SJM Locomotive Works

SJM Locomotive Works a personal blog on model making from a professional retired model maker.

Its been some time since i posted about my little layout I have been working on Irwell street. Between working on the re...
04/07/2026

Its been some time since i posted about my little layout I have been working on Irwell street.

Between working on the real railway & a number of family illnesses the layout hasn't had much work done to it.

I got to a point with it where it was in need of the wiring finishing & the traverser building.

I completed the wiring last sunday & got all the point motors installed & wired up.

The traverser has been the thing I have been putting off the longest. I have never really built one before on my own & so I put it on the back burner for a long time.

I did cut some wood last week but it ended a total disaster. I couldnt cut the wood straight enough for 2 identical pieces. I took the plunge & went to the timber merchant this morning & got some bits cut. Im going to glue them together this evening & get the timberwork ready for instalation tomorrow all being well.

Once the traverser is installed i can finish the last bit of tracklaying & then I can crack on with finishing all the scenic elements of the layout.

I have been working on the real railways a lot recently pouring concrete for the Transpennine upgrades. As a result the ...
07/06/2026

I have been working on the real railways a lot recently pouring concrete for the Transpennine upgrades. As a result the model railway has been on the back burner.

I did however have a little session on the Metro 3rd brake. I finished off the 2nd footboard & got the vac pipes fitted. I also bent up a piece of wire for the handrail thats to be fitted to the step end of the coach.

The other 3 kits have turned up & the wheels. Im hoping to get those into a production line this next week. This coach has a few final details to be added which i might wait to add until I am at the part with the other 3.

These kits from Roxey Mouldings are a really nice model that go together relatively well.

I will keep you posted as they progress.

I spent the morning adding some details to the kit. I dont usually fully follow instructions. I have made enough brass k...
30/05/2026

I spent the morning adding some details to the kit.

I dont usually fully follow instructions. I have made enough brass kits to know what goes where. I only refer to them if I get stuck.

I decided to tackle the door hinges first. 10 pieces of brass strip woth a half etched fold on one end. No problem at all I thought, wrong!!!

For some strange reason my kit has only 1 set of holes etched for the door hinges. I hadnt noticed until I came to the second lot.

I had to come up with a way of making 5 mini slot holes in the hinge sections of the door. I split a peg firstly to use as a surface in which the blade of a compass cutter could land once it had pierced the thin brass body. It also helps the brass from distortion.

I used a ruler to lay the blade against & slowly worked my way through the brass by wiggling the cutter too & frow.

My holes worked better than the etched ones because mine were precise rather that oversized.

When I finished that off I added 4 ventaltors to the doors. The instructions advise to add all this before assembly, I have never liked that method of construction. I need another 3 of these coaches so maybe I might add some parts before assembly next time.

Apart from these small issues the kit has gone together well.

Its been a while since I picked a soldering iron up & made something. I decided to start with something relatively easy ...
29/05/2026

Its been a while since I picked a soldering iron up & made something.

I decided to start with something relatively easy to build. Its a roxey mouldings GWR metro brake 3rd coach.

Its built to P4 standards & this is how we are looking after 3 hours. Not a bad little kit at all. Everything fits well & so far it hasn't been any issue to build. The only modification I have had to add is a slither of solder along the compensation rocking arm. The coach looked at little low on one end.

Its been a pleasant evening making the kit & i am looking forward to putting some more to it tomorrow morning.

A few layout snaps. Scenic section is 4ft 6inch with a traverser ( yet to be built ) off camera. Dcc powered including t...
07/04/2026

A few layout snaps. Scenic section is 4ft 6inch with a traverser ( yet to be built ) off camera.

Dcc powered including turnout control.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Currently i am making a 00 gauge layout in the workshop & these are a few of the bits I have been working on recently. T...
07/04/2026

Currently i am making a 00 gauge layout in the workshop & these are a few of the bits I have been working on recently. They are a mix of kits & scratch build buildings to fit around the layout.

Next up is a half relief mill that'll be made from plasticard & laser cut windows.

I still have loads to do but I would like the layout to be to a good stage of completeness before summers out as I have something a little bigger planned once im done with this.

Any questions please feel free to ask away.

After picking up the Bachmann Midland 1532 loco i treated myself on my birthday to one of the revolution coaches from ra...
03/04/2026

After picking up the Bachmann Midland 1532 loco i treated myself on my birthday to one of the revolution coaches from rapido trains. Whilst this coach is generic I personally think its the best rtr coach I have seen. The model is super detailed inside & out. They are well worth the £63 price tag. I have ordered another to make a small train up of them.

I am currently constructing a new layout for in the workshop. Its a 00 gauge layout based on the ex lanky lines around B...
03/04/2026

I am currently constructing a new layout for in the workshop. Its a 00 gauge layout based on the ex lanky lines around Bury.

I have been working today on a fair priced models terrace house kit.

Now for a tenner they are excellent value for money. They are laser cut mdf & are very comprehensive for such a cheap kit. They dont come with any stones or bricks lasered to the surface, you clad it in whatever you want. I used some south eastern fine cast embossed brick plasticard & some slate sheet i had kicking around.

The models still not finished as I need to make some brick walls to make the back yard & the chimneys need making & fitting plus other details.

The layout still has a long way to go but it is getting there slowly.

I have just purchased this model from Bachmann. Its a Midland 1532 class in Midland livery & the finish is stunning. It ...
31/03/2026

I have just purchased this model from Bachmann. Its a Midland 1532 class in Midland livery & the finish is stunning.

It just reminded me of a friend of my who passed away a couple of years ago. He was a member of the model railway group im a part of & we used to talk about pre grouping railways.

He used to tell us a story of when he was a young lad & he saw the last LNWR claughton in Manchester exchange station resplendent in LMS crimson livery. He also noted it was very free steaming & in good condition.

He also remembered these locos running up & down the Worth valley line in both LMS & BR livery.

I am sure he would have loved all these pregrouping models that the rtr manufactures are producing especially as he was a fan of the Midland & LMS.

Thanks for the memories & stories, you won't be forgotten Harry Bancroft.

Plodding along at a leisurely pace & I arrive at this moment of the build.Always exciting to get a real glimpse into wha...
11/01/2026

Plodding along at a leisurely pace & I arrive at this moment of the build.

Always exciting to get a real glimpse into what your trying to achieve.

Its a really nice model kit from www.brassmasters.co.uk, the instructions sometimes are a bit of a battle, overall though the fit is perfect.

Address

Bingley
Bingley

Telephone

07815597200

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when SJM Locomotive Works posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to SJM Locomotive Works:

Shortcuts

Share