James' Splendid New Red Coaches

Since joining the Wychbold and Stoke Prior Railway loco fleet poor James has never had any suitable coaches to pull. So he was nearly always relegated to pulling goods trains. Recently two brand new shiny splendid red coaches arrived on the railway and now James' dreams have come true and he can pull passenger trains!

A Milestone

I've reached a major milestone on my railway today. Yesterday I finished the concreting for the next station on the railway and today I've temporarily laid the track.

The double track main line finishes here at a terminus station. To the right the branch line leaves the main line. I've incorporated a loop so that Thomas can run round his coaches.

On the left behind the platform will be the station car park.

The platforms have still got to be made.

The cut-out in the foreground will be planted with low ground cover plants.

Devious Diesel - A Test Run

Diesel has spent several weeks in the Stoke Prior works. He's now been let out onto the main line for extensive testing.

Devious Diesel's Conversion

I converted Paxton to battery power with radio control and sound in April - see April Update. Diesel joined the loco fleet in May but I've only just started the process of carrying out his conversion.

The first photo shows the layout of Diesel's floor. The speaker has been fitted and the holes drilled for the switch (2 holes to right of speaker) and charge sockets (larger hole above the speaker).

This photo shows the template I made for drilling the holes for the speaker cone. The squares are 5mm by 5mm.

The holes are made using a 3mm drill bit. The template has been sellotaped in place.

An underneath view showing the charge socket, switch and speaker locations.

An underneath view showing charge socket, switch and speaker fitted.

Stoke Prior Station Update

The Stoke Prior Station area is nearing completion. The slab retaining walls are complete and I've cut the track which will link the branch line to the main line and also the branch line run round loop.

The area is ready now in in-filling with concrete.

Stoke Prior Station Progress

I've decided to make the elevated area on which Stoke Prior Station will be built out of broken paving slabs, salvaged from the front garden.

The retaining walls will be six slabs high

Work in Progress

A view from the top of the spiral

The Railway from the Air

Here are a few aerial shots of the railway.

A general view. The building site at the top of the garden is where Stoke Prior Station will be situated. The route of the single track branch line is marked by the slot cut in the lawn. The tunnel will be earthed over and turfed.

The branch line will leave the main line at Stoke Prior Station and will descend on a spiral until it passes under the main line. The first part will be carried on a curved viaduct which can be seen on the left of the photo.

Stoke Works Station is still a temporary structure and eventually the Salt Works Sidings will be populated with suitable buildings.

The house end of the garden. The branch line runs in front of the train viewing area and will disappear behind a flower bed before emerging further up the garden. Once the branch line, spiral and Stoke Prior Station are completed the final stage will be a quarry branch running across the lawn and round a pond.