RMweb Premium figworthy Posted March 5, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 5, 2021 12 hours ago, St Enodoc said: I think the "gate" arrangements instead of conventional marks have a lot to do with that. I've seen some good match racing in some of the races but only in short bursts. Gates at the bottom end of the course are far from new, but when there are two marks at the top, you usually go around the outside, not between them. Looks like hostilities commence next Wednesday. Adrian 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium figworthy Posted March 5, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 5, 2021 16 hours ago, john dew said: I do indeed remember the 1987 12M racing......it was brilliant ....we were glued to the TV. As weekend racers we could relate directly to almost everything taking place on the race course which is not the case now. I had heard that the Kiwis favour Ineos as Challenger of Record but I hadnt heard the Prada group wanted to revert to a more conventional design.......interesting! Many people I know were glued to the 87 event. I subsequently had the opportunity to sail a 12M (in calmer conditions), and they were quite a boat, and one that looked similar to something that you might find in your local marina. I think the Prada/Swiss thing is informed gossip at the moment. Adrian 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john dew Posted April 1, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 1, 2021 My apologies to all........this must be my longest gap in posting for many years . All manner of events, railway and domestic, combined to delay me from finishing the site detail of the hotel and even posting anywhere. Hopefully most, if not all, of these issues are now sorted. There are still a load of figures still to paint so the hotel frontage looks strangely deserted but most of the surrounding infrastructure is now in place. Given luck I can take some shots and post them over the weekend. Talking of shots, we both had our Covid jabs on Tuesday. Side effects were relatively mild.....nothing like I remember from my Army jabs many years ago. Canada is a long way behind the UK .....only 12% have had the first jab so it will be quite a while before we can get together again with all our family. Nevertheless there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel Wishing you and yours a very Happy Easter. 4 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post john dew Posted April 7, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted April 7, 2021 (edited) The Hotel is now in its permanent position on the layout. There is still a lot to be done to the surrounding area but at least passengers arriving and departing from Granby no longer have to look at a bomb site. By way of a reminder, here is a wide angle view of the train room taken from the doorway The reverse view looking towards a collection of assorted memorabilia that is normally cropped out. Why do we keep this stuff? As a rugby fan its very difficult to justify a 50 year old Paddington Bear with a Villa scarf! Until it was recently pointed out to me any connection with the GWR had never crossed my mind! I have been muttering for some time about the size of the Hotel footprint in relation to available space. The eventual solution was to build out an extension in front of the station building Its less than ideal. The Shed turntable controller had to be rewired and relocated on the other side of the duck under. Its also now a very long reach to the Shed approach road, fortunately, because of Stay Alives, loco stalls are comparatively rare. That apart I think it works quite well The Canal Warehouse still has to be linked to the main level but I have been cropping out the unfinished rear of the Warehouse for a decade so a few more months won't hurt. The hastily constructed door to the Post Office looks a bit contrived but I do like this view up the alley to St Asaph's Square and beyond to Chester Road and the north bound bus stops. Viewed from the front showing off the varied skyline plus a last chance to see Paddington Bear There is no picture frame trim left so the sides of the extension will be finished with Will random stone. This wall will culminate in a tunnel portal for the branch line which exits the hidden storage roads beneath the hotel. Because of space, Chester Road, the street parallel with the station, had to be one way. The extension has enabled me to add south bound bus stops and traffic signs which make the traffic pattern look more credible. I didnt originally intend to have St Asaph's Square set back so much but I am actually quite pleased with the sense of depth that has been created I have added some detail but there is a distinct absence of pedestrians around the hotel and new bus stops. Once the figures have been painted I will post a few cameos. Meantime I need to run some trains......but before doing so I have come to a decision about the geriatric storage turn table and resolve a tiresome sporadic short on the branch line.....I could be away for some time! Finally, here is an old photo of Granby that I took in 1948 with my Box Brownie before being treated by Auntie Edith to Afternoon Tea at the Talbot .......must have been my birthday. Edited August 20, 2022 by john dew 20/8/2022 Photos 14 6 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neal Ball Posted April 13, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 13, 2021 Lovely to see the Hotel in its completed setting John. That Box Brownie really has produced a great photo. I wonder what kids these days (Makes me sound old I know), would make of a Box Brownie and the 126 film.... 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 They could not cope with putting film in the camera and if they had a 35mm camera they would not have a clue! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.c Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 1 hour ago, Neal Ball said: Lovely to see the Hotel in its completed setting John. That Box Brownie really has produced a great photo. I wonder what kids these days (Makes me sound old I know), would make of a Box Brownie and the 126 film.... Biscuits in a box? 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium M.I.B Posted April 13, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 13, 2021 The final black and white photo really has tons of atmosphere. Lovely buildings John. Thank you for inspiring. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john dew Posted April 16, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 16, 2021 (edited) A bit of trivia about life in the UK during and immediately after WWII Before I realised that the hotel would finished up so far back from the railway I started to acquire figures and bit and pieces to detail the rear kitchen. You now need binoculars or a cruel close up to see them but it seemed a shame to waste them I intended the two cooks, having a crafty fag, to be chatting up a waitress but am still looking for a suitable figure. They had to be sous chefs (short navy/black hats) because they are actually Modelu footplate men with the cap peaks filed off. The guy on the left has been in my bits box for years. A Montys Models dust bin man but I wanted him to be seen emerging from the kitchen so I googled "UK Pig Swill 1947".........as part of the war effort dustbins painted green with "Pig Food" stenciled on a white background were used to collect all waste food stuff. So here is the Talbot's rack of Bins ready for the weekly pick up. The Bins were issued to each street where they were often chained to a lamp post You will have to imagine the chain! Apparently the collection system continued on through the late forties although I must confess I dont remember any cans in our road. One can never accuse Granby of lacking detail! In other news: John Dew wrote: Meantime I need to run some trains......but before doing so I have to come to a decision about the geriatric storage turn table and resolve a tiresome sporadic short on the branch line.....I could be away for some time! I have definitely made up my mind Edited August 20, 2022 by john dew Photos 18/8/22 8 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 It is details like the pig swill bins that make this period so interesting. Really like the latest devepments and look forward to resolution of the turntable issue. Martyn 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 I was just going to mention the same thing - bins for pig food. Often wonder if other animals felt left out?! Brian 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neal Ball Posted April 17, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 17, 2021 I remember when we moved to Feltham in the mid 1970’s there was a pig farm have way down the road to Feltham station. If the wind was blowing in our direction, the smell was awful. I think it’s long since gone and probably built on now. Lovely scene at the back of the hotel @john dew. Good luck with the turntable and short / fault finding. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Edward Posted April 17, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 17, 2021 My treat of the week seeing your posts! So inspirational. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium M.I.B Posted April 26, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 26, 2021 The little scenarios and vignettes are wonderful John. Is the turntable to be replaced with something from Heljan? Thank you for continuing to inspire. Regards, 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john dew Posted April 27, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 27, 2021 13 hours ago, M.I.B said: The little scenarios and vignettes are wonderful John. Is the turntable to be replaced with something from Heljan? Thank you for continuing to inspire. Regards, Thanks Tinker......glad you like it.........hope the house building is going well. I replaced the Heljan, which served the Engine Shed, about four years ago with a Fleischmann. After some initial problems, of my own making, it has run like a dream.....super reliable. The hole in the ground in the Storage yards used to have another Fleischmann. I bought it second hand for about 50 bucks in 1996 so it doesnt owe me anything. Its always been a bit make and mend but the last year or so it has become even more erratic. I finally bit the bullet and spent most of this years train budget buying a new replacement. Unfortunately I think I may have damaged the coil/solenoid which triggers the motor. Alternatively I have incorrectly re-assembled the mechanical lever system activated by the solenoid. Either way it isnt working properly. I cant recall previously wishing I lived in Essex but it would be handy right now......I suspect you would sort right away while I chipped some locos for you. All is not lost.......there is a local guy we have used in the past who will hopefully solve the problem. Best wishes 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium M.I.B Posted April 27, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 27, 2021 I never planned on living in Essex either John, but it sort of "happened" (: I hope your man sorts it - sadly we can't get to North America at the moment. Stay safe and thanks again for the inspiration. Posts on here and on Robin's ANTB definitely keep the spirits and hope up. Regards, 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john dew Posted May 4, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 4, 2021 (edited) Fortunately I didnt have use our local small appliance repairman. I stumbled on a couple of old threads and discovered all was not lost. RMWeb is such an amazing resource. Its still not working properly .....all the exit sidings still have to be relaid and wired. I then discovered the exit tracks were without power unless the bridge had turned through 180o. I remembered that I had to fit jumper wires to the bridge track feed.... @melmerbymodification (thank you Keith).........so the the bridge has to be remove again. To cheer myself up I went over to the Engine Shed Turntable... which worked flawlessly. Granby Shed on a spring morning in 1948: Wrong locos but reminds me of the atmosphere at Edgehill in the early fifties. Regards from Vancouver where it is definitely spring and I am amazed that I am allowed to spend any time at all in the Railway Room Edited May 4, 2021 by john dew Corrected image size 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neal Ball Posted May 6, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 6, 2021 On 04/05/2021 at 17:18, john dew said: Fortunately I didnt have use our local small appliance repairman. I stumbled on a couple of old threads and discovered all was not lost. RMWeb is such an amazing resource. Its still not working properly .....all the exit sidings still have to be relaid and wired. I then discovered the exit tracks were without power unless the bridge had turned through 180o. I remembered that I had to fit jumper wires to the bridge track feed.... @melmerbymodification (thank you Keith).........so the the bridge has to be remove again. To cheer myself up I went over to the Engine Shed Turntable... which worked flawlessly. Granby Shed on a spring morning in 1948: Wrong locos but reminds me of the atmosphere at Edgehill in the early fifties. Regards from Vancouver where it is definitely spring and I am amazed that I am allowed to spend any time at all in the Railway Room That's starting to sound quite a saga John, hopefully you can get it all fixed soon. (Lovely photos of Granby as ever). In the meantime, I am concerned with that huge coal train being pushed up the incline to the Coaling stage - no wonder the UK is running out of local coal - its all at Granby. Lol Sunny greetings from Spain, where it's definitely very Spring like - Sunny weather, for days, getting hotter all the time. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted May 6, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 6, 2021 20 minutes ago, Neal Ball said: That's starting to sound quite a saga John, hopefully you can get it all fixed soon. (Lovely photos of Granby as ever). In the meantime, I am concerned with that huge coal train being pushed up the incline to the Coaling stage - no wonder the UK is running out of local coal - its all at Granby. Lol Sunny greetings from Spain, where it's definitely very Spring like - Sunny weather, for days, getting hotter all the time. May used to be my favourite time of year in Spain - not too hot, and before the school holidays started! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.c Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 Lovely pictures and modelling John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neal Ball Posted May 8, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 8, 2021 On 06/05/2021 at 13:48, St Enodoc said: May used to be my favourite time of year in Spain - not too hot, and before the school holidays started! With Spain on the "Amber travel list" we have a few more weeks of no tourists. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john dew Posted August 10, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 10, 2021 (edited) A tale with a happy ending First my apologies for not acknowledging the last few posts and in fact for not posting at all for three months. Just after my last post, in early May, I wasn't feeling too well. After a couple of days in bed I was rushed to hospital. I spent most of May in an Acute Care Unit with a fever which developed into pneumonia. I dont remember too much about it but I do realise I have been very fortunate. Pneumonia is pretty unpleasant at any age and certainly not recommended for an eighty four year old! I was allowed home after three weeks and spent most of June and July swallowing innumerable pills (which made me indolent and sleepy) and phone consultations with assorted specialists. On top of which I had to keep out of the sun and clear of the smoke from the forest fires in the interior. Forced indoors, I spent most of my time staring at this hole in the ground and continuing with my futile attempts to repair the bridge of the storage yard turntable. I guess I could have run some trains on the rest of the layout but the non functioning turntable was just too frustrating and demotivating. Happily the temperature has now dropped, ** the smoke has cleared somewhat and the pills have done their job. Newly energised, I decided enough was enough and solved the turntable issue by the simple but expensive expedient of buying a new one . Actually it wasn't that simple, Fleischmann have stopped making H0/00 turntables and cleared all their spare parts. Fortunately I tracked down a complete unit in Germany. A week later it was delivered, hooked up and working like a dream! Here is Large Prairie 4124 crawling on to the centre of the bridge Lots of work still to be done....The storage tracks have to be painted and ballasted, one of the approach roads has to be re-aligned, the turntable surround weathered and blended with the baseboard and an extension made for the Scalescene retaining wall Most of the RR&Co routines already work seamlessly so the plan is for a video, provisionally titled "The storage shuffle" to be produced in the fall. Oh dear, I almost forgot to include a pannier: Regards from a happy camper in Vancouver ** I may have spoken too soon about the weather...the temperature is now forecast to rise back to the low thirties. At least its cool in the railway room and I have a functioning turntable to play with test. Edited August 18, 2022 by john dew 5 1 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
amdaley Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 Great to see you back John. This thread is a tonic for anyone in these trying times. Stay safe. Tony. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard i Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 Glad to here you are improving. Hope the turntable behaves itself. richard 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 6 hours ago, john dew said: A tale with a happy ending Hi John, glad there is an improvement. My tale has not ended yet, sad to say! A couple of months ago I broke my hip, the classic eighty six year old problem. While its been fixed the pain still exists although it will get better, so I'm told. Like you it has prevented "workin' on the railroad" and I've got a train caught between two blocks, out of reach naturally, so no playing trains until I can get up and get under. Getting under the layout is a lot harder these days than when it was all set up about twenty years or so ago so it may be a while yet Always good to see your recent additions Brian. About to retire to the A/C train room for a few days. If I can't play trains, at least I'll be cool! 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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