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Bramblewick


AndrewCussler
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Hi all

 

I have just heard that Tom Harland's iconic layout 'Bramblewick' will be appearing at the Easter York show. I understand from my colleague Steve Barnfield that this will be its last show before the layout is sold.

 

Many will know that the creator of Bramblewick, Tom Harland, died last year and the 'Friends of Bramblewick' will be showing the layout for the last time. After the show, the layout will be offered for sale with some of it's stock. A farewell article about the layout will appear in the April issue of Railway Modeller, together with photographs taken by Tom's son Jack showing the final alterations Tom had made to the layout.

 

For those who have never seen the layout, it is as worth seeing as anything at Pendon and if you have seen it before, come and see it again. It will be worth it.

 

For any info about the sale etc. please do not try and contact the family. Email sjbarnfield@hotmail.com for further information.

 

Regards 

 

Andrew

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I really do hope Bramblewick goes to a good home.

 

Yes, so do I. i've just joined RM Web and found this topic. There is no doubt in my mind that 'Bramblewick' is the best layout of its type I've ever seen. I understand that Tom Harland was a very good landscape painter and Bramblewick reflects this. The 'railway in a landscape' approach is very well done and seems like a 3D painting. I'm sure that many modellers will make a special visit to York show to see this wonderful layout.

 

I don't know what the entrance fee will be at the show but it will be worth it just to see Bramblewick one more time. I should think that many feel the same. See you there.

 

Frank

 

PS Any pics Andrew?

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Tom's 'day job' certainly showed on the layout - I don't think any other layout is anywhere near as good as Bramblewick when it comes to the use of tone and colour. Easily one of the finest model railways ever built.

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Yes, so do I. i've just joined RM Web and found this topic. There is no doubt in my mind that 'Bramblewick' is the best layout of its type I've ever seen. I understand that Tom Harland was a very good landscape painter and Bramblewick reflects this. The 'railway in a landscape' approach is very well done and seems like a 3D painting. I'm sure that many modellers will make a special visit to York show to see this wonderful layout.

 

I don't know what the entrance fee will be at the show but it will be worth it just to see Bramblewick one more time. I should think that many feel the same. See you there.

 

Frank

 

PS Any pics Andrew?

 

Hi Frank

 

Yes there are some. If I can work out how to upload them. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Andrew

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Open file i.e picture

 

click image

 

then resize to 800 x600

 

Save file

 

to My pictures or a folder of choice

 

On here

 

more reply options

 

add image

 

choose files i.e the one saved on Irfanview

 

post

 

job done

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

There are some pictures of Bramblewick on the Scalefour Society's website:

http://www.scalefour.org/layouts/exhibbramblewick.html

 

All the Best

Danny

Thanks for that Danny I'm still having problems trying to upload. We shall have to wait until the Railway Modeller article appears in April issue.

 

I hope that it will inspire many modellers not only to go to York show to see the layout for the final time but in their own modelling. Steve has also told me that he will be demonstrating as usual at York, this year his subject is Modelling the NER. Quite a large subject but if anybody wants to know about modelling the NER he may be able to help. He's also told me that he has some more books on the go, his last was of course about Painting and Lining, long out of print.

 

Regards

 

Andrew

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I see there are a couple of photos of Bramblewick in the latest edition of Model Railway Journal.

 

The write up also confirms that York show will be the last and the last chance to see this wonderfully iconic layout.  As it's for sale, I wonder what the sale price will be. I bet that it will be way out of my price range and remembering that it is quite a long layout, about 40' I think finding somewhere to set it up might also be a problem.

 

I hope that there is someone out there who can and will take it on. I would hate to see such a wonderful layout broken up and burnt.

 

Hope to see some of you all at York. All the best

 

Frank

Thanks for that Danny I'm still having problems trying to upload. We shall have to wait until the Railway Modeller article appears in April issue.

 

I hope that it will inspire many modellers not only to go to York show to see the layout for the final time but in their own modelling. Steve has also told me that he will be demonstrating as usual at York, this year his subject is Modelling the NER. Quite a large subject but if anybody wants to know about modelling the NER he may be able to help. He's also told me that he has some more books on the go, his last was of course about Painting and Lining, long out of print.

 

Regards

 

Andrew

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I see there are a couple of photos of Bramblewick in the latest edition of Model Railway Journal.

 

The write up also confirms that York show will be the last and the last chance to see this wonderfully iconic layout.  As it's for sale, I wonder what the sale price will be. I bet that it will be way out of my price range and remembering that it is quite a long layout, about 40' I think finding somewhere to set it up might also be a problem.

 

I hope that there is someone out there who can and will take it on. I would hate to see such a wonderful layout broken up and burnt.

 

Hope to see some of you all at York. All the best

 

Frank

Hi All

 

Yes, as I've already said on this thread at the beginning, Bramblewick will be offered for sale following the York show at Easter. I understand. that as yet, the cost and what the propective buyer will get haven't been decided but will be negotiated.

 

Andrew

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Model railways are strange things when it comes to prices and values. If you wanted to have something like Bramblewick built to commission, it would cost a fortune. Yet if you look at the number of P4 modellers, who model the NER and who have space for a 40' layout, you may be looking at the fingers on one finger, so the market is tiny.

 

There is always the chance that somebody will but it and rip up the track to change it to 16.5mm gauge but I think that would be a shame.

 

I recall that one very well known and highly respected large layout sold for as little as around £200, simply because the market place for a large and highly specialised layout was so small.

 

I hope that the layout is saved, hopefully in a way which will allow it to be seen by others again. It is indeed a masterpiece of modelling and artistry and deserves to be retained in a sympathetic and appropriate way. Ideally it needs somebody with the sort of skills that Tom had but there ain't many around who come even close!

 

Tony

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Guest Natalie Graham

Yet if you look at the number of P4 modellers, who model the NER and who have space for a 40' layout, you may be looking at the fingers on one finger,

 

I suppose that number might increase by one after the York show. I wonder how much it will go for, I have plenty of space.

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The price on layouts is very odd - in the case of Bramblewick, will it be valued as a layout or as a piece by a respected artist? Rumours have been doing the rounds, of course, on price and I've heard some very high prices mentioned!

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Hi All

 

My April Railway Modeller popped through the letter box today with some nice photos of Bramblewick. Confirms that it will be the last show and that the layout is for sale. Details stevebarnfield@hotmail.com.

 

Frank

 

 

Yes, thank you Frank. As ever, the Railway Modeller seems to somehow always produce pictures etc. exceptionally well and whether it's how it's edited or the person who does the layout of them, they always do a first class job. Steve Barnfield is not a member on here which is why you have me reporting. He tells me that Bramblewick will be on the ground floor at York show, stand no. 36. He will be on stand 35 at one end with the NERA stand 37 at the other.

 

We're looking forward to the show and hope to see many of you there.

 

Andrew

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  • 3 weeks later...

Saw it today as well and it certainly lived up to expectations and then some. Went past a few times and the viewers were 2-3 deep at all times, if it wasn't positioned such that there was a wall a few feet from the front, I suspect the crowds may have been even deeper...

 

John

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If there has ever been a better stonework effect on a layout, I haven't seen it!

 

I hope that the layout finds a good home and that wherever it ends up, we get a chance to see it from time to time to remind us just how good Tom was.

 

Tony

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Thanks for posting the photos Johnathan, they certainly highlight the superb detail on this layout.  I especially like the detail of the worker reading outside the workers hut in front of the station.

 

 

Mark in OZ

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I had a quick look when I first arrived today with intentions to come back, then ran out of time!

 

Will add the couple of pics I took when I get them onto my pc, if my camera skills were any good you'd struggle to tell it wasn't 304.8mm/ft...

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