Hello again, well it's been a long time and I have had little report on the modelling front, but a milestone has been reached - in that Sproston's signalbox is now complete..... except for nameboard and any internal lighting!

So it's nearly time to ditch the unpainted and badly made Hornby (Pola) model, of the wooden WR box with an internal staircase and panel, that has stood in for the last 18 months as the stations signalbox (hooray!).

Latest pics of the new box are below.

During this time I have been attending to lots of small 'bits and pieces' (as performed by the Dave Clark Five...)

Most are from Dart Castings, a few are from Springside Models and I'm waiting for Cooper-Craft to deliver some bits for the box...

Sproston has now gained a 'station cat' (any self respecting station should have one...),he is black with a small patch of white on his face/bib and front paws and answers to Jack (I know its not very original, but hopefully appropriate for the period ) He can be seen sunning himself, lazing on a large packing crate on the parcels dock.

One of the cottages now has a couple of Hens,and they can be seen scratching around beneath the tree next to the coal store.

There is also now a tin bath hanging up on the wall of one of the outside privvies.

The Signalman has been cutting his grass, and has left his mower leaning up against the rear wall of his house.

Just Inside the locoshed doors there is now a noticeboard on one wall, and further afield the good shed office has gained a much needed lamp to light the steps down to track level.

In the trees at the edge of the meadow beyond All Saints Church, you may see a fox sniffing around the bushes near to the ww2 pillbox- he must be hungry to risk being seen in daylight!!

There will soon be a rather interesting meeting on narrow Chapel Road, between a red Lambretta scooter going up the hill and a 'British Road Services' Albion Six-wheeler on his way down!!

On the railway front, due to my rapid increase in rolling stock, measures have had to be taken to expand the limited storage capacity of the 4 track fiddle-yard. To this end I have laid a further 4 dead-end storage roads ontop of the existing box-like framework at the rear of the layout that houses the hidden sidings.

This provides just sufficient stock storage to free up the fiddle yard and allows me to run trains once again.

Till next time

Well - thats all folks!! ( cue "Bugs Bunny" cartoon theme Music)....

Regards,

SIGTECH (Steve)