Author Archives: snitchthebudgie

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About snitchthebudgie

Secretary of the East Surrey N Gauge railway club

Book review – Creating cameo layouts’

Posted on March 18, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

We all get older.  Even Iain Rice gets older.  That young whipper-snapper with radical ideas on P4 modelling and on layout design is now an elder statesman of the hobby.  Fortunately he writes in just the same style as he ever … Continue reading →

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design, The trade | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Crisis – what crisis?

Posted on March 16, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

The September 1982 copy of ‘Modern Railways’ has the cover sub-title of “British Rail in crisis.”  This seems to be mainly due to a prolonged strike by the ASLEF drivers.  It seems to have been due to a proposal to … Continue reading →

Posted in Out and about, Prototype, Weird and wonderful | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Off my trolley – North Hollywood yet again

Posted on March 14, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

Noticed recently that the restoration of the old Pacific Electric / Southern Pacific depot at North Hollywood has been completed and reopened as a commuter café on the Metro Orange Line.  This article gives the details, including: The official grand … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Layout design, Prototype, Traction | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Book review – Model Railroad Planning 2017′

Posted on March 12, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

The new year has come around again and it’s time for this year’s ‘Model Railroad Planning’ from Kalmbach.  I get this annual publication every year, and it is almost always worth a read.  There are usually too many (for me) … Continue reading →

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design, The trade | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

1971 – March – Personalities

Posted on March 10, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

Between the February and March editions of Railway Magazine, the price had changed from 4s (20p) to 20p (4s).  Yes, the UK had been decimalised. From “Some thoughts on the end of steam” by the prosaically named “62741”. Personalities of the … Continue reading →

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Minories, Minories everywhere…..

Posted on March 8, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

Once you start looking for ‘Minories’ type layouts, they seem to be everywhere.  I suppose this is hardly surprising, as the layout of crossovers and a point to reach three platforms is a simple, intuitive one.  So here’s another attractive … Continue reading →

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design, Out and about | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

1971 – February – Same old problems?

Posted on March 6, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

The 1971 editions of Railway Magazine have some familiar articles. Alleviating Borough Market Fundamental changes to the track layout, combined with resignalling, in the London Bridge area is planned by the Southern Region of British Railways to overcome the notorious … Continue reading →

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ESNG meeting – 2 March 2017

Posted on March 4, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

The layout was very quiet tonight.  A number of us seemed happy just to be social and chat (and what’s wrong with that), and we were missing all Paul’s Japanese stock – as he’s out there at the moment looking … Continue reading →

Posted in ESNG, ESNG meetings | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

ESNG exhibtion – 8 April 2017 – coming soon!

Posted on March 2, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

Just over a month to go to the ESNG 2017 show.  All is set, and all we need is some local advertising.  The local paper is a bit random, and it’s more difficult these days to place adverts in shop … Continue reading →

Posted in ESNG, ESNG meetings, Exhibitions | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Hindsight is perfect….

Posted on February 28, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

A few quotes from the February 1975 Modern Railways show that a lot can happen in 40 years, most of it beyond one’s wildest dreams.  From an article on the “London Rail Study”, a government appointed team looking at railways … Continue reading →

Posted in Prototype, Weird and wonderful | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments