Phil Bullock

Oooer what happened there? Phil

D6992 is in the queue waiting for a chip - along with D6785, D185, D7100, D1011/46/67 which are all otherwise finished. Jim is working on D7612 which was a scot with a tablet catcher recess so needs a bit of work yet. D6601 GFYE D6885 BFYE and D6972 BFYE are new 37s that are ready to run though so am sure they will be appearing along with other newbies like D200 and D5901 Phil

Ha ha We had hoped to do that today but the weather said showers so setting up in the garden was a no no! Did it rain? No! As soon as weather is in a settled pattern we will have something for you am sure... Any requests? Phil

Two projects over weekend 1. Redesigned pointwork at Gloucester end of fiddle yard - simplified with frog juicers installed so should be much more reliable, now needs two crossovers installed on the next board. This is all phase 2 enabling works and means that southbound trains will have access to 9 loops - just loop 1 excluded. And once the crossovers are in trains from loop 1 will be able to access the up main so the super long freights wont be confined to the loop in the up direction in future - a non prototypical limitation as currently stands as class 6 trains such as Waterston - Albion tanks would rarely be put inside. 2. Wagon weathering with Jim - 17 bacchy bogie bolsters weathered with frame dirt and a black wash, wheels and buffers toned down with gunmetal, wheels in particular are prominently shiny on these if left untreated. All are currently batting round the test track behind D200 at full chat having been serviced - btbs checked, wheels cleaned and axles oiled - with nary a sniff of a derailment. D200 and D7646 have been to Howes for reblows, fetched them back Saturday along with D5901 which has now had its Deltic horns replaced with EE Type 1s instead. And thanks to Howes for replacing the failed BP chip under warranty - excellent service, cheers folks! There's a rumour abroad that some of preservation's lost diesels - Falcon, Blue Pullman, D5901, Class 22 - might be appearing at the Toddington Diesel gala this year. Watch this space.... Phil

Welcome! P

Andi Does this one help? http://www.flickr.com/photos/r-t-c/8371993162# From Tim Young's Flikr photos Kind regards Phil

Absolutely That's the difference between the railway in the landscape and the excellent super detailed layouts we see on here Its a balance and both are equally valid Phil

Coming on nicely John Have had to take the same attitude to stock on Abbotswood Junction as when running long trains the amount of stock is a challenge to weather let alone super detail! Phil

Now THAT is a team.... Phil

True - but not in the 70s - 25038 still has a working boiler too, seen at Norton Junction. Is that saloon the correct pattern I wonder? Cheers Phil

And just to torment those still waiting here - look at the link from this thread! http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85613-1960s-scotland-type-1-2s/ Phil

Have fun Bill Is she staying as 47148? Phil

Hi there https://www.flickr.com/photos/59835095@N02/6309679314/in/set-72157628044641600 Which one is wrong? Cheers Phil

Bill sorry I hadn't responded earlier re head code query Yes the 4mm are correct for the 47 Kind regards Phil

All Howes - but they still syncopate! Phil

Great work again Paul Phil

Smashing Neil Many thanks For anyone who wants to mix butterflies and railways the buddleia bushes outside the Engine House were swarming with vanessids last year - including fritillaries which I didn't get identified - I suspect silver washed, now they would be worth a shot or two! Phil

Of the current stud 6601 6811 6875 6885 6972 are sound chipped and yes that double header sounded good! Sorry no vid this time. That only leaves 6992 and 6785 - but then 1011, 1045, 1067, 185, 7612 also need chips! Decisions decisions... Phil

Fraid so Brian at the moment although those lines and points are now all fully operational - but operators therefore have to take care not to drive off the end of the flat earth....! Phil

Its late in the day at Abbotswood Junction - the cab lights and the lamp on the buffers gleam brightly, and the lights in the box shine on the levers and instruments. 6972 has been trapped for a while and the crew want a brew so its off to the box with the billy.... Kind regards Phil

Had the layout up in the garden yesterday Spent a lot of time getting routes programmed in to ECoS - and still not right! - but Jimbo has a new digital SLR to play with too Unfortunately videos not up to scratch but some pretty good stills - some already posted in other threads where relevant, the rest are here. Plenty of motive power on show Firstly the signal box moggie seems to like the look of D9525 Heres 79 on a northbound class 1 5826 has been snared in the down loop headshunt. BR arrows on a green paint job? Must have been shopped at Doncaster perhaps? Has recently become a WR loco so that will more hydraulics gone. D7577 heads south on a fully fitted freight - on transfer to 84A perhaps? D185 heads south whilst 1662 waits to come off the Worcester line And finally - is that an early sighting of the Easter bunny perhaps - or a fearsome beast? Happy Easter all! Phil

Druid heads north on vans to Worcester whilst Marquis is on southbound steel empties at Abbotswood today Great fun! Phil

We've sort of got a bit carried away this year with this 37 thing Heres 6601 and 6972 on the Waterston - Albion tanks - driver is risking a form 1, has completely the wrong head code up! Video next time we get set up Cheers Phil

Look forwards to seeing any more photos Neil Kind regards Phil

Great - newly hatched pristine male Seem to be more brimstones around this year than I have seen for a good while - surprising given that survival rates of all species could have suffered after a wet winter, fungal invasion of the pupae is their worst enemy Phil