Christmas Wishes

It's Christmas eve,  some snow falling.  I see the station staff have made a snowman.  BBR # 1 "Niki"  shunts a special wagon loaded with Christmas Trees into the goods sidings before retiring off to the shed at Windrush Junction.

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

Saturday Snaps

Ex  Southern Railway '02' class 0-4-4T arrives at Windrush Junction with the afternoon goods.  Ready to shunt into the yard,  as Ernest waits patiently to cross the tracks with what appears to be some liquid refreshment for the staff.  Frank looks thirsty already 😉

12T Rectangular Tank Wagon

 No,  this is not your typical Slaters 12T Rectangular Tank wagon !  The tank itself was handmade from wood back in 1974.  I inherited it before it reached the dustbin after the maker passed on.  Not knowing what to do with this nice tank,  I hung on to it. Until one day,  a Slaters kit showed up on ebay,  a 12T Rect tank.  BUT,  it was Missing the Tank !   What's more it was dirt cheap and in the US,  so I easily won the bid.  Here is the finished model,  married to the handmade tank.  It appears they were "meant for each other " :)   Little modification was needed and I think the overall wagon looks okay.  Different names were used to get 2 wagons for 1,  "Walkers"  &  "Shell / BP"

Saturday Snaps

 Operating fun at Windrush Junction today included a 77xx departing with the morning goods (& an interloper), followed by the afternoon arrival of the Autocoach with the classic 48xx !  A new luggage trolley has been added to the station.  There's nothing as relaxing as a small station in the countryside of Somerset in the 30's.  

The Sheep

A flock of sheep have been placed on the railway.  These are castings by Langley,  and very nice.  I'm not the best painter of figures,  but I think they look okay.  Now onto making up some more shrubs, a few trees, and then finally the creek itself.

Guysbridge

 Been really quiet on here lately.   I've started making some progress on the next scene beyond Windrush Junction,  which is Guysbridge.  I'm still learning how to use static grass,  and think it's coming out okay.  There's still tons of details and additions to make to this area,  including finishing the water in the creek,  something else I've never attempted before,  water.  Should be interesting !

Details Details Details

 One of many attributes of O scale for me is the additional scope for details,  be that figures or other scenic touches.   Here's 3 little details I've recently added to the railway.   First is the Station Master's good lady, Mrs. Darlington doing the weekly wash, a Langley Casting. In among a thriving garden. 

Next up is PC Jeffries deciphering the GWR timetable to help Lady Marjorie find out when the next train to Minehead is due to depart.

And last (and smallest) of details, fishplates.  Not exact British specific, but still add something to the overall appearance,  made by Right-O-Way.

Vintage Thursday

Another fine O Gauge railway from back in the day.  Nigel McMillan's extensive Scottish railway featured in Railway Modeller March 1971.   A Superb layout with good old fashioned 3 rail pickup.  Some really nice models and scenes to see.   Enjoy !

GWR Afternoon Goods

Not many developments lately.  Just running some trains and enjoying what's been built so far.  Featured is Minerva Models 57xx GWR Pannier Tank, with the afternoon down goods, passing through Windrush Junction.  Always take some time to enjoy your layout and operate it !

Platform Shelter

 Inspired by Chris Klein's Cwm Bach  GWR platform shelter,  and flipping through one of those classic Model Railway News magazines, I decided to construct one similar for Windrush Junction.

This is not an exact copy,  but is loosely based on the plan,  similar dimensions etc...  It is not as decorative,  but that is in keeping with a Colonel Stephens light railway.  Construction is just basic wood, with some styrene plastic where needed.  The swan neck gas lamp casting is from S&D Models.  The time table was made up on the computer and is correct (although faintly visible) for my railway.   I took the opportunity to install Slaters wood fencing along the back of the platform,  which finishes it off nicely.

BBR #1 ~ Manning Wardle "Niki"

The Boxer Bay Railway's Manning Wardle "Niki" has now been completed,  with lettering, name plate, crew,  suitable coal load  and a light weathering.   A superb model from Minerva,  she looks good in the lined blue,  the semi official livery for BBR locos, when we can afford the paint !  She is loco #1 as she was the first supplied to the BBR in 1884. Colonel Stephens inspects her at Windrush Junction shed.

Godfrey's Cottage

Here's a small scenic project I've been working on,  and small is the word.  It's actually a Will's 1/76 OO farm cottage ( kit CK10).   I've never tried forced perspective before on any previous layout,  and thought this might be a good opportunity to give it a go.  The location is up on the hillside above the tunnel,  and it seems to work just fine.  Kit was easy to build,  cheap, and it adds a bit of interest to the scene I think.  I'll be adding trees and other shrubs,  hedges etc.. on the hillside in due course.  Always something to do :)

Pounsbery ~ Bristol

I fancied a quick simple project this last week,  and what better then a Slaters wagon kit.  A pre-decorated Private Owner wagon for "Pounsbery Bristol".   Simple kit to build and it was a nice change to not worry about painting and lettering,  just a light weathering :)

A busy afternoon

A busy afternoon at Windrush Juction as BBR #1 is about to depart with the afternoon goods to Boxer Bay, while GWR pannier #7711 shunts the brewery siding and forms her train to Taunton.

Sunday Snaps

A quiet Sunday,  just the BBR Manning Wardle shunting wagons at Windrush Junction,  and a brief look at King Arthur's Brewery.  I see the 3 stooges are sampling a new Ale :)

One interesting new wagon was spotted at the goods yard, a Private Owner Salt wagon.  Sure looks squeaky clean, I'm sure that won't last long !  Nice wagon from Dapol,  and nice to see something still made in the UK.

Stationmaster Arthur +

The latest scenic development on the layout is the addition of a couple new characters.  Figures in O scale really add to the scene, for me they bring the layout to life.  Here is "Arthur Darlington",  stationmaster of Windrush Junction,  outside his house off to work,  and to greet him is his loyal companion,  "George".  

Helping out around the station gardens is "Brigitte", the stationmasters daughter.  She has quite the reputation for causing all kinds of problems with the local lads 👀

Here's the overall scene,  more details to be added in due course.

Accident at Windrush Jct !

Service Disruption !  Whilst enjoying an evening operating session,  an accident happened at Windrush Junction !  Col. Stephens and others were quick on the scene to help get things re-railed and moving again.  Service has been resumed.   I hope to have a railway crane wagon someday to complete the story.   Cause of the derailment was the GWR Loriot lowmac which hopped the point closure rail.  All good fun and no damage to report ;)

Stationmaster's House

A new scene is slowly taking shape at Windrush Junction.  The Stationmaster's house has been built,  from a Petite Properties kit,  and installed.  A fun kit to build,  not altogether finished as I have many little details to go around the house,  including a garden,  some plants for the greenhouse,  etc..  The station is starting to finally look like something :)

(click to enlarge)

2 New Old Wagons

Managed to find time to get 2 "new" old wagons restored and ready for service on the BBR.  First is a nice LMS refrigerator van,  built from an unknown kit I presume.  Purchased second hand it only required the wheels to be re-gauged,  and a few details added.  I may not weather this model as it's going to be a fairly new wagon in my era.

The next one must be ancient, mostly wood construction, perhaps a CCW kit ?  I do like the older kits even though they may not be totally accurate or have "finescale" details.  They just have character and I enjoy the heftiness.  This model required a bit more work to get into shape,  with no brake detail or side steps when acquired.  This Fruit D van will come in handy during harvest time for the strawberries :)