Voting closed for the Micro Model Railway Christmas Challenge on the 15th, and after all the votes were tallied Holmeswell came in at a very respectable 2nd place. Many thanks to any readers who did cast a vote for it, it's very much appreciated, and certainly a much higher finishing place than I expected for what was essentially the 'joker' entry.
It's also technically had its first exhibition outing! Last Saturday the Micro Layouts Facebook group held their annual virtual exhibition, with Holmeswell making its appearance around noon. Again, it was very well received, with even a request for more footage and photos at a later date.
And now comes the customary break for the festive period, usually I'd talk about a few options for modelling projects I have over this time, but this year all my projects seem to be making coaches (Both standard and narrow gauge) More on that another time.
I've also recently found myself with the opportunity for making a very silly layout idea a reality in 2026...
It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when... 😉
Have a good Christmas everyone. See you all in the new year.
And here it is, after ten months of work from initial brainwave to finished layout: Introducing "Holmeswell"
The basic stats: 009 narrow gauge, tuning fork plan, fits on an Ikea Mosslanda shelf, 55x10cm.
Very much Wisbech & Upwell tramway inspired. Holmeswell came about purely by chance. As with almost every year the Micro Railway Cartel has run one of these Christmas challenges, I use the contest rules as a planning exercise, make a few rough layout sketches and generally leave it at that. This year was no exception.
Then April 1st came around.
It's unfortunate for contest host Ian Holmes that just prior to releasing the above April Fools video I'd finished scratchbuilding a 009 'Toby'. I certainly couldn't manage P4 standards, but the temptation to secretly make a Toby themed Mosslanda response was too good to pass up!
What materialised was a narrow gauge caricature of the Wisbech & Upwell Tramway, taking a good dollop of inspiration from Outwell Depot in particular.
Apologies to the late John T. Kenney for liberating and modifying the last illustration of 'Double Header' for the pub sign!
The Obligatory encounter.
'No.7' has actually been given a new source of power since its last appearance. Part of the contest rules stated that a short video of the layout running had to be provided (To prove it's more than a static diorama) Every time I tried to film No.7 would splutter and stall in an agonising way. It's my own fault - In a bid to use up items in the stash I'd built it on an old Kato-103 chassis, now superseded by the 109 variant. Mercifully, being made primarily from 40thou plasticard, cutting away the opening in the floor and interior to take the slightly larger 109 was easier than expected, with no harm to the body.
Being a terminus layout with no run rounds facilities requires the use of two locomotives. The Sentinel seems quite at home in the role of the yard engine.
The village policeman stops traffic at the road. In reality, this job would have been done by the depot manager. Of course, this is very much the stereotypical, rose tinted, chocolate box, peaceful day in the English countryside, so the policeman has taken over as a means of livening up his beat.
A quiet moment as a short freight train leaves the yard.
And another heavily laden train arrives with goods for onwards road transport.
And finally, actual footage of the layout working! This little clip of a freight train leaving the yard wasn't intended as a contest entry clip, but the shot was too nice not to share:
And with all that excitement I'm going to leave the blog here for the year, I'm certainly ready for the customary Christmas break in posting.
