A quick picture update

OMWB - New Bachmann / Rail Exclusive Class 03's

Happily running in on the excellent DCC Concepts Rolling Road are the latest arrivals for Widnes Road; a pair of the new Bachmann Class 03 Shunters - No. 03371 & 03160. Both models are a limited edition run of 500 commissioned by the erstwhile Rail Express Modeller magazine but now being delivered by the separate company 'Rail Exclusive'.

First impressions are that this is a much needed model to fill a big gap in the BR Blue Era modellers stable. Detail differences are faithfully captured and they will make good weathering projects when I have a little more time and after my modelling room has been rebuilt after the flood from earlier in the year as at present I'm limited to a test track on the dinner table. They need a good run-in before a straightforward conversion to DCC using a 6-pin direct Lenz Silver decoder in each loco.

DB ICE at London St Pancras International

In what I truly hope is a first taste of great things to come, Deutsche Bahn in a superb piece of publicity tested a pair of their ICE-3 sets through the Channel Tunnel this week, including evacuation tests to demonstrate the potential for additional services from London to Europe culminating in the display of one of the ICE-3 sets, suitably vinyled with Union Jack ICE logos and displaying ICE service No. 9970 to Frankfurt (M) Hbf via Koln and Rotterdam at London's St. Pancras International station today, the 19th October.

Widnes Towers

I managed to do some more work on the area to the rear of the depot today. Having trawled the internet I found a very useful website for backscene elements at: http://www.cgtextures.com/  from which I downloaded an excellent block of flats.

The Great Flood

Over the summer I had planned to start work on the final scenic board for Widnes Road, an extension to the left of the level crossing which splits with one road heading to a short, single platform face for DMU traffic and a through road passing under a skewed bridge to a short fiddle yard to enable through trains.

Unfortunately a burst pipe in the ceiling above my modelling room put paid to that idea, and instead the last two months have been spent repairing damage to the house and to a lesser extent, Widnes Road. Luckily the main leak missed all the layouts but there was still a bit of work required. I did manage to complete one piece of new scenery, rather than just replacement; and that was a block of flats to fill in a blank space at the rear. With the addition of some figures and vehicles I'm pleased with the result so far. I just need to add some photoshopped images to the back skypaper to fill in the gaps.

GEWR - Garden Railway Starts Running

GEWR - Major Civil Engineering Ends!

The first of these pictures was taken on the 4th April 2008; the last on the 11th July 2010. Between these two dates some 3,200 bricks, 4 tonnes of sand, half a tonne of concrete and 24 bags of cement had been used to build the structure for the GEWR (Great Epping Wall Railway).

I had originally planned only to use walls for the curves, with all the straights simply on decking planks set onto posts; but shortly after the first two curves were built we made the decision to built it on wall in its entirety. Now it is up and running I'm glad we made that decision, as other than treating the top wooden deck that the track is laid on, it requires no treatment or maintenance and should easily last twenty years plus.

Widnes Road - High Quality Images

A brief update and an excuse

If anyone actually reads this, you may have wondered why I've not updated lately. The first image goes someway to showing that Widnes Road is back up and running having been stacked away since the exhibition. There are some more images to follow when my friend Jim, who took some high quality images with an SLR has processed them. This was simply one I took with my 'point and click' after I'd set the lighting up.

The second image explains the absence. I got distracted by my birthday present to myself. A brand new Triumph Street Triple motorcycle. A truly fantastic piece of engineering, and  provider of some of the most fun it is possible to have. Normal service will now resume; as I have a couple of blocks of low-relief flats to construct...oh, and a pub and row of shops.

Bye for now, 

Paul

Some pictures from the Welwyn GC Exhibition

Living the life of a somewhat subterranean railway modeler its not often that what I build has the benefit of good natural lighting. Last weekends exhibition in Welwyn Garden City was a real opportunity to take some photos, as it was blessed with excellent lighting on a bright spring day. Despite only having a compact digital camera with me I was pleased with the results.   

There is a few months until a good run of four exhibitions in close succession in the Autumn. This means I can get cracking on the parade of shops which will form the other side of Widnes Road and complete the western end of the layout. A combination of kit-bashing and detailing is the order of the day. I'm on the lookout for any company that does the basic components for shop interiors in 4mm and a decent kit to base a detailed public house on.

Widnes Road Signal Box - Part III

The completed signal box complete with interior and lighting has been installed on the layout next to the new level crossing. The through main line is laid ready for the extension of Widnes Road to allow end-to-end operation using two fiddle yards.

Widnes Road Signal Box - Part II

Having spent some time making a fully detailed interior, some decent internal lighting was required. A strip of three white LED's provided plenty of light and was easily hidden in the roof.

Widnes Road Signal Box

The new signal box for Widnes Road level crossing is taking shape nicely; the Ratio Midland region box with a fully detailed interior.

Widnes Road - Level Crossing

The level crossing at the western end of Widnes Road starts to take shape; the gates are Wills, the pedestrian guards are made from styrene rod filed to triangles. Next task is to complete the signal box to go alongside the crossing which will have a fully detailed interior.

Widnes Road Update 2010

Firstly, here is a quick list of the next 5 confirmed exhibition dates for Widnes Road

2010

17th April               De Havilland MRC              Welwyn Garden City

18th September      Mid Essex MRC                 High School, Oliver Road, Shenfield

2nd/3rd October     Ilford & West Essex MRC   Romford

9th October            The Leventhorpe School     Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire

13th November       Romford MRC

Secondly, a quick round-up of what I've been working on and what's in store for the 2010 exhibition season.

Having got fed-up with continually fixing the plastic handrails around the roof of the depot, I fabricated new ones from square-section brass rod; when painted up they look a lot finer scale, and have the added benefit of not snapping every time the track is cleaned. This was followed by the fitting of a number of 'express models' depot lamps to the buildings and yard area.

The next changes are a lot more drastic, and are still under construction. The final extension to the layout will see a level crossing installed to Widnes Road at the far left hand side; the front road in the yard being straightened and converted to a through line. This required the painful act of removing a significant section of scenery and track to enable the realigned line to exit across the main road and onto a second fiddle yard.

At present I've laid the new track and I'm now contemplating whether to go for conventional level-crossing gates or working modern barriers. Current thinking is for the older style level crossing gates and the through line is for freight services to the Runcorn Docks and chemical works and would have been unlikely to have justified the expense of fitting automatic gates.

I'm looking forward to the new Bachmann 03, as this will be perfect for short trip-working trains of a few chemical tanks running across the main road.