Alcanman

A short ops video of the layout.

Here's a pic of 25245 I took at Toton on the 6th November 1982. Might be useful modelling reference for you. Looking forward to Bachmann releasing their 25s

I usually make seamoss trees and bushes to use on my layouts, however, I thought I'd try out some ready made Noch Profi trees and place them in front of my seamoss bushes. Noch use they same type of leaves leaves that I use, so they blend in quite nicely.

The Reading & Northern interchanges with Norfolk Southern giving me the opportunity to run my NS GP38-2. After posting these photos on a Facebook forum, I received an unusual request. A NS engineer asked me if I would like to sell NS #5664 as he had worked on the engine. Interestingly, he lives in Pennsylvania and used to work for Reading & Northern. I had to explain that I live in the UK and didn't want to sell as US locos are hard to come by here.

Continuing my theme of building layouts inspired by the Reading & Northern railroad in eastern Pennsylvania, here is my latest effort. The R&N successfully began a transload facility in West Hazleton PA in 2020. I decided this would be an ideal subject for my latest layout. I did have a UK themed layout already built which had been languishing around for a few months due to lack of modelling mojo and it occured to me that it could easily be repurposed into a small US switching layout. A couple of weeks ago I started work transforming the layout and here is the result - A simple inglenook with 2 industry spurs.

Great photos. Brings back a lot memories and my dad worked at Bates pit. Everything in the photos has now gone. However, the port of Blyth continues to flourish today. Thanks for sharing.

A short video of DB 60032 shunting Springburn Steel.

Great photos of the Blyth & Tyne and my favourite class 56. 56134 'Blyth Power' . Thanks for sharing.

EWS 66209 departing Springburn Steel.

Nice models. Brings back memories. The 308 still runs today. Blyth - Newcastle. I used to spend a lot of time on the 404 going to work in Newcastle.

A view of the entire scenic area of the layout. Just need to add a little more grass and weeds. The layout is looking quite finished after only two months work. 🙂

I've been focusing on the right hand end of the layout adding static grass, grass tufts and trees. I normally make my own sea-moss trees but I decided to buy a couple of Noch Profi ready made trees. They are covered with Noch leaves which blend in nicely with the sea-moss bushes in the background which also have Noch leaves.

A Colas visitor at Springburn Steel.

More static grass and grass tufts added between the tracks.

I eventually traced the fault to a short circuit caused by a newly purchased wagon. One of the wagon axles didn't have an isolating bush fitted which meant that the entire axle and wheels were live, causing a short circuit. All sorted now and thanks to all or the replies.

Started adding some greenery to the front of the layout by adding static grass and grass tufts.

Added a low relief warehouse, a few details and figures.

Great photos at Freemans Crossing, Dave. Thanks for sharing. Still a great location for photographing trains on the Blyth & Tyne although coal trains are now consigned to history.

I note you mention that your Athearn switcher is a MP15DC, however, the model made by Athearn is actually a MP15AC. Atlas make the MP15DC. I have one of each model and they excellent switchers with smooth motors for slow switching.

A little more progress this week. A view of the whole scenic area showing road overbridge at the right of the layout. A portacabin and office have also been added and a few weeds have begun to appear.

Great photos at Winning. One of my favourite locations on the Blyth & Tyne. Here are a couple of my photos taken at exactly the same spot in recent years. Sadly, as you mentioned, a few infrequent Alcan (Alvance) trains are the only trains operating on the B&T currently. The once regular biomass trains are suspended indefinatley, due to Lynemouth power station being out of action. On the brightside, work is well under way to resume passenger service, now estimated to start in summer 2024, 60 years after it ceased in 1964.

I recently purchased a Cavalex BBA and a BLA and have discovered that the latter is causing a short circuit on my layout. Can anyone suggest what might be causing the short circuit and perhaps suggest a remedy. Thanks in advance. Mal

To add operating interest to the layout, I've added concrete hard standing next to the front siding to allow wagons which don't require cover to be loaded/unloaded. The concrete is made from Wills 'cement rendering' plastic sheets braced with 40 thou plasticard.

I've now added guttering, drainpipes and weathered the warehouse.

Started focusing on the warehouse which has received a coat of paint. Still to add guttering, drainpipes and weathering.