Not Jeremy

Thanks Tim, although I don't want to overdo the "Lloyd George knew my father" thing, I knew Iain a very little and quite late, but it was a memorable and fun friendship nonetheless. There are many others who knew Iain far better than I for who this news is much more difficult. And other friends of his who gave him a huge amount of support through his recent difficulties, to whom I take off my hat. I guess, for me, its looking at emails and thoughts that didn't get followed up at the time and now of course they can't. Mind you, he was good at getting distracted and blown off course, probably why we rubbed along OK...

I hope to, I have been going through some material this morning. It has made me feel sad though, to think that he has really gone, his influence was and will remain huge I think. His sketches are lovely, Iain was such a creative and imaginative force and I am quietly remembering the times I spent with him, our conversations and the things that he said. Here he is, setting up "Trerice" at Larkrail in 2016. Sadly, Tony Barnes of the Westinghouse MRC (pictured behind Iain) has also just died at way too young an age. Mind you, Lexie did not like our cats one little bit... Simon

Amazing how you have managed to misunderstand so much from so few words. Peco do not have either greed or shareholders in the context in which I alluded to them, it's the PLC thing that generally b*ggers things up in Blighty. Or perhaps you think things are going stonkingly well? It wouldn't surprise me.... Apologies, sometimes you just can't beat the fun of inserting a pointy stick into a pointless thread and giving it a jolly good stir. Must go now, I have underlings to kick and obscene profits to count out from my multiple offshore funded and outsourced business interests. Pip! Pip!

I've a suspicion that greed and shareholders rear their ugly heads somewhere in all this as well. Still, let's look on the bright side - it stops the UK polluting anything! Apart from the minds of its population of course....

So how come Peco can do it then?

Great to see you earlier this evening and the turntable works beautifully. We could tell that Kim was really impressed too(!!) Seriously, a great piece of work and an important step towards getting Bath Queen Square running - brilliant. Simon

Hugely sad news, Iain is an absolute legend who is going to be very much missed. It is sad but also very nice to read so many of everyone else's recollections, thoughts and impressions of Iain, both here and elsewhere. In common with others I knew Iain was unwell, but this news still came as a terrible and horrible shock. I had the privilege of getting to know Iain a little after taking Wild Swan on, and he turned out to be every bit as much fun and fascinating to be around as I had thought he might be. We worked together on the Cameos book and had discussed other projects too, I think that our last actual meeting was sadly as long ago as RailWells back in 2019. Here is a picture taken at Larkrail in 2017, Iain, accompanied by Lexie, was operating a Peanuts style "the doctor is in" type help desk for the weekend, seen here in conversation with Martin Goodall. It is too early to really say, and not entirely straightforward, but I (as Wild Swan) hope very much to publish something new from at least some of his additional material and ideas. Iain was hugely knowledgeable, funny, and had an absolutely vast experience of this hobby of ours and the characters in it, over so very many years. And he was a formidable talent in so many ways too, a really good modeller, hugely creative, inspiring, kind and always encouraging. There are many people who knew Iain far better than I did - I knew him but for a fleeting moment. He was to me, and will always be, one of the greatest names and inspirations that this fabulous hobby of ours has ever had. Rest in Peace Iain Simon Castens

But where's the Titfield Thunderbolt....©️

After extensive proof reading, wider consultation and even some market research, Tom's new book has now been passed for printing and goes into production next week. It is illustrated with eight lovely drawings which were especially created for the book by the very talented John Wardle, which match Tom's story really well and for the first time reveal just what the "Grasshopper" looks like from outside(!) Thank you very much for all your hard work John. It also has a rather splendid new cover: Cover image copyright of Studio Canal and used with permission. Available shortly, the new book is priced at £11.95 and will be available direct from the Titfield Thunderbolt and all other good bookshops and retail outlets. I am also working on "my" book about making the film, which also covers the earlier Coal Canal and Camerton Branch, and which will include many previously unpublished photographs and new information. It should follow Tom's book pretty smartly.... Simon

I think that is right, I guess a late "survivor" of the earlier approach was Norman Eagles Sherwood Section, which certainly fired my imagination when it appeared in Railway Modeller back in the 1970s. I guess there is a sort of dichotomy that we all face, in the general sense that realistic appearance quite possibly does not support the "operational" style of realism that we may be talking about on this thread. For myself, as a cash strapped and unskilled entrant to the hobby, it was Cyril Freezer's 9d Peco booklet on Modelling Branch Lines that really caught my imagination. It was the combination of the huge visual appeal of the subject coupled with the realisation, as Cyril explained so well, that with just a few items of rolling stock and on quite a small "stage" one could recreate a credible representation of the real railway and how it operated. That is still a thought that really inspires me fifty plus years later and is probably the idea or notion that mostly informs and motivates my own efforts in the hobby today. Going back to older models (which I appreciate this thread is not about), one which fires my imagination to this day is the "Bracton Chase" railway in 7mm scale, the builder created a completely believable world to my eyes. It is such a good hobby to have an interest in. SImon

Dear Tim I take your point, but the impact of Clutton was much, much more positive on viewers and exhibition goers than your description implies! It is/was wonderful on so many levels, not least in achieving exactly what you set out to create all those years ago. There are always those who will criticise, it is an easy thing to do and we can all fall into that "trap" from time to time(!) Being a bit cheeky, I seem to recall a youth who looked a lot like you reducing an industrial chemist to a gibbering and nervous wreck at one exhibition, something to do with unrealistic N gauge as I vaguely recall.... Simon

An interesting discussion, with lots of good points well made. Going back a few pages; That maybe true, but the businessman in me shudders at the prospect of boxes and boxes of unsold stock that such a publication would indubitably generate. In the meantime, Wild Swan does offer this: Authentic operation for model railways I think there is actually and already a huge amount of information available, I suspect that the "problem" highlighted is more to do with what interests and motivates each of us when we create our models and model railways. For myself, the best model railways are those that allow me to suspend disbelief and enter in to the scene or world with which I am presented. There are many and various ways in which this can happen, and in that diversity of approach, I think, lies the joy and magic of this great hobby of ours. Simon

A great subject for a book and looking good from what you have shown, I very much look forward to seeing it! Simon

A short freight on the new line this evening.

Oh dear, I can't quite find my 44 tonner, but I have found the cut down Harriman combine which gives you an idea of the livery of the MLR, very similar to the livery that Avon County vehicles used to be painted in C.U.B.A. Here is a cruelly large image of the beastie... Can't beat a distraction, or two, or three, or four... Simon

I have just been on the phone to James reporting the success of his book, together with lots of positive comments received, and am pleased to report that future collaborations between us are definitely under very active consideration. Personally, the book has got me digging out my re-liveried HO Bachmann Southern 44 tonner (purchased aeons ago) - maybe the Moriarty and Lumberton RR will hit the high iron after all.... This fantastic image is taken from a great website the diesel shop the photograph is by Bill Folsom. Simon

Many thanks for your kind comments, and great memories of Roye and Pendon too. The book is happily selling better than we had expected, given that is a second edition of a book that the first edition of which many people had already purchased. This is a tribute to all of the hard work that Stephen put into the new edition, together with the expanded number of photographs, including the really superb colour work of Paul Ellis from Pendon. Thank you again for your comments! Simon

Wild Swan have a book on milk traffic in the very advanced stages of preparation. Entitled "Milk On The Rails", it is written by Matt Pinto, "Karhedron" of this parish, and contains a wealth of information and images on the subject of milk traffic up until its demise. Matt has been researching the subject for a good number of years and has uncovered a lot of fascinating information from a wide range of sources. I know that Matt was in touch with Glen, and we certainly have some good information and images in the book that have come from that source. Matt may wish to comment further on this aspect, I will leave that to him as he had the contact with Glen Woods, whose loss was very sad indeed. Glen had talked about doing a book, so I would think that this may well be what is being remembered on this thread. The new book's publication date is "as soon as possible". Given Wild Swan's other commitments (not least the new book on the related subject of GW Siphons from John Lewis) publication may just creep into the early part of next year. But it is definitely coming! Simon

Really nice to see you and your daughter Mike, amazing how you just appeared as I was extolling your virtues to another visitor! And thank you for reducing my burden on the way home. A lovely show I thought, much as I miss Swindon Works as it was, it is a fantastic venue and the museum is nicely laid out over a large area. I was also very impressed with the friendliness and helpful nature of all of the museum staff and helpers, thank you all very much for a very enjoyable weekend. Simon

For what it's worth, at least one person at today's show in Swindon reported not yet having received their subscription copies. Gosh, could I have used any more words to make that simple point? Towns other than Swindon are available in Wiltshire, although I have to say that the Jewel In The Crown Indian restaurant in the town of that name was most satisfactory.....

I know this is flagged up on a Kernow thread (because they will be there - hurrah) but I thought it deserved a mention in "Exhibitions" too. This is a post Covid return of a great show, a little sad as brother John and Owen Gibbon have had a huge hand in running and organising it over the years and Owen died unexpectedly last year, as noted earlier on RMweb. I am taking a Wild Swan stand for the first time, having only gone as a visitor before, and am all set for tomorrow and a great line up. It was really nice to see and speak with John again, he has brought along part of the magnificent archive collection that he and Owen have built up, well worth chatting to him about and delving into. Some great layouts too, plus all of the "Steam" museum to enjoy, Bob Harper with some interesting looking American layout, Andrew Burnham attending something Australian (I think), Andrew Bartlett's fabulous Blueball summit, a fantastic looking rendition of Lambourn in 2mm, Jerry Clifford and lots more. I am in the main hall next to Masterpiece Models. Their "Western" is very nice.... Simon

I have them here in BA1 7DE caller, but I guess that isn't what you were asking.....

Thank you very much David, glad you like the book. James' Small Layout Design Handbook did prove popular at Guildex and sparked a lot of conversations and thoughts. Back here yesterday saw the last appearance of "Pomparles Siding", now chopped up with the pointwork given away and the girder bridges and wagon turntables retained for a few ideas arising from James new book.... Originally built in response to RMweb's first layout building challenge many years ago....

That’s a stretched Beattie - I’m surprised you had to ask…. And here we have a "Baby Castle" especially for Old Gringo(!) Great to see you yesterday Chris, your building is really something. A great show, I had a good run back which included tea and cake with Old and Mrs Gringo, all in all a top day!

My machine is android based running off the EE network through 4G. All of yesterday and so far today it hasn’t missed a beat, so it can’t all be the fault of the venue can it? I think it is a great show myself, can’t find anything to complain about……