Just the three weeks to go before we set off for Stuttgart.  Fortunately, I’m making progress on the ‘joker’ module (one that moves the main lines from one side of the board to the other) we need for the show.

This week I’ve added the leg supports, the baseboard top where needed, the track bed, and carved the module to add a little bit of contouring for the scenics.  Track should go down early in the week, followed by wiring, ballast and scenics.

Now for a few other odds and ends….

These two pictures show how mixed up a modern-ish rake of coaches could be (both culled from Facebook.)  For most eras of British railway history, uniform rakes of coaches were rare, except on main line trains.  Even DMU’s and EMU’s swapped coaches about…

Purchases for me this week.  My Model Centre class 128 parcels unit in the short-lived two-tone blue livery arrived.  A bit modern for me, but such a delightful colour scheme.  It’s another very, very, good model.  And going back a few years, I couldn’t resist some more high-window Maunsell coaches half price from Rails.  A four set this time.  In contrast to those photos above, the Southern did rather like to keep its coaches in sets – but of course, not always.

A Southern medley to finish.  First, the LBSCR J2 class tank engine at Lewes just after nationalisation.  It only lasted till 1951.  It appears to be pulling a push pull set by the drivers end?

And three Brighton Belle photos (two by John Atkinson.)  Definitely in sets!