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A special train of box vans for the peat works arrives at Bleakhouse Road: Photo: Chris Nevard, courtesy Hornby Magazine

The Beast Of Blacker Lane. Manning Wardle 16-inch Special moves onto the shed road at Blacker Lane D.P.

Quiet time at Kirkby Malham

Backstreet Boys ..

Meanwhile, on the east coast of Scotland another Sulzer 6LDA fills the quayside with a distinctive rhythm ..

April 1963 at Corby Glen for this afternoon. Corby Glen Class 31 D5571 down freight April 63 J030 Corby Glen Class 33 up l e April 63 J031 Corby Glen Class 55 up 10.00 Edinburgh to Kings X The Flying Scotsman April 63 J033 Corby Glen Class 55 12.17 Harrogate 12.33 ex Bradford to Kings X April 63 J034 Corby Glen Class 47 down 13.15 Kings X to Leeds Central April 63 J035 Corby Glen Class 40 down freight April 63 J041 David

5514, a rather grubby Small Prairie, crosses the canal at Worseter with a 'local stopper' from Gloucester.

Evening everyone. I always said I would keep the thread updated with news of any published material planned regarding the layout. I'm really excited to say, that I have been asked by BRM to write an article on the layout (all 40+ft of it) which is planned to be published in the autumn.

Before clearing away the unfixed buildings and model structures, so that I can get on with some more sawing, gluing and screwing, I took a few quick snaps that might be of interest:

And continuing with the East Anglian theme, we have a view of a J70 at Ewe, a now forgotten extension of the Wisbech and Upwell tramway. Rob

Near Nottingham now, at Sneinton junction, just east of Nottingham Midland and Radcliffe on Trent on the line to Grantham. Sneinton Junction Class 120 Crewe to Lincoln June 78 C3893 Sneinton Junction 25211 westbound freight June 78 C3894 Sneinton Junction Class 114 Nottingham to Grantham and Class 25 shunting June 78 C3895 Radcliffe on Trent Class 120 Nottingham to Skegness June 75 J4383 Radcliffe on Trent Class 47 Parkeston Quay to Manchester Feb78 J5920 47011 David

It's June 1972, probably the 10th this morning and we are at Fenny Comptom watching trains while waiting to see Clun Castle on a special working. Fenny Compton Class 33 6513 down oil June 72 J2936 Fenny Compton Class 47 1758 June 72 J2937 Fenny Compton 7029 Clun Castle Birmingham to Didcot Celebration Steam Run June 72 J2938 Fenny Compton 7029 Clun Castle Birmingham to Didcot Celebration Steam Run June 72 J2940 Fenny Compton Class 47 1753 Birmingham to Paddington June 72 J2944 Fenny Compton Class 117 Reading to Birmingham June 72 J2945 dmu class corrected David

Some trains at Hathern on the Midland north of Loughborough. Hathern rear view of down ex pass Aug 72 C1042 Hathern Class 120 Nottingham to Birmingham Aug 72 J3013 HathernClass 20s 8013 & 8196 up limestone Aug 72 J3014 Hathern Class 45 84 up Sheffield to St Pancras Aug 72 J3015 Hathern Class 47 1810 down mgr Aug 72 J3016 Hathern Class 45 81 up Aug 72 J3017 David

Chaloners Whin Junction, south of York in 1966 and 1967 for this tea time. Chaloners Whin Junction Class 25 D7509 up freight Oct 66 J652 Chaloners Whin Junction Class 55 D9007 down Oct 66 J656 12.00 Kings X to Edinburgh Chaloners Whin Junction Class 40 D258 up freight Oct 66 J657 Chaloners Whin Junction Class 47 D1523 down March 67 J797 11.00 Kings X to Newcastle Chaloners Whin Junction Class 101 Leeds to Scarborough March 67 J801

Grassington in 1965,1966 and 1967 along with Cracoe in 1973. Cracoe Tilcon Class 31 running round Aug 73 J3360 Grassington BR Class 4MT 75039 Aug 65 J289 Grassington Class 4 75041 Dec 66 J721 Grassington Class 4 75041 Dec 66 J722 Grassington Class 4 75021 July 67 J938 David

Back to railways now to visit the Stray at Harrogate in 1965 and 1966. The photos were taken with Dad's half frame camera so some are not quite as good as usual in terms of detail. Harrogate Class 104 Bradford to Harogate July 65 J211 Harrogate Class 101 Darlington to Leeds Aug 65 J274 Harrogate B1 61319 Harrogate to Kings X Feb 66 J444 Harrogate Class 46 D171 up White Rose April 66 J472 Harrogate LMS Class 5 45061 Harrogate to Kings X July 66 J569 David

Now we go back to the East Midlands with photos at Stanton Ironworks, Stanton Gate on the Erewash Valley line and near Sutton Bonnington on the Midland north of Loughborough. Stanton Ironworks Rolls Royce Sentinel 0-6-0 diesel in scrap iron furnace shop April 69 J1626 Stanton Iron Works level crossing Sentinel April 78 J5987 Stanton Gate LMS Ivatt Class 4 2-6-0 down empty coal, in mist April 66 J449 Sutton Bonnington Class 45 up Jan 71 C452 Sutton Bonnington Class Class 45 down empties Jan 71 C453 David

More Kirkby Malham in 1908

In Scotland for this morning. Some of the photos may of use to those who have model harbours on their layouts. The first of the Stranraer photos was taken while I was a student, we had arrived there in a coach from Manchester on the way to Northern Ireland for a Biology field trip very early in the morning so we all went for a walk, I took a few photos. I remember we were all hungry and it was too early for anywhere to be open, in the end we found a bakery (not a shop) which let us have some very freshly baked rolls. Stannergate Dundee Class 101 Arbroath to Dundee Aug 74 J3934 Stirling Class 27 up Aug 73 J3337 seen from the castle Stonehaven (nea)r Aug 74 J3926 Stranraer harbour Class 27 April 70 C211 Stranraer Harbour July 74 J3833 Stranraer Harbour July 74 J3834 David

It is hard to classify this batch so it is probably simplest to say the Ongar branch and the maltings which were once rail served at Snape in Suffolk. Ongar Dec 76 J5576 Ongar LT Epping to Ongar Dec 76 J5577 Ongar LT train Epping to Onger Feb 77 J5635 Snape inner yard of maltings Oct 73 J3432 Snape front of maltings Oct 73 J3433 Snape maltings March 76 C5620 David

Some black and white photos taken around Trent on the Midland for this afternoon. Trent 2P 40458 up pass c1950 JVol7309 Trent 4F 43850 down coal photo taken from train c1951 JVol2262 South ofTrent crossing bridge over River Trent LMS Garratt c1949 JVol1028 Trent Fairburn 4MTT 42184 up pass c1950 JVol7311 Trent Lane Junction East Midlands Gas Board shunter c1950 JVol7335 David

Peascliffe Tunnel on the ECML north of Grantham, 1970, 1977 and 1983. Peascliffe Tunnel Class 40 up car train Dec 70 C435 Peascliffe Tunnel Class 47 down ex pass April 77 C3278 Peascliffe Tunnel Class 254 43079 Kings X to Leeds, going away July 83 C6114 Peascliffe Tunnel 31209 up bullion July 83 C6115 Peascliffe Tunnel Class 31 up empty cartics July 83 C 6116 David

Northumberland again around Ulgham Lane crossing, north of Morpeth on the ECML. Ulgham Lane crossing 47525 08.55 Aberdeen to Kings X May 74 J3692 no, it is probably 47528 Ulgham Lane crossing Class 40 up oil Nov 80 C5224 Ulgham Lane crossing Class 55 55019 up Sept 81 C5545 Ulgham Lane Crossing 43108 up April 85 C6761 Ulgham Lane crossing 56102 up coal from Widdrington 28th Aug 85 C7152 David

This is really just a trial. I'm scanning a batch of Dad's photos from an album I've found of whole plate (8"x6") prints to see how it works. They are quite different in many ways from the postcard prints I've scanned from his main albums and put on here. Many of them are sepia toned and they all have his notes handwritten on the black album pages. JImg396Apr David

Five places beginning with "S" this time, though one is not a real railway. Sandilands Lincs pull along train Aug 52 J1679 I think this was my first train, aged 3 (just)! The photo was taken on my birthday Sandy Class 31 down freight Apr 74 J3646 Sandy Class 46 10.15 Kings X to Leeds Apr 74 J3645 Saxby Class 105 etc Norwich to Birmingham going away Sept 70 J2381 Scarrington Lane crossing Aslockton Class 114 Nottingham to Grantham Sept 75 J4930 Scremerston Class 254 up Aug 81 C5482 David

"Pull up to the bumper baby"

Another look at Grantham this morning. GranthamClass 105 Grantham to Skegness and Class 114 to Nottingham Sept 71 J2776 Grantham Class 55 up Sept 71 J2777 08.10 Newcastle to Kings X 9011 Grantham Class 114 Nottingham to Skegness May 72 J2926 Grantham Class 55 down Flying Scotsman Jan 77 J5617 55019 Grantham HST up Oct 83 C6289 David

Around the Southern for this afternoon together with a ship which provided passengers for boat trains. Graveney Class 411 Ramsgate to Victoria Feb 77 J5630 Hollingbourne Class 414 6077 Lenham to Maidstone30th April 78 C3812 Hollingbourne Class 414 6105 Maidstone to Lenham 30th April 78 C3813 Hollingbourne Class 414s 6077 and 6105 30th April 78 C3814 Swale Class 414 6159 Sheerness to Sittingbourne 25th July 78 C3918 going away Queen Mary approaching Southampton circa 1962 JV558 David

The layout is looking a bit like a messy building site - well, I guess it is ATM. And I need to go out for some more timber for the lower station track-bed supports. Here's a shot taken through the end window down the length of the entire scenic section of the layout.

Church Lane crossing on the Great Eastern just to the north east of Ingatestone on the way to Chelmsford. The first 4 photos are Dad's, he and Mum must have been spending a weekend with me. In the 70s when I ived in Essex it was a very pleasant spot to spend part of a Saturday taking photos. Church Lane Crossing 309608 Clacton to Liverpool St Apr 75 J4262 Church Lane Crossing 306019 down Apr 75 J4264 Church Lane Crossing Class 37 down Apr 75 J4265 Church Lane Crossing Class 47 Norwich to Liverpol St Apr 75 J4266 Church Lane crosing Class 309 Clacton to Liverpool St 5th May 80 C5053

Photos of electric locos this morning along the WCML. Elmhurst 84004 down freight Jan 76 J5036 Elmhurst Class 86 up Jan 76 J5037 Hincaster Junction 87033 up June 76 J5263 Hincaster Junction 86207 down June 76 J5264 Sandon Trent and Mersey canal Class 86 down June 76 J5331 David

A Prairie at rest

Some photos at Trent for this morning, one from 1975, the rest from 1983. Trent Class 25 vans to heading to Nottingham from Derby Oct 75 C2503 Trent Class 254 HST up Aug 83 C6132 Trent Class 120 Crewe to Lincoln Aug 83 C6133 Trent 47347 up coal Aug 83 C6136 Trent Class 47 up coal Aug 83 C6138 from the Erewash Valley line David

Places in Scotland beginning with F and G this morning. Mainly without trains, just bits of railway. Fraserburgh Aug 74 J3922 Fraserburgh Aug 74 J3923 Gareloch bridge over A814 line to submarine base July 74 J3859 Garelochead taken from train hauled by 37259 and 37121 WBHS Fort William to Newcastle 11th May 85 C6902 Garelochead NBR July 74 J3860 David

I've been making a little progress on my layout recently. I had to get some of the previously made buildings and structures in place to check positioning and working out the track bed board sizes that needed to be cut. Before clearing them away to be able to get on with the wood mangling (sawing, gluing and screwing) I took a few snaps. Although I posted them on my layout thread I doubt many visit it (being N/2mm and mainly third rail electrics) so here's a couple of them that might be of interest to Tony's followers:

J15 on Upbech Quay, I think the crew have gone to the pub behind.

Some photos at Butterley , The Midland Railway Trust in 1978 and 1982. Once again a reminder that in those days people were allowed to walk almost anywhere they liked. Butterley 6203 27th May 78 C3845 Butterley 4F 44027 27th May 78 C3848 Butterley 673 27th May 78 C3851 Butterley 27th May 78 C3858 Butterley 16440 Aug 82 C5841 Butterley 16440 Aug 82 C5847 David

The ECML around Little Bytham in 1971 and 1973 once again this evening. Little Bytham Class 40 down March 71 J2528 Little Bytham Class 47 poss 1515 down 14.20 Kings X to York May 71 J2652 Little Bytham Class 55 9018 11.30 Kings X to Leeds and Harrogate May 71 J2654 Little Bytham Class 47 1973 12.00 Kings X to Aberdeen May 71 J2657 Little Bytham Class 47 1101 14.10 Newcastle to Kings X May 73 J3193 David

The river, alongside Bridport Town Station.

Ratcliffe on Soar on the Midland between Trent and Loughborough comes next. Ratcliffe on Soar Class 47 up July 71 C664 Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 St Pancras to Nottingham June 76 J5300 Ratcliffe on Soar Derby dmu Class 116 June 76 J5334 Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45/1 45xxx St Pancras to Nottingham April 78 J5991 Might be 45104 Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 down ballast Feb 83 C5940 David

As anyone who's been to this event before knows, it's of course a no-brainer to make a trip across to deepest Somerset to attend the SWAG do. Genuinely the highlight event of my yearly calendar, what makes it even better for me is the chance to spend 6 hours photographing some top-notch layouts via the honour of being chief photographer for SWAG - plus of course being inspired by them and having really great conversations with like-minded modellers. One thing I should admit before I go any further is that I focused on layouts and not general atmosphere (which may be a positive depending on your thought process!). Though I see others have already posted shots of people and wider views of the event - so thank you! In any case, due to the huge volume of photos, I will be sharing one layout at a time - as and when I complete the batch of photos for each layout. As I'm focus stacking each photo (which takes between 20 - 70 photos per finished photo), I took over 4000 photos yesterday! As you can well imagine, it's going to take me a long time to process the photos so please do bear with me as it will be very piecemeal. There may or may not be more photos of each layout, but I will only pick a few of my favourites for each. Layout owners - please feel free to use my photos as you wish - larger photos are available on request. My thanks to you all for being so accommodating, and also for visitors for being so patient: especially with me and my tripod getting in the way constantly! The layouts will appear in the order that I photographed them to make my life a little easier. So without further ado, let's begin... ...first up, ' Kyle of Lochalsh': A stunningly tiny but impressive Finescale 2mm layout by @bcnPete. Photos really don't convey just how miniscule this layout is, and it really surprised me just how smooth in operation it was. I particularly loved the misty, faded backscene that added a great sense of depth to a very narrow layout. The high quality of the station building and weathering on the rolling stock also stood out for me, as did the general presentation and unique view from the front into the traverser fiddle yard.

Morning folks, We'll just leave this here... 🤭 Make sure you pop by, to see our (almost, we have amended the headcode font and fit) final production sample on the stand. A full update will follow in the coming days. 😎 https://www.accurascale.com/collections/brush-type-2-class-30-31 Cheers! Fran

Talking of back streets here's the back of the engine shed!!

Another scene from Glanfa Fach with 'Merrdin Emrys', 'Elidir' and Standard 4 No. 80098 all awaiting their next duty.

A trip down the road for me to Morpeth, the newest photo is only about 30 years old. Morpeth USP5000 March 81 C5304 Morpeth ex grain wagons for Alcan traffic Nov 83 C6307 Morpeth 37015 up coal to Blyth and Tyne 18th April 85 C6819 This view is now obscured by trees. Morpeth 56133 shunting 9th April 86 C7454 Morpeth LMS Class 5 44767 Santa Special 18th Dec 94 C19895 Coming into Morpeth from the Blyth and Tyne so it can return to Newcastle on the ECML. David

Mo and I have spent a splendid day at the Colne Valley HQ of the Braintree (I think) MRC, my photographing 'Little Colne'. It's really rather nice................. The group was kind enough................. To let me take a picture of a couple of my (appropriate) locos on it. Thanks chaps, and look out for it in BRM in the future.

This afternoon we travel to Bentley, between Manningtree and Ipswich on the Great Eastern Main line to loo at trains in May and June 1975. At the time Dad sometimes had a few days in Ipswich for his work and used to go out in the evening to take photos. Bentley Class 47 Liverpool St to Yarmouth May 75 J4299 Bentley Class 31 Peterborough to Parkeston Quay June 75 J4374 Bentley Class 47 up June 75 J4375 Bentley Class 47 down June 75 J4378 Bentley Class 47 Norwich to Liverpol St June 75 J4491 David

Some photos taken at Southside on the ECML in Northumberland. One shows the Whittle colliery exchange sidings . Southside Whittle colliery exchange sidings Aug 80 C5158 The NCB wagons got about a bit, we are nowhere near Lambton. Southside 254003 up Aug 80 C5159 The line to the colliery diverges to the left. Southside Class 254 up April 81 C5328 Southside Class 37 down oil Nov 82 C5877 Southside Class 47 47401 up ballast 24th June 85 C6964 David

Some WCML photos around Hademore and Harow and Wealdstone. Hademore Class 87 Euston to Carlisle Jan 76 J5028 Hademore Class 310 Nuneaton to Stafford Jan 76 J5029 Harrow and Wealdstone Clas 86 Liverpool to Euston June 76 J5291 Harrow and Wealdstone Class 501 Watford to London June 76 J5292 going away Harrow and Wealdstone Class 501 down June 76 J5293 Harrow and Wealdstone Class 310 down June 76 J5294 David

Black and white late 1940s photos at Cambridge from Dad come next. One is at March Cambridge B1 up Yarmouth to Liverpool St c1948 JVol1202 Cambridge B17 1624 up pass c1948 JVol7270 Cambridge J15 ecs 1947 JVol1438 March J20 1947 JVol1429 Cambridge K3 ord pass 1947 JVol1430 David