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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

I have also found out 03121 had a car numberplate "5486 DP" on the bufferbeam although this was a late 70's addition: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidhayes/6128661654/in/photolist-akyZAf-5TpdJw-qjv9bu-md9Fcx-md8pRM-mbqPAs-kmr7FY-seipnM-rhifKL-4i787k-8nYivk-cfC1yb-fUB3AQ-pbSsrG-67EHiM-gnqpz6-nyYkKT-dfmcsP-q1ubeQ-dQdQCZ

That would make a lovely layout, add in a Heljan 05 and some EFE tube trains. When I lived in Southampton I recall seeing a layout based on the Isle of Wight, there was even an old tube car in the process of being cut up, the name of the layout escapes me.

I struggled to sell my spare 03, I should have listed it on here, looks like there would be plenty of would be buyers!

The 03's are a lovely little loco, I am hoping to source some match wagons for them shortly, 121 ran with a 13t high sided open wagon with chain pockets for quite a while, while 03382 seemed to run with a conflat or a 5 plank hybar open wagon.

I had an enjoyable evening last week talking about Peafore Yard to a packed Gas Cupboard, a great shop run by a friendly team. Having had a few days off modelling to enjoy the Wiltshire sun shine, it was back to the workbench tonight. I bought 4 Bachmann 16t mineral wagons from the Gas Cupboard to supplement the 4 I already had, Despite being reasonably accurate there is still plenty to do: - Fit 3 Link couplings (completed tonight) - Renumbering - Fiting tie bars between the brakes - Weathering All being well they should be done by July for Barnstaple. A smaller and less noticeable job was pointed out to me at Cheltenham by Adrian (Hillside Depot) was that 03121 was fitted with a small brass bell. Looking at the photos I found, the bell looked a good size match for a top hat brass bearings with the added advantage they were the right colour.I drilled a small hole in the bonnet top to which I fitted a short length of wire, on top of which the bell was mounted. I also removed one horn as well:

Hi Alex, It looks a good plan and agree that it will make the plan much more interesting and the extra platform length will add to the the feel of the station. I also like the way you have curved the track by the cross over. I would be tempted not to add the second cross over at the top of the plan and instead have a couple of sidings. It is unusual to have 2 run round loops in such a small space and also would be unusual to leave wagons/carriages parked on a cross over.

Thanks for the info/ pm Phil, who produces the Etched components please?

Just picking up on an earlier post, I want to model the United Molasses tanks which were used on the Avon Street branch in the late 1970's, I believe these were similar to the tanks the Airfix model was base don and wondered if anybody could point me towards what the key differences were please?

Hi Alex, It was good to meet you at Cheltenham and nice to see the layout on here, it looks even better than the photos you showed me at the show. Good luck with the extension, I will follow with interest, always great to see more blue diesels on here.

Kevin (Rivercider) and I were discussing on Sunday about Ashton Meadows as a potential layout as it was on my "to do in the next 20 years" list. You could have specials for the Wine fair, stretch the imagination with power boat race specials for when Bristol used to host the international powerboat race in addition to the coal for Wapping Wharf and engineers trains as well.

Will follow with interest, Ashton Meadows is a good choice of prototype.

There will be plenty of opportunities over the next 18 months Rob, what with the Gas Cupboard on Thursday night in Trowbridge, Yate in January and Trainwest next year

Thanks Nigel, I noticed a few people scribbling down the track plan, it is certainly fun to play with. Great to see Aberclydach, I thought it was a lovely layout,the L shape certainly works well.

No probs Andy, would be good to meet up, Geoff has invited it to Train west next year at the new venue.

Thanks Peter, hoping that whatever fault it was has either been fixed by my exploits last night or manifests itself in a more permanent way so I can get to the bottom of it.