rouse2037 Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 History The railway line between Thingley Junction and Beanacre Halt, originally had two private, gated sidings that led off to small holdings for the transfer of asparagus. Due to the decline in suitable growing conditions for the asparagus and then with the singling of the original double tracked main line, the need to move the crops greatly diminished and a road replacement service was introduced in the form of a Bentley MK VI. Local entrepreneur, Sir Jeremy Casters, had been the proprietor of a specialist book shop and printing company for many years. Being something of a rail enthusiast from a young age, when he heard the news of the planned closure of the private sidings and rumors that the main line was under threat, he decided to take action. The Minister for Transport and Hot Air, Sir Arthur Dick Bleaching (Richard to his chums and simply Dick to everyone else), proposed to Parliament that the unprofitable line be shut in its entirety. Sir Jeremy saw an opportunity and fortunately had the ear or two of some “Men in the Ministry”, so before the matter went further, he purchased one of the original sidings and named it after himself; Caster Siding. Following approval from The Ministry allowing a 6 month “Trial of Operation”, Sir Jeremy purchased a Ruston 44DS locomotive and three wagons. A fourth wagon, a Private Owner wagon, which had been lovingly restored over many years in Sir Jeremys back garden was also brought to the siding, purely for the enjoyment of looking at it. Sir Jeremy, with the assistance of his chum, local vicar the Rev. Samuel Weech, now operates the siding with the goods van being loaded with books in the old shed at the end of the siding and then shunted to a loading bay adjacent to the main line. They work on an “as required” basis and assist the local hamlet of Much Swanning by bringing in coal and other goods, when asked nicely. An illustrated miscellany of the sidings will be made available in due course.. although the British Library have already refused to acknowledge it as anything but raving nonsense. We shall see. Rouse McSloane. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted May 15, 2017 Author Share Posted May 15, 2017 A bundle of wood arrived in a box. Here it is unpacked. R McSloane 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted May 16, 2017 Author Share Posted May 16, 2017 Fiction. The bundle of wooden bits that arrived was "put together". Yes it's an Apa box like the type once sold in Ikea (other shops are available). If one removes the red shaded side piece and pops the lid on, it gives a fairly nice viewing box. Alternatively, turning the box onto the red shaded part and using the lid for something else, this gives a taller box. Rouse Mc S. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 History Sir Jeremy has found by chance that the most appropriate way to safely transport his books is by use of small wooden crates. At a church fete in 1958, he was introduced to the Swedish au pair of the Jarndyce family, a certain Miss Kiea. Her grandfather was a shop owner and had developed the ingenious design of a flat packed furniture range and storage system. This included a handsome storage box, a few of which Miss Kiea had brought to the fete for the vicar to use when judging the Allotment Society vegetable competition. The sturdy design of the box meant it could be used to display vegetables on and transport them in. A roaring success; but Sir Jeremy had other ideas in mind.. R McS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
28XX Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Cast - aside - ing I get it! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold wenlock Posted May 19, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 19, 2017 A splendid piece of Wimsey! Looking forward to seeing this progress old chap! :-) I'm sure the the antics of Sir Jeremy and the Reverend Samuel will be most entertaining. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted May 22, 2017 Author Share Posted May 22, 2017 A splendid piece of Wimsey! Looking forward to seeing this progress old chap! :-) I'm sure the the antics of Sir Jeremy and the Reverend Samuel will be most entertaining. Wimsey!? I say, look here Wenlock old chap, neither Whimsey nor Wimsey here. (Nor Wimpey, nor Fine Fare Discount..) Rouse McS. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold wenlock Posted May 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2017 Wimsey!? I say, look here Wenlock old chap, neither Whimsey nor Wimsey here. (Nor Wimpey, nor Fine Fare Discount..) Rouse McS. What not even Lord Peter! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin2 Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 What not even Lord Peter! I am very fond of Dorothy L Sayers' books. Are those BBC films with Ian Carmichael any good? ...R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold wenlock Posted May 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2017 I am very fond of Dorothy L Sayers' books. Are those BBC films with Ian Carmichael any good? ...R I remember thoroughly enjoying watching them as a young teenager with my parents in the early 1970s, but they were probably very much of their time and looking pretty dated by now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted May 24, 2017 Author Share Posted May 24, 2017 (edited) ....probably very much of their time and looking pretty dated by now! One "knows the feeling" as they say...! R McS Edited May 24, 2017 by rouse2037 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin2 Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 (edited) I remember thoroughly enjoying watching them as a young teenager with my parents in the early 1970s, but they were probably very much of their time and looking pretty dated by now! Sounds like it might be worth trying one of them. Thanks ...R Edited May 24, 2017 by Robin2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 History One is often surprised how, when researching a piece of information, the route diverges off the main line and down a siding that at first glance appears to be insignificant. Such was the case with my rail chair research. I discovered an article in the Much Swanning Gazette from June 1954 that described the re-laying of track on what we now know as Caster Sidings. Turning two pages forward instead of one, and I was on the "Local News" page by mistake. There, to my delight, was a short piece on Sir Jeremy and the uproar caused at Lark Hall a few weeks before. Apparently Sir Jeremy was entertaining Capt. Bakewell RFC. DFC. and his wife for the weekend. The Captain had brought along a draft copy of his new book "101 Things to do with Dust" for Sir Jeremy to proof read. Breakfast on the Sunday morning however brought pandemonium when not only did the Under Parlour Maid attempt to serve but luncheon plates had been laid out instead of breakfast plates! Turning back a page, I discovered the rail chair measurements required but it proves my point. R. McS. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold wenlock Posted June 25, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 25, 2017 I'm sure his Lordship was mortified by such a woeful occurrence! Many a frendship has been ruined by such slovenly behaviour, I can only imagine his fury when informed that the Gazette had got wind of the scandle! I'm sure such behaviour would never have occurred in the good Captains mess and one can only hope that he eventually came to terms with the horrors that he experienced that day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted June 26, 2017 Author Share Posted June 26, 2017 History Thumbing through some crumbling copies of the Much Swanning Gazette, I found a railway map of the line between Thingley Junction and Beanacre Halt. The two aforementioned sidings were also shewn but with little detail. I took the liberty of using pencil and paper to draw the "map" as the original was crumbly. R McS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted June 26, 2017 Author Share Posted June 26, 2017 History Thumbing through some crumbling copies of the Much Swanning Gazette, I found a railway map of the line between Thingley Junction and Beanacre Halt. The two aforementioned sidings were also shewn but with little detail. I took the liberty of using pencil and paper to draw the "map" as the original was crumbly. R McS 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted June 26, 2017 Author Share Posted June 26, 2017 I appear to have repeated myself Apologies R Mc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold wenlock Posted June 27, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 27, 2017 I appear to have repeated myself Apologies R Mc All looking very promising, definitely worth mentioning twice! :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Much musing going on with the Thingley Junction railwayAny photos in that article in the Much Swanning Gazette?Can you still trace the old trackbed?I'm sure Caster Siding is a great place - was it a subsidiary line, of the old "Whimsey & Scandal Light Railway"?Fairly sure I've seen Sir Jeremy's son in my local pub Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted July 3, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 3, 2017 in the good Captains mess There is no mess at Kernow Towers. Only carefully placed items to give that impression. Sounds like it might be worth trying one of them. Thanks ...R What does stand the test of time, in my opinion anyway, is the 'Jeeves & Wooster' series of the 1990s, featuring Laurie and Fry. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin2 Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 What does stand the test of time, in my opinion anyway, is the 'Jeeves & Wooster' series of the 1990s, featuring Laurie and Fry. I have some of them and I like them. But the whole concept is very different from Dorothy L Sayers' books, of which I am very fond. ...R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 ....What does stand the test of time, in my opinion anyway, is the 'Jeeves & Wooster' series of the 1990s, featuring Laurie and Fry. Yes, P.G. Wodehouse's writing is superb in the Jeeves & Wooster series But Fry & Laurie play their roles brilliantly, as do the other actors. The series is also wonderfully directed and filmed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 Fiction. It would appear that a track plan is in order. The word "plan" rarely comes to much. Rouse Mc S. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) Fiction. Possible use of a lazy Susan sector plate Rouse Mc S. Edited July 23, 2017 by rouse2037 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Like Genesis quote in posting #7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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