Potpourri #1097

Quite a lot of modelling progress at the moment, but not enough for a full blog post.  Soon, I hope.  In the meantime, a few more odds and ends.  Two ESNG meetings this week that should produce a few dodgy pictures.

Trams from Tooting and Lisbon.  Both very modellable!

Pont Llanio milk factory suggests an interesting model, but I couldn’t find a station track plan anywhere on the web…. 

A compact but interesting HO plan.  It does have 15″ radius curves, but a little expansion would make a good N gauge shortline.  (Plan: Rob Chant.)

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A ‘big’ Minories.  “Southformoonshine” was a classic OO layout, that included several simplified outer London stations, including Reigate, and ended in a reverse loop to send the trains back again.  (From an old Model Railway Constructor annual.)  Putting the terminus on a curve eliminates all reverse curves.

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Two pictures of Smallbrook Junction IOW in 1960 and 1961 (colour picture by Paul Jay.)

And a still from the epic opening scene from the classic 1955 film “Bad Day at Black Rock.”

All is not as it seems.  The line had bee abandoned for a number of years, so they actually ran the consist backwards at 10 mph and had a helicopter film it. They then reversed the film and sped it up to give the impression that the train was going forward at what would’ve been track speed, 50 mph.  Normal club night at ESNG, of course!

My other modelling job at the moment is to spring clean the loft.  It’s amazing how many small boxes I have containing the same thing as other small boxes.  And I’ve found a number of projects that I really ought to finish!

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West Sussex N Gauge Open Day – 2024

Tricky decision this morning!  Drive up to Abingdon for what looks like a large and excellent show there, or Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Allan and Derek and a visit to the West Sussex open day?  Then I found out that Nick Falconer had pulled Königshafen from appearing at the Abingdon show, due to a back injury.  This was the must see for the day.  And the weather forecast was very wet.  So I settled for a pleasant morning with friends, a good breakfast and a pleasant little show.  Especially as we know a lot of the West Sussex members, so it gave us a chance to catch up.

The show was a little different from their other open days that I have attended, as rather than a modular layout, they had a number of small, personal, layouts, and some work in progress.

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Some micro-modules with some interesting scenery!

I liked Gilly’s new end loop.  All it needs are a few deer and a solitary man in a kilt with some bagpipes in the middle of the bog.

And a couple of Ian’s ‘Small and Working’ creations.

And here’s the prototype for everything department.  What to do with your low relief buildings.  This is in Kensington, West London.

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Potpourri #1096

Leap year extra!

Two ways to coal your loco.  Would you dare to model the second one?

Local pictures.  Earlwood in 1979….

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And in 2016.  The Virginia Creeper still puts on a wonderful show every year.  (Nick Slocombe.)

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And some more 73’s.  Rescuing a broken down EMU in the snow in 2016.  I don’t think that I ever saw this rather attractive livery (Photos Tom Bowes.)

New Cross Gate in 1979.  In those days always an interesting place to travel through (Stanley M Chale.)

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And Rod’s train set….

See you in March!

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Epping Ongar railway and bus running day

Ron has been on the buses!

Visited the above for their Country Bus Running Day. Unfortunately train times did not coincide well with bus time so only managed a return DMU trip from North Weald to Epping Forest, which is the limit of the line towards Epping and where you cannot alight or board a train.

Epping Ongar railway

And the buses.  Starting with two generations of double-deckers – STL and RT….

 

My personal favourites, GS and RLH….

 

 

Routemasters….

A solitary RF and some modern things!

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ESNG meeting – 25 February 2024

Sunday afternoon, and seven members turned up to play trains.  Not bad at all, as two regulars were missing.  Derek was under at least a three line whip to celebrate Yvonne’s 80th, and Simon was watching Chelsea (lose) in a cup final.

We had another afternoon with too many derailments, and that prompted some discussion as to how to improve things.  We did, I think, come up with a few reasonable ideas, so we may start our Wednesday working parties again.

Men at work…..

Sean has applied graffiti to Allan’s coal wagons…

Chris’ EMU….

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Trains from Michael….

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Trains from Brian….

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Trains from Sean….

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And Sean’s little self propelled crane.

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And Brian recorded this all for posterity!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/387140220595811

And….

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ESNG meeting – 21 February 2024

Just a few photos today – I must have spent too much time talking!  Eight members came along and occupied the four running tracks.

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Chris’ lovely ‘Jaffa Cake’ EMU had some difficulty staying on the track.  It’s strange – some days everything runs well, another they can’t stay on the rails.  (Bit like the members, really.)

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Rolling stock from three countries in one picture!

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Allan produced this colourful Class 66 and ran a short (for him) / long (for us) coal train.

We all seemed to have run all we wanted to by 9:15, so we packed up and went home.  Back on Sunday for another meeting.  I’m waiting to see who has the first Revolution Class 59 on show.

A few modelling ideas….

If you haven’t room for a layout, a diorama could be just the thing.  And no wiring to worry about.  These are by Luis Hermosilla, culled from Facebook.

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Some interesting bridges in Philadelphia and tight curves in Pittsburgh for trolleys and interurbans….

And how the Central of New Jersey main line crossed the Lehigh River – straight into a tunnel.  Unfortunately disused, but put that on your layout and wait for the nay-sayers!

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Potpourri #1095

Another ESNG meeting tonight, but in the mean time, here are some more random internet finds….

A bit of culture, as John Betjeman goes by train from King’s Lynn to Hunstanton.  Some lovely modelling ideas here, at this link.

Some random Jago Hazzard.  At the moment, he’s taking a well earned break from these fun and instructive videos.

Making a very small layout (in Japanese).

And to finish, some more of those wonderful Javan sugar cane railways…

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Tonbridge MRC show 2024

Last Saturday was the Tonbridge show.  One of the largest one day shows, certainly in the south-east, and always a good one.  And it’s popular, as it has one of the longest queues to get in that I’ve seen!

Mr Dawes was taking the train to Tonbridge, as last year, and I considered going along for a pleasant train ride and a good show.  However, when I looked at the layouts there, most, if not all, of the layouts I wanted to see had been at the exhibitions I had gone to through January.  The exception was a layout built and operated by an old friend (going back to school days.)  So I decided to stay at home, and in the end got a little modelling done as well as some other jobs.

But Allan has sent me some pictures of a selection of layouts – most of my favourites included too.  We’ll start with Blackmoor (OO9), Lynton & Barnstable in the 1930’s.

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Plant City (HO).  Miami switching on a large scale.  It’s a big layout giving a really spacious feel with quite a simple track plan.  And if you get tired of the switching, you can look for alligators.

Elbow Lane (OO) is a compact layout, with an EMU service and a parcels depot.  I really like the urban grot, and the buildings in the background.

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Bear Creek (N) sounds, and is, American!

Southwark Bridge (N) needs no introduction (see previous exhibition posts!)

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The Lemanis Light Railway (OO9) has some interesting details.  Note how the giraffe is pushing the wire fence down to get to some better grass….

Ospringe (St.Peter) and Water Lane (N)….

Norge (HO).  I’ve seen this layout several times, but being based in Norway always makes for interest – different trains and some exotic scenic details!

Obbekaer, rural Denmark in P87.  Something different again, and both very simple and very satisfying!

Rossiter Rise has also been doing the rounds of exhibitions recently.  And always worth another look.

Another favourite of mine, City Basin Goods (N).  It was a few years ago that this layout came to the ESNG exhibition (2018 according to the plaque on the front of the layout.)

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Kinlochlaggen (N) seems to be everywhere at the moment!

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And to finish, some real trains in Tonbridge yard…

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London calling!

Pure tourism today, with a few photos from Allan’s recent trip up and down the Thames.  There are a few well known landmarks to be seen, as well as the view of a couple of railway stations from the water.  Back to railways next time…..

Views.  The Cutty Sark at Greenwich was a childhood favourite visit….

Bridges….

Stations (Cannon Street & Blackfriars)….

HMS Belfast…..

Cleopatra’s Needle and The Tower….

The National Centre for Mismanagement…

And finally, the wonderfully named Battersea Power Station Station….

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Ashford MRC Exhibition, 2024, Tenterden

Allan sent me some photos from this show – no identification for some of them, though.

I’ve seen Melton Mowbray North (N) before (and recognised it).  I’ve always liked the buildings and the spacious, scale-sized, goods yard.

Another familiar layout is West Sussex’ Lyme Regis (N).

A neat little Scottish layout in N….

And three other unknowns!

I recognised Quevy (N) by the snow and the blue lighting!

Ian’s Small ‘N Working are also unmistakable (as is the hairless head….)

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