It's Christmas!

Had a lovely day with the family (after a busy few days of preparation). A couple of particularly nice presents: a footplate experience at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum waterworks railway (thanks love!), and a copy of 'The Engine Driver's Manual' by Brian Topping, which looks an excellent read!

I hope to get some stock kit(s?) built up over the holiday, watch this space...

Hunslets @ Stoneleigh

Looks like next years' 16mm association National Show at Stoneleigh (April 10th) will be a 'must-visit'!

"The Association is proud to announce a very special visitor at the 2010 show - a full sized quarry Hunslet! The locomotive's identity will be revealed in due course and will be the centrepiece of a display celebrating the fascinating history of this historic locomotive builder. We want to make this history come alive by running as many 16mm scale Hunslets as we can throughout the day on the 'Jack Lane' layout, which will be located near the full size Hunslet. Our target is to see 100 16mm scale Hunslets throughout the day to make a grand total of 101. The significance of 101 will become clearer soon"

Hmmmmm - Hunslets! :-)

Braving the elements at Eastleigh

Fed up with being stuck inside yesterday, decided to brave the elements & visit Eastleigh Lakeside Railway with the lad. Fortunately it stopped raining for about 20 minutes, and they have some enclosed passenger stock, so we made a circuit without getting drenched or too windswept. We were hauled by their Coronation Scot, which was giving plenty of amospheric steam effects in the cold!

Whilst there, I picked up the latest edition of Miniature Railway magazine, which has a nice feature on the regularly visited Luscombe Valley (see previous posts!)

Kew Live Steam Model Railway Show 2009 - The Video

Here's a video of my favourite stuff at the Kew Live Steam Model Railway Show 2009:

Kew 2009

Made it up to the Kew Bridge Steam Museum Live Steam Model Railway Show today, and very enjoyable it was too. Whilst there weren't quite as many exhibitors and I recall in previous years (marquee seemed a bit empty?), all those present were excellent. Brian Caton's Isle of Man layout was fantastic, and nice varied 16mm running on layouts from Kew, Guildford & Bedfordshire. I bought a laser cut matchboard brake/3rd 4 wheel coach kit from Brandbright; the detail / price ratio was irresistable! Should be a nice project for winter evenings when the missus is out!
The only downside seemd to be I missed most of the Kew rotatative engines running; only saw the Easton & Amos, & Dancer's End in steam. Sadly the Hathorn Davey Triple wasn't running at all - I always love the sound & rhythm of that one running!
Nice to see the new 'Wren' loco Thomas Wickstead in steam; I could watch that Hackworth valve gear all day! (and I can neither confirm or deny any runors that I put my name down for a Wrightscale Wren, although with a 2 year waiting list I figure I have some time to develop a 'funding model'). Video to follow...

Exeter 2009

Got a pass out to got to the Exeter Garden Railway Show yesterday. The show was very enjoyable, with a good set of layouts. Traders seemed a litte thiner on the ground though?

Here's a video of my favourite exhibits at the show:

MSS upgrades

Not much garden railway action lately, what with new arrivals, typically mixed British summer weather, and a resurgence in my other hobby, playing the drums!

Anyway, decided to finally get the MSS sorted out, and ordered a steel wheel set from Dream Steam, as the quartering on the old ones was very sloppy. I fitted them today, and it seems to have sorted things out, with a good steam, first on blocks and then running light on the circuit.



Not really sure I should call it an MSS anymore, as it has had an uprated safety valve, meths burner, lubricator, regulator, centre-buffer buffer beams, hand rails & now wheels (which all in all must have cost about as much as the loco did in the first place; not uncommon to get a reliably running one!). Anyway, she seems in good fettle now, and I expect she will improve with some more running - here's hoping for some good bank holiday weather...

A New Addition

Well, not much garden railway news of late, as we had a new baby just over two weeks ago! Of course, in the longer term, this may result in an additional loco (to be named after the baby, naturally!).

Making the way permanent

Finally got the track for the front half of the circuit properly fixed down today. The track is screwed down at 12"- 18" intervals into wooden dowels hammered into holes drilled in the blocks.

Test running with battery electric & live steam locos this afternoon went very well, running seemed more steady, even though the alignment of the blocks could be better! I plan to complete the rest of the line as time allows...

Receieved my joining pack from the 16mm association today; all looks very good! SMT seemes to have improved since I was last a member; both quality & quantity...

Bits & Bobs...

Finally got round to (re)joining the 16mm association this morning - you can now pay the subscription by PayPal :-)

Flew into Southampton airport this week (on a business trip), and had a cracking view of Twyford waterworks, Eastleigh locomotive works & the maintenance depot as we came in to land! Looked as though there was still a steam loco in situ from Eastleigh 100, other than that all I saw was a long line of DRS class 20's...

Guildford MES have an Open Day next Sunday (21st) - may try & get there if family permits... Hoping to get a steam up in tomorrow, and maybe even start fixing down the track!

Summer Colour

Having come back from holiday (and a week of particularly warm weather) it's nice to see the garden has erupted into colour - campanula, poppies & rose blooms everywhere!

Visit to Woody Bay

Well, having found out the Launceston steam railway was closed last week, I was able to make the case for a trip slightly further afield, to the Lynton & Barnstable at Woody Bay.










Sadly their sole steam loco, Axe (a Kerr Stuart from the 1st world war) was out of service due to a failed (actually, just fixed) air brake pump, so we were diesel hauled for the trip up & down the line. Too bad, as with the gradient of the line, I guess the loco would have been working hard with a good steam plume on the way back to Woody Bay... We will have to return to find out!

Nonetheless, a nice afternoon in the sun in a very picturesque location, and everyone on the railway was very friendly & made us feel very welcome. For me it was nice to see prototypes of the stock that is so common on 16mm lines, and take lots of photos!


Also nice to see a 'cabbed' Simplex (I still plan to build & bash an IP kit when funds permit ;-)

Hopefully some video to follow shortly...

Off to the Hidden Valley...

Just back from a fantastic week's holiday in North Devon with the family. When we went this time two years ago we had a lovely afternoon at the Launceston Steam Railway, so we set of for Launceston with much excitement (OK; I was excited...), but was disappointed to find it was closed (having been open the previous week for half-term). Sadly my quarry Hunslet fix had to be postponed... :-(

So as an alternative, we went to the Hidden Valley discovery park, which I had seen covered a while ago in Garden Rail, and is just up the road (well, narrow windy lane actually...).

And a thoroughly nice time we had when we got there. Railway attractions included a beautifully planted G-Scale 'secret' garden railway (reminiscent of Beckonscot but without the model village?!), and a diesel hauled 71/4" railway (also nicely landscaped). Most of the rest of the park is a 'crystal maze' style 'discovery' park with various challenges, but a bit old for our kids!

More Eastleigh 100 photos

I've added some more photos to the slideshow - enjoy!

Eastleigh 100 Photos

Reminiscing at Eastleigh 100

Had a cracking day today at Eastleigh 100. I decided to splash some cash & go for an early bird ticket (8am rather than 10am start), on the pretext I would likely get more time with less people around to do some decent photography, and I'm very glad I did, because the place was heaving by 11am! I spent over 6 hours there, the first 3 hours of which was focused on photography; I ended up taking nearly 300 digital photos, and over 40 on B&W roll film... (some film to soup this week!). The latter half was spent mostly browsing the trade stands and trying not to spend too much pocket money!

Perhaps surprisingly the big draw for me was not the steam locos (although there was a very decent collection of Southern locos on shed), but instead the splendid array of classic diesels, most of which were working in my youth. Seeing my favourite 50's & 33's turned out in immaculate liveries took me right back to the early-mid eighties, and open-days at Stratford, Cardiff Canton & Stewarts Lane.

A slightly sad counterpoint to this was that a good part of the Eastleigh works is gutted, and looking somewhat sad for itself (although by all accounts things aren't in too bad shape considering the whole lot could have been closed). Anyway, all in all a great day - stay tuned for some photos...!

News & updates

Well, sadly I didn't make it to Merstham last weekend (for domestic reasons that are too dull to go into here). Shame, as apart form being a good day out, it's also a good opportunity to pick up all those little bits & pieces for finishing jobs that you wouldn't bother mail ordering because of the P&P!
Anyway, it's the Eastleigh open days this weekend, which I'm looking forward too, and hopefully some running over the bank holiday...
There's a bit of a backlog of jobs to do on the line at the moment; the need to fix down the track is ever greater with my enthusiastic toddler pulling it up at every opportunity. Need to sort out a few of the wagons too, as the brass axle bearings have come loose from the axle guards... (seemingly all at once?). A chance for me to try some white metal soldering perhaps...

Merstham Next Weekend

It's the highly recommended Merstham Model Steam Show next weekend, looks like I should be able to go, maybe en-famile...? Anyway, here's hoping for pleasant weather! Busy building a playhouse for the kids this weekend, so no running so far, despite the pleasant weather; maybe tomorrow?

Dorset Coast Express

Lots of excitement this Bank Holiday as a Bullied Pacific hauled railtour ran from London through to Swanage, over Swanage Railway metals. Despite passing less than a mile from our house, I sadly missed seeing it... Check out these videos:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0cZF-o1ZPg (Near Basingstoke)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa5BZx39afE (Tangmere going full tilt through Beaulieu Road)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcJscHH2e9Q (The whole railtour)

Cracking Stuff!

Sunday steam-up

After Saturday's excitement, had a nice steam up on Sunday... Must say a big thankyou to Auntie Anne who weeded the garden the other day - turns out there was actually some railway track under that lot!

Footplate experience at the Moors Valley Railway

Had an absolutely cracking day at the 7 1/4" gauge Moors Valley Railway yesterday on their Footplate Experience Course. Our engine for the day was 30 years old Talos, an 0-4-2T built by Roger Marsh.



Once she was in steam, our instructor Alf took us through all the controls, and then gave a demo lap of the line (1 mile in length). Then my co-attendent & I took it turns to drive the line for the rest of the day (in between scheduled passenger trains).


Talos was great fun to drive, certainly a bit more to take care of than on my 16mm locos! The fire didn't seem to need as much attention as a full size loco, but she got through water at a fair rate, and with fairly small tanks, we had to use the injectors a couple of times per lap. The line is fully signalled, so that added to the fun too.



Alf (here keeping a watchful eye over me at the controls!) was great, very knowledgable with experience stretching back to his days driving steam locos for BR, and plenty of good yarns!




The highlight of the day for me was taking the family for a run round the circuit at the end of the day!




Everyone at Moors Valley was very friendly, and I can definitely recommend this as a great way to spend the day if you're a fan of steam locos!

Back to Luscombe Valley...

A lovely morning had by all at the Luscombe Valley Railway (a previously blogged 5" gauge line in Sandbanks, who now have a website here) last Sunday, my Mum's birthday, and she wanted to go somewhere the grandchildren would enjoy!!! Very busy, like the last time we went, but very pleasant rides around the winding circuit, hauled by a mix of live steam and diesel outline locos.


We got a ride behind this 0-6-0 tank loco, though it was blowing off quite a bit!








I have a soft spot for class 33/1's as I grew up near the Bournemouth - Weymouth line where these were mainstay traction for passenger services in the 80's ;-)




Loco's awaiting departure at the very impressive station signal gantry

Easter Steam Up

Had a great extended running session with Cackler this afternoon - sunshine, steady running & a cup of Earl Grey - magic!






Unfortunately my young son has taken to walking the line, and is very keen on the trains, so some permanent way re-alignment was necessary before running could commence. The Baguley-Drewery is now minus it's horn due to some enthusiastic grabbing, so repairs will be required. I'm also contemplating screwing the track into the pavers every foot or so to prevent any further 'tamping' by the mini-controller...

00 Update

Planning for a small indoor 00 layout continues, you can read more about the most recent plan, Wandsworth Road, over on RMWeb. Meanwhile I have been acquiring a few nice loco's: a couple of Heljan 33's & a Hornby 50, all beautifully detailled & great runners; a step up from the Lima kit of my youth!

Eastleigh 100

Looks like the centenary celebrations for the nearby Eastleigh Locomotive Works in May should be worth a visit; plenty of Southern steam locos (from the Watercress line & the Swanage Railway), and classic diesels too.
I couldn't go past Eastleigh on the the train in the 80's without leaning out of the window to get as many numbers as possible, so a chance to have a look around is too good to miss!

Spring has arrived!

Class 33 on the M25!

As we were driving up to Ely on Saturday morning, imagine my surprise as we overtook 'Slim Jim' 33 208 on the M25, after the M40 junction!

Steam in the Snow - the video

Here's a video of the recent steam up in the snow, featuring Cackler.

Steaming in the Snow

Found time for a quick steam up today over lunchtime. Video to follow!

Double-0 Dabbling!

Well garden railway activity in the last month has been virtually nil, as the weather hasn't been great, and life has been very busy.

However I've been spending some time considering a 00 (indoor!) layout, triggered by my nephew getting a first 00 layout for Christmas! As a result I went rummaging through my parents loft through my old Hornby & Lima stuff. Some is still in pretty good nick, some sadly the victim of an over-enthusiastic teenager frustrated at the lack of detail but without the craft skills to make a change for the better!!!

Anyway this has set the old grey matter turning over; and the idea of a small layout set in the 80s, running my favourite southern region (class 33, 33/1 + 4TC & 73?), & western region (class 47, 50, DMU & maybe an 08 or 03 shunter?) locos & stock does appeal! Currently, something loosely based on Minories is in the air (and also in xtrkcad, an excellent & free layout planning tool), I have a Railway Modeller issue from last summer (bought for the garden railway articles), that has a great article on recent Minories variations.

At last weekend's Eastleigh model railway show I managed to have a go at white metal soldering, and picked up some low melt solder & flux, so hopefully so garden railway kit construction soon (I fancy an IP Lister or similar...).