L&B Corridor Coach Kit Pt.2.2

Not my best paint job but not bad for what I am trying to achieve. With the newspaper and masking tape removed the seats were prepared and positioned into the coach.

L&B Corridor Coach Kit Pt.2.1

Managed today to give the coach a couple of coats of Humbrol Acrylic Grey Primer.

Tanker Wagon Kit - Pt.2

The tank keeps were next located onto the chassis to sit flush with the ends of the anti-slip plate. The tank was in position whilst the glue set and two parallel were drawn on the tank ends on either side of the tank keeps. Later, between these lines, masking tape will be fixed prior to painting.

The tank keep bolts were drilled at an angle to accommodate the wire for the tie bars which were subsequently super glued to each bottom keep.

A small hole was next drilled into each coupling block. A coupling wire for each end was then bent into shape and glued into the prepared holes.

The completed tanker now waits to go into the body shop to be painted.

Part 3
Part 1

Tanker Wagon Kit - Pt.1

My Grandfather had his own dairy in Manchester and this gave me the inspiration to create tankers for the milk industry and the community serviced by Homestyal Light Railway.

Photo: Swift Sixteen

Swift Sixteen have an excellent choice of detailed wagon kits in their range, all at affordable prices.

Reading the online instructions and accompanying photographs I began by marking out the underside of the chassis for the positioning of the axle holders and coupling blocks.

The axle holders and coupling blocks were fixed into position using the previously drawn lines. If you do not wish to use the coupling blocks in this position, you can rotate them 180 degrees to accommodate couplings of your choice.

The wheels and axles were prepared by firstly removing one wheel from each axle and sliding a bearing tube, lightly oiled, over each axle. Each removed wheel was refitted and gauged to 40mm 'back to back' for my 45mm gauge. Any excess axle was removed flush to the wheel boss with a hacksaw.

The axle bushes were sanded and glued into each axle holder with epoxy resin.

Each 'W-iron' was cleaned and super glued to the chassis adjacent to each axle end.

Part 2
Part 3

L&B Corridor Coach Kit Pt.2

In preparation for painting, all surfaces were lightly sanded with a fine wood sandpaper (P180)  and cleaned with white spirit applied using a lint cloth.

To protect the inside surfaces prior to spraying, masking tape was positioned vertical down the windows and horizontally across the two ends.

The whole coach was then put in an unsealed plastic bag and allowed to dry over night.

Once dry the coach was 'stuffed' with rolled up newspaper to further protect the inside surfaces.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all visitors, Kindle subscribers and friends and family alike, a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year for 2013.

Shades of Autumn

As the last few days of summer come to a close, autumn begins to fall across the sleepy pastures of Homestyal Light Railway.

Here Florence pulls a mixed goods train providing coal and supplies to the villagers of the local communities of Homestyal, Buddleia and Brookwood.

L&B Corridor Coach Kit Pt.1

Photo:IP Engineering

After recent reviews in Garden Rail and other garden railway magazines, I took a fancy to these little L&B inspired coaches. There are three in the range, a two and three compartment coach and this one. After purchasing the Corridor Coach from IP Engineering, this is how I built it.

Superglue or PVA glue is recommended for the assembly for which I chose Evo-Stik exterior weatherproof wood adhesive as it allows slight movement before setting. Ten minutes to set, and twenty four hours for the glue to clear.

The four sides were removed from the fret and the burrs cleaned off with a small needle file. The running board and end supports were then glued in place.

The floor was then located onto the running board whilst checking for square.

An end and then the other side were attached before the second end was located in place and all checked for square.

Using the lines on the inner sides, the outer sides were removed from their frets and glued in place. The same was done for the two ends.

This is how the coach looks at this stage. Next paint will be applied to the outside panels.

Leaves on the line!

With all the rain and bad weather in the area recently, Homestyal Light Railway was closed for the day whilst the emergency services attended an incident on the line just east of Homestyal Halt.

As the rains subsided, leaves descended upon a passing goods train.....

....and an emerging west bound passenger train!

Smoke was smouldering from under the carriage when the fire brigade arrived.

Survivors were removed from the scene as soon as possible...

....but unfortunately some weren't so lucky (being made of plastic!).

W&LLR Romanian No.764.425

After a major overhaul, the return of Romanian No.764.425 - Resita 0-8-0, built 1954.

Here she can be seen departing Welshpool during the W&LLR Steam Gala of 2012.