Georgie!!

Hi Nick, just been catching up on your layout. You have a nice selection traction, especially the class 66s. I do like the GBRF class 20, its one class that I must get for my layout especially in the GB colours as it looks smart. Kind regards, George.

Fantastic video of the class 66 there, Nick. I always enjoy updates and photos of your layout and you have a great selection of locos too. I'm looking forward to future updates. Cheers, George.

GBRF 66704 'Colchester power signalbox' awaits permission to enter the fuelling point. I have got myself a new phone with (hopefully) a better camera. In other news, no work has been done to the layout now for a little while. This is because I'm currently in the process of selling my house and the layout has been in storage in the boot of my car whilst we have viewings and things. Hopefully space will come available at my mums for it for a little bit. I'm very surprised at how the layout fits in my car and the amount of space still available. Kind regards, George

Freightliner 66531, 66541 and 66563 ran along the calder valley line this afternoon as a little convoy running from Crewe to Leeds Balm road. I managed to photo the trio at 14:41 at Brighouse station. Cheers, George

A newbie enters service on the fuelling point and is seen in the siding awaiting its next turn of duty. GBRF Royal Scotsman 66746 stabled in the sun: Hoping to get a backscene sorted this week. Cheers, George

Ah, thanks for that most appreciated, Nick. Cheers, George.

Your layout just gets better and better, Nick. Fantastic photo of the class 66, my favourite class of loco. Looking forward to more photos Just wondered where did you get the tail lamps from? I have been searching but can only find the ones for steam trains. Cheers, George.

Thank you guys for the information, it's all really useful information. The freightliner and DRS class 66s are to painted into GBRF colours at some stage. Looks like I now need a class 50, shall be added to the list of locos to get, haha. Hoping to get some time this weekend to do some more work on the layout. Cheers, George

Not much of an update I'm afraid, I have been busy with other things, but on Sunday I managed a cheeky hour with the layout. The main work has been on the grass along the front of the layout, I have decided to get rid of the fencing along the front as it was getting in the way of access when reaching over to the back of the layout. Also, with weathering the track many clumps of grass had also turned more or less the same colour of the track so these are been replaced by new, fresh clumps. I haven't yet wired up the yard lights, I'm not a big fan of wiring, but its something that I need to do. There is still a lot to do on the layout. A couple of unusual visitors sit in the siding by the fuelling point. These being Freightliner 66952 and DRS 66407. These locos will be future projects for the layout. Cheers, George

Thanks, yes I plan on adding more detail around the layout there are just a couple other jobs first to do. I went to go see 66779 Evening Star last weekend and I shall be adding it to the fleet, I also have a couple others yet to add too. Cheers, George

Whilst the workers last night took charge of the yard to get the lights up and running a couple of youths decided that the brick wall looked a bit boring and gave it a new look: The first one says 'Geedog' it is my nickname at work and I still haven't a clue why, and the second is a minion dude, no reason behind him just like minions. Now all that's to be done is to stick the brick sheet into final position. I have also finished off the woodwork for the backscene, so now I just need a good photo back drop. Cheers, George

Some fantastic photos, Mark. 66111 looks great on the viaduct. May I ask what you used to make the can the chap has on the bench? Cheers, George

Not a lot has happened on the layout this past week due to work, but the 5 minutes I have had spare I did spend on the layout. I still need to find the time to wire up the yard and buffer stop lights, I also have a couple more arriving through the post. I'm hoping tonight to finish off the brick walls along the back of the layout and also on the bridge. One area I managed to nicely complete was the stop board sign before entering the fuelling point, but I added a little hardstanding area and a little lineside telephone box, so the drivers have to call the fuelling point for permission to enter and below 66702 arrives at the stop board: I apologies about the camera quality. I only have my phone as a camera I'm afraid. Cheers, George

Thanks for the link, I'm planning on getting a couple myself and after seeing yours they have moved to the top of my to get and do list. Credit to John, he has certainly made your layout look fantastic. Cheers, George

Fantastic photos, Nick. The class 57 photo looks so real. May I ask where you got the signals from? Apologies if its already been asked. Cheers, George

Hi Richard, the grey really does suit the 66s they did look awesome. I have heard rumours about 66743, but I have also read a comment on the GBRF Facebook page that they was only painting one into royal Scotsman colours, so I'm just waiting to see what happens yet. Sounds like I'm going to have respray my 66725 into its new colours. Certainly looking forward to 66723s paint job as I have heard its going to be striking colour/s. Not much to really report on the layout as I'm falling out with the led yard lights, as I seem to be struggling wiring them all up. I keep getting two to work, then a buffer stop light decides to start working when it wants to, so I think I need to have another look and maybe change a couple of things to see if it helps. Whilst having a little time out from the wiring, I started adding little fishplates to the sides of the track. I have a few more to add and just weather them so they don't stand out too much. Cheers, George

Thank you for the kind comments and likes. Work on the layout has been slow this week due to my work, but I have been busy wiring in the yard and buffer stop lights and I have a couple more arriving through the post, hopefully more work will continue this weekend. 66748 sits in the siding with 66719, behind, awaiting permission to enter the fuelling point. Although the real 66748 has just been painted into GBRF blue and yellow, mine will stay grey... for now! Cheers, George

Hi Marcus, thank you for the photos of the class 20s. They will certainly come in handy for the future. Got my mind set on 20901 and 905 for sure now. Cheers George

My plan for today didn't go quite to plan. I was meant to go to the local DIY store so I could begin work on the backscenes, but I never got there. However, one job I have been meaning to do was start adding yard lights. The main area around the fuelling point has had its lights added, just a buffer stop light to add, but shall have to wait on the post for that, and I have added two more yard lights to the little area at the front of the layout where the landside cabinet is. All that's to do now is to wire them up. Cheers, George

Great work on the wagons, Richard. They look great behind 66711. Great selection of stock too, looking forward to the unveiling of 66779. Cheers, George

Looks like more awesome weather today, so hopefully, if no thunderstorms, I will be setting the layout up in the garden and photograph some locos. 66709 prepares to leave the sidings to make its way to the fuelling point. Cheers, George

Hi Richard, That sounds great, that certainly would be one impressive sight and line up. I'm hoping by the end of the year to have between 17 and 20 class 66, but I do need to sorted with the class 20s and 47s. Cheers, George

Hi Richard, thank you, I currently have 12 GBRF class 66s and a few more 66s to get. I have other classes to yet get and model. Cheers, George

Thank you for the comments. I'm not 100% sure on the weathering as in places it looks a little patchy, but not sure if its just the photo, I will probably have another look at it tomorrow. Hi Marcus, that sounds awesome, I bet it was. I have been wondering whether to model 66703. I did get the layout back in doors before the rain came. Just another photo of the weathered track below. Cheers, George

With the awesome weather we have been having I decided to take the layout into the garden and weather the track to make the areas where locos would be parked a little more well-used looking. I also fitted a couple more lineside cabinets along the back siding and also some more trucking, which just now needs painting. Hopefully I shall get to a local DIY store, so I can start on the backscenes. Cheers, George