Category: Model Railway Blog

Class 47 47616 ‘Y Ddraig Goch / The Red Dragon’

Got the interlocking logic correct (finally) for the feather indicators at Tedford Junction for when routes are set that need both to be lit and don’t have a conflict. The control software never got this correct before and the big has taken a long while to find.

Some years ago I added a relief line to Tedford so it has 3 loops but this was only signalled in one direction. Recently I’ve made it bi-directional with 3 aspect signalling for the most common direction and 2 aspect the other way. With some help from a couple of friends who work for Network Rail I’ve been able to do this reasonably authentically with bi-directional AWS ramps and a distant signal (green or yellow only) for reverse running.

APT and HST at Tedford

The nights are drawing out and so here’s a hint of summer with strong shadows across the new hard standing at Tedford Diesel Depot. It’s mostly 47s at the fuelling point but there’s also a bone and a 37 plus a 31 and 08 if you look carefully. The tail end DVT of a Mk4 set can be glimpsed in the station beyond the depot.

Changing faces of the East Coast mainline at Tedford this morning

I’ll be displaying my two layouts Badgers Mount and Aberddu Yard at the Spa Valley Railway model railway exhibition next weekend, the 24th and 25th September, in Tunbridge Wells. We have a good selection of layouts on display and tickets include travel on the railway. Photo is of Badgers Mount and is copyright Chris Nevard Model Railways.

I’ve completed my bogie B kit. This was a Christmas present and has been quite a challenging build. The doors were all separate as were the various hinges and handles. There were lots of this type of van sat in Tonbridge in the 80s, maybe for occasional parcel train use but more likely waiting for scrap, that I distinctly remember.

Some more wagons finished today. My Mum got these very cheaply in a charity shop a couple of months ago. They’re both basic old Hornby models and the coal wagon was in a completely unrealistic EWS livery but with new couplings, a bit of paint and weathering they’re ready to go on the layout. The brake van retains the original coupling on one end with a Kadee on the other to work as a barrier wagon.

Some newly completed wagon kits. The two Rudds are based on the pair in use at the Spa Valley Railway. The Tube has seen better days and the MDO is waiting the cutters torch. All are Parkside models painted by hand/brush with the weathering done with paint and powders.