Albyn

A box of some of the Graham Farish Figures made by West's turned up on eBay and found their way to me in Cardiff

Well that was what the late Bertiedog said about it on RM Web. He worked for Hamblings in the 60s and 70s. One of his colleagues had worked for Stewart Reidpath before the war. You can look up Bertiedog's post in the search facility. The 0-6-0T is the commonest of all the SR locos and many have been modified over the years. In fact SR and Hamblings (who handled most sales after the war) would detail them, modify them or paint them in any livery you might want, for a price of course, regards, Albyn

The Train Collector's Society ib their magazine the Train Collector has featured articles on SR/Hamblings locos. The only one originally built to HO standards was the 0-6-0T but this was widened to OO standards when SR realised that scale models of 3.5mm to the foot on 16.5mm track posed impossible problems going round the tight curves that small scale model railways were meant to enable, certainly with 1930s technology. Hopefully the next issue will include an article on the 0-6-0T that I've written. Too long for adding here but if you email me at albynaustin@gmail.com I'll send you a copy. In the past the Train Collector has included articles on British outline HO gauge, mainly the attempts by the major continental manufacturers to enter the UK market, though you're probably with these. Some were frankly dreadful - Marklin and Jouef spring to mind, regards, Albyn

Yes. They also made figures in O gauge as well as HO I think. The Binns Road website has some photos of the O gauge sets but I've no idea whether these were identical to the smaller figures. Albyn

With the identity of some of the figures on the layout being Mastermodels, or very similar ones by Merit and Slaters, the connctions are explained in The Illustrated Kemlow Story - Including the Mastermodel Story by Paul Brookes came out in 2009. You can order a copy on ebay for £22.95 or by emailing mastermodels@btinternet.com as Paul accepts Paypal or a cheque. Via a mutual pal I was given Paul's telephone number and had a few words with him. He only has a few copies left so if you want one get one now! The book does explain that the three firms - Kemlow (makers of Mastermodels), Merit (J & L Randall) and Slaters were all based in Wood Green in the 1950s within a few hundred yards of each other. A lot of employees were temporary and moved between the firms. Basically the latter two firms did indeed copy the Kemlow figures, though the actual story is quite complicated and you really need to buy the book to find out some details of what happened and the fate of Mastermodels in the 1960s when they also began making items in plastic. The goods yard crane that I thought was Dinky is actually a 4mm version by Mastermodels, regards, Albyn

The Illustrated Kemlow Story - Including the Mastermodel Story by Paul Brookes came out in 2009. You can order a copy on ebay for £22.95 or by emailing mastermodels@btinternet.com as Paul accepts Paypal or a cheque. Via a mutual pal I was given Paul's telephone number and had a few words with him. He only has a few copies left so if you want one get one now! The book does explain that the three firms - Kemlow, Merit (J & L Randall) and Slaters were all based in Wood Green in the 1950s within a few hundred yards of each other. A lot of employees were temporary and moved between the firms. Basically the latter two firms did indeed copy the Kemlow figures, though the actual story is quite complicated and you really need to buy the book to find out some details of what happened and the fate of Mastermodels in the 1960s when they also began making items in plastic. regards, Albyn

Paul subsequently published a book about Mastermodels which so far I have resisted buying. perhaps i should. Most of the metal figures i own are Mastermodels but a few are not shown above so could be just not illustrated or maybe are from a different maker.....

Also thank you Malcolm for suggesting reading the article on PDH in Issue 88 of Narrow Gauge and Industrial railway modelling review. I duly acquired a back number - still available from the publisher - and found the article fascinating with details of PDH's life and why the C&M was never resurrected completely even in O gauge form after 1987. The house move meant the C&M had to be dismantled and most of it was 30-40 years old and had been rebuilt three times already. However the new bungalow had a large garden suitable for a garden railway and with the death of his mother, who had sufferred a stroke some years before, his father having died in 1967, PDH, having now retired was able to travel more widely, enjoy hill walking, gardening and the garden railway. The loft or attic where the O gauge C&M was begun had no insulation and so was uncomfortable to work in for much of the time so didn't progress rapidly.

Thank you very much for the photos. Fascinating. As a young teenager in the 1960s given some old Railway Modellers, I found Duncan an amazing creation and is still my favourite. I'm pleased Lord Craig authorised a new boiler for him to get him up and running again!

Looking at the Merit figures these three which I thought were Merit don't match. The gent is Slaters so perhaps the two ladies are also Slaters? Also of these four the shepherd, the postman and the porter are Merit but is the policeman Slaters again?

Wow what a great collection! - thanks for adding so many new photos of figures but as they are edits of previous posts they don't flag up as new posts! Thank you very much. Slaters sent their figures out unpainted with circular sprues - see attached

I think Duncan has been rebuilt as PDH removed the gears for reuse? Does it still have the vertical motor with Meccano gears under the roof or does it now have a more conventional drive unit please? regards, Albyn

If you look under the soldier section for American Western Frontier you will find the Airfix Wagon Train set too' Albyn

Mr Hancock did indeed make use of Graham Farish figures. This thread is a spin off from one on P D Hancock The Craig and Mertonford Railway. I think one of the problems is that none of us know exactly what most of the GF figures looked like. regards, Albyn

I agree with your comments about the early colour photos - fascinating. I think the early first Craig is my favourite. Much as I like the pre=grouping standard gauge locos and stock, the extra standard gauge did rather clog the main layout up a bit and lost a lot of the scenic content and arrangement that made it look so attractive in such a small space. I like the trams and the castle but some of the early photos have a nice uncluttered look. The early narrow gauge locos are also the ones with the most charm. By the time of the later ones 009 was well established and other people were making similar things. However his writing is a lot of the charm. It really is very enjoyable to read. Although lots of modern layouts have back stories PDH''s is still the most readable. I do have scans of many of the Modeller articles which I'd be happy to forward. Can't really post them on a website without permission from PECO. regards, Albyn