Not Jeremy

Courtesy of James, I (as Wild Swan Books) will be on the Bill Hudson Books stand on Saturday and Sunday. James will have plenty of stock of WS titles for sale, including James Hilton's latest, my Titfield Tome, and John Lewis's new magnum opus on GWR Siphons. Book Law are also in attendance and are also carrying all the new Wild Swan titles. Siphons is quite appropriate given the attendance of "Addison Road" which I am very much looking forward to seeing. As an aside, I first went to the Bristol show fifty years ago in the Victoria Rooms and have been to very many since, including exhibiting my "Pomparles Siding" Layout, the result of the six square foot layout challenge in the early days of RMweb. Without any disrespect to past achievements and members of the Association, I think getting Warners involved was an inspired decision on their part and has been a great success. I hope this year's show goes well for them, I am sure it will. See you there! Simon

Gosh, it's being so cheerful that must keep you chaps going. On, and on, and on, and on, and on, and......

A really great view of one of my favourite train spotting locations, and an unusual van to see. Built as scenery vans, (originally 30 of them) they were later used for general parcels and according to Gould had all been withdrawn by 1980. They only ever had two doors, because the elephants came in two by two... The train would have been slowing for he junction, more recently they slow less as the junction was relaid with single leads in the 1980s.

Just back and sitting here with a cup of tea and reflecting on a very good day out indeed. Thank you very much to Rob and everyone else who made today's event happen, such a good and happy event with top quality modelling on display and so many friends old and new to talk to - just the best. It was a shame that CK was unable to be there in person, but his name certainly came up in jolly conversation(!) Great to put some faces to names, the Welsh Massive were good value, as ever, and it was really nice to be facing Old Parrock and have a good natter with Paul Rhodes, one very talented fellow. Mention should be made of Graham Muz and his fellow caterers for top notch catering on all fronts, the pasties did not disappoint and the cakes were commendably commodious. It was also really interesting to listen to Graham talking about his involvement with Number 11 So thank you again to Rob and the team and everyone else who visited and made it such a memorable day. Simon And great to see Bungus, Cath and Ellie too, hope you all got back OK!

All details are now being finalised by the administrative maestro that is Jerry(!) I visited Matt this morning to discuss getting his layout "Les Caves du Roy"down to Larkhall on the 13th July. The subject is unusual to say the least, and I can honestly say that Matt has created one of the best and most visually striking model railways that I have ever seen in my life. Easily up there with Gravett, Rice and any other of the many talented individuals that grace this hobby. I won't steal Matt's thunder, and he is working on a few final details that will really bring the whole scene to life, but here are a couple of snaps to whet your appetite.: See you there!

Thank you Matt for letting me see this fantastic piece of work this morning, ahead of its appearance at Larkrail on the 13th July. I won't steal Matt's thunder, and I am no photographer, but here is a snap that hopefully gives some idea of just how very good this model is. Just this layout alone is reason enough to visit Larkrail on the 13th - I am really looking forward to seeing it all set up. Matt is working on various "audio visual" touches that will truly bring it to life. Just an astonishingly good creation, real jaw dropping stuff.... Simon

Oh really, you'll be telling us that you all enjoyed yourselves next - dreadful behaviour🤡

Just to say, I will be there with a small display of 1/32-ery, some of which may make a noise....

The Siphons have landed! Now available to order here, books are also on their way to our regular stockists. Here is the glorious whole page image that appears on page 260. "County of Gloucester" is photographed approaching West Drayton with a lovely mixture of siphons in tow during 1931. Photograph by C. R. Gordon Stuart, copyright Rail Archive Stephenson. And the new book on milk traffic by Matt (Karhedron) is currently being laid out... Simon

I travelled on the Cambrian and was at Towyn (as a TR volunteer) back in the days of semaphores, Class 24s, gunpowder vans and coal in mineral wagons for the Town and TR. It was lovely, and I feel nostalgic etc, but given the reality of things fifty years later (feck!) I find the above characterisation of how it is now to be waaaay too negative. I travelled up to Tywyn (see what I did there?) back in November to spend a fabulous few days with good friends, and the whole journey experience was utterly magical. The Class 158s I travelled on were spruce and comfortable, the staff were all unfailingly great, cheerful, engaging and friendly the scenery was as beautiful as ever, and it struck me that the whole enterprise had a sense of purpose and future about it. Apart from Barmouth bridge itself, there was evidence of much work just outside Dovey Junction, Dovey Junction had sprouted an additional loop and long platform that crosses trains ingeniously, there was evidence of more work elsewhere and the trains were running with quite a lot of passengers on board (and on time) The base at Mach has a wonderful self contained atmosphere too. And there is even freight to Aber again, and the VoR - Wow! I don't know when you travelled on the line or what you experienced or have been told to make you feel so bad about it all. For myself, I truly got a very positive impression from the whole experience, get up there and travel the line - it's bloody marvellous!

The closest to that I have managed was some weird yellow "weathering" to the front of the Ruston when it ran over a slug on the old line - eccch Mind you, having just built a tunnel who knows what other wildlife I might see... There is much pleasure to be had in a garden with trains!

New England Cut and cover tunnelling An unusual trespasser.... So nice to have some sunshine!

I was there a very long time ago..... Grace, Colin, Jean and Not Jeremy(!)

It implies that he copied what was there before, (ie the “wrong” spelling) You can’t beat a storm in a virtual teacup on a Friday morning, thanks to all contributors!!

I have a picture of a more or less ex works fruit D W92057W at Kingswear which is most definitely maroon with black painted ends, I (as Wild Swan) hope to publish it a new book in the near future with other colour pictures of stock in service. On the other hand, on the rear cover of "Dorset Steam" from Capital Transport, is a fab picture of a fruit D in all over maroon. Didn't the change to body colour ends come in with the spraying rather than brush painting of stock? Great looking vehicles in any livery! Simon