Darren Ray

Thanks Brian, My sister lives near Stratford so I shall get her on the case! Darren

Thanks for posting the video PaulRhB! Petherick has always been my favourite layout.. It would be nice to think it still exists somewhere. But as least we've got this wonderful footage, and Barry's Landscape Modelling book of course.

Hurrah! Well done, Peter. I look forward to seeing further progress. I'm sure you'll get that single slip to work eventually.. Either that or you'll just have to model the part of the day that doesn't have northbound goods trains. Keep it up! Darren

Yes, but I value my safety too much to start building full-scale bicycles! It's my Pashley Guvnor (since fitted with plywood mucguards) D

Thank you Northroader! .. and yes, some radical change of fiddle yard location would be required should I start in O gauge. I shall be spending many hours browsing your Washbourne photos for inspiration! D

Thank you, Scouser! I think everything looks better in black and white! (or sepia if I'm in a colourful mood) Darren

Not to worry, Edwardian - the 1959 Ffarquhar article (which also contains the Rev'd Awdry's timetable) can be found here https://issuu.com/thomastankcollectables/docs/railway_modeller_12.1959 Darren

Kevin, Many thanks for the tips. My usual way of getting to sleep at night is to ponder possible track plans and where I could put them in my house, so tonight I shall be thinking in terms of 39" radius O gauge! If only I had a garage.. I haven't even got a utility room. Oh well! ....but I have got a garden.... Edwardian, Thanks for causing further blushes! I think Castle Aching's building stock is very convincing indeed; nicely grouped together, etc. I shall have a closer look one day and pinch some ideas if I may?! (Incidentally, I think CKPR might have been passing our house when reading his RM - we live within earshot of the line at Leominster, one stop down from his destination) Legend, thank you! Yes, I must write out a timetable similar to Rev'd Awdry's. It would be an interesting exercise. Trouble is I have lost his article from the December 1959 issue of Railway Modeller and can't get at it on the internet. I know it's there somewhere...?

Thank you Kevin! .. I'm half tempted to go up to O gauge for my next project, and your utility room layout may well be the inspiration that I need. Darren

Thank you Edwardian for your very kind words! I was a little worried about what Handcross would look like in the article but everyone has been polite.. and not scoffed too loudly at my use of settrack points and vintage Hornby engines. It's amazing what a coat of watery brown paint will do to make a model look more 'real'. I'm afraid I still have not used the Deane fiddle yard to its full potential. I have so few trains to run that the two parallel fiddling tracks are more than enough, without needing to use the set back siding! And yes, Barry Ten, I came across Bredon fairly recently. It was in the September 1981 Railway Modeller that I bought primarily to read about Barry Norman's Wyndlesham Cove. It seems to conjure up a feeling of spaciousness even more than the photographs of my 24 square feet! And I like the lack of people, relying on open windows etc. to suggest that there are people about. A clever idea.. I don't know if the attached photo will be of interest. Perhaps the modeller lurking in the background helps to give it a sense of scale? Something I'd like to see more of in magazines. Thanks all! Darren

Good show Peter, You have certainly done your research. I hope that your layout doesn't also become haunted .. by 1:76 ghosts. Darren

Hello Peter, Excellent work so far! I look forward to seeing progress, partly as I live about 5 few miles away from Berrington. So if you ever need any measurements taken of the prototype I can nip down there for you.. We often go to Berrington Hall to exercise our son. I have attached (I hope) a photo I had on my computer of the station. I can't remember where I got it from.. off the internet somewhere so you have probably already seen it. Best wishes, Darren