Doncaster Green

Provided I've got the mechanics of this right and I am quoting Melmerby's post from earlier, I like both pieces. As you say, very French and decidedly not Bach, but I have to admit a preference for the St Sulpice organ, you can almost feel it reverberating around the church. PGC earlier mentioned the organ at Exeter Cathedral and I have to say I was lucky enough to visit while an organist was practising recently, as I have been lucky with Wells, Salisbury and Bath Abbey, and I think what it is with organs for me is the way they seem to be a part of the building, sort of the original Surround Sound, even a little electronic Roland in small country church. My mother was fond of '40's big band music and at her funeral a couple of years ago we had the organist play a selection of Miller and Dorsey and the way that little Roland filled the church was amazing. Admittedly it did help that she was a pretty good keyboard player who also liked that era in music. Regards John

I didn't realise my old music master was an RMwebber! Joking aside, thanks to that teacher I am basically musically illiterate, but " I knows what I likes". Gwiwer's post I found very informative (how do you tick two boxes?) but I wouldn't be able to tell one form from another without being told it was a concerto or a symphony or an opera and then would get even more confused when what is really a piece of pop music is described as a Rock "Opera". However, on the basis of I know what I like, I would add to Elgar and RVW various pieces rather than composers, e.g "1812", some of the Planets and big organ pieces (influence of Emerson again?) - I love the sound of a BIG organ, be it Church, cinema or electronic. Regards John

I've always wondered what defines "Classical Music", after all wasn't most of what we now consider classical the popular music of its day, albeit considerably less accessible for the average man - no radio, TV, etc and composers "retained" by wealthy patrons. Me, I was put off classical music at school by a music master (master tells you how long ago I was at school) who seemed to believe there was no other music worth listening to than Mozart and would only use Mozart in class. Unfortunately my O level syllabus included pieces by Britten, Elgar and Beethoven as well as Mozart - guess what he used! Since then I have gradually come back to a liking for much classical music although I have to admit it has been through the use of classical music themes by artists like Keith Emerson (both Nice and ELP) and its use as film themes. Most of the time I haven't a clue who wrote it or what its called, I just know I like to listen to it. "You know, it's that one they used as the theme for "Saving Private Ryan" (or "2001" or "The Deerhunter")". Having said all that I do have Elgar and RVW CDs in the car which I love listening to on a long drive. Regards John

Having seen Jonny777's post above, particularly the last shot, I thought I would throw this one in. Not a new one, it was taken about two years ago from the Ouistreham - Portsmouth ferry. The effect is quite fortuitous though seeing as we were returning from a tour of the D Day beaches. Regards John

A merry Boxing Day to all As promised, a few more shots around Bradford on Avon and Westbury from 1988 - 33 009 - possibly on a Weymouth-Bristol service. I think there were lots of engineering possessions that day as I also have shots of HSTs diverted either down the Berks & Hants or via Thingley Junction (with a reversal at Bradford Jnct) and of 50 007 in GW150 guise as Edward Elgar. 33 109 - in push mode on a Cardiff-Portsmouth 33 102 - stabled on the south side of Westbury 33 110 - just about to move onto the depot at Westbury Apologies, I still haven't got the hang of embedding images but you get the gist John

I am that man building a model of that area! But when it was still a proper junction so no dodgy workings - I hope! Weekday Cross box had long gone by then - you can see the end wall of its base about level with the far end of the loco. You can also just about see the slightly lighter brickwork in the parapet wall where the front of the box was. Merry Christmas one and all John PS I meant to quote LNERGE's post above but I don't seem to be getting it right!

Having seen the comments regarding 33027 and snowploughs I thought there may be some interest in this shot of a rather unkempt 027, sans ploughs, at Bradford-on-Avon. I'm not sure of the exact date but it was sometime in 1988 and coincided with the last day of the timetabled 33-1s on the Portsmouth-Cardiff push-pulls - 158 units (supposedly?) took over the following day. I have a few other shots of 33s at BoA and at Westbury around the same time I will share when I have them sorted. John

Hi all On the basis of all the good work that JCL and Mike Trice started and all the rest have expanded on I have taken the irrevocable step of buying a Portrait. Working in 2mm I didn't think I would need the extra width of the Cameo and could thus save loads of cash! Not used it yet as have family visitation but have studied the various tutorials, suggestions and experiences, downloaded Inkscape and upgraded Studio to V3.3. I will let you know how I get on. John

Thanks for that. I will give them a ring as I see they haven't got a site of their own. John

I have just come across this brilliant thread - born and bred near the ECML all things LNER/BR(E) are in my blood. However I have an info request. I have a part built PDK (nee Crownline) 60113 and want to finish it the way I saw it when it was shedded at Grantham, but I cannot find anyone who does the crest for the post 1950 nameplate. Anybody any ideas for a supplier or how I could create one? Thanks in anticipation John

The title of this thread is 'Any question answered' so, hopefully, my plea is not out of the way! I am trying to locate a drawing (or even some etches?) for the ex LNWR Engineers' Saloon ED33 that is now preserved on the Kent & East Sussex with a view to building one in 2mm. I have a photo I took some years ago and it has always appealed as something that little bit different. Would also appreciate any advice from those who know this vehicle on a suitable 6 wheel chassis. Thanks in anticipation John

But what of the 'Brake (sic} of Gauge' at Gloucester? Maybe some scratched platform faces? John

Just a few of Wansbeck Road at Wells today:- and a final one - trivia question of the day - how does a Hymek get to County Durham?

Thanks Andy. I didn't realise Judith Edge did the O5 in 2mm - I was aware of the 4mm version. I was actually going to try and scratchbuild the body! For the Hudswell Clarke I saw in the N Gauge Journal that Parkwood are doing a resin body for the later series (D2510-2519) - the picture is actually mounted on a Farsh O4 chassis. John

Thanks for that Andy. I will now complete my order and mull over the attachment while I await delivery. If I can make this one work I'm wondering if I can use the same chassis for an O5 or the D2500-2519 series - wheel size and axle spacing are near (ish). john

Hi there. I have just downloaded the parts list and instructions with the intention of doing an O3 as my first essay into 2mm chassis building (as opposed to rewheeling Farish 24s and 108/101s) and was just about to put pen to paper on a shop order. However, I can't find any reference to making the jackshaft. Will I have to make up two stub axles and use a muff or is there something else that will do the job? I have trawled back through this thread and can't see anything there to help although I may have missed something. Any help gratefully received John

I first saw CF at an IMREX back in the late eighties or early nineties - it was awesome then - made me think that they were doing in 2mmfs what I was struggling with in 4mm. I've seen it several times since, the last being Warley 2010, and it still cannot fail to impress. It was CF and Highbury Colliery that finally convinced me to have a go at 2mmfs - the contrast between them in subject but the similarity in terms of modelling excellence. Being born and bred on the ECML I've always wanted to model that line in the sixties or seventies - one can love the A3s and A4s and the Deltics. Retford is being done in 4mm - perhaps Newark Northgate between Beacon Hill bridge and Lincoln Road bridge in 2mmfs set before the gas works closed and R&Ms still had rail access. John