Bodmin General 2015

1. View from the car park- shows how short this platform really was- maybe a layout idea?

Bodmin General 2015

No Numbers i'm afraid but probably available on Preserved Loco sites.

Bodmin General

 Three days- an image of Bodmin General taken in June 2015-each day

Ballast.

This couple of pictures were taken in late December 2014 at Starcross. I thought it was a good example of modern ballasting- the sleepers are nearly covered- not as I remember at other times I have visited this location.
The ballast is heaped up in the cess- a result of the misfortunes in Devon earlier in the year?

South Devon December 2014.

Between Christmas and New Year I took a trip down to Devon. Several reasons, to visit my mate Pete and catch up  on a few pints, for a quick visit to Trago and to get a new car sticker for my new car. OK it's new to me- another Focus but this time an all singing / dancing one.
The sticker- what else than a South Devon Railway one.
The old one disappeared with the old car so had to be replaced. This was an excuse to see real trains.
In steam that day was a Pannier dressed up in London Transport colours- more photos on the South Devon page.

Barry Island .

 Recently had some time to spare whilst working in Swansea. So took myself along to Barry Island, had an ice cream , saw Nesta's Slots and the Barry Island Railway.
No steam today though just a very tidy site with obvious GWR parentage- did see an Arriva Trains DMU though.
To think that nearly fifty years ago, this place was filling up with the discarded steam engines that Dai Woodham had the foresight to not cut up but envisage them all rising again to not only fulfill a full working life but to entertain several new generations on the workings of our heritage.

We had a lovely time in Minehead!!

 Well we did until most of the pubs shut at 11pm on the Friday night. This was the first time in years that we actually heard a time bell at 10.45 and shouts to get out just after 11 !!. Even the escapees from Butlitz were miffed that they had to return early.
Still that aside we enjoyed a terriffic time, the accomodation and breakfast was excellent.
Took the opportunity to walk around Minehead Station early morning so a few uncluttered pics are attached.
The exhibition flew by with much talking and quite a few 3mm Society members took the time and trouble to come and see us.
Would we go again- you bet!!

Irish Railways.

In days long ago, or so it seems, rolling stock was widened from that used on the UK network.
Now it seems that the bogies are just widened as this shot shows.
Could the model UK stock have the bogies altered to show this modification.
As I have said , I have no idea on the latest DMU fleet but in any scale would this mod be feasible?
More Pictures are on the other blog-click here.

Time Away.

 Recently some good fortune saw me doing an European Tour- well Eire, Northern Ireland, Wales as well as all around England.
Stayed at some luxurious Hotels and worked very hard!
However, the one time I remembered to carry my camera, I happened upon Great Victoria Street Station in Belfast. After explaining my interest in Trains the Station Manager let me take photos and walk around the platform area- it pays to be nice and ask politely!
So a trio of photos are shown today- please donn't ask for the technical bits like types etc.- I really have no idea of modern day stock. But, they do resemble the type of units running on UK rail network.
In the enxt few days I will publish some more with my take on how to replicate a feature of these wider gauged Multiple Units.

M7 on shed.

34070 approaches Harmons Cross and Blandford Exhibition Details.

Quick reminder of the Blandford Museum's S&DJR 150th anniversary exhibition this weekend 21st/22nd September 2013.The Blandford School, Milldown Road, Blandford,DT11 7SN. Opening times 10.30-5.00 Saturday and 10.00-4.30 Sunday.-Teignford will be there.Plus a fellow 3mm Society member, John O'Dell is bringing some of his 3mm S&D locos to show on the Sunday.

Departing for Corfe Castle & Norden.

Steam at Swanage.

 Several days when ther will be a sucession of pictures taken recently-August 2013 at the Swanage Railway.
This shows Drummond 0-4-4T M7 30053 arriving from Corfe Castle.

Where am I?

 Sometimes it is advantageous to take a photo as a reminder where a particular set of pictures were taken.
These are views taken some 100 yards from our Group Meeting place at Furzebrook.
The main track to Swanage is the one that has shiny rail head, the sidings at Furzebrook clearly have not been regularly used.
Also of interest is the variation in colouring of the ballast. The bufferstop has clearly seen better days, the siding being something of a dumping ground.

Back to the theme of this post- we are clearly advised of our location and the ownership of the bridge clearly stated.

Always a prototype.

 I make no excuse for showing these pictures again. Sometimes it helps to trawl one's way through pictures that are a distant memory, and this is one of those occasions.
I took the photo of the lamp hut, at Christow if I remember correctly, in 2009 whilst tr4avelling along the old Teign Valley line.
These huts were made in a variety of sizes but commonly all clad with corrugated iron.
There are variations, I suppose to suit the site and use for which they are intended.
So it is useful to re-visit old photos- it is so much quicker with electronic copies than the old photo albums.

GWR Railmotor.The real thing!

I have followed the construction of the GWR Railmotor with fascination. Not having seen it for myself, I was pleased to recieve this image from John O'Dell of the Railmotor at work on the West Somerset Railway. It had been my intention to see it running in Cornwall earlier this year but various things meant that I couldn't so I am very grateful to John.

Have to model this!

 Every so often you come across a building that cries out to be modelled.
So it was when at the Wilton Show that this gem was just over the road.
I took several of this and its neighbours as I feel that a row like this will be added to Teignford.

Closed Station

 Little modelling been done due to re-insulating loft so a few photos of the closed station at Haybridge. It would appear from the size of the goods shed door that this line was built during the Broad Gauge era.

 The road bridge from the down side , taken from the goods yard entrance

Mostly the goods shed but no access was possible to see wether the Station Building was still standing

Autotrailer W225W

Hawksworth Auto Trailer (or Autocoach if you prefer) was built to diagram A.38 Lot 1736 in 1951. fitted with 9ft bogies, 13 of this particular lot were built and were 64ft long. There are three of this diagram on the South Devon, although on of them, number 232 'Clair' has had a gangway fitted at the non driving end.
Now, a question. This coach was built after nationalisation so should it have the W suffix? I am led to understand that only pre-nat built coaches had a W after the number. Is it because it is to a pre-nat diagram? Answers or reasons would be gratefully accepted.

South Devon Pannier

Another picture from the South Devon. This time an outside cylinder Pannier, the only surviving example of Collett's 1366 Class. Built to work around sidings and tight curves of docks, 1369 spent most of her time at Swindon. Then in 1960 was transfered to Weymouth to work the harbour trains, fitted with a bell to warn other tramway users. Spent rest of her life working China Clay trains. Bought from BR by the then Dart Valley Railway for around £650 so I believe. Beautifully restored the loco makes a lovely sight waiting for the signal to move off destined for Totnes Riverside.