APOLLO

If a location for a layout is made-up, how do you know whether or not it looks real? My main loft layout is very generic, based loosely on the North Notts area, GC, GN, MR (LNER & LMS), as I am a bit of a GC / GN fan. I have included "scenes" from far and wide, through terminal with 6 tracks into three tunnels (Kings Cross), Belle isle with high skew over bridge, Fir Tree House Junction (Springs Branch Wigan), a high level double track junction, water tower, standing mineral trains with Dub D's, 9F's & Black 8's. A representation of Laisterdyke (Bradford) station, etc. Only the gas works tunnel & Belle Isle are "somewhat" recognisable, but being a "behind the roof frames) loft layout it all works for me. 1960's urban grot is urban grot, anywhere in the UK !! Set period is 1966-8. My small Wigan GC layout I have tried to make more recognisable. Here is the long, low bridge over the Leeds & Liverpool canal at Darlington Street Goods. Ex Tony's J10 doing the honours. And the real thing back in 1967. The prototype bridge length was three and a half vans and half a black 5 long (only thing I had to go on) !!!. The goods yard had to be selectively compressed width wise, the canal bridge being the focal point. If (realistic) operation is what interests you the most, is that more important than the visual realism of your layout? Operation is my main interest now my layouts are "complete". Slow running of long goods trains especially. I try to make train formations as realistic as I can, given its mostly RTR. I have no fiddle yards, all trains are "parked" when not in use in 2 goods sorting yards, 7 road carriage sidings or the terminal roads of the main stations etc. So everything is on full view and surrounded by urban grot scenery. On the GC layout just small goods trains and two 4 coach local passenger trains - BR, Gresley & Thompson suburban stock. (set period is mid 50's) The running of trains (especially slow running) is of more importance to me than fine detail etc. My O gauge stuff runs superbly as it should. Is making things yourself, so that they look realistic, more important to you than getting professionals to make things for you which, as they should be, are more realistic? I last made loco kits in my TT days years ago, though I have reworked a few locos etc. I enjoyed making the bridge above, and have built most of the "civil engineering" bits of all my layouts, though I (being a lazy sod) have used quite a few "ready to plonk" buildings. One of my favourite tasks is constructing scenery, especially using large lumps of red sandstone, chicken wire, sackcloth and plaster - see my O gauge American Layout in my thread (below). However both my loft layouts have not one ounce of plaster / scenery as it would be difficult to "get to" behind the rafters and messy - so I simply build the (very) few green bits using hanging basket liner etc. I must say that my main loft layout is just an advanced train set when compared to the likes of Tony's wonderful layout, I run all my old & new stuff together, along with many old bits of model railwayana (Crescent signals, Hornby Dubblo & Tri-ang buildings etc) - and that's quite simply it for me - running trains, six at once on the main layout. The Wigan GC is just nostalgia from when I was a snotty trainspotter and saw a plume of steam behind the L&Y line out of Wigan, wondered what it was, walked up the canal a bit and "Discovered" the Great Central - albeit in its last days of life. Brit15

The story is the other way round for me. I bought my 1973 Rover P5B 3,5 Litre V8 back in 1982 for £800 when I was "just" 30 years old. A young man in an old farts car !!!!. It's a lovely, civilised and comfortable car to drive, that's why I bought her as a classic second car when my daily driver back then was a new Ford Capri (cue Bodie & Doyle !!). I still have the Rover, and now aged 65 I reckon I "look the part" when viewing reflections in shop windows !!! (no flat 'at though !!). Not been a bad investment as she is now worth around £6 - 7000. TVR Chimera, whohh - wish I had one of those !!! - I bet secretly Tony, you do miss her !!! Brit15

Breaking news - Amtrak 501 has derailed on it's inaugural run on a new section of line in washington State, south of Seattle. Injuries and possible casualties reported. From photos it has carriages that have fallen off a bridge over Interstate 5. Looks like a Talgo type train ? https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/18/amtrak-train-derails-near-seattle-onto-the-i-5-freeway.html https://twitter.com/search?q=AMTRAK+501&ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Esearch Info about the new line train derailed on http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/20790BB4-7A4E-44AF-8791-F3A77186A764/0/PtDefiance_March2010.pdf Not good news - thoughts are with those affected. MODS - I didn't see dibber25's post - please put my post in his thread Brit15

I googled SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) and found this interesting document on RO RO safety http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Regulations/Documents/RORO.pdf Brit15

I've never used the tunnel, and probably never will as I have no reason to visit France (nothing against them mind !!). I have Family in Thailand that are half German and visit them occasionally when they are "home" - just outside Frankfurt. Living in Lancashire it's far easier and far less stressful for us to fly to Frankfurt & hire a car (brother in law gets me a cheap company rate !!). I just don't fancy the long drive down to Dover, faffing about on the M25 etc, then the long drive across France etc. I wouldn't mind the Chunnel trip, but it's just not worth the hassle. It's far different if you live in the SE of England though. I also have used the Hull - Rotterdam ferry years ago, and enjoyed that also, though it was a long hard drive to Berlin - just after the wall had come down, mind I was a lot younger back then, went with my mate in his Cavalier SRi - just the job on the Autobahns !! Brit15

Anyway - what about this for a novel idea ?. https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/11/27/trams-without-rails/ Seems to have some merit. Brit15

Thick Yanks - lots of 'em !! Brit15

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Driving needs the the same as state of mind as my kids are taught at karate - situational awareness. Whether you are walking down the street, driving, having a drink in a bar, what ever, where ever - be aware of what is going on around you. That is not to say you live in a permanent state of DEFCON 1, it's just all about awareness and common sense - simple skills that unfortunately many folks these days simply do not have. Brit15

That's what my dad said to me when I was learning back in 1970. Expect everyone to be a complete idiot - trouble is these days he is increasingly correct. Brit15

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A blast from the days when men were men (and sheep were nervous !!!!) Wouldn't happen these days - job stopped - "wrong" kind of snow, etc !! Yes posted before, but always worth another look. Brit15

Back in the 80's a contractors boss bought a brand new White Lancia Beta HPE - an absolute stunner of a car (back then). - for a year or two till the rust got hold. Fiats weren't much better either, but most cars back then dissolved away at various rates, some were worse than others. Perhaps Volvo's were the best, but my mate had a right rusty one !! Capri's - In 1982 I bought a brand new 1600 Capri Cabraret - Ming Blue - special edition with lots of extras - a right lovely car which I wish I still had. No rust at all. Today - just be careful what you buy. I looked at a few Mazda 3's and Ford Focus's last year - only five or so years old and nice cars to look at BUT I was horrified when I had a good look underneath - tons of rust everywhere. Jag X types also, especially behind the plastic sills. I ended up with a 2008 Mk 2 Seat Leon, like new all over (and under !), 2 owners, 55K miles and a steal at two and a half grand. Back to the weather, Sleet and Snow (just a bit) Saturday, Freezing Sunday & Monday, heavy rain today, but at least it's 5 degC (at the moment) !!. Anyway, a photo of Wigan Junction Colliery railway back in 1940 - looks a bit Frozzen, but I bet that boiler is warm !!!! Brit15

Back in the 60's when we switched our telly off we would slowly watch the "end of the tunnel disappear" !!!!! Anyone remember the old 405 lines valve TV's ? Brit15

Interesting subject - Found these on the web. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/rail-uk/20170426/282969629956981 https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/10/isambard-kingdom-brunel-birthday-box-tunnel-bath-sun http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4397442/Brunel-s-Box-Tunnel-catches-sunlight-birthday.html http://www.adamscottimages.com/blog/ Seems the old current bun does shine through !!! Brit15

And I always thought the universe revolved around Swindon, centre of God's Wonderful Railway !!! Brit15

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Emirates Airbus A380 zero two one you are clear to taxi when the Lufthansa Fokker in front of you has departed !!!!!!!!! Allegedly, a Pan Am 727 flight waiting for start clearance in Munich overheard the following: Lufthansa (in German): “Ground, what is our start clearance time?” Ground (in English): “If you want an answer you must speak in English.” Lufthansa (in English): “I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany. Why must I speak English?” Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): “Because you lost the bloody war.” Brit15

I'm glad it didn't snow today as I had to pick the Mrs up from Manchester Airport at 7-00am. Was dreading the journey but no snow and little traffic meant it was a quick run. There having it bad in the Midlands though, and were getting a few flurrys here now. Your'e a brave man Bob, out running trains in this weather - I won't even go in the shed !!!! Brit15

There was also this one at Settle in 1960 involving a Britannia pacific, sadly with loss of life. http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=287 Brit15

Timetable for the LD&ECR from Chesterfield market Place - an interesting line, but nowt to Kings Cross !!. Anyone know the approximate time table date ? Also why was the line from Shirebrook North (Langwith Jcn) up towards Killamarsh & Sheffield known as the "Clog & Knocker" ? - I've heard other lines called this also. As to modelling specific locations or imaginary ones (or a mix of the two) I really do not mind at all. All layouts have at the very least some interest to me. I went to a small exhibition in Blackburn early last year, dozen or so layouts and a couple of trade stands. One young lad was exhibiting his own Z scale Marklin layout and was as pleased as punch when my mate & I stopped by and had a chat about his layout. The venue was a community centre attached to a Mosque, everyone was very friendly and the curry was superb !! Brit15

Wonderful photos Bob. Brit15

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"Trouble" with me is I have too much stuff - been collecting since 1959, (TT) and OO since 1971. My layout is fairly generic, set around north of Nottingham mid 60's, GC, GN & Midland lines so an easy excuse to run a vast variety of loco's etc. This is one reason I chose this area / time - also I'm a bit of a GC / GN / LNER fan !! My last new release was a Bachmann "Stanier Crab" - because she was a local (Wigan) loco and I also have a small Wigan GC layout upon which she (prototypicaly) runs. I like to run my old (non detailed) stuff from the 60's & 70's - both Hornby and Tri-ang. They (mostly) still run well, and as mine is a loft layout super detail isn't really noticed, even when it is present on newer stuff. I'm basically an operator !!. Brit15

Charles Dickens walks into a bar and orders a martini. The barman says, "Olive or twist?" Brit15