Category Archives: Prototype

Book review – ‘Locomotives worth modelling’

Posted on May 26, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

Our visit to the South Devon Railway did, of course, include a visit to the second-hand book shop.  (It has to be said, too, that we visited the bookshop at Buckfast Abbey and came out with a purchase.)  I couldn’t … Continue reading →

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South Devon Railway – 2

Posted on May 24, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

Buckfastleigh station is very well kept, and has some good branchline touches, like the trolley for the luggage and the milk churns awaiting collection. 1930’s carriages sit next to the preserved line’s staple piece of rolling stock – the BR … Continue reading →

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South Devon Railway – 1

Posted on May 22, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

A week’s holiday in the south-west started with a company reunion meal in the RNLI at Poole, Dorset.  Wonderful views of the harbour and the lifeboats parked moored outside the headquarters building.  We also had a tour of the training … Continue reading →

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1971 – December – you can’t please everyone

Posted on May 20, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

Our last look at the 1971 Railway Magazine.  From the always reliable letters page, an outbreak of outrage, but from Dawlish, not Tunbridge Wells…. Ridiculous SIR – The photograph facing page 577 of the November issue of The Railway Magazine … Continue reading →

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1971 – September – the Victoria line opens

Posted on May 18, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

September 1971 edition of the Railway Magazine included an article on the opening of the final section of the London Underground Victoria line on July 23 1971. Public opening of the 3.5 mile southward extension to the Victoria Line of London … Continue reading →

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1971 – September – Nine Days to Vladivostok

Posted on May 14, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

Also in the September 1971 edition of the Railway Magazine, was a description of a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway.  It’s written rather in the “British Empire” style – intrepid explorer with Union Jack and pith helmet reaches the interior … Continue reading →

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1971 – August – a pot pourri

Posted on May 8, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

A mixture of items from the August 1971 Railway Magazine, starting with a little deja vu. You could write a similar headline in 2016…. Across America with AMTRAK Uncertain future of United States passenger trains rests with new national corporation. … Continue reading →

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Isle of Wight railways

Posted on April 30, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

The railways of the Isle of Wight have always fascinated me.  Not least because of the concentration of lines on a small island – three companies pre-1923 before they were amalgamated under the Southern Railway. And the Isle of Wight … Continue reading →

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1971 – July – Birdcage discomfort

Posted on April 27, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

Also in the July 1971 edition of Railway Magazine was an interesting article on the Oxted line of Southern Railway and BR Southern Region.  This line branched off the main Brighton line at East Croydon, wound its way through Oxted … Continue reading →

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1971 – July – A polite correspondence

Posted on April 24, 2017 by snitchthebudgie

The letters page of the July 1971 Railway Magazine produced some interesting snippets, but most fascinating was the style.  Letter writing was still an art – no email, Fa(r)cebook or Twitter. This month’s letters had an exchange of views on whether the exhaust … Continue reading →

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