28th January 2011
When I embarked on building Hatton Parkway the aim was to model the contemporary scene as far as was possible with ready-to-run stock. This has been relatively easy with both Graham Farish and Dapol providing a variety of suitable items.
There have, of course, been casualties on the way. The Farish Central Trains 158 had to go as they disappeared from the area a while back. The Dapol Central Trains 156 is now acting as a ‘placeholder’; it ought to have gone, but I don’t want to buy another Farish 150 as they too are due to be replaced. I’d rather go straight to the replacement, whatever that turns out to be.
This DB Schenker-liveried class 66 found itself surplus to requirements as the real railway only runs one like this and the layout could field two.
Another problem is trying to predict the future. When the first N gauge DB Schenker liveried class 66 reached the shelves I naturally bought one. Shortly afterwards I bought another one at a good price. Like many people I was expecting the EWS liveried examples to be repainted. Subsequent events have proved me wrong and what DBS repaints there have been have all tended to be different from each other. So one of my DBS locos had to go.
The Wrexham & Shropshire set had been filled with passengers as people tended to notice the train.
With the demise of Wrexham & Shropshire I have got to lose another train, one which has become a sort of signature set for the layout. At exhibitions it is obviously different and many people recognise it as it runs past, it isn’t just another multiple unit. I had expended some effort on it too – it has had passengers added and been given light bars to show them off.
Whilst at times like this adherence to ‘now’ can be a nuisance, it is also exciting as different stock and liveries appear and add a bit of new life to the layout. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have a London Midland liveried class 170 to convert to DCC – there’s a spare siding for it now in the fiddle yard!
And, for those of you who like their trains historical – here’s a video of the last Wrexham & Shropshire departure from Wellington to London.
