I had one hand on the controller & the other holding the phone filming ha ! Well some more pictures from this morning as Sprinter's hog the bay platforms. At Platform 5 is a 150/1 on the 1050 to Aberystwyth (standing room only on this train) while at Platform 6 a 150/2 is on the 1105 all stops down the marches line to Cardiff. A little later a banger blue 47 approaches Platform 3 with the 1116 departure to Bangor Gwynedd via Wrexham (ex Cardiff) Now on this pic (or something different) is a track workers perspective of the station And finally I have made a start (I kept putting it off) of the extension for the new storage sidings. The extra board is now in situ & painted. Then to start the dreaded track laying & having to fit a new set of points into the existing track work at the rear of the layout. This is to store most my longest loco hauled coach rakes as I was finding it a struggle leaning over the board over the scenic section to access the current sidings so I hope it'll be worth it when its done... Cheers for now, Mark

Hi Everyone, Well as the light nights are here, photographs/video's of the 1847 'down' Cambrian Coast Express departure at Shrewford are now possible. Yesterdays (Circa 1987) arrival & departure is shown in the following video as well as other movements through the station during this busy hour. 47535 will be seen arriving with the full rake of stock from Euston (which itself took over at Wolverhampton from an electric, It runs round to collect the First Class & Buffet which is detached & runs back to Oxley (Wolverhampton) 37426 Y Lein Fach/Vale Of Rheidol is then coupled to the remaining 2nd Class Coaches for the remainder of the journey to Aberystwyth. Cheers, Mark

Thankyou Imsforever, May look into doing that, glad you like it Well, Evening everyone, A few minutes of activity at Shrewford today showing a Euston arrival, A class 37 on the Cardiff, a DMU on the Birmingham stopper. My mum also managed to ring & interrupt the recording at the very end (as you will hear bless her !!) as there probably would have been a few minutes more lol! Anyhow, Enjoy Cheers, Mark

Cheers for that info Mike, though I'd like to know if the actual coupler can be changed to allow it to work in multiple with other second generation units such as the 150's. If it's an NEM socket then that's great. If not then that restricts it to just working in multiple with other 158's On the other hand, if it's not NEM, Farish could possibly make Sharfenberg couplers that are NEM a modeller could purchase seperately to convert 150's & the like to couple up to the 158. After all, that's the fun of multiple units, to be able to couple them up with others, just a thought... Cheers, Mark

I wonder if the couplings on the front ends will have NEM sockets so as you can run them in multiple with such as the 150’s ....

Hi everyone, A few pictures of yesterdays evening rush hour at Shrewford: First up a birds eye view over Platforms 3 & 4 showing the 1719 Birmingham New Street to Chester has arrived at Platform 3 formed of a very packed 2 car Class 150/1 Sprinter & a Class 33 has just arrived at Platform 4 with the 1714 Bangor to Cardiff: Having arrived at 1710, going forward at 1725 is the Aberystwyth to Wolverhampton Sprinter having arrived at Platform 6, this will follow the InterCity London Euston service which departs at 1721 Hoover fans are treated to 50040 which brings in the empty stock to form the 1721 to Euston from platform 7 The view from the north end, all through platforms occupied The 1714 to Cardiff makes it's departure: Followed by the 1719 Sprinter to Chester & finally the tail end of the 1721 to London Euston can be seen disappearing south Cheers, Mark

Afternoon evreyone, So the inspiration of Shrewford was what I remember of Shrewsbury as a kid, particularly the Cambrian Coast Express Euston to Aberystwyth. In this series of pictures shows the up working the 07:14 Aber to Euston, due to depart Shrewford 09:30 & the maneuver's that took place in the 86/87 period at Shrewford. First up, 47612 'Titan' is seen on the centre road having bought up the First Class coaches & Buffet car from Oxley, Wolverhampton. Next, the sounds of growling as 37429 appears with the standard class only coaches from Aberystwyth The station shunter gets to work uncoupling the 37 ready for it to shunt out then back into the centre road the station shunter then is put to work for coupling up the First Class & Buffet car onto the train as 47612 eases them onto Platform 4 In the meantime, the 09:16 arrival all shacks from Walsall via Birmingham arrives at Platform 6 to terminate composed of a Tyseley DMU combination. There's plenty of passengers on this that are changing at Shrewford for the Pwllheli Sprinter which is waiting at Platform 5 Finally after a break test, 47412 is ready to depart right time at 09:30 with the Euston, which will be replaced by an electric loco at Wolverhampton Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone. I've been building another signal gantry on the southern approaches to the station. It's a mix of pieces I've kit bashed from Ratio & CR signals. This controls movements into the station platforms with theatre route indicators & position lights & also acts as the intermediate signals on departure using the feather's. All signals are dummies on Shrewford until I may one day electrify everything. I'm happy with it for now though. I've also now got the station sign up on the main building. Here's a few pictures... Followed by a couple of short video's showing a terminating interCity from London Euston approaching the station... The a 5 car Sprinter Class 150/1 & 150/2 combination departs on a Pwllheli/Aberystwyth to Birmingham New Street Cheers, Mark

Hi 61656, Keep her & renumber her as a canton 37/4, they were regulars on the north wales coast in the late 80's. I model N gauge & we only have the Scottish one's available but i've renumbered & renamed mine, courtesy of Railtec Transfers Here's my 37429 Eisteddford Genedleithol & 37426 Y Lein Fach/Vale Of Rheidol Loving your layout progress Cheers, Mark

A couple more from earlier... A Valley Lines Class 108 unit arrives in front of a Class 150 with a stopper from Newport (South Wales) in the Yard is 37426 'Y Lein Fach/Vale Of Rheidol' which would have taken over this evening's 1847 to Aberystwyth Cheers, Mark