Courtybella Road (Western Region Mid 1990s).

[Courtybella]

Mainline tunnel structure complete, a coat of blue brick paint applied, just waiting on the branch line single portal.

 

[Courtybella]

Monbank Sidings disused over bridge scene taking shape.

 

[Courtybella]

Disused Monbank yard access lines coming along…..

 

[Courtybella]

Look at this little beauty, one of a batch being built by master signal craftsman Jon Fitness for my Courtybella Road model railway.

Can’t wait to have a play, I mean signal my trains correctly.

 

[Courtybella]

New toys arrived today from Tower Models and their bulk packs saving a few quid, very impressed indeed !

 

[Courtybella]

Trainspotting Live @ Courtybella Road Model Railway September 2022 - Featuring the new Dapol HEA wagons.

 

[Courtybella]

 

[Compton castle]

The industrial buildings would look good with some period advertising, remember the store Texas ?

 

[Courtybella]

The industrial buildings would look good with some period advertising, remember the store Texas ?

Yes, just about there was one down Spitty before it turned into Great Mills or similar where Iceland is now I think.

 

[Courtybella]

A Newport to Ebbw Vale passenger train is held at Courtybella Road for Llanwern steel works to Oakdale Colliery empty coal train.

With the Oakdale Colliery empty coal train long since cleared the section, the driver of the unit is weighting up whether it’s worth getting down to the signal post phone to alert the Bobby, he knows there’s a certain signalman at Courtybella Road who will wait for the phone to ring then clear the signal just to annoy drivers…..

 

[Courtybella]

Progress on the North end scenic break, very rough be ready at the moment but hopefully it’ll become a wooded scene in time.

 

[Courtybella]

Busy five minutes at Courtybella Road, with a Oakdale bound empty coal behind a 37, with another empty Barry WRD wagon maintenance positioning move behind a 60. Lerking in the background waiting it’s turn to cross the junction is a Machen bound ballast job behind a 31.

 

[Courtybella]

60025 waits the road down to Newport, at Courtybella Road.

 

[Courtybella]

Hillfield Tunnels taking shape, still a very long way to go though.

 

[Courtybella]

Below is half my commission build of western region lower quadrant semaphore signals being crafted into these beauties by master signal maker Job Fitness. There’s a few more in the order to complete before delivery in early 2022.

To say I’m over the moon and blown away is an understatement!


Double banner repeater based on that seen at Stratford on Avon.









The home and distant which will link to rhe banner, based on that once seen af Holesmourh Junction Bristol.

 

[Courtybella]

A western region ground signal, based on those seen at Park Junction, Newport, South Wales.


This one is based on one at High Wycombe, with some modifications to suit it’s Courtybella Road location. This is referred to as “the big one” for obvious reasons !

 

[Compton castle]

That’s a fantastic array of signals Marc, have you thought about the East Usk WR post with midland upper quadrant arms ?

 

[Courtybella]

That’s a fantastic array of signals Marc, have you thought about the East Usk WR post with midland upper quadrant arms ?

I did, briefly I just couldn’t bring myself to ask Jon for a backwards signal even though it would be westernised lol

 

[Courtybella]

A few rest days last week brought some snagging list fixing of point motors and servos so at the moment everything works as per intention at last !

Feeling good about the project for a change I decided to have a crack at throwing my scenic stuff on the base layers I put down some time ago. I’d say Hillfield Tunnel area is complete as a first pass at the moment and will do for the time being, I do need to pay the track some more attention as I’m not happy at all with the colours and ballast finish.

I then moved back over to the Courtybella side around the footbridge, I do admit I’m quite pleased with my method of throw it on and see how it looks method of scenic on this little section, still a long way to go though.

 

[Zzz123]

The industrial buildings would look good with some period advertising, remember the store Texas ?

Yes indeed! There was a 4mm "modern image" layout (set in the 80's I think) many years ago that had a Texas store as a low relief building behind the station. I can't remember the name of said layout now though!