Kier Hardy

Realistic enough for all the rivet counters out there? 😁 Seasons greetings!

https://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/proto_index.html for a list of people happy to print Ironmink's (Jonny Duffett) software.

He was a very talented modeller, family man and a good friend, so this month's emgauge70s website update is dedicated to him. https://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/model_omwb204.html Rest in peace my friend.

@Rufus Harbud Thank you for your kind comments Rufus, they're much appreciated. I like to think I've created a convincing enough scene that portrays parts of North London where I can run a selection of rolling stock to bring back memories of the early 1970s. The layout of course is fictional (as are the majority of model railway layouts built), so with some careful research following prototype practice, as well as advice from friends and professional railwaymen, the results have culminated in a believable and historical setting.... maybe more so than some layouts based on real places with their associated compromises, compressions and lack of imagination from the builders, although that in itself is a very subjective matter - and besides I couldn't think of any location in the country that would satisfy my modelling requirements. With over 25 feet of arched retaining walls on the layout, I produced a silicone rubber mould (using a Hornby master) and cast them in 2ft resin sections, as firstly the costs would be astronomical buying commercially produced products, and secondly the supply chain had run dry by the time I'd chosen the style and pattern which suited the layout. Now you have the space to build something for yourself, I look forward to seeing your work in due course - the surroundings, architecture and structures are just as fascinating to be as the trains that run through them.

Thanks chaps. Having the friends with the same interests and their own projects, provides inspiration by the bucketload, and we can always help each other out when the need arises. I keep often keep an eye out for the Wharfeside progress reports.... great stuff . Cheers, Kier

To celebrate the 200th Update page on the emgauge70s website this month, we not only share with you our latest layout and rolling stock projects, but also our reminiscences from those earlier days. Put the kettle on, make yourself a cuppa and I hope you enjoy the big read. https://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/site_preview.html Cheers, Kier

Here's one of the rakes at Hornsey Broadway made up of Bachmann mark 1s in various liveries, representing a prototypical C1970s scene @ 5m 44 seconds into this 7 minute video. All the best.

Weathered? A customised model for sure.

If you were a trainspotter back in the 1950s & 1960s at any location along the East Coast Main Line, no doubt your first consideration would be the number of the locomotive, and perhaps the consist of the rolling stock. It's possible you may have known some of the footplate crew, but generally they would have been anonymous. This post is all about Driver Charles Kirton who was held in high regard working the top link express trains, so I thought there wouldn't be a better place to share this bit of information about Driver Kirton than here in Wright Writes. No doubt if you were 'lineside' during this period, you might just have caught a glimpse of him. I'd always known that my wife Sara's Grandfather was a train driver out of The Cross, but until the recent passing of my Mother in Law, and the subsequent clearing of her house and contents, a folder containing newspaper clippings and letters has just come to light, so I thought I'd share some of it with you. Notes on Driver C Kirton dated June 1962 Driver Kirton pictured in charge of A3 locomotive 60067 Ladas – date and photographer unknown. British Railways – Notice of Royal and Additional Trains, Thursday 8th June 1961. For further details and images, please see......... http://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/proto_driver-kirton.html 60067 pictured ready to leave Kings Cross. From the 'Great Northern Line News' (British Railways Eastern Region September 1962). I hope this is of interest to some of you..... it certainly was to me. I might just have to get myself a model of Ladas and convert it to EM gauge, even if it is out of my usual era of interest. Seasons greetings to one and all. Best wishes, Kier

You will probably find that that is a AF container decorated as a AFP container, which is longer in length and so fictional in Birds Eye livery. The Birds Eye AFP containers saw further use with Macfisheries. The AFP container was available as a whitemetal kit from Genesis if you want to be accurate.

And here are some snaps taken on the remains of the camp. Partially demolished and overgrown. Remains of the swimming pool and fountain. Ditto The shells of some chalets were still visible. Ditto 'Half a job demolition' Plates and cutlery encased in concrete Part of the old boating lake Ditto I believe there are no traces of the camp left and the whole site has been redeveloped now.

We had a family holiday at Primrose Valley holiday park in 1999 (next door to the old Butlins site) and over the course of a couple of evenings managed to get over the fence and take a tour of the old camp site, and the station. These images were taken on a early digital camera, so the quality isn't that great. Remains of the station sign. Platform end ramp with lamp posts still in situ. A view looking along the platform. Buffer stops Lamp post intact. Steps from concourse up to road way. There was an underpass, but this was blocked off. Overgrown and neglected in 1999.

Hi Pete, Thanks for all your hard work in promoting this event. It's gone past door opening time and I can't seem to find my way into the show - all the doors are closed for me at the moment. Just for us thickos, can you paste an up to date link that will allow access to the show (below, rather than an edit to post 1). Cheers

I think you're getting the hang of it.... with your back catalogue, there's enough to fill a book of inspirational stuff.

That was Trainwest at Melksham in 2012 with Wibdenshaw, managed by the late great Geoff Endacott. His shows were always full of top notch stuff, and he blew me away with his interview to a local radio station during the weekend - a true wordsmith and excellent host / manager. Here's some more images from that weekend - http://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/layout_operators12.html

Yes, he's always photobombing, and spoiling a good picture!

No chips in any of my locos, just good old fashioned (antiquated) and reliable (simple) 2 wires. Hornby circuit board removed, but it could have stayed if some material was removed from the ceiling in the resin bodyshell

Hasn't it just! Here's hoping you, Chris (and others?) have been beavering away in the background on rolling stock and other architectural projects. Missing the updates, so I look forward to seeing what you've been up to in due course.

If you do put your finger on it....... make sure you wash your hands afterwards!

Cracking job! I'd be happy with that in 7mm scale.

I've been fascinated by your thread - most enjoyable. I spent a lot of time in South Wales as a service engineer, so managed to make time for a lot of diversions and stop offs at various locations in the 80s & 90s. I hope you don't mind me posting pics in your thread, but here's some snaps taken at Swansea Burrows and the docks, as viewed from the bridge on Fabian Way. Taken summer 1995. Cheers, Kier.

Honest, I didn't drink the contents of ALL those bottles. Once people knew I kept them for modelling purposes, they've been flooding in by the bucket load!

This page on the website covers most of the conversion process, using Bachmann 2-EPB units. http://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/project_class501.html I hope that helps, and good luck with the Class 501.

With my two left feet and a dislike for creepy crawlies (and the BBC, and reality programs).......... I don't think so! That's the polite answer. How's Cadoxton coming along, we've not seen an update for a while?

Hi Tim, With the layout going nowhere (and the space having become available) the station extension now gives a lot more operating potential. It's also a good place to park trains in the platforms between operating sessions, rather than having to return them to the storage yard, or potentially block the main line. The slowing down, stopping, and setting off brings another dimension to the layout. The tube stock will remain static for the time being, as it's nice to have some 1959 stock waiting at the platform with the doors open. Of course that could all change in the future if I ever run out of things to do. It would be great to catch up when it's safe and practical to mingle again.... it's been a while since I saw your train set, so no doubt you've been chipping away at it and it'll be finished soon! Thanks 37403 for your kind comments - there's plenty of new projects and ideas in the pipeline for the website. The stock has been accumulated over a long period of time, some of it from my Holmeworth and Wibdenshaw days, but more recently has been tailored for the North London scene. A quick count up of locos in service comes to just shy of 50.