queensquare

I was told we’re in the vicinity - I thought you were avoiding me! 😊 Jerry

I think they are a very handsome loco Ben. No problem at all about a bit of N gauge in this thread …… as for that front coupling though ……!! Jerry

More than happy to host diesels - my version of the S&D didn’t close in 1966! We would have had 10000 here yesterday but Tom E unfortunately didn’t make it thanks to a pothole on the motorway which took out a tyre on route - next time hopefully! Jerry

Another very enjoyable 2mm get together yesterday, trains, chat a bowl of gruel and cake! I’d made very little progress since our last meeting but the rest brought along what they’d been up to. Will brought along one of the new Revolution 59s which is a magnificent thing. I was very tempted to get one of these only lack of finances at the time prevented it. They may not fit my 1920s time frame but are very much at home in the Mendips. I remember them arriving on the stone traffic and demonstrating their immense power on Upton Scudamore bank. I’m looking forward to it being finescaled and heading a full rake of hoppers. Will also brought his breakfast train - what it lacks in authenticity it more than makes up for in fun - marvellous! Andy Grand brought his Austerity and a 40 wagon rake of superbly weathered coal wagons. The loco ran beautifully and will look even better once Brother Simon has completed the painting and weathering. The J10 also got a run out, albeit with a much lighter load. stuff that evaded the camera included John ‘Doncaster Greens’ 4F which is now running superbly thanks to further tweaking and three GWR locos from Rich Brummit which hadn’t turned a wheel for some while but ran an awful lot better than we had been led to believe. I’m hoping to be able to report more progress myself by the time we next get together in a couple of months. Jerry

Its in 303, Jerry

They’re Armstrongs Stephen, Jerry

We very much hope it will be at Larkrail this year - July 13th. Details of this years Larkrail International Festival of railways and byways will be announced in the next couple of weeks! Jerry

Great progress Will, we can double head them when it’s finished! Jerry

I even took some phone videos ….. hope this works! Jerry

Last couple of snaps from what’s been a fun day posing and running trains. Jerry

Another phone snap, the new Windsor Hill extension has really opened up the view of the colliery. Fox Walker tank is banking a freight into the down tunnel - anyone who knows the S&D will immediately spot the huge liberty I’ve taken here - quite apart from the fact that the colliery and the tunnels are meant to be several miles apart. Jerry

Hi Ian, pretty sure it’s D385. It a Worsley etch I picked up years ago so shouldn’t be a problem getting one in 3mm. The combination of the blue S&D set with the LNW full brake and MR through coaches takes some beating in my opinion Jerry

I’ve always thought 1930 would make a fascinating year to model with blue SDJR locos with newly hand painted LMS markings and numbers. I don’t think the blue lasted much beyond 1930 but Casserley took a number of pictures on his visits to the line that year. Jerry

Thanks Bob. I’m sorely tempted to crack on with the scenery but I want to wait until I’ve got the basic landscaping for Bath bank in place and then do the lot in one hit to try and ensure some consistency. That said, my primary target this year is to get the rest of the track down and wired so I can run trains over the entire length of the layout. So much to do …..!😊 Jerry

Hi Jol, it is. I have a couple of pictures of this van being in use in trains over the line. At the moment it’s the only LNW coach I’ve painted. It was the problems I had with this which prompted me to seek your advice. Needless to say I have several part built which will use the paint you kindly gave me! Jerry

This is only a phone snap so only the foreground is in focus but, even when fuzzy, this sort of perfectly authentic train just confirms my feeling that, despite it being an awful lot of work, you can’t touch pre-group modelling. Discuss!! Jerry

I’ve been messing about trying to compose some pictures for an MRJ article. One of these is a shot of the scene around Twinhoe bridge, just south of Midford and, in particular, the Midford outer home which protected the single line into Bath. As it was a lattice post in the 1950s, albeit with upper quadrant SR arms I just assumed in the 1920s it was the same but with lower quadrant arms. I even got a lovely little etch from Jim Watt to make the signal. However, when i checked it turned out the lattice post was a 1948 replacement - doh! Luckily I had a suitable solid post signal I started for another project which fits the bill perfectly. Jim’s etch will now find a home at the Windsor Hill end so nothing wasted! The shunt ahead arm on the model is actually surplus and no longer really makes sense, certainly from the angle below. But this view is only visible by balancing a phone on the bridge. The short rock cutting where the track doubles is a scenic break which represents a couple of miles, the actual point at which it doubles is invisible in normal viewing. Jerry

My being the guinea pig to have a go at these is based on the fact I’m a tutor at Missenden so know Andy through that - there is a 2mm modeller of far greater renown than me who is also a tutor at Missenden. I've seen Andy’s 4mm prints and they are excellent so am very much looking forward to having a go at the 2mm ones - the fact they are Midland is an added bonus! Jerry

Splendid, how many chassis will I need Andy! Jerry

Really nice little show. The small and delightful narrow gauge group. Lots of small layouts, nice people, fabulous location couple of miles from Glastonbury and cake. Marvellous!! Well done to all involved, Jerry

Excellent news, well done the Warley club, Jerry

I’m coming down with my old mate Gascupboard Dave. Very much looking forward to it. Jerry

I'm pleased you’re enjoying it. I was lucky enough to get to know Alan Newman in his later years, he was a lovely, and very funny man. Most of my choices regarding Midland locos I have either built, or intend building for my Bath project, are based on his recollections. Alans’ favourites were the Midland 2-4-0s which are the biggest gap in my Midland stud at present. I’ve seen pictures of these piloting expresses over the S&D so I’m sure you could justify one of these on your layout. By the 1920s many of the S&Ds locos such as the Scotties and small 4-4-0s were life expired and I get the impression the LMS were trying out various potential replacements. For example, an ex L&Y 0-6-0 spent a spell at Highbridge in this period. Ive attached a snap of the Tilbury tank taken by Alan from one of my albums though I’m sure it’s been published before - from memory I can’t remember where. Jerry

Enjoy! Jerry

Mmmmm…. nice! Jerry