Thanks for your encouraging views...I was raised in the home counties and immersed in all things SR from birth and have a great fondness British Railways in the 50's and odd places like Three Bridges Station...In my school years I travelled each day from Guildford to Woking on the old 2 Bils and 4 Cors - and I wish someone like Bachmann would hurry up and make a model of each soon - I know they can do it! ...And of course many a lunch hour was spent watching the Bournemouth Belle as it thundered through the station, an impressive sight for a young mind, as well as noting and being amazed by the evolution from Spam Cans to rebuilt Bulleids .

Other memorable railway times were spent visiting London, travelling to Brighton on the Brighton Belle with my grandfather or going to see relatives in the West country. Now throw in a life time fascination with the London Underground as well as great times as a young adult riding the North London line EPBs or travelling north to Newark and Hull from Kings Cross ( always on a sunday when track maintenace work slowed everything down or diverted the trains through Lincoln on the Sleaford loop) and it kind of explains the feelings and atmospheres I am trying to evoke with one layout.

What better way to enjoy one's retirement years?