Coombe Barton

Thanks to the guys in Bath for prompt service - mine arrived this morning, and much to the posit'e annoyance it was so well packed and unbendable that he couldn't get it through the letter box so had to knock. And plenty to think about in the new Wild Swan book I also bought - Authentic Model Railway Operation by Martin Nield Quality is being maintained after the transfer of ownership of the brand.

When my copy came it was accompanied by a postcard with a personal message. Thank you.

And having read Dave Rowe's tribute to Shirley, my eyes are quite damp.

Times, they are a changin'... Others may have noticed, but just seen that Cygnet have changed their address and have an email for Small Suppliers.

Confirming what I said previously from close-ups. Limestone, not granite.

From memory it's probably a local Devonian period limestone, not granite. Probably quarried from Hooe or Brixhan areas, or maybe Buckfastleigh.

There is a Facebook group called Friends of Ashburton Station, who (I think) are proposing a return to trains using the existing station site. If you are on FB you can find them by searching for their name. There was a public meeting in September, this is the (just published) report of that meeting. If you can see it, this is a link to the post <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAshburtonStation%2Fposts%2F1768452806639595&width=500" width="500" height="802" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe>

Cross thread

I have recently received a photograph of The Lady of the Collies in the background of which was the multi-awl-rapid-fire device. Be aware.

Just found myself going outside for a break and up to the back gate and peering through, just like the dogs used to. I did not, however, use the lawn for what the dogs used to.

It's the only thing I go into Smiffs for, but wait until I read that it's reached some of their shops from reading threads such as this, so the Smiffs searchers save me time.

See https://www.okehampton-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=438141&headline=Dartmoor+Railway+goes+into+administration&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2020&fbclid=IwAR3A_AsVLCP2bS0dUIQD701W-L1NSzz2n7XDo7QkY17u7ncDCGG7N9zP728

The Observer, today, has this: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/25/dump-hs2-and-pay-billions-more-boris-johnson-andy-street

A bit? I see it as a classic non-statement hedging any bets.

Don't know if this has already been posted. https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/hs2-staff-on-notice-and-consultant-workloads-slashed-22-01-2020/?fbclid=IwAR2BgmwhaPHAaY7_Mv37OzenwxqwluE4wERew2NvkGgXIEcW3B9jj9S9PhY