Popular Post Andy Y Posted June 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted June 28, 2018 Yesterday saw the official opening of the Bristol line in the Vale Scene at Pendon Museum. Pendon Museum Trust celebrates another milestone in its’ 64th year with the formal opening of the Bristol Line in the iconic Vale Scene by author, railway enthusiast and antiques expert Paul Atterbury. The event took place on Wednesday 27th June at the Museum with an invited audience representing local organisations and complimentary Museums as well as Volunteers involved with the Trusts’ work. The scene represents life and transport as it was in the Vale of White Horse in meticulous detail at a scale of 4mm to the foot; 1:76th of full size. The running of trains through the Vale brings the scene to life, and records a range of services operated by the original Great Western Railway in the heyday of the traditional steam railway from the Grouping of 1923 through to 1938. Authentic goods trains, including a train of loaded coal from South Wales with around 80 wagons, compete for space with ordinary passenger services and premier services such as The Bristolian, introduced to celebrate the GWR Centenary in 1935. This latter train is chosen as the ideal service to celebrate our formal opening, and will be seen racing Up towards London after Paul cuts the tape! In the 14 years since the first Vale Scene railway line commissioning, significant progress has taken place. Back in 2004, large tracts of the Vale landscape were incomplete, with buildings such as Canney Row and Britchcombe Farm (from Chiseldon and below the Uffington White Horse Hill respectively) placed briefly in place to give an impression of typical Vale scenery. The Guest for the Oxford Line opening, Pete Waterman, was able to sit comfortably in open space when declaring that line open, accompanied by both the Trust Chair and Modelling Coordinator – a feat not possible today! Now, with most scenic trays in place, visitors can view large uninterrupted vistas of a landscape and way of life completely obliterated by the inevitable march of progress. The trains, although perhaps familiar to visitors of Heritage Railways, are seen here in context with the landscape of the time. Passenger services, with a large variety of coaches of different designs (or ‘diagrams’, to use a railway term) are authentic representations of the train formations of the period – in contrast to the uniform trains of today. The huge variety of goods vehicles reflect the role of the railway as ‘common carrier’, required to handle every form of traffic offered – leading to the existence of a number of specialised designs for carrying milk, fish, live cattle, and fresh fruit, as well as the multitude of general merchandise and coal wagons. Pendon’s unique approach – Modelling the Past for the Future for Everyone – gives us a window into the past. It allows us to judge for ourselves the value of Australian Roye England, our Founder, and his vision; capturing the beauty of a bygone age, complete with all its hardships and struggles. The first service through after the official opening was the Up Bristolian. Swiftly followed by a Down service for Plymouth. Please do make the trip this summer, the opening times are on the museum's website - every weekend plus Wednesdays and Thursdays; Wednesday is the ideal day to take the children and grandchildren to take part in the popular Junior Drop-in modelling days. 35 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share Posted June 28, 2018 As is always the way you can rely on your colleague to take a silly photo - the legendary Wessex giant (he was probably the bloke from Cerne Abbas) carefully treading through the landscape (don't worry, no crops were damaged in the photoshopping of this image. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted June 28, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 28, 2018 More than enough of a reason to plan a visit back to Pendon I think! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted June 28, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 28, 2018 As is always the way you can rely on your colleague to take a silly photo - the legendary Wessex giant (he was probably the bloke from Cerne Abbas) carefully treading through the landscape (don't worry, no crops were damaged in the photoshopping of this image. AY_Vale_sm.jpg I can see the resemblance. . . to either. . . Just what is that gripped in your left hand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 Is the Wessex Giant on permanent display to be seen all summer, or only brought out on special running days, due to the age and fragility of the exhibit? ? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted June 29, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 29, 2018 Is the Wessex Giant on permanent display to be seen all summer, or only brought out on special running days, due to the age and fragility of the exhibit? ? Rarely used due to the corona effect of reflected light blinding the viewers! Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 Is the scissors ceremony photo shopped as well? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted June 29, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 29, 2018 Is the scissors ceremony photo shopped as well? I hope so, couldn't see anybody voluntarily wearing a jacket like that! Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 Is the scissors ceremony photo shopped as well? Yes, as there was an open void for the ceremony with chairs which was cleaned up. No BBC experts were amputated in obtaining the image. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted June 29, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 29, 2018 (edited) I hope so, couldn't see anybody voluntarily wearing a jacket like that! Mike. If you happened to be round our part of the world next week you'll see plenty of gentlemen wearing blazers which will make that jacket look positively dull. PS have Pendon now got the signals working correctly at the junction? Edited June 29, 2018 by The Stationmaster 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestTom Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 I really ought to pop down there. It always inspires. I hope so, couldn't see anybody voluntarily wearing a jacket like that! Mike. I actually quite like it, although I'll admit that my sartorial taste can be questionable... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted June 29, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 29, 2018 I really ought to pop down there. It always inspires. I actually quite like it, although I'll admit that my sartorial taste can be questionable... So do l. Shades of the regatta! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 Does this mean all the display cases, around the Vale scene, are now empty of locos and rolling stock? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 Does this mean all the display cases, around the Vale scene, are now empty of locos and rolling stock? No; there's still a lot to see in the cases plus there's a special exhibit room at the moment with the history of finescale modelling with some great exhibits - https://pendonmuseum.com/events/event.php?s=british-4mm-fine-scale-railway-modelling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted June 29, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 29, 2018 I really ought to pop down there. It always inspires. I actually quite like it, although I'll admit that my sartorial taste can be questionable... So do l. Shades of the regatta! In the words of Bertie Wooster, it's a tad sudden for me! Mike. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold griffgriff Posted June 29, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 29, 2018 I hope so, couldn't see anybody voluntarily wearing a jacket like that! Mike. Oi...I’ve got a jacket like that! I think it’s very appropriate to wear a stripped blazer this time of year with Henley Royal just up the road Griff 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 4069 Posted June 29, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 29, 2018 have Pendon now got the signals working correctly at the junction? Normally, yes, although there is a poor "off" on the Oxford line directing signal at the moment, and the down inner home is oou (fixed at danger) until someone can squeeze under and mend it. However, Murphy's law says that when someone takes a photo, the manoeuvres to set it up mean that the signals will have got out of sync. Stuart Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 A question that may be asking the obvious, but having never visited Pendon (it's on the list though), does this new Bristol line feature landmarks from the area between the Vale of White Horse and Bristol? Jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold BoD Posted June 29, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 29, 2018 the legendary Wessex giant (he was probably the bloke from Cerne Abbas) Bragging again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grampus Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Oi...I’ve got a jacket like that! I think it’s very appropriate to wear a stripped blazer this time of year with Henley Royal just up the road Griff Really? Surely not... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold nickwood Posted July 2, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 2, 2018 A question that may be asking the obvious, but having never visited Pendon (it's on the list though), does this new Bristol line feature landmarks from the area between the Vale of White Horse and Bristol? Jo No 'fraid not. The Vale scene is firmly set in the Vale To pick up on Andy's earlier comment that Wednesdays are a good day to visit Pendon with the children / grandchildren for the Junior drop-in modelling sessions. These only take place during school holiday's (for obvious reasons). The modelling team are usually very busy from opening at 11am until around 1pm when it then tends to get a bit quieter. Best to be there when the doors open and bring them straight upstairs to the workshop room or leave it until after lunch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted July 2, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 2, 2018 Really? Surely not... At Henley this week they'll be out & about in their hundreds. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grampus Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Can't work out whether its a recycled deck chair or a humbug wrapper??? Probably a good time to admit that I also possess something vaguely similar... I even wear it occasionally. Best wishes, Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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