Category Archives: Prototype

Thank you Brian for tipping me off that Clan Line was passing through Redhill.  I finally got a look at this wonderful locomotive, and it brought back memories of the last days of UK steam on the Southern Region. The … Continue reading →

Just to get you in the mood for winter….  But this is a cab ride in snow in 2010 – and there was plenty of snow, too! The Great Model Railroad Museum in Switzerland – Chemins de fer du Kaeserberg … Continue reading →

From FaceBook (and a lot of other places). The US standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That’s an exceedingly odd number. Why was that gauge used? Well, because that’s the way they built them … Continue reading →

I’m not sure this is so true today.  From NGF,,,, Below I have a quote from a book I’m reading called Trains Unlimited by Tim Fischer which in turn is a quote from the UK Financial Times from 2004. A … Continue reading →

Spotted in Earlwood, next to the Tonbridge line…. And a few minutes later, the train drifting into Redhill…. Paul posted on Facebook this picture of Liverpool Street station in the 1920’s.  What a gloomy barn of a station!  But a … Continue reading →

A selection of photos of the Brighton 4-6-2 tanks.  There were just the two of them, one with Stephenson’s valve gear and one with Walschaerts.  Not quite as elegant as the slightly larger L class Baltic 4-6-4 tanks – the … Continue reading →

Today’s modelling challenge (from Didcot Railway Centre on Facebook.) On 14 August 1925, a photograph was taken of the last shunting horse employed at Paddington station, in the goods depot. On the left are the old goods depot buildings, which … Continue reading →

Another trawl through the internet, to cover up my lack of modelling….. A cab ride on the IOW line…. The history of Clapham Junction… I visited Ambarawa (Java) twice in the late 80’s.  All the old locos were standing in … Continue reading →

If you are old enough, you may remember the Triang Giraffe car, where the said animal ducked its head on approaching a low obstacle.  I never had one, and would confess that I never even wanted one! But fact is … Continue reading →