Day 4 and another expedition….
Mixed day. Sun, cloud and showers. Coach to Alexisbad for stram train journey to Gerode however over half the party, including myself, paid to carry on the the train to Quedlingberg. All pictures are from Quedlingberg.
And the Selketalbahn at Alexisbad (try saying that lot after a few beers!)
After some trainspotting at Cologne Station….
Overcast day. Took train from Cologne to Hannover then coach to Werigerode with a stop over in Goslar, where all today’s pictures are taken.
And some fine vintage buses….
Next day….
A mid morning start to our trip up the Brocken so took opportunity for walk round Wernigerode before it got busy.
And so to the Brockenbahn….
Spectacular views from the Brocken. As Allan commented:
You certainly had the right day to go up the Brocken. Never seen it so clear.
Not sure how the Elizabeth Line links to Eurostar, but Ron is now in deepest Germany…..
Travelled by Eurostar to Brussels and then on to Cologne for overnight stay.
St Pancras and Eurostars…
On to Cologne…
And some transport pictures….
No trains today as stations were too crowded!
Brussels Midi and Cologne Hbf….
Cologne tram and bus….
The following morning, there were less people on Cologne station….
One wonders whether it’s called that as it almost took as long to build as our monarch has reigned, or perhaps just because it’s as expensive as royalty? Or course, most of us will know it as Crossrail…
Ron was there….
Abbey Wood Station….
The train interior….
And on to Paddington, where the service terminates at the moment. Trains to Shenfield and through trains will follow later in the year and next year. Sensibly, they are opening the line a section at a time. I’m interested to see the safety doors on the platform, like they have fitted in Hong Kong and Singapore for years. They are also useful in allowing the air-conditioning to work without losing all the cold air down the tunnel every time a train pulls in.
And so was Jago Hazzard, who made his usual amusing video…
For I’ve been mulling over how to make the arches for my station. I looked at the DM-toys laser cut models, but they didn’t look British enough. The Scalescenes cardboard kits are very nice, but the brickwork looks a little flat. Simon offered to 3D print some for me, but I didn’t get beyond trying out the drawing software. The last option was scratch-building from Plasticard. Possible, but the curves arch brickwork would be difficult.
I then happened upon these Faller kits. I bought one, and it looked just what’s needed. I’d set my viaduct to suit Scalescenes, but the Faller arches are the right height, perhaps with a cast iron railing above – a fine etched one rather than the plastic ones shown on the kits below. The brickwork is a little large for ‘N’, but it is well moulded, and all the arches and coping stones look good.
Of course, the arches themselves will need to be filled in, but a little brick plasticard will do that job.
Unfortunately, Faller don’t seem to be making these kits at the moment. However, I have bought enough for the layout – a couple here and there – mostly, amazingly, from Amazon.
It will be a little time before I get around to using these kits, but they are now in stock and ready.
And so to Sunday! A good turnout, with eight members present, and we had a relaxed afternoon running trains, chatting, all followed by a high quality curry.
Allan produced a long train of the badly named silver bullets…
A good vantage point to watch the trains go by….
Sean went continental….
I went American for the afternoon….
And Lucas had a variety of trains on the go. Prototypically, the Pacer kept derailing!
Phil tested an number of locos, that all ran better after removal of a certain amount of cat hair from the wheels and mechanisms. I’m afraid that N gauge and moulting don’t mix!!!!
It was good to see Brian back in action – he also ran a variety of European stock – and here’s the usual excellent video.
Another Wednesday meeting, as the first one in the month was delayed by the local elections. Once again, a pleasant evening playing trains. The evening involved a degree of shift working. Four of us were there all evening, Michael came for the first hour, then retreated home ready for and early start for work. Derek (Atfield) rolled in just in time to help us pack up. I’m not sure how he was convinced that the new Downton Abbey movie was better than an evening running trains.
Of course Derek not being there for set up meant that we faced the challenge of how his new club corners were unpacked. We succeeded in getting them set up with no crises or bad language……
Michael’s train for the night showed the cosmopolitan interests of the club….
Chris and I had a southern night…..
Derek (Apps) ran a goods train….
Simon, of course, was running American stock, especially a very long train of tankers…..
We did have a lot of trouble with track joints. It’s strange – some days there are no problems at all – others everything derails. Simon was able, though, to model this realistic accident. It just sort of toppled over……
Last selection from the London to Brighton Rally. We’ll start with some of my favourite vehicles, Morris Minors/1000’s. These are all ‘modern’ ones, as the early ones had a split windscreen. In the last picture, the Minor is lurking behind a Ford Anglia.
The other Royal Mail vans…..
And the other Post Office Telephone vehicles…..
Stop me and buy one! It would have been too cold for an ice cream, anyway….
And to finish, four other vehicles from amongst the many that caught my idea. Hope all these pictures have given you an idea or two for commercial vehicles for the layout.
Next, we’ll start with some military vehicles.
Pick of the army vehicles was this beautifully restored WW1 truck and gun.
Next, emergency vehicles. Fire…..
I missed the Police – a Morris 1000 Panda Car sneaked by before I could catch it on film. But here are the two ambulances…..
And finally for today, three ‘oddities.’ The first two would make excellent models. I’m sure the second company have worked for me at some point!
Last Sunday, Maxine was isolating with covid, and I was also keeping out of the public eye. (Maxine is well on the mend, and surprisingly, I didn’t test positive). I’d heard from Allan that the London to Brighton Commercial Vehicle Rally was on, so I spend a couple of hours just up the road from home watching them go by.
I got there shortly before 8am, and caught the first vehicles to go past – except the heavy traction engines that had set off from Crystal Palace at 5am, and probably passed Earlswood by 6.) I stayed a couple of hours. The pictures show a lovely sunny morning. What they don’t show is the fact that it was rather cold – there was a bitter north wind blowing straight down the A23!
This first batch of photos shows buses and some of the many trucks that passed by. I haven’t tried to identify everything, but of note are the beautiful London Transport Inter-Station Cub, the Southern Vectis (Isle of Wight) open-topper, and the first London Transport Daimler Fleetline DMS1.
Buses…..
Trucks….
And the one steam powered vehicle that I saw…..
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