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Tony, Following on from your post with regards to layouts that never leave home I attach photos of BOB my loft layout which is “Based On Bawtry” on the East Coast mainline. Bob comprises a scale half mile from the 5 arches over the river Idle up to the station signal box to the North. The attached ordinance survey map indicates the actual area modelled. BOB was started in 2018, the fiddle yard was first and reused boards from 2 previous railway layouts going back to 1980 & 2000’s. The fiddle yard comprises a total of 35 loops, the scenic boards were all new build by myself Christmas 2019 and from there on progress continued up to Christmas 2023 when I started on the station building. Unfortunately I have been unable to find definite information on some of the buildings. I have used Metcalfe houses for the houses fronting the A614, the industrial building is pure fiction but I do need to re-visit the houses on Queens Crescent and the water treatment plant as more information has become available. The track is Peco 100 in the fiddle yard and Peco bullhead on the scenic section. The scenery is a joint effort with my 12 year old grandson, my wife and myself. The signals are by my friend Greg. The stock is probably 95% RTR but nothing goes onto the railway until it has been detailed, close coupled, weathered and in most cases lamps and crew. At 72 I still have a lot to learn about train formations so BOB is definitely a work in progress. It is just a simple layout to watch trains go by and especially by our grandchildren. Thank you for the inspiration that is Writes Writes and thanks also for Peterborough North, Grantham and the West Hill wagon works. Regards Nik

A special train of box vans for the peat works arrives at Bleakhouse Road: Photo: Chris Nevard, courtesy Hornby Magazine

Post arrives for Dad at the Glentanar Hotel ..

In the dying light of the day ..

A rather scruffy Peckett, at Blacker Lane opencast disposal point.

Waiting for the off

Evening everyone. I was having an email chat with Tony earlier regarding my weathering business. Tony kindly suggested I share some of my recent work in here. I began weathering professionally back in 2019. I am a peripatetic violin teacher in various schools by trade. Originally it was only ever meant to be a top up to income, but increasingly I've been beginning to rely on it more. I've become very frustrated with the teaching, and with 400 miles being clocked up for 32 weeks of the year, I'm looking at a change. I'd like to make the weathering more full time, perhaps moving to twice a week, or potentially three times a week. Anyhow enough of my rambling, here's some examples of my work of late.

Mariners and locals gather for fishy conversations!

Meanwhile, on the east coast of Scotland another Sulzer 6LDA fills the quayside with a distinctive rhythm ..

Another visit to the narrow gauge yard at Bridport. It must be Sunday as the shed is locked up and the place is deserted.

Military manoeuvres ..

I was at LFoRM at Ally Pally this weekend on the Junior MRC modular layout. Although we try and operate stock that has been brought in by members I normally dig around in my vintage conversions to have something to run as a standby. This weekend honours were taken by the Airfix Class 31 converted to 'skinhead' type with detailing and flush glazing. This was already good when I got it but I renumbered it as a 'Toffee Apple' 31/0 version and serviced it, it ran faultlessly today and I must say looked fabulous - a good reminder that models don't have to be £200+ superdetail wonders to bring pleasure

Thank you for your comments with regards to B.O.B Mr King, yes the railway is mostly my own work, I built the baseboards, laid the track and made the kits. Scratch built the buildings that kits were not available for. Assistance came from my wife and grandson with scenery, painting etc. As stated previously the signals were made by my friend who is also a railway modeller. Started in 2018 the fiddle yard boards came from previous layouts, Brackenbridge (ROTM Jan 88 and around 20 exhibitions and from an attempt at Melton crossing on the Hull line which morphed into a freelance 4 track East coast mainline depiction which although started in 2005 and never finished due to a house move. Mr Carrol, the model is 43’ 7” long and 8’ 2” wide and is located in a purpose built loft. The scenic section is 34’ 6” long or 2625ft just 15ft short of a half a mile (2640ft) and varies from 1’ 6” wide to a maximum of 3’ wide. The fiddle yards are 2’ wide. Mr West & Grob12324, see below for more photos to the station in the North. The ballast is still a work in progress. I started with granite on the viaduct. I couldn’t find any colour photos to confirm the type of ballast so any help would be appreciated. Thanks Nik

The throb of a 6LDA28 and squealing of wheel flanges can be heard as a BR/Sulzer Type 2 lifts a fully-fitted coal train up the bank from the NCBOE's Blacker Lane Disposal Point.

5514, a rather grubby Small Prairie, crosses the canal at Worseter with a 'local stopper' from Gloucester.

The WCML around Elvanfoot, between Beattock Summit and Crawford in the days of Class 50s. Many thanks to hexagon for identifying two of the workings (see his post below). I've added the details to the captions. Bodsbury Aug 73 J3342 Bodsbury Aug 73 J3343 Elvanfoot Class 50s 445 and 419 down Aug 73 J3344 1S53 0815 Birmingham to Glasgow Central/Edinburgh Elvanfoot Class 50s 415 and 409 up Aug 73 J3345 1M30 1140 Glasgow Central to Euston Elvanfoot River Clyde bridge 2 Class 50s down Aug 73 J3346 David

A quick look round the narrow-gauge yard at Bridport Town

A few photos taken at Carlisle for this morning. Carlisle Class 08 after pulling broken down train back into station 6th Aug 85 C7051 Carlisle 2 Class 108s 30th July 86 C7720 Carlisle 45044 up steel coil April 87 J8815 Carlisle 85020 down empty steel 12th April 88 C9420 Carlisle 31418 Boadicea Carlisle to Leeds May 90 J10964 David

Selside and Horton in Ribblesdale on the Settle and Carlisle in 1965-1973. Selside LMS Jubilee up Waverley Edinburgh to St Pancras Aug 65 J248 Selside LMS Class 5 down goods Aug 65 J250 Selside Class 112 down pass Skipton to Carlisle Dec 66 J715 Horton in Ribblesdale Station name board and signs Sept 66 J629 Horton in Ribblesdale LMS Class 5 44824 down mineral April 67 J0862 Horton in Ribblesdale Class 47 up goods going away Aug 73 J3358 David

It's June 1972, probably the 10th this morning and we are at Fenny Comptom watching trains while waiting to see Clun Castle on a special working. Fenny Compton Class 33 6513 down oil June 72 J2936 Fenny Compton Class 47 1758 June 72 J2937 Fenny Compton 7029 Clun Castle Birmingham to Didcot Celebration Steam Run June 72 J2938 Fenny Compton 7029 Clun Castle Birmingham to Didcot Celebration Steam Run June 72 J2940 Fenny Compton Class 47 1753 Birmingham to Paddington June 72 J2944 Fenny Compton Class 117 Reading to Birmingham June 72 J2945 dmu class corrected David

Next we are between Trent and Loughborough on the Midland at Ratcliffe on Soar. Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 St Pancras to Sheffield Mar 75 J4151 Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 up Mar 75 J4154 Ratcliffe on Soar Class 47 up fly ash May 75 J4317 Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 up June 76 J5298 Ratcliffe on Soar Class 116 dmu up June 76 J5299

Grassington in 1965,1966 and 1967 along with Cracoe in 1973. Cracoe Tilcon Class 31 running round Aug 73 J3360 Grassington BR Class 4MT 75039 Aug 65 J289 Grassington Class 4 75041 Dec 66 J721 Grassington Class 4 75041 Dec 66 J722 Grassington Class 4 75021 July 67 J938 David

Some photos I took at Ardwick in Manchester when I lived there as a student back in 1972. It was a typical January day in Manchester - dull and cold. Ardwick Class 506 Hadfield to Manchester Piccadilly Jan 72 C0780 Ardwick Class 304 Manchester to Alderley Edge Jan 72 C781 Ardwick Class 310 065 Birmingham to Manchester Piccadilly Jan 72 C0782 Ardwick Class 506 M59601 Manchester Piccadilly to Hadfield Jan 72 C0785 Ardwick dmu to Manchester Piccadilly Jan 72 C0791 David

Hawick 2MT 78047 awaits a clear road back home after assisting a heavy freight train on the climb towards Whinburgh. A quiet moment in Slitrigg station yard

Grubby workhorses waiting for their next turn

York between 50 and 59 years ago. York Class 55 D9015 09.05 Kings X to Edinburgh Aug 65 J222 York B1 Aug 66 J587 York Class 45 D29 Newcatle to Cardiff? Oct 66 J670 York A3 4472 Flying Scotsman up light engine Oct 66 J673 York Class 45 31 St Pancras to Scarborough special and Class 45 Newcastle to Cardiff? May 74 J3687 David

Cambridge in black and white around 1947/8 this evening. Cambridge B1 down pass Kings X to Cambridge c1948 JVol7244 Cambridge B1 fireman 1948 JVol1231 Cambridge B2 61671 Royal Sovereign and B2 61617 Ford Castle 1947 JVol1425 Cambridge Fowler 4MTT Cambridge to Bletchely c1948 JVol1196 Cambridge J17 1947 JVol1434 Cambridge LNER B1 1114 and E4 2-4-0 1948 JVol1195 David

Swayfield on Stoke Bank in 1970 and 1972 with both green and blue locos. Swayfield Class 55 07.05 Newcastle to Kings X April 70 J2087 9004 Swayfield Class 47 1990 08.48 York to Kings X March 72 J2830 Swayfield Class 47 1993 up 08.50 Bradford to Kings X July 72 J2978 Swayfield Class 47 down 18.30 Kings X to Hull July 72 C0994 probably 1997 Swayfield Class 47 up 08.50 Bradford to Kings X Nov 72 C1167 David

An interesting night to say the least! started in basford hall taking a train to site at plumley my loco at the front with our own mike Delamar photo bombing me! and from here on in it went down hill! first up I put my hard hat on the hot plate not realising it was on then I dropped a whole bag of crisps on the floor, and I hadn’t left the yard yet surely that was it for bad luck? Off we went, Mike left with his train first with a single loco front and I followed top and tail, it was an unusual situation as the locos needed to be cascaded but also switch to the opposite line when arriving at plumley so we both went through plumley and headed to the single line between northenden jn and hazel grove where we entered a possession put in place purely for us to do swap locos, once cascaded and changed ends it was back out of the possession toward plumley and into the main possession where the work was taking place I got to the cascade possession, permission to enter and stop at the back of mikes train, chopped my loco off and put it on the rear of mikes train (making it his lead loco back to plumley), we did a brake test and Mike walked back while I walked forward to my rear loco (which was now my leading loco) as Mike walked back his loco for some reason shut down and no matter what he did couldn’t get it to restart, it had been fine for me all night up until that point and it had to be declared a failure, of course without that train on site the possession was in danger of being cancelled! came up with the solution to couple the trains together and work it as one to site so at least it was there, could be put into position and worked on, the only issue being things like length, weight and having a dead loco in the middle of the consist which NR weren’t happy about but I found a work around in the rulebook and our own operating appendix which allowed it to move so i backed my train up, coupled, brake tested and awaited further instruction! Mike got in the rear loco and using radios to maintain contact throughout we set off for plumley with him giving me a shove where required (which surprisingly was only on one occasion) the train was an absolute monster but the 66 handled it well, I took my time to avoid braking too much as there were a lot of wagons, it weighted about 3200 ton and was 3/4 mile long, as an idea if it had been stood in platform 13 at Manchester Piccadilly the rear end would have been at the deansgate end of Oxford road station! And I got relief at plumley as the sun rose before I set off we got the train to draw forward so the broken loco was sat in the station for the fitter who was already en route as I say an interesting night, even if it hadn’t gone wrong the move into a dedicated possession to cascade was unusual by itself back in tomorrow, 805 testing all week

Photos taken at Otterington on the ECML south of Northallerton in May 1966. The station had closed in 1958 (passengers), 1964 (freight).. Otterington Class 40 Newcastle to Kings X May 66 J492 Otterington Class 45 Liverpool to Newcastle May 66 J493 Otterington WD 90011 down iron ore May 66 J494 Otterington Class 47 15.00 Newcastle to Kings X May 66 J498 Otterington Class 37 up hauling Class 08 May 66 J499 David

Quiet time at Kirkby Malham

Confectionery Crossing... Fry's Sentinel, No.7492 make a rare appearance on the road crossing outside the gates of the Somerdale site, as it propels one of the firm's registered 'GWR Mink A' vans towards Keynsham station. From there the van will be collected by a local pick-up goods and taken into Bristol, before being marshaled into one of the many express freight service for the North - with it's confectionery contents travel as far as Glasgow or Edinburgh! The 'Mink A' van is one of the latest releases from Rapido Trains UK, and was suitably weathered prior to staging this photo; I used various weathering powders to replicate the faded/bleached paintwork often seen on GWR goods vehicles after a few months in service.

I think the conversation between kits and ready to run will be ongoing! I believe they both have a place in our hobby. I like making kits, it gives me something to do, it’s a sense of achievement and I can see progress and improvement (generally) in my ability. But I have no issue in seeing something in a shop, or online, and thinking, ‘ooh, I’d like one of those’. This week I finished a kit by @macgeordie of an LNER Thompson 6-wheel NPCCS BZ. It came with everything needed less wheels and couplings and included a CD-ROM of build images and instructions. The only thing I did differently to the instructions was that, to represent the door bumps/stops, I drilled out the half-etched holes and soldered in .45mm wire as opposed to pressing them out. I think they look a bit neater. It's finished in BR Maroon (Tamiya TS-11) and lined with a pen. The kit also provides for glazing (a transparent sheet with the window outlines printed on it) but I opted for cut glass. Like the two Siphon G’s I recently completed, it was a pleasure to build. I think it captures the look of the prototype really well. I seem to have a bit of a thing for 6 wheels stock and think this one compares favourably with a Comet Models Stove R that I completed a couple of years ago. In due course they'll both be weathered. Kind regards, Iain

Next are some photos taken around Pelaw Junction, between Newcastle and Sunderland. Normal service should be resumed tomorrow. Pelaw Junction 47218 up oil 1st Aug 85 C7033 Pelaw Junction 47305 up onto Leamside line 1st Aug 85 C7034 Pelaw Junction 47305 up onto Leamside line 1st Aug 85 C7035 Pelaw Junction Class 101 54390 and 53164 Newcastle to Sunderland 19th Feb 86 C7326 Pelaw Junction 143005 Newcastle to Sunderland and Metro North Shields to Bankfoot 19th Feb 86 C7328 David

Looking from the farmyard past the gate down the lane that goes over the brook. I can confirm that the Colonel is fishing with his rod and not standing there try to fill the brook!! Looks odd from this angle?

Back to the north east for this morning. There are 2 photos at Monkton Cokeworks, Gateshead and 3 at Middlesbrough. Monkton 08888 and NCB 03099 15th Aug 85 C7135 Monkton 08888 15th Aug 85 C7137 Middlesbrough Class 101 Middlesbrough to Newcastle 21st Feb 85 C6706 Middlesbrough Class 101 Darlington to Saltburn 21st Feb 85 C6709 Middlesbrough Class 101 left to Whitby right to Newcastle 21st Feb 85 C6710 David

Morning all, Well, a good weekend was had. A soldering session on Sunday morning sorted out Saturday afternoon's pulled wire and though Sunday was quieter than Saturday, it was a good day. Lots of friendly faces and of note was the official visit yesterday by @Captain Kernow who was graciously accompanied by CTMK. But as I say, many friendly faces made for a lovely chatty weekend which was rounded off with something very special indeed. Rob.

Photos from trips to Scotland in 1973 and 1974 taken at Craigendoran. Craigendoran Junction Class 101 Glasgow QS to Oban Aug 73 J3331 Craigendoran Junction Class 101 Glasgow QS to Oban Aug 73 J3332 Craigendoran Class 303 043 Helensburgh to Airdrie Aug 73 J3333 Craigendoran bridge over A814 July 74 J3856 Craigendoran Junction Class 20 up freight July 74 J3857 Craigendoran Junction Class 20 up freight on extreme left July 74 J3858 David

Black and white days at Grantham. Looking at them I think they were probably taken on Ilford HP3 film or the equivalent as they are rather grainy. Grantham down pullman car Lucille and Gresley coach c1951 JVol1172 Grantham J6 down pass c1951 JVol5121 Grantham Loco A3 60110 Robert the Devil c1950 JVol3266 Grantham North A1 60130 Kestrel down ex pass c1951 JVol4141 The white triangular areas top and bottom left are simply there because the print was quite badly damaged at some time and it had been trimmed by Dad. Grantham North A1 down ex pass c1951 JVol4131 David

Chaloners Whin Junction, south of York in 1966 and 1967 for this tea time. Chaloners Whin Junction Class 25 D7509 up freight Oct 66 J652 Chaloners Whin Junction Class 55 D9007 down Oct 66 J656 12.00 Kings X to Edinburgh Chaloners Whin Junction Class 40 D258 up freight Oct 66 J657 Chaloners Whin Junction Class 47 D1523 down March 67 J797 11.00 Kings X to Newcastle Chaloners Whin Junction Class 101 Leeds to Scarborough March 67 J801

In Scotland for this morning. Some of the photos may of use to those who have model harbours on their layouts. The first of the Stranraer photos was taken while I was a student, we had arrived there in a coach from Manchester on the way to Northern Ireland for a Biology field trip very early in the morning so we all went for a walk, I took a few photos. I remember we were all hungry and it was too early for anywhere to be open, in the end we found a bakery (not a shop) which let us have some very freshly baked rolls. Stannergate Dundee Class 101 Arbroath to Dundee Aug 74 J3934 Stirling Class 27 up Aug 73 J3337 seen from the castle Stonehaven (nea)r Aug 74 J3926 Stranraer harbour Class 27 April 70 C211 Stranraer Harbour July 74 J3833 Stranraer Harbour July 74 J3834 David

Grantham, an assortment taken over the years. Grantham Class 47 1764 Newcastle to Kings X Feb 72 C843 Taken while waiting to catch a train to Retford, then to Sheffield and on to Manchester. Grantham Class 55 9015 08.00 Edinburgh to Kings X May 72 J2928 Grantham Class 47 down freightliner Jan 74 C1465 Grantham 254007 Kings X to Edinburgh going away Feb 79 C4307 Grantham 47014 Manchester to Parkeston Quay June 80 C5066 More likely to be 47004, with thanks to Andrew (brushman47544) David

Around Scout Green and Shap Wells in 1973 and 1976. Scout Green Class 50 down Feb 73 C1201 A very distant view! Scout Green Class 87 87031 down Aug 76 J5416 Scout Green Class 87 up Aug 76 J5417 Scout Green Class 87 87019 down Aug 76 J5418 Shap Wells Class 86 up Aug 76 J5413 Shap Wells Class 87 up Aug 76 J5414 David

Looking up the lane towards the farmhouse Extra lighting used to see if I could make an early morning mist look in the distance......seems to have worked.

A view of LM station from the road

Another set of photos around Radcliffe on Trent. Radcliffe on Trent Class 104 Grantham to Nottingham Feb 75 J4147 Radcliffe on Trent Class 37 eastbound oil Mar 75 J4183 Radcliffe on Trent Class 47 47155 Parkeston Quay to Manchester Feb 78 J5928 Radcliffe on Trent Class 47 to Skegness 29th May 78 C3860 Radcliffe on Trent 47011 Parkeston Quay to Manchester Aug 78 C4100

What a load of rubbish!!