checkrail

Gosh, time flies. Last time I looked it was 1947 - now it's suddenly 1957! 'We've never had it so good'.

Shunting has recently paused for a couple of minutes or so allowing 4574 to run round its train. She's now re-coupled and simmers gently in the branch platform. The fireman has moved the lamp to the bunker end and they wait for the signal and the appointed departure time. And as the branch train departs for Earlsbridge 2818 comes through on the up line with returning coal empties. Meanwhile 8709 carries on shunting. John C.

'Carry on Shunting', Scene Eleventeen. 4574 arrives with a train from Earlsbridge. 8709 carries on shunting. John C.

Have always thought just the same. They look like there's a bit missing!

Mogul looking really good.

Now a Star turn as 4018 'Knight of the Grand Cross' runs through with the Wolves-Penzance. Quite like this second photo. Hornby's N16 horse box is a fine model, and even finer once the ends have been painted black and the roof grey. Meanwhile 8709 carries on shunting. And here's a rare aerial view of Stoke Courtenay yard. John C.

Yep, sure. Here it is, dredged up from old files imported from last PC but one! I've also appended it to page 1 of this thread as you suggest. Don't think I ever drew a track plan of the fiddle yard, which has 'just growed' like Topsy to use up every bit of space as stock accumulates. Basically it consists of four up and four down loops, a two road branch FY with crossover, plus four sidings/spurs to accomodate spare locos and stock. It's now ram-jam full with no room for further expansion and some stock is stored in drawers. With thanks for the suggestion, John.

Well, a couple of people were kind enough to exhort me to "keep them coming", and with this new combination of iMac/ffworks/Affinity Photo 2 processing layout photos has never been so quick or so easy. You have been warned! Anyway, here's the stopper again as it slows into the station .... ... and, soon after, pulls away again towards Brent, Totnes and Newton Abbot. Meanwhile it's busy in the yard as 8709 carries on shunting. John C.

Next to appear is 4908 'Broome Hall', heading towards home with a Plymouth - Newton Abbot stopper. Meanwhile 8709 carries on shunting. John C.

4117 and vans head west, leaving 8709 to get on with the shunt. John C.

The only additional loco I really crave (apart from a 44xx - on the way we hear) is a GWR Bulldog (preferably of the 'Bird' series). But as few of the class survived to the early 1950s, and so many people want to model the remembered scenes of their 1950s/60s childhoods, I realise that I'm very unlikely to see this wish come true! Perhaps 'historical railway modelling' could be defined as modelling a period before one was born? John C.

Even more freight as 6305 meets 4117 on a down train of vans. The next one was an experiment, with the TZ100 balanced precariously on a stock box sitting on the rather uneven grass in the field behind the embankment. One of those where as you lean over to press the shutter you think the whole shooting match is going to topple over. But it worked out rather better than I expected and I guess I'll use that angle again. In the last one we see 8709 heading back to its wagons while the guard watches 6305 and train go by. John C.

And as soon as the pick-up goods has stowed itself into the yard loop and cleared the main line 6305 drifts past with an eastbound freight. As it comes through the station we see that 8709 has parked its Toad and run round the rest of its train, and now stands by the water tower in the loco spur prior to doing the necessary shunting. Nice to see that 6305's fireman has given the number plates a wipe-over on this otherwise fairly grimy loco. John C.

As the express clears the platforms 8709 slows through the station, where Herr und Frau Preiser can be seen crossing the footbridge. With the advance starter 'on' the loco comes to a halt ..... .... and once points and ground signals have been changed (the latter in my imagination only!) she begins to set her train back into the yard loop under the watchful eye of the signalman and the guard. John C.

Here's 6019 'King Henry V' approaching Stoke Courtenay on a Penzance- Paddington express. The contrasting profiles of the first two coaches are notable - a low-waisted D121 followed by a wide-bodied Centenary composite. Coming through the platform roads it meets a pick-up goods coming the other way in the charge of 8709.. John C.

You say 'mundane'; I say 'beautifully framed shot full of GWR main line atmosphere'. Feel like I'm standing by the lineside.

Superb buildings and beautiful trackwork too. I feel this layout's going to be exceptional.

If I get one I will apply a hefty dollop of Rule 1 then! Well, just get a WC or B of B instead - all these Southern engines look the same don't they? 😉

No diversion really - just an interesting contribution to the discussion of milk traffic. And it prompted a typically knowledgeable and informative response from Mike @Coach bogie. Hope to reach for the camera again before too long.

You did your usual excellent job on the Grange. More close-ups welcome!

Me neither. What's a milk brake? (Though we had a milk break at school.)

Prompted by recent discussion of GWR milk traffic on this thread and the fruits of Colin's @BWsTrains research I can also recommend the 18 page chapter 'From cow to cornflake' in Tim Bryan's 'A year in the life of the Great Western'. Some very good pictures too. John C.

You didn't know there was a creamery on the Earlsbridge branch did you? Nor did I until I made it up the other day. Here 5557 brings the branch B-set into Stoke C. along with two milk tank wagons to be added to the up milk train to London. So although Robin's wagons have gone back to him their memory lives on - and I've just ordered three from eBay. They'll probably live in a drawer until they can be joined by others. John C.

Last shots of the down milk empties. The old and the new. Behind the snazzy new milk tanks a 6-wheel Siphon C and a Dean 40 foot PBV bring up the rear. The Hall passes a Castle coming the other way ... ... and disappears under the road bridge. The milk tanks are now on their way back to Robin @gwrrob. It's been an honour and a privilege to host them on Stoke Courtenay. I've had great fun running and photographing them. Hope you've enjoyed it. John C.

Good to see the layout coming along so nicely. Following the build with interest.