Vintage Thursday - Lutton Branch

Time does fly,  the last Vintage Thursday for 2019 is one that has always interested me,  but not for the trains so much as they way they're operated !   Frank Roomes' O gauge layout is operated with block signalling,  bell codes,  and followed a proper timetable.  Seeing articles on his fine layout explaining the proper procedures of railway operation introduced me to all this and I've always found it a fascinating subject ever since.  I do plan on operating my Boxer Bay Railway to a timetable sequence, with signals, and some form of block instruments,  but that is all in the future.  The Lutton branch layout was 12' x 12' end to end design, stud contact.  No continuous running,  no super fine detailed scenery,  but loads of atmosphere and all operated just like the real thing.  I sure wish I could've visited, just once.

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas eve,  and snow is beginning to fall.  Under the watchful eye of Colonel Stephens himself, BBR # 3 "Josie"  shunts the last few wagons into the goods sidings before retiring off to the shed at Windrush Junction.  I wonder if that's Ivo's Bentley ?  He sure gets around :)

From all the staff of the Boxer Bay Railway,  wishing everyone following this story of my fictional model railway a Merry Christmas. May you spend quality time with the family,  eat lots of good food,  and maybe get a chance to run the occasional train :)  Cheers !

(Click to enlarge)

Delivery at Windrush

Playing around with the camera.  It's difficult to get a decent photo if your railway has only 4% basic scenery completed.  Here is a nice angle of Manning Wardle #1, still awaiting nameplate and numbers, shunting a Midland Railway equipment wagon into the goods sidings for unloading.  Constable Jeffries keeps an eye on proceedings.  For interest I reproduced the same image in b&w below.

(click to enlarge)

End Loading Ramp

 Not too much to report on the BBR,  slow going due to lack of time.  I did manage to equip Windrush Junction goods yard with an end loading ramp.  Perfect for unloading equipment for the local farmers.  Very quick and like most of my modelling efforts,  basic and cheap.   Waste Not,  Want Not.   I'm always trying to reuse items that might easily be tossed in the bin.  The handrails were saved from an old Peco HO turntable kit.  The hobby can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be.