Persephone

Indeed - its quite amazing when you sail past it but only seeing it on the radar shows you just how big it really is. What amazed us though was for most of the crossing to Douglas there was never more than 19 meters of water under the keel, which explains why they have been able to build such an extensive wind farm. We quite like her, we (A whole bunch of the Rochdale MRG) go across usually at least once a year for the vintage transport festival / and or beer festival and I'd much rather travel on "the skip" than the Sea Cat. OK shes getting old now and a bit rough round the edges in places but it has character.

A couple from the bridge of the "Steam Racket's" Ben my Chree from last year, courtesy of a club member who works in the Grey Funnel Line, who got us up there!

North Ballachulish is ready to be loaded into the van for its short trip to t'other side of the hill and setting up at the show. Our passports are ready for the Yorkshire Border Control.

Partington. If the world had piles, this is where they would be. On a serious note though whether people who visited think it's easy to get to or not (definitely not by public transport) the common perception is clearly that it isn't, as the general exhibition going modellers are not attending. That needs to be addressed. If another venue in the Manchester area is considered then it needs to be in a centre with a good transport hub very nearby, not stuck in hall or school on a housing estate in some suburb.

The Phantom is one of a few aircraft which graced the skies on low flying exercises in the Glencoe area in the period the layout is set in, 1970 - 1972. Other examples will appear! (23 Squadron Raf may be in attendance at Halifax if I get it airbrushed in time

North Ballachulish is out at the Halifax show, 22 and 23 September at the North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax. www.halifaxmrc.co.uk www.newheymodelrailway.wordpress.com

I think the price of the Barnes Wallis building is a tad more than the EMGS is prepared to pay!

I've had a good weekend there behind Glaisden. As all say, its a good friendly show with an excellent selection of layouts and traders and the opportunity to buy most things you need, unless you want rtr boxes to open. A jewel in the crown of Northern shows. Ive chatted to loads of people, met up with people not seen for yonks and had a grand weekend. There's always a but though and my but is in keeping with most on here, the venue. An overspill estate in the backwoods of Manchester (cue Duelling Banjos. RIP Burt Reynolds) in a hall which is now run down is maybe not the place for a show like this, which primarily needs to attract modellers not the public. There's talk of going elsewhere in the Manchester area, to me its almost swapping like for like. Particularly today a number of traders mentioned to me that they were having a hard day. It pains me as a hard and fast Lancastrian to say this, but the board should consider going t'other side of the Pennines, possibly back to its roots in Wakefield. Scalefour North shows what a good move that is, its easy to get to from most areas in the North (and the South). Longer journey for me, but I'd still go.

It's quite simple really, if it's designed like the Austerity is then I won't be buying one (a HC) because as you quite rightly point out as per the Austerity, I'd have to buy another chassis for it. If however its a more conventional one axle drive then I will probably get one and rewheel it or better still get my wheel puller on the job.

And in fairness neither is any other RTR loco available in this country. But none of them are as bad as this.

Given the DJM track record of announcing things and it disappearing into the ether I wouldn't be exactly holding much hope of it ever appearing. I would be in the market to get one for a current industrial project I'm building but to be honest would want to see one in the flesh to make sure it's not a mechanical dogs breakfast like the Austerity tank. (the most impossible conversion to EM I've ever seen without resorting to building a new chassis)

Looking forward to exhibiting North Ballachulish at Skipton this weekend. Skipton show is to the Lancs / Yorks exhibition circuit what the Charity Shield is to football, the perfect curtain raiser to the new exhibition season. https://newheymodelrailway.wordpress.com/

Cheers - its been a hot few days - I was attending a course at Baron Street for working Rammy box today, which is held in the building that houses the engine crews mess room. There was some very knackered crew in there!

A few images from todays action, taken at Townsend Fold box and Duckworth Hall.

Before I retired I worked as an internal investigator. My cases were predominantly financial investigations into firms contracted in as service providers so I am well experienced in handling and analysis of companies house data. I came across a few companies who had failed to file their accounts. It's a serious matter and to us investigating indicated 3 possibilities:1 the company does not want to disclose that they are near or at bancruptcy, 2. fraud 3. Incompetence. It could be one of these possibilities. It could be a combination or all 3.

Excellent, then myself and the SDEG massive can badger you over those Timber P's ;-)

On behalf of the North Ballachulish crew a massive thanks to David and all of the crew for hosting another excellent top drawer show. Its always a privilege and a honour to exhibit a layout at Railex not just because of the excellence of the show, but also because of the great hospitality and social side of it, its a perfect and complete weekend. Its also a bit daunting to give your layout its first proper public showing in such exalted company but judging by the comments we had, we pulled it off and with some panache, thanks again David for showing faith in an "unseen" layout.

North Ballachulish is packed and ready to be loaded tomorrow morning. As with all RMRG layouts making their exhibition debut, a bottle of malt will be behind the fiddleyard, most appropriately in this case at the Oban end of the layout. https://newheymodelrailway.wordpress.com/

Not sure what is broken, but to get it to the ELR, the CFPS lads went over to York the week before and fitted some spare parts they had in order for it to be towed dead to Bury. They have gone back this week to retrieve said parts.

Some more of the Class 40 gala from Townsend Fold Signal Box where I was duty signalman for the day.

All this weekend, 6 Class 40s on view, 5 running! http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/2018/4/40s-at-60.aspx

I know the stand number

Many thanks to those who attended our show this weekend, as a group we were overwhelmed by the positive comments about the standard of layouts on display. I'd also like to thank all the exhibitors (and I include the societies and trade stand in that group) for the graft over the weekend. It wouldnt happen without you, and Ive got to say what a great bunch of people to spend the weekend with. It was fun, it was friendly, it was a damn good time. Only one misgiving about the weekend and that was that as detailed above, we were without the estimable Mr Gittens on Enigma Engineering, you were missed Paul although the lads did a sterling job as your substitute. Our best wished for a speedy recovery to Mrs G from all at RMRG. There will always be a space for the son of Enigma when you are ready!! I should have been working behind the bar at Oldham Beer Festival on Saturday but it was definitely worth giving up the free beer to run this show - see you next year!!

Ah now that was Leslie Bevis - Smith of the MRC who was on the organ that moring - unbeknown to the members of the rMRG who had spent until silly oclock in the Tap and Spie on Drake St and were somewhat worse for wear. The organ playing, as accomplished as it was, didnt help our heads. Tahnks for the comments although the show is small these days we aim to procure qualiity layouts for our visitors to see. Edit: Oh and the cakes are still home made!

Unfortunately due to a health problem, Tan yr Alt has had to drop out of the show this morning. Club member Ben Lord has stepped into the breach with his layout Amalgamated wagon Works, Many thanks Ben and a speedy recovery to Roger of Tan yr Alt.