No Trains Today

Due to a slight leaf problem there will be no trains running today.

Thomas & Percy's Ghost

It's shortly after Halloween and Thomas doesn't believe in ghosts, or does he?

A Signal Box for the Sandwell Valley Railway

The SVR now has a signal box. If it ever stops raining then it will be sited at Birdlip Junction.

The Signal Box from T & M Models

Trains in the Rain

Pine Tree Junction film unit visited the Sandwell Valley Railway again this week. The weather was dull, cold and rainy, not really Thomas world weather which needs sunshine and bright colours. On the other hand the steam from live steam engines looks great on cold days so a different type of video was called for. After taking some very atmospheric video of the PTJ steam engines, my newly converted (to battery and radio control) Accucraft Baguley Drewry came out to play. The radio control system is from Timpdon Electronics and the sound unit, which sounds fantastic, is from Peter Spoerer Model Engineers.
Here's the video:

Preparation for the next Thomas the Tank Engine Video

Preparation is underway for the next garden railway video - 'Percy Runs Away'.



The new camera mount

A photo taken from the new camera mount

Facial recognition works on Percy!

The camera has had to be mounted upside down, but this isn't a problem as the video editing software allows the picture to be rotated.
The story also requires a signal box which the SVR does not have so one has been purchased from T&M Models. It is currently under construction.

Embankment Repairs

Very little work has been done on the railway this year, but the embankment by the pond had never been completed since it was put in place in 2001.
So this year it has finally been clad.

The embankment was made from Thermalite Blocks which have begun to crumble.

Preparations under way

The embankment clad with edging stones

Thomas and the Brake Van

We've had a few nice days, for the time of year, here in the West Midlands so I took the opportunity to complete the filming of the sequel to Thomas and Scruffey. I started this in June but with one thing and another it kept getting put off.
Following a RAIB investigation the railway has a new brake van and S.C.RUFFEY becomes a reformed character.
Background music from Yampimon and Purple Planet Music.

Thomas and the Runaway Trucks

The Pine Tree Junction Film Unit visited the Sandwell Valley Railway again and filmed another Thomas the Tank Engine story in which Thomas nearly has an accident but his troublesome trucks breakaway, cause total disaster and make a splash.

A Visit from the Pine Tree Junction Film Unit

The sequel to 'Thomas and Scruffey' has still not been completed, but meanwhile another Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends video has been filmed on the SVR. This one has been done by the Pine Tree Junction Film Unit. More fantastic garden railway videos from the PFTFU can be found at http://www.youtube.com/pinetreejunction.

Where's Thomas?

This is not the sequel to Thomas and Scruffey - that will be filmed later in the month.

In this story Toby and Henrietta are rushing to make a connection with Thomas the Tank Engine, but where is he? Why is he late? His passengers are waiting.

Thomas and Scruffey - The Sequel

The first Thomas the Tank Engine video has attracted some positive comments and I've been asked to film a sequel. I've written the script and had it checked by the newly appointed technical adviser. The new story requires some additional equipment which is being assembled. Filming will hopefully begin next month.

Thomas the Tank Engine and Scruffey

Thomas has to deliver some trucks around the railway, but one of them is the notorious Scruffey who hatches a cunning plan which ends in disaster.