Thomas and the High Speed Train has been watched 1,000,000 times

I've joined the garden railway millionaire's club!!!
The video I made just under 10 months ago has now been watched on YouTube over 1,000,000 times and in over 200 countries around the world.

Emily Arrives

Emily complete with a train of four coaches has now joined Thomas and his friends at the Sandwell Valley Railway. Emily was purchased from T & M Models at G Rail 2015 in Stafford.

Sunset over the Railway

After spending the day at G Rail, the annual show of the G Scale Society, I arrived home in time to capture this beautiful sunset over the Sandwell Valley Railway. If I had managed to get outside a few minutes earlier the photo  would have been much better.

An Extension for the SVR?

Plans for an extension to the Sandwell Valley Railway were muted last year, a track layout was planned and the track-work purchased.   The plan was to create a terminus station and a triangle for turning.

Nothing happened over the Winter but the greenhouse has now been sold and it is being taken away on Saturday, so the railway may be getting its extension this year.

The site. The station is planned to be about 5 ft long.

A sign from last year's open day

First Run of the Season 2015

After a long period of Winter maintenance the Sandwell Valley Railway is now up and running again. The next Thomas and Friends story can now been filmed.

The Track is Back

The track has now been re-laid - well almost. I had only get one more piece to lay when I decided to take up the track at the bottom of the garden. However the weather forecast for tomorrow is looking good so hopefully I will be able to complete the job then.

Jobs still to do are:
 *  Ballasting
 *  Platform surfaces
 *  Lampposts
 *  Buildings
 *  BIRDLIP JUNCTION sign
 *  Cleaning the rest of the track
 *  Checking the track for electrical continuity

Winter Maintenance 3

Engine shed door has been mended. Both doors now open and close.

Birdlip Junction station building is having its paint freshened up.

 The track through Birdlip Junction is still up.

Just like the real thing, the ballast is being washed and dried ready for when the track goes back down.

Painting is nearing completion at Birdlip Junction.