I've been making regular updates over at my layout's Facebook-based blog (for those on that platform that are interested the blog is here: https://www.facebook.com/TheHillsLine/).

However since the last update, I'm shocked at how far things have come (which shows how long its been since this blog has been updated!).

Its been several months since the last update, Looking at my last blog post, its amazing to see how far things have progressed.

The Port Adelaide Branch - this is an industrial spur that feeds the Mile End staging yards. It has two suburban stations (a wooden step-down platform, in keeping with the industrial feel and a short concrete faced platform - both long enough to serve a 400 class Redhen railcar when required. There are multiple industries - a fuel distributor, cement plant, farm machinery plant, farmers co-op, Mill and meat works.

The past couple of weeks have been spent completing the front fascia profile boards, and subsequently flushing them off, and painting.

Last weekend, my wife offered to paint the backscenes and fascias - now I truly hate painting, so I don't turn down an offer for help - the photos show the improvement.

With painting complete, the freshly manufactured station signage was able to be installed at Mt Lofty also.

With a family in planning, mid last year, it was decided that I would retire Bridgewater from the exhibition circuit, which in turn gave the ability to finally start building my dream home layout.

As Bridgewater was in good condition, I decided it would become the centrepiece of the new layout, which will be a multi-level proto-freelanced version of the main south line that runs roughly south-east from Adelaide to the Victorian border at Serviceton.

As another two coaches have been added to my 'Overland' express, I took a few happy snaps of the layout last night - trying to pose scenes to give the images a time and place. The Overland was (and still is to some point) an nightly overnight express train that linked Adelaide and Melbourne - sadly the once great 16 car express is now just a 4-5 car sitting train that operates just two return trips a week between the two cities...

V/Line 3000Hp hood unit C507 in the hole at Bridgewater with an Adelaide-bound superfreighter. This loco is the pride of the fleet, having been fitted out with step and bogie lights, and a LokSound4.0 decoder. 

GM42, C507 Bridgewater c. 1993

Its been a while since I've posted here. Here's a shot taken last night of an Adelaide bound super freighter waiting for a cross with an opposing train.

A few months ago, I was given a set of Rocky River Models' superb resin castings for the South Australian Railways 520 class 4-8-4. These were planned to be a kit, however after our local etching firm shut-up shop, the chassis part of the kit disappeared, and as such the project was dumped.

Hi All,

A few photos from Bridgewater when it was on display at the Adelaide Model Railway Exhibition over the weekend.

The excitement for the weekend, came when Bridgewater won second place in the Rob Burford Memorial Trophy for the peer judging.

The Murray Bridge end of the yard, with modified walthers 90' turntable (the prototype was a 85')