Mike Bellamy

Don't forget that there are already narrow gauge locos in the Bachmann range from Liliput - a quick search found this example of an Austrian 0-6-2 loco priced at £125 http://www.anticsonline.co.uk/2451_1_105880392.html Of course that is an old model which will have covered its costs some time ago and being HOe had a wider Continental market rather than OO9 being more restricted to 4mm modelling. .

Also on the BBC here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-28423357 .

I see that two of the locos are to be post war as used on the Ashover Railway - this of course has a good tie-in with Midland Railex at Butterly later in the year (sponsored by Bachmann) where the narrow gauge Golden Valley Railway is restoring an Ashover coach which will be finished in time for the show and in use for the first time in 80 years Golden Valley Railway http://www.gvlr.org.uk/ Midland Railex http://www.rmweb.co.uk/midlandrailex/ Anyone want to take bets on the Ashover coach joining the Bachmann fleet . . . . ! .

Don Sorry to hear that - not a lot I can add - if it's any comfort to you I have been in the Mickleover Club over 30 years now and in that time I have only built a Ratio Cattle Dock and a wooden platform for a layout that disappeared about 20 years ago - nothing since!! See you at Club sometime and we can catch up with your thoughts for the next project ! Mike

. . . and of course don't forget the groundbreaking introduction of the Hudswell Clarke (and more recent Fowler) by Ixion . . . .

Where's Adrian when we need him ? Calling Mr Swain . . . . . . . . . . .

Ah!- was that me or were there other unidentified RMwebbers there as well . . .!! Looking forward to seeing further updates (but then you need to find that camera first) Mike

Really sorry to hear of this decision. I have enjoyed reading your weekly updates and it is obvious that you gave 100% (and more) in everything you did. It seems that it will be a great loss to the rail industry if you are to leave as you have so much to offer.I find it rather disappointing (as I'm sure you do) that despite discussing these issues with your managers, they have been unable to find a way of retaining you somewhere in the company. My nephew had the option to take a higher level college course or to join Rolls Royce as a higher apprentice - which is of course the option he took. However he found the technical aspects of the course difficult and discussed his options which resulted in a transfer to a craft apprenticeship - a lot less maths and theory and a lot more hands on engineering experience. The company were keen to keep him as an employee but if he had done the college course first and dropped out because it was too hard he would have just been another unemployed student. Derby is celebrating 175 years of railways in the area and the local paper had a supplement with a lot of information about the many rail related industries in the area. PM me your address and I'll send it to you as there might just be something there that fits in with your thoughts for the future. See http://www.derby175.co.uk/ where there are links to many of the supporting companies. There is an event on 10 July for students to find out more about aspects of the rail industry - however the web page they link to is blank at the moment! There is also the Rail Engineering and Technology Show later in the year http://www.therailengineeringshow.co.uk/ It looks like this is a free event and with 70 businesses there it would be another opportunity to sell yourself !! Good luck with what ever you do . . . . . . Mike .

Peter - many thanks for those photos and it shows what I missed as I was in Malvern over the weekend but with it being a Bank Holiday, the factory was all locked up. We went to the Food Festival in the grounds of the Priory and then my wife wanted to go proper shopping which meant the M&S store - she thought I knew a short cut when I turned into Pickersleigh Road but I wasn't even allowed to stop and press my nose up against the glass .

Great set of photos Steve - which of our 'annoying' Club members did you have to remove . . . . .

Hi Ian Apologies for topic drift - are you aware that Banta have a range of building kits from Ophir (Depot, Tram House and General Store) - sold in UK by Paul Martin of EDM Models .

Pleased to say that Coastal will be at the Derby show next month at Moorways Sports Centre 10 & 11 May

Just shows there's a prototype for everything - where's the "Hand of God" when you need it! The shot of Toton on the last page shows just how much space there is there which if all goes according to plan will be the East Midlands HS2 station although the City Council continue to lobby for the line to be diverted through Derby station (as shown on the previous page as well) - hasn't that changed over the years and due to change again with Electrification due to bring a new track and platform layout. Looks like you need to get back to the old home town for some more photos before it's all gone

Near Tamworth, Staffs. http://www.statfoldbarnrailway.co.uk/

I know that you have made a start in 7mm Narrow Gauge - if you are interested in the 'Transporter Wagon' mentioned above that could carry standard gauge on the narrow gauge, then a resin kit is available from Phil Traxson of Port Wynnstay Models (illustrated on the EDM Models site here) http://www.ngtrains.com/Pages/Port_Wynnstay/Images%20Large/PW59-b.jpg Mike

As Jon says, there are some heavy chunks of white metal in parts 2 and 3. I'm not a kit builder but I didn't realise that it was necessary to wear blue rubber gloves . . . . .

Yes but will it work on 2ft gauge with Peco sleepers . . . . . .

It has actually been closed for about 4 months already with all traffic diverted via Osmaston Road or Pride Park. Contractors have been doing preparation work as they have installed a temporary pedestrian and cyclists bridge and had to re-route all the gas, electric, phone and water services. Bridge was removed over the Christmas break. These newspaper reports give further information - cost of £6.9m ! http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/City-roads-moving-despite-bridge-closure/story-19761881-detail/story.html http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Temporary-footbridge-road-closures-Derby/story-20249663-detail/story.html http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-s-Victorian-London-Road-bridge-demolished/story-20364975-detail/story.html EDIT - just realised that in a couple of those reports there are several photos - look for the left/right arrows and scroll through to see some interesting shots of the demolition

Have a look here at the work from Brian Fayle - he uses a dark base and concentrates on the 'shadow effect' - there are a lot of examples and techniques on his site http://www.brifayle.ca/2abaseshadows.html

John - that was The Robin - some recent mixed reviews here http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187048-d4014570-Reviews-The_Robin_Pub-Derby_Derbyshire_England.html This site actually says it was a bit rough in the 1980s - must have been on Club Nights !!! http://www.pubutopia.com/pubs/D/Derby/Mickleover/The%20Robin%20Hotel/

Just up the road at 'Charcon' - working on the maintenance of the machinery producing concrete slabs and kerbs and as long as nothing broke down he had time for modelling or sleeping on the night shift! If I have copied the link correctly this should be the site https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=53.007392,-1.611128&spn=0.004164,0.012392&t=h&z=17 Mike

Met up with Paul last night with the rest of the 7mm Narrow Gauge Assn Trent Valley Area Group - It's very big 'area' as Paul came down to Derby from York just for a couple of hours in the pub. Main topic of conversation was the new baseboard design which he has had laser cut in 4mm ply from his own CAD design but then he set up a yard of Peco track and demonstrated the sound on the Fowler - amazing to hear the starter motor trying to turn over and eventually it gets the main engine to fire. Loco set off down the track, off the end and carried on along the table for about another 3 ft or so until the 'stay alive' expired - we now appreciate why you need careful control of the DCC to prevent accidents - of course once it was travelling across the table it was uncontrollable !! Mike

Paul (EDM) is at a motorway service area and doesn't have full internet access at the moment but he has asked me to pass on the comments below from one of his customers - not much he can add except that he's rushed off his feet at the moment and is on his way to Boston Lodge (Festiniog) to look at a job that needs doing there . . they say there's no rest for the wicked I've just received my Fowler 0-4-0DM with SOUND and 'stay alive' from Paul Martin at EDM Models. ABSOLUTELY SUPERB!!! It runs incredibly smoothly and as slow as you could ever want. O-4-0's are notorious for poor running due to current interruptions - not this one. The 'stay alive' keeps it going regardless, smooth as silk. I removed mine from the track with the sound still playing and it kept going for something like 20 seconds plus. It looks great, runs great and sounds great. What more could one want. Worth every penny! Congratulations to Paul Martin and Paul Chetter for the sound and 'stay alive' addition to the Ixion Model, and also Chris Klein and his Ixion colleagues for another cracking model!

An amazing job Paul - well done Sounds like Chris needs to get you on the design team for the next model before it comes off the drawing board computer screen so that the installation for whatever's next will be easier

If you got the brick stencil at NEC then it was from Bromley Craft Products http://www.craft-products.com/realistic-brick-stencils.asp Another thought about the timber is Weathered Wood Stain from EDM Models - about half way down this page http://www.ngtrains.com/Pages/Glues/gluestools.html#Potions Hope that helps Mike