Please be aware that the Membership renewals period for 2026 opens on 1st April and runs until 30th April. You’ve enjoyed playing trains. You’ve had many a fresh brew lovingly prepared by Jim and a bit of cake generously offered up by Richard. On the downside you’ve had to endure Barry’s ‘sense’ of humour for […]
The Cranwell Express layout has been progressing over the winter months. The track work is now fully laid and wired. It has dual analog control inputs allowing us to run passenger trains on one line and goods traffic on the other for added operational and viewing interest. This has been achieved with a considerable amount […]
I never thought I’d join a model railway club. A friend belongs to the N-Gauge Society and although I loved going to exhibitions with him over 19 years (TINGS is an annual pilgrimage) I never felt like taking part in regular meets. Too shy, too anxious, too self-intimidated to stand up amongst my peers – […]
It’s now time to start thinking about the control system behind Rhad Valley, and despite the unexpected cost of the frog juicer, I wanted to get back on track with this and keep things low cost. With this in mind I decided on DCC-Ex because it’s good (I’ve used it before) and it’s b****y cheap! […]
I noticed when I was poking around the layout with the multimeter that the frogs and switchrails weren’t carrying any power. This is usually fixed simply by cleaning the track, mainly between the rails and the switchrails, but for whatever reason I couldn’t get it clean enough to be reliable. I don’t know how old […]
In the last post, we finished off by wiring up a bus wire for all of the common terminals of the solenoid point motors to connect to, and this is where we pick it up. The layout currently has old fashioned solenoid point motors – think classic Gaugemaster PM10’s and then think older! These motors […]
Ordinarily, converting a DC layout to a DCC layout is a fairly straightforward task when going from simple loops; you would unplug the DC controller, plug in the DCC controller and away you go. This one however, got me stumped… I came into the hobby when DCC was already around – my only experience of […]
Rhad Valley was purchased as a restoration project and gets its name from the fact that it only cost £100 – Rhad literally means “cheap” in Welsh. The layout has a lot of potential, however it also needs a lot of work doing to it. Unfortunately over time, the scenics have become damaged; all but […]
Nestled in the heart of Lincolnshire, the Cranwell Branch Line once served as a crucial artery for both military and civilian transportation. Its story, rich with industrial ambition and wartime necessity, reflects the broader narrative of Britain’s railway history. While the line no longer echoes with the clatter of trains, its legacy endures, reminding us […]
In the tranquil and often isolated landscapes of rural communities, mental health challenges can be particularly daunting. Limited access to mental health services, social isolation, and a lack of recreational opportunities compound the issue – something we’re accutely familiar with around Sleaford. However, an unexpected yet powerful ally is emerging to combat these challenges: model […]