Andrew Young

Great to see you at Mickleover and to see how much progress you’ve made since we last saw you. Cheers, Andrew

Some words and photos from yesterday at Mickleover. Thanks to everyone for coming, it was a great (but tiring day). https://melynvalleyrailway.blogspot.com/2024/01/that-was-mickleover-that-was.html?m=1 Cheers, Andrew

Thanks for coming David. Was great to see you and your new project. Cheers Andrew

Some words and photos from yesterday at Mickleover. Thanks to everyone for coming, it was a great (but tiring day). https://melynvalleyrailway.blogspot.com/2024/01/that-was-mickleover-that-was.html?m=1 Cheers, Andrew

Good to see you earlier Adrian, thanks for the photos. Cheers, Andrew

It’s nearly time for Mickleover. The layout is packed and the cakes are in their tins all ready to go. https://melynvalleyrailway.blogspot.com/2024/01/its-nearly-time.html?m=1

It’s nearly time for Mickleover. The layout is packed and the cakes are in their tins all ready to go. https://melynvalleyrailway.blogspot.com/2024/01/its-nearly-time.html?m=1

Super job on the Fowler @Mol_PMB The B&W photo doesn’t give any hint of the colourful liveries hiding beneath the grime so great to see the colours brought to life in the models. Andrew

Been a while since I posted anything on here. Didn’t have the most productive of autumns modelling wise, having a nasty viral cough thing for the month of December didn’t help either. But a good break over Christmas (being in a very wet Welsh coast for ten days is a great way to switch off and recharge the batteries) has seen me start the new year with a fresh bout of modelling. The Corris carriages have been completed and now It’s back on to the layout. I’ve told myself I’m not doing any more rolling stock til the scenery is done. Will see how long that lasts… https://melynvalleyrailway.blogspot.com/2024/01/corris-completed.html?m=1 Andrew

Time for a reminder…. The Trent Valley Group’s annual Modelling Day takes place a fortnight today. Mike has been stockpiling bacon and my better half has been deciding which cakes to bake. So I’d better clean the track on ‘Elsbridge’ so that we’re good to go. Andrew

Time for a reminder…. The Trent Valley Group’s annual Modelling Day takes place a fortnight today. Mike has been stockpiling bacon and my better half has been deciding which cakes to bake. So I’d better clean the track on ‘Elsbridge’ so that we’re good to go. Andrew

Depends, no guarantee they’d be replaced with 158s. Now if the Meridians were cascaded after the introduction of IETs on the MML then you would get a cab which could better withstand tree strikes than the outdated HST. They’re proven against quarry loading conveyors! Voyagers with the same cab design (two titanium steel pillars built into the cab) has proven to protect the driver from large tree strikes with the impact absorbed elsewhere in the structure (220019 near Kenilworth a little while back being a case in point). Andrew

A photo stating that a 24/1 with a head code box was incorrectly a 24/2 is what caused my confusion. Hadn’t realised that 24/1’s included both skin head and head code box locos. Now cleared up and my Rat knowledge is improved.

Thanks for clarifying that. I must’ve misconstrued what Covkid had said. Was there any class definition between the first fifty and the lighter ones that followed, both with the skin head roofs before the headcode boxes? thanks, Andrew

Thanks for clarifying the sub classes. I’ve a liking for the Cambrian and this is the first big diesel in O gauge that really tempts me into something BR blue period. Today’s announcement has resulted in some googling of Cambrian Class 24’s and your comment clears a couple of things up. 1) explains why the locos I see photos of are numbered D5050 or higher and 2) why the head code box example in this cracking photo on Flickr is said to be a 24/2 not a 24/1. The Derby Sulzers website is great, but hadn’t managed to find the answer to the above on it. Thanks Andrew

Thank you Don. Agree, taken far too young and has left a big hole in several people’s lives. Andrew

Thanks Paul, have been pondering how to make the best of ‘Elsbridge’ going forward. being operated and run is the best way of keeping the layout and also one I’m certain Neil would’ve approved of. Thankfully, the main station boards were pretty much finished by Neil so can stay as they are. The last conversation I had with Neil he’d said that when he’d ripped the track up and started again, he’d used the same plan as the one I’d started with and changed from which we both had a chuckle about. As a result, have enjoyed running my Melyn Valley stock on Elsbridge, the Sudrian landscape passing nicely for mid Wales! Sometimes I run Neil’s stock as well I must add! In time I intend having two drawers of stock, mine and Neil’s and can run one or the other as I wish. Neil ran shorter train lengths than I’d intended, but in running the layout, I’ve quite enjoyed running the shorter trains. My Ixion and Minerva locos look quite at home on the layout. The one issue I have is the curve onto the sector plate, my carriages are slightly wider and catch the edge walls of the cassette. I am mulling over the thought of adding an additional board between the station and the fiddle yard, to give a straight approach to the f/yard so that my stock will run as well as Neil’s does. The weight and bulk of O standard gauge models in cassettes is also a bit daunting and wonder whether a traverser (which I have) would be better served being used. So, a few things to ponder. But most importantly, firstly, the two scenic boards will be unaltered other than possibly a few finishing touches (such as an interior to the shops) and any additions will be sympathetic and be done to blend in with the Elsbridge boards as possible. Will see what happens, have Wheal Ponder to finish first! Andrew

Evening all. ‘Elsbridge’ has been reckon occasionally since my last post here, on occasion I have headed into the attic and bothered a few wagons as suitable therapy from the rigors of the real world. Should anyone in the Derby area wish to see ‘Elsbridge’ then we will be taking it and running it at our Group’s next Modelling Day in January in Mickleover. Full details available: Hopefully see and chat to some of you there. Andrew

Modelling Day 2024 - The Plan Comes Together January is fast approaching and once again, the Trent Valley Area Group is holding a Modelling Day in Mickleover to beat away the January blues with one of their popular Modelling Days. We are currently finalising the plans and we have a packed hall of attendees booked. Mike has started to stockpile the bacon and warming the tea urn up, we have started to think what types of cakes we will bake and we have even listened to the feedback from our visitors (and my wife) and have added more tables into the plan this year for you to sit and enjoy the food, drink and company on offer. The Modelling Day will take place in Mickleover, Derby on Saturday 27th January 2024. Please see the poster cunningly placed on the rear cover of this issue of Narrow News to catch your eye for full details of how to find us. Up to date details will be published on the group’s Blog at www.henmoredale.org.uk and on EDM Models’ website www.ngtrains.com The current (early November) list of attractions is as follows. Group Members. Whilst the events of this summer have rather stalled our group layout (making progress will be our New Year’s Resolution), we will be bringing the late and much missed Neil Blair’s ‘Elsbridge’ 7mm standard gauge tramway layout. Andrew will be bringing his O-16.5 layout ‘Wheal Ponder’ for you to spot if there has been any progress. Simon will be bringing the 16mm scale narrow gauge inglenook shunting puzzle layout he built for the local Church fete. Paul will be there with a multigauge demo/test track and a limited range of EDM Models stock. If there is anything in particular that you want him to bring let him know. Phil is bringing a layout over from North Wales. Possibly ‘Black Drake Wharf’ but possibly a new layout he has been working on, you will have to come along to find out. Jim is bringing his O-9 layout ‘Quarry Yard’ and last, but not least, Andy has been dabbling in a little 009 which will be on a table that may or may not be doubling up as the Entrance pay table depending on whether Mike has got the plan right. Layouts. In addition to the TVAG members we have the following due to attend. Derwent Road – Arline Wilson. 7mm scale O-9 sand quarry layout originally built by Bill Flude. The Lindsey Joint Railway – 7mmNGA Lincolnshire Area Group. 7mm scale O-16.5 modular layout. Black Swan Wharf – Peter Garrett. 7mm scale standard gauge, under construction. Grand Lake Railroad – David Rae. 7mm scale standard gauge, A New England standard gauge short line under construction. Bob Harper will be bringing the latest instalment of his American railway empire along under construction. American On3 scale with a provisional name of Nicola Landing and the 7mmNGA West Midlands Group will be bringing their new work in progress station module. Demonstrating. Association Chairman Adrian Gray will be bringing his soldering iron along to help with those etched kit assembly questions, including his particular penchant for Ffestiniog Railway slate waggons, the kits of which are available from Association Sales again. Which leads me nicely into… Trade Stands. In addition to EDM Models and the TVAG Second Hand Sales, Neil Smith will be bringing along Association Slate Waggons to sell plus the full array of Association Modelling Goods. Plus we will have the following stands attending: 422 Modelmaking – Andrew Creaser. Corris Railway Society – Ian Cross. Iconic Rail – Graham French. It promises to be an excellent day, be there or miss out on cake! Trent Valley Area Group Modelling Day. Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall. DE3 9GE. Saturday 27th January 2024. 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Very nice David, you’ve chosen the name just in time for me to include it in the next Narrow News with the Mickleover line up. Regarding traversers, as you’re using G&H boards, I’ve got one of their traversers which is very good. Andrew

The goods shed looks good, I like how you’ve got the relief in the carving. Also think the brown looks better than the grey. The L&B buildings are many shades and hues of brown rather than grey. Maybe that’s partly why I like them as being different from the greys of the slate areas of Wales. Andrew

There’s a further update on the blog about lining the carriages. However, this week I have mostly been distracted by this…. Surprised I haven’t seen more reviews of these. Have written some waffle / nonsense / review over on my blog should anyone want to read it. From the angle of a 7mm narrow gauge modeller rather than a serial box opener… https://melynvalleyrailway.blogspot.com/2023/11/lionheart-l-manning-wardles.html?m=1 Andrew

Surprised I haven’t seen more reviews of these. Have written some waffle / nonsense / review over on my blog should anyone want to read it. From the angle of a 7mm narrow gauge modeller rather than a serial box opener… https://melynvalleyrailway.blogspot.com/2023/11/lionheart-l-manning-wardles.html?m=1 Andrew

Mine arrived yesterday and have given it a quick run on Wheal Ponder, it glides gracefully through my dodgily laid Peco track very nicely and is a thing of beauty. Whilst it’s a bit big for this layout, have started pondering about layout ideas big enough for it to run on. Andrew

Looking good. Presume you had a good chuckle when you realised you’d gone round the design houses and ended up with the same design as your 009 layout? At least you know how well it will operate! Out of interest, how long a train can your 009 version handle? Cheers, Andrew