ardbealach

Does this explain the 'Wheatley' [Thomas and son William] connection perhaps??? (Alisdair)

David L Smith was the deputy Chief Librarian for Ayr CC and lived in Ayr. There is a bit more about him in the book 'Drawn to Scottish Steam' by Bill Rhind Brown and Dugald Cameron. I was fortunate to know Davie [as he was known] and he would tell his stories of enginemen and locomotives on the GSWR in the same style as he set out the tales in his books. He was a quiet reserved man, tall in height, who always looked fragile. He would always narrate his great fund of tales in a quiet and unassuming way. [Alisdair]

The last Warley Show and the end of trading by Hattons was a shock to all us railway modellers when we first heard the news. The Telegraph and Guardian are just clickbait, and like much of what we knew as the professionalism of Fleet Street, that has now long gone, and they should be simply ignored. A new ‘Warley’ will arise. It might not be the one we reminisce about. A new generation will make their own ‘Warley’. And we will all attend it, whatever or wherever it might be. Good luck to them. The loss of Hattons is equally sad; a much respected trader and innovator. But let’s not forget Richard Davies is young enough, and I hope enthusiastic enough, to start a new model railway venture. I look forward to that if that is his decision. It is clear that the Hatton’s business model was not going to work to anyone's advantage into the future. How much more we respect the Hatton’s management who went about the closing their business in the orderly manner it has been carried out. I am sure that there are others out there who would have seen the closing of their bujsiness as an opportunity to make the money and then run away leaving behind debts to creditors and employees. Looking back on my own life, at nearly eighty years of age, I am a glass half full type of person - an optimist. And we should be optimists about the future of our hobby. [Alisdair]

Think it was Jerry van der Hoek. He lived round the corner from me in Heswall on the Wirral. Knew him well and I have no knowledge of his interest in motor cycles. He also found time to refurbish a shop unit at Victoria Park in Tranmere where he ran a small restaurant . He did all the cooking and his wife waited on the tables. A bit of an all rounder. (Alisdair)

Looking back on all our lives we can recall the significant day that Elvis passed away, the day Princess Diana died and the day Kennedy was shot. I am sure all modellers will remember into the future where they were when they read of the passing of Hattons (Alisdair)

What a shock. In some ways it was just a railway modeller's 'go to shop', but in other ways I feel I have lost a modelling friend. I knew many employees there and feel so sad for them at this difficult time. (Alisdair)

Surely it will come in useful for the seller at some time in the future? [Alisdair]

Father Christmas has been busy! Mrs Ardbealach presented me with an optivisor just like yours Andy. A whole new world of modelling beckons! (Alisdair)

With my tongue firmly in my cheek - an option for 'The Jacobite'. Why doesn't WCR seal completely on one side all the doors and windows of the Jacobite stock. The coach doors on the opening side could have the central locking with an immediate 50% saving in outlay for them. The train could still be accessed from the door open side to the island platforms at Fort Bill as well as at Mallaig, and the outward Glenfinnan stop. There is the precedent for this on the Talyllyn and on the old Glasgow Subway trains, both accessed one side only. And finally attached is an Oz version of the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Happy Christmas [Alisdair]

Could you check the census records for the relevant years by typing in his name? (Alisdair)

But is the pub painted in the correct shade of green? (Alisdair)

Conspiracy theories? I see we are on page 9 11! (Alisdair)

Thanks to Phil and his team for a most enjoyable low key event at Crewe. Had an enjoyable time chatting with like minded modellers all away from the pressures of an exhibition. (Alisdair)

Good wishes to all who have enjoyed Bewdley down the years. Had its final curtain call this weekend at Stafford. What a great show to finish on. We will be back some time in the future with some new layouts as and when the exhibition managers work their way through their post covid log jam of layout invitations. (Alisdair)

Is it coincidental that they are all in the area with the uneven floor? Was that deliberate? - Or was it to make them all feel at home like the olden days of Stafford show in the cow sheds? [Alisdair]

Urology Urology Urology - you're so selfish - what about Myology! [Alisdair]

UNDERSTANDING RAILWAY MODELLING AND eBAY I have never bought or sold any model railway items on eBay, but a recent conversation has helped my understanding of what it’s all about. The scene is set in a model railway clubroom. eBAY MODELLER “I have just won a bid on eBay for a 00 gauge 2-6-4 tank. I have been watching it for a while. Got it - quite a bargain - for just under thirty quid”. ME “I thought you modelled in N Gauge?” eBAY MODELLER “Yes I do, but just fancied buying the 2-6-4 tank”. ME “Does it run? Let’s try it out on the test track. I presume it is in analogue and not DCC” eBAY MODELLER “Yes, it’s in analogue”. The locomotive fires up and hops jumps and skips around the test track. eBAY MODELLER “I think there must be something wrong with it”. ME “Maybe you should check to see if the wheels need cleaning, or maybe the pick-ups need adjusting. Or it might even have an electrical connection problem”. eBAY MODELLER “Hmmm! I need to think about it. Don't you have a mate who can fix locomotives? What would it cost me to have him have a look at it?” ME “Not sure, but maybe around forty pounds plus parts”. eBAY MODELLER “Forty quid! Not paying that. Think I will put back on E-bay and sell it. After all there is not even a scratch on the manufacturer’s box it came in”. And that is my understanding of railway modelling and eBay [Alisdair]

In a hospital corridor. [Alisdair]

And will they produce one for GWR enthusiasts - and call it 'The Great Bear'? (Alisdair)

Thanks Terry A couple of Bewdley pictures. [Alisdair]

Haven't been on these pages for the past month or so. What have I been missing! The quality just gets better and better! None of the pictures looks as if the modelling is just out of a box. Congratulations to you all. [Alisdair]

Talking about pub signs....we were up at the Perth Show in June with my layout 'Whithorn'. A visitor to the show told me that the Railway Inn in Whithorn had a new pub sign. It seems the landlord had found an image of a train at Whithorn on the internet and had it added to the pub sign. The visitor to the show suggested to me it might be otherwise. A Google Streetview of the pub found the sign - complete with the image. Is this the first time a model railway has featured on a pub sign and with a photograph taken by our dear leader - Andy York? For the record BR 4MT 2-6-4 tanks never ran on the Whithorn Branch.. [Alisdair]

Thank you, Big Jim, for the Austin Ambassador ear worm. (Alisdair)

Whithorn ready for a return visit over the border from its home in Chester to Perth Show next weekend. Pictures courtesy of Andy York. [Alisdair]

And we will all have to go through it all again when Truss and Sunak put their own lists together. (Alisdair)