Category Archives: 2005

Quarter 4 2005

As usual, in the fourth quarter progress has slowed because of the time taken to organise the Merseyside MRS exhibition at the end of October (see photos). Paul and Chris have continued to work with the looms of cable leading to two point control panels – one for each end of the layout. The control panels have been drawn out and early 2006 should see them built.

Chris has also raised the “Merseyside standard” lighting rigs so that they are high enough above our rather high baseboards. These have been positioned as shown in the photos below. He has also been busy redrawing plans of the Station building in AutoCAD in preparation for building it (remember, he is an architect!). These will be put up on the site when complete for all to use.

Some of the photos show a (hopefully) increasing similarity to prototype pictures of Susquehanna Street – only another 10 buildings to go there!

Finally, we would like to wish you all happy modelling in 2006.
Take Care
Chris, Alisdair, Steve and Paul p-2005-12-modellers

Quarter 3 2005

Again in the third quarter we have made good progress. Paul and Chris have now finished wiring the switches and switch motors on the front of the layout – and have now connected them up with looms of cable which will lead to two point control panels – one for each end of the layout. We intend to operate the layout with two operators, one at each end, and one controlling the eastbound tracks and one the westbound tracks. However, the wiring looms will be flexible to that both panels can go at one end, or a the back, or at the front. We’ll see what works best

Chris has also nearly finished the Hooven Mercantile building – he’s even modelled the back. He only has to do the characteristic fire escape on the side to complete it and we have all the parts for that now.

Steve and Paul in particular are now spending a lot of time in preparation for the Merseyside exhibition at the end of October – we’ll put links in to the photos of that if you’re interested.

Photos include: Hooven Mercantile in all it’s glory – built by Chris (& us all relaxing).

Quarter 2 2005

Once again in the second quarter we are making good progress – once again it is mostly invisible! Paul with the help of Chris has continued to wire the switches and switch motors on the front of the layout – a tedious but essential job that has caused much debate!

However, more has been going on – Steve has now built the fifth building on Susquehanna Street and Chris has started on the Hooven Mercantile building. Steve has continued with the rock face above the road on the RH side and has finished carving and painting and weathering it.

Photos include: Steve’s fifth buiding; Paul and Chris have been wiring up the switches; Chris has been building the Hooven Mercantile building like a true Architect (he is one); And the rock face – it will look better with vines and bushes, I expect.

Quarter 1 2005

Once again in the first quarter we are making good progress – once again it is mostly invisible! Paul with the help of Chris has been wiring the switches on the front of the layout. Steve has been finishing the magnets for automatic uncoupling.

Steve has also rebuilt the fourth building on Susquehanna Street (the previous version just wasn’t up to scratch). Chris has added the handrail to the bridge and Steve has rebuilt the wall between the road and railroad, and then painted and weathered it. The rock face behind is being started using rock moulds.

The photos show some of the CNJ rolling stock that we have now accumulated on our Open Day at the start of May. We now have F3s from Stewart (AB – tangerine & blue), Athearn (A – green and yellow), An RS3, SW9 and S1 and RS12 (the latter two not actually seen at Mauch Chunk) and an FM H15-44 in blue with tangerine stripes. You can also see the weathered coal hoppers (Steve’s) and the filled hoppers (Paul’s). None of our steam is running on this day.