Alcanman

Great to see you are going to extend the layout and look forward to seeing your progress. You are clearly enjoying operating you layout and I'm very impressed with your calculation of operating scenarios. I clearly need to drum up more business from customers at Marlborough!

Not madness at all, Mick ... although it's actually a GP40-2 I had too many Class 66s so one one them was sacrifcied to buy this B23-7 from Gaugemaster. Sound fitted at a reasonable £199.00. You just missed out they still had one in stock a couple of weeks ago. Your layout plans look great. Look forward to seeing your progress.

Thanks Wendell for your kind and encouraging comments. Pan Am Railways still rosters a few old (ex N&W) high hood EMD GP40s which retain the former Guilford paint scheme.

Good choice Joe. The Powercab is perfect for a small switching layout. Comfortable to use one handed and easy for programming. I've had mine for several years and love it!

Here is a new video giving the engineer a chance to notch up the throttle of CSX GE B23-7 #3143!

Here is pic of a 2043 hauling a typical Korridorzug at the Austrian / Italian border town of Sterzing / Vipiteno in 1989 The first and third coaches are the Schlieren type.

Klein Modelbahn did a good version of the similar OBB 2143 which was fitted with 2 motors and ran very smoothly. You can probably find a one on ebay. The Roco 2143 is superbly detailed.

Trainworld now has a minimum overseas shipping cost of $40.00. However, the overall cost of the Atlas sound fitted loco I bought still cost £50.00 cheaper than buying from Gaugemaster. With regard to sound. The 'Turbo Whine' of an EMD prime mover can be irritating after a while. However, I love the sound of my EMD GP38-2 as it has a non-turbo prime mover with the superb 'Drivehold' feature.

I had a similar problem with my Roco 2143 fitted with a Zimo decoder sound decoder although the problem may have been different. After oiling the gear cogs the loco ran much smoother. I also had the same problem with a Roco OBB 2016 and it was so bad I returned it to the retailer who exchanged it for a Roco 2067 shunter which a had a 'stay alive' capacitor and ran perfectly. I'm afraid I wouldn't buy Roco again after my experience. Shame, because back in the day Roco had the smoothest running locos.

Today I finally got round to weathering a covered hopper that I've owned for years. As it was a rather expensive Athearn Genesis model, I didn't want to mess up. Quite pleased with the result. ... and the Guilford geep got a lttle extra weathering too.

Your layout is really coming together. Love all the details your adding. Nice work!

Great pics along the Blyth & Tyne. The rakes of MGR hoppers reminds me of just how busy Blyth was back in the 80s. Thanks for sharing.

I've also been looking at that plan today on FB and it is rather different in that there is no hidden staging. A train is simply staged on the run around and the loco proceeds to switch the industries. A nice idea for a small switching layout where space is at a premium.

I been building small US switching layouts for a few years, including New England themed layouts. They are all built to a footprint of 9ft x 15ins. You might get a few ideas. They are all here on RMweb including my current layout 'The Marlborough Branch' http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/121892-the-marlborough-branch/page-7&do=findComment&comment=3043088 Westbrook, Maine http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/81192-westbrook/?hl=%2Bwestbrook+%2Bme

I copied the idea from a pic of Roger Nicholls superb 'Union Avenue' layout. On looking at the pic again, Roger has one truck with the cab forward and one truck with the box forward. Looks like the driver has taken your advice.

Mick, you might be tempted to buy another FEC GP40-2 in this rather more subdued paint scheme.

More video switching action at Marlborough featuring 'Heritage' power. Who can resist that Alco beat!

I followed your link and took a ride along George Bennett Highway until I found the covered hoppers, probably plastic pellets hoppers. The silos look perfect for modelling. I find this sort of location fascinating and it reinforces why I continue to pursue US model railroading. I can understand why you cannot wait to start the layout!

The new RI project sounds interesting. Looks like you are in danger of becoming a serial layout builder like me. I'm always planning the next layout!

Normal service has returned to Marlborough today as CSXT GP40-2 #6351 switches Marlborough. The sun is now shining as the newly weathered box car is spotted at Mass Container.

Loco is a GP40-2W (wide cab). Typical modern 4 axle power used by Pan Am on locals. Atlas do a nice model in HO http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLocomotives/hogp40-2/1212/10001408_TQ.jpg

I'm continuing to experiment with AK Interactive washes. They are mainly used by military modellers but they have this set for railroad modellers. https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/trains-locomotive-wagon-weathering-set-ak-interactive-ak-7000.html I also use Humbrol acylric no 29 Dark Brown in a rattle can for the trucks and lower part of the bodysides. Finish off with an overall coat of Humbrol acylic matt varnish

I'm gonna have to stop looking too! Far too much inspiration. Short local delivering 2 boxcars in an urban setting. Perfect for a small switching layout http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2018020510275525100.jpg&order=bydate&page=2&key=&photoindex=2&maxpage=22569&maxphotoindex=0&key2=

Doesn't get much tighter than this. An 'urban canyon' Perfect for hiding the entrance/exit to your staging area. http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2018020510295725128.jpg&order=bydate&page=2&key=&photoindex=0&maxpage=22569&maxphotoindex=0&key2= And one for the followers of 'dodgy' track! http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2018020510291325222.jpg&order=bydate&page=2&key=&photoindex=1&maxpage=22569&maxphotoindex=0&key2=

The newly weathered boxcar has arrived at Mass Container And.... in other news, a lack of GP40-2s sees Framingham Yard switcher MP15AC #1173 arrived at Marlborough switching CSX local B724.