Hilda Shunting

 A quick photograph was taken of BBR #8 "Hilda" , an ex Midland Railway 1F 0-6-0T, standing in the goods yard at Windrush Junction with a newly acquired brake van.

1914 Itala Railcar conversion

 Another little fun side project.  Inspiration for this one came from the Spurn Head Railway and it's pre-1914 Itala road car turned makeshift railcar, in the neat book by John Scott-Morgan, British Independent Light Railways.  

The "railcar" model started as a 1/43 diecast model by Rio of Italy.  Price was a fiver.  The model was easily disassembled, stripped, repainted, and modified.  Some additions included running boards, changing positions of the headlights.  The wheels were converted by removing the rubber tires, and the outside flange filed down.  I think the model is a decent look-a-like of the Spurn Head railcar.  Now if only we can get it going without breaking our hand or wrist on the starting handle !

Shunting + restarting Saloon coach project

 It's been a fair amount of time between posts.  Work and domestic affairs taking away time from the hobby, however I've managed to write up a couple articles for publication in the Guild & operate the railway here and there.  Some photographic evidence below of BBR Manning Wardle Niki shunting the Windrush Junction goods yard.

I've managed to dust off an old project & restart the Connoisseur Models brass Saloon coach kit build.  I've now completed all brass parts and onto the white metal axle boxes / fitting the wheels.  Should be exciting.  I'm hoping to get it completed by the end of March.  Time will tell indeed.  All for now.

O gauge for O gauge

 First update of 2026,  can't believe it's 2026 !   

How about a garden railway in O gauge,  in O gauge !  The Station Master of Windrush Junction thought it'd be a great idea to start a model railway club,  as he doesn't have enough to do with railways.  The Windrush Gauge O Group (WGOG) has been formed,  even Colonel Stephens himself was at the opening meet.  

I did my best at estimating 7mm/foot,  aided by the computer for printing out lined drawings of LNER coaches and the Flying Scotsman (what else, nothing but class), colored with pencil.  It's nice to have 4472,  if only in mini miniature form, on the layout.  It brings back happy memories of visiting a friend's garden railway many years ago.  The concerning aspect was, I was beginning to enjoy making an entire layout with trains out of paper, in a single afternoon.  Time to get back to the large stuff I think, before this goes too far.  I was starting to imagine making Bath Green Park & the entire S&DJR, in this, um, size.

Some Water, just.

 Only a very minor bit of progress,  but it is exciting in a very small way.  The first few drops (?) of water have been added to the railway, in the form of a couple puddles by the engine shed, along with a splash of water by the drain for the water column.  Only very minor detail, but it's funny how even the smallest of details can add to a scene.   

Tristan was able to catch a close up photograph of GWR Pannier #7711 emerging from the tunnel with an up goods,  the fireman glaring back.

Sunday Snaps

 Just a few photos from today's operating session.  BBR Terrier "Josie" with the up branch passenger,  crossing the peat tramway & canal, about to pass under "Guy's bridge"   Later,  you see "Josie" crossing the down afternoon goods with Manning Wardle "Niki" at Windrush Junction.  A busy day for a light railway !  Last photo shows the neat little Heljan Ruston Hornsby 48DS shunting wagons at Boxer Bay Docks, still very much under construction.  I have hopes of making some major progress on the docks in '26.