West Hill Wagon Works have released SR/Southern Region 'Tram/trolley' style lightweight overhead cantilever mast kits in 00 Gauge. To enable the Bulleid Raworth Booster and class 71 electric locos to pick up / drop off (rather than shunt) trains in a number of yards away from electrified 3rd rail and its obvious inconvenience and dangers … Continue reading SR/Southern Region ‘Tram/Trolley’ style overhead cantilever mast kits available from West Hill Wagon Works in 00 gauge
Category: History
60th Anniversary of the State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill
Today, 30th January 2025, marks the 60th anniversary of the solemn occasion of the State Funeral of one of our greatest statesman Sir Winston Churchill following his passing on 24th January 1965. Sir Winston Churchill was the only "commoner", i.e non Royal, in the 20th Century to be awarded the honour of a State Funeral. … Continue reading 60th Anniversary of the State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill
Workbench Witterings #26 – A Friend in Hand – a West Wycombe pub
Now for something completely different... My local model railway Society, the High Wycombe and District MRS are currently building a new 00 gauge layout of West Wycombe station and its goods yard during the final years of steam haulage on the Great Western & Great Central (GW/GC) Joint line, 1955-66, when express trains from Marylebone … Continue reading Workbench Witterings #26 – A Friend in Hand – a West Wycombe pub
The Model Railway Club – November Lecture – the history of the LSWR Adams T3 locomotive and developing the RTR model for the EFE Rail range.
I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to present the November lecture at The Model Railway Club this Thursday 14th November. My presentation is on the history of the LSWR Adams T3 locomotive and developing the RTR model for the EFE Rail range. The lecture will start with background of producing a Ready-to … Continue reading The Model Railway Club – November Lecture – the history of the LSWR Adams T3 locomotive and developing the RTR model for the EFE Rail range.
#onthisday 60 years since the last Atlantic Coast Express the final ACE
Today is the 60th Anniversary since the final run of the Atlantic Coast Express, known as the ACE. This is a version of my Talking Stock #28 post here to mark the anniversary. The last ACE left Padstow in Cornwall on 5 September, on the last day of the 1964 summer timetable. The Southern Railway … Continue reading #onthisday 60 years since the last Atlantic Coast Express the final ACE
Workbench Witterings #25 Canute for Cantue Road Quay – a PD&SWJR inspired might have been
The Southern Railway inherited a small number of oddity locomotives including three from the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway (PD&SWJR) that were ordered from Hawthorn Leslie and Company . It was these locomotives, especially the 0-6-0T No. 756 "A. S. Harris" that first inspired this, albeit larger, quick win 'might have been' project … Continue reading Workbench Witterings #25 Canute for Cantue Road Quay – a PD&SWJR inspired might have been
2B or 23 with a bar, that question of SR two character explained, a new SEG Book
The question of what the Southern Railway / BR(s) two character headcodes actually mean is relevant to any LSWR/SR/BR(S) modeller operating EMUs or Class 33, Class 73/74 locomotives and even the latest Bulleid / Raworth electric locos by EFE Rail. A new Southern Electric Group Publication by friend Rick Squirrell compiles and lists all the … Continue reading 2B or 23 with a bar, that question of SR two character explained, a new SEG Book
Mr Bulleid’s Tavern Cars, a new book
The latest book from The Transport Treasury is a Southern Times 'Extra' compiled from friend Kevin Robertson is 'Mr Bulleid's Tavern Cars'. Eight pairs of Tavern Cars were built at Eastleigh between April and June 1949. They took the form of a Diagram 2663 kitchen/buffet car paired with a Diagram 2664 composite diner. They followed the … Continue reading Mr Bulleid’s Tavern Cars, a new book
80 years on – Turning left for France – Operation Overlord – the Southern Railway and the D-Day landings #onthisday
Today, 6th June, marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied forces D-Day landings, Operation Overlord, on the Normandy coast, the largest ever wartime seaborne invasion landings, and the subsequent Battle of Normandy lasting until 30th August 1944, that brought about the start of the end of the Second World War. We rightly commemorate bravery of … Continue reading 80 years on – Turning left for France – Operation Overlord – the Southern Railway and the D-Day landings #onthisday
Why Canute Road… and a very local exhibition…
What's in a name... I am often asked why Canute Road Quay… The arrival of the excellent Model Rail Magazine commissioned USA Tanks (which I had a slight hand in the development for), and already having a kit built Adams B4 (prior to the arrival of the Dapol versions) got me thinking about a quayside … Continue reading Why Canute Road… and a very local exhibition…