London Underground

You might have noticed a lot of London Underground posts on here considering I don't have any 4 rail stock/additional layout room for a LU based layout. That said, since I was young I've regularly been going up to London and nearly everytime going on the Tube. Only once I've gotten older have I been able to start endulge into this unique system on which so many Commuters/Londoners rely on. Admitally, it all started when I brought the Midnight Metropolitian set later last year and since then, I've been on the hunt for a small selection of stuff from the Tube trains I remember when younger (not the modern S stock which looks ugly) along side the LU Steam trains from the 1960s/Early 1970s. To date, its a motley collection of:-

Steam Engines:-

L97 - 57xx in London Transport livery
L150 - 4575 in London Transport livery

Electric Multiple units - 1959 Stock:-

 

'A' end DM Car 1028 - London Underground Coorperate Livery
Trailer Car 2028 - London Underground Coorperate Livery
'D' end DM Car 1029 - London Underground Coorperate Livery

 

Loco hauled Engineering Stock

 

BW260 - 3 plank Ballast wagon in London Transport livery

BW260 - 3 plank Ballast wagon in London Transport livery

B581 - 20 ton Brake van in London Transport livery

 

 

But, there's no point having London based stock without the 4 rail track to run it on. Mainly because it just looks stupid/unrealistic. Having had a large amount of broken or unneeded set track from Hornby/Bachmann/Lima for a long time without a use, its finally been sorted though and the worst of it being dismantled to provide rail for this:-

 

 

 

A setrack oval featuring both 3rd and 4th rails. For a first attempt, its not gone badly and has been a very interesting practise in adding the conducting rails. Althought I don't think I'll ever build a London based layout, it does provide somewhere to run the London Transport stuff with the correct rails. That said, after seeing how easy it is to get the effect of the conducting rails, never say never..... Just not at the moment.

Review - 32-136Z LTM Exclusive GWR 4575 Prairie L.150

Its time for another Review. Again its a London Transport Liveried engine, only this one is a bit different.

Produced for the London Transport Museum in London for the LU150 celibrations, here is the first of what looks like a series of limited edition models by Bachmann: 32-136Z LTM Exclusive GWR 4575 Prairie No. L.150. Available from here:- http://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/models/trams-and-trains/product/bachmann-former-british-railways-prairie-l150.html

Taken on the Bluebell Railway where the engine is for the summer

L.150, also known as 5521, is owned by Bill Parker and was given this special paintscheme for the Steam on the Met events that will be taking place both this and possibly next year. I personally like the scheme but it's been very controversial with others.

But back onto the model, as to be expected with the latest Bachmann models, the livery is crisp and finely applied. The mechanism features a 8 pin DCC socket and is a beautiful runner. Compared to my other 4575 (the old non DCC ready version), its not as strong however its still able to pull 4 Mk1s around my test oval. I'll be honest, there's not a lot wrong with it. Except the Price.

Its £97.99 which is £17.99 more than a standard 4575 (based on the RRP). I can understand that its a exclusive and I can also understand that any profit goes towards a good cause, but that's a bit excessive. Compare it to the second model in the series, a model of preserved Pannier 57xx L.94 which is only £6 more than a standard version, it makes you wonder why they needed such a big price difference on L.150.

But, apart from that, It's still a good buy and I would still recommend it to anyone who wants a model for the LU150 celibrations and this unique (for this class of engine) paint scheme.

Billington Road's Fiddle yard/Carriage shed

For the Layout's first show, a small single track fiddle yard was built to increase the running line and give some additional room on the layout. Since that show, it's sat in a corner not being used. Unfortunately, not using it does limit what I can do when 'playing trains'. So after knocking up a couple of legs, I'm now able to use my full layout again.

The full layout at home

 First train onto the reconnected fiddle yard

Also, I've finally been able to get hold of a new shed to hold DMUs/Spare Coaches. Using a Ratio 2 road Carriage shed minus the walkways, it's been a lovely kit to build along with giving the two long stock sidings a purpose apart from being a stock dump.

Just got to work out what to do with the grass areas then I think the layout's nearly done.