Andy R

Wonderful effort by you Tony and Mo- to keep up the momentum of contributing to this cause over many years. My personal thanks to Al ( obviously I don’t know Al personally) for buying my three donated GWR locos from Tony and hopefully enjoying upgrading them for use. regards Andy R

Very pleased to read this Tony. Very happy to have helped… from a cold and damp NZ winter 🥶

Test

I am equally delighted Tony. Great outcome. Steady stream of visitors to the shed I notice. Oh what fun. What better way to spend a day? regards Andy R

My apologies...seem to have hit wrong button with my earlier reply. Try again..... Tony; thank you for the most comprehensive and informative reply to my query regarding kit built loco values/prices. Yours and other responses will guide me as I try to sell some more in the UK on next visit next summer. With regard to the donated locos, I really hope these do not become a 'burden' for you. That was not the intent of course; rather to assist in getting further money for CRUK. Ill keep my figures crossed on this and hope they will go to a good home and generate some pounds for CRUK. regards Andy R

Tony; Now back home in NZ. Reflecting on my visit to your wonderful layout I have a query or two: 1. Is it possible for you to post a couple of photos of the simple coach coupler system you use- between coaches and between coach and loco? They work so well and get rid of those ghastly rtr ones. 2. Do you have any advice as to how one puts a ‘value’ on kit built locos that can be put up for sale? How do you arrive at a fair price? Other group members may have a view also? Cheers- Andy R NZ

Those Aussie’s are on a ‘dream’ holiday- lucky them! All the visitor book comments I read were highly appreciative and deserved. Andy PS- thanks for mailing back the cap.

Tony; I only shot a couple of pictures as we were busy operating the sequence, and most enjoyable and educational it was too. I did get one of you enjoying a moment of satisfaction as you surveyed the scene you have created with friends. I just happily drove the trains to instructions. It’s a lovely ‘train set’ and why not take a moment to enjoy it! Andy R

Tony- it was very enjoyable. Yes locos made by a friend who died and I acquired from his estate. Couldn’t get their original boxes at that time. I hope someone here in Uk can finish them and donate funds to your worthy cause. Photos fine and a great record of my time there.👍 Andy R

As a regular reader ( but not contributor) to WW’s I would like to record my thanks here to Tony for inviting me to share most of today with him in his shed; running Little Bytham and trying to set the world to right as well. But, the latest news updates confirm that we didn’t successfully right the world… but we did enjoy working through the train sequence and chatting over numerous topics. Tony and I have never met before. Tony invited me to see his layout on this latest trip to UK from New Zealand via WWs. I’m glad he did and that I accepted! Thank you Tony and Mo for hosting me. It was great fun. I will try and make it again on subsequent trip. Andy R. PS; local Stamford beer tastes ok 👍

Superb modelling of little every-day (once) scenes there Tony. Cant wait to see these details in the forthcoming visit. Thanks for sharing. Andy R

Crickey….I’m having my first visit to ‘Wright towers’ in early May, travelling from Kiwi land. I’m worried now that there might be a “naughty corner” for us ANZACs…..😎 I’ll take my chances……..Andy R

Les- we had no issues with the cyclone here at home; just pool cleanup. Some slips in vulnerable places around harbour. Little and often modelling better than none Les. The videos were a bit of fun from friend Kevin who likes playing around with such things. UK trip does include a ride on Severn Valley railway, Snowden Mountain railway and Festineog.👍🚂

Hey Les and New Years greetings. Sorry we didn’t meet up. Yes we try to drag in the younger engine drivers on the Drivertrain layout and it seems to be popular- especially when they get a certificate! It was a very successful show financially for the club after several cancelled shows. New venue helped. Hope your excellent modelling continues to bring joy? I have ‘bursts’ of enthusiasm. Small group running night last night was fun here. When terminal area finished the next thing I’d to install the central train turntable which is made and stored in garage awaiting its move into train room. This will eventually allow whole trains to be turned and sent back to terminus. Im also slowly installing KD couplers on rolling stock ( not easy when no NEM pockets. A work in progress. Experiment with neodymium magnets set into track underway to assist uncoupling rather than using expensive KD magnets. Thats an update on the layout. Back to uk family in April/ May and setting up a visit to Tony Wrights Little Bytham. cheers, Andy

New year greetings from NZ. More detailing on the boatyard/ goods yard scene at Melcombe Regis; the seaside terminus of my layout. The water is ready for water effect with Deluxe Aqua product ( no association). The white rail fence was constructed in brass by a friend and weathered by me. A new addition is the red brick industrial building behind the boatyard and adjacent to the track leading off scene. This was an old cardboard kit salvaged long ago which I have reclad in Slaters brick plastic card and weathered. It will just provide another background scene to the station. thanks- Andy R

Superb scenic work. Inspirational. Andy R

Hi- the rocks are really well done. Andy R

Absolutely superb collection of layout photos I’ve just looked through in the last few pages Tony. Thanks so much for sharing them particularly as I’ll never see many of them when living in NZ. What a wonderful way to spend one’s working life; visiting, discussing and photographing superb modelling. And you build your own layout and stock as well….! Im in awe I don’t mind admitting. regards Andy R.

Absolutely agree with this Tony. Without this forum connection I would not have been able to make contact with you and fulfil a long time aim of seeing Buckingham Central in all its glory in your shed. The fact that I can arrange that and travel from NZ, then up north, then spend time talking and (hesitantly) running Peter Denny’s masterpiece at least twice so far, is testimony to this wonderful forum’s connectivity. Long may it continue! And to add, Mr Wright has invited this average kiwi modeller to see the famous Little Bytham… looking forward to organising details. Thanks Tony G and Tony W… from down under. Andy R

And as Covid isolation boredom really sinks in in our Sydney apartment/ hotel thingy, Ive reached back into the files and found another couple of shots; the County Class 4-4-0 heading a passenger stopper out of Hawkinsfield Junction toward the seaside terminus of Melcombe Regis. At least there’s test cricket later….

Post Christmas 2022; Stuck in Sydney with Covid after t trip over from NZ to visit family. Annoying, and travel plans disrupted! While in isolation and hopefully recovery I thought I would reach into my photo files for a couple. Dean Goods pulls out of Hawkinsfield Junction yard heading west towards the viaduct, and then onto viaduct.

Estuary scene at edge of the seaside terminus called Melcombe Regis is nearly finished now. Little details like the life buoy and boats have been 3D printed by a friend. Now I want to find a suitable workman ( kneeling or bending over) beside the dinghy on the quayside, and finally pour the estuary water. I’ve got some DeLuxe aqua bottle mix for that. A couple of today’s shots…

Aren’t the H & M duettes amazing pieces of kit! Mine brought in 1980 from the old Hattons in Liverpool while travelling in uk on our OE… still going strong for my small, DC only branch line layout. Simple and effective.

Thanks Les. Nearly finished scene now- just needs suitable people, details like rope, tools etc and repainted/ old boats from somewhere. These following photos show progress after couple of days.