3rd time lucky.........
Entry posted by IanLister
577 views
3rd Time Lucky? Let's Hope So...........
This blog will document my third attempt to successfully complete a model railway project. If I may explain...........
1st go...The Berwick, Spittal and Tweed Dock Railway. I made good progress with this in 2011/12, documented in a layout thread on here. This was my first attempt at building a layout and was rather ambitiously done in 2mm FS. A sudden change of lifestyle (setting off on our travels in a 36' long motorhome) led to the layout being entrusted to the tender care of my daughter with a view to me finishing it after we'd circumnavigated the globe a couple of times or so. Needless to say, she needed space in the loft so without asking my opinion put the layout in the garage; you can guess the rest I expect. It may have just about have been salvageable but I doubt it; you should see my daughter's garage........
2nd go...Port Mohrair. Documented in a blog on RMWeb, this attempt came to a somewhat spectacular end. Another 2mm FS effort, I made steady progress with it for a year, though I have to say 2mm FS doesn't really lend itself to the environmental variables experienced during a fulltime life in a motorhome, particularly when you consider some of the places we visited..........
In late 2014, life was turned upside down. My son, 22 at the time, was nearly killed in a serious car accident; neck broken in 3 places, both thigh bones broken, pelvis shattered, internal injuries etc. A month in intensive care, 3 months in hospital and then in need of full time care for quite a while. His situation wasn't helped by the death of his mother (my former wife)while he was under sedation following the acccident; guess who had to tell him the news. Needless to say, we gave up the motorhome life so we could look after him while he recovered......which I am pleased to say he has done, and spectacularly so, although it took nearly a year of care and considerable effort on his part.
I'm afraid Port Mohrair wasn't my most important priority, and went off in a sulk.
We set off again in the motorhome again, but it wasn't the same. Too much had happened that made us think twic e about life, and we decided to give it up and settle down again; which we have done in Seahouses on the Northumberland coast, close to the North Northumberland ex NER and ex NBR branchlines I love so much, and half an hour from the Spittal and Tweedmouth I had researched so carefully back in 2011. What goes around comes around, they say...........
So now I have a 38ft x 16ft dedicated railway room, all the time and enthusiasm in the universe, and eyesight, brain and manual dexterity that may be 5 or 6 years older but are still functional on a good day. So it's back to the South Bank of the Tweed estuary and my original concept for the B, S and TDR mentioned above.......though being built in 4mm to EM track standards as a concession to the increasing age of my eyes and fingers.
I'll introduce you to Spittal Town and Tweed Dock, with history, trackplan etc in the next entry, but to give you a quick idea:
-
3
8 Comments
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now