The casualties of exhibiting…post Watford thoughts

There are some who will wonder why we do it… we spend hours building a layout and its rolling stock to then transport it miles around the country, set it up, intensively operate it then pack it all away again and transport it back home.  No matter how careful we are some damage will inevitably … Continue reading The casualties of exhibiting…post Watford thoughts

A view from the line #11 getting close to the wire..the telegraph wire

One of the characteristic views from the coach window when travelling on our railways , until the late 1970's was the continual dipping and rising of the telegraph wires. Telegraph, telephone and signalling block instrument communications were all carried alongside the line suspended from the iconic multi-arm telegraph poles. Whilst the poles themselves are often … Continue reading A view from the line #11 getting close to the wire..the telegraph wire

A view from the line # 10 Permanent way workers and huts

Alongside the platelayers hut next to the main line a group of Permanent Way workers, sometimes also known as platelayers,  are taking a taking a tea break, one of whom is sat reading the newspaper and another has a mug of tea in his hand. The gentleman leaning on his ballast fork is, as I … Continue reading A view from the line # 10 Permanent way workers and huts

Talking Stock #11 A 40 ton load of ballast, SR dia 1774 hoppers

One of my signature trains on Fisherton Sarum is a rake of Southern Railway Diagram 1774 40 Ton hopper ballast wagons and ex SECR ballast plough brake van. These hoppers were converting from Lima “Sealion/Seacow” a long time before either Bachmann or Hornby produced their own version of the later BR built hoppers. The Bachman … Continue reading Talking Stock #11 A 40 ton load of ballast, SR dia 1774 hoppers