Category Archives: Prototype

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 →

Another mixup for Friday….. This would be a real modelling challenge! Mind you, you don’t have to go to Queensland for floods.  The BBC recorded this at Euston… Another modelling challenge – especially if you wanted to include the catenary…. … Continue reading →

I continue to be amazed at the amount of quality content on YouTube.  Railway, that is, but I keep getting diverted by some brilliant music videos, especially from the 1960’s and 70’s, and build videos for plastic kits.  I’m very … Continue reading →

Haven’t done one of these for a while….. This video of Peter Denny’s ‘Buckingham’ shows just how good a model it was.  Way ahead of its time…. I’ve no idea where this is, but great film of rail and trams…. … Continue reading →