esngblog

Sunday afternoon, and seven members turned up to play trains.  Not bad at all, as two regulars were missing.  Derek was under at least a three line whip to celebrate Yvonne’s 80th, and Simon was watching Chelsea (lose) in a cup final.

We had another afternoon with too many derailments, and that prompted some discussion as to how to improve things.  We did, I think, come up with a few reasonable ideas, so we may start our Wednesday working parties again.

Men at work…..

Sean has applied graffiti to Allan’s coal wagons…

Chris’ EMU….

Trains from Michael….

Trains from Brian….

Trains from Sean….

And Sean’s little self propelled crane.

And Brian recorded this all for posterity!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/387140220595811

And….

Just a few photos today – I must have spent too much time talking!  Eight members came along and occupied the four running tracks.

Chris’ lovely ‘Jaffa Cake’ EMU had some difficulty staying on the track.  It’s strange – some days everything runs well, another they can’t stay on the rails.  (Bit like the members, really.)

Rolling stock from three countries in one picture!

Allan produced this colourful Class 66 and ran a short (for him) / long (for us) coal train.

We all seemed to have run all we wanted to by 9:15, so we packed up and went home.  Back on Sunday for another meeting.  I’m waiting to see who has the first Revolution Class 59 on show.

A few modelling ideas….

If you haven’t room for a layout, a diorama could be just the thing.  And no wiring to worry about.  These are by Luis Hermosilla, culled from Facebook.

Some interesting bridges in Philadelphia and tight curves in Pittsburgh for trolleys and interurbans….

And how the Central of New Jersey main line crossed the Lehigh River – straight into a tunnel.  Unfortunately disused, but put that on your layout and wait for the nay-sayers!

I was a few minutes late getting to open the hall, but it was open and people were getting the modules out to set up.  My excuse was simple – I sneaked up to Holmethorpe Industrial Estate to see a flock of Waxwings.  This gorgeous bird is an erratic winter visitor, and this little flock of 30 or so were demolishing berries off some bushes.  (Photo Patrick Venables.)

Meanwhile, back at the railway club, people kept pouring in.  We ended up with 13 members and 2 visitors and it was a busy afternoon on the tracks and a sociable one off them.

Sean’s all-singing, all-dancing DCC Azuma sounded horribly realistic as it trundled around the layout.  There’s something fascinating about fast expresses crawling along (that doesn’t apply to small shunters going very fast….)

Simon’s very long Southern Pacific Sunset Limited was running very well – and mostly staying coupled and on the track.

Neil’s lovely Revolution Trans-Pennine stock.  They seemed to be running well, too.

A variety of freight trains….

And Sean’s ballast train, headed by a very realistic sounding Class 37….

Finally, Lucas’ Northern DMU’s.

And the afternoon finished with the inevitable curry.  Not forgetting Brian’s video….

Once again, seven members turned up for club night, but we were graced by two visitors – welcome to Ben and Steve, and hope that we didn’t put you off too much.  Not many photos, as I spent too much of the evening talking!

I last ran this tanker train and it wouldn’t stay on the track.  But with an N Class Mogul at it’s head, it ambled around for much of the evening with no attention needed at all.

Simon was running this Piko USATC 65-DE-19A.  I saw this model in Stuttgart, and wondered whether Simon would buy one.  These early US diesels were exported to Europe post-war to help put the railways back together.  But they can be used just as well on an American layout.  Simon also ran this Dapol 9F 2-10-0, that he had bought second hand (probably to convert into an American loco.)  He insisted I took a picture, as most unusually for this model, it ran impeccably.

Simon also ran this old-timer.  An unpowered loco, propelled by a motorised coach behind.

Derek was still trying to keep his coaches upright, even with their new bogies!

Terry also went American (for a while.)

The OO9 section of the club (Terry) then met and ran this rather interesting train.

And a brief workbench report from home.  I decided to keep my existing baseboard, so knocked the extension that I didn’t like off the end, and replaced the embankment section with one for the revised track layout.  Next job will be to replace the track…..

This old picture of Baker Street station is almost a real life Minories…..