tuther end

The second layout built on the Southill Light Railway, the first was Midland Road (see that page for a little more 'history'). Having already built this board for a different project which I never started, the layout is 36" x 24", including the offscene 'fiddle' sidings. The scale is still Gn15, very roughly 1/2 inch to the foot. This time I decided to go for a little more 'green' setting. I also wanted to use a nice sharp bend and have a go at using PECO's Oe (O-16.5) track.  I purchased two 'Wye' turnouts and a bit of flexible track and went from there. I'll try and update occasionally with pictures as it's being built - as you can see, it's not finished.

The Persil box has been replaced by Mister Manning's Gnome workshop.. an important customer of the SLR, with sand, cement, paint and wood being brought in, and finished gnomes being hauled out for dispatch from Midland Road.

The other thing I perhaps ought to draw attention to is the use of some old wargames scenery in the form of these 'hedges'. They were described as 'bocage' and intended for 1/76 WW2 stuff but I bought them for English Civil War battles.. now they look great on my railway! I promise to find out who makes these and post here, he does  a whole range of 'greenery' and is usually at the main shows around here (Partizan at Newark, Sheffield Triples and Derby).

One other big job is to build a box or bolt on lid for this layout,possibly leaving the two sides attached.

New wagons being built all the time.. the tipper uses bits of a Roco HO tipper, chopped up and melded with an old Hornby chassis.. a second skip forms a coal storage. A small tank wagon uses a Sidelines chassis, and two old Hornby ore wagons have been suitably bashed and painted for the SLR. Also visible here, is 'Lucy'.. the new loco.. more in the 'Works' on her.

 Scary sharp (six inch) radius bend was causing a problem. Lots of  fiddling  needed to get the coupling right to avoid derailments when wagons are being shunted.. (see 'Works' for more....) SO.. the volunteers and staff have been working through the winter months and have created the diversion..(obviously some tidying up to do!