Where to see Widnes Road in 2012

Somewhat belatedly, as I have already taken Widnes Road to the Canterbury model railway show in January; here is the brief list of exhibitions that I am attending with Widnes Road this year:

10/11th March         Basingstoke & North Hants MRC - Aldworth Science College, Basingstoke

13/14th October      Croydon Model Railway Exhibition - John Rusking College, Selsdon

24/25th November  Shoeburyness Model Railway Exhibition - Southend Leisure Centre 

Also to look forward to sometime later this year; Widnes Road will be appearing in Model Rail Magazine. The photo above was taken when Chris Nevard popped round in January to do the photoshoot. I've seen the finished results and they are fantastic. 

O Gauge Class 37 - Finishing by Aardstrom Models

Many years ago (probably well over twenty years in fact) I purchased a Post-War Prototype (PWP) O gauge class 37 kit. This represented was a pretty steep learning curve for a 17 year old who at the time had been used to detailing Lima class 47's, but I wanted an O Gauge 37 to run on the layout at the model railway club I was then a member of, and there were no other options available at the time. I had actually built 90% of the loco by around 1992 (three years later) but by then I lost interest in 7mm as I was no longer a member of a club with a 7mm layout, and had no layout to run it on. It was then out back in the box until I could get round to finishing it. 

Twenty years later, I now have a O-gauge garden railway, so I thought I would see what needed doing to finish this part built kit off. The problem I have is that my modelling standards have (slightly) improved in the intervening two decades; I couldn't face undoing work I had already done, and have many other newer kits to distract me. So... I decided to send the lot off to Aardstrom Models and see what Trevor could do with it. The answer is, he can work miracles, as these photos will attest to, 37 421 is now ready for action in the garden as soon as it stops raining, now I just need to finish the rake of 1980's airbraked speedlink wagons to run behind it.

Widnes Road goes to Warley 2011

Widnes Road (and Malcolm and I) have returned from a fab weekend away at Warley 2011, with some great memories, a much lighter wallet and some top purchases. A new performer on the layout over the weekend was 40002, which was purchased as the show opened on the Saturday morning, and promptly fitted with a Howes sound decoder and DCC supplies rectangular speaker.  It then proceeded to perform faultlessly all weekend.

One of the best aspects, from an operators perspective about this show, is as the photo below testifies to, the ability to drive the hire van right into the hall, which saves about an hour of lugging layout panels about. Very civilised.


The other great aspect was being able to see up close before the show opened some of the best layouts in the UK. My personal favourites, that the photos do not do justice to were 'Diesels in the Duchy' and Mike Anson's 'Western Road'. Two of the finest D&E era layouts on the circuit. The curry and beers with Mike and Andy from Western Road was the icing on the cake of a top weekend away.

Widnes Road on YouTube

Widnes Road - YouTube

I have to express my gratitude to Hawkingetippyd who has posted a superbly shot video of Widnes Road on YouTube filmed at the Folkestone show last month. I particularly like the long shot of the 45 approaching the camera at 6:35 which captures the feel of the layout in action better than any photo I have managed to take.

Alsager Railway Exhibition

Last weekend Widnes Road had its last outing before the Warley MRC National Railway Exhibition at the NEC in two weeks. A nice medium sized show that was very well attended. My favourite layout was the outstanding Rowlands Castle set just before D-day.

One advantage of the relatively poor light within the Alsager Civic Hall was the opportunity to use the model lighting on Widnes Road to take some dusk shots of the depot area.

A Bavarian Break

A half term break to Bavaria and good fortune with getting some late October sunshine produced some good photographic opportunities in and around Nuremberg and Munich this week. My third visit to the area this year and I'll definitely be back next year, with such a variety of traction, and great locations it's rapidly becoming my favourite railway destination.

Photos from the Folkestone Show

Picture update - Widnes Road

Quick picture update

Nearly ready for the Autumn exhibitions

A few pictures of the extension to Widnes Road which has been taking shape over the summer. The new scenic board with sandstone hills are based on Runcorn Hill, with a slightly geographically repositioned pub, The Prospect also from Runcorn, forming part of a small hamlet on top. The electrified track which passes through the new scene is the line which diverges from the main line at Runcorn station and serves Folly Lane.

The concrete hardstanding to the foreground is a place-holder until I can find a suitable kit for a chlorine plant, the front two tracks will eventually serve the chemical works.

Widnes Road - Update

As of mid-July, the 2 new boards are built, the track has been constructed of a mix of standard ABS plastic and Timber-tracks track panels with C&L railchairs with code 83 flat-bottom rail.

After the track is laid on Tillig track base to give super-elevation Stage 2 is to airbrush the track with various shades of track dirt and rust, followed by picking out all the railchairs with Railmatch Dark or Light Rust as appropriate. Stage 3 is the usual ballasting operation using Woodland Scenics Fine ballast, sprayed 1st with a dilluted water / washing up liquid mixture then PVA coloured with Burnt Sienna acrylic paint.

Back from a rail trip round Germany and Belgium

I've posted another few highlights from a week long trip round Germany and Belgium, taking in Munich, Nuremberg, Berlin, Cologne, Brussels and Charleroi, and there is a link to my flickr site with far more for those who are interested here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/widnes_road/