More track laying and changes

After some more thinking, I've put in at additional siding on the former mainline to give more space for stock storage during running sessions. It also means that trains don't have to run around the curve past the steaming up siding giving a choice of two routes in which to run into and run round/change engines. Also, the original section of the station boards is currently being cleaned up with a view to it being reinstalled at the far end of the line to again give somewhere to run round/change engines. That and the fact that removing all the track off the newer half was a pain in the arse to do so I'd rather not I though that again at least not for a while at least.

Until next time,

Job

Trains in the Garden

After a break of a few weeks, some trains have finally run on the Railway. Both Leader and Premier have seen running with Premier also running at a pair of other local railways which ended in failure at the second with a leaking boiler/failed water gauge glass. Its safe to say I'm not overly happy about that but after taking the engine apart and seeing the amount of Limescale pouring out, it seems like it would have happened sooner or later. However after fitting of the standard dumb buffers, vacuum pipes and a Summerlands Chuffer, when Premier was working , the engine was proving to be a very good runner.

However, with the arrival of a second Bowaters engine, having them both working trains of Welshpool and Llanfair Railway rolling stock does seem a bit weird (even though Sister engine Excelsior and Bowaters 0-6-2Ts Superior and Chevalier have all successfully operated on that line in Preservation) so I am thinking about designing some Sittingbourne and Kemsley Railway Rolling stock to run with them although what exactly is undecided.....

Another Kerr Stuart Brazil Class or a Kerr Stuart Barreto wouldn't go a miss but for now, I've got enough to maintain/keep going for now.

Cheers,

Jon

All change with the trackplan

After some thinking and after looking at what was left of the old station area after the recent rain we've had, I've changed the trackplan for the line to give a firmer base to run trains on while still retaining the option to run up the garden at a later date. The line now takes a L shape from a small pair of sidings curving around past a short siding onto the old mainline down the side of the house.

Since the photographs were taken, tracklaying was completed this evening and should be ready for a big steam up tomorrow featuring Leader and Premier on more test runs.

UPDATE:-

Just a quick shot of the new sidings which were installed late last year. Hopefully the current layout should be able to keep going for some time to come.

Cheers,

Jon

Premier arrives!

After returning from a running day as part of the local 16mm Association group, I was pleased to see that No.2 Premier had arrived while I was out. After some basic work, the engine is now ready for service such as regauging, fitting the dumb buffers I use and the addition of Vacumn Pipes. The only remaining thing on my todo list is to remove the preivous owner's lettering on the saddle tank after which new nameplates which are on order from Narrow Planet will be fitted when they arrive with me.

'Premier' before the fitting of Vacumn Pipes

The two sisters 'Premier' and 'Leader' now side by side for the first time

Until next time when hopefully Premier will have seen some use either on my line or at another 16mm association open day.

Cheers,

Jon

Leader has a sister!

After some major saving and finding another suitable engine, I'm pleased to reveal what will be Steam Engine No.2.

Photo from the SKLR website

No.2 is a second Accucraft Leader which will become 'Premier'. In real life, Premier and Leader are both sister engines of the Brazil class ordered as in 1905 for the Sittingbourne Paper Mills. Ironically, In real life the numbers were the other way round with 'Premier' being No.1 and 'Leader' being No.2. My 'Premier' has been sourced from a online forum and is arriving in Apple Green carrying the last owner's railway Livery which will be removed and repainted into a basic form of the Sittingbourne livery which the prototype engine carried before dismantling for its current overhaul began. Nameplates are now on order for both engines from Narrow Planet (who come highly recommended from myself but then I'm biased (I work for them from time to time)).

As such, the numbers for the rest of the fleet have all moved up one place to fit Premier into the sequence but I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end.

Until next time,

Jon

Running at Parbrook

After the disaster of Jessie derailing last time at Parbrook, I decided to take Leader along this time to run with the full Welshpool and Llanfair Railway Set. Its safe to say it went down very well with lots of comments on the set as a whole along with the power of Leader working the train. At one point, another of the gents that turned up was going to run his Arkangel T&D with the wagons but it didn't have the power to do it despite being a much bigger engine! Although the fact that the engine in turn was about 4-5 times older than Leader might have had something to do with it.

Cheers,

Jon

Engines Come, Engines go

After some thought, I've put Loco No.3 the MSS tender engine for sale on Ebay. I've just grown fed up of it and along with the fact it hasn't run since Late May and has never met expectations since it was brought. However, with the pending departure of No.3, there is a new engine now on order to replace it.

Now on order from the same supplier of 'Leader', is a new Accucraft Ragleth in Green. It should go well with Leader and with the Accucraft stock that I prefer to use. Also its reputed to have plenty of power which is great for the longer trains that I tend to run at steam ups with the local 16mm association area group. It is intended that the new engine will become the new No.2 on arrival with Jessie taking No.3 .

It should be a great little engine when it arrives later this year or early next year.

Cheers,

Jon