Today On Ruritanian Railways

Heavy snow during the past week caused a complete standstill on Ruritanian Railways until this afternoon.  Conditions on Pootank Pass were particularly severe:

 
After considerable effort, the station area at Zenda was cleared, revealing two English tourists still strolling along the platform in search of a cup of leaves with boiling water.

 
The usual pilot locomotives made a trial trip through newly cut snow:

 
Despite all the effort, there were no passengers to be found at the frontier station.  The crew retreated hastily to Zenda for a warming Apfelstrudel. 

  
 

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Not much been happening on RR recently, given the weather, but I've spent a few slightly fraught hours constructing this:
 

 
A bit awkward to construct to my mind, but it does the job.  It's pretty large too!
 

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Looks like it was worth all the effort, i like, i like very much, well done that man

ped


Looks like it was worth all the effort, i like, i like very much, well done that man

Ta muchly.  Good job I didn't take any close ups!  There are some very rough bits where Piko provided very small pieces for the roof and wall edges that simply won't hold together without a flood of glue.

so wheres the prisoner?

whatlep

Not much been happening on RR recently, given the weather, but I've spent a few slightly fraught hours constructing this:

 

Looks too good to be a model!
There was me thinking it was a full-size shed and Stainzes, on a 22.5:1 scale kitchen unit...
 
P.S. Watlep, I stayed in all day, but you didn't turn up with a steamie to do some testing!

Aha, so that's what it's supposed to look like. Tis a big bugger ain't it? Very nice.

As spring has sprung, the new station building at Ruritania's border halt was formally opened today.  
 

 
Our ever vigilant border guards were surprised to encounter a strange person on the platform.   He did not speak, but both guards felt they had received a psychic message in English saying "I need sanctuary from The Hamster, Captain Slow and the other nutter".

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Some say - his breath smells faintly of steam?

yb281


Some say - his breath smells faintly of steam?

Some say he's faster than the Mallard, all we know is.............

ped

yb281


Some say - his breath smells faintly of steam?

Some say he's faster than the Mallard, all we know is.............

 
Some say, he's afraid of Meercats!

This afternoon being rainy, I finished off my "box of bits" oil terminal.   Deck and upperworks from a Bachmann tank wagon (the wheels were used to replace some LGB nasty plastic ones).  Superb weathering by Mel (yb281).  Crude stone platform hacked by me from the remains of a Piko goods shed's base.
 

 
Another structure for planting in the garden: at some point Mrs Whatlep is going to notice the cunning plan....

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Uww, I like the stone base mate. It raises the tank a reet treat.
 
The Old Speckled Hen went down a treat too I seem to remember  .

yb281


Uww, I like the stone base mate. It raises the tank a reet treat.
 
The Old Speckled Hen went down a treat too I seem to remember  .

You can craft stone bases like that using a sheet of polystyrene and a hot soldering iron. Very cheap.

Ruritanian Railways announces its first Open Day of 2010 on Saturday, April 17th.
 
Kindly see the additional details in the GSC events diary and PM if interested in coming to the Malvern Hills area.

I've PM'd Peter to book my place Hope to see you all there.
 
Hopefully the snow in these photos will have melted by then?

In preparation for next Saturday's Open Day, motive power was rigorously tested at the weekend.  Local commuters were surprised to find this combination arrive in place of the usual railbus.
 

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your track and board mods survived the Winter ok then
looks great in the sun

whatlep


As spring has sprung, the new station building at Ruritania's border halt was formally opened today.  
 

 
Our ever vigilant border guards were surprised to encounter a strange person on the platform.   He did not speak, but both guards felt they had received a psychic message in English saying "I need sanctuary from The Hamster, Captain Slow and the other nutter".

 
 
 
 
 
Praise the lord for Spring, and don't forget to pass the ammunition In my next life, I'm going to make sure that I live somewhere where it never gets below 60 degrees (16 degrees for you guys). 

On April 17th, Ruritania was honoured to welcome visiting stock from several of the UK's most notorious skilled stock-bashers.
 
A simply exquisite demonstration rake from Wetton Gooey, driven by Lord Mel of Turbutt on his delicately weathered Spreewald:
 

 
Superpower from Gareth, just coping with three stylish creations from the House of Hub.  
Dave's British Rail narrow gauge creations, like these VTG gondolas, just have to be seen to be appreciated. 
 

 
Last, but not least, Gareth's delightful bicycle carrying wagon on the back of one of my passenger rakes, plus in the foreground his outstanding coach repaints being hauled by my latest Mallet.
 

 
The sun shone, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and Mrs Whatlep (and Dave!) kindly supplied refreshments at regular intervals.
 
Good trains and good mates meant a great day for me and I hope to everyone else too!    Thanks to Dave, Gareth, Hamish and Mel for bringing their various goodies to Ruritania.  
 
There'll be at least one more Open Day in 2010 and all will be welcome.
 
 

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