"Raven Hill" from left to right

A few pictures of "Raven Hill" from the left hand corner to thre right, some of them taken quite early on.  

"Orthus" is leaving the last visible scenery at the village end.

"Satyr" has just crossed the road crossing and is sweeping round the right-hand bend.

One of my favourite photos with "Pyralis" crossing the road.

"Pyralis" again drawing into the passenger platform.

"Oread" leaving the loop with a goods train, at the rear is the small goods shed.

The engine shed area.

The train runs through a short cutting then onto Porrit's Bridge.

"Wyvern" crossing the bridge.

"Oread" heads off the bridge.

"Oread" with the first coaches I made from Hornby four-wheelers.

A view around the right-hand end where the train disappears behind rocks.

 

Bogie Coach changes.

 

I've been having a sort-out with the PHLR Coaches. 

After the summer season had finished the PHLR craftsmen (ha, ha!) had a chance at last to finish new bogie coaches 15 & 16.  Here they are at Pye Rigg including passengers eager to take their first ride in them!

Coaches 1 & 2 have been withdrawn.  They were the low-height coaches built from Hornby GWR 4-wheelers, and although they ran well they didn't look right with much of the stock. (Photo below)

"Kur" has taken modified coach No.4 out to Drawley for a test run, it has been slimmed-down to narrower dimensions and is now a more stable, but less profitable 8-seater.  Also ending up 3mm lower too, as a new chassis had to be built for it.

Below, the new dimensions can be seen when pictured with sister coach No.3 which is due for the same treatment: total de-construction, ends, roof and seats narrowed, re-glued, then mounted on a new chassis.

A few days later coach number 3 was modified, here they both are at Drawley with "Oread" hauling:

Buildings for "Ramsdale"

Progress on "Ramsdale" has been rather slow, but a couple of buildings have recently been constructed,-  the only two buildings that will appear on the layout:-

A gate lodge built from a Petite Properties 1:48 kit.  It had to be built quite differently to the instructions as I wanted to add Slaters Stone sheets to the walls before assembly.

A store hut made from a Highland Castings resin coal office kit.

"Ramsdale" a new small O9 layout.

 

From the company's history : 

"The hope of building or extending the railway to Baytown was never far from Willis’s (the Director) mind. Waiting patiently for a few years brought an opportunity to buy some land to strike out in Baytown’s direction.  Part of “Fyling Park”, once hunting grounds, and subsequently owned by Whitby Abbey, came onto the market.  This appealed to Willis as the area is very scenic and also has ruins of an old (but never strategically important) castle on high land at an area called “Ramsdale”.  After agreeing a quick sale - probably influenced by Willis himself - one and a half miles of track could possibly be laid on new track bed"

The baseboard for "Ramsdale".  It is 36" x 20" and will have a siding with a tail back, and a fiddle-loop at the rear left-hand corner hidden by some ruined castle walls.

The castle walls under construction, made using Slaters 7mm Dressed Stone sheet and 5mm foamboard, supported with wooden blocks.

The painted walls, using several tints of Humbrol.

The walls being glued into position.
 

After scenic treatment has been added.

After scenic treatment.

The layout will have just two buildings, scenics, and a few small features.

Loco Roll Call

I had an enjoyable time photographing my completed locos built over the last six years for the O9 Modelling Facebook page.  When looking at the photos it's amazing how you notice some painting defects and locos that need more detailing, I will have to tidy them up I think.  

All run on 4-wheeled Kato chassis unless mentioned.

Here are the pictures:- 

"Oread", Unit Models O-081 Diesel Loco (2019)

"Wyvern", Tebee Models from Shapeways, Side Tank with half cab. (2019)

"Drake", Tebee Models from Shapeways, Side Tank with open back cab (modified). (2019)

"Satyr", Minimum Gauge Models CL001 (2020)

"Pyralis", Avalon Line ALS1-9 Steam Tram, Farish 1109 chassis, (2020)

"Leviathan", Avalon Line ALS1-9 Steam Tram, Farish 1109 chassis, (2020)

"Orthus", Narrow Rails LOC002 Freelance Diesel. (2020)

 "Alerion", Minimum Gauge Models XX002 Lister Auto Truck (2021)

"Tiamat", Dapol Pug conversion and plasticard (2021)

"Griffin", Narrow Rails LOC003 Full Cab Freelance Diesel (2022)

"Knucker", Floyd Kraemer (FK3D print)  Ransomes Rapier (2022)

"Mindi", Minimum Gauge Models RHDR "Scooter" loco RH001 (2022)

"Hydra", Floyd Kraemer (FK3D print) Side Tank Steam Tram (2022)

"Kelpie", Minimum Gauge Models MO-012 Toby Style Tram (2023)

"Hyena", Avalon Line ALD2-9 Freelance Full Cab Diesel (2023)

"Ladon", Avalon Line ALD1-9 Freelance Open Cab Diesel (2023)

"Kur", Floyd Kraemer (FK3D print) Hudson Hunslet (2024)

"Scylla", Pankot Models Diesel Tram (2024)

"Siren", Avalon Line ALR1-9 Railbus, Tomytec TM-TR01 chassis (2024)

"Kappa", Black Dog LC02 Orenstein & Koppel Diesel, N-Drive Productions chassis (2024)

"Minotaur", Avalon Line ALS2 Closed Steam Tram, Bachmann Plymouth Diesel chassis (2024)

"Typhon", Floyd Kraemer (FK3D print) Saddle Tank Steam Tram (2025)

"Nimbus", De Winton style Vertical Boiler scratch build (2025)

Update January 2025

January 2025 

A couple of new (old loco kits) have appeared this month plus an attempted scratch-build going on.

First "Minotaur" seen test running at "Drawley".  This was a part- built second-hand purchase, an Avalon Line ALS-2 running on a Bachmann 6w Plymouth Diesel chassis which runs quite well, so it was retained.  I have some matching coaches for it in the un-built kits box, so I must build a couple of them.

"Kappa". Another part-built purchase was this Black Dog LC02 Orenstein & Koppel running on an N-Drive Productions 4w chassis which also runs well. 

This is a vertical boilered loco based on a De Winton.  It is being built as an entry into our Norfolk & Suffolk Narrow Gauge Modellers (Norfolk & Suffolk Narrow Gauge Modellers) "2025 Challenge" competition for our show on Saturday 3rd May.  I am working on the rivet detail and couplings at the moment, but it is scratch built from plasticard with odd mouldings from the "bits box".  Underneath is a Kato 11-103, picked because the motor is lower than a "109".