New additions...

Transplanted one of the Co-Co chassis from the job lot of "interesting" conversions back into a proper deltic body, this means I now have 3 operational deltics!

Ordered some ringfield neo magnets and once these arrive I'll do a motor swap with the noisy Co-Bo Metrovick.

I've also snapped up a rather nice looking 0-6-0 steam loco and have another on watch, both non-runners. I've never seen one of these close up and it will be interesting to see firstly why they're not working and then see how easy they are to convert to 3 rail running. I'm not aware that Dublo ever made these in 3 rail, hopefully I can use the pickups that will be left over from the redundant deltic chassis once  I've pinched the motor out of it for the Metrovick! The 0-6-0 only cost £16 so would be nice to get it running.

Elsewhere in the loft I've made a start on clearing space for further track laying and decided to abandon my idea of 4 loops in favour of 2, this will make the layout far less complicated and reduce the number of diamond crossovers. Also if I'd gone with 4 tracks I would have ended up installing points in locations that aren't easily accessible, so these sections can be left with just straight sections of track. I've mocked up a great idea for a terminus and some extra sidings. I don't tend to draw these things or use planning software, just gold old fashioned track laying.

I've now sold all the DCC controllers, booster and the decoders I'd removed from the locos, along with the decoders that were still in their packaging. Very pleased with the amount of money raised, I managed to make a small profit on the select and the elite as these were second hand purchases. I did of course lose out with the decoders and the power booster but with Christmas fast approaching, every little helps...

Pictures from 3 & 4 November weekend

Old & new - the Bachmann 2EPB ran faultlessly all weekend. Here it's lined up next to the Dublo SR EMU, with Dorchester to the left, next to that Bo-Bo D8000 waits to leave with a goods train, Bristol Castle heads up the TPO coaches and finally the Bachmann 4CEP is in the background.

The road to the far right is way too close to the edge of the board and will be removed before the next run.

Dorchester waiting to take power

Dorchester from the other side of the tracks, the back of the goods train and TPO set also visible, although the goods train had shed its guards van!

Rear view of the Bachmann 4CEP

Same location. The road the CEP is parked in turned out to be practically un-usable due to too may twists & turns entering and exiting so a revamp is needed.

Waiting for a clear signal

Illuminated and ready to go

The sidings and turntable, with newly streamlined entry avoiding some of the twists & turns that had been installed previously. Sadly the girder bridge didn't arrive in time, which resulted in the piece of track in the foreground crossing the two board sections unsupported.

The far right track section has now been removed along with the crossovers and several sets of points. The twin curves will simply shift over to the left by 1 track and turn what is currently a long siding into the inside running loop, with the current inside loop becoming the outside loop (make sense?)

The many points and crossovers proved problematic, there are more points and crossovers installed further down on this section and derailments / stalling were common, even with proper Dublo stock.

Lined up in the sidings - Diesel shunter, 0-6-2 shunter, Bachmann class 25, Cardiff Castle (with broken coupling) and 8F 

Zoomed out view, with the non-functioning Co-Bo

Different angle

Main station layout again - 6 roads but will be streamlined shortly