Category Archives: Prototype

This would make a good model!

This has great potential as a set piece on a preservation-era layout.  I can imagine a locomotive, broken trailer, police cars in attendance, and the curious Great British Public looking on.  And a good way of using up a non-working (or … Continue reading

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New trains for old

The HST125 must be one of the railway design greats.  But their 40 year reign as an iconic sight on British tracks is coming to an end.  The BBC reports: A new Japanese train is arriving on British shores today … Continue reading

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If M. C. Escher had photoshop?

Once again, not quite ‘N’ gauge, but I couldn’t resist reposting these photoshop specials.  Mind you, a couple of them look like some scenery I’ve seen on layouts on the exhibition circuit (though the tip for backscenes looks a good … Continue reading

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Tower Bridge under construction

Not quite ‘N’ gauge, but a friend sent me a mail with a series of pictures of London’s iconic Tower Bridge under construction.  They are too good not to pass on.  Perhaps the only railway interest are the tracks for the steam … Continue reading

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The longest train journey in the UK

What’s the longest train journey that you can do in the UK?  According to the Daily Telegraph it’s Aberdeen to Penzance in 13 and a half hours. All you USA and Canada readers will laugh at this.  That’s just down … Continue reading

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Southern Railway Coach formations

With the advent of the excellent Dapol Southern Railway Maunsell coaches, we’ll need to know how to put together a realistic formation.  I came across this useful information on the Worsley Works etched ‘scratch-aid’ and kit site (originally from the … Continue reading

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The railway lines alarmingly close to the sea

The quantity (and quality) of railway articles on the BBC website is a pleasant surprise.  There must be a few closet ‘gricers’ somewhere the organisation.  This latest one is about those stretches of railway in danger from the sea.  We all remember … Continue reading

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Signal problems at Redhill

The Sorry Error, whoops, Surrey Mirror reported yesterday that…. Signalling problems causing delays of up 30 minutes for Redhill commuters COMMUTERS are facing delays of up to 30 minutes this morning due to signalling problems around Redhill railway station. Southern … Continue reading

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Dear Mr Railway Man

Following our theme of late trains, the Telegraph posted this heart-breaking letter from a 6-year old girl to rail bosses.  The article states…. A six-year-old girl has written a “heartbreaking” letter to rail chiefs begging them to get her father … Continue reading

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Toy trains from the past 200 years

From the BBC News site this week, describing a new exhibition, “Playing Trains”, at the National Railway Museum in York: What is it about toy trains that has continued to entertain children, admittedly mostly boys, for nearly two centuries? A major new … Continue reading

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