Show dates update…

We are pleased to announce that we will be attending Tolworth Showtrain 2009 exhibition, at Tolworth Leisure Centre, Fullers Way North, Tolworth, Surrey, KT6 7LQ on November 14th and 15th 2009.

For detailed show info keep checking their show website at: http://www.metropolitanrailway.co.uk/showtrain.htm

See you there!

PS – you can keep up to date of all future (and past) shows on our exhibtions page.

RS Tower modules blog…

After some great feedback on our chosen method of modular railroading, both with RS Tower at Exeter and operating as a “standalone” switching layout at Gillingham, a separate sister blog for the RS Tower modules has been launched at http://rstowerfreemo.wordpress.com/

Neil Rogers will be handling updates on that side of things – expect some changes on both sites over the coming weeks as we try and make them complement each other more effectively!

It already carries some images & video from Gillingham, and some thoughts on future module design as well…

After the Exe Show – thoughts…

Well the Exeter show has been and gone, the only “proper” exhibition outing in 2009 (we hope to have more for 2010 to tell you about soon!) – although we are considering doing another “open house” later in the year to keep our hand in – i’m interested in feedback on that, anyone want to come play trains for the weekend??

Here’s a quick vid to give an overview of the setup we used, for the first time we were able to have the Freemo-esque modules attached to form a decent length branch line at the show which was a nice way of adding a section of layout with a slower pace than the big mainline action.

Modules used were Dale Yard, Oakdale and two curves created and owned by Neil Rogers and Dale Creek created and owned by Liam Rogers.

Don’t forget that the modules on their own without the main RS Tower layout will be appearing at the Shaftesbury & Gillingham show in Gillingham (Dorset) this weekend.

Progress, Show Reminders & Videos…

Yes, another one of my horribly infrequent updates! The layout is up and running again – here’s a bit of proof…

That has allowed us to do a few bits more on scenery, the kinds of things that are hard to finish off when the layout is in 4′ chunks but are a relative breeze when you can work on the thing as a whole.

Car cards and waybills

A while back in a thread on operation on RM-Web the use of car cards and waybills came up, and that kicked off a thought process about how best to use them on an exhibition layout. Talking to the guys in the group and whilst some of us were okay moving given cars to an industry and then routing them back using just a bit of knowledge and concentration, others of us would benefit from something a bit more formal, we also have at least one guest operator at Exeter this summer who makes a very enthusiastic switch crew but probably doesn’t know an airslide from an autorack…so here goes…

Open House Announcement

Saturday 23rd/Sunday 24th May (the weekend before we attend Exeter show) we will be holding an open-house at Hittisleigh village hall – Hittisleigh is located just a short distance from the A30, part way between Exeter and Okehampton:

Click here for the location on Google Maps - Be aware there is no credible public transport to this location due to it’s rural nature.

The venue will be open from 10.00AM until 4.30PM (or maybe even longer if we’re having fun!)

Admission is FREE! But donations to the upkeep of the hall are welcome.

The local village ladies will be selling tea’s, coffee’s and cakes – and if you’re dragging along a partner who isn’t into trains then there is a craft display a short walk to the North at the village church.

More Freightcars…

With RS Tower soaking up over 500 freightcars on average at a show, and with us running multiple era’s we’re always adding to the fleet, both to add the kind of unending variety that the real railroad offers, to tailor the fleet to the industries on the layout and to gradually upgrade the look and detail of the cars that appear.

First up, Neil Rogers has added some of the new Athearn “beer can” tanks, these are all-new models with some nice fine detail, and excellent little cars for space starved layouts! Click on the pic for larger images…

  

Next up we have a couple of new freightcars in my fleet….

Update…

Quick update for the day – the Exhibitions page has been updated with details of the Exeter show in late May, and Neil’s Oakdale modules going to the Gillingham show in June.

Grade crossings and module progress

We’ve just started working on grade crossing protection and signalling – images of the progress so far can be found on the fotopic site:

http://modelrailpics.fotopic.net/c735837.html

Neil Rogers is also working hard on his first two 45 degree curve modules - pics can be found at his fotopic site here: http://neil-rogers.fotopic.net/c1644146.html

Enjoy!

Happy Christmas to you all!

I figured that I’d better do a pre-Christmas update, as i’ve yet again been patently rubbish at writing these!

So – here we go: