hoover50008

Ok Richard your're on the list. E

2016? E

Hi Jo Just got round to posting this, 08644 was named back in November.. It was named to commemorate the first 50 years of Laira depot all be it a little late. E

Yeah had the same problem with 2 signals on our layout, gave up with them in the end. E

Hi William Thank you for your kind comments and the link for the lights, I will tale a look later. E

It's been a while since I updated this thread and to be honest I haven't really done much apart from shunt trucks until last weekend. For my sins I decided to revert the layout to DC control the only real reasons being that the high level was DC anyway working off a Gaugemaster shuttle unit, there will probably ever only be 2 locos max in the yard ie a Class 08/09 and 33/73. Conveniently I discovered that I could run the complete layout from a Gaugemaster 100M contoller. Track 1 and 16vAC controls the upper level via a shuttle unit, Track 2 controls the yard via a hand held controller and there is still the option of adding lights as there is also a 12vDC supply. This would save taking 2 control systems around should it ever get invited to an exhibition. This is all controlled from a small panel located at the R/H end of the layout. The 3 switches now contol 3 isolating sections at various points on the layout. In my opinion this seems to work quite well and so far has been quite enjoyable to operate. A 2 EPB rattles overhead whilst the resident pilot shunts the yard. The 33 is dumped in the siding as it has failed with a power fault, literally. For some reason yesterday it decided it wasn't going to move and it looks like the circuit board has gone down. It did momentarily come back to life when I touched the circuit board but died again, which is annoying as the 33 has seen very little use. The 33 now awaits recovery to Selhurst for repair. E

Better stock up on cakes then. E

Not a huge amount to report over the last few weeks what with one thing and another, I have been persevering with the Spratt & Winkle couplings and am happy with the results. The rest of it is mainly fine detailing bits and pieces to add interest. I have started to make a timber load for the Prawn wagon but need to find some fine chain to secure it. E

No worries more the merrier!! E

See them all together first in Plymouth on 27th June!! E

See you boys there then we will be there with Ruan. E We'll book a table next year then. E

Love the flats in the background, who makes them please. Cheers E

After having an enjoyable weekend operating Merryfield Lane at the Taunton Show last weekend I managed to do a bit of catching up on East Wickersham today. I fitted some Spratt & Winkle couplings to some wagons to give them a go and had varying degrees of success. I think with a bit of fine tuning they will work ok but it did highlight that I may have to re position some of the magnets to avoid some coupling issues. I also re painted and weathered one of the Dogfish wagons I bought a few weekends ago and was very pleased with the results. I also slapped some Bauxite on one of my Toads and painted a 12T vent van in to Olive Green. The Dutch Grampus wagon that I had has also received some heavy weathering or distressing as S.W.M.B.O calls it. I also did some jacking and packing on a section of track that was causing derailments. E

Finished positioning the uncoupling magnets just need to modify the stock now. I had to double up on the magnets but happy with the way they work now. E

Coming along nicely, like this a lot. E

Cheers David, they need weathering but couldn't refuse them at that price especially as they all have different running numbers. E

Picked up these little beauties unboxed for £3.75 each at a toy fair in Plymouth today, they will come in very handy. E

Yeah the best ones I have seen are from CR Signals LO30Y but still not 100% with them E

Hi mate Yeah it's strange as none seem really prototypical all to generic. I may have to make them but don't really want to go that way unless I really have to, mind you after seeing the ones you made that may be the best way to go. E

Things have been progressing well on EW. I am happy with the way the points are operated know and it really is simplicity in itself and less wiring. They are proving to be quite reliable. Most of the other work is really detailing. I have painted the wooden sleepers and now just need to add some greenery around then to disguise them a bit more. They fit in quite well with the condenmed Gramous wagon which has some of the old sleepers loaded on it. The Coles crane has now been fitted in the yard and rope slings added to add a bit more realism to the lorry being loaded in the CE yard. Some local residents now go about there business in the flats overlooking EW. And finally the shunter operated ground frame and token machine which control the entrance and exit from EW is in position. I may add some railings to this in due course. The other job I need to tackle is to add more shrubbery ie Budliea and brambles the usual kind of thing found around railway yards, lighting is also an issue as I can't really find any yard lights that I particularly like. I still need to install the rest of the magnets under the board for uncoupling once I have decided where they need to go. Still happy with the way things are going now so fingers crossed it will be finished shortly. E

There has been a real down turn in the local docks due to the recession and as such there is no longer a need to allocate 3 shunters at East Wickersham. With this in mind BR have taken the step of closing the traction maintenance depot and hand the yard over to the CCE and S&T Dept. They have wasted no time in removing the loco shed and reverting the fuel point back to just a concrete hard standing. There will still be one class 08 out stationed at East Wickersham to shunt of the few remaining freight services and the local fuel depot although it is unclear how long this will remain before the train engine has to do it's own shunting. The view of East Wickersham is now totally changed and you would never know that the traction maintenance depot ever existed. The Civil Engineers now occupy the space and busy themselves loading their lorry for some up coming engineering works. The crew bus heads out to a reported bridge strike nearby. Whilst the S&T boys are having a quiet day as their van is still in the yard. Some of the previous yard flor is just visible behind the van. The remaining class 08 on this occasion 08839 waits it's next shunt. Other jobs that have been undertaken are to make all the point manually operated to cut down on the wiring. I have used code 60 rail with a piece of wire soldered at right angles supported by chocolate blocks for this purpose and it works quite well. E.

Ray 27th June for Plymouth. E

Just a quick update on the latest progress. I have finished painting the fuel point, although it looks a bit garish it still needs to be toned down a bit. Made a start on painting some figures although not entirely happy with the poses. The fuel offload point has now been painted, the rails have also been painted although the whole are needs a liberal helping of grime. Finally the fuel attendant's kiosk has been detailed but I am still unsure where it will be planted yet. I have also been painting barrels and associated bits and pieces you would expect to find around a fuel point. E

Ray It's good to see a layout with a different theme, personally I like it as it's a bit different and you don't see too many snow themed layouts. E