AFK (Altonian Complementary Railways)

[Barry O]

Just when I thought cricket has finished ..so slowing down work on my layout.. indoor games have restarted and tomorrow sees the first of a few scorer training courses to be delivered. I hope that the layout changes go really well!

 

Baz

[ianathompson]

The second interim report is available here.

The website contains photos for those interested but the work to date has simply involved making baseboard extensions and some rewiring.

 

Ian T

[ianathompson]

The third report is now available.

 

Due to various commitments this is likely to be tha last report for some time.

 

Ian T

[ianathompson]

The AFK is back in action!

It is some time since I last posted about the AFK. The few of you who are regulars on here will remember that it shut down for a protracted rebuild at the end of 2019. This was extensively documented with a series of posts on a Narrow Gauge website and can be accessed by accessing the link above.

 

The first operating session after the closure has now begun. There have been some problems as the layout beds down to the changes but this was expected. Much of the layout has been untouched, apart from acting as storage for stock, for the rebuild. As with any complex electro-mechanical device, standing idle for a protracted period generates its own problems. A number of snags also became apparent when operations restarted because equipment was slightly damaged during the rebuild, but not so obviously as to be noticeable. Microswitch activators had occasionally been knocked out of alignment and wires had dropped out of multi-pinned connectors. These are all easy to rectify but often do not come to light until something fails to do what it should do! After a couple of days running and rectifying, things have improved and most of the layout is now behaving itself.

 

A full complement of pictures is now available on the website, although a few are posted here as tasters.

 

The website has been published and should be showing the late May version. My Google browser version does not seem to have updated but it has in others. If you cannot find Session 7 could you let me know and I will get onto technical support.

 

7-07 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

7. By 04.30 the Urteno goods is ready to depart Lacono and the goods shed has received the SG vans from the concentration points in the capital and the major cities. These will be unloaded during the morning before being reloaded during the afternoon for goods going out from the AFK. The SG tanker on the next road across has been brought in to take a load of tar from the gasworks. The four track yard emphasises the changes that have taken place here. The two loops to the left are new, as is the goods shed building. The snowscene, at the back, will eventually be traversed by the goods train standing alongside the trainshed wall. At the risk of stating the obvious, it is not possible to vary the different seasons shown in each setting although the accessories can be changed!

 

7-12 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

13. By 06.05 the local goods has finished sorting out its train at Boursson and waits on the main for the down railcar to pass. The railcar is supposed to take priority but it has been put through the loop to make things easier for the crew of the goods. The signal is showing “depart from loop” (yellow) and once the railcar has passed the loco will run round and then wait for the up railcar.

 

7-14 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

14. Although it is early spring the cafes have reopened their outdoor tables and are serving breakfast. “Coffee granita, Sir”, served with a Carrodantis chocolate topping, chocolate made the Modican way. It is well before 05.30 as the Fenditavalat shunter pulls past this vignette as it prepares the morning goods in the capital of Calviero canton. This is an example of the accessories mentioned in caption 7. It has been living in a box throughout the “winter” but has now come out again. The “winter” accessories, such as the toboggans, are now back in their boxes. It is a bit early for the “summer” scene setters, such as the bathers at the lido, to return just yet.

 

Ian T

[ianathompson]

The latest batch of photos is now available.

 

7-38 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

37. The branch railcar, meanwhile is preparing the pick ups for the goods at Glissent. It has pushed a six wheel van into the road and is picking up a van from the Co-op siding. The van in the road will then be pushed in for loading with wheat to go to Fenditavalat. This will doubtlessly be a cause of consternation to someone as the train loadings do not really account for the few six wheeled vehicles, which usually throw a spanner into the works. The railcar is as far into the siding as it is practical to go and the wagons are pushed out of the “long grass” by hand. Having already had one problem this session with “long grass” (photo 18) there is no need to temp fate. Access to the Co-op siding, as with many other places on the layout, is tight and the road sign has been removed to prevent it catching rolling stock.

 

7-44 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

43. Another “traditional” picture in this series of articles. The express will be hauled by the Swedish diesel and the local, terminating at Urteno, will be pulled by the Austrian I-B-I. As we have now entered one of the “off seasons” the express simply consists of two coaches and a mail van. The Pullman, an extra coach and possibly an observation car will return during the summer.

 

7-53a by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

52. The special goods has crossed the fields in the valley bottom above Glissent. It is held outside the station at the four aspect home signal.  The Eromarbordo branch train has a couple of vans of to transfer to the up local goods. This will require the branch train to stand on the mainline to the south of the station whilst the traffic is transferred onto the local goods. Once this has been done the branch train loco will run back onto its train  and the special will pull in to cross the KTT local and then wait for the branch local to follow it into the loop. These complex manoeuvres are common on the AFK once special trains begin to run. They help to underpin the need for a more complex signalling system than might, at first sight, be needed. That gives me an excuse to built continental semaphore signals in all their strange, to British eyes, manifestations.

 

Ian T

[Barry O]

Ian

 

do you operate the layout for a fixed time per day? Or do you just run it when you feel like it? The complexity of the train operation is so life like and very seldom do we see this type of operation. (at one point we used to run a "lettuce" special on one of the club layouts.. a train of cattle vans (cleaned) run into a station platform... your railway does a lot more than that and must be very mind stretching!

 

Baz

[ianathompson]

Barry,

 

Sorry for the late reply.

 

I just operate the layout as I feel fit but when it is in session I try to run it at least once per day.

Soemtimes this might only be for 10-15 minutes.

On other days it might be a couple of one or two hour sessions.

It just depends upon how I feel and other commitments.

 

Ian T

[Barry O]

Ian

No cricket to distract me at the moment so lots of modelling being done. 

 

Baz

[ianathompson]

20 hours ago, Barry O said:

No cricket to distract me at the moment so lots of modelling being done. 

 

I wish there was cricket to distract me but there does not look to be much prospect at club level.

The football club have also left a massive steel fence across the field, which they were forced to build by the idiots in the FA.

We will have to play local rules if we get the chance to take to the field.

 

I am playing croquet this year so still "wasting time" outdoors.

I used to play for Norfolk but that was many years ago.

 

Ian T

[Barry O]

Could be a few cup matches at the end of the season. Hopefully the over 60s might get a game or two.

 

Baz

[ianathompson]

The operating session contimues with around thirty photos available here.

 

7-68 - Copy by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

67. Not so fast! Firstly for the loco, which received extensive maintenance/repairs at MaD, the AFK’s main works. The MaDmen discovered that the quartering was shifting because certain wheels had come loose on the axles. Out came the araldite and the wheels were attended to, although the body fixing then fell apart. After sorting this out and reattaching some broken pick up wires to the pony truck, a short internal section of the boiler was also removed and the ‘old gal’ was like a spring chicken once more. It does raise questions, however about the pre-session examinations that are carried out. I don’t mind doing this kind of work but it is irritating in the middle of a running session. The chassis bought for the replacement shunter will doubtless find a use sometime or other. Not so fast too. The crew were so excited at having a loco that worked that they coupled Lacono’s beer supply into the local goods being formed for the afternoon KTT train. This potentially hideous error was discovered in time to keep the beer flowing in the capital.

 

7-71 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

70. The Urteno pilot waited for the railcar to arrive before running up to Varden where it will shunt the siding. Eventually a phone will be provided here for the crew to contact Urteno box to obtain a release for the points. This is an awkward location to work because of the steep gradient and merits a page in the Working Instructions. It is easiest to shunt wagons in and out in separate movements. The loco will pick up an open of wood for the paper mill. The fence behind the loco protects the railway stock from errant shots on the golf course.

 

7-79 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

79. We are talking about the vagaries of Schlusselwerk locking here so if any expert can tell me in English whether this dodge was possible I would be pleased to know. My reading of German texts, with inadequate self taught German suggests that it was possible. This is the AFK frame at Boursson based on German Streckenblock techniques. It is incomplete and needs attention before it is finished. The locking tray is still absent as are the route setting levers. Unfortunately it has also warped slightly. At the left we have the two tone block bells which announce that a train has entered the section. Next to that is the block instrument, an Eingleisenstrecke Bautyp C with only three ‘flags’. The route setting levers will go below this. The two 180º throw levers work the entry points at each end of the station and the four crank handles at the right work the signals. These can be rotated either way to obtain the ‘take loop’ indication if needed whilst the through route engages the distant on the extra turn, as was conventional, although the pointers are currently missing. The AFK is unconventional, inevitably, because the German hardware is connected to French signals. In the middle, left until last, we have the keys for the Schlusselwerk system. The keys, in grey, were used to unlock points for shunting purposes. Removing one from the machine operated a locking bar which prevented the signals from being worked, and vice versa, thereby creating a sequential locking system. As I said, I believe it was possible to accommodate the circumstances that have arisen at Boursson this morning.

 

Iab T

[ianathompson]

The operating session contimues with around thirty photos available here.

 

7-68 - Copy by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

67. Not so fast! Firstly for the loco, which received extensive maintenance/repairs at MaD, the AFK’s main works. The MaDmen discovered that the quartering was shifting because certain wheels had come loose on the axles. Out came the araldite and the wheels were attended to, although the body fixing then fell apart. After sorting this out and reattaching some broken pick up wires to the pony truck, a short internal section of the boiler was also removed and the ‘old gal’ was like a spring chicken once more. It does raise questions, however about the pre-session examinations that are carried out. I don’t mind doing this kind of work but it is irritating in the middle of a running session. The chassis bought for the replacement shunter will doubtless find a use sometime or other. Not so fast too. The crew were so excited at having a loco that worked that they coupled Lacono’s beer supply into the local goods being formed for the afternoon KTT train. This potentially hideous error was discovered in time to keep the beer flowing in the capital.

 

7-71 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

70. The Urteno pilot waited for the railcar to arrive before running up to Varden where it will shunt the siding. Eventually a phone will be provided here for the crew to contact Urteno box to obtain a release for the points. This is an awkward location to work because of the steep gradient and merits a page in the Working Instructions. It is easiest to shunt wagons in and out in separate movements. The loco will pick up an open of wood for the paper mill. The fence behind the loco protects the railway stock from errant shots on the golf course.

 

7-79 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

79. We are talking about the vagaries of Schlusselwerk locking here so if any expert can tell me in English whether this dodge was possible I would be pleased to know. My reading of German texts, with inadequate self taught German suggests that it was possible. This is the AFK frame at Boursson based on German Streckenblock techniques. It is incomplete and needs attention before it is finished. The locking tray is still absent as are the route setting levers. Unfortunately it has also warped slightly. At the left we have the two tone block bells which announce that a train has entered the section. Next to that is the block instrument, an Eingleisenstrecke Bautyp C with only three ‘flags’. The route setting levers will go below this. The two 180º throw levers work the entry points at each end of the station and the four crank handles at the right work the signals. These can be rotated either way to obtain the ‘take loop’ indication if needed whilst the through route engages the distant on the extra turn, as was conventional, although the pointers are currently missing. The AFK is unconventional, inevitably, because the German hardware is connected to French signals. In the middle, left until last, we have the keys for the Schlusselwerk system. The keys, in grey, were used to unlock points for shunting purposes. Removing one from the machine operated a locking bar which prevented the signals from being worked, and vice versa, thereby creating a sequential locking system. As I said, I believe it was possible to accommodate the circumstances that have arisen at Boursson this morning.

 

Ian T

[ianathompson]

The latest photos from the current operating session are now available.

 

7-100 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

100. The KTT afternoon goods shunts two vans of seed potatoes into the Co-op at Breĉo de Glissent. Although one hour is allowed for shunting here the train has to work around the mixto and the railcar which reduces its usefulness. The new timings include a generous margin for running late in case more time is needed, as it will be today.

 

7-103 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

103. Less than one hour after the previous electric railcar and Post van left, the I-D-I runs down onto its counterpart on the opposing service. The two trains crossed at Nordabordo and a similar (identical down to the number!) railcar has brought the
TPO up to the main square. It really is time that the proposed electric loco got built! Regarding 929, the big diesel, I have never understood the sight lines over the huge bonnet. As I have remarked before it must have been very difficult to couple onto NG stock or to see a shunter guiding you in. The driver, just visible through the open door, has changed position for the move through the city gate. It wouldn’t do to inadvertently crush any cars by reversing this behemoth in the streets. Two more driving position changes later and he will be ready to depart. The guard is calling up through the open door to say that he is now coupled on and can make the move. It must have been cold operating like this in the Arctic winter!

 

7-106 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

105. The railcar makes another quick reappearance, this time with the goods trip from Rivaborda. It was quite common to find such railcars working goods trains on the electrified continental secondary lines. Theoretically this should be the third item of electrified stock to appear within the square within the last 90 minutes but I doubt that I will ever possess so much stock.

 

Ian T

[ianathompson]

The operating session continues.

Other matters have intervened but another thirty photos are available.

It seems to take the website a little time to load up so you may have to wait a minute or so to see the photos.

 

7-125 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

125. The activity in the goods yard coincides with the preparations for the evening commuter and schools’ trains. One objective in extending the yard was an attempt to stop conflicts over the diamond crossing at the entrance to the yard and the need to occupy the mainline in the absence of a headshunt. An unforeseen consequence of the changes is that this area has now become busy at this time of day. The Urteno railcar is leaving the shed whilst the pilot and the mill wagons stand in the tunnel. The ECS also includes the trailer for the KTT train. The intention is to run both trains into platform 3 today rather than reverse the KTT train into platform 2 with a trailer on the rear, as has been previous practice. The KTT railcar will follow this train into the platforms. The incoming KTT local is being shunted by the train loco which is scheduled to run to Urteno if necessary. The bogie flat, which carried farm implements earlier in the day (photo  50) has been brought to Lacono. It will probably be easier to return it to Relforka in this manner than complicating the shunting of the two local trains.

 

7-142 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

144. The railcar “meanwhile” is crossing the Magasoromban, to use the indigenous term. It makes the stop at Ayleha, out in the wilds of Rolnth canton, adjacent to the chapel. This is the only official down train scheduled to stop here but a blind eye is often turned for Marronĝaccan speaking locals.

 

7-154 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

157. The retimed schools’ train stops at every conditional halt across the Kasatritikakamparoj but as it approaches Breĉo de Glissent it finds the home signal at danger because shunting is taking place. There are only a few passengers on board by now and the railcar is almost an empty stock train on the last leg of its journey into Relforka as it does not connect with anything.

 

Ian T

[Barry O]

Absolutely fascinating Ian.

 

Baz

[ianathompson]

The operating session has now finished.

The relatively quick completion can be attributed to every other activity that I am interested in, such as cricket and church music, being banned by the government.

There are around forty photos on the website.

It will take the website a short time to load due to the numerous photos.

 

7-162 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

165. Having crossed the railcar at Boursson the down KTT goods ambles along the valley bottom. The train has spent one hour standing at Boursson because, unusually, there were no wagons to set out or pick up and, for once, it had been correctly marshalled in the yard. It is on a tight timing on this section of its journey to get into the clear at Glissent so that the mixto is not delayed. There should not be any problems this evening as the front two vans and the hopper will be detached at Sojonno but there are no pick ups from the factory there..

 

7-177 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

180. The ‘coal sidings’ got their name in the early days of the layout from the coal wagons parked there waiting to return to the colliery. They were shed from trains over the tonnage limits for the Vulpafaŭkangulo. The name has stuck, although fewer coal wagons visit nowadays. The general coal loadings have been cut with opening of the paper mill to keep things balanced. Yesterday (session 6) these sidings were plugged for much of the day which is why the new long siding was added. By 19.30 today there is not too much space as the ferry traffic is sorted out from the southbound wagons and those needing to go to the goods shed. In effect the sidings have developed into a useful, albeit small, auxiliary marshalling yard and at the same time the loop nearest to the aisle has become much more freight orientated than it used to be. I suppose, as well, that this small part of the layout effectively operates as the equivalent of an Inglenook Sidings layout. It must be said that the locking of a typical British layout would involve the signalman in a large amount of work as the stock was shuffled between roads but, under the home brewed system that I am considering, this will not be the case. The difficulties of fitting colour light signals to this location have caused me to reconsider the signalling scheme. The outer extremities will remain as colour lights but the station itself will probably have semaphores, perhaps pneumatically operated. Given the upgraded status of the sidings I am sure that the ‘men’ will also be demanding some sort of accommodation, preferably at some remove from officialdom. Clearances are tight but it might just be possible to squeeze in a shed beside the bridge abutments.

 

7-181a by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

“185a. I thought that I had published this photo before but I could not find it in any of the previous sessions. It was definitely published in Narrow Lines, the 7mmNGA magazine. The slacker lounges in his deckchair at the bottom end of the siding out of sight of the foreman. He is a 1:48 figure and was demobbed from the Luftwaffe. I painted him into the ‘blues’ of the local sugar factory that I once worked in. The ‘kit’ was very good quality. I still use it today, twenty years on, whenever I go out running. Believe it or not there is track in the ‘jungle’ in front of him although the wagons that reach this point are pushed in by hand to save straining the loco mechanisms. The siding literally goes to the edge of the bank and the coupling gear of wagons at its extremity hang out over the fast flowing current. There are only a couple of small wheel retainers to prevent wagons taking a dip.

 

7-192 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

196. The up railcar is also away from the junction. On the tail tonight is the AFK’s observation car. This is under construction at the moment and has been put onto the tail to see how it runs, particularly with regard to clearances. The balloon roof is much higher than the arc roof stock but I don’t expect problems because the line is obviously cleared for SG wagons on transporters. I am not sure that the trailing saloon has slipped into position properly because the window rail does not appear to be parallel with the cant rail.

 

It is envisaged that a long shut down will now be needed to undertake some of the work listed at the end of the session's commentary.

 

Ian T

Edited July 3, 2020 by ianathompson
typo

[Barry O]

Ian

good luck with the work. Hope it is cleared in a short space of time

 

Baz

[ianathompson]

2 hours ago, Barry O said:

Hope it is cleared in a short space of time

 

I doubt that it will unfortunately.

The layout was designed to come apart but it is som,e years since the Lacono boards were removed so I expect problems.

 

Ian T

[hexagon789]

On 03/07/2020 at 11:37, ianathompson said:

The operating session has now finished.

The relatively quick completion can be attributed to every other activity that I am interested in, such as cricket and church music, being banned by the government.

There are around forty photos on the website.

It will take the website a short time to load due to the numerous photos.

 

7-162 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

165. Having crossed the railcar at Boursson the down KTT goods ambles along the valley bottom. The train has spent one hour standing at Boursson because, unusually, there were no wagons to set out or pick up and, for once, it had been correctly marshalled in the yard. It is on a tight timing on this section of its journey to get into the clear at Glissent so that the mixto is not delayed. There should not be any problems this evening as the front two vans and the hopper will be detached at Sojonno but there are no pick ups from the factory there..

 

7-177 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

180. The ‘coal sidings’ got their name in the early days of the layout from the coal wagons parked there waiting to return to the colliery. They were shed from trains over the tonnage limits for the Vulpafaŭkangulo. The name has stuck, although fewer coal wagons visit nowadays. The general coal loadings have been cut with opening of the paper mill to keep things balanced. Yesterday (session 6) these sidings were plugged for much of the day which is why the new long siding was added. By 19.30 today there is not too much space as the ferry traffic is sorted out from the southbound wagons and those needing to go to the goods shed. In effect the sidings have developed into a useful, albeit small, auxiliary marshalling yard and at the same time the loop nearest to the aisle has become much more freight orientated than it used to be. I suppose, as well, that this small part of the layout effectively operates as the equivalent of an Inglenook Sidings layout. It must be said that the locking of a typical British layout would involve the signalman in a large amount of work as the stock was shuffled between roads but, under the home brewed system that I am considering, this will not be the case. The difficulties of fitting colour light signals to this location have caused me to reconsider the signalling scheme. The outer extremities will remain as colour lights but the station itself will probably have semaphores, perhaps pneumatically operated. Given the upgraded status of the sidings I am sure that the ‘men’ will also be demanding some sort of accommodation, preferably at some remove from officialdom. Clearances are tight but it might just be possible to squeeze in a shed beside the bridge abutments.

 

7-181a by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

“185a. I thought that I had published this photo before but I could not find it in any of the previous sessions. It was definitely published in Narrow Lines, the 7mmNGA magazine. The slacker lounges in his deckchair at the bottom end of the siding out of sight of the foreman. He is a 1:48 figure and was demobbed from the Luftwaffe. I painted him into the ‘blues’ of the local sugar factory that I once worked in. The ‘kit’ was very good quality. I still use it today, twenty years on, whenever I go out running. Believe it or not there is track in the ‘jungle’ in front of him although the wagons that reach this point are pushed in by hand to save straining the loco mechanisms. The siding literally goes to the edge of the bank and the coupling gear of wagons at its extremity hang out over the fast flowing current. There are only a couple of small wheel retainers to prevent wagons taking a dip.

 

7-192 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr

 

196. The up railcar is also away from the junction. On the tail tonight is the AFK’s observation car. This is under construction at the moment and has been put onto the tail to see how it runs, particularly with regard to clearances. The balloon roof is much higher than the arc roof stock but I don’t expect problems because the line is obviously cleared for SG wagons on transporters. I am not sure that the trailing saloon has slipped into position properly because the window rail does not appear to be parallel with the cant rail.

 

It is envisaged that a long shut down will now be needed to undertake some of the work listed at the end of the session's commentary.

 

Ian T

I do like the way the AFK continues to develop and evolve, the addition of an observation saloon should add some interest, looks rather reminiscent of the German DB balloon observation railcar, possibly that was the inspiration?

 

Look forward to the AFK service resumption and developments.

[ianathompson]

7 minutes ago, hexagon789 said:

observation saloon should add some interest, looks rather reminiscent of the German DB balloon observation railcar, possibly that was the inspiration?

 

No. The inspiration was the one that ran on the Brunigbahn.

I have outlined this on other websites but perhaps not here.

In the 1930s the observation car had curved plexiglass windows in the roof.

From my inadequate German it would appear that these clouded over and became useless so the car was rebuilt.

It kept the picture windows in the sides but had a more conventional roof, although the profile was different from normal Swiss stock in the post war era.

The AFK's version puports to show it in its original glory, albeit with a few constructional idiosyncracies.

 

Ian T

[hexagon789]

6 minutes ago, ianathompson said:

 

No. The inspiration was the one that ran on the Brunigbahn.

I have outlined this on other websites but perhaps not here.

In the 1930s the observation car had curved plexiglass windows in the roof.

From my inadequate German it would appear that these clouded over and became useless so the car was rebuilt.

It kept the picture windows in the sides but had a more conventional roof, although the profile was different from normal Swiss stock in the post war era.

The AFK's version puports to show it in its original glory, albeit with a few constructional idiosyncracies.

 

Ian T

 

Thanks Ian, I'm not familiar with the Brünigbahn car but was with the German one. Makes a nice addition either way.

[ianathompson]

Following a considerable hiatus, to allow for infrastructure enhancement, the AFK is pleased to announce that train services have been restored.

The latest session is now available. for those who wish to go to the website.

 

Experience shows that numbers decline when there is no picture to act as "clickbait" as it is apparently called.

Given the recent changes made to Flickr I am becoming less inclined to use it as an intermediate platform for my images.

However on photograph from the dozen or so posted is shown below.

 

 

12 The Fenditavalat goods often shows a different character from the Urteno train in that  there are usually fewer SG wagons in the consist. There is only one today but the yardmaster has made the same mistake and overloaded the train. He will be on the carpet in Jasmond’s office if there are any problems but he should be okay as this locomotive in particular is a hulking bruiser quite capable of looking after itself. The train waited at Glissent for the paper train to pass and is similarly clattering through the darkness. It will stop at Sojonno to work the block instruments before hopefully getting a clear run at Boursson if the crew of the local have arrived on time. The shelf below the fascia below the loco holds the wagons “across the lake” at Karamspur whilst that further along holds wagon loads. It was always intended that another shelf would be added here and that is a possibility in the future.

 

For those of you who requested the "back story" work is ongoing and I hope to have it available shortly.

 

Ian T

[ianathompson]

Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

 

It is probably a little too late in the season for advent carols but a Great and Mighty Wonder has come to pass.

(I never understood the provenance of the English translation, I have to admit, even as a kid.)

 

After much delving in obscure tomes and the collation of many little known facts, the official history and geography of the AFK has been published.

 

A number of posters professed that they enjoy reading the “back story” to other people’s layouts and requested that that of the AFK was made public.

 

Well, may I remind you of the allegedly ancient Chinese proverb/curse.

 

May you live in interesting times,

May you come to the attention of people in high places,

May you find what you are searching for.

 

We are certainly living in interesting times and you may well have found what you are looking for. Only need to come to the attention of people in high places and you have cracked it!

 

I hope that those who requested it enjoy it but, be warned, this is no flimsily prepared document that glosses over the details and it will take some time to read.

 

As I used to say in my far off teaching days, “Read, mark and inwardly digest. There will be a test on this next week!”

 

Ian T

[Northroader]

Bl**dy H*ll!! How long did that take to prepare?!?!

[ianathompson]

The short answer would be forty years.

I "discovered" the AFK in the late 1970s.

I have been modelling it ever since.

 

The article itself is stitched together from a lot of other semi-moribund articles sitting around on the computer.

 

Ian T