Yes I know it has been over 6 months since my last post and having read other blogs I felt rather guilty in not letting you know what I have been up to.
Now this is not the place to tell you all the family and yard work guff so I will cut straight to the chase.
Yes the fellas did turn up and had a great time. This shot from Craig is what he saw when first walking in.
Awaiting the scenery but ready for action
What the layout was built for, the fellas running trains..
Photo courtesy of David Mewes
Well as I mentioned all those months ago, there was plenty of work being done between the other posts and photos. The back drops in stage one area needed a lick of paint and fellow Tuesday Nighter Peter is a wizz at painting them. I am ever so thankful to Peter.
Peter working his brushes and .....
The faint back scene drying
The trains needed somewhere to terminate and as I had started this section of track work I thought I might as well add some temporary runaround facilities.
This trackwork will be permanent with the left track heading to Wattle Flat and the right heading to hidden staging.
Overview with the permanent trackwork taking shape. The hidden staging is at the top of the photo.
This is the temporary benchwork knocked up to provide a runaround for the day. Thanks again to Craig for this shot as I never took any.
There was a great attendance and I enjoyed being grilled on the changes from 12 months earlier. There were plenty of trains run with the layout being put through its paces. The discussions, food and beer flowed freely and a good time was had by all.
Times rests for know one, the next day the temporary benchwork was removed and so was that temporary peco point motor powering the hidden staging siding. The wire in tube works far better.
Temporary benchwork gone and template mapping underway.
I cheated this time and the frame work is timber legs. It was a lot quicker and this section of the layout may not last if my wife wants to move!!!!
Cutting the timber to length. With the cutting list complete the project is moved out to the workshop for assembly, including the backdrop.
My annual leave got in the way of layout work but with any good family holiday I try to sneak in some rail fanning. My first chance was Barraba and I had been keen to see what was left after only getting as far as Manilla back in 2008. Warren told me there was nothing much left so I guess Geoff and I didn't miss much back then, and yes he was spot on.
Barraba loading ramp. Photo taken from the raise loco area and station was to the right of shot. End of the line is to the left.
Roughly 3 km sth of town is the still tact silo area.
I took plenty of photos of "what" said the good wife and "are ya FINISHED".
It was quite a few days before I tried it again and when Rylstone appeared I stopped for a few shots.
Station looking towards Mudgee
Looking to Kandos
Where is the station Ray!!!
I am a member of the Merriwa Society and dropped in to see the restoration progress.
A quick couple of shots in Tamworth, the siding has been removed.
As we got closer to Port and it had been some time since my last rail stop I thought it safe to say "Oh, do you mind if I catch up with good mate while in town."
Leaving the family with the beach and pool within walking distance I took the chance and headed over the "Liverpool Range" and spent a every enjoyable afternoon with Ian Millard. I have known Ian for over 15 yrs and it was great to catch up, see his house and check out the layout progress.
The layout is coming along nicely and the quality of construction and trackwork is a real credit to him. His blog liverpoolrange.wordpress.com is one to follow.
Many thanks again Ian for an inspirational afternoon.
The rest of my holidays had nothing further to do with railways until I got home.
Back in the railway room and fully inspired I started mapping out the trackwork.
Sorry can't turn this shot over. The plan here is a goods, stock, back platform and main.
Anyway I hope this long winded catch up fills you in.
This weekend is the New England Convention held in Armidale. It will be a great weekend and I hope to catch up with fellow bloggers. Come up and say Gday!!! See ya there.
