Modern Railways

I picked up the complete year of Modern Railways (1962) the other day. I really enjoy these informative little publications from a time when Britain was still great.

West Whimshire

Whilest at CamRail in Bradford on Avon on Saturday, I purchased several of Peter Barnfields beautiful, limited edition, Steam Pencil cards from the Titfield Thunderbolt stand. If you have yet to see his superb work, click on the Titfield link on my favorites and then follow the Peter Barnfield link. It was great to view his rarely seen models at the show too.
The cards have given me some great ideas for my railway venture into the garden..

CamRail 2009

I went to Bradford On Avon yesterday to the excellent CamRail show. Some really stunning layouts and models, lots of tea and friendly chats. Bought a couple of books from the Titfield Thunderbolt stand as well as some of the lovely Peter Barnfield cards which I intend framing.
Had a wander round the town too - what a lovely place!
Looking forward to CamRail 2010!

Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway

Another excellent Diesel Gala last weekend. I really like this railway. Always well run and lots going on. 20's, 47's, 37, 33 and 03 but resident 24081 is always my favorite! The picture is from a brake van ride at Toddington.

Rant

Ok so this blog is mainly along the theme of railways both real and in model form... however I want to also share my views (they are my views remember!) on certain aspects of life that sometimes get on my nerves.

1. People who don't bother to uses the indicaters when driving.
Driving on the M4 and M5 yesterday I lost count of the number of idiots who change lanes at speed with no signal at all. Unbelievable. Am I a mind reader? NO. Please use your indicators! When I rule the world there will be a compulsory driving test for all drivers once every 3 years. (I was a driving instructor - I know what I'm taking about!)

2. (this one is railway related) Railway photographers - I was at the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway this weekend for the excellent diesel gala. Why oh why do a small minority of complete fruit cakes insist on running from one platform to the other etc etc - pushing and shoving everyone to get "that shot" as if their life depended on it. No wonder the hobby has a bad name at times! Such an odd bunch.

3. Pub/cafe food - why oh why do certain pubs, cafes etc etc stop serving food at 3 or 4pm until 6.30/7pm? Went in a lovely pub in Ross on Wye at 5pm yesterday - great beer and great looking menu only to be told no food til 6.15. Why?! They've been doing food all day so why stop for a few hours? Mad.

Severn Beach last week

"Return to Severn Beach please", I asked the chap at Cardiff Queen Street. "Severn Beach?!?" He repeated (a few times) as he looked for the station on the machine and then looked at me as if I'd not return...

Second SevernCrossing. It seemed strange standing under the massive structure of steel and concrete that carries thousands of vehicles

The Humber Haulier

18th March 2006 and I was on the Humber Haulier railtour. Two pics here on the Hull Loop taken one after the other with the zoom for the 60 up front. Unfortunately a few minutes later and the train was stoned by some idiots near the bridge..

From late 1982 until mid 1986 I travelled from Kings Cross to Hull about once every three weeks. Foolishly I only had a cheap camera in those days and never bothered to take photo's! Agh! Regular highlight was a 31/4 from Hull to Doncaster on the return home. Shame I'd missed out on the Deltics though..

First posting

First post and a picture too. Anyway, having finally sorted out the railway room (was once a spare room..) and sold my OO layout, I can concentrate (hmmm) on the gauge O that I've been planning. I use the word planning very losely as I'm actually still not sure whether to keep it to a micro or use the 8' x 2'6" baseboard that I have ready. I know that's not very big in O terms anyway but after having my head stuck in Paul Lunn's excellent book "Building Micro-Layouts" for several months I'm really rather undecided..