32475

Such sad news. I only got to meet Bob late last year when Johnson044 and I took him to the Uckfield Show. Bob was an absolute mine of information and anecdotes on all things railway, music and beyond; I really wish I had recorded our car journey. Alas Bob's firebox has gone cold but he has left a wonderful legacy to railway modelling. RIP Bob.

Glückwunsch Herr Johnson. Der Eismops ist tot. Es lebe der Eismops!

I should point out that SRNI No 1 started life as an Airfix Pug kit and it had an intimate affair with a garden shed, some platform canopy columns, a post box and various assorted left overs. Johnson044 and I had a bit of a Christmas/ New Year pugbash challenge so stay tuned to this wireless station for news on his creation.

Behold, Howling Locomotive Company’s 0-2-2, ‘No1’ built for the Southern Railway of Northern Ireland in 1927

Oh I say. What a fine job. Well done!

Since the line in question has not been reported as having been drawn as yet, no doubt there is a Drawing the Line Committee. On the agenda will be such questions as: Should we use a pencil, quill pen, biro, felt pen, permanent marker? What should the line be drawn on such as a sheet of paper, exercise book, wall or something else? Will it be a straight line, curved or wobbly? Who will get to draw it? How long will the line be? Will it join up with any other lines? Will the line be thick or thin? Will it have an London Underground route named after it? There is just so much decision making to be done which cannot be underestimated.

Every year for the last ten years, Mrs 32475 and I have reared three or four lambs and since we get them at a day or two old they are bottle fed and so become very tame. Last year I declared to a three year old granddaughter that the lambs were to be called Craven, Stroudley, Billinton and Marsh. She wouldn't hear of it and declared that they were to be called Moo, Oink, Neigh and Quack. The names stuck. This year we asked three young grandchildren to name a lamb each so this year our flock are named Tractor, Bug and Fairy. I've always considered names such as Bhuna, Korma and Pasanda to be eminently suitable but I'm sure I'll be out voted again next year.

Inspired by Johnson044's little ditty, I've been inspired to pen my own version. If Miss Julie Andrews wishes to make another film musical to cheer us all up, I have no doubt that Mr Johnson and I would be more than willing to write some lyrics for her. Anyway, here goes...... Cats in the sunshine and old platform trolleys Green Maunsell coaches and commuters with brollies The sounds of a signal box levers and rings These are a few of my favourite things Sharing a smoke with an elderly porter Copping a feel with the signalman's daughter Awaiting the postman to see what he brings These are a few of my favourite things Rusting old rails which stretch to infinity The plate layers hut where I lost my virginity On a horse hair filled mattress which hadn't got springs These are a few of my favourite things When the dog's sick Like an oil slick On the kitchen floor I simply remember my favourite things Then I don't feel bad no more

Well done. That was something to test the patience and the eyesight. Now go straight back to 0 gauge, pass Go and collect £200!

Bravo Monsieur. Vive 'La France'. Such fortitude and determination on a tiny scale. This explains precisely why my optician recommmends 00 or 0 gauge modelling.

Thanks for your comments and advice so far. If I find any drawings I will indeed share them to help the common cause. My alternative is a day's expedition to Isfield with a measuring tape!

I want to scratch build a 4mm scale model, probably using a combination of printed card brick and slate with plastic components. Can anyone advise where I can obtain some measured drawings to work from? I'm aware of the kit produced by ABM Railcraft a few years ago and that's the level of detail I want to aim for but this kit doesn't appear to be obtainable any longer unless anyone knows better. There's also the wonderful laser printed kit based on Isfield box which is tempting but I quite fancy a scratch challenge

Richard's 0 gauge layout was a few Basset Lowke engines and rolling stock. He had a layout of about 25 metres, double track in a large oval and I wish now that I had taken one or two photographs. Richard obviously had much delight in sending a train round the circuit at top speed just like a schoolboy and without any derailments! I realize now that I may well have been the last person to 'play trains' with him. Whether I was or not, it was a real privilege.