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I imagine it will be the ford sierra 5 speed box which is commonly used, either with the A series engine or K series. A friend has a much modified midget with 1.8k series, ford sierra box and modified MGB back axle. It is unbelievable to drive.

Thanks Alan, glad you have enjoyed it. Peafore Yard gets a cameo appearance in the latest copy of "Traction" magazine as the back drop for some photos of my motorail flats.

Thanks Andrew, I have a cunning plan to resolve my upper level head shunt problem which will enable me to run the 08 and brake van and a BG from one loop line to the other.... Thanks Andrew, it is getting there!

Always welcome Rob, 47484 is likely to be my next class 47 but will be a while next

Hi Alan, No probs, likewise good to see. Re the underframe weathering it was Humbrol 26 enamel, which I prefer to acrylics but I think I am in a minority. As a general weathering pallette for both the Layout and stock, I generally use Humbrol 26, 29, 33 and 67. The carriage sidings is still on the list for a new layout but maybe some time as I will rethink a few things with my plan having got the experience of hand built track and operating from the front with this layout. Thanks, plenty more to come I need to add some more details to the upper level then will take some more.

Hi Alan, Glad you enjoyed Sunday, you are welcome any time. The bridge is made from photo mounting card which I got from the Wiltshire scrap store at Lacock, I filled a carrier bag for about £3, I have plenty left over so you can have some next time you swing by. I know what you mean by the audible effect but alas it is no different on the bridge than the rest of the layout. I am not a sound expert but would imagine the sound difference is created by vibrations and movement of the bridge which doesn't scale that well down to 4mm. Thin plasticard may work but I would be worried about fragility?

Lovely shot there Adrian, love the trailer by the hut as well, a nice touch

Thanks for all the info on the class 40's chaps, I need to finish off some of the parcels stock in the projects box to run with it. My son has shown a renewed interest in trains over the last week and has pestered me to put the layout up so he and my daughter can play trains. Both have mastered the controller and my daughter enjoyed playing signalwoman and she may yet get roped into helping out at Chippenham in October. First up an Eastern region inter-looper in the form of 55019. This loco probably hasn't run for at least 10 years, and other than a quick renumber it is standard Bachmann (for now). I am a big Deltic fan so despite the loco not being suitable for the layout in anyway shape or form, I fancied giving it a run. Frustratingly having just modified the platforms to avoid the 08 coupling rods clipping the platform face, the Deltic catches on the tight curve near the fiddle yard. A job for the distant future, I also plan to give the loco the full works of the shawplan grilles, noses etc Closer to home the 08 and mandatory brake van shuttle around the station 37240 prepares to head off to Cardiff as the 08 passes by with some vans for the evening Motorail service Meanwhile 03382 brings in a Grampus wagon with some ballast for some planned engineering work on the branch A favourite of mine having racked up many miles haulage behind the real loco is 24081. I think this is the oldest detailing project I own, the loco having had the end doors filled and replacement chassis built without the water tanks. Back upstairs 47105 arrives with a Paddington to WSM train

The Genesis boxes do look much better Neil, I am not sure the craftsman boxes are that great for the class 37/40 as I had a lot filing to do with them when I did 40135. Look forward to seeing the end result!

Good luck with the new baby, life is never quite the same afterwards but in a good way. A little tip for any parents of new borns, buy some "Infacol" for 2 reasons: 1) I nick named it "Easy Burp" as it made winding so easy after feeding 2) The bottles come with handy droppers which is great for ballasting as you have a ready made glue holder and dropper in one

Sounds about right, I used to frequent them when I worked in Parsons Street. They were generally well stocked but their customer service was atrocious and pricing was pretty steep. Derek the owner was at best bearable but the rest of his cronies were just rude. I remember asking if I could pay by Switch at a time when Switch was pretty universal to be met with "aint you got any cash??!!", eventually we mutually agreed on payment by cheque.

Thanks Rob, it certainly is, it would have to be for me to voluntarily set it up and play with it not at an exhibition. I definitely enjoy building them more than playing with them, Pallet Lane had more potential moves and operating scenarios but I actually prefer operating this one.

Really coming on Richard, nice job on the chain link fence which I find a nightmare to install

Thanks Andy, 40135 will definitely be staying unique after the effort that went in to it!

Thanks Peter looks like 40135 will get more use than I thought, plenty of photos on that search. I also found this little delight of 2 x class 24's at Bath Road as well: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fray_bentos/1075443901/in/photolist-2D2W1e-9NJybd-7n8jHW-9M2DZZ-rSccQN-dpRbJX-dpRbEz-98f6rz-63syLg-48Hkec-gB42MB-i7biVd-787i8z-64jfgW-7YByov-odnBH3-eUcjnX-eUoHn7-9QzcVZ-9eXes2-eUoJum-eUc5v8-eUoJ4C-8MCUGP-47ji3h-enXVDJ-4cbrUS-78kxdH-83ejoK-83ehAt-fvXg5F-48vuCt-4fen3e-83dVQB-81JCL1-9NGabs-86pgZs-pZbGRn-hLB1BA-repnR4-odNs8U-4dPmL6-9NvgtE-pvxGwd-dAyGeN-8E8pA3-bncpWP-9NsCbe-gzitqq-dgcTqV

Thanks Peter, will look up those trains, they sound interesting subjects to model

Having spent the last 6 weeks engrossed in a major work project with little free time, I took no encouragement to use an empty house to set the layout up. Having put it up 20+ times now, I have managed to get set up time down to 15 minutes meaning that I can play trains for a good 90 minutes in an evening between the kids going to bed and our bedtime. Other than just playing trains I have managed to modify the platforms so that the 08 can run round without the coupling rods hitting the platform. There were quite a few BR allocated 08's which used to be visible around Temple Meads and the 08's will have a starring role on the upper level. Some of my lesser used items came out to play and rule 1 applied with a few off region visitors being seen First up 40135 arrives with a rake of MK2's. The model was built some years ago and is a true cut and shut with the bodyshell being 5 sections joined together of Lima and Bachmann perentage Class 40's were rare at Bristol although 40135 did visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/yogzfots/9074135927/in/photolist-bTNorp-ePRjtr-eQ43Mb-eQ3KSA-ky9VJr-8X2LBc Down in Peafore Yard, 03382 arrives with a short engineers train for some weekend engineering work further down the line. The work is not planned to happen until later in the week so the stock recesses in Habgoods sidings: The train only just fits on a cassette! Having dropped the engineers train off 03382 is required to shunt a Newton Chambers car carrier that requires attention at Barton Hill. It is unlikely that it will be ready for tonights Motorail services so 2 carflats have been brought up from Malago Vale 20214 on a test run to the yard after repairs following some poor running at Cheltenham. Like 40135 it also ventured to Bristol: https://www.flickr.com/photos/78207858@N08/8727408845/in/photolist-eiiZKY-eiiZDU-eidfHP-eidfAi 47105 arrives with the sleeper stock from Malago Vale. Having uncoupled it runs round and disappears off to Bath Road

Hi, I have seen both in photos, although 0000 was more common, it is a while since I did 47077 so not sure why I used 0O00 for that as both 31210 and 37029 I have done 0000

Looking good Richard, the fueling point has come out well.

Thanks Richard, it will also be a good excuse to run some of my larger locos that aren't suited to the lower level.

You are dead right, just for you Kevin: The absence of a brake van in the original photo is due to another unfortunate but unavoidable planning issue, the head shunt is not long enough for an 08, Brake van and a BG. Maybe I should build an extension to the layout....

Today saw the arrival of a little extra switch on the control panel: The switch controls which level power from the controller is sent too. The process of wiring up was relatively straightforward as the droppers to the track had been installed a while ago but I hadn't wired up the rest of the control panel as I focussed finishing the lower level. 47077 and a MK2A BFK did the honours for the first test run which went smoothly. The basic operation works as thus: Loco arrives in the station with the "train" although in reality this is only 1 carriage The point changes and the loco runs back through the other line of the station to the fiddle yard: Worms eye view of 47077 about to pass under the parcels conveyor To add interest a BG can be added or taken away from the train courtesy of the 08. The test showed that the platforms are slightly too wide as the 08 coupling rods catch on the platform edge so some minor tweaking is required.

Nice to see Mortimer's yard on here Adrian, you have done a cracking job on the layout and love the coal merchants office, does it have a leaky roof like the prototype?

It looks good Simon, I would be tempted to remove the seam line below the lights as it is in reality not as prominent as it came out on the model.

No probs, nice to see your models Adrian