queensquare

Great progress Will, we can double head them when it’s finished! Jerry

I even took some phone videos ….. hope this works! Jerry

Last couple of snaps from what’s been a fun day posing and running trains. Jerry

Another phone snap, the new Windsor Hill extension has really opened up the view of the colliery. Fox Walker tank is banking a freight into the down tunnel - anyone who knows the S&D will immediately spot the huge liberty I’ve taken here - quite apart from the fact that the colliery and the tunnels are meant to be several miles apart. Jerry

Hi Ian, pretty sure it’s D385. It a Worsley etch I picked up years ago so shouldn’t be a problem getting one in 3mm. The combination of the blue S&D set with the LNW full brake and MR through coaches takes some beating in my opinion Jerry

I’ve always thought 1930 would make a fascinating year to model with blue SDJR locos with newly hand painted LMS markings and numbers. I don’t think the blue lasted much beyond 1930 but Casserley took a number of pictures on his visits to the line that year. Jerry

Thanks Bob. I’m sorely tempted to crack on with the scenery but I want to wait until I’ve got the basic landscaping for Bath bank in place and then do the lot in one hit to try and ensure some consistency. That said, my primary target this year is to get the rest of the track down and wired so I can run trains over the entire length of the layout. So much to do …..!😊 Jerry

Hi Jol, it is. I have a couple of pictures of this van being in use in trains over the line. At the moment it’s the only LNW coach I’ve painted. It was the problems I had with this which prompted me to seek your advice. Needless to say I have several part built which will use the paint you kindly gave me! Jerry

This is only a phone snap so only the foreground is in focus but, even when fuzzy, this sort of perfectly authentic train just confirms my feeling that, despite it being an awful lot of work, you can’t touch pre-group modelling. Discuss!! Jerry

I’ve been messing about trying to compose some pictures for an MRJ article. One of these is a shot of the scene around Twinhoe bridge, just south of Midford and, in particular, the Midford outer home which protected the single line into Bath. As it was a lattice post in the 1950s, albeit with upper quadrant SR arms I just assumed in the 1920s it was the same but with lower quadrant arms. I even got a lovely little etch from Jim Watt to make the signal. However, when i checked it turned out the lattice post was a 1948 replacement - doh! Luckily I had a suitable solid post signal I started for another project which fits the bill perfectly. Jim’s etch will now find a home at the Windsor Hill end so nothing wasted! The shunt ahead arm on the model is actually surplus and no longer really makes sense, certainly from the angle below. But this view is only visible by balancing a phone on the bridge. The short rock cutting where the track doubles is a scenic break which represents a couple of miles, the actual point at which it doubles is invisible in normal viewing. Jerry

My being the guinea pig to have a go at these is based on the fact I’m a tutor at Missenden so know Andy through that - there is a 2mm modeller of far greater renown than me who is also a tutor at Missenden. I've seen Andy’s 4mm prints and they are excellent so am very much looking forward to having a go at the 2mm ones - the fact they are Midland is an added bonus! Jerry

Splendid, how many chassis will I need Andy! Jerry

Really nice little show. The small and delightful narrow gauge group. Lots of small layouts, nice people, fabulous location couple of miles from Glastonbury and cake. Marvellous!! Well done to all involved, Jerry

Excellent news, well done the Warley club, Jerry

I’m coming down with my old mate Gascupboard Dave. Very much looking forward to it. Jerry

I'm pleased you’re enjoying it. I was lucky enough to get to know Alan Newman in his later years, he was a lovely, and very funny man. Most of my choices regarding Midland locos I have either built, or intend building for my Bath project, are based on his recollections. Alans’ favourites were the Midland 2-4-0s which are the biggest gap in my Midland stud at present. I’ve seen pictures of these piloting expresses over the S&D so I’m sure you could justify one of these on your layout. By the 1920s many of the S&Ds locos such as the Scotties and small 4-4-0s were life expired and I get the impression the LMS were trying out various potential replacements. For example, an ex L&Y 0-6-0 spent a spell at Highbridge in this period. Ive attached a snap of the Tilbury tank taken by Alan from one of my albums though I’m sure it’s been published before - from memory I can’t remember where. Jerry

Enjoy! Jerry

Mmmmm…. nice! Jerry

I pulled out of this years Ally Pally because of problems getting a dog sitter for the weekend - not the organisers fault or problem by any means - but the reason I’m reluctant to do it in the first place is the battle round the North Circular to get to the accommodation - 90 minutes on the Friday seems about right. This is a shame as despite being a country boy and not liking ‘that London’, I do like the venue and it’s an excellent show. On the issue of accommodation generally, I wouldn’t want to get involved with booking my own, particularly for the bigger shows. For smaller, club shows I’d be more flexible but would still prefer if the host club organised it. Jerry

In addition to the sources noted above I would also highly recommend this little book. Alan Newman was a young trainspotter at Bath in the 1920 and 30s and the first couple of chapters of this delightful tome give some very useful notes on both local and visiting engines. I’m modelling Bath in the 1920s and have found it to be invaluable. Jerry

Should read location, not allocation! Jerry

The latter two allocations are definitely Bath Jerry

Hi John, I do run a bit of Maskol or similar around wheel rims before spraying them. As for UJs, you’re always welcome to use the little lathe here. I have to make a couple of UJs in the not too distant future so we can arrange something. Jerry

We can fit a chip at our next get together John, as Jim said it’s a pretty painless operation. we can also look at UJs, I know Will is keen to look at these as well. Jerry

I see CF is on the cover of the latest N gauge society magazine. Is there something you’re not telling us Tim! 😊 Jerry