Shedmaster

On return to depot, it was clear that the new Cavalex Class 56 was a heavyweight performer... The Stew. Lane fitters were 'Raving & Drooling' about the ease of access for maintenance... ...and they also just loved the open grille work, which will do wonders for allowing the Loco. to breathe when working hard under load... That's definitely it for now, Hope you like, Kindest Regards, Shed.

60 001 'Steadfast' had the honour of delivering brand spanking new Accurascale Mk2's to 'The Lane'... 73 101 'The Royal Alex' is coupled up to keep 56 097 company whilst testing the brand new Cavalex Class 56... Cavalex 56 097...

Oh dear! I've just found some other recent pics from my phone camera, of some recent test train workings on The Lane... 73 101 'The Royal Alex' has been working with an errant 73 102 'Airtour Suisse' to see just why it's such a poor runner... Cavalex 56 097 has been on shed for full testing before entering service on my friends layout...the instrumentation showed that this thing will pull a house down! 73 101 'The Royal Alex' was our insurance policy for the day...

...These two have fully detailed exteriors and actual working BSI 'Tightlock' couplings at the inner ends...also including the toilet cubicle! Finally, the RAILTRACK BR Independent Snowploughs have recently paid a visit to The Lane, being used for Class 73 'Driver Training' from their base at Hither Green... That's all for now, Hope you like, Kindest Regards, Shed.

...and some more... EWS Mk1 GUV 'Barrier' coaches have arrived on shed, ready and waiting for when a manufacturer decides to release the 'Electrostar' EMU family in 4mm/00 gauge...

Just a few more... 60 036 'GEFCO' is off to Hither Green after outstabling... Whilst 47 768 is inside the shed for new final drive components...

Hi All, Just wanted to share a few pics with you from Stewarts Lane, from camera practice this evening... 33 207 'Earl Mountbatten of Burma' has been covering the depot shunt turn.... 33 207 'Earl Mountbatten of Burma' is paired with 33 201 for a civils trip working tomorrow... TDB975025 at home in between workings... 60 001 'Steadfast' on shed after a hand wash & brush up...

Hi, Will these come with the icicle breakers fitted or at least included for fitment? Thanks, Shed.

Hi, From a photographic perspective, I think both of those pics are brilliant! The first one is really well thought out, just like the model...the second one is an excellent example of how trap points work 'in real life', so Thanks for your post. As for making fun of the Drivers misfortune, there's plenty gonna be said about this event within the industry, some of it will be a lot more unpleasant than this post. Probably best then, that only the people that matter will be involved in the official enquiry etc. My only opinion on the subject is I'm happy that the crew appear to be okay, and, this wasn't as 'full scale bad' as it could have been. Those pesky, expensive, nuisance trap points really have saved lives on this occasion, no? Back to the Accurascale 66..... Due to self inflicted personal reasons, I have had to cancel a load of, in fact ALL model railway purchases for the foreseeable future. As a result, I won't be seeing any of this batch of 66's here on my layout. I'm really looking forward instead, to seeing these on other peoples layouts, working. I'm not really interested in being told about all the perceived errors or what's wrong with it, I'm looking forward to just seeing people enjoying them. Shed.

Hi All, I just wanted to share some pics of one of my Stewart's Lane fleet, Mainline Freight 09 019. I used to drive the real thing for a living many moons ago and wanted an appropriately 'abused model' in the collection at home. This Hornby '09' is about to return home from GCWeathering after a request for some in depth weathering and detailing work. I'd be really interested to hear peoples thoughts on this outfit as they don't seem to advertise or be that widely known on this forum, yet, In my personal experience they are the best option out there? When I did the Chester Cathedral stints with the Making Tracks team, again, GCWeathering were kind of.........unknown? Wasn't there a two page spread in a magazine at some point? I guess of course I'd like to put a shout out and vouch for their work, but has anybody else on here used them? Anyways....Stewart's Lane resident 09 019...: To say I'm impressed would be an understatement. This is exactly how I remember it. I find that a very quick look over a weathered and detailed model does indeed tell you that its been weathered and detailed....but, over the years I've started to look more closely, and it became apparent that not all of this stuff is done the same way, or to the same standard or attention to detail! Two things I've noticed about the GCWeathering option, is the greasy buffers and the ever so fine rust patches and streaks, which I don't think other companies offer to the same accuracy. But, what REALLY makes a GC model stand out for me, is their properly faded paintwork and livery elements. You just can't spray this stuff onto a base model and hey presto, look, its faded! This stuff that GC are selling really holds its own, against the competition in my opinion and when you put it all together as a package, I just think it really works. I can't imagine how long this work takes to achieve but I do see it as artwork in its own right, does anybody else offer CREDIBLE faded paintwork, done as well as this? One thing I especially like, is the battered handrails and rain streaks on the cab end chevrons...: Faded paintwork is never uniform or even, every panel seems to weather at different rates, a detail that GC take massive pride in doing well...: It must be so easy to just airbrush dirt and grime onto a donor model, maybe even just using rattle cans, I know that some outfits are happy to sell this 'tat' and call it 'professionally weathered', then charge their customers accordingly! 🤣🤫 For me, I appreciate the individual efforts made on each different panel, such as this exhaust rust and roof panel soiling, the subtlety is key I think...: Finally, there will be times where for whatever reason, either panels/doors are swapped out or repainted. You'll find all sorts of odd 'clear patches' in the filth for no reason at all. GCWeathering have somehow not only replicated this, but they've made it look somehow....right...: These are the reference pics I provided to GCWeathering with my request...: So, all I've got to do now is find some work for it here at The Lane...⌛ That's all for now, I hope you like... Kindest Regards, Shed.

HI, Back in the day when I used to exhibit my own layout, Manor Lane TMD, I had 'procured' all six EWS Class 59/2's, 201 to 206, in full EWS livery. However, at one exhibition, a chap came along for a look and on seeing them all on the layout said "Wow!, You like your 66's don't you?" 🤬 I think less is definitely more sometimes! 🙄 Thanks, Shed.

HI, Just a few pics of 'The Company Train' on Making Tracks 2. Running as 1Z05 with 67 029 doing the honours, 67 006 was also in the area as the booked 'Thunderbird' Loco, as the set was a long way from home... Running this at speed on a properly constructed layout was a pleasure, the 'Railnuts' team being absolutely friendly, accommodating and professional at all times... Kindest Regards, Shed.

Hi, That's how we used to refer to it, as The Company Train. Diary entries would go something like 'Keith Heller wishes to use The Company Train on whatever date, between London Waterloo and Southampton Docks, r.e Hitachi contract renewal', so I guess the underlings would have to set up the actual workings, paths, costings etc. I think a 'skull & crossed bones' may have been a better logo for the DVT though, as there was a period where everything EWS got involved with....died!!!! Very pleased to have left when I eventually did, but truly gutted I stayed as long as I had.... Kindest Regards, Shed.

Hi, My Stewart's Lane based 'EWS HOSPITALITY TRAIN' has been engaged in some recent workings on Making Tracks 2 & 3 at Chester Cathedral... This was in connection with some volunteer work I'd undertaken, the set even outstabling for a few days! Only thing was, 67 029 was later pinched to cover a car carrier working, due to a failed Accurascale 92...a working which it covered for four days solid! I hadn't realised the real one was out of action until somebody asked me where it was, as nobody had seen it for a while. Further enquiries revealed that DB were trying to sell the Mk3 coaches but not, I believe, the DVT. The SLEP had seen Royal use a couple of years back when Kate n Wills travelled the UK but other than that, there are photos online of the coaches stored, one of them with a tarp over its roof. Thanks, Shed.

I think the orange ETH conduit may be the problem here. the NEM pocket can swing one way without issue, but when it swings the other way, it hits this orange pipe worky bit and is therefore restricted. I found this out by turning the coach upside down and observing the range of movement, it is restricted in one direction. hope this helps? Shed.