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Then there are sketches which can be very usual at depicting details, that may not be clear in what most people call a drawing. There are many such examples in magazines.

Hi, I saw this track plan posted in this thread: I really like the look of it and I'd like to build something similar, however, I don't know much about prototype railways so I'm looking for some information. 1. Once the loco and train are parked in the siding at the top of the layout, how does it get out? Does another loco come along to take the train to release the first loco? I don't see how else the engine can get around to the other end of the train. 2. There’s a little siding(?) at the end of the run around loop (in this diagram it's just behind/above the goods shed). What would such a short piece of track be used for? Could I put a small engine shed here? 3. Similar to question 1: how would a goods train enter the good siding? Does the train enter the loco first into the goods siding and then get released by another loco, or does the train enter into the runaround loop first, loco then runs around to the other end, and then pushes the train through the goods shed? 4. I have the room to add another turnout or two. Any suggestions to improve operational interest? I'm not 100% committed to adding more points but if anyone has a simple suggestion that would allow for a little bit of shunting or something using just 1 or 2 more points, I'd love to hear it. Many thanks!

Bravo that man - awesome work sir! Glad they went to a good home (although not sure if that is true given how much you’ve battered them 😉) Kind regards, Will

Just be aware of upcoming trackwork on the Blue Mountains line and on days with replacement buses there is no alternative service to Zig Zag (Bottom Points) and no public transport to Clarence. The Sydney Metro, L2/L3 light rail lines and the Newcastle light rail have all opened since 2018. The new Parramatta light rail is currently testing and is planned to open in "mid 2024". There has been a lot more main line steam this year so lots of options if you can fit it in. https://www.thnsw.com.au/events Here is a list of upcoming model railway exhibitions and club open days: https://www.australianmodelrailwaymagazine.com.au/diary.php On the beer list, if you get to Newcastle and travel on the light rail to the terminus at Newcastle Beach, I recommend a visit to the Grain Store.

An editor does not need to know everything, if fact perhaps such a person ought not be an editor! I was responding to Chris's comments about some poor drawings, that he said were in the bottom drawer for years. To be left in such a place for a period of time, means that for whatever reason, he knew they could have been better. I'll leave it there.

Peco have one but it seems woefully fragile. I mean to build one from more robust materials. Don't know whether it is GWR. https://peco-uk.com/collections/lineside-scenic/products/loading-gauge-2?variant=7435663245346 John

We’ve a nonagenarian member of the SEQAG - not sure if Barbara is still an NGS member but she’s been an active British Railway Modellers of Australia member for decades and does an outstanding job on card buildings. My daughter (before concentrating on Highland Dancing) managed to win a couple of trophies as a junior modeller - which tended to annoy the young men, but delighted their mums!

The Observatory is an easy walk from Wynyard station. After your visit you can quench your thirst in one of the many "oldest pubs in Sydney". The Lord Nelson is closest and IMHO the best. The Tramway Museum is next to Loftus station and operates on Wednesdays and Sundays (possibly more often during school holidays). Book ahead for Zig-Zag. It runs on alternate Sundays and is very popular. Bottom Points station is next to Zig-Zag station on the Lithgow line.

Oh my!

That was the wrong suitcase !!! The correct case had the EPs for the Aberdare, the Midland 2F, the Fowler 150hp 0-4-0 centre cab dieeel and the GRCW class 100 DMU !!!!

Screenshots from Train Simulator Classic can turn out a bit dark so I'm testing out changing the gamma settings.

My wife Kim operating the late Iain Rice’s Trerice at last weekends Railex although she’s more often to be found either on Tucking Mill or the 2mm Roadshow with Paula Martin Jerry

When I was in Bucharest nearly 30 years ago, evidence of the then-recent revolution was all around - most notably, bullet holes in the facades of many of the buildings.

I disagree, respectfully, with that sentence, Chris. One well-known monthly magazine now includes scale drawings in most issues. Some are newly-produced, some recycled from earlier times.

Received an email from Hornby; my Caprotti Black 5 has arrived at the warehouse and will be despatched soon. Card has been charged. Unfortunately, it is going to a UK address to be picked up by my wife and brought back by her in August after a visit! Cheers from Oz, Peter C.

A poor-quality drawing might be quite accurate, while a high-quality drawing might be quite inaccurate.

Aah, yes... best stick to convent' nl humour then.

I missed the programme. What was the word?

I'd say No to both your questions. Both BGs are equally "realistic", even though they look different.

Absolutely agree, if we want to play in the minority scale sometimes it's going to cost you with membership around 600 how many will want one and are going to dip there hands and purchase the bg....hopefully enough to warrant reruns and future project's....if you can make one yourself then you will benefit in cost saving.....but what cost in time, effort, fidelity and repeatedly that's where the RTP overall value comes in.....can't wait to see them at demu showcase, it might be a expensive weekend G

The Quarry Hunslets, Slate Wagon and Scenecraft buildings are listed on the due in 30 days page.

It's a bit of a habit in these parts...

The Signal Box This took a lot longer than I anticipated due to a couple of early missteps meaning that I had to more or less start again each time. It was also something that I felt had to get reasonably accurate having spent over 30 years as a signalling design engineer. The box is a kit-bashed Peco Manyways NB-3 Traditional Brick/Timber type, the footprint of which is very close to the prototype, supplemented with a Ratio Signal Box Interior Fittings kit. The main difference that needed to be addressed was that the kit had a gable roof whereas the prototype is of hipped roof design, so I proceeded to cut the end pieces to suit. I also removed the inside window frames as I intended replacing them with the etched items from the Ratio kit. Once the parts had been glued together to form the shell of the building I noticed that I had not being paying attention to photographs as it dawned on me that that the actual box, apart from the window framing, was of all brick construction, and not half-timbered like the kit. I pulled the shell apart and removed the timber parts, replacing them with moulded brick walls cut to size from some I had spare from another kit and re-assembled the building shell. I painted the replacement parts to match the original walls, but I wasn’t happy with them as they didn’t look right. A few years ago we bought two 1/150 scale architectural model layouts (that had been used for selling new housing developments) with a view to utilising some of the buildings for future use. I found that the brickwork on one of them was embossed plastic stuck to the shell of the building that was close to the colour of the signal box’s brickwork. I carefully removed it and used it for the walls of the box, the only original brickwork now remaining from the kit being the base and pieces where the locking room windows and a door had been bricked up on the prototype. Having found on the internet a very low resolution image of the locking sketch (from which I could only make out 3 numbers of signals and points), I was fortunate to then find the locking chart and an extract from the signal box diagram from 1961 for the actual signal box, which enabled me to work out the numbers of the rest of the signals, points and facing point locks. From this I was able to paint the signal levers in the correct colours, shorten the interlocking lever and the motorised point lever (as per prototypical practice) and glue them into the lever frame in the correct order, setting them for an Up train. The lever frame was then glued to the floor, along with the desk, coal bunker, stove and armchair from the interior fittings kit. I also added the signalman’s newspaper on the armchair, a coal shovel, a clock, and a logbook and telephone on the desk. I adapted the instruments on the block shelf from the interior fittings kit and added the locking sketch to represent the signal box diagram. Other details that I added include a “No Unauthorised Persons Allowed” notice to the signal box door, signal box name board, pipework, window rails, outside lamp, stove chimney, roof ventilator and of course Bobby the Signalman leaning out of the box looking down the line, a Modelu figure painted by Adam’s son Marcus, one of our junior members. I have made the roof removable so that the interior detail can be seen.

I suspect that, if that photo had been taken on a cloudy day, its appearance would have been quite different.

That's a far too black and white statement......