Castle

Righto - I will have a chat with the powers that be and get back to you!

All the best,

Castle

Would people like one?

Bonus Picture!

This is the STOP version.

All the best,

Castle

…side view…

…and from the rear.

All the best,

Castle

…side view…

Hi All,

So, a little walk down the branch at the end of the day reveals…

Here’s the front view…

On 07/08/2022 at 12:55, The Stationmaster said:

I have only ever seen outline sketches without any dimensions and they don't really give any idea of the size of the things.  The photos on Mile Walker's post above give far better information than the sketches.

Hi All,

I’m pretty sure here is a preserved example on the branch demonstration line at Didcot. I’ll take a look this week. There is certainly the ‘STOP’ version of the same sort of thing there. Perhaps a nice chat with Alan at Modelu is in order? He’s a regular visitor…

All the best,

Castle

Hi All,

As always, it is the greatest of pleasure to share the contents of the ‘toy box’ with like minded individuals. I’m glad people seem to have enjoyed themselves and it was great to say hello to everyone face to face.

Also big thanks to Stationmaster Mike for his annual command performance in the signal box!

I hope to see you all again sometime!

All the best,

Castle and the GWS volunteers.

PS: Picture uploads please!

12 hours ago, Trainshed Terry said:

Hi Castle,

I am having to withdraw as well as this hot has had detrimental effect to my breathing. If we get an English summer next year I shall do my best to come.

 

Terry.

Hi Terry,

Staying safe is the number 1 priority. I will have another tour next year.

Hi Everyone else,

Make sure that you all have water with you - it will be a tad warm!

All the best,

Castle

Hi All,

No worries James - see you next time.

I don’t know about you lot but but I’m looking forward to tomorrow!

All the best,

Castle

Hi All,

Sorry about that Ian - keeping well is the most important thing. Next time along with Brian let’s hope!

Harry and I shall start by joining you all at the main gate at about 12:30hrs so get your train rides / lunch in before then. 

All the best,

Castle

Hi All,

No worries Nick! Always cool to have some assistants for the tour!

Sorry I missed the PM Mike - 29 seems to be the total so far!

All the best,

Castle

Hi All,

Thanks for the kind thoughts - well on the road to recovery now thanks!

Dave 2+2 (sounds like a sports coupé!)

Nick 1 (now sounds like football results - not a sports fan but it think Dave wins…)

Looking forward to seeing you both there. Any more?

All the best,

Castle

Hi All,

Hooky - sure thing! No problem. Great to see you there. Sorry it’s been a while but I haven’t been well. Better now though! Anyone else want a tour?

All the best,

Castle

Hi Dave,

Sure thing - great to have you aboard! If you get there for 10:00 - 10:30hrs. Make sure you are fed and watered and taken your train rides then the afternoon is ours. We will do our usual and meet up at the gate at 12:00hrs and trundle round at our own pace!

All the best,

Castle

No problem Martin!

All the best,

Castle

Hi All,

Rich - There has been some unfortunate planning going on here. You and Neil must coordinate your trips in future I guess(!). If you want to come up and measure the coach, I’m sure it can be arranged. I’m likely to be at DRC a lot over the summer so stay in touch with a PM and we will see what we can do.

Neal - Thanks for suggesting we have another go at Castle Tours! Good to be able to get people together and have a play with the really big train set...

All the best,

Castle

Hi All,

Mike: It wouldn’t be a RMWEB tour without you good sir! Thanks mate.

KGV: I insist the young chap comes with you! You are down for two good sir.

Phil: Ace - see you there!

David: The more, the merrier! 3 for thee...

All the best,

Castle

Hi All,

All visitors, repeat or otherwise, are welcome on the tour! It will be great to see you all again after so much time!

Adrian, David, Kevin and Terry, in the finest ‘Dad’s Army’ traditions, “you are on the list...”

All the best,

Castle

EDIT: If you could all let me know how many places you want, that would be great! Family and friends welcome too.

That would be awesome Mike - cheers mate!

Hi All,

Been a while...

[turns lights back on and dusts off cobwebs...]
 

In an effort to get back on track and now I’m not chasing a locomotive restoration every weekend, I thought it was about time that ‘Castle Tours’ organised another ‘RMWEB Modeller’s Tour of Didcot Railway Centre’.

it will be an all access tour, with full behind the scenes tours and I’ll try to supply you with some interesting and possibly true anecdotes and information to amuse, entertain and inform.

In partnership with a certain Mr Ball, who intends to make his presence felt on these shores, he has requested Sunday the 14th August.

I have no idea as to the locomotive roster at this point in time, but a completed Pendennis Castle should at least be on display (yay!). Normal entrance fees apply unless I get a large enough group and I can ask for a group rate.

Is anyone interested in a little walk around nearly 200 years of railway history this summer? If you could let me know here so I have and idea of numbers, I would be very grateful. I don’t know about you lot, but I’m really looking forward to reviving this tradition!

All the best,

Castle

Hi All,

2 hours ago, Harlequin said:

There's some biographical info related to the 1925 loco exchanges in Meccano Magazine of 1930 that might be of interest: https://www.meccanoindex.co.uk/Mecmag/MMissue.php?MID=5932&Missue=3001&id=1632768767

(Albert Pibworth is a distant relative of mine.)

 

The LNER driver on the GWR? That’s amazing! Thanks for sharing that. My friend has a copy of C. J. Allen’s ‘The Locomotive Exchanges 1870 - 1948 published by Ian Allen in about 1949 which is sat next to me right now. Absolutely cracking read! C. J. A. was on some of the trains in the 1925 trial and it’s very well documented in this book. Well worth tracking down a copy if you are related to Mr Pibworth.

1 hour ago, Neal Ball said:

Welcome back Drew.

 

I’ve enjoyed the GWS blogs since the lockdown thank you for them.

 

A tour next year would be great thank you. Let’s hope we can arrange it fir when I am back in the UK.

 

Thanks again, Neal.

Thanks - That’s really kind! Yes to the arranging it as and when. We will try and sort a time when as many of you can all get to 81E and do a proper meet up when circumstances allow.

All the best,

Castle

Hi All,

The bad penny returns.

I see you have been talking about that little 12":1' project of ours. Nearly there, nearly there... I would be more than happy to run another modeler's tour of our train set again. It would be a really nice way to get everyone together when the time comes. I look forward to it!

All the best,

Castle

PS: I've been writing a fair bit of this which started as a way of keeping people engaged with Didcot while the 'thing' was a thing and seems to have become mildly popular so I've kept doing it. There are numerous updates on No. 4079, including this week's (24th September) offering so enjoy!

https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/product.php/78/going-loco/44b54030f100ec49cd404c6354754ec0

Hi Noel,

Long time no chat! They are some of, if not the most popular freight vehicles on the layout for the visitors. We get more questions asked about them than any of the others. Thanks again for producing the kit!

All the best,

Castle