Smithick Vale
00 Gauge
Since we suspended regular meetings due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Smithwick Vale has sat idle. However, we did manage to run a few trains through the vale in smaller groups as restrictions were eased. This allows for adequate social distancing and social bubbles to be formed.
We managed another running session on Smithick Vale, maintaining safe distancing of course. Some members ran trains and the variety achieved by the small group can be seen below.
This week's socially distanced running session was a diesel hydraulic session, although due to a misunderstanding there were no Westerns! Maybe we'll have get the Class 52 social bubble better organised.
Another group meeting produced some interesting trains this week, including a series of three consecutive dining specials using Pullman coaches and steam motive power. There was also a BR(W) Manor and a Mogul in the area as well.
After the recent running sessions we felt it was time to crack on with a bit more work on Smithick Vale. There is the back scene to attend to and some more scenic work to do, plus of course the signals. Running the layout has also expsoed a few electrical issues and some adjustments to point motors are required, just some of the things that crop up when the railway has been used for a while after lying dormant.
Obviously members will still be able to test run models and to that end I staged a few shots of the Vale with echoes of the ex Southern lines west of Exeter in the sixties and early seventies, when DMUs ran the sparse passenger services and the odd goods movements were in the shape of tail freights.
Obviously members will still be able to test run models and to that end I staged a few shots of the Vale with echoes of the ex Southern lines west of Exeter in the sixties and early seventies, when DMUs ran the sparse passenger services and the odd goods movements were in the shape of tail freights.