A Good Deal Better

This is Hornby's Art Deco style, Deal Signal Box (R9729) which we have used as the signal box for Davemoor Station. We chose this one because it was in-keeping with the Bachmann Art Deco station buildings used on the platforms and was smaller than Bachmann's version (44-064) so fitted better in the space that we had available.

The signal box is excellent but, as purchased, it is a bit of an empty shell. So, it has been duly weathered and fitted with interior detailing by Alex and now looks superb!

High Bridge Station

Time for an update on our progress at Anchwood Station and, as you can see, much has been done during the past few weeks. 
A prominent feature is the new bridge, which we had specially built and weathered by Alex of Mikron Models. This was the only way that we could see for passengers to exit the island platform, due to the cramped nature of its location. It is a steep old climb, that's for sure, and we are still trying to figure out how to allow access for disabled passengers!

A small waiting room which, like the canopies, is by Ratio (SS 78) has also been added to the station and this fits nicely beneath, and is somewhat dwarfed by, the steps of the bridge. According to the Ratio Catalogue, this Platform Building, as it is called, is based upon those at Clapham Junction.

Meanwhile, in the background, you will see the station has also acquired a tall signal box, complete with interior details, courtesy of Alex. This box is by Bachmann (44-172) and is, as described, nice and tall. This is both in-keeping with the bridge and, also, allows the signalman (although the signalman is actually a signalwoman in this instance) a good view down the line in both directions.

Below the station, we have also been working on the orchard and paddock area, beside the main line. The orchard now has an assortment of apple and plum trees while, in the paddock, there are a few sheep. We just need to add a rusty trailer or tractor beside the barn to give it interest and character and I think that this area will be pretty much complete.

The truncated line, emerging from the tunnel, will continue across a, yet-to-be-built, bridge to the table in the centre of the room and then rejoin the main line across another bridge, also to be built, at the other end of the table. 

Work on this area will begin in the spring now that construction work on the rest of the layout is complete, apart from the detailing.

Whistling While It Works!

Bachmann's Class 20 'D8158' in BR Green (32-033DS) is another recent addition to our loco fleet and it means that we now have two of these excellent Type 1 locomotives to call upon.

It comes with Bachmann's own sounds fitted but, as always, this is not good. The actual sound is much better than what was installed earlier, on the other Class 20 that we have, before we had it reblown at Howes. 

However, the number of functions provided is very limited. 

We are not sure if we will go with Howes again or try someone else when comes the time for a reblow. 

I have not heard what Olivias Trains Class 20 sounds are like but if they are as good as their Class 37 then maybe we should give them a try.

In the photo above, the whistler is trundling past Manxton with a rake of the ubiquitous BR 16T steel mineral wagons, all nicely weathered and carrying loads of real coal as well.

It is travelling 'wrong line' due to the Up line being closed for track maintenance - and also because it made for a better photograph! 

On the left of the picture can be seen the Shillingstone Signal Box by Bachmann (44-165) and above that is the branch line to Anchwood, seen in yesterday's posting.

Touch wood, Anchwood Is Good!

Finally, we have filled in the gap beneath the new station at Anchwood where BR meets the steam railway. 

We could not cover this gap until the lights had been wired and, although there will be one more light to fit at a later date, the wires for this can be accessed from the back, fairly easily!

This curved platform has caused us no end of problems but is now, finally, in place and ready to accept its first trains, once the track has been cleaned.

The canopy and small station building are by Ratio and have been suitably weathered by Alex at Mikron Models. 

The canopy also has lights fitted beneath the roof and these, together with the two lamps at either end of the platform, should provide ample lighting for passengers using this station.

The area between the double track main line and the single track loop, in the foreground, will be divided in to small fields or paddocks with one of them ear-marked to become an orchard.

The large hill behind the station is removable and conceals a double socket. This still has to be blended in a little more with trees and bushes added in due course.

Striking Viking

Bachmann's Class 37 37057 'Viking' (32-781DS) is another recent addition to our growing fleet of locomotives and is our second Class 37, to boot.

It came with Bachmann's own sound decoder installed but the Bachmann sounds were, quite frankly, awful so we sent it away to Olivias Trains of Sheffield to be reblown. 

In our opinion, Olivias have the best Class 37 sounds out there and, yes, are even better than Howes!

The loco was returned to us last week and is brilliant, it definitely sounds like a Tractor now! We will be uploading a video of it on YouTube in the very near future.

In the photograph above, it can be seen at the head of a rake of ventilated vans while, on the embankment above it, are some assorted wagons. These are being stored in the siding of the steam railway.

All of these wagons have been suitably weathered and, soon, it will be the turn of 'Viking' to be similarly treated.

D400 and a Footbridge

Time for me to highlight some of the locomotives, rolling stock and other features that we have added to the layout during the past few months and I will begin with another Class 50 (and the fourth member of the class to be added to our fleet) as well as a beautiful station footbridge - both seen above.

We acquired the Class 50 in the guise of 50037 'Illustrious' which came with faulty, non-working Hornby sound decoder.

This we duly removed and sent back to Hornby with a covering letter and, amazingly, within a few days it was back with us, fully working. 

You do have to hand it to Hornby, their Customer Service department is second to none - absolutely brilliant.

Well, this now meant that we had three large logo Class 50s when we really wanted a blue-liveried member of the fleet. 

So, with the help of Alex at Mikron Models, who found a blue body for us and swapped it and then weathered it, we now have D400 in original blue livery - nice. 

The sound is still that of Hornby's and it is okay but not as good as the Howes and SWD sounds that we have in our other Class 50s.

She is seen, here, passing through Manxton at the head of an express heading for Davemoor.

The second photograph shows the footbridge that spans the four tracks at the aforementioned station. This was needed to allow passengers to cross from one platform to the other, there being no subway at the station. It is another masterpiece by Alex who produced it from drawings and measurements that we gave him. 

The bridge is, basicaly, a Dapol kit, with extensions, and it has been painted and weathered to look, well, stunning!

This station is coming along nicely now and just needs the addition of lights and station nameboards and a barrel crossing to be complete.

Update Part 2

Here, then, is the second part of my update, featuring areas of the layout that have been worked on during recent weeks.

The photograph above was taken to the right of Manxton station, shown in the last photograph of yesterday's posting. It is at this point that the four tracks become two before curving around and into the tunnel, over which passes the newly extended branch line.

The curved platform that is situated above the main line is Anchwood and it is where BR ends and a preserved railway continues to the end of the line at Lake End. This is still being worked on as we have to fit a canopy and lights on the platform but only after all of the scenery work behind it is completed. The small hill in the corner is there purely to conceal an electric socket. It still allows access to the socket switches and will be removable to allow full access to the sockets.

Further along, the preserved line crosses a minor road and then, immediately, crosses the main line for the second time.  The single track in the foreground will, eventually, lead to a central loop, which will include, amongst other things, another intermediate station and a ballast depot. This, then, will be the final development of the northern section of the railway and see the completion of layout construction.

The next photograph shows Lake End and the end of the preserved railway. This, too, is still being worked on but is starting to look quite good. It will be, predominantly, a steam railway and will be home to our Bachmann S&D 2-8-0 as well as, I hope, a Class 4MT tank engine. There will, of course, also be the occasional special visiting the station from the main line.

And finally, in this quick tour of the northern section of the layout, we have an aerial photograph of Davemoor, the new northern terminus, with Lake End situated above it in the distance.

The station has four platforms for use by the general public plus, to the left, a couple of privately owned sidings for use by the local factory. 

There is still a lot of finishing touches to be done here but at least all of the track is in situ meaning that trains can run once construction work at the other locations is complete.