Not Jeremy

I thought I'd cast another question out to the RMweb expertise. I am scanning negatives from the late David Hyde, and have come across what I think is a shunting accident at Colwall, date early 1960s I think. Without wishing to be irritating(!) I don't want to reveal the image as I am going to use it in a new book I am working on. So, the question, does anyone here have any record or knowledge of such an incident? If so then I would love to hear from you! So as not to be seen as too much of a miserly rat bag, here is a nice picture from the same collection, showing a WR DMU running in to the station. This picture pre-dates the incident I think. And here is what I think is the photographer's car, this taken at Hatton I am pretty sure. I think the photographer may be Jim Russell himself, but am not sure and wonder whether anyone here knows if this is the case. Any thoughts or assistance very much appreciated, and I think it fair to offer a copy of the new book when it comes out to anyone who can provide a date and or details for the shunting mishap. I'm going to limit it to the first person to come up with the info, just in case it is something really well known!! I thank you... Simon

It is out, very good, and in stock at the Titfield Thunderbolt bookshop, my take on it is here. As this thread is frequented by wagon aficionados, in my guise as Wild Swan Books I am working on a new title that will cover ex GW wagon types in traffic, which should come out this year. And for your delectation (and as respite from endless mindless and boring wittering on about discounts) here is a gratuitous wagon picture (that appears in neither book). Taken by WA Beard, copyright and part of the David Hyde Collection, now in my possession. Can you guess where it is? Simon

As Jordan says, thank very much Paul and well done for speaking with Chris. I'm sure the situation isn't ideal but it sounds as though he is making the most of it in his usual style! Best Wishes Simon

Jeez All this "too old to be able to carry big layouts" jive has always been with us - find a nipper to carry it for you! Joking apart, the sort of exhibitions that would be produced by expediency and a strict following of "common sense" as espoused above would be, frankly, boring. Without wishing to ruffle feathers, the hobby needs new ideas and new entrants for it to survive and prosper, and exhibition organisers who are worthy of the name should be thinking beyond strict practicality. If your club depends upon a show for its finances then fair enough, and if enough local joes can be brought through your doors then fair dinkum, but you won't be attracting anyone looking for something interesting or different. I won't be attending, unless it's on my doorstep, and even then I might not. Yes I know, you won't miss me etc.... Too often we sink into "gloom and despondency" mode I think, the hobby is in very good shape, the wretched plague has even put up sales (talk to Peco if you don't believe it) and there are lots of new ideas and methods about - 3D printing at home - who of us saw that coming? And before you practical and sage old guys lean out of your zimmer frames to shoot me down in flames, ask yourselves this: Is Warley being at the NEC "sensible"? Can "Heaton Lodge Junction" even exist? Let alone be put on the road and exhibited? Let's be positive and get creative! And if we can't stand the heat then we should get out of the kitchen. Not Jeremy

Yes, a great shame, possibly not men of sufficient faith in York🤔

I have a feeling that whilst many railway modellers have been reverends, accountants, tax inspectors and even Pop stars, very few have ever been found in the diplomatic service.....

Hi Simon I spent ages looking at your layout and watching the trains go by when I visited Shepton on Saturday, in company with very many people. I made several return line side visits before going home, and I didn't hear a single word of criticism from anyone around me, my overwhelming impression from everything I heard was that folk were mighty impressed with what you have achieved. I did speak to PaulRhb on the way out, who mentioned the signal stopping thing, but then he is a signaller and so has a particular interest in the subject. He also made the comments in a pretty "uncritical" way and his appreciation of your layout's very many good points was also clearly evident to me. I would quite understand if you didn't take it out again (just based upon the terrifying logistics), but if you ever did then I would happily pay money to see it again. So, thank you very much for bringing Heaton Lodge Junction down to Shepton, I hope the experience wasn't too financially bruising for you! Best wishes Simon

Oh I don't know, going back into trainspotter mode who wants to see yet another bleddy bog cart!?

Back home some while ago and now reflecting on a great day out. The models are awesome, but also it was so nice to meet up with so many people again after such a long time, lots of familiar faces, lots of conversations, just great. And thank you to Jerry for being my chauffeur from Warminster station and back too. My photos are not as good as others, but here's a quick impression of my grand day out. Jerry chats to an ex Bath driver in front of Evercreech, the ex Julian Birley layout, now in the very capable hands of the Yeovil club. Bournemouth West was pretty special, perhaps Jerry's friend is on this working arriving from Templecombe with a 2P! And everybody loves a Spam Can, especially one that steams like this one did, just marvellous. And Heaton Lodge Junction making everything else look small, very small... A cheeky shot of Evercreech's fiddle yard, the West Country was at the head of a rake of the new Dapol Mk 1s in green, with internal illumination, really very nice... Here is the "other end" of Heaton Lodge Junction, with Evercreech in the foreground. The Yeovil guys have great plans for this layout and their new Prestleigh Viaduct (behind curved back scene at our left) is very well done and set into the scene. I spent absolutely ages at the side of the tracks of Heaton Lodge Junction and enjoyed every minute of it. My pictures are terrible, but here are two taken at the very well modelled underbridge(s) Apart from the high quality of everything on this layout, the sound was perfect and just the right level, not too loud but loud enough. Which added a lot to the experience of watching the trains go by. Well done and thank you to Simon for cooking the whole thing up, and to everyone else involved in the layout and show, a thoroughly enjoyable day in every way. As others have noted, there was a really good positive atmosphere around the whole event from everyone involved and all the visitors too. Thank you again! Simon (another one)

Just on my way back, waiting for the train at Warminster having got a lift with Jerry Queensquare. Heaton Lodge Jct is everything it has been built up to be, awesome on every level and a fantastic spectacle. Top quality and consistent modelling, reliable running and all to the signals, and the sight of a full length 7mm scale train lost in the distance - epic! The supporting layouts are all very strong too, Bournemouth West, Evercreech and Wimborne being “Suvvern” highlights. Get there if you can, you will not be disappointed!

Chris, you are absolutely right - thank you so very much! I have found some pictures in one of David's files that absolutely confirm this. The signal related to a "break of section" signal box installed for heavy Saturday traffic. David took this picture in 1964 by when the signal box windows were removed, the halt closed on the 18th April 1966. Thank you to everyone who contributed but especially Chris! Why I couldn't have tumbled to that myself I wouldn't like to say... Simon

Oh go on then...

At the risk of proving to everyone I'm a complete berk, Chris's comments about it not being entirely Great Western, coupled with the fact that the picture came to me from the late David Hyde, who was a great enthusiast for the M&SWJR, coupled with the pencilled name on the back "Kingston" (which I took to be the photographer's name), being the only legible mark on the back of the photo led me to think it might be Collingbourne Kingston. I got quite excited momentarily. But, the bridge there is not arched and is constructed from brick, the pole route looks wrong, possibly on the wrong side of the line and too significant for the MSWJR. And the signal.... I think maybe David couldn't work it out either(?) So I am still none the wiser, well, we knew that didn't we....

The wrong sided signal, there is also a nice thatched cottage or farmhouse about 1/4 mile in the landscape to the right of the bridge. I take your point about the whole photograph, but as it may be previously unpublished and may be going in to a new book, I am reluctant to release it into the Internet World just at the moment! I am not messing around, I genuinely don't know where this is, but I think there are enough features in the image above to enable it to be identified. The arch of the bridge does not match anything on the WSW line to Weymouth or the main line either... Thanks for your thoughts! Simon

I wonder if anyone can help me please? This is part of a larger image that I wish to put into the new Wild Swan book on siphons, but I can't workout where it is. I don't think it is anywhere in Wiltshire, the loco in the complete picture is Himley Hall which was last allocated to 84G Shrewsbury and I would say the photo was taken earliest from the late fifties onwards. Any assistance much appreciated! Simon

Ah yes, I see where you are coming from. Actually, I find myself quite liking the stuff these days - don't know what my world's coming too. Mind you, Monsieur Woodentop did warn us about the dangers of root vegetables earlier in this thread, sage advice.... How lovely to be able to have these daft virtual conversations again. Thank you for your second coming RMweb! Simon

👙🍄👜🧥🤼‍♂️👺🍌🍌🍌😳 What's not to like?

A further meeting recently took place and we now have a floorpan and everything, Jerry is taking it all very seriously.... One of the many attractions on July 23rd will be two stunning models of "Active" and "Bulldog" in 1/32 scale, together with their builders Steve Harrod and Andrew Vines. These were both built from Fred Phipps' kits. Simon

A great outward looking initiative, I hope it does really well. It might also go some way to displacing the apparently widely held idea that "Hornby" is synonymous with model railways(?) I appreciate it is much more than just model railways when I say that. Anyway, really good to read of an organisation in Blighty doing something positive and new and on its own account. Simon

Well done and thank you to Andy and everyone else involved in getting RMweb back on track. Of course, I didn't miss it at all🍌 Hell, I think these new emoticons are pretty cool too👺🧥👜🍄 👙 V(virtual)UNHCR were apparently getting pretty worried about the makeshift camps of refugees in neighbouring territories, the usual problems, petty crime, lack of sanitation, wish lists, you know the sort of thing..... It is a pity about the pictures I guess, but how much worse would it have been if the pictures were there but there were no words(!) Just think of all the pointless guff we'd be missing out on! Soz, that was a bit rude. Joking apart, it has been a very strange virtual world without RMweb, it is absolutely embedded in so much of the internet. For example how many searches on numerous subjects by now return results for information that is on RMweb - many thousands I think. And then there are all the virtual friendships and conversations it facilitates, think of all the people you'd not hear from again if RMweb were to really disappear for good(!!) And the many benefits it affords all of us, model producers, publishers, modellers experienced and new, just anyone interested in the world of model railways. Mind boggling - the good things that flow from RMweb are many and varied, long may it continue. Moving on to more serious matters, whatever did happen to that nice chap and his "Electricnose"😳 Thank you for returning, really. Simon

At the risk of being told off for further drifting a very good thread, what is it about Thames Traders? I find them extraordinarily appealing... Perhaps a new thread needs starting! Simon

Porcy, you aiming for something like this?! Yes, I know it's not a gunpowder van. I only say that as I feel that had I not done so, then some helpful soul would have felt duty bound to have pointed out that this iron monk is not a gunpowder van. And nor is a monk a mink.

I have checked my scan of an the print I have from David Hyde's collection, and the first word is without doubt "Demonstration". As regards location, looking at the excellent Warwickshire Railways website I can't see it as being Leamington, but then I don't know the station that well! Work continues in the book, I may well flag it up elsewhere soon... In the meantime thank you again for the very helpful information that you provided. Simon

Thank you very much Rob, that is a good idea! I am hanging back a bit as this project has been "in the pipeline" for quite a while now and I want to be sure that I have got it properly underway before publicising it. All that said it isn't any kind of secret either, so feel free to mention as you see fit. It will be a Wild Swan book, produced with the active cooperation of the HMRS, but extent and price etc are still to be determined. Having spent the last two weeks or so really going through it I feel I know the subject a little better, John Lewis has done a great job with the text, as you would expect. I am picture editing and by lunchtime today have got the end of the Siphon J chapter. If anyone has any brilliant previously unseen pictures then that would still be of interest, a customer recently sent me one of a B4 tank shunting a siphon off a train at Winchester City station(!) Best Wishes Simon

Hi Steve That is brilliant, and yes that is the image I am considering in the shape of one of Russell's prints that was in the late David Hyde's collection. I wasn't aware that it was in Russell's book as I don't have them in my collection This is all in relation to preparing a new edition of the HMRS Jack Slinn Siphons book, written by John Lewis. I am sorting out the pictures for inclusion at the moment and it will be published this year. I'm minded to put this picture in as I think it is interesting, I will take another look at my scan and see if I can decipher the first word. Thank you again for your reply. Simon