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So, the Irish models are back iin their boxes/on the shelf for a couple of months, so I can play with my British outline stuff. Mostly the boring work since Aldershot, starting with wiring. I'd made a bit of a Horlicks of the control panel and a change of [eventual] operation meant I needed to move an uncoupling magnet and add a new section switch. Most of it was fairly easy as the point and magnet switches simply needed removing from the rear of the  old panel. The controller socket was another matter, being installed from the front, but a few rude works and a bit of wire cutting/re-soldering got the job done. Interestingly the Gaugemaster W controller seems to work better with my 0 gauge stuff than the HH [feedback] unit, so money on buying duplicates of both has not been wasted.  Having wired up most of the layout now, it seemed a worthwhile opportunity to play trains and see if my planned sequences might work. With the dairy to eventually take centre stage the swopping of milk tanks/vans is certainly a key feature. It may well be my BTH Type 1 [82xx] will be the mainline option with the Express Dairy 48DS doing the shunting.  Another train is coal - loads in and empties out. Another diesel [03 shunter] could be the mainline hauler here, with ex Wantage Tank Jane doing the shunting. The coal wagons go off scene, making it easy to swap loads for empties. Other options include: Using my 08 shunter with some fitted vans,  A J69 with a horse box going through to the branch terminus,  Other locos I could use are and F5 2-4-2T, a J15 0-6-0, an E4 2-4-0, a J17 0-6-0 and even  D16 4-4-0 and B17 4-6-0    While some of these locos might seem quite large for lightweight trains, it wasn't unusual to see this on East Anglian branch lines. The lightest train of all was probably the "Hat Special". A lady milliner used to make posh hats for Royal Ascot and the like, so a big 0-6-0 with a single van, plus brake was mustered for the duty- - probably over 120 tons of stock for goods weighing just a few pounds...  

The original B & W pic is a real one - from the Lawrence Collection, but I see what you mean. 

I will be attending the MRSI show on Saturday 24th. If anyone is attending the show and is interested in purchasing this 181 feel free to pm me, we can arrange something.

When I saw the first pic, I thought for a second, it was of a model layout. The 3 lads at railside look very posed. Probably just me..............🤨

Absolutely fabulous