Apologies.

 

I must apologise to followers of this blog. My wife informed me that there was a problem as she was not now a follower. When investigating I found a quantity of comments awaiting moderation and approval. I’m still trying to understand why I’ve not received emails when comments have been left. In the meantime I have approved all genuine comments and hope you will all forgive my oversight.

Regards, Ian

Well... New Year...New start...

2019 was not a very productive year for my modelling projects, either model railways or wargaming. Back to my school report: "If Ian puts as much effort into his studies as he does on the rugby field he would achieve good results". For Rugby read Golf. Golf did take over much of my time last year which enabled me to win three competitions plus some good finishes in others. Think I should change the strapline on the blog header from  "an attempt to get out of the armchair" to "an attempt to to spend less time on the golf course". I feel that I can make better use of my time so plan to become more focused on modelling projects while at home.

So outline plans for 2020:

1. Complete the Beattie Well Tank
2. Create my own Grizer train
3. Build better support structure for Tredethy Wharf
4. Complete minor modifications to Tredethy Wharf
5. Make a start on the next project (more about that later)
6. Investigate DCC mainly for the next project but may also be for Tredethy Wharf

At the moment I've been honoured with invites for Tredethy Wharf to two shows during 2020:

1. Scalefour North, Wakefield (28th & 29th March)
2. Helston, Cornwall (25th & 26th April)

This does mean that for the next couple of months I must get my head down to some serious modelling before the better weather kicks in and I'll be tempted to spend more time out in the fresh air on the Golf Course!

In Flanders fields

Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae, May 1915

Web site update

eBay sales have been going well, which has enabled me to fill in gaps of coaching stock requirements for my ambitious Grogley Junction. Oh, golf clubs have also been purchased.

On the modelling front I've made a start on converting a couple of Class 08 shunters for Tredethy Wharf. These two will eventually be St Blazey engines but a little more research is involved as I'm realising that the differences between 08s is a potential minefield. Also on my workbench are four 7 plank wagons.

Three of the above are Bachmann models which are receiving either a complete repaint and/or weathering. A fourth is a very old wagon of uncertain parentage which I've had for some time in a part-built state. My plan for the next few months is to try and clear as many part completed wagon projects as possible before starting on new builds or conversions. These part-built projects include a Cambrian LMS steel box van; a repainted Bachmann steel open wagon with wooden doors and a SR Plywood 12T van which I've also repainted; aalong with a couple of part-built Cambrian Models 16T mineral wagons. I'll then make a start on a few Brake Vans and people for the Brake Van Special. Once these are completed I hope to have cleared more "stuff" via eBay and created a reasonable hobby fund for making a start on Grogley Junction.

The title of this post of "Web site update" is due to time also being spent updating my Tredethy Wharf Web pages. The updates have now been applied and the new pages are now live. If anyone is interested the site can be found at: http://tredethywharf.co.uk/

Calmer times ahead

Well it's been a while...but hopefully over the coming months I'll be able to get back to working on Tredethy Wharf and finishing the first batch of clay wagons.

We both had no idea how much time turning next door into a holiday cottage would take up. But, at last, Spireview Cottage is finished and we have had resaonable success over the last couple of months with lettings. It's been a surprise how many enquires we have had considering, at the moment, we're only on one web site. Being new to this holiday letting malarky we weve been caught out with the amount of time involved in taking bookings also cleaning the cottage after guests have departed. As the weeks have passed we're gradually becoming more organised. There are still tasks to start and/or complete with marketing but we are both starting to allow ourselves some hobby time. Yipeee...

If anyone is curious about the cottage, more information can be found on the Owners Direct website. We have also created a Facebook page. If anyone would be willing to spread the word via likes and/or shares... we would be very grateful.

More excuses for lack of progress with Tredethy Wharf

Well... I must continue to apologise for the lack of posts during the first half of 2014. As an explanation all I can offer is you read my wife's blog.

The above link should show you postings relating to the work we're doing on the holiday cottage next door. They don't show all the work that's been taking place just an overview. We've started using tradesmen where we can for a few reasons, the first is because it is taking us too long to do all the work ourselves, (I've only been able to apply myself to short stints during weekday evenings with a few more hours at weekends but with delays due to unforeseen problems as well as weekend Fostering placements we were getting way behind schedule); the second is that the tradesmen will do a better job; and thirdly there are some jobs I'm not up to doing.

The current arrangement with a decorator is a bit on the loose side, when he is available he is working along side us. We hold a quick site meeting in the mornings (before I leave for the paid job) during which we catch up on the state of play and plan what each of us can do next. I'm currently concentrating on the utility room as well as doing a lot of the very basic prep work in each room, leaving the final touches to the professional.

We can't believe all the work that has been involved to get this cottage back up to an acceptable spec. It was certainly not a wreck when we started but it was in serious need of some TLC and tidying up but we're very pleased with the way the new kitchen is starting to look.

Bespoke kitchen with oak worktops and renovated table and chairs

Fridge/freezer and Larder unit with microwave inside

Spiral Staircase

There is still plenty to do in the rest of the house but it's starting to come together. We think there are only about two weeks of work left before the woman's touches can be applied to make it presentable.

April 14 - Scalefour group meeeting

Last Thursday saw my wife and I hosting the monthly Scalefour Area Group meeting. We had six members in attendance. Gordon brought his latest interesting project along. He is investigating how to convert a Hornby Class 08 to P4 by building a continuous springy beam compensated chassis. Graeme brought along his latest casting project, a Gresley V2 body which is a big improvement on the Bachmann model.

I'm thinking, only thinking mind, of building a chassis for a Beattie Well Tank. Clive brought along an outside cylinder 0-4-0T loco to demonstrate how the cylinders could be tackled and point out some pit falls. Since the meeting I've had it confirmed  that Beattie Well Tank 30585 will be performing at Lincolnshire Wolds Railway over Easter... a photo opportunity that I cannot miss.

Finally all were introduced to the 'Man Cave'

Clive test ran the 0-4-0T on Tredethy Wharf which again proved to be a smooth running loco.

Overall an informative meeting hopefully enjoyed by all.

Painting, painting, painting and a website

I apologise for yet another non model related blog but after finishing the 'Man Cave' and moving all my paraphernalia into it, I've been decorating the vacated modelling room as a bedroom for a foster child and I'm now starting work on next door...

A few months ago we purchased the property next door. This was instead of having to go though the hassle of selling our current property and moving into a larger house. The idea is to rent next door as a holiday cottage but retain some use of it as accommodation for friends and family. It needs some TLC and as always when starting a little house restoration project, issues start to come out of the woodwork. Along with general tidying up with a paint brush problems have been discovered with the electrics, central heating and a damp floor to name a few. It now seems like our initial intention to have the property, which we have named Spireview Cottage,  ready for letting by Easter is looking doubtful.

View from cottage

I'm also intending to build a website for Spireview Cottage, and with this end in mind I've been refreshing the little HTML skills I have by brushing up on HTML5 and CSS. As a way to help the learning process and get a little practice before embarking on the cottage website I've had a play around with a template to build a basic site for Tredethy Wharf. I'm reasonably happy with the site layout and design, more info will be added as and when but for the moment it has served its purpose. The site has been tested using Firefox, Safari, Chrome and IE on PC, Mac, Android and iPad platforms and it seems to work OK though any comments, ideas or issues people find will tredethywharf.co.uk will be gratefully received. Spireview Cottage website will be more challenging…

With all that I have taken on recently it is slightly frustrating that I'm not finding the time to enjoy the 'Man Cave' with space for Tredethy Wharf and modelling, nor will I be able to for a few months. That said, I have a little operation coming up that will put me out of action for a couple of weeks. I hope that during the convalescence period I'll be able to squeeze in a little light modelling, a few wagons built/weathered would be good progress. I think any serious work on Tredethy Wharf will have to wait until some time after May…

Warley 2012

Last Sunday I made my first ever pilgrimage to the Warley show. The opportunity arose as a thank you from Bob after helping him during the past year at exhibitions with his Winterschalf layout.

Since coming back to the hobby I'd been thinking about making the journey to the NEC to see this show but had been warned that it had become too well attended. Warned that, trying to view layouts is something similar to a rugby scrum with crowds of two to three deep; traders being very busy with often a long wait to be served and/or difficulty in seeing what they have on offer. So with this in mind I went with a slightly negative outlook. I had a surprise in store....

Firstly... wow... I didn't fully realise how large this show was. Secondly, it was a well organised show with the different scales grouped together and most specialist traders in their own area. Thirdly, even though we didn't get into the show until just after 11:00am there was plenty of room. Granted there were one or two layouts during the day that had crowds of two deep but patience always produced a space somewhere. At no time did I feel I couldn't appreciate what was on show, though this might have been down to the layouts that I was most interested in seeing. As far as traders were concerned non, that I needed, were any busier than at any specialist show I've recently visited.

Though my modelling interest is P4 (I made a beeline for the 4mm finescale area with Bodmin General, Evenstow, Holderness Light Railway, Cornwallis, Allt-y-Graban Road, et al) I do like to view different scales to appreciate other modellers' work. It was one of these other exhibits that impressed me the most.

La Baraque

La Baraque

La Baraque

La Baraque

La Baraque

La Baraque

La Baraque is the work of Hans Louvet and depicts a metre gauge railway in the Auvergne province of France in 1908, all modelled in S scale. Hopefully the above photographs show the skilful modelling on this layout.

The only down side for me is that Warley is definitely too large an exhibition to appreciate all that's on show in one day. There was plenty that I did not get to see, I would have liked to have taken longer viewing layouts; browsing trade stands and finding time to sit down with a few of the demonstrators, but overall it was a splendid day. Would I go again...? Definitely...

Thanks Bob.

Hull Model Railway Show

A little later than I wanted with this post but it's been a busy week.....

Last weekend brought an opportunity for me to visit Hull Model Railway Society's exhibition. The last time I ventured across the Humber to visit this show was when it was being staged in the Hull Town Hall. I cannot remember which year it was but the main attraction for me then was a layout depicting Evercreech Junction. This year there were a number of layouts that I've not seen before that I've been keen to see for quite some time.

Halifax King Cross

Halifax King Cross

Not sure what I can say about Halifax King Cross apart from superb. Operationally very smooth and scenically it just fits the area being depicted. In my opinion best in show.

Canada Road

Canada Road

Canada Road is a simple layout and does make me question the size of my test plank. Operationally and scenically there is more interest crammed into 10'6" x 2' than in a quarter of my 14' x 1' 6" test plank. It also probably took less time to build. Hmm....

Stainmore Summit

Stainmore Summit

For me Stainmore Summit is a train spotting layout and one that I stopped to view on a number of occasions. A DC layout with double headed trains that worked well.

 

 

Farkham

Farkham

Farkham

Another layout that facinated me was Farkham a layout depicting a secondary line passing through an urban landscape in the 1980s/early 1990s. A double track running into a single line enabled trains to be brought into scene and halt while they waited for a service to pass in the opposite direction. The overall presentation with the weathered buildings and rolling stock gelled the whole scene together nicely. The way that it has been designed with buildings and trees breaking up the layout into little viewing pockets is very interesting.

A small selection of photos of other layouts that I spent some time viewing....

Foston Mills

Foston Mills

Barrowfleet

Buxton TMD

Peter Denny's Leighton Buzzard was also at the show and what can I say about this layout that has not already been written? I decided not to take any photos of this iconic layout, I just stood and admired it for what it is...a legend. I, along with many others, have long admired the Reverend's work through the many magazine articles that have been published on developments of his Buckingham branch. The first article I read was in the September 1969 issue of the Railway Modeller. At the time, being a very young spotty teenager, I did not fully realise what I was reading but it was an article that dramatically changed the way I designed and built layouts. Leighton Buzzard may be showing its age a little but I've seen many exhibition layouts that couldn't hold a candle to this 50 something year old model.

So a very good show indeed, excellent layouts with good demonstrations and well supported by the trade. Hope I'll be able to cross the Humber to visit the show again, all being well, next year .

Leeds Model Railway Exhibition

We spent last weekend in Leeds visiting my mother in-law. Strangely enough (?) it was also the weekend of two shows. One being the Leeds Model Railway Society's Exhibition, the other being Fiasco at the Royal Armouries. Now I knew I couldn't really vanish for two days and as I'd previously visited the wargaming show at least a couple of times but not been to the Model Railway show, the Model Railway show had to be the priority.

Not knowing what to expect, I was impressed. The venue was excellent with plenty of free parking, plenty of space for layouts and traders along with good catering. Amongst the normal numerous trade stalls selling Bachman and Hornby products there were a few modelling accessory stalls. One which was new to me was Unit Models, http://www.unitmodels.com, who manufacture resin castings similar to Ten Commandments range.

There were many layouts on display covering most gauges. Kilbrandon, an Irish S gauge layout was a nice surprise, unfortunately non of my photos of this layout are worth posting. I'd borrowed the boss's SLR and was experimenting with settings, trying to avoid using the auto setting. I live and learn....

The O gauge Milford made an impression on me and one of the operators took time out to explain some of its finer points. This layout has been around for a number of years but it was the first time I'd seen it.

 Milford

 Milford

 Milford

Another layout that I kept gravitating to was Colyer Street. A small Modern Image OO gauge layout based in Tyneside that was well presented and operated with a couple of friendly guys in front at the controls.

 Colyer Street

Colyer Street

Along with the British outline models there was a good selection of continental and American layouts. Unfortunately, due to my photographic experiments, only one photo is worth posting of these layouts. This little diorama is part of an Sn3 Scale American Narrow Gauge layout based in Colorado called Dolores.

Dolores

Other layouts that I enjoyed viewing for the first time were Calderwood, a fictitious Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway layout based in the Calder Valley and Bannochbrae, a small layout based in the Highlands of Scotland, both OO gauge.

Did I come away without spending any money? Well Bill Hudson Books were there so it was a no brainer that I'd part with some money. Gordon Gravett's book on Modelling Trees - part 2 Conifers was sitting on the passenger seat as I left the car park along with some Slater's plastic sprue purchased from Squires stall.

For me it was a surprise event, after checking out the web site I went along only expecting to be there for a couple of hours, instead I ended up stay for four hours, having to leave before I was really ready. I'll have to look out for this show next year and plan a visit to my mother in-law on the same weekend...

The two foot rule.

I would not count myself as a 'rivet counter' just someone who would like to build wagons to represent the real item as close as my modelling skills will allow. My foray into P4 modelling standards is because I felt if I didn't have a go I would always regret it.

I met up with some old modelling friends recently and in an ensuing conversion I mentioned the time it is taking me to build a few clay wagons along with the amount of wagons I intend to build. Questions were raised about my sanity before I was reminded of the old phrase about applying the 'two foot rule'. If the detail cannot be seen from a viewing distance of two foot then why spend time adding the detail. I then made the connection with painting 15mm wargaming figures. When I paint battalions of 12 to 24 figures which are going to be seen on the table on-mass I paint them to be seen as whole units. Paint the figures so they give a visual impact when seen together as part of each battalion on the table. I don't necessarily cut too many corners with the painting but possibly don't put too much effort in, picking out buttons on tunics, adding shading on facial features, or any other small detail. Whereas I do put effort painting the personalities/command figures, picking out buttons, adding extra shading and trying to pick out facial features.

With this in mind and as most of the clay wagons will be part of a rake (battalion) of 8 or more wagons, I will be turning a blind eye to some aspects of the Ian Kirk kits, and taking a few liberties in building them. This may go a little against the grain of modelling in P4 but I feel I have to cut myself some slack otherwise I'll struggle to get all the wagons I will need built in my lifetime. When seen on-mass I'm hoping they will create the right picture that can be appreciated from two foot away when viewed side on. They might not stand up to the scrutiny of a close-up camera shot but then they are not being built for a diorama containing just a few wagons.

Does that sound like a cop out for some poor modelling skills? Hmmm could be...

A cracking weekend

The title sums it up really. My birthday on Friday, followed by playing trains at the local Cleethorpes Model Railway show on Saturday, and then a good few hours on Sunday working on modelling projects.

One of the many modelling related presents I received was a very informative book covering a Summer Saturday working in 1961 on the North Cornwall Line, along with the Wadebridge to Bodmin services, including loco rosters and carriage diagrams. It will become another excellent reference as the Grogley Project unfolds.

Saturday saw me being tea boy and lunchtime operator on Gordon's model of Donington-on-Bain. This was its first public showing and very much a 'work in progress'. However being a local station it generated a great deal of interest about its history, as well as the model's construction.

Donnington-on-Bain

Along with Gordon's model two other P4 members, (Dave and Martin) were at the exhibition showing the initial stages of their next project. They are at the very early stages of building a model of Swan Yard at Great Yarmouth, and had on display location plans, photos, part of a Templot track plan, some stock and the beginnings of the baseboards. There are plans afoot for Swan Yard to make an appearance at next year's Cleethorpes show as a 'work in progress' showing the early stages of track laying, along with Gordon's Fish Dock Road and my Tredethy Wharf making its first public appearance. The organisers are kindly allowing our P4 area group to take over a complete room again next year...

During the exhibition it was also good to catch up with two friends that were members of the defunct Mablethorpe and District Model Railway Club, Steve and Bob. Bob was showings his Winterschlaf layout with Steve as support operator, a position I'll be filling at two exhibitions later this year. There was a good selection of other layouts at the show covering 009, N, HO American. HOm Swiss and OO gauge. Gamston Bank stole the show for me.

The thought that Tredethy Wharf has to be near completion in a year's time has spurred me on. During Sunday I think I managed to banish the two remaining track gremlins, no doubt more will surface as I use the model but for now it's working well. Once I've tidied up the wiring, I'll start to put some flesh on the bones. There are still the hidden sidings to design and build but I am looking forward to making a start on the scenery.

To top off this weekend, my son's band released their first single on iTunes with a supporting video on YouTube. I know it will not be everybody's taste but I do like what they are doing so please forgive me posting the following link...
Shades - A Note from Me (Official Video)
Please pass on this link to anyone you think might be interested. Oh...my lad is the good looking one hitting the skins... :-))

No progress due to a pressing engagement

There has been no progress since my last entry due to what is happening in the follow two weeks... more on which can be found here. Preparation, training and planning have taken up much of my spare time.

I'm off on my 'holidays'........ two weeks of which are concerned with the Coast to Coast walk, plus a third week, to spend time with my partner. Well if I'm truthful, and if I'm able to complete the walk, more as a week to recover. So I apologise in advance for lack of postings on this blog for at least a month. Thereafter I'll have to get stuck in and focus a little on this project and the six wagons for Leatherhead.

Ahh.... but I will have to fit in a little ceremony the week before Leatherhead..... No pressure then....

Off the radar

I've been off the radar for a while, not checked any blogs or RMWeb forums nor progressed anything relating to Tredethy Wharf. All because, a few weeks ago, I asked a question of the little lady and she said 'Yes'....... then........ we decided to put my house up for sale with the aim of moving into a house that we can call ours once the deed is done. I also realised that I'm running out of time to prepare myself for a little saunter from St. Bees to Robin Hoods Bay that is coming up in June. These events and realisations have set a few things in motion that have taken up a lot of spare time recently, but today I had a day off, playing trains, at the Cleethorpe's Model Railway Show.

Gordon's P4 layout 'Fish Dock Road' was booked for this year's Cleethorpes show. It is a two day event and I had volunteered to help out on the Sunday. Fish Dock Road is essentially a very compact shunting puzzle with the setting inspired by Grimsby's Fish Docks.




The layout drew a lot of local interest with many people passing on memories of the docks, the workings of the fish trade and the fish trains. I learnt a lot.

For me, one other layout that stood out at at the show was a finescale OO interpretation of the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway:


Ashamedly I'm not over-familiar with the tramway nor with the area apart from travelling through/past Wisbech on business. The layout had a nice feel, a good consistent standard of modelling throughout. After a little research on the Web this evening the layout seems to represent the area well. Apparently it is going to be featured in a forthcoming edition of one of the Railway Magazines. Well deserved I feel.

With my hovel on the market I'm under orders to keep things a little tidier. This has meant Tredethy has been dismantled and stacked in a corner of the garage along with numerous boxes. Should be able to concentrate on wagons and loco conversions during the next few months so hope it wont be too long before my next post.

How's this for signal box?

This is a late posting but we're back from our trip to Sevilla (Seville). We flew into Malaga so we had a 2.5 hour train journey between Malaga and Seville. The option to travel via bus was somehow not a considered option. Overall we were both very impressed with the Spanish Railway system and the service provided by Renfe. The outbound journey was on a three coach stopping train calling at almost all stations on route. Leg room on the train was outstanding. I'm 6ft 3 inch and I probably had 6 inch knee room left between seats. The train was full.... with no standing passengers, no rubbish around station nor on board and the train running to time....... this was on a 5:00pm departure from Malaga .....and all for 36 euros each return....!!!

We did however cause major confusion within our carriage on the outward journey. When booking the tickets a couple of weeks before our trip I seemed to see an addition, optional, charge to reserve seats which I did not include in the ticket price. On boarding the train at Malaga, after stowing our luggage, we took the first available seats in the carriage and settled in for 2.5 hour journey. We were then approached by a Spanish lady stating that we were in her seat...... After a struggle with translation she politely offered to move to our allotted seats, luckily in the same carriage. Unfortunately this had a knock on affect as all seats are allotted on the tickets. You could see the Spanish muttering under there breath but once the musical chairs was put in motion it was very difficult to put right....... We sat in our correct seats on the return journey.

Back to the title of this entry........I noticed an interesting feature at the stations ..... there seemed to be no signal box at the stations only the following.......

The above was worked by a member of the station staff scurrying across the platform pulling one lever, winding another and the train was on its way again.

Do I or don't I?

This is what I've been thinking during the last couple of weeks about whether I enter the Scalefour Society's Armchair Modellers Challenge. The challenge is to build, depending on type, 4 to 6 wagons. Closing date is the weekend of the annual Scaleforum Exhibition in September. As I will need to build a few wagons during this year, one wagon a months does not sound much. In reality though, while trying to keep the build going on the layout, finish the 57xx, and wanting to start the High Level 03 chassis kit, time might be tight........This along with the fact that I will have to stay later on the Sunday than I would normally have planned, was making me think I'd give it a miss and build wagons at my own pace.....

But..... news in the last few days has made me rethink.... I may be required to help one of the exhibitors! If this turns out to be the case I will have to be at the show for the whole weekend. Bearing in mind that, apart from the RCH 7 Plank wagon, these will be the first wagons I've attempted to build for a number of years. I don't think for one minute that any entry of mine will have a chance of winning. The challenge will be another incentive to get on and build something, which I think is its main aim. Deadline for entries is the end of February. This should be enough time for me to think about which kits I could complete during, what no doubt will be, my normal erratic modelling stints over the next few months.

A barren few weeks

I recently had a gentle reminder that I haven't posted an entry for a while but the title of this post says it all really. To progress the layout I needed a few items from Squires and Exactoscale. There was some confusion with the Squires order, all down to me I hasten to add, which delayed me finding the items by a couple of weeks. Then I posted the Exactoscale order which took a respectable fortnight to arrive.

While waiting for the above orders to arrive a WWII war game was arranged. This awoke some interest in looking though my mass of unpainted lead and I was side tracked a little by a couple of gaming projects. First a building that had been languishing in a box for many a year. I slapped a little paint on it and after gaining a feeling of achievement, I then picked up a second building to complete. One thing led to another and before I knew it I'd also started and finished a German artillery unit. Wargaming has definitely taken a back seat during this last year and I was gradually loosing interest in picking anything up to paint or finish off. So it was good to get stuck into some old projects that had been hanging around for far too long. I think it has also helped to clear and refocus my mind on the railway project. As they say 'a change is as good as a rest'.

With a little bit of luck I'm back on track (pun intended). I'm definitely not on schedule as I had hoped to have finished laying the track during Christmas with wiring completed and something running. I have made a start on finishing the switch blades for the second point, and now the extra bits from Exactoscale have arrived, I can start on the final point. A little progress has also been made on the 7 plank wagon but not enough to shout about. I've also been looking at some Bill Bedford W irons to see where I've gone wrong in folding them, more of which later........

May I thank all who have read this blog during the last year and for the encouragement and comments left. I truly hope you all have a happy and memorable Christmas.

Film Show

I was at Grimsby library today to peruse a photographic exhibition put on by North East Lincolnshire Photographic Society. There were some fine photographs on display all by local amateur photographers. While browsing some posters in the entrance to the library I noticed the following event that might be of interest to some locals in the North Lincolnshire area.

At Cleethorpe's Memorial Hall on Thursday 11th November there is a 'Grand Film Show' titled 'Railways Remembered - Along LNER Lines'. Starting time 7:30pm but cannot remember who is presenting the show nor the ticket price. I remember the poster stating that the film show has a special tribute to the GCR and something about Immingham Docks, possibly the opening ceremony in 1912.

I've searched the web to check my memory and found nothing about this event.......typical.... should have taken a photo of the poster.

Sorry about only having half the information.....hope the info is of use to someone.

On a different scale

I've just spent a interesting day helping a friend with his layout at a small show in Aylsham, Norwich. His usual partner in crime was otherwise engaged so I was drafted in to help.

His layout is called Winterschlef-Rhb and is based on the Engadine line in Switzerland. The scale is 1:45 (Continental O) with track gauge set at 22.5mm to represent Swiss metre-gauge track. All buildings are scratch built and are based on structures either on the line or in the vicinity.


Interestingly for me is that he has recently converted the layout from DC to DCC. I can see the potential for adding operational interest on layouts larger than my Tredethy Wharf. Also, the ease of use and extra features that DCC can bring ...... hmmmm .... it's not something I can justify the investment on at the moment but will definitely have to consider it in the future.

PS - I do apologise for the spelling and grammatical errors previously in this posting. My only excuse is that it had been a long day with a 5:15 alarm call!