Work on the next brake van...

This week I've started work on the next of the brake vans for the EJ&KLR. I've cut out the first two side windows. I still need to create a top plank and window frames for these pair, but will get the other side cut before moving on to that work.

Visiting the HDLR (good photos)...

As promised here are some better photos of my visit to the HDLR this afternoon to drop off the round robin box car and also run some Austrian narrow gauge on Bruce's line.

Visiting the HDLR

Good fun at the HDLR...

I visited Bruce and Gillian and their lovely railway, the Hillhead and Dales Light Railway. More later when I download the photos from the good camera...

All ready for a visit to the HDLR...

I'm taking the G Scale Central Round Robin box car to Bruce and the Hill Head and Dales Light Railway tomorrow...

DR vans in action...

I was over in Chester again today and with the lovely weather it seemed a crime to not run a train. The DR vans got a run behind Henrik, and they look great. They're down the list for repainting below the guards van conversion and the station building, so might not be touched until the winter.

Latest overview photos...

A few weeks ago someone asked if I had any 'overview' photos like the ones I took when we were constructing the line, so this afternoon I've taken a few...

Relaxing read...

Third edition...

I bought a copy of the book 'Schmalspurig Durch Osterreich' earlier this year but it turned out the first edition wasn't as thorough as later copies. I managed to pick up a third edition in good, albeit damaged spine, for £12 including delivery! Bargain! Just in time for my van conversions...

They're multiplying...

Two weeks ago the EJ&KLR had no vans in the fleet, now thanks to an appeal on G Scale Central we have three!
First to hit the workbench will be the yellow one, that will be modified to form a brake van painted on passenger green, I'll be adding an end door and side windows and filling in the grilles.
The two DR vans will then be a simple repaint into freight brown with more subdued finish and less markings.
All will probably loose the trademark fade on the roof for an all over satin black.
More soon...

Station glazing half cut...

Just a very short progress update... The tedious job of cutting out the glazing for the station is now half complete, done whilst watching Mighty Moves: Titanic Trains on Five On Demand, about the Turkish 8Fs repatriated.

Great film.

First of the new arrivals...

A DR box van, 2006 vintage LGB. I've got another the same as this coming plus a Chiquita balcony type van for conversion into a third brake van. As for the pair of these DR vans, I'm not sure what to do with them! Yet!

This is not a mock up...

I couldn't help myself, as soon as I got home this evening I cut out the works plates and filed down the tabs, and fitted the first one just 5 minutes ago... Very happy!

Exciting packet delivered...

My custom etched brass Henschel works plates from Steve at www.narrowplanet.co.uk had arrived when I got home this afternoon...

I'll be fitting them later this week, then Henrik is complete!

Sunshine, beer and the garden...

Sunny afternoon running...

Some more photos of this afternoon's running session - where Elly's new brake made it's debut along with a second day of running of the www.gscalecentral.co.uk Round Robin box car...

Some atmosphere...

I've been running the EJ&KLR this afternoon - here are some black and white shots that echo the sort of Austrian photos that inspired the line in the first place. Pride of place is my Frank S conversion, 798.201

Travelling box car...

This evening the crew of the last fast passenger train of the day found an unexpected box car at the interchange with the TVBL.
Geoff had inspected it earlier in the week but hadn't thought it was for onwards transit on the EK&KLR. Well urgent instructions from the Small Controller were to ship it on to the HH&DLR, last minute and in a panic and so with much huffing and puffing it was added to the rear of the last train of the day.
Geoff hopes it's the last he sees of it as he's been dodging the paperwork all week!

Custom plates on their way...

Steve at Narrow Planet (www.narrowplanet.co.uk) sent me an email with this photo showing what's on its way to me via Royal Mail to finish off my Frank S project... They look wonderful and I can't wait to get them applied!

Bruce and Geoff check the paperwork...

Whilst Bruce uses No.2 to shunt the Round Robin box car into the transit siding ready to take over to Chester, Geoff checks over the paperwork whilst supping a coffee. No tea here, not far north enough! Anyhow Geoff has checked over the wagons condition, but then finds some stow sways on board and no paperwork for how they crossed the border. Oh dear, he fears an afternoon of form filling awaits...

Round Robin Box Car and Station progress...

Just a short update this evening, I picked up the G-scale Central Round Robin box car today from Bob in Stoke, and then this afternoon have got a coat of primer on the station building, inside and out and underneath.