Category Archives: Weird and wonderful

Forgotten Dreams – Jon’s old trains #2

Most modellers have what is generally known as a ‘gloat’ box – but mine must be worst than most.  I’ve been excavating some more, and have come up with all sorts of things.  A lot of them I’d forgotten completely. … Continue reading

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Living in the past – Jon’s old trains #1

Not much progress on the modules since coming back from Hong Kong, but I decided it was time for a real turnout of my storage boxes of trains, dating back nearly 50 years.  It’s time to keep a few things, and … Continue reading

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Are model railways addictive?

This came from the ‘Trainlife’ site, and was unattributed, but claimed to be from a UK publication.  Looking round the club, it could just be true…. MODEL RAILWAYS PROMOTE SEXISM AND ARE AS ADDICTIVE AS COCAINE! A recent American study … Continue reading

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The first train-spotter?

Here’s an article from the BBC website to warm the heart of every gricer whoever stood on the end of a cold, windy platform….. Was this image drawn by the first member of an exclusive and much misunderstood club? Back … Continue reading

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Quote and pictures of the week….

The most excellent UK theologian NT Wright (almost my personal guru), talking about the Apostle Paul’s writings…. “All this is of course complex, but necessarily so.  Attempts to reduce that complexity in the pursuit of an easier comprehensibility are the … Continue reading

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Turkey: High-speed train breaks down on first day

Another BBC contribution: Turkey’s first high-speed train has broken down just a few hours after the prime minister inaugurated it in a glowing speech about the country’s technical prowess, it’s been reported. The glitch happened when a dislocated contact wire … Continue reading

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We are all superstars now!

A quote from the Daily Telegraph on the interests of rock stars… Building model railways is very popular among rockers of a certain vintage. Rod Stewart, Neil Young, Phil Collins and Roger Daltrey all have elaborate train sets, with Stewart … Continue reading

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The budgie has flown – for now

Off on a well-earned holiday for a week. So no computer, no Wi-Fi, no posts and probably withdrawal symptoms. But I’ve left a couple of articles that (I hope) will publish themselves.  And I will return…….

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Buddleia: The plant that dominates Britain’s railways

Gardening tips from the BBC website (edited)…… It’s hard to walk by a railway line in Britain and not see Buddleia. Along fences by the tracks and almost any patch of waste ground, you will notice the long, slender clumps … Continue reading

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The world’s most luxurious train?

Could this be a future release for Kato?  Beats slam-door electrics, anyway….  (From the Daily Telegraph website).  The newspapers continue to supply an interesting stream of prototype railway curios.  And I can’t resist reposting them! There will be two competing … Continue reading

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