John B

York, 1977, aged nearly 10, at the Assembly Rooms. And yes, I do remember the crush against those pillars! That started an annual pilgrimage - next year or the year after the De Grey Rooms were added, before the eventual move to the Knavesmire. It's been a long time (30+ years, sadly) since I was anywhere near York around Easter, must do it again sometime.

It is indeed in the latest edition of the Modeller! Next trips out for Kettlewell will be at the Cathcart Club show in Pollokshaws in October, followed by the Renfrewshire club show in Paisley in December. As a regular operator, it's an absolute joy to run, superbly engineered. Possible future shows include Aberdeen (2025) and Kendal (2026), obviously both TBC. John Stocks tries to limit outings to around 3 per year, given that we have another club layout on the circuit (Garlieston) and a number of other personal projects under construction - including another Midland layout that John S is building.

They do indeed look superb. Kept going back to the stand for another look. Apologies if there's any drool marks on top of the glass, guys...

Great choice! I'll be having a fair few of these!

As a kid, my most-thumbed-through book must have been the Triang-Hornby Book of Trains. So anything that starred in that is a core part of my nostalgic leanings. I always wanted (but never managed to obtain) a "Hiawatha" or a "Davy Crockett", for reasons best known to 6 year-old me. Nellie and her kin are cornerstones of that era, and I must admit to being somewhat excited (and then terribly let down) on seeing the 2024 Hornby announcements and realising that the Nellie, Connie and Polly "reissues" were not to be the original 60's tooling. I also loved the non-railway items of that era - the "ModelLand" buildings, and Minic vehicles. Future nostalgia? Probably the early days of MRJ, first steps in finescale, and classic exhibition layouts.

From experience, I can affirm that whilst roofing felt can be stapled (or nailed) to OSB, water will find it's way in fairly rapidly.... Since a "proper roofer" redid my sheds with heat-sealed asphalted felt, even the windiest and wettest westerlies have been repelled.

Quite. Having "hunkered down" through 4 hurricanes during my sojourn in Florida, Storm Isha was uncomfortably the worst I've experienced in the UK, definitely gusting at or above hurricane force at times hereabouts, and we're about 10 miles inland as the gull flies. I would not like to have been out on the shore or the briny...

You lot in the lee of the storm were lucky... the Wet(sic) Coast suffered rather more. I returned from an enjoyable evening at Celtic Connections at the Glasgow Concert Hall to find my greenhouse on it's side, patio furniture strewn across the garden, a heavy iron sack barrow where it shouldn't be, and my recycling bins in bits and their contents scattered across the shire. Later yesterday I discovered a substantial stretch of flashing, where the slates are bonded to the sandstone, ripped off and on a lower roof... Thankfully, the modelling shed, workshop and wild animal pens (ok, rabbit shed and run) remained intact...

We (the West of Scotland 4mm Group) would always be interested in exhibiting our layout (s) at a show in Edinburgh - either this year or in the future. Currently we have Garlieston - P4, 4m x 1.5m, available, for which we usually do not require expenses or accommodation overnight (and would not for a show in Edinburgh - only further afield). We also have other members' layouts available. Let me know if you'd like further details and I'll get our exhibition coordinator to get in touch.

I have - and it looks fantastic. Kettlewell is coming in the next edition of the Modeller, out just before the show. Look forward to seeing Wellpark again when I get a break from signalling duties!

I (finally) managed to get myself a copy of "The Little Railways of South West Scotland" by David L Smith - received yesterday, most appropriately from a bookshop in Wigton. It's superb. It has lots of information about the Girvan and Portpatrick Railway, including motive power and stock used, as well as the rest of the railways in Galloway. Of a different era to Andrew Swan's opus "The Port Road", definitely, but every bit as readable. Highly recommended!

Or a large and perfectly formed one, like Stafford, set out with wide aisles and space to breathe and easily holding 50 layouts, with a large audience, yet still feeling comfortable for exhibitor and punter alike. Easily the best show I've attended since returning to the UK..

Many years before Warhammer was a thing, I used my first "model railway" as the basis for my Cub Scout Modelmaking badge. Our Cub Master knew a guy who used to live in our village who "made models" and came out to assess my (9/10 yr old?) efforts. Turned out the chap in question was Peter Kazer. He brought along some exquisite scratchbuilt double and single Fairlies he was working on for me to look at....

Should be a cracker - I'm operating John Stocks' lovely Midland Railway Kettlewell layout on the Friday and Sunday (time off for good behaviour granted on the Saturday to use my Murrayfield season ticket for Scotland vs England in the 6 Nations). Really looking forward to seeing Trerice (P4, not EM!) for the first time, and also Wellpark for the second time, this was a layout that made a huge impression on me at Perth in 2022. Altogether it's a superb lineup again this year...

Ah, but the Midland were allies with the Sou' West, mostly. It was the "Premier Line" that hooked up with the True Line, and as you should know more than anyone, there's barely an ounce of truth from a premier....

Oi! Living within a few minutes walk of Caledonia Works, I strongly resemble that remark!

The West of Scotland 4mm group will be bringing Garlieston, in Portpatrick Railway / GSWR mode with some very unique rolling stock built by Ray Nolton and Allan Goodwillie. Looking forward to seeing some of you there!

I wholeheartedly agree, Simon. During my 17-year self imposed exile in the US, this place was my only model railway "club", and as such kept me informed, updated, and inspired by equal margin. Since returning to the UK I've got back involved with a club, helped get a layout on the circuit, and enjoyed playing trains with others' layouts at shows. And still visit RMWeb daily for a quick dose of inspiration and information. Yes, there's froth and frustration a-plenty. Such is life, though, and this is a slice of life, with our favorite obsession centre-stage. Long may it continue!

Just opened the latest Model Rail and seen these advertised - unusual for the paper media to be ahead of Rapido's online media! Anyway, looking forward to these and more pre-grouping wagons from Rapido.

It looks fabulous - every bit as good as I remember it from (I think) seeing it at the old Warley club show at the Harry Mitchell Centre in Smethwick, back when I was a student in Brum. The "proscenium arch" presentation makes a distinct visual improvement, and the character of the original is maintained, even enhanced. A simple backscene will gild the lily. Great to see the overhaul and upgrade done so well, and to see one of my favorite layouts of all time with a new lease of life.

They were on show, in the timber (so to speak) on the PECO stand at the Stafford show last weekend...

A couple of iPhone snaps from Stafford..

Some photos of Kettlewell at Stafford last weekend. It behaved itself mostly well, and we had some great chats with folks who seemed to enjoy watching it almost as much as we enjoyed playing with it..

Thoroughly enjoyed seeing this at Stafford, one of the standouts in a very good show as far as I was concerned. I kept coming back around for another look whenever operating duties on Kettlewell permitted...

On behalf of the Kettlewell crew, many thanks to all involved with the Stafford show for their efforts - it was very well organized, we felt very well looked after and enjoyed the show immensely. It was novel to be at a "big" show and not feel hemmed in, the balance between filling a hall and allowing room for everyone to breathe was excellent. And even the M6 northbound was mostly cooperative on Sunday night! I particularly enjoyed Central Alonzo Mill, Newhaven Harbour, Emwell and Bleat Wharf to name but four layouts. And we came away with invitations to several more shows, so more forays south of the border may be upcoming.. Good to finally catch up with @AY Mod for a brief natter on Sunday after all these years.