queensquare

I have sent you a pm regarding this as moving the show to late september opens up possibilities. Jerry

There is my own Highbury Colliery which depicts the S&D pre 1930, my very embryonic model of Bath Queen Square (it only became Green Park in the 1950's) and the N gauge model of Midsomer Norton which I built for a customer, although this last is a home layout - see my website http://www.jerrycliffordmodels.co.uk/ also my RMWeb Highbury thread at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/38581-highbury-colliery/ We are solidly booked well into 2013 so you should be able to see us at a show near you. Our next outing, and the last this year, is to Hull in November, see http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/44392-advanced-notice-hull-model-railway-show-2011/ Jerry

Shunting is perfectly possible in 2mm - we don't do a lot else on Highbury! Jerry

Thanks Rich, and for the birthday beer (complete with ribbon!), which was very nice. Yes, the OCT is from the former PC etch, the carriage is one of those lovely, but oh so delicate, Shire Scenes kits. The two coaches are David Eveleigh etches awaiting interiors and painting. Problem I have is that the NSLR aquiring a passenger service is such a new idea that I'm having trouble deciding on a livery - any suggestions? Jerry

Rumour has it that they are going to build a small wooden platform at Highbury for the early and late shift, in anticipation of this a passenger train has been seen running trials on the North Somerset Light..... Must be start of the season as that looks like the Squire's, mother's carriage on the OCT being brought back from town! Jerry

Thanks Don, are you going to make it up to the AGM - would be nice to put a face to a name. Jerry

Bryn's blog is here in the 2mm section. http://www.rmweb.co..../43748-easy-dg/ Jerry Sorry its a thread not a blog (is that right?)

Never tried them but I have some Greenwich couplings on there way to me as a customer wants me to fit them to some narrow gauge stock. Having tried most of the alternatives, I would give DG's my vote for 2mm use. Follow the advice in Bryn's excellent thread and you won't go far wrong. The only variation I make is that I drill a single fixing hole to allow them to be attached with a 12BA bolt. I also make mine double ended on stock but don't put loops on locos. Jerry

I know in my OP I said this thread was for locos but as I've just finished off a short rake of wagons I thought I would broaden it out a bit. I am trying to get a bit more of a light railway feel to the stock, not just for Highbury but also for the new little layout, Tucking Mill. The three cattle wagons will one day form part of the WO Frome market train which will be predominantly livestock - I just need to finish off the other part built cattle wagons in my stock box along with something suitable for the stockmen to ride to market in. The MR wagon is one of Chris Higgs' kits which goes together beautifully and is available from the Association. The two SDJR cattle wagons use the greatly missed Grahame Hughes whitemetal kits for the LSWR wagon as a basis. The MR coke wagon is one of a pair I have built and is a favourite of mine. I think they are really attractive wagons and is another Chris Higgs kit. I shall build a few more of these as they would have been a common sight at Bath gasworks as well as on the branch - there was a coke works at Newbury colliery about two miles down the line from Highbury. The SDJ opens are a fairly simple conversion of the Association MR open kit. The North Somerset Light Railway brake van No. 7 is an ex GWR vehicle and is built from a David Eveleigh etch, also available through the 2mm Association - how many more reasons do you need to join!! The wagons are spray painted with enamels, lettering is transfers where available, otherwise ink and a mapping pen. Weathering is more enamels and powders followed by a light spray with matt varnish. cheers Jerry

Nitpicking as I am I would love to see some of Friar Tuck's obviously faultless models :-) I think you have done a fabulous job with the 22, would love to see it having a run out on Highbury one day. cheers Jerry

I had to ask Pete that as well! Its Barcelona Jerry

Signals......on the North Somerset light railway......actualy, the new layout Tucking Mill is due to have a working signal although I don't think the shay is destined to be a regular. The worst critic we had was a particularly annoying chap at Romsey who moaned, admittedly correctly, that most of the stuff we ran was probably too big for the branch. I tried explaining that we knew that but it would be a pretty boring exhibit if we ran it authenticaly but he kept going on and on and in the end I started running it authenticaly for him. On the real thing trains would probably have run monday, wednesday friday as required - never at weekends and certainly not on a sunday. I ran a sunday service and Kim and I hid round the back of the layout until he went off to annoy somebody else!! I would add he was the only viewer at the time. cheers Jerry

Morning Pete, your 37's would be very welcome anytime, indeed I have one I have fitted sound in which occasionaly growls up the colliery. The fence posts are Association code 40 bullhead drilled .3mm in a simple jig and then threaded with fine wire which is pulled tight and strategicaly touched with a hot soldering iron. The wire came from some multi strand cable. cheers Jerry

Following this one with interest. My own Highbury colliery is very much inspired by old pit at Camerton - see http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/38581-highbury-colliery/ Jerry

I really don't think that's fair. As a member for almost thirty years now I have never had to wait that long - certainly when something is in stock. It has to be remembered that 2FS is very much a minority interest run by volunteer enthusiasts for enthusiasts. If it was run on a commercial basis the range would be a fraction of the size it is now at considerably greater cost. Comments like this are not helpful, do not encourage volunteers and, above all, do not accurately represent the service provided by the shops. As others have said, there are a few changes going on at the moment which have lead to some delays, combined with the fact that 2mm appears to be rapidly growing in popularity resulting in some of the key components being snapped up faster than they can be produced - often to languish in somebodies gloat box. A little more patience is required at the moment. Jerry (also patiently waiting for wheels)

Talking of beer and pasties........the minikeg was my raffle prize (past tense - now empty) and the pastie is from Berrymans of Redruth (my personal favourite - I brought a box home). 'Lilian' is what we did on the way home - Launston Interesting to see the gradual breakdown of the exhibition behind you. Thanks for posting the pics - reminder of a cracking weekend. Jerry

John is the master of the mechanical, see the working gantry crane on Wenford bridge. The St Blazey tuntable is well advanced, there are already working turntables at Bodmin and Wadebridge on his layout with the Padstow one built but waiting for a station! He is doing a full size drawing of the baseboard so I can work out what compromises will be necessary with the buildings. The fact that you have taken a number of liberties with the positioning of the buildings and yet lost none of the visual impact of the prototype was very encouraging. Johns period is the last few years of grouping although I have a sound fitted 37 which may well end up as a large logo Cornish resident! Thanks for your kind offer of info, I will pm you with an outline of our plans once I have a better idea. cheers Jerry

We had a great time exhibiting Highbury at the Truro show at the weekend. Getting to have a good look at DITD for the first time was one of the highlights, a stunning layout - I've put a few pictures I took at the show in this thread http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/26252-three-spires-railex-2011/page__st__25 My good friend John Greenwood intends to incorporate a representation of St Blazey shed on his 2FS north Cornwall layout and I have the job of doing the buildings so meeting and having a chat with the gang was really useful. Jerry

I know Pete but complaints about running non-authentic stock during happy hour were like a red rag to a bull...... If I'm not allowed to have fun then I'm going to take my toys home Jerry

Just back from an extended stay in Cornwall following the excellent Three Spires Railex show in Truro last weekend which was a bit of a 2mm fest with John Greenwood's Wenford Bridge and John Birkett-Smith's Ashburton in attendance along with Highbury. I took advantage of the show to get a couple of pictures of arguably Highbury's most outrageous shunter to date when JG's finescaled Atlas shay put in an appearance during happy hour. Whilst the loco is obviously absurd in this setting it ran beautifully and was fascinating to watch. The other pictures show some of the regulars which run trains on the layout. Jerry

Jerry, I think you told me once but who made the 2-4-0 for you, and does he take on commissions for others Cheers Chris Hi Chris, the 2-4-0 was built by an old friend who used to do commissions but unfortunately no longer does. We have a long standing work swap arrangement. I am making the buildings and some stock for his layout in return for some locos. I haven't mentioned him by name as he is still regularly asked about commissions. Have sent you a pm. regards Jerry

Been tidying up the memory on my phone and came across a few photos I thought might be interesting. First up a blue diesel for Pete in Barcelona in the shape of Bryns converted Farish 24. The next three shots have only a tenuous link to Highbury - they were taken in the workshop where Highbury lives and are of visitors - well more residents really!! The first shows my three shed companions. The second demonstrates I don't always get first dibs on the seat at my bench although when I claim my seat back somebody else has to move over.... Jerry

Morning Alan, yes, there were still a fair few small collieries going in north somerset at this time, a couple even hung on to their wooden headgear until closure. I thought the green diesels and 16 tonners looked good too hence working up my Hymek. Pixie has also kindly let me have one of the test etches for detailing the lovely Farish 14. If I switch a couple of the road vehicles and throw a grubby, down at heal pannier and/or jinty into the mix I think it will pass for a 1963/64 scene. I would like to get enough stock up together to be able to run the layout in both early 20's and early 60's mode over a two day show - my only problem is my chief operator, Kim, doesn't like the diesels. Oh well... Jerry

I thought the Blue diesel layout was next This looks great Jerry...I really look forward to see a thread/blog started on it Thanks Pete, the blue diesel layout is still on the cards, but not yet! Ayway, just for you, this is what happens when you turn your back on your layout for five minutes....... The Hymek is mine undergoing running trials before the body was lowered, detailed and weathered. The Teddybear is Pixie's and the stock is a mix of Pixie and Bryn. The deed was done at the excellant members day in Taunton earlier this year. I think they look rather good and very much at home - Kim's not so keen! A couple of Association members were left to run the layout at the Basingstoke show whilst Kim and I went for lunch. When we got back we found these two brutes occupying the yard.. and finally, much more in keeping with how the colliery is supposed to look. A quiet moment at the sawmill with a pair of LNW twin bolsters waiting to be unloaded. cheers Jerry

Hi Steve, was great to see you and the rest of the Oxford mob at Camrail last weekend. Calne is really making progress now, won't be too long before I can bring some visiting locos up for a play Have fun at Didcot, Kim and I are off to WSR tomorrow and will be sampling the best fish and chips around at Blue Anchor. Cheers Jerry