1977joey

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

looking fantastic, my kind of era too really looking forward to seeing it develop Cheers, Mark

Love it Paul! 37426 too, my favourite 37! I actually saw her named at Aberystwyth as a kid back in 1986, hence I’ve renumbered & renamed one of my large logo 37’s into her. Ill have to have a go at representing those windows once I’m set back up.. Cheers, Mark

Haha! Thanks Paul, they may do once I get the look of the flood lights sorted Looking forward to seeing your pictures Cheers, Mark

Many thanks Paul, glad you like it. Always interested to see pictures of Shrewsbury back in the day Currently the layout is laying on the floor under a plastic cover while I’m waiting for a house move. The football ground I’ve just called Shrewford Town Football club. I am however going to change my representation of the floodlights to something a bit more to scale as I feel they don’t look quite right to me at the moment, the styrene truss being a too over scale. lots to do once I get it set back up, I’m hoping it’ll be before Christmas. Cheers, Mark