The Layout 2011

Progress has been made on the layout during 2010. Very little has changed scenically as a lot of work has gone into enabling trains to run over more of the track, more efficiently. The main control board was slimmed down and improved. Tracks to the right hand sidings can be isolated at the end of them. A more mobile control box has been built for the main line track control. A new control panel has been built on the left hand end of the layout to control the new 'Sunset' sidings and to power up tracks in the engine shed. Engines can now be run out of the round house over the turntable and along the tracks to the sidings. The turntable is powered up and rotates; if a little jerkily. Once an engine reaches a point along the track then control over it carried out by the nearest control panel. This enables the operator to see what the engine is doing.

The 'Duchess' on the turntable having left the roundhouse and about to leave on the station side road. The house in the picture still have lighting wires to be connected up.

Another major change has been the rationalising of engines and rolling stock. This has made more room for train movements on the sidings.

A British Rail 'Mallard' has replaced the LNER version

Very little progress has been made to the scenics of the goods yard other than to remove the 'concreting' from the space between the track rails. The polystyrene and card cover was disastrous and another solution is being sought to produce a smooth surface for the yard.

Apart from adding a few more conifers very little has been done to the scene on this corner of the layout.

The industrial ('Sunset') end of the layout now sports a warehouse and offices. In this picture a newly acquired 0-6-0 tank locomotive is seen hauling a track maintenance crane and associated maintenance equipment.

This picture signals a major scenic change under way. For some time I have been unhappy about the road to no where. A 'tunnel' had already been added in the far corner to give an illusion that the industrial branch line was going somewhere. I am now building a road extension which involves a cutting with a bridge over it. As of today it has received its first papier mache coat.

I have also been unhappy about the flat space at the bottom of the hill. At the suggestion of a friend a new road will be laid along the bottom leading to a livestock loading yard. This will mean laying track to tunnel under to base of the hill, under the main line and probably around and out for a distance. The idea will be to automate an engine to go back and forth along the track.

Blogging in 2011

Facebook has taken over blogging. But there is something about blogging which I have been missing, so I am going to restart and try to keep it up through this year.

My blog is generally intended to be pictorial and provides an excuse to pick up the camera.

January 1st 2011

Strangely this first day of the new year was a photo day. It was the first Saturday of the year and our regular trip to visit Nan Pickard. During our visit Tim and the girls turned up to visit Nan as well. It was a time for Nan to give the girls the hats that she had made them as Christmas presents.

Iona is able to blink in sync with the camera

After a number of attempts eyes are open

January 4th

Joni returns to Scotland to face the hole in his kitchen ceiling. At the time of writing we still wonder if they will be able to stay in the flat while the repairs take place.

January 9th

Jenny and Francis come to tea. They are keen to see a TV programme about clog dancing. We are able to find it on catch-up. The programme ends with an unannounced dance display in the centre of Newcastle. The dancers gradually gather. There is loud dancing followed by sudden silence and the dancers simply slip away. It was very moving for the Luckcocks because it showed a village where they used to live.

January 12th

I go to hospital for endoscopy. This is unpleasant, but bearable. At the time of writing I am hoping for results on Friday.

January 13th

Jenny and Francis take us to see 'The King's Speech'. We see the morning 'Silver Screening' at the Broadway Cinema. It is a very moving film with much historical detail and a deal of humour.

23rd January

Tim is licensed as Area Dean of Milton Keynes. Mum and I travel to Milton Keynes on Sunday afternoon. We spend an hour with Nan and then go to Christ the Cornerstone Church in the city centre. It was a good occasion and we were pleased to be able to witness another step in Tim's career and spend some time with the girls. We met some interesting people which include the Bishop of Buckingham.

The girls and Isla did readings.

The Church of Christ the Cornerstone

The altar and the lectern are solid granite but they can be moved around easily on a cushion of air.

The bag contains candles for the service.

Iona practising her reading.

Izzy practising her reading.

Irene and I were kindly invited to stay overnight. This gave us some time with the girls. In the morning we heard the girls practicing. Iona on the violin and Izzy on the cello and the double base.

24th January

Having walked to school with Tim and Izzy we left just after 9.00. Leaving MK much earlier is difficult. The traffic is much heavier than it was when we lived there.

In the afternoon we had the sad time of joining Jan at her father's funeral. It was held in the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, followed by a burial in a very extensive cemetery to the north of Bullwell. The wake was held in the bar area of a snooker club. The sun shone and the occasion went well.

25th January

I took the car for its service and MOT. I paid my tax bill.

I pressure washed the drive and house front. Irene cleaned and swept. As soon as this was finished the roofers phoned to say that they would be starting work on Wednesday.

On Tuesday evening we heard rat scratchings underneath the floor boards. A call to action.

26th January

As arranged the roofers arrived. The garden became a workshop. They covered the drive but it was a dirty process. Having got the old roofing off it began to rain. Hurriedly they put covering over. When got back from shopping the roof was covered, but a lot of finishing off had to be done. At the very moment of clearing up it rained again. No leaks. We now await the bill.

In the afternoon we tackled the garage. There is large pit in the back corner of the garage where the old warm air system sat. This was ducted under the floor. Earlier we had placed rat poison. It was now gone and dirt showed where a rat had entered the pit. Hopefully I have sealed all access to the pit and put a sealed cover over it. We might beat the rats.