Hi everyone

Thanks for your comments. Sorry to have taken a bit longer than intended getting round to this. I had been down to the Porthmadog Model Railway Show with my latest exhibit. It's called Port Maud and is not really a model railway but a model harbour with real water in which the tide ebbs and flows. The basis of the model is a garden potting tray. There is a small element of a railway in it. It's a simple cable hauled car connecting the harbour to the village. It's a total fun thing and seems to be one for the ladies. Sorry I hav'nt an image of it. It may still be on the "modelboatmayhem site. Click on to the Blackpool Show and there should be several images. A final personal note on Port Maud if I may. It's named in memory of my wife who saw the project started but passed away before it's completion.

So, on to the AVR. I was always bemused and still am that it generated the interest it did and guess still does . I trust this does not sound bigheaded as it's not intended to. I'm assuming that if you are interested in this blog you will have read quite a bit the AVR. via the Railway Modeller. My main mentor was John Ahern's Madder valley. It was years before it's time and I really must get to Pendon before it's to late. I always thought of it as narrow gauge in all but gauge if that makes sense. There was also the late P.D.Hancock's Craig and Mertonford. Though it was a bit of a let down as the standard gauge encroached but that was Peters perogative. An old friend, Paul Towers (it was his show I was at over the weekend) while he was Editor of Model Railway News discovered a really good NG modeller,David Mander and his "Stronlochar Line. I mention this as I admired David for pressing on with 8mm gauge track when I gave up on 8mm when Triang introduced TT 12mm track.. Sadly David passed away some years ago. Locos and stock from the three of us, Peter, David and myself are with the 009 Society Heritage collection.

Anyway if you will forgive me I will call that it for now. I'm not used to this bloging. With this somewhat odd ball introduction I will call it a day.

Not sure how you guys would like future blogs to go. More on the AVR and what followed it sale? any thoughts?. Problems of fifties and sixties scratch building. I will try and gather my thoughts on what my be of interest.

Derek