A day out on the River Thames

Posted on October 16, 2022 by snitchthebudgie

No trains today, but Allan spent a day on the Thames, and sent me the photos.

Got off the bus at Putney Bridge to see the 10.30 boat about to leave. So made my way to get the last boat of the morning at 11.00. Only to find it was delayed by 20 minutes.  Had a lovely cup of tea as the boat made its way down the Thames. Was heading to North Greenwich O2. Had to change boats at Greenwich. Just wished we had a sunny day.

A few reflections from the boat windows, but some pictures of well-known landmarks from a different angle.  All showing what a great river the Thames still is (and quite a contrast to Ron’s Swiss shots.)

Starting in deepest Putney….

Is it a bird, is it a plane?

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Chelsea Bridge…

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Battersea Power Station.  You could have gone shopping, Allan – the shops finally opened to the public as you passed the front door.

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And of course the London Eye.  Next to the old County Hall, the GLC headquarters, where my mother-in-law worked for a time.

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A slightly out of focus Globe Theatre, and a rather tall Shard….

HMS Belfast, and a supply ship…

And of course, Tower Bridge.

The warehouses up and downstream of Tower Bridge have become very expensive apartments.  I can remember them with cargo vessels alongside.  Those were the days, my father told me, when if you fell in the Thames they stomach pumped you first and resuscitated you second.  Now you get sea horses swimming upstream!  Nice to see a working tug and barge, though.

And so to another childhood favourite visit, the Cutty Sark, probably the last great tea clipper.  All restored after a disastrous fire.

Next post will (probably) include some model trains!

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On a Swiss Roll #4

Posted on October 15, 2022 by snitchthebudgie

Last epistle from Ron for this trip…

DAY 6

Sunny but chilled

Group visit to Montreux but left to our own devices. Have come up to Rochers de Naye. If I can make it intend to do a boat trip but have 9 minutes from train arrival in Montreux to ge6 down to Quay

Tomorrow long journey home leave Leysin 0740CET arriving London 1845BST

Ascent to Rochers de Naye.

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Montreux MOB…

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Glion shed

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And finally, the Lake Geneva boat trip.  See you next time!

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On a Swiss Roll #3

Posted on October 14, 2022 by snitchthebudgie

DAY 5

Clear but chilly.

Free day so set out to do Les Pleiades above Vevey but when I got there everything was closed. The restaurant had what looked like at least a week’s rubbish piled up outside. Came back down to Vevey and found there was a boat in an hour to Lausanne so treated myself to a meal and a 1st class boat ticket. Currently in Lausanne waiting for train back to Aigle.

Views on walk to station this morning.

Vevey station….

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Les Pleiades….

Back to Vevey and the high seas (and one of Ron’s best ever pictures?)

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And to close today, a little tourism to Lausanne…

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On a Swiss Roll #2

Posted on October 13, 2022 by snitchthebudgie

Continuing Day 2, with the delightful Glion Railway.  The Montreux–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye Railway is an electrically operated rack railway with a track gauge of 800 mm.

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But there’s a Glion problem with a derailed wagon.  I like the way they just back the pick-up down the track!

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Bexieux works

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So to DAY 3….

Overcast turning to rain.

Should have taken Mont Blanc Express to Chamonix but line is closed. Instead we took train via Aigle to Martigny where we transferred to a coach for a visit to foundation promoting St Bernard Dogs and then on to Chamonix. On way back we are due to visit Emosson dam.

Chamonix train heading towards Lake Geneva.

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And Emosson Dam.  Almost as exciting as the trains for an old water engineer like me!

And DAY 4

Overcast with low cloud. Group rail trip to Zermatt via Aigle and Visp. Currently waiting train up Gornergrat. Webcam shows drifting cloud so may not see Matterhorn.

Leysin this morning.

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Aigle Leysin depot

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Visp

Zermatt…

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Gornergrat…

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On a Swiss Roll #1

Posted on October 12, 2022 by snitchthebudgie

I’ve lost track of which number holiday this is for Ron.  But I do know that it involved a return to Switzerland.  I’ve mainly posted the train photographs, and what struck me was the wide range of liveries that Ron has recorded.  So off we go….

Early start. Train from Purley and Eurostar both delayed. From arriving in Paris 2hrs 45 min  to change stations and catch train to Geneva for train to Aigle for coach transfer to hotel where we are due at 8pm local time. Avoided long coach trip round Paris by paying to take RER train and despite getting lost in the underground station still got to Gare de Lyon over 30mins before group arrived by coach.

Paris Gare de Lyon…

Geneva….

DAY 2

A sunny autumnal day. Free day so set out to do a simple return rail trip via Aigle and Bex to Col Dr Bretaye. Return trip to Bex wants t**s up. The 1145 could not run because of a brake problem and this was last through train for 2 hours. Got on the delayed 1215 to Villar only to be told there was a problem and would have to change at Glyon. The return trip took twice the advertised time. Am now sitting at Bex with a long wait for train back to Aigle. Was walking up platform ramp when train pulled out.

Looks like the train services have gone to the dogs!

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And a touch of tourism….

Leysin Feyday station

Aigle….

More from Day 2 next post.

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ESNG meeting – 9 October 2022

Posted on October 10, 2022 by snitchthebudgie

A pleasant autumnal Sunday afternoon, and good to see nine ESNG members in attendance.  Especially good to have a visit from Paul, the ESNG Midlands branch.

The usual suspects were there, of course….

With Paul back in town, the outer track was full of bullet trains and Tokyo suburban units.  All new models, I gather….

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The main line was busy…

European trains from Brian….

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And modern British goods from Allan….

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I didn’t run a train, but tested my modified ‘St Chant’ module.  I seem to have a couple of wires crossed, but otherwise it worked fine.

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Brian recorded some of the trains…..

Finally, not sure how Goose-zilla invaded the layout?

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Getting N-Club to TINGS 2022

Posted on October 8, 2022 by snitchthebudgie

How do you get a large modular layout from Germany to TINGS?  A layout that looks like this….

You take a trailer like this….

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And pack it full like this…..

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Using the local (and in some cases unskilled) labour!

Of course, sometimes it’s just difficult to get the staff….

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(All photos by Jörg and Stefan.)

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ESNG meeting – 5 October 2022

Posted on October 6, 2022 by snitchthebudgie

After two non-meetings, it was good to see a whole six members turn out for Wednesday’s meeting.  Not least, the treasurer was back after a nasty bout of non-covid lurgi.

Allan ran a long train of hoppers, passing Mr Atfield’s more traditional goods….

Michael also ran some short goods trains….

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Mr Apps tested a number of trains, including this DMU….

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Chris’ Sandite unit and refurbished 4CEP both ran very well tonight….

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I ran Southern passenger and goods, but gave up – the loco was running perfectly, but the wagons and coaches refused to stay coupled and derailed.  Oh well, it was a good sociable evening anyway…

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Having all run our trains, we packed up a little early.  Back on Sunday for another session.  It is rumoured that the Midlands branch will be paying us a visit.

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Potpourri #1056 – Another ESNG edition!

Posted on October 4, 2022 by snitchthebudgie

Another post of ESNG members activities.

Stefan mailed me in response to the newsletter…..

Also in tribute to the Queen, you’ll find her in front of my “British Shop” at “Stefanstor” station

Nicely done, though she seems to have escaped the security detail.  Perhaps Philip is already inside…

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Dave has been on holiday again, looking at railways past and present.  Telford….

Not a lot to see but they do have a big model railway.

The lime works at Pant.

Narrow gauge system with some track still down. Two inclines together one in Wales and one in England.

And the Leek and Manifold Light Railway.  One that didn’t survive to be a heritage line, and notable for its colonial style locos and coaches, and transporter wagons for standard gauge trucks.

A narrow gauge railway that ran from nowhere to nowhere! Station now a museum with sleepers in the carpark.

And to finish, a few more short videos of Brian’s trip to Dresden.

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Two exhibitions and a breakfast

Posted on October 2, 2022 by snitchthebudgie

Wasn’t there a film with a similar name many years ago?

Allan asked whether Derek and I were interested in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, followed by visits to the Worthing and Dorking MRC exhibitions.  An offer not to be turned down.  Even if the exhibitions were average, the breakfast would be excellent (it was) and the company was tolerable 🙂

The Worthing show was long and linear, spread through the school corridors.  A lot of second-hand trade to scratch around in, and some good layouts.  It was interesting that they had taken the same approach as we did this year for their first post-covid show – use local layouts and club members’ layouts, reducing costs.

Holly Bank Holly Bank Grove is based very loosely on York South shed, and models a busy steam shed in the late 50’s early 60’s.  Lots of locomotives to spot.

Loftus Road remains a favourite of mine, set on the West London Line (perhaps near a certain football ground) in recent years.  Lots of fine scenic modelling, and interesting trains passing through.  Clever use of European structure kits too, anglicised to capture those typical West London Georgian terraces.

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The van hire wash is very well observed….

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Foxwell Lane was a small engineers depot.  I liked the typical urban backscene….

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Andrew Knight is one of the best at making small, interesting, layouts.  Wandleford Junction is a simple Southern Electric layout.  Interesting track layout and some nice details – and of course the EMU’s, that were the local railway when I was growing up.

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I came away with a wagon, a double controller for £10, and a book that I couldn’t refuse for £1.75!

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So on to Dorking.  A good number of ‘N’ gauge layouts here.  And our old friends from the West Sussex were exhibiting, with the usual suspects.

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Major junctions were the order of the day.  Horsham MRC were showing Battledown, an 18 foot long N Gauge layout is based on Worting Junction and the Battledown Flyover just to the west of Basingstoke where the lines to Salisbury and Southampton divide.  A good place to spot trains!

Ashborough Junction is the Dorking club’s new N gauge layout, with a similar theme.

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And a little narrow gauge to finish a good morning out.  Both shows had plenty to interest and some good modelling – I’ve only recorded those layouts that I particularly liked or caught my eye.  Next visit, probably Uckfield in a couple of weeks time.  This is always a good show, and one of ‘must visits’.

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