This is my first entry.I have been a member for a while but I have viewed other blogs with admiration but now I have taken the plunge.

I have had a model railway for as long as I can remember. Being born south of the river in London my first love has always been the southern usually based on the south western division although I live on the south eastern and have done for many years.

However 20 years ago I went to America and came back with a loco and box cars and the start of a love affair with US railroading but my enthusiasm for the southern never died. It was more the standard of US models and the impeccable running that came with them .

I was aware of the improvement in British outline models and the number of southern locos coming on the market .lurking in the dark recesses of my garden shed was an old switching layout and in my loft I found my few remainingBR models. Dusting down the layout showed potential so I plugged in a controller and amazingly it worked and like Topsy it has grown. The US layout still exists and runs but is now downsized. The switching layout is now clearly british and my enthusiasm for all things Southern is renewed.if I can master the technology I will post a few pictures.Oh and yes just in case you were wondering the US layout was based on the US Southern Railway,now part of Norfolk Southern