Gopher

Always room for another dinosaur John, welcome aboard

Old and new at Harewood Halt, or "meet the new boss same as the old boss"

It's a deal Lez, I'll get my people to talk to your people 😀

I think it is the way of the world in so many industries. I spent most of my working life in Financial Services. The banks nowadays bear no resemblance to the one I joined in the 1970s. We had computers when I started, but still a lot of manual processes. They are disappearing from our high streets at a rapid rate, and have no desire to talk to their customers face to face, or even on the phone. Many (all) of their lending decisions are made by a computer algorithm. So I am clearly also part of the dinosaur club

O.K. Lez, 3 apprentices it is. I'd keep an eye on one of them - nickname Gopher, cack handed sod, be amazed if he ever finishes his apprenticeship, without causing total chaos . Is £15 a week O.k for wages ?

Job is yours Lez - when can you start ?

Definitely the biggest building on the layout.

Our Song - Yes

Great loco spotting position, especially when there are a couple of Panniers on view

Wishing Well - Free

Green Diesel day at Dewchurch (and not just any green diesels - Accurascale diesels), got the cattle excited.

City of Swimming Pools - Judie Tzuke

Good plan Graham, best of luck

Very true, it is a very tight turn, and can involve a bit of traffic control from the local bobby, to allow vehicles to swing out into the opposite lane. The three wheel Scarabs seem to manage it quite well though.

I think Herefordshire has been "discovered", and this is reflected in the house prices. Certainly quite a few people come here to enjoy the rural life (including me), or retire. I'm not sure all who move to the rural villages understand some of the challenges they will face though.

A tight turn into the goods yard

Thanks for the compliment😀. The coal wagons are all Bachmann. I've simply weathered them and added coal loads. The two box vans behind are Oxford on the left and Bachmann on the right, again weathered by me.

Graham - I may be (and probably am) totally wrong, but think there is a bit of a gap in the 00 market for quality station buildings (of all sizes), so branchline, branchline terminus, town etc. Of course huge variety of styles (even just GWR, and absorbed companies)

I echo the comments above Graham. Your buildings are definitely good enough to sell commercially. No idea how you price them though, given how much time and effort you put in. Would you also consider taking commissions, (or is that what you mean by bespoke buildings ?)

Those buildings are great Graham, lovely modelling

Graham - sad to see CR disappearing before our eyes. I actually found it very difficult to scrap Dewchurch 2. I tried not to think about the hours and money I had invested in the layout. I salvaged buildings and the easy to remove scenic items and kept telling myself I could easily put them all back. Once I started track lifting and severing my electrical mess (otherwise known as layout wiring), there was no going back. I managed to salvage all but two of my Marcway points/crossings. Took ages of gently prising the points up from the cork underlay, and wetting the ballast if necessary. I found that where I had used Ballast Bond (as opposed to diluted PVA,/washing up liquid), it was very difficult to lift the points. The stuff had set like concrete. I had to repair a couple of points when retrieved, and check all were still lying flat (on our kitchen work top) so not bent/warped in any way and in gauge. I did not bother trying to salvage the SMP track, just bought all new for Dewchurch 3. I was nervous about using salvaged points on the new layout - given that they were about 15 years old. However once I had salvaged them, checked them and made necessary repairs, I knew they would be O.K. When I built Dewchurch 3, I invested in very good quality baseboards (so agree with Andy's comment above). I took ages laying and testing the track. (I re-laid some sections a few times until I was happy). I used Tracksetta templates to regulate the curves. I was also far more disciplined with my wiring, colour coded, and wiring notes. Anyway taking my time with the basics has paid off. So far so good, the new layout has proved reliable. Sorry if I am waffling on and stating the bloody obvious. I find the basics a bit of a chore and am always keen to move onto the scenic modelling. CR Mk II will be an excellent layout with all you have learned on CR, plus you already have some excellent buildings, rolling stock etc from CR. So lots to look forward to. If you do end up living close to/or in Herefordshire, you already know you will have access to some excellent model shops, including my favourite Hereford Model Centre. Derails and Cheltenham Model Centre are also excellent. I popped into Footplate Models in Kidderminster a few months ago, nice range of items. If you have a day out in Cardiff - head for Lord & Butler. My go to railway model shop when I lived there, and still pop in if I am in Cardiff. Best of luck Clive

Tea break

More household coal for the citizens of Dewchurch

Torquay Manor at rest

Class 24 arrives at Dewchurch with a train from the Southern Region