1977joey

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

Hi Everyone I've been thinking of the castle hill area of the layout for a bit wondering what to put there. Then I saw Metcalf had produced a watch tower in OO gauge, not the right gauge but I thought I could do something with it. So I've just kit bashed it & painted it in a sandstone colour to fit in my castle grounds so this is now my representation of 'Laura's tower'. There is access to the top for those that want to watch the trains from there It just needs bedding in properly now & the backscene behind sorting. I'm also going to add flower beds & benches within the grounds... Cheers for now, Mark

Hi Everyone, Today's 1355 DMU to Birmingham New Street is seen at Platform 5 then makes its departure as the slightly delayed 1352 to Liverpool Lime Street (ex Cardiff) is signalled into Platform 4 Cheers for now, Mark

Hi everyone, An update on the football ground area. I've made the floodlights from Ratio OO gauge lattice signal posts which have been painted & the lights themselves from Ratio OO gauge fencing cut up into squares. The lights are tiny blobs of light grey paint I've applied with a cocktail stick. I now just need to fence off the line side that isn't already & replace the damaged fencing (as can be seen) & add vegetation. Ballasting in this area is all now done & painted too. On view approaching then entering the station is a Class 101/108 hybrid 2 car unit on today's 1418 Wolverhampton to Chester which approaches Platform 4. I'm far happier now this end of the layout is now finally coming together... Cheers for now, Mark

Thanks Graham Some action this afternoon, Celebrity 50007 Sir Edward Elgar has just bought in the stock at Platform 7 to form the 1321 Shrewford to London Euston which it will take as far as Wolverhampton. Cardiff DMU set C814 waits to depart from Platform 5 with the 1305 all stations to Newport (Gwent) & a couple of Class 20s are on the centre road with a steel train for Margam, & finally the delayed 1250 to Manchester (ex Cardiff has arrived at Platform 4 Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone. The new scenic break is now in place & the back scene sorted beyond. I've cut out an image of Shrewsbury Abbey & also a Texas home wear store (typical 80s ) to attach. I've relayed the ballast in this area which is now also drying & will need painting & toning down. Next is to sort out the area between the track & Shrewford Town football ground. As can be scene, the first of the new floodlights towers is being held in place with blue tack for the time being.. The reason for the swoop cut into the back scene is I need a shallow area to access a crossover & the access to the storage sidings is behind. On view is a Cardiff to Liverpool service hauled by a gleaming 37426. Seen waiting in the station is the 1521 InterCity to Euston at Platform 7, ScotRails 47710 is in charge having not long visited Crewe works... Cheers for now, Mark

Had a break from modelling & had a run of the trains this morning... Apologies for the slight grainy shots as they're in natural lighting.. The 1018 Shrewford to Chester waits at Platform 4b then makes it's departure, followed by 37506 'British Steel Skinningrove' which had a crew change with a Llanwern to Ravenscraig steel train Cheers, Mark

Hi Eveyrone, Well, I've been cracking on with toning down the retaining wall alongside the base board, It's looking far more weather beaten now & more pleasing to the eye... And finally some work too on what will be the scenic break & also the football ground.. this area of the layout has been in proper need of attention. I'm looking at fixing a shallow back scene behind. This is how it looks so far (work still in progress) as a Cardiff to Manchester service passes underneath the bridge. I also need to disguise the power feed wires in this area as well as the ballast needing to be re done in areas where it dislodged during moving house. The Cardiff to Manchester service hauled by a Class 33 enters the station showing a busy scene, Stabled loco's, a Class 47 on the Dee Marsh to Margam steel train & Class 150/1 Sprinters in the bay bound for Aberystwyth 4 Cheers, Mark

Dave, the 117 is top of my list of what I'd love .. Cheers, Mark

I’d really love either manufacturer to do another first generation passenger DMU & hold my breath at each new announcement. Considering the massive choice now available in OO gauge & the extensive use of them in the BR era, The 101, 108 by Farish & the bubbles by Dapol are great models, but something else to widen the variety on offer here in N gauge would be fantastic, especially the longer frame DMU... Cheers, Mark

A few more from tonight: Cheers, Mark

Well, today, I've had a break from modelling & ran some trains ha!! Anyway, in natural daylight, today's 1341 to Cardiff Central (Ex Manchester Piccadilly) approaches Platform 7 behind a banger blue Class 47. As that departs, a hybrid 3 car Class 150 Sprinter is on the Wolverhampton to Chester, while waiting at Platform 5 a Tyseley hybrid DMU with a Class 122 substituting for a DMBS of a Class 101 set stands at Platform 5 patiently waiting for its road to proceed towards Wellington on the 1355 to all stations Wolverhampton Cheers for now, Mark

Hi Everyone., Well motivated myself to get the retaining wall re done along the edge if the baseboard. The colour I'll get toned down at some point but at least it's another job out of the way. I've fixed it in place with filler this time so if I move house again, hopefully the pieces won't snap off... In the station can be seen a London Euston InterCity at Platform 7 & at the South end of Platform 5 a 150 Sprinter is on a service to Pwllheli Cheers for now, Mark

Wish they'd do an N gauge 3 car DMU suburban set, anyone for a Class 116/117 or 118 DMU in N gauge? Apart from the 101 & 108 by Farish & the bubble cars from Dapol, we have no other choice yet of heritage passenger DMU's...C'mon Dapol, you know you want to lol! Cheers, Mark

Well more done today to the north end of the station. The signal gantry at the north end of the station now complete. I've kit bashed a couple of the ratio gantry kits & pleased with the results. It doesn't look as chunky as my last efforts. Here it is on the layout too while a DMU for Chester waits to depart Platform 4b. Meanwhile at the South end, I hope passengers had their coats as a no heat Class 31 is on the Birmingham service deputising for a DMU shortage seen at Platform 5... Next I want to concentrate on the retaining wall & river bridge along the edge of the baseboard.. Lots to do... Cheers, Mark

Loving this Woodenhead & will be following your progress. Great to see another diesel era N gauge layout, looks like a great track plan too Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone, Well today's 1987 style 1321 InterCity service from Shrewford to London Euston is seen at Platform 4, the 47 not long having run round the stock, which it will take as far as Wolverhampton in favour of electric traction. Note all the retaining wall I had along the edge of the baseboard is yet to be re done as pieces of this snapped off during the house moving... The next job I'm looking at is replacing the signal gantry at the north end of the station which also got damaged....this is currently in the process of being sorted. Cheers for now, Mark

Thankyou John, glad you like the layout. Well I have set it back up in my spare room of the new place & yet to unbox all my stock. I'm also changing the area behind the football ground & have also given the main station building a much needed makeover. I have done this by printing off pictures of the real Shrewsbury station frontage, but have had to use the same row of windows multiple times for the same measurements & for things to look consistent. I've in effect 'wrapped' it, but it has been well worth the effort & am pleased with the results ... Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone. Well the good news is, I'm now in my rented house & am in the process of getting the spare bedroom sorted so hopefully on my next days off, I'll get the layout up & running. It just needs to be mounted onto it's supports. I can then examine the bits that need to be fixed that the removals managed to snap off. I will be sorting a whole new signal gantry at the north end as this managed to get slightly damaged, as did the flood lights on the football ground. The station canopies over the north end were removed & are packed safely away ready to be re installed, the bay platform canopies are still intact thankfully. The joys of moving!! In the meantime, I wish everyone on here a Merry Christmas Cheers, Mark

Some fantastic modelling & very life like pictures there Gloucester Road. Excellent stuff Cheers, Mark