My Pacific National pairing

It's been 3 months since I unveiled Philden Beach. In that time, I've been able to complete a few medium length operating sessions to fine tune what works best. One big thing I am pleased about, was my decision to broaden my layout's time period to include a pair of Pacific National locos to operate on my North Coast Line. It is refreshing to have some relatively modern models in one of my favourite paint schemes.

NR22 was the first of my Pacific National locomotives to arrive at Philden Beach in February 2023.

BL28 followed in March 2023. These louvre vans are destined for Brandon Industries No. 4 track.

BL28 joined NR22 to become the first new locomotives purchased to run on Philden Beach. The Pacific National pair joined my 4 surviving incumbents from Philden Street Yard in the form of my CFCLA pairing of JL406 + FL220, and my Indigenous NR's of NR30 + NR52 to give me an initial 6 locos for a mid-sized shelf layout. Not a bad start, and a mix of locos that are visually interesting.

For an up-and-back layout, the BL was a great choice given that it has a cab at both ends. Since getting down to the nitty-gritty of shunting the yard, having the flexibility of a bi-directional loco, (even an NR that can operate long end leading), is something that becomes more noticeable the more you operate.

BL28 runs around the vans and shoves them back alongside the Brandon Industries warehouse doors.

The loco uncouples and will now go to the diesel service tracks to shut down for the day.

BL28 joins NR22 in the diesel service tracks, (No. 2 & 3) to await their next call of duty.

I tend to like that early to mid 2000's era, right through to the early 2010's. Given that my layout can simultaneously have 3 to 4 locos in play at most, I've discovered I simply like pairing my 'dance partners' together on a running 'sesh' and let the combinations on the day define which particular year I'm operating within.

I'm also very much looking forward to my pre-ordered C Class arriving. Having some green and gold on my North Coast layout is going to look great!

Until next time...