bodmin16

Taking one's own life doesn't necessarily make a person bad or nasty or selfish or whatever. I am aware of a number of people who have decided that they no longer wished to stay. Two in particular that I have been involved with were lovely people, one lent money to friends was always on hand to help others, was loving, selfless, didn't drink or take drugs, was in full time employment and came from a loving caring family, who had no idea that they were ill in any way or intended to end their life. The other was in similar circumstances but had a history of mental illness. Both had loads of friends and family around them and are very much missed. Other persons were affected by their final acts. Did they consider this? Probably not if they were in such dark places and that does not make them selfish! I suggest a psychologist or psychiatrist is best qualified to give detailed explanations as to why people,act the way they do. And before any debate ensues, I am acutely aware that people have different levels of good and bad - I guess the message is don't make sweeping statements and generalisations! Can we get back to level crossings now. Thanks.

There have been a number such incidents and one only has to read the RAIB reports to find them, and of course any incident (some high profile) is only a combination of circumstances including timing, protection, behaviours, interpretation etc etc.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/411030/110728_R122011_AOCLs_Class_Inv.pdf The answer may lie in this publication.

I don't know if anybody out there is still interested and I know It's been a long time, but a quick update. Cliddesden now has a permanent home in the garage since we sold one of the cars and that has resulted in some progress. Speed is probably one up from snails pace, however I am able to pop out for 20 minutes every so often as I don't have to pack away after each time play. I am also quite motivated again although short of time due to work commitments. Ballasting is virtually complete, the station building is almost complete and the signal box has been modified but progressing and other buildings are progressing, including a mock up of the railway cottages. Point ridding has appeared which has been very time consuming. I have also been playing with various items of stock, some contours are taking shape and another tree is in production. The layout is basically running and I am reasonably happy with that side of things - a few tweaks maybe! I need to fit couplings to more of the stock and decide the final details for the cassettes in the fiddle yards so that I can play trains properly.

Apologies for slight off topic but is the SW between Wimbledon and Worting the only four track mainline whereby the "slow" or "relief" lines are on the outside and the fast lines in the centre? Also I seem to recall an exhibition layout that featured Sonning Common in GWR days? Think your layout would make great exhibition layout.

Another Southern loco, this time on the Western at Aldermaston yesterday.

Catering at a lot of events is at best marginal, not just model railway exhibitions and caterers seem to want to make as much as possible without supplying a quality product. The problem is that the great British public keep buying sub quality product. Personally I try to take my own snack and then stop at a suitable hostelry on the way home without the crush to relax and reflect on the day. Why waste time at an exhibition eating when you could be watching or playing trains? ;-)

Well the advert works, got a few people looking, talking and watching!

Great stuff!

Was playing with my toys in the garage earlier and dug some old vinyl out. I forgot just how much I loved this album!

I'm not going to apologise either, other than a quick apology for,the flags behind the loco!

So as promised a quick update: The track has been coloured, sprayed with grey primer and track colour sprayed sparingly which has given some variation in colour not particularly obvious in the pictures. Ballasting has started after a false start, the ballast I laid turned green. I dug this out and restarted with replacement ballast, fortunately I'd only laid a meter or so of "green" ballast. The ballast needs finishing, tidying and some dry brushing. The issue with the crossing gates appears to have been resolved with a software update, but now one of the gates has failed so some more work needed. The stations building has received some initial coats of paint and needs a few details for completion including barge boards, chimney pots and gutters etc. slightly smaller than I originally planned and now based on the station building at East Budleigh. I have also had a change of plans with the signal box which is being drastically modified. I like building wagons and a few more have appeared including this Dapol lowmac and the box van which follows my usual practice of etched w irons etc, but the Lowac is just the basic kit but will probably gained etched buffers etc. A view looking towards Alton with mock up of railway cottages and the start of the trees in the distance which will be a wooded area on raised ground. The timber hut is the free giveaway from RM with home made corrugated tin roof. And finally a picture of a train with the Provender store in the background!