Engine Shed Retaining Wall

With the ultimate aim of making the railway sit 'in' the landscape, the backboard has been removed from the main station baseboard. A hill will (eventually) occupy the area between the back of the baseboard and the roof boarding (where the large joist meets the white panelling in the photo). A retaining wall has been added around the engine shed to 'hold back' the bank when it is in place.

The photo shows a busy scene with two passenger trains in the station and no less than four locomotives on shed (Class 47, Class 58, Castle class 'Defiant' and Warship 'Rapid'.

New Motive Power

We've a new item of motive power - but I don't think it will be pulling many trains!

The photo shows a working Dandy Cart or Pump Truck, manufactured by Bachmann. Considering its diminutive size it runs surprisingly smoothly, with the two men actually pumping the lever up and down as the truck goes along! I guess we'll need to name them - maybe Bill and Ben?

Building Progress

I've been constructing a couple of buildings over the past couple of weeks.

The first photo shows Essington Christadelphian Hall based on the Superquick 'Barclays Bank'. It is seen here in the area that Essington Village will occupy. The exact layout of the village is still to be determined.

In the second photo is the station building. Rather grander than a station of this size would probably had - but it was a bargain on E-bay in a bundle with 4 platform kits and 2 shops (all Superquick). So we'll have to make do with it!

Scenic Progress

A quick update to show the progress in the creation of the landscape around Essington village. The chicken mesh is laid over formers and will later be covered in plaster of paris bandage.