Gavin Collins

Shillingstone Update

After a slow start I have managed to get some work on the layout underway. I’ve converted the pile of wood in the garage into 4 basebaords, 2 long ones for the fiddle yard and 2 open frame shorter ones for the scenic sections. The next step is to paint these before fixing the baseboardsContinue reading “Shillingstone Update”

13th March, Gillingham Dorset, Trains in the 70’s and 80’s

Shaftesbury and Gillingham Railway Society are hosting a conversation and slide show from David Webber featuring Gillingham Railway station in the 70’s and 80’s. David has an extensive collection of slides from the period featuring a range of trains and many many specials from the period. These include a pair of HST’s, Class 50’s andContinue reading “13th March, Gillingham Dorset, Trains in the 70’s and 80’s”

Shillingstone 1932

My plans for Shillingstone and the show are moving along at a much faster pace than actually doing any work on the layout for the show in August. I have purchased most of the wood, baseboards and completed the woodwork on the southern extension but it has remained too cold in the garage for moreContinue reading “Shillingstone 1932”

Change of Plans- Shillingstone gets priority

I have agreed to extend the Shillingstone layout and take it to Shillingstone for the August Bank Holiday, Dorset Central Railway/S&DR 160 anniversary event. August 1863 is when the line opened between Blandford St Mary and Templecombe and the NDR are planning a celebration event of which the model will be a part. There willContinue reading “Change of Plans- Shillingstone gets priority”

Frome Show 7-8th Jan 2023

All set up at the show now, having a challenge with one of the board joins again. I had fixed it and trains have been running across it for the last 6 weeks but a week in the garage and move from Lytchett to Frome seems to have caused some movement. Applied a bit ofContinue reading “Frome Show 7-8th Jan 2023”

Frome Show 7-8th January

After a couple of years of hibernation Sturminster will be on display at the Frome show on the 7-8th November. Phil has kindly agreed to come and help me run it again so looking forward to a catch up and a weekend running trains. I’ve been working at getting my early period stock together 1920-1940Continue reading “Frome Show 7-8th January”

Kilsby Drift – The start of the build

After a year or 3 of planning and procrastination the kit is coming together, I have the baseboard tops now, the platform for resting the boards on in the garage and the first batch of FiNetraX has arrived. I’ve been working on the base in the garage and have 5.2M of available space. The boardContinue reading “Kilsby Drift – The start of the build”

West Sussex N Gauge Show -Shoreham 5th November

Wealden Cement will be out next weekend at the West Sussex N Gauge show in Shoreham in the Baptist Church. The layout will be included in the club layout which for this event is around 16 Feet by 16 Feet of running lines supported by individual members boards. Along with the large club layout featuringContinue reading “West Sussex N Gauge Show -Shoreham 5th November”

Wealden Cement

I’ve decided that I don’t have enough space to store all the layouts so Wealden Cement is going to have to go. I’m going to hang on to Crawley Yard and look to make this into a standalone layout in the future. If anyone is interested in buying the module let me know . ItContinue reading “Wealden Cement”

Railnuts and the WCML at Chester Cathedral

I’ve taken the opportunity this year to visit the Railnuts WCML layout in Chester Cathedral. This 68 Feet long model is a great model and features a number of the elements that I wanted to include on Kilsby Drift. As well as seeing lots of different trains running up and down I wanted to getContinue reading “Railnuts and the WCML at Chester Cathedral”