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A few shots to illustrate the differences  of the Opel truck the earlier version being the grey coloured example with the gas producer. Actually it was the red and green version which came out later in real life that reminded me of the OB Bedfords that were used in the logging industry in New Zealand that sparked my interest in rail trucks. When first made up this model was used to check clearances on the layout. Peter M   That concludes the pictorial tour. As I was on my own I took the opportunity to run some of the motive power that does not get run very often. The layout is out again in August then has a break until October. Peter M   I did a local show last year at a place called Cogenhoe, pronounced locally as Cook na.  Andy Knott my usual helper had brought along his camera and he took a few photos of the layout. Wooden bodied Simplex with hidden driver and his small white assistant. Opel Blitz arriving in yard having spent the day in the fields in preparation for harvesting the main crop potatoes. A view inside the dark interior of the engine shed. Peter M   A few more shots taken during a typical operating session at the show.   Peter M   A close up of skip chassis loaded with sundry items for repair in the workshops. These sort of jobs are done during the winter and other odd times when field work is not possible.   The Porter trundles by the greenhouse where the tomatoes seem to be doing rather well this year. The milk maid is seen collecting eggs in a bucket from the free range hens. The figure is a Britain’s model that has been weathered, no that’s wrong, you can’t weather people. She has been re-painted which unfortunately has not done much to improve her looks.   Peter M   You will be relieved to know that this is the last selection of photographs taken at the show. Peter M  

#381 backs her train of pulp wood cars into the west yard loading track and leaves them to be loaded. The geep then runs up to the servicing area and ties up while the crew head for a nearby diner. Peter M   The I&W geep is seen tied up at the rear of the west yard master’s grounded caboose. The crew, having shut the engine down have to loose themselves in town for a few hours while their train is loaded with pulp wood brought in by trucks. The crew return and re-start the geep then head down to the pulpwood loading track. They find their train is loaded and ready to go. So they couple onto it and pull the train to the loop, park the cars and run round the train. When they have coupled onto the front of the train after a brake test they set off for the mill at Hodge LA picking up more loads on the way. Peter M   This session features the second I&W GP 38-2 # 382 the one without dynamic brakes, I don’t know why but I prefer the clean lines on the long hood on this one. She is seen arriving with a cut of mixed cars that will be loaded at Benson later. The first job on arrival is to spot the RI covered hopper of wheat at the Trisco flour mill. Peter M   The Rock Island covered hopper is cut out of the train and pushed into the Trisco flour mill siding for unloading. Peter M   Peter M   #382 GP38-2 has made up its outbound train in the loop at Benson. Runs round its train then heads out of town for the I&W main line to Hope. Peter M   In the area surrounding Benson in south west Arkansas one of the most important source of revenue for the railroad is the lumber industry. When the open cast bauxite mine at Colonel’s Crossing became exhausted the overburden was replaced and the whole area planted with Pine and Aspen. These trees are fast growing, reaching maturity in three to five years and are a renewable resource that provides much of the lumber shipped out on the Rock Island via the I&W main line. A RI U33B arrives with a train of empty pulpwood flats which it spots in the loop and runs down to the loco servicing area.  The yard goat that day, a RI SW1500 pushes the cars into the pulp loading track. Peter M   While the crew of the RI U-boat have a break and a meal in a local diner the switcher crew make up a train for the U-boat to return to the RI main line with. Peter M  

Hi all And now the short one in place. It stands out which is what I wanted and should be less obvious when the rest are glued in. ignore the bare one that's just sitting there so I can gauge the effect of the short one. regards John    

Hi all Well the bamboo is slowly moving at about 25% snail pace I am not really sure about the lighter green for the short sapling if that's the right word for bamboo. But then again it's all about different colors and textures the real world isn't monotone green. The short bit will be used in an awkward part hole  where the base was cut. regards John

A typical mid week scene at Benson, nothing exotic just TVRR geep #8 working in the yard.  She has been rebuilt in the I&W shops at Rosston to a full GP18 specification and so is now 1800 hp. She is joined later in the day by an SP SD45 looking slightly less than immaculate on a train of empty boxcars that will be loaded with lumber. Peter M   I&W geep with pulp wood flats. Peter M