Sunday goods train

Badgers playing close by as the afternoon goods train breezes past.

Meerkat Alley - A Simples Life.

The Ranger stops, looks and then listens for the train to pass.

Passing through Homestyal Meadow at the end of the day.

The signalman switches the line for the Sunday goods train to pass.

Shires plod through the mud at Buddleia Pond as the goods train passes.

Billy Boiler - Stage 1

After putting the completed chassis to one side, the boiler assembly was started.  Firstly the boiler's brass wrapper and smokebox has to be painted.

To prepare for this, all fittings were removed including the boiler, regulator and pressure gauge. (Kit HBK3 comes with these already loosely fitted.)

Next stage, the painting system.

DR Box Car

This short box car was used as an equipment car for many years on the DR. 

Model: The doors on both sides of the wagon slide open, 97-09-37.
Length: 250mm LGB: 40075

DR Box Car

This short box car was used as an equipment car for many years on the DR. 

Model: The doors on both sides of the wagon slide open, 97-09-23.
Length: 250mm LGB: 40075

BP Tanker

Model: Complete with an opening fill hatch and working drain valve.

Length: 300mm LGB: 4040 B

Shell Tanker

Many petroleum companies own their own tank cars, which are deployed on various railways throughout the world. This perhaps explains why these tankers are so often colourfully decorated as the companies use them to advertise themselves. 

Model: Complete with an opening fill hatch and working drain valve.
Length: 300mm LGB: 40402

Homestyal Halt

All aboard - nearly time for departure.

The girls couldn't decide if this was their train or not.

The old man decided to wait for the porter to give him a hand with his trunk.

Time to go.

Every little helps

The locals giving a hand weeding the embankment on the approach to Buddleia Pond.

With the wagon almost full, it was time to call it a day.

Billy Chassis - Stage 6

With the valve chest covers in place and the painted cylinder cladding fitted, it was a good opportunity for the chassis to be test run on air. To achieve this an air line was attached to the superheater and air was pumped via a bicycle pump. Plenty of oil was applied to all working parts. Any slight unevenness  in running can normally be overcome by minute adjustments when the locomotive is running under it's own steam.

If all okay at this stage, the return cranks are drilled and pinned to ensure that they are held in place for when in service.

Roundhouse recommend that if the superheater hasn't yet been fitted, and therefore the chassis is untested, do not pin the return cranks in place, but wait until you can carry out a test run.

Coal Train

Working it's way through Buddleia Pond station.

Past the bandstand and approaching Buddleia Pond tunnel.

Eastbound via the forget-me-nots.

Approaching Homestyal Halt.

Nearing the end of the day and passing by Buddleia Pond signal box.