The following are photo’s taken by my wife at this years Bury St Edmunds Exhibition at their new venue at Beyton College. This was a much enlarged site and was approx double their previous Shows.

I would again like to thank Graham and Shaun for their support on the day, they certainly bore the brunt of the operating. They also brought along some stock which features in the below photo’s.

Thanks also to Marc and all the BSE members for a very memorable day. Thanks also to all the people that spoke to us about our projects.

Now a few photo’s of some of Shauns Main Line Loco’s – although out of period they went down very well with the visitors.

Today I eventually got round to fitting the signage on Ashwell. I have kept it basic as I did not want it to dominate the scene too much. As the layout is based in 1988 – 94, the big H&S push had only just started.

Well after a 3 month slog -Ashwell is finished, well just about. I still need to touch up here and there, but finished as a project.

Hopefully it will be collected by my son fairly soon and I can return to my own O gauge Station Layout project.

I think I achieved what he wanted, although there were a few twists and turns, mainly from a stabling point to a fuelling point. On reflection I think it was the right decision with much more interesting loco moves on the FP plus a few wagons.

I have tried to think of everything that would be on an early 90’s fuelling point but by this time most small FP’s were an endangered species. This was just before Health and Safety really kicked in, but some signage is being made by a friend, and will be added later.

By the way – the gentleman coming out of the toilet with a face mask is purely coincidental !!!!!!

If there is anything that I have done on this layout that you would like me to elaborate on then please contact me and I will endeavour to help.

I have now made a start on the weathering of Ashwell. The first job was to add the items that are permanent on the layout – these being Yard Lights and Buffer Stop Lights, plus a few bushes. Anything that is removable is added after weathering the layout as they are consumable and do not spend much time on the depot in real life.  These include people, pallets, drums, boxes and hoses etc. Weathering them in situ is a no-no in the main weathering. These items may well be weathered but to a far lesser degree and are done separately. I really hate to see figures weathered to the same degree as the layout – it looks unreal. While we are on the subject of realism, the Yard lights and Buffer lights are non working. Why do I need working lights? it is ‘blue sky’ and the middle of the day. I hate to see lights for lights sake – blazing lights on everything on the layout from every building and every railway item — all topped off with a beautiful cloudless blue sky!! If lighting is needed then a lighting rig is favoured – although I like to see the natural light at different venues. Of course you could model twilight!!!!!!

Some more items are still to be added –  two cars, storage tank, chemical toilet, tool hut and four more people.