Train of the week #1

Train of the week from the BBR.

Just a typical short goods heading down the branch towards Boxer Bay & the docks.

The L&Y van is one of my favorite wagons, another inherited scratch build from a friend.

Sunday Snap

 Just one photo today,  another shot of BBR #1 Niki shunting a couple wagons into the brewery.  That chap has been reading the paper for a long time, probably can't believe what he's reading.

Thanksgiving

 It's our Thanksgiving holiday here in the states today and I just wanted to express my Thanks to all the online forums & friends I've made over the years in this wonderful hobby.  I've learned so much following your endeavors in the hobby.

 Here's a couple photos of the railway,  with BBR #1 departing with a short goods down to the docks, and a shot of the engine shed, with a Peckett taking a deserved break after some shunting.     Cheers !

Moving picture - GWR goods

 Tristan captured this scene of a Great Western 45xx with a rather lengthy goods, crossing the canal & peat tramway between Boxer Bay & Windrush Junction.

Sunday Snaps

 Tristan, the local photographer & railway enthusiast (who incidentally drives a Vauxhall, not a Bentley !) captured BBR Terrier #3 Josie arriving with the up mixed train,  and again departing with the return passenger service.  

A Shed, Finished

  A simple little project for the weekend completed.  Even something so simple as a shed can be satisfying.  She takes her place next to the signal box at Windrush Junction.  Just for fun I include a black & white period photo.  The driver of that Austin has been sitting there for a good long time now, I wonder why :)

New inspiration + Jubilee wagon finished

 It's something I think all modellers go through from time to time,  a lack of motivation.   Mine was fueled by lack of time,  work and family "stuff" taking precedence.  Sometimes a break can be what the doctor ordered.  I stumbled upon a "new" book by Wild Swan that I had to purchase, postage / tariff situation be damned !  I promptly ordered a copy of "The Kent & East Sussex Railway" by Brian Hart.  It arrived in timely order and what a magnificent book it is.  My motivation to get right back to the workbench was boiling over.  Although the BBR is fictional (Highly fictional),  it's inspiration draws from the fascinating little Colonel Stephens lines such as the K&ESR.  I thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in that era of steam railways.  A nice little time machine in hardbound.

The Jubilee wagon has had the tension lock couplings installed,  she's now ready for service on the railway.  A little more progress at the dock,  just awaiting the water,  and ships !  All for now.

A new Shed

 After a bit of a disappearance,  I'm back and with a new shed.  A small lamp / storage shed to be installed next to the signal box.  A nice little resin kit by Skytrex,  very reasonable,  quick to assemble.  Just needs a coat of paint and blending into the scene.  

A second photo, showing a lot of steam action around the other slightly larger shed !  All for now.

Weathered ~ LNER Jubilee Coal wagon

 A wagon project completed.  Amazing how much weathering can make a difference,  even with my limited artistic ability.  But hey,  it looks good 2 - 3 feet away,  so it works for me.  

Sunday Snap

After a hard weeks work of shuttling wagons to and fro, the meandering Manning Wardle has returned to the shed for a rest.  The loco is an excellent model by Minerva,  very well detailed, economical and runs faultlessly.

Meandering Manning Wardle

Just a photo for the day.  Not much work has taken place on the railway,  just too much work to do at this time of year.  Still manage to run some trains on the weekend.  Always great fun.   

BBRs  #1 Niki Manning Wardle takes a goods train down the branch to the docks at Boxer Bay.

BB Signal Box #3

 Coming to the home stretch on this little project,  and I must say I'm quite happy how it's turned out.  It's a really neat little kit from Peco,  fun to put together.  I had a good time tossing together some interior details with no cost.  Painting & weathering has really brought it to a nice conclusion.  Last final touches will be the Boxer Bay name board,  and the down spouts need to be installed.  All for now.

BB Signal Box #2

 A little more progress on the signal box for Boxer Bay.  It has now been painted.  Next up is glazing, weathering,  lamp, down spout & name board installation.  This has taken a lot longer than anticipated but I'm looking forward to seeing it on the layout.  Even little projects like this in O scale can seem like a big deal.   

Sunday Snaps

 Just a couple photos today.   One showing a few wagons down at the Boxer Bay docks,  and the other the branch goods arriving at Windrush Junction.

Sunday Snaps

 Nothing much to report of late.  Work is progressing slowly on the signal box for Boxer Bay.    Here's a couple photographs taken from today's operating session.  BBR Manning Wardle "Niki" on a short goods and one of my favorite wagons I built,  the Parkside GWR horse box.   

BB Signal Box #1

It's been way too long since the last post.  Work,  gardening,  and loss of motivation (for a brief spell) all contributed.  The motivation came back right away when I was finally able to run a couple trains for half an hour and there it was.  So onto a new project,  the signal box for Boxer Bay.  I had a Peco kit given to me and decided to use it,  as the size seemed suitably small for a light railway terminus.  The interior kit available from Peco seemed quite expensive,  especially when factoring in postage to the US.  Sticking to a strict budget in these days of high prices, I decided to make up some rudimentary interior with nothing more then some bits of scrap wood and paint.  I figured once the roof is on and windows glazed, "it'll be good enough", to my eyesight.  The camera might say otherwise.  A couple railway photos tossed in just for good measure.   Cheers.

Parkside LNER Jubilee Coal wagon

 Time for another fun wagon project.  For something a little different I decided to build a LNER Jubilee coal wagon,  Parkside Kit #PS01.  I probably had this kit in my stash for the better part of 7 years,  so it's about time.  A straightforward build,  brush painted with Tamiya acrylics.  Awaiting weathering and a removable coal load to be made up.  I only have 1 other LNER wagon currently on the railway so this will make a nice addition. 

Classic Great Western

 Just a couple classic Great Western Railway locos featured in this weekend's photos.  What more can one say,  great models, of great locos.  Dapol does a great job with their models.  Cheers

Sunday Snaps

Just some snaps from the railway this week.  No time for any progress.  But it's always relaxing to escape to my miniature dream world,  if only for an hour or two.  The GWR syphon is a favorite,  such a neat looking design.

 

Moving the Goods

 No progress to report, a depressing week for many reasons.  It was quite a tonic to just sit, shunt some wagons, and watch the trains pass by, while sipping a drink & some jazz on the Hi-Fi.  It is good to have a hobby to retreat into at times.  The magical world of an O scale model railway is what works for me.  What works for you ?   

A GWR 45xx brings in the goods to Windrush Junction,  while Manning Wardle Niki departs Boxer Bay with the branch goods.  Both lovely models by Dapol & Minerva.

1934 Airline Saloon

A little diversion took me into building a classic Motorkits 1934 SS1 Airline Saloon white metal car kit.  The inspiration for this little deviation was a happy memory of seeing a similar car at our local vintage sports car shop.  I should point out that seeing such cars on the Oregon coast is quite rare to say the least !  The model built up nicely with little trouble, always nice to see Made in England.  I feel the paint finish came out okay for a model railway, it's a little more glossy then the photos let on.  Now back to trains !

Heljan Ruston 48DS - On Trial

 A new addition for the docks at Boxer Bay,  something completely different,  a Diesel !    Wow,  didn't see this one coming.  It's such a neat looking little thing,  and at £130,  I just had to have one.  After all,  Colonel Stephens utilized internal combustion power on many of his lines,  so why not ?  With the earliest examples being built in 1937,  I figured I could justify having one.  Her job will be to shunt the docks.  Just how reliable over Higgin's Horse she'll be, time will tell, so she's "on trail".  She may or may not stay in this color scheme,  but will be customized,  not sure how yet.  She runs beautifully,  and weighs a lot,  so well done to Heljan.

"New" Passenger Coach joins BBR stock

 A "new" acquisition for the BBR,  one of those nice Stroudley designed ex-LBSC Brake 3rd coaches by Dapol.  We've had our eye on one of these for awhile.  Colonel Stephens finally gave the approval for funds to be transferred from the mattress to complete the purchase.  We can only hope this extra coach proves so popular, that it will increase patronage of the line.  It was rather in need, as the lease ran out on the S&DJR 6 wheel coach which had to be returned to Highbridge for use on their railway.  Perhaps it will be seen again someday when the S&DJR start up weekly services to Windrush Junction.