Author Archives: Steve Hales

New Staging Yard tracks

Over the last week, a team at Barrowmore, led by Richard and comprising Kevin Bays, Mike Rapson and Phil Sutton, set about laying some additional roads at one end of the staging yard. The first project was to add three terminating sidings off yard track East 1. These are long enough to hold a full length coal train and, with East 1 used as a clear through track, will allow for trains to be backed in and pulled out as required – essentially adding three tracks to the eastbound staging. The new switches were connected to Digikeijs boards.

Later in the week, a decision was taken to lengthen two westbound tracks on the outside of the yard. Richard and Kevin lengthened yard track West 17 all the way round to just before the scenic section and track West 16  through to join slightly earlier. Whilst not adding extra tracks, the extra space available with multiple occupancy on each track is equivalent to two extra tracks. The two terminating tracks for passenger trains were also repositioned as shown:

Dave Faulkner has subsequently programmed the changes into Big Bear.

Crane Number 4

Richard is involved in an ongoing project to build mobile crane CNJ 4 from a Tichy Train Group kit 4010 – steam wrecking crane. In the images below, you can see the Tichy kit on the left and, on the right, a photo of the prototype taken from the CNJ/LV Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment by Craig T. Bossler (1994) – now out of print but available 2nd hand.

Richard has now done most of the bodywork but still has to assemble and prepare the cables – and then of course paint and decal. It’s looking very good!  More photos will be added as this progresses.

Forthcoming Exhibitions

Mauch Chunk has now attended five exhibitions in its current configuration; It is proving popular and has won two awards.   As a result of Coronavirus restrictions, several exhibition were cancelled. As Mauch Chunk returned to the Barrowmore MRG in September 2023, it is again going out to exhibitions.

Mauch Chunk is booked for the following shows in 2026 and 27. There are still slots available if you want to book us!

  • Bristol Model Railway Exhibition – 1st-3rd May 2026, Thornbury Leisure Centre, Alveston Hill, Bristol  BS35 3JB
  • Tyneside Model Railway Exhibition – 14-15th November 2026, Jesmond Park Academy, Newton Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE7 7DP
  • Manchester MRS Exhibition – 11-12th December 2027, The Sugden Centre, Sidney Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester M1 7HB

Spalding 2025

Spalding Model Railway Club Exhibition – 1st-2nd November 2025, at Springfields Exhibition Centre, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE12 6ET

Spalding exhibition was the second outing for Mauch Chunk PA since December 2019 and it’s return from Yorkshire and it again proved successful.

A full report will be posted here in future weeks.

The team for the weekend was Richard Oldfield, Kevin Bays, David Faulkner, Steve Hales, Dave Millward and Phil Sutton.

We again had very reliable running, although the track and wheels seemed to ‘dirty up’ remarkably quickly. A recent bulk buy of Peco SL-43 loco lifts (strengthened with aluminium strips) proved invaluable and all locos were stored and transported on these to reduce damage.

The switching possibilities on MC including the new crossover just outside the station were enhanced by Kevin to include switching the ‘parked’ short passenger formations in the platform track, the loco being returned to the east end for a return journey.

Several visitors had come especially to see Mauch Chunk PA and it was great to see them. As a final reward the layout won the Best Layout prize.

Here are a couple of YouTube videos and below them some photos:

Images below include the new Bowser RS3 which is a beautiful model.

                                                                                                

York 2025

York Model Railway Show – 19th-21st April 2025, at York Racecourse, Racecourse Road, Knavesmire Road, York YO23 1EX

York exhibition was the first outing for Mauch Chunk PA since December 2019 and it’s return from Yorkshire and it was important that the re-launch went well. MC is now BMRG’s second layout on the exhibition circuit and it is intended to provide a more relaxing weekend for the operators than the challenges of Mostyn.

A considerable amount of work has gone into MC during the run-up to York and this included:-

  • New stock and newly-weathered stock.
  • Locomotives and rolling stock allocated to specific pre-tested formations.
  • A new crossover to facilitate greater use of the station platform road.
  • Newly-painted central backscene.
  • Scenic upgrading to refresh all the greenery.
  • Permanent fixing of key buildings and scenic detail.

The team for the weekend was Richard Oldfield, Kevin Bays, David Faulkner, Steve Hales, Dave Millward and Chris Mitchell.

The hard work put in before the show paid off with very reliable running, especially from the venerable roster of steam locomotives – some of which have been susceptible to frustrating short circuits. The decision to handle all steam locomotives in cradles at all times was clearly vindicated (many of these old locomotives have split frame pick-up and a minor distortion of a detail part can be enough to produce a short circuit).

York marked the first exhibition where we made really extensive use of the switching possibilities on MC including the new crossover just outside the station which allowed many new moves. We now have a list of future changes that will enhance this attractive feature.
                                                                                                          Richard Oldfield

We start with an unusual view of MC from above. Note also the photos of a new Pacific G1sa to add to the G3sa already in the roster.

Mauch Chunk is shown for the first 10.5 minutes:

Mauch Chunk is shown for the first four minutes:

 

The missing crossover

Back in December 2023 Richard found a video we hadn’t previously seen – the Big Little Railroad of 1948 and 9 minutes 20 seconds into it can clearly be seen a crossover going into the passenger road from the west.

We quickly agreed that this be built and Richard embarked on the process – as shown in the photos below.

The new crossover gives lots of additional operating possibilities.

Back to Barrowmore

On 16th September, Richard, Dave Faulkner and Steve moved Mauch Chunk back to the rather more spacious Barrowmore clubrooms. From here it is hoped that the layout will again go out to exhibition. We plan to test it and fettle it in November this year in preparation.

A new home

After a few months in a farm trailer, Mauch Chunk has finally been moved to its new home in my converted garage. Neighbours Pete and Richard helped with the move and the layout fitted into the new rooms almost literally like a glove (as planned of course!).

The photos show the farm trailer, the move (in a Luton van with tail lift), and storage of some parts in a store room and the rest in the new ‘hobby room’.

We have been able to erect two scenic boards that can be worked on. The electrics are all connected and points can be changed with the Big Bear program and trains can be run (a little). The last photo shows my grandson directing me which trains to move where!

Once the storage boxes have been re-organised, scenic repairs and improvements will be started.

The (final?) Big Move

Yesterday – 7th August 2021 – Mauch Chunk was moved from the Barrowmore clubrooms and brought over the Pennines to Yorkshire. This effectively ends five years with the Barrowmore club during which Mauch Chunk has been transformed with a new fiddle yard, mostly new baseboards, new fascias, lighting, wiring, control systems and almost completely new track – all to the highest standard.

It was also been extended to 28ft x 12ft and is now quite formidable! Indeed, it won the the best visitors layout award in Glasgow, the best non-British layout award at Warley and an invitation to retire it to the National Model Railway Museum!

It will be worked on at my home in the East Riding, where my wife and I moved 3 years ago, but it is currently stored in a large trailer on a local farm.

Members of the East Riding Finescale Modellers model railway group are planning to help with further detailing and scenic enhancements as well as maintaining the rolling stock.

Warley 2019

Warley National Model Railway Exhibition – 22nd-24th November 2019 – National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham  B40 1NT

Again the work on Mauch Chunk had taken place a good while ahead and the layout was dismantled before Mostyn went to Gaydon. All new point motors (MP1s) and control system in the fiddle yard, a new signal on the locomotive servicing track (DCC controlled), new telegraph poles – some hollow and etched. A long wheel based Luton box van proved more than spacious enough and loading proceeded smoothly.

There were no changes to the stock which had not even been removed from their boxes since Glasgow. Sadly, some of it – particularly the locos and passenger stock – misbehaved causing shorting and loco failures. This was diappointing. Otherwise the layout ran well – the new cooling system for the Lenz control system worked well and the MP1 point motors in the fiddle yard throat also worked flawlessly. The crowd was excellent on both days, and some really liked the layout.

Warley confounded warnings and was actually a pretty pleasant place to exhibit. The exhibition team was Steve Hales, Richard Oldfield, Gavin Liddiard, Dave Faulkner, Mike Rapson and partner Becky.

This video was taken by a visitor (Nealos101) and is available on YouTube:

A bonus was winning the Continental Modeller ‘best non-British layout’ award.