Update Time

Well, I apologies for the lack of updates on this blog, but I have been lacking in time as of late and the layout has not seen much setting up since Northampton in July.

At Shoeburyness this weekend, I am sad to say that I have found AT LEAST 2 points in need of replacement, which I MUST do before Basildon in July, or Canvey Island in April.

I am planning a layout revamp for a few years in the future, which will see a drastic change in the layout's appearance. Thankfully, this, as just said, isn't happening until I have made it through next year, attending the exhibitions booked then.

I am slowly gathering items for my next layout, Sights Of Sodor, which will be a Thomas based layout, another rare sight at exhibitions these days. Personally, I think that if we want to keep the younger children interested in trains, a Thomas layout is the way to do it!

Don't forget about my website. I gave some cards out at Shoeburyness with this blog address, but feel you might want to check out the actualy website for the layout, which is
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com
Where this is more information about the layout, booking it and photogrpahs.
I am going to be modifying it soon with some new pictures of how the layout is at the moment, so please forgive me if some of the photos are outdated.

That is all for now, I'll hopefully blog again soon.

Owen

Ballasting

Well, I had to do it sooner or later.

When you have a layout that needs setting up outside and collapsing each time you use it, and when it stands there in the sun for hours on end, all the ballast dries up and eventually becomes loose as you move the boards about. I have experienced this, and now have filled in all the large gaps with some new ballast. The glue is setting on this and as it's a lovely day, may be dry by the time I collapse it tonight.

One disaster has occured, I have found that on the point leading to the "goods yard" sidings from the main track, one of the point blades has come off from the sliding bar. I will have to glue that back on with super glue asap, or no working goods trains at the exhibition I fear....

I think I need to give some of the fencing another brush over with the white paint, but otherwise, the layout is done I think. All I need to do now is test it all electrically...

http://stepneydownstation.webs.com
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com

Pictures

Well, here they are.

And one note- shortly after returning to work, the station was invaded by flying ants! Well... it is that time of year... damn things!

Paint Pots And Brushes

Well, it's a live update actually to anyone who's reading this at the exact moment I'm posting-

The first available spot on a decent day and I am making the most of it as I gear up for Northampton this weekend!

Firstly, all the stone edging has been repainted, making the platform look even tidier now that the plaster dust and black blotches are gone from it. I have even painted (roughly mark you though) the edging sides that aren't seen by the viewing public so that the photos look a little more decent.
More painting involves that of the brick walls around the bridge area, the buffer stops and the weighbridge.

I am hoping to fill some spaces in with the necessary ballast either today, the next time it's up before exhibition if possible OR on the exhibition day itself (then it can dry all day and be ready for when I collapse it at about 5.30.)

The platform surface does need some more paint in a few places, and some areas are a little rough. I will not get a chance to smooth these before exhibition however as they would need complete removal and relaying.

My aims for now are to remove the unecessay/obstructive uncouplers and finish some more painting.
The shuttle uncoupler is going to be removed because I have decided that there is no proper use for it. I had originally planned to use that siding as a freight storage, carriage/engine display area or shunters stop when there were no passenger services operating on the shuttle, however, I just never have done that so am removing it. It also uncouples trains as they pass over it into the bay which is another reason.

The headshunt uncoupler is to be replaced.

Why?

It's Peco. And as nice as it is with its wooden pattern, it sits too high. Coupling hooks, loops and loco undersides repeatedly hit it and it constantly causes derailments. So it will be replaced ASAP I hope with a Hornby one or a cut piece of clear plastic (which is what I aim to do to alll at some point, so that these Hornby ones may go to my Thomas one when started in the summer.)

I think for the moment, that is it.

Pictures will follow later I hope, and I might be able to get some running tests done too!

One last thing- I now have a new T9!!!!

Owen

Please visit:
http://stepneydownstation.webs.com
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com

Station Work Completed (For Now)

Well, the surface on the platform for Stepney Down has been completely replaced.

The original card had sadly warped in the "damp" conditions of the shed where the layout is stored, so I decided to take the move of fully plastering the surface in stead, making it much more durable.
One thing I never counted was the trickiness of getting it all smooth etc, and ended up with a load of potholes on the first attempt.

This is now all sorted and the platform is painted back to black. While I was in the mood, I also "weathered" the station trackbed to the ash covered black as seen in the photos.

Next job, re-populate the station!

NEW Exhibition Website

I have taken the decision to open a new website purely for exhibition information and alike.

This makes it easier for exhibition organisers to find out information about the layout and contact me, and pictures of the layout's progression are posted on there too.

http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com

The "Play" site
http://stepneydownstation.webs.com
is still open however.

Leading on from my last post, the platform has been fully replaced with plaster now, which just needs smoothing on in some places and then painting. Hopefully, I can get this done soon as the layout is off to exhibition in July, Northampton.

More information to follow on this soon....

Oh, and a new fotopic album host has been opened up too
http://owensworldofrailways.fotopic.net

The Sun Is Shining, It's A Lovely Day...

Well, this blog has not been updated for about 3 months, with good reason.

I've not had the layout up at all, bar once a few weeks ago for about an hour before the rain came.
So, the sun is out and the forecast says clear. What shall I be doing?

Stepney Down is about to be set up, and today I'll be relaying the platform. And after that hopefully running some trains....

2010 Notes

While the Winter has been here, the layout has been down in the shed cold and alone....
However I did manage to set the layout up a few weeks back for some tests and photographs and sadly discovered the platform surface has warped. So that means it shall need completely replacing when the weather improves... Hopefully I will plaster it as apposed to re-card it. This should make it last longer....


On the exhibition front, the Shoeburyness Model Railway Club have been in contact with me and are looking interested to have my layout at their exhibition this year, which falls on the 20th and 21st November. Forms are being filled in and sorted right now!

As for the Shenfield/Mid Essex Exhibition, forms have been filled and sent off and I hope to hear back from them soon. This years exhibition should be falling on 19th September if I remember rightly...

Don't forget about the STEPNEY DOWN website! Photos, information and a lot of fictional stuff about the railway is there, along with updates on exhibition news etc.

Hope you all had a great start to the new year.... I know I have!

Owen