iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Deliberately left myself with a slightly long wait at Sandy, and it turned out to be gorgeous autumn sunlight.

An LNER Azuma heading north through Sandy, away from the camera, in low golden sunlight.

An LNER Azuma heading north through Sandy, towards the camera, in low golden sunlight.

The leading class 91 locomotive (in RAF Lest We Forget livery) of an LNER IC225 set heading north through Sandy in low golden sunlight.

The trailing DVT of an LNER IC225 set heading north through Sandy, away from the camera, in low golden sunlight.

120

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Decision made: this layout is set in autumn. (Red dots are where catenary masts will go.) #BSMRGUK #TMRGUK

Scene on my layout: a class 87 in Intercity Executive livery leads a train out of the tunnel; a rake of coal hoppers is departing the scene to the right; trees with yellow and orange leaves have been added to the scenery.

091

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

GETS done for another year. Good trade stalls (though surprised not to see Rails!), maybe lacking any wow-factor layouts. Plenty of good ones, of course.

000

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Pre-GETS breakfast. (Tesco café, Fenny Stratford, if you ever want a food alternative near the show.)

A dish of Tesco's breakfast hash: mini hash browns, posh baked beans and a fried egg. Also a latte in cup and saucer.

000

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Currently on the last northbound train of the day at the NYMR gala, with literally about two other people. Baffles me why after-dark running isn't more popular - it's so atmospheric! (I know the SVR do it - sampled it last year and it was great.)

Platform 2 of Pickering station, gloomy under the station roof, with relief provided by warm light from the train and platform lighting.

010

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

So this is my Pullman dining experience. Meals cancelled because of an earlier trespass incident that stopped the staff reaching Paddington apparently. Got an email an hour ago but didn't pick it up until I was actually on the train. Honestly, fuming.

A very thin bag of ready salted crisps, a plastic-wrapped piece of cake, and a cup of coffee.

110

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

000

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

My (late) summer holiday starts with a pint at Paddington! Will be sampling the Pullman dining experience once I get underway...

A part-drunk pint of beer, in my hand, in the foreground; the arched trains he'd of Paddington station in the background.

140

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Possibly my favourite photo from the day - there was a period when the shadows from the adjacent building played across 37501 delightfully.

37501 in its British steel livery, with shadows from the girders / roof elements from a building running across it.

120

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

They've got Sprinters in preservation now. Well, a Sprinter. This was arguably the defining sight on the railways in my area growing up. Sigh. Still, the paint job is fantastic.

Class 150 Sprinter unit in original Regional Railways livery.

100

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

The common narrative is that British steam locomotive manufacture ended with Evening Star, but of course it continued for export for another decade. Took me a while to twig why this particular loco was top-and-tailing with Prince until I realised it was the true final engine off the production line!

Three-quarter view of 2 foot gauge saddle tank locomotive Trangkil.

Builder's plate on Trangkil, dated 1971.

100

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Also enjoyed seeing the ever-changing Harefield Road in person, after following it on YouTube for a long time!

An S-stock unit pulls away from the station on the Harefield Road layout, with a model of Locomotion No.1 in the foreground.

Side-view of the new end section of Harefield Road, with an S-stock train passing over a viaduct section, with bus depot below.

110

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

A slightly unexpected bonus was being able to get a really good look at Making Tracks without the massive crowds that usually jostle around it (though I was there quite early - saw later on that it did indeed get very busy). It's not just the size that's impressive - the detail really is exquisite.

The Prideolino pulls into Milton Keynes Central station on the Making Tracks layout.

110

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

So - Greatest Gathering yesterday! I'm not going to spam your timeline with loads of pics - let's be honest, we'll all have taken more or less the same photos, right? But here's a few quick personal highlights for me.

Class 50 locomotive wearing a vinyl wrap livery that says "So. Many. Trains." in large letters along the side.

130

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

This is where I was going! I bet you couldn't guess!

The entrance to Derby railway station. To one side, the tender and cab of 60103 Flying Scotsman are visible, as it waits briefly at a platform.

010

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

I'm off on an adventure! But where to? It's such a mystery! You'll never guess!

A class 222 train pulling into a platform.

021

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

I know it's a bit pot luck buying stuff off ebay, but I've never had coaches with such filthy roofs before. Needed a bit of elbow grease, not just a quick wipe! #BSMRGUK #BMRGUK

Four oo gauge coaches with visibly dirty white roofs.

The sane four coaches, with one roof part-cleaned.

The sane four coach roofs - all clean now!

110

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

I've got some coaches and other bits and bobs on eBay at the moment. Check them out if you're in the market for some OO gauge Lima blood & custard Mk1s, a Hornby (Railroad) BR green class 110, or an odd little collectable from EMR... www.ebay.co.uk/sch/1/i.html... #BSMRGUK

Card tube / box in the form of an East Midlands Railway class 360

010

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

The third and final postcard from Abecedary Junction dates waaaay back to the early '90s... #ModelTrainShow2025

050

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

A few snapshots of Abecedary Junction for #ModelTrainShow2025. One day I'll do some properly edited videos, when it's more detailed up; but for this year, a few quick one-shot postcards from my little layout...

2111

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Ah, very nice. Three years in the making.

040

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

My Accurascale 31 has arrived! Three years, to the month, since I ordered it. Still, glad to have it, and looking forward to getting it on the layout later.

External box of an Accurascale class 31 model.

140

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Quite like this view down the platforms...

020

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Little running session on my little layout. Er, catenary to follow at a later date, but the 87's a lovely model.

0141

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

"You will be visited by three spirits." The three spirits:

Gordon, Edward and Henry in an original illustration from a Thomas the Tank Engine book.

020

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 17/10/2024

Is "have a train" becoming the customary welcome on here? If so, I approve. Here, have a train.

Black and white image of a steam train pulling into a country station at night, tender first, in a slight blur. (Bahamas arriving at Arley during the recent SVR gala.)

060

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 17/10/2024

Lovely to see people trickling in here over the last day or two! Knew it would get busy at some point... Latest on my little layout: got a P2 to run in - beautiful model, but was faulty! Swiftly exchanged by Kernow - excellent service, and sold at half price!

030