Exehaven Harbour 90 N Gauge Moidel Railway

[@leewhall2504]

Hello John. Excellent stuff mate, so great to see the trains running, really looks good. To be honest, I didn't actually notice the struggle on the inclines. I always think tjat when trains are running l, progress really speeds up, and if possible, it's nice to have them running whilst carrying out the work. Can't wait to see more progress mate. Best regards as always, Lee

[@Avondaleandhalshawmoor]

Brilliant layout!....and a great space to spend watching trains.....all the best for 2025 Lloyd

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Lloyd, thanks for watching and commenting, hopefully I’ll hear from you again over the next year. Happy New Year to you, cheers for now, John

[@davidb4040]

Looking very good. Well done John, a great place to start from for 2025. Happy New Year.

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi David, thank you, Happy New Year to you, cheers for now, John

[@FarlandHowe]

Hi John, The trains seems to be running very well. You seem to be making good progress. It is always a joyful moment when trains begin running after a hiatus. Happy New Year, Rob

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Rob, yes, trains running again at last! It’s a shame I have to take it down to set it up for when I set it up permanently as I’m really enjoying having the trains run again but if I don’t do it I’ll never get on! Cheers for now mate, Happy New Year, John

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Lee, thanks mate, I’m loving having the trains running again, but I’m going to have to stop while I set it up properly. My Nest goal is to have the double track mainline running and I can have two trains running while I work on the scenery. The other thing this test track has shown is that there will be some nice angles and views to watch the trains running especially over the estuary bridges. Hope you had a good New Year celebration, cheers for now, John

[@davidcutts2650]

Hi John. Nice to a train running. Good job 👍. By you & Mrs E will be into 2025. Wishing you a great year & continuing progress on your layout. Cheers mate.

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi David thank you mate, I’m glad to have the trains running again although the track will be taken up again so that I can set it up permanently as I’m happy with how things are. Happy New Year to you and your family, cheers for now, John

[@thegrowler-blackwoodngauge]

Good morning John. Excellent progress on getting a working layout back in action. Now I can understand the actual layout configuration after seeing the trains running. I know you had an audience with the NT a couple of days ago😅 - and he will have given you some of his esteemed "advice". Good idea re the tunnel section - I can envisage a brilliant scenic view of trains entering/exiting the tunnel. Really pleased for you John. All the best for the New Year to you, Mrs Exhaven and family. 😊 cheers Euan

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Euan, it’s often difficult to see how something will work until it’s in place you can actually see and I’m glad you can see it now. As for the NT always good advice although I’m not sure he’s over keen but I’m liking it more as the trains run round. I went out yesterday afternoon for a good tidy up and of course to run some trains. The more I watch and envisage the scenery some of the views should be really good including the tunnel out onto the bridge. I think after the last video I had a terrific response and with the trains running as well as they do I’m sticking with this plan although some sections will be change slightly. Thanks as always Euan for your support,Happy New Year to you and the family, looking forward to more on Blackwood next year, cheers from all of us here, John

[@medwaypeninsulaMR]

Hi John Happy New Year , Nice to see all the trains making the gradient and looking good going around . Cheers Kev 👍🏾

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Kev, Happy New Year to you, Mel and the family mate, yes as you know trains are running ok, just got to take it all apart now I’m happy with it to set it up more permanently. Goal is now to have the track bed setup and the double track mainline down with the the junctions that I’ll need put in, hopefully over the next few weeks. Cheers for now mate, John

[@ngaugefouroaksstreetstatio6932]

Very good John, good to see the trains running again.

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Chris, thanks, I’m so pleased that it’s worked ok and to have the trains out of the box again was fantastic. Happy New Year to you cheers for now, John

[@davidpearce5980]

Hi John. Another great video, really good to see you have trains running on your final layout design. Also thanks for the mention re the Exehaven/Brighton Belle, I can imagine it running round with the scenery in place. We did have a lovely Christmas Day at Karen’s nieces, who really goes to town with the dec’s and a full blown Christmas dinner. Happy and Prosperous New Year to you and Mrs Exehaven, hope we can meet up in the new year.

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi David, thank you and at last having the trains running has been a great incentive! I’m really pleased I laid a test track, there are a couple of tweaks to be made but nothing major and of course that was what the test track was for. But yes this will be the final design and I think with the scenery there should be some lovely views. Glad to hear you had a nice Christmas and yes I’m going to try to get up and see you in the New Year at some point. Happy New Year to you both from all of us here at Exehaven, cheers for now, John

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Fantastic progress John, and so good to see trains running again. You referred to trains struggling up the incline on the left. On cam we see two grey sections with a brown bit in the middle, just by the house. Hope you dont mind me saying the brown section looks slightly higher, meaning there is a slight hump for trains to tackle. You said about extending incline, just the lowest section about 6" would probably do it and make your own support, or take 1/2 mm off of the higher bit. Only hoping to be helpful, have a think if you choose to change it. Food for thought as they say. Happy New Year John, take care and have fun.

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi John, yes you’re right and this was precisely why I set this test track up to see how they would run. Strangely enough after filming this video the trains seem to be coping with it better except the Castle class. But what this test track has highlighted are a couple of bits that I will need to change and it’s quite easy to do as I have the room to do it. Having the trains running again has been fantastic, I spent yesterday afternoon having a good tidy up which always makes me feel better and having a cuppa and watching the trains run round, lovely! Your input is always welcome John and thanks for all your help and for the second time in five minutes, lol! Happy New Year! John

[@thegrowler-blackwoodngauge]

Good morning John. Excellent progress on getting a working layout back in action. Now I can understand the actual layout configuration after seeing the trains running. I know you had an audience with the NT a couple of days ago😅 - and he will have given you some of his esteemed "advice". Good idea re the tunnel section - I can envisage a brilliant scenic view of trains entering/exiting the tunnel. Really pleased for you John. All the best for the New Year to you, Mrs Exhaven and family. 😊 cheers Euan

[@Wickford_N_Gauge]

Greetings Essex and hello John 👋 The mojo has returned 😀 excellent to see you running trains again 🤩 The National Treasure 😇 certainly got you School's locomotive 🚂 to perform brilliantly 🫡 As for the derailing coaches 🤔 you could check if the wheels are free running 🏃‍♂️ as sometimes, even new from the box, the wheel 🛞 sets are not aligned with the pin holes in the bogies 😫 Enjoy you testing 🔍 AKA, playing trains 😉 Very best wishes for a happy New Year from the other Wickford ☘️

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Paul, the mojo is well and truly back and having the trains running again has been great. Yes the NT done a brilliant job on the Schools class and she runs round brilliantly. Most of the loco’s do to be fair, just a couple of tweaks to make here and there. The test track was a great idea just to see how things run and I’m happy with and will stick with this plan. As for the coaches I will check the wheels but these two coaches have been a pain ever since I had them. Happy New Year to you Paul from all of us here at Exehaven, cheers for now, John

[@Elvenhome]

Really good to see trains again and you must be really pleased with your progress. That was an excellent test and gave you so much information about how well the final layout will work. I know you were disappointed with the Castle, but as the owner of three of them, I was surprised it could do five coaches. It doesn't have any traction tyres and is a bit light. So being able to run five coaches over gradients is actually success! The 5MT and Schools Class ran well. Happy New Year Stephen

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Stephen, I’m so pleased they are up and running again, this recent push I’ve had has pushed things on nicely. The test track has been really worth doing, there are a couple of tweaks to be made but nothing major and will be done as I lay the track properly. Bit of work to do with getting the raised beds secured down and the cork glued but I feel I’m well on the way now as I’m satisfied this will be what I will settle with. There should be some lovely shots if the scenery turns out as well as I hope. As for the Castle I think I knew in my heart of hearts it was never going to do eight coaches and like you say with no traction tyres and being light it is a struggle for it. Still the 5MT and The Schools classed managed very well and I’m happy with that. I can’t wait to get cracking in the New Year. Happy New Year to you too, cheers for now, John

[@iansngauge]

Happy New Year John! Great to see the progress you've made with the inclines, and to see Old Faithful have no trouble pulling the rake of eight coaches around on the first real test run! Shame that the Castle class could only manage five in one direction, but six in the other seems quite reasonable! I think the 5MT may have traction tyres, so should be okay with more! Great to see trains running again! Oh, I like the idea with the Peco tunnel portal! All the best for 2025, Ian.

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Ian, thank you mate, yes old faithful is much like your class 33 and generally does a lot of the testing because I know if that fails the rest will fail too! The Castle class I knew probably wouldn’t do 8 coaches, it is very light and doesn’t have traction tyres but, I think it coped admirably and with a couple of tweaks I’m going to make may actually manage 6 coaches but will see on that one! I’m so pleased to that I have done this test track as it has highlighted a couple of small problems that are easily fixed. Trouble is I’m reluctant to take it apart as I’m enjoying running trains around! But it has to be done as I’m settled on this configuration and if I don’t I’ll never get on and build the thing!! Next goal is to get the double tracks laid so I can have two trains running. Glad you like the tunnel mouth idea as I think that will give a great view as the trains come out and over the bridge. Thanks for all your support mate, Happy New Year! Cheers, John

[@collinsngauge5493]

Hi John hope you and your family had a good Christmas. Fantastic testing when you said the first steam engine ran better the other way that is t wright way when there are two track because we drive on the left both cars and trains. But I'm not saying you have to, because it's your rule. The school class was running the wright way. You can't beat a class 50 for pulling. Great to hear you again, all the best for the new year. Colin

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Colin, there is only one track down at the moment and the trains will run the right way once the lines are laid properly. This is a test track just to see if the gradients worked ok which necessitated running the trains both ways just to make sure. I haven’t tested all my loco’s yet but to be honest with the ones left I don’t see too many problems. The test track has highlighted a couple of little issues which will be sorted when the main tracks go down. Happy New Year to you and your family mate, cheers from all of us here, John