derekchilds

Hi I've got most (if not all) of the books already mentioned, along with many other SR related ones, which I'm happy to sell at a reasonable price. If you would like to send me a PM I will send you a list of what is available. Derek

I'm desparately looking for a model of the above limited edition building for a model I'm building. I have a stone based SR Type 4 signal box (ex Kernow/Bachmann) which I would be happy to exchange for the Type 3 if required. Otherwise please PM me with any availability and price required.

Owing to ill health, I am having to sell my large collection of railway books, which I would wish to go to similar enthusiasts. I have compiled a spreadsheet of all titles that are available, which I'm happy to send to anyone who might be interested. Please PM me if you are. I'm more than happy for people to "cherry pick" their selections, details can be discussed as necessary. The majority are based on Southern Railway/Region topics, as my modelling was based on this area. Included are many pictorial albums and several BR Working Time Tables (western district) from the 1950/1960's, which are a great source of reference for modelling.

Regretfully due to ill health Westhaven in BLT form is on hold, although partly completed. In the meantime I'm wishing to dispose of my large collection of Southern related books (around 400 items) and surplus stock of locos/coaches/wagons/vans (similarly many items). Please PM me for a copy of lists of what is available or advise me of your specific desired item (I might just have it!).

Regretfully Dottery Junction has gone the way of mice and men. Hopefully Westhaven will re-emerge in a BLT form in due course, still based on a branch from the West of England main line.

Hi Caption reads The wide-open feel of the countryside on the North Cornish coast is captured in this view at Port Isaac Road on 31 May 1960. The arriving train is the 1.15am from Waterloo; 'N' class No 31840 hauling a two coach local set, followed by the through coach and newspaper van (from Waterloo). Hope this helps. Derek

Hi all Here is another batch of the latest going ons at Dottery Junction, hope you'll like them. Apologies for the photo quality, but they're all taken on a phone, I will try and improve! D

Hi Graham Please note my Westhaven layout is no more - but has been replaced by Dottery Junction a passing/exchange point ( a la Boscarne Junc) on my ficticious Yeovil Junction to Westhaven branch, comprising Dottery Halt and exchange with WR branch from Maiden Newton/Bridport to Charford (in memory of the late great John Charman). See my Dottery Junction forum in Layout Topics. Thanks Derek

Here are a few more pics. Thats all for now D

Here as promised are an initial set of photos.

Back again - Following my last post (over 2 years ago!!) Westhaven as was is no more. In its stead we now have Dottery Junction, which is an intermediate passing place with a small halt on the SR route from Yeovil Junction to Bridport North and Westhaven. It also is a passing/exchange point for the WR branch line from Maiden Newton/Bridport West to Charford (via Whitchurch Canonicorum), in rememberance of the late great John Charman. My idea is very loosely based on Boscarne Junction activities, hence the track plan. Anyway I hope to shortly post some photos of the above if I can understand how to do it. Derek

Hi all Sorry for the extremely long gap with no posts. House move completed eventually, which unfortunately meant the end of Westhaven mark 1. However, good news is that I now have a new self contained shed (12ft x 8ft) which will me to have a roundy roundy configuration with one long side used for drop in cassettes for the various trains (Westhaven mark 2). Consequently, I now intend to fulfil my desire to create the secondary (might have been) route via Bridport as previously mentioned. Most of the track etc is laid, wired and operational - but as yet virtually no scenery is done, apart from the station/platform etc. Will keep you posted as things progress (and when I fee it's up to scratch for viewing hopefully I will be able to provide some photos) Derek

Hi Crompton, Sorry for no recent updates, but the reason is that I'm in the middle of a very protracted house move - who said downsizing was easy! Westhaven in its original guise is therefore no more and all of the stock is packed away in boxes, but will be resurfacing (if thats the right expression) in hopefully a better and if possible roundy roundy form in due course. My thoughts are, that as the proposed extension from Dorchester to west of Axminster and on to Exeter, was never built in favour of the current line on from Yeovil, a loop was built off the main line (leaving at around Sutton Bingham) south via the outskirts of Beaminster and on to Bridport and then turned west (via "Westhaven") to rejoin the main line just north of Axminster. This route was then used mainly as a secondary route to give the coast/Bridport direct access to Exeter/Yeovil/Salisbury/London, but by being built to main line standards could be used as a diversionary route if required. I'll keep you posted of developments. Derek

Here goes - 3 new images taken without the flash, as suggested. I told you I was a rubbish photographer! Station pilot G6 awaits on shed for its next duty. The 9.08am local from Crewkerne arrives with an 0415 deputising for the usual M7, together with the Maunsell "W" set "105". 'Black Motor' waits in the yard to return to Crewkerne having bought in and shunted the morning pick up goods. Hopefully more to follow. Derek

Thanks for the advice, will try it. Derek

Hi Graham, Would you please consider adding my Westhaven layout (based on a supposed branch from Crewkerne to Westhaven (nee West Bay) via Beaminster in Dorset) to the above list. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/60375-westhaven-brs-1959-1963-oo-gauge/ Derek

As I have not posted for sometime, due to other pressures on my time-such is the demands of retirement!, I thought I would give you an update. The layout is moving on slowly and now operates to a timetable which varies the locos and stock dependent of the time period in question. All locos and stock rostered are based on those allocated (mainly 72A/72B/72C) and likely to pass through the area at the relevant time being operated, this gives me a chance to significantly add variety, especially when I additionally use the alternative locos for the period in question. Also for some reason the branch was constructed to mainline standards (the supposed prototype - not my tracklaying!!) which will allow virtually any loco bar an MN to be seen (my excuse to run loco classes H15, N15, S15, V, BR standard 5 and rebuilt Bulleid Pacifics). As an example the local Westhaven to Crewkerne (junction with the mainline) service in 1959 is run with (or will be when Mr Kernow delivers) an O2 0-4-4T and ex LSWR "Gate stock" in pull/push mode (I often use an excuse to substitute an Adams radial 4-4-2T for the O2 and work in non p/p mode), 1960 uses an M7 0-4-4T or BR 3 2-6-2T and Maunsell "W" set (non P/P), 1961 uses the same locos as 1960 plus also BR 2P/2FT 2-6-2T (converted from Bachmann Ivatt 2-6-2T) or ex LMS 2P/2FT 2-6-2T and BR converted P/P Maunsell set (in either P/P or non P/P mode - dependent on the loco used, 1963 uses the M7 and BR P/P Maunsell set (P/P mode) or substitute with ex LMS 2P/2FT (non P/P mode). I said that there is a lot of variety available! I'll try and post some more of my very amateurish photos soon, to reflect some typical movements on the layout. Derek

Thank Tim, I've been watching your progress with much interest and a good deal of envy! You seem to have captured the look just right. Can't wait to see Beaminster Road operational - although I think trying to run to a W of E mainline timetable might be challenging - even if you scale it down. Good luck and keep us all informed with your inspirational efforts. Derek

Here are some more photos for your delictation The early morning arrival at 7.23am of the single coach/newsvan (ex 1.15am ex Waterloo), BY van added at Salisbury and the PMV (mail ex Eastleigh also added at Salisbury) hauled by WC 34033 "Chard" attached at Salisbury. The same train in the main platform at Westhaven, pending dispersal by station pilot (usually Beattie Well tank 30586) . "Chard" prepares to turn and will then take water prior to her next duty. "Chard" prepares to leave Westhaven for Yeovil Town with the 7.55am "School" train, which comprises the single coach (ex 7.23am arrival) and 2 Maunsell strengtheners for all the rowdy kids! Here is the 1.24pm goods arrival from Yeovil Junction (originating at Templecombe) hauled in this instance by "black motor" 30317. Not much traffic today! Just to prove that "Charford" lives - here is the morning arrival from there, there are only 3 arrivals and correspondingly 3 departures back to Charford per day, and the service is not likely to last much longer. Anyway Adams radial has an easy task with just a single Maunsell BCK for company. Hopefully more later. Derek

This is not a K class rebuild but the DJH model of the new builds (no. 31618). I too would love a model of a K class rebuild but to date no one has produced one and as far as I know from all of the usual suspects I doubt that it this likely. Derek

Guess what you're right it is a "special" Bogie "B" with 4 wheels missing!! in other words a BY van. In that case according to my running schedule it can't be the 1.15 ex Waterloo, but most likely the 5.54pm arrival from Salisbury. I did take the photo sometime ago and I told you that I was getting old so I'm allowed the odd senior moment and the eyesight is failing too! Derek

Here are a couple of photos to get going with. View looking towards buffers of Westhaven station, in a quiet moment Station pilot (2-4-0WT) prepares to move Bogie "B" newsvan ( ex 1.15am Waterloo news train, detached at Yeovil Junc.) from main platform to bay whilst train engine (U 2-6-0) prepares to move to turntable and take water etc. More to come if anyone's interested. Derek

No my Westhaven has'nt been exhibited, and is very unlikely to as it is in a semi-fixed situation at home.I'll show my age in that I believe there once was an Ex LNER layout with the same name in Model Railway Constructor way back in the 1960's! Derek

Yes I'll agree with you, but I must say that "Westhaven" has been in existence for several years now, but only recently have I had the courage to share it with you all. Anyway your Beaminster Road is far better than my meagre effort and something that I really look up to. I've been following your progress and eye for detail with great interest and can't wait toi see it fully operational - modelling the real mainline to the west was too much for me! Derek

I am finally introducing you to my model of Westhaven, a might have been, leaving the Southern mainline west of Crewkerne at Clapton (as was actually proposed for a branch to Beaminster) to the coastal resort of Westhaven (nee West Bay). Westhaven developed significantly in the late 19th century eclipsing all of the other East Devon resorts, which saw the line upgraded to neo main line spec. This meant that as well as the branch service from the mainline there are many through services to further a field eg. Yeovil Town, Salisbury and of course Waterloo. It is my intention one day when space permits to remodel Westhaven as a through station on the Dorchester to Axminster and Exeter secondary mainline (as was once proposed by Mr Castleman and his friends at the Southampton & Dorchester Railway in the mid 19th century) with the branch from Crewkerne maintained. I make no shame in mentioning that the whole idea was inspired by the late, great, John Charman and as a result I even have assumed that there was a link from Charford to Westhaven. One of the advantages of my rambling thoughts is that it allows me to run virtually any of the vast array of ex SR locos and stock (with the exception of MN's which will have to wait for the through line!) as well as BR standards and I run the layout representing 3 separate time periods 1959/60, 1961, and 1963 to maximise the appropriate locos for the period in question. I will shortly attach some initial photos to give the general imprssion of what it is all about.