A Nod To Brent - a friendly thread, filled with frivolity, cream teas and pasties. Longing for the happy days in the South Hams 1947.

[St Enodoc]

Just seen this reference to a show in Paignton - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/135625-paignton-summer-show-2018-august-11-12/&do=findComment&comment=3227962

 

Most interesting.

 

Unfortunately it's the same weekend as RailWells, which for me will always take priority over other shows in the district. Although both are on over two days, I regret that it is not possible for me to obtain a two-day pass for such activities.

I might be at RailWells on the Sunday, if I manage to get up early enough after my daughter's wedding in Sussex the day before. 

[chrisf]

Whilst at the Great Yorkshire Show today saw some mighty fine South Devon Red cattle...Would these be suitable for the Brent area in the late 1940’s?

 

Mark, I don't see why not:

 

DEVON RED CATTLE

 

[there should be a picture here!]

 

The Devon is an ancient breed of cattle from the south western English county of Devon.  It is a rich red or tawny colour, and this gives rise to the popular appellation of Devon Ruby or Red Ruby, also used as a marketing brand.  The breed is also sometimes referred to as the North Devon to avoid confusion with the more recently developed South Devon cattle breed which is yellowish brown.  The native home of the Devon is in south-west England, primarily in the counties of Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and Dorset.  The Devon is one of several modern breeds derived from the traditional red cattle of southern England, together with the Hereford, Sussex, Lincoln Red and Red Poll.

​Characteristics

 

Devon cattle are red in colour, varying in shade from a rich deep red to a light red or chestnut colour.  A bright ruby red colour is preferred and accounts for their nickname, the "Red Ruby". The hair is of medium thickness and is often long and curly during the winter, but short and sleek in summer.  The switch of the tail is creamy white.

Mature bulls in good working condition weigh from 1,700 lb (770 kg) to about 2,200 lb (1,000 kg).  Mature cows range in weight from about 950 lb (430 kg) to about 1,300 lb (590 kg).  Thus, Devons have enough size to be practical and profitable without the handicap of excessive maintenance cost.

Calving problems are seldom encountered although a growing stress on using larger bulls has increased the incidence of difficult births.

​

The functional characteristics of the Devon make them a valuable genetic tool for the commercial beef industry.  The breed has long been noted for its fertility, ease of calving, docility, hardiness and ability to adapt to temperature extremes.  Devons are active good "walkers" and are excellent foragers.  Their ability to utilize grass and other forages efficiently has heightened their popularity in areas such as southern Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.  In recent years however, the breed has fallen out of favour, as more rapidly growing continental breeds were in demand by both the farmer and butcher because of their speed of maturity and the quantity of higher-value cuts they produce.  However, that meat has always been of a lower-eating quality than that of the slower-maturing grass-fed traditional breeds.

 

Chris

[88C]

Chris, I know that you are the go to man for GW coaching, are you now the expert on cattle as we'll?

 

Brian

[Ashley Bridge]

Mark, I don't see why not:

 

DEVON RED CATTLE

 

[there should be a picture here!]

 

The Devon is an ancient breed of cattle from the south western English county of Devon.  It is a rich red or tawny colour, and this gives rise to the popular appellation of Devon Ruby or Red Ruby, also used as a marketing brand.  The breed is also sometimes referred to as the North Devon to avoid confusion with the more recently developed South Devon cattle breed which is yellowish brown.  The native home of the Devon is in south-west England, primarily in the counties of Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and Dorset.  The Devon is one of several modern breeds derived from the traditional red cattle of southern England, together with the Hereford, Sussex, Lincoln Red and Red Poll.

​Characteristics

 

Devon cattle are red in colour, varying in shade from a rich deep red to a light red or chestnut colour.  A bright ruby red colour is preferred and accounts for their nickname, the "Red Ruby". The hair is of medium thickness and is often long and curly during the winter, but short and sleek in summer.  The switch of the tail is creamy white.

Mature bulls in good working condition weigh from 1,700 lb (770 kg) to about 2,200 lb (1,000 kg).  Mature cows range in weight from about 950 lb (430 kg) to about 1,300 lb (590 kg).  Thus, Devons have enough size to be practical and profitable without the handicap of excessive maintenance cost.

Calving problems are seldom encountered although a growing stress on using larger bulls has increased the incidence of difficult births.

​

The functional characteristics of the Devon make them a valuable genetic tool for the commercial beef industry.  The breed has long been noted for its fertility, ease of calving, docility, hardiness and ability to adapt to temperature extremes.  Devons are active good "walkers" and are excellent foragers.  Their ability to utilize grass and other forages efficiently has heightened their popularity in areas such as southern Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.  In recent years however, the breed has fallen out of favour, as more rapidly growing continental breeds were in demand by both the farmer and butcher because of their speed of maturity and the quantity of higher-value cuts they produce.  However, that meat has always been of a lower-eating quality than that of the slower-maturing grass-fed traditional breeds.

 

A family friend keeps a small herd of Devon Reds up at Black Dog Farm, about three miles north of Morchard Road Station on the withered arm. Although the weather generally is different this side of Dartmoor, I see no reason why they shouldn’t thrive in South Hams. They are handsome animals, and probably easier to paint in model form, than those random black and white composers

Ash

Chris

[ian]

FWIW I can remember an article in the Railway Modeller from the early 1970s headed "What's wrong with that cow?" which discussed the fact that the cows that you see today are not suitable for the pre-diesel layout and then went on to describe modifying Airfix (?) cattle to represent a traditional breed.

 

Those with good RM archives may be able to help further.

[gwrrob]

Dart Castings make some rather nice cattle figures that I occasionally put in my dock for scenic interest. Red brown was easily made using Humbrol paint shades.

[Captain Kernow]

I have given this matter some thought on your behalf and reached a simple conclusion.  On the day, of the two, on which you are not at RailWells you will 'find' an urgent need to quickly get hold of something critical to whatever project you will be undertaking - this might involve having to drive to somebody else's house in order to borrow it (only to find they were out and had taken the item with them so you then had to go on to XXXX) or if it was something you were purchasing the first place you tried didn't have any left so instead of going all the way to Plymouth you decided to try a shop you know in Torbay but after having to park some way away due to the holiday crowds, which meant a long walk and, well time just vanished - you know how these things are.

Thanks Mike, very kind of you but trust me on this one, it wouldn't work.

 

There are spies everywhere.

[Worsdell forever]

Dart Castings make some rather nice cattle figures that I occasionally put in my dock for scenic interest. Red brown was easily made using Humbrol paint shades.

 

I've found the Langley ones make a nice traditional Dairy Shorthorn, probably be good for a Devon too.

[The Stationmaster]

FWIW I can remember an article in the Railway Modeller from the early 1970s headed "What's wrong with that cow?" which discussed the fact that the cows that you see today are not suitable for the pre-diesel layout and then went on to describe modifying Airfix (?) cattle to represent a traditional breed.

 

Those with good RM archives may be able to help further.

 

The traditional 'area' breeds started to be replaced in the 1930s as the farming industry was forced to change for social reasons as much as anything else.  However the big change really got going after the war when the Ministry of agriculture and its advisors started to give all sorts of advice to farmers going on from the considerable power v base they had built up during the war.  Thus there were huge changes in the 1950s as herds became more specialised, particularly for milk production where the black & white Friesians started to become more established in Britain and a lot of attention was given to developing the breed because of its good milk yields.

 

Hen ce black & white cows would be virtually, if not completely, not existent in Devon before the very late 1940s and only really began to get established in the 50s.  as their numbers increased so the old Red Devon breed became a lot less likely to be seen although never totally eradicated.

[81C]

Bachmann's black & white cows £9.95 for 5 look a good deal or I have a heffer here you can have she must come home for dinner time tho'. 

Edited July 12, 2018 by 81C

[chrisf]

Chris, I know that you are the go to man for GW coaching, are you now the expert on cattle as we'll?

 

Brian

 

A year or two back I looked up Devon Reds because the builder of the layout had kindly provided some.  What I posted is distilled from what I found on line but I can't recall now where I found it!  I keep a Source Book which contains myriad useful snippets such as that.  Apart from that all I know about cattle is what I hear on The Archers!

 

Humbrol 133 looks to be a fair match for the livery.

 

Chris

[Worsdell forever]

The traditional 'area' breeds started to be replaced in the 1930s as the farming industry was forced to change for social reasons as much as anything else.  However the big change really got going after the war when the Ministry of agriculture and its advisors started to give all sorts of advice to farmers going on from the considerable power v base they had built up during the war.  Thus there were huge changes in the 1950s as herds became more specialised, particularly for milk production where the black & white Friesians started to become more established in Britain and a lot of attention was given to developing the breed because of its good milk yields.

 

Hen ce black & white cows would be virtually, if not completely, not existent in Devon before the very late 1940s and only really began to get established in the 50s.  as their numbers increased so the old Red Devon breed became a lot less likely to be seen although never totally eradicated.

 

My Granddad had the traditional Shorthorns and eventually started on Friesians, his first one was brown and white...

[NHY 581]

My Granddad had the traditional Shorthorns and eventually started on Friesians, his first one was brown and white...

 

I had the shorthorns once. Immodium sorted it.

[gwrrob]

Here's what ex England manager Glenn Hoddle might describe as a 'love train' this afternoon. This Chris Nevard shot of my old Hall [4948] gives me much more pleasure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The Stationmaster]

My Granddad had the traditional Shorthorns and eventually started on Friesians, his first one was brown and white...

 

My grandad also changed over from Shorthorns to Friesians but his were black & white (when nice and clean, which was not necessarily the case when you were moving them up the lane from a field to the milking parlour  )

[NHY 581]

Here's what ex England manager Glenn Hoddle might describe as a 'love train' this afternoon. This Chris Nevard shot of my old Hall [4948] gives me much more pleasure.

 

 

Hall embankment (2).jpg

 

 

Hall embankmentBW.jpg

 

 

Hall embankment (3).jpg

Edited July 12, 2018 by NHY 581

[Trains&armour]

My grandad also changed over from Shorthorns to Friesians but his were black & white (when nice and clean, which was not necessarily the case when you were moving them up the lane from a field to the milking parlour  )

I'm a Frisian, I'm not black and white though. Except for my hair these days, it's a blend of both....

[gwrrob]

Small prairie action as 4582 does the honours with some cattle wagons destined for Hackney Yard, Newton Abbot.

 

 

 

 

[St Enodoc]

I'm a Frisian, I'm not black and white though. Except for my hair these days, it's a blend of both....

Went sailing in Friesland with school, many moons ago, based in Sneek. Great fun.

[Mallard60022]

I'm a Frisian, I'm not black and white though. Except for my hair these days, it's a blend of both....

How can you be Frisian? It's bl##dy hot here and over where you are!

Iva Veston

Small prairie action as 4582 does the honours with some cattle wagons destined for Hackney Yard, Newton Abbot.

 

 

4582.jpg

 

 

4582 a.jpg

Is that a mooving train Rob?

D.Udders

[Trains&armour]

Went sailing in Friesland with school, many moons ago, based in Sneek. Great fun.

Sneek is a very nice town. But perhaps I'm biased. I was born there.  

Did a lot of sailing there in my youth. A friend of mine had his own sailing boat. Lucky b*st*rd...

[Trains&armour]

How can you be Frisian? It's bl##dy hot here and over where you are!

Iva Veston

Perhaps I overdid it somewhat on the home insulation front:

 

[ian]

. A friend of mine had his own sailing boat. Lucky b*st*rd...

 

That's a strange name for a boat.

[Oldddudders]

That's a strange name for a boat.

Oh, I don’t know. People use all sorts of names. And I recall a hot-air balloon called Shy Tot.

[bgman]

Thanks Mike, very kind of you but trust me on this one, it wouldn't work.

There are spies everywhere.

Erm.....How do I spell Kaptin and Painetun ?

 

 

I.Spiy