Thomas and his Friends Next Adventure

Filming will begin tomorrow on Thomas' next adventure - Thomas and the Seaside Special, and it will be special as it will be jointly produced with the Pine Tree Junction Film Unit.

Emily watches as Thomas and James double head the special

Will 7 coaches be enough for all the people wanting to go to the seaside?

The children have already changed into their swimming costumes

Ready to board the Seaside Special

It's late into the evening when the Seaside Special returns

Extension Progress Comes to a Halt

Work on the extension has ground to a halt! I should have removed the strawberry bed earlier, I can't dig it up now with such a good crop of strawberries ripening! So it’s going to be August before work can recommence.

Meanwhile at the other end of the railway the pond was unrecognisable as a pond so I've used the pause in the work on the extension to start refurbishing this area.

Before

During

After - but still lots to do!

Extension Progress Update 4

The curved viaduct has now been completed - it now has 3 sections.
The sleeper wall just needs the painting finishing and the area behind it filled in.
The ground has been levelled and some planting done.

A general view of the triangle

The area behind the sleeper wall which needs filling in

The curved viaduct - the section nearest the camera has been modified with the angle grinder

An aerial view

Extension Progress Update 3

All of the blocks for the triangle have now been cemented in and the track has been laid. Work has begun on the 'sleeper' wall behind the goods platform.

Extension Progress Update 2

Over the last couple of weeks:

• The main line has been re-laid to include 2 points. I can now run trains all around the garden again.
• The block-work for the first station cross-over points has been completed.
• The footings have been laid for the turning triangle.
• The blocks have been cut for the turning triangle.
• Two more piers have been purchased for the curved viaduct.

As the original design did not include the piers, the footings for the viaduct are in the wrong place! I'm also going to see if I can add a third arch to the viaduct. This will require part of the newly built embankment to be demolished.

Looking from the station towards the triangle

Looking towards the station

Extension Progress Update 1

The new embankment is nearing completion and the footings have been cast for the new curved viaduct which will carry one of the lines to the new station. Two more short piers will be needed to compete the viaduct.

Meanwhile the buffet for the new station has arrived.

Work on the Extension Has Begun

The Cain Howley curved viaduct sections have been taken up. The curved viaduct will be replaced with an embankment. Shuttering has been constructed and put in place. A left-hand point has been put in the main line - this will be start of the triangle.

The triangle area

The fence panels have also been replaced. The curved viaduct sections will be used on another part of the triangle.

Looking towards the shed