Castle Aching

[Hroth]

42 minutes ago, TT-Pete said:

@James Harrison There is also always the audiobook version...

 

 

 

There is also the Planiverse which shares similar territory to Flatland....

[16Brunel]

12 hours ago, TT-Pete said:

@James Harrison There is also always the audiobook version...

 

 

 

It gets a mention in one of the Science of Discworld books

[TT-Pete]

38 minutes ago, 16Brunel said:

 

It gets a mention in one of the Science of Discworld books

 

and in The Big Bang Theory;

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wqtqo3DFdo

[Schooner]

Fiddling with the Achingham throat:

Functionally identical, but both platform loop (LH, between ES and SC) and goods loop (RH) lengthened. Looks a bit more model railway, a little less toy train...for the first time it looks okay!

 

If that seems a bit much, and if it would suit how @Edwardian wants to work goods traffic, the goods loop could be omitted:

 

In context:

Coloured sections mark potential scene changes, but represent thinking aloud only.

 

My main takeway was that there's not really space for a dedicated Achingham Branch scene between junction and station, but there probably is for a CA-Junction and Junction-BM mainline scene. Whether it's preferable to have more smaller scenes or fewer longer ones I leave to others :) If the scenic breaks were fairly subtle it would allow the entire top run to be viewed as one - the entire Southern range of the WNR - if desired.

[Old Gringo]

On 08/12/2022 at 18:20, Edwardian said:

The publicity department of the Great Western Railway was renowned. 

 

A year or two ago I came across a couple of books from the mid-twenties, one featuring abbeys in GW territory, and the other cathedrals. 

 

There are quite a lot of abbeys, and one wonders, then, why there was no GWR "Abbey Class".  This book is authored by one M R James. Yes, the M R James. Spooky. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, I'm left wondering what works the publicity department of the WNR might have commissioned!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello James,

 

To complete your set of Great Western Railway historical publications, look out for "Castles" by Charles Oman, published in 1926. The same hardback format, 232 pages with 120 castles 'mentioned' from Abergavenny to York **, plus a coloured fold-out map of the GWR in a rear pocket.  The first edition is in brown cloth, with a dust-jacket covered in 26 shields, Beauchamp and Neville, to Mortimer of Wigmore and Verdun of Ewyas.

 

Another smaller paperback produced by the GWR Publicity department in 1924 is, "Historic Sites & Scenes of England" (strapline, For Travellers of All Nations - Where to go and what to see", 96 pages, and again with a fold-out map).  A little cream coloured 8.5" x 5.5" paperback, with red lettering, that turns up occasionally on the preserved railways stands and at book fairs.

 

Perhaps this latter book is the sort that the WNR might have produced.

 

All the very best,

John

 

** Edit: A description is given of 79 Castles (highlighted in capitals in the index) and virtually all the 120 listed in the index could be reached by GWR services in England and Wales.

Edited December 10, 2022 by Old Gringo
additional reference information

[16Brunel]

This just caught my eye - I think there'll be issues making that turn onto the turntable at CA...

 

- Scott

[nick_bastable]

six years on is this a ponzi project ?  🙄

 

[Edwardian]

"A Merry Christmas to us all; God bless us, every one!"

 

[Hroth]

 

 

Please can we have a working NHS, good sirs and ladies?

 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2022 by Hroth

[Caley Jim]

42 minutes ago, Hroth said:

 

 

Please can we have a working NHS, good sirs and ladies?

As one who has been waiting for an op since the summer, I will second that motion.

 

Jim

[Hroth]

Another reaction to the "Quality Street" image of a Victorian Christmas

 

 

The Revenge Christmas Card...

[James Harrison]

I think I'm one of those headed for the basket. 

 

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cmq6pkr_oME/XefjhK_28tI/AAAAAAADrTs/3TF7RKpDZoAkyZn8NdvXo6I_maYvuYQ8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/female-krampus-cards-3.jpg

Edited December 17, 2022 by James Harrison

[St Enodoc]

2 minutes ago, James Harrison said:

I think I'm one of those headed for the basket. 

 

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cmq6pkr_oME/XefjhK_28tI/AAAAAAADrTs/3TF7RKpDZoAkyZn8NdvXo6I_maYvuYQ8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/female-krampus-cards-3.jpg

You should be so lucky.

[Hroth]

1 hour ago, James Harrison said:

I think I'm one of those headed for the basket. 

 

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cmq6pkr_oME/XefjhK_28tI/AAAAAAADrTs/3TF7RKpDZoAkyZn8NdvXo6I_maYvuYQ8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/female-krampus-cards-3.jpg

 

Io Saturnalia!

 

[Nearholmer]

Google krampuskarten to see a bizarre spectrum, including those that are very definitely trading on the saturnalic implications. All very odd!

[Compound2632]

No frills here:

 

 

[Embedded link to catalogue image of Midland Railway Study Centre item 32590.]

[Tom Burnham]

12 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

No frills here:

 

 

[Embedded link to catalogue image of Midland Railway Study Centre item 32590.]

The type is very neatly laid out anyway, including subtle use of small caps.

[monkeysarefun]

 

Yes this is exactly what its like.

[Adam88]

On 17/12/2022 at 20:21, Compound2632 said:

No frills here:

 

 

[Embedded link to catalogue image of Midland Railway Study Centre item 32590.]

 

Of course, however sincerely the best wishes for the new year were meant, it did not turn out at all well being the last year of peaceful and civilised life for much of Europe.  An exception to that being in the Balkans where hostilities had already begun.

 

[Compound2632]

Perhaps this has less sombre undertones. The top panel reads "Christmas Greetings from J.O. Manton and Staff, Midland Railway, South Wales District, Brecon":

 

 

[Annie]

2 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

Perhaps this has less sombre undertones. The top panel reads "Christmas Greetings from J.O. Manton and Staff, Midland Railway, South Wales District, Brecon":

 

 

Nice, - is a large copy of that map available anywhere?

[Donw]

7 hours ago, Annie said:

Nice, - is a large copy of that map available anywhere?

 

Not sure of the date of that map. Some lines dont appear on it. There is no sign of the Wye valley line,the Golden Valley line or the line through Grange court and Ross on Wye up to Hereford.  

 

Don

[Compound2632]

7 hours ago, Annie said:

Nice, - is a large copy of that map available anywhere?

 

A high-res version may be available from the Midland Railway Study Centre, if you ask the coordinator, Dave Harris, nicely.

 

15 minutes ago, Donw said:

Not sure of the date of that map. Some lines dont appear on it. There is no sign of the Wye valley line,the Golden Valley line or the line through Grange court and Ross on Wye up to Hereford.  

 

Remember that it's a map intended to show the Midland Railway in South Wales and its connections. Not just minor Great Western branches are missing but entire railway companies such as the Taff Vale!

 

It is catalogued as "undated" but I would guess 20th century.

[Michael Crofts]

A modern Season's Greetings to all, from the Forest of Dean where this year the snow came too early for a white Christmas, and got a bit trampled before we could get the photos.

Photo: David & Kat Nelson-Brown, Perrygrove Railway

[Hando]

On 19/12/2022 at 07:57, Donw said:

 

Not sure of the date of that map. Some lines dont appear on it. There is no sign of the Wye valley line,the Golden Valley line or the line through Grange court and Ross on Wye up to Hereford.  

 

Don

The map probably dates from around the turn of the 19th century, given that the Severn and Eye Railway is shown as being under Midland ownership, which was from 1894 onwards (although it makes no reference to the joint agreement with the GWR).

The reason several lines aren't shown is due to the fact the Midland didn't have significant running powers over those routes, so they were consequently omitted as they were deemed irrelevant.

Had the Golden Valley Railway successfully extended to Monmouth and Lydbrook Junction (https://booksrus.me.uk/gn/page%2031.htm), I imagine the Midland would've acquired running powers over the line, as it would've provided them with a more direct route from Bath or Bristol to Mid Wales.

Edited December 24, 2022 by Hando
Forgot to write certain details