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It's taken me far longer than anticipated but I have just managed to spend a couple of days on the layout. I can't remember how long it's been since it was last powered up but you can imagine how relieved I was to discover that the months of neglect hadn't taken too heavy a toll. However, the first job that required my attention was a short section of parapet wall on Stack Gill viaduct which had succumbed at the hands of a young child. Luckily it was just the parapet wall but my garden was never designed or built as child friendly. I'd been putting it off for several weeks (the tulips hadn't yet flowered in the above photo) but the nice weather finally persuaded me that it was time to sort it out and while I was at it I reattached the sections of log roll that had come adrift along the base of the viaduct using some of that acclaimed 'Gorilla' adhesive. So with the parapet wall duly repaired the route was finally clear and it was time to bring out the trains. Now it's been six years since Worsley Dale was started, although the final section from Stack Gill viaduct along the bottom of the garden to the shed is more recent, but there were still a number of track joins that I hadn't bonded and they were playing up so before going any further it was out with the soldering iron. Now with a fully bonded circle of track surely we can get something running? I'd been looking forward to seeing the Scottish coaches out together so chose a suitable loco to get things started in the form of 37025 'Inverness TMD'. This is fitted with a 'Legomanbiffo' class 37/0 sound chip and really sounds the part. In fact I couldn't put it down and found myself using hardly anything else all day. I'll add a few photos from a selection just added to my photo gallery. 37025 INVERNESS TMD rounds Low Shott Flatts hauling a rake of six green and cream West Highland Line MK1 coaches on its approach to Shieling Bridge station. A little further on and 37025 is seen crossing Low Shott viaduct as it slows to enter Shieling Bridge station. Crossing Low Shott viaduct in the opposite direction, having just departed Shieling Bridge station, 37025 is seen here hauling a rake of 6 Kyle line coaches 37025 on its approach to Stack Gill viaduct. 37025 appearing somewhat insignificant as it nears the end of the imposing Stack Gill viaduct. You'll notice that only the main part of the layout has been used over the past two days and that I wasn't running into Cattle Leys terminus or using the passing loop. The reason was that I just wanted to get something running and not spend the whole time trying to get things fully operational. It all looks great in the sunshine but there is going to be a need for some repair work on Worsley Dale in the very near future. The section between the two viaducts is causing me some problems with track alignment although I'm not sure whether it's the plywood base or simply the roofing felt that's rippled. I really would like to replace the plywood base with something solid and weatherproof. It could be done a little at a time if I need to keep things running. I'll keep you posted.

Hi Deano, Mark is spot on, I be doing the same with just one block where I have points leading onto another block, will be doing the same to hold a train at the suburban platform while I am shunting around the Indian Pacific on another track, needing that power, saving a small block and cutting out extra wiring, DC is such a pain, not much I can do, wont be switching to DCC. Just a matter of soldering to the bus wire before the isolating fish plate and one after, bongo, will you be planning to switch to DCC. Tony from slightly warmer down under, will check that bloke out get some good ideas, worth while checking Kalmbach are bringing out a new wiring book, pretty good from what I have seen in the news letter. ,

The 56 on the Tarmac train is the most impressive train I've seen running on a garden railway.

Just one will do fine Deano with a simple throw switch across the join for power on/off. (so long as you dont have any power feed droppers to the bit of rail on the isolating side of the plastic fishplate! I know it sounds obvious but I talk from experience.) In my old days of cab control I would have sidings with isolating plastic fishplates on the live rail to store my DC locos on. Take a look at www.brian-lambert.co.uk in the electrical section for all you could ever need about electrics. cheers mark

The West Highland Line Today's pictures try to evoke this sinuous route from Glasgow to the Western Isles. Early one morning a Black 5 in charge of a heavy train, including a portion from London with sleeping cars for Fort William, runs through the Glasgow suburbs. Here the train is getting out into the hills... Later, the same loco works back from Fort William with a parcels train: And on a summer evening we catch the return working of the London sleepers passing McGonagall Junction: ...before heading off towards Glasgow and the south:

I have decided to cut square dowel for the hangers off the arch that supports the decking after seeing a Chinese bridge which has them, save some money and have the timber, just have to cut the pine up into 12mm by 19mm, not square, will make it easier in fitting square dowel to the arch in stead of round. Will cut square dowel on Friday going to be fun, use the circular saw to do the first cut and jig saw for the next, I plan to only have the rail deck up with a third bridge pier only temporary till the arch is built. Tony from down under

Link to the first running or 2018: The station lighting, unfortunately, packed up working late last year and Ive not been able to resolve the issue. I think the electronics unit into which everything fed into and out of, got messed up and after I tinkered, it very definitely, wasnt going to work. However, should I want lights on, Ive found out that the lights will work perfectly ok, fed from the aux output on the Elite controller - not that i ever play trains in the dark And I have decided - I am determined that I am going to have a day or 2 sorting out the track bondings and have a frustration free Summer!