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Hi John, Lovely photos of the B Set here. I know what you mean about the misunderstanding and potential lonliness of railway modelling. However, after becoming part of the group on RM Web it has been lovely to chat to so many thoughtful and skillful individuals. I've even bumped into some of them whilst exhibiting or trading at shows too! RM Web is like a large extended family - I hope you feel welcome and spend many happy hours here from now on! Incidentally, I had one numskull (who is a talented musician but sadly is low in terms of modelling skills or appreciation) say to me once, "do you ever just have pretend crashes or place figures on the track like in a film for the trains to run over? My answer was; "Hmmm, do you ever snip the strings of your guitar on purpose? No, didn't think so otherwise you would ruin your pleasure. Now, take a minute, think about it carefully...you'll have the answer to your question soon." Anyway, keep the photos coming, John. Lovely to see some GWR postings to brighten the day. Chris

Hi Jon, Just stumbled across your stunning layout. Wonderful details and life within your models and scenery. Excellent! I've happily spent a great deal of time just now browsing here. You've just gained another follower. Chris

Evening all, A couple of recent additions to life here at Berry Pomeroy of late including our newly weathered pannier tank, but I'll let the photos do the talking instead. Stopping for a brew in the mid morning warmth between jobs, Reg Jones perches on an empty crate on the yard crane's base. Not wanting to miss the opportunity for some banter, Len Cotterley pauses for a natter with Reg on his way round to the yard. A short time later, 9794 arrives with the morning goods and shunts the yard. The weathering effect and detailing aspects are highlighted nicely. Fireman Ernie Askby takes a breather as he keeps an eye on shunting activities in the yard. Finally, here is a low level, wide angle shot towards the fiddle yard through the road overbridge. Chris

Hi John, Just read your most recent posting on here and enjoyed reading it. For many of us, you have summed up our feelings nicely. Some of us may be young yet in terms of expert modellers or our skill levels are still developing (come to think of it, nobody ever stops developing their skill levels - all part of being a human and not a machine) but it is the enjoyment and relaxation of the hobby that keeps us fired up (pun intended there!) You have clearly taken a great deal of time, care and attention in your modelling and you can reap your rewards gladly. Some modellers do prefer the designing and building aspect compared with having running sessions which isn't a problem at all - to each his own. Whatever aspect it is, it's the enjoyment and relaxation that are the greatest rewards I feel, especially after a long day at work. Nothing better than to disappear back to the good days for a few hours and escape. Anyway, keep the photos coming. Oh, and thank you for your advise on the running in board - it has proven to be most useful! Chris

Hi Les, I use the method of having the PC in the railway room as my work desk is in there also. I often find a birdsong clip on a well known video sharing website to have on in the background when having a running session or when modelling as well. I have considered having some sort of sound device underneath the baseboards with bird song to use instead of the PC sounds which would help when exhibiting. I think Nick, the chap who owns the lovely Much Murkle layout, has a sound device fitted to his layout. I actually forgot to ask him when I spoke to him at Stafford show earlier this year. It was either a sound system or else there were actual birds in the room or, better still, someone was making the sound effects themselves! Anyway, Bishopscombe oozes that GWR BLT countryside atmosphere that lots of us crave for! Keep it up and the photos coming too. Chris

A good summer's evening greeting to all, Recently, the weather outside is reminding me of the weather here on the layout at Berry Pomeroy...sometimes. I mean, don't get me wrong, it must rain occasionally at Berry but not half as much as up here in Wigan! Anyway, some local chaps were out and about today having a mosey around the yard and took a few snaps for us. Folk in Berry are good like that! Ex GWR 8750 Pannier Tank No. 9761 simmers happily after running around her suburbans. She awaits the 14:02 departure. I think one of the chaps must have climbed a tree for this shot of 9761 waiting for custom: Not sure whether Bert, the signalman, has forgotten to return the shunt signal back to the 'on' position or whether he's making a brew. Anyhow, 9761 has completed her run round. In a stoke of fortune, one of the wagons in the yard this afternoon was the 1 plank with cable drum load. I enjoyed tinkering with this a few months back. A dab of paint here and there with a few detaily bits and weathering looks the part. Chris

Hi Les, Well, I must say, I've had such an enjoyable period of time browsing through your thread. I haven't noticed it before on the forum! Perfect and plenty of lovely details and some smashing weathering too! Belting! Sometimes it's good to have a bit of summertime background noise on, such as summer bird song whilst having a running session or just observing your hard work. That's what I do anyway and it would work wonders with your lovely layout. Keep up the super work and...you have gained an extra follower! Chris

Hi John, Just had to return and browse this wonder of a layout on here this afternoon. Please may I ask; how did you make/put together your platform running in board with the correct font? Amazing! Cheers, Chris

Hi John, Many thanks for your kind words and comments here. Always a pleasure to chat to a fellow friendly GWR modeller. I thoroughly enjoyed browsing your thread earlier for Stoke Courtenay. Incidentally, have you combined two locations for your layout name? I recall a station on the Southern's Withered Arm around Okehampton with a similar name - Sampford Courtenay? As for the figures, I do enjoy painting them and deciding and deliberating on their poses and postitions. Judging from the photo selection it may be obvious that 4560 is one of my favourite locos to use, however, there are a ridiculous amount of Prairies and Pannier tanks here! Kind wishes, Chris

Hi Les, Thank you ever so much for such lovely kind words in your comment. They are greatly appreciated. I must admit, Berry Pomeroy doesn't feature as often or as heavily on the Layout Topics thread as I tend to grab time on here as and when I can. As for the population, yes indeed it does continue to grow, however, I think the limit has been reached. I think a layout gets to a stage where population has reached the maxiumum, otherwise it looks very cluttered and unrealistic. I have always presumed back in the day that, especially on branch lines in the fifties and sixties, there tended to be more staff at the station than actual passengers, particularly towards the end. Such a sad thought! I also find that figures look better when posed in realistic positions - chatting in pairs or small groups or doing something if they are alone, such as reading a paper, gardening, checking a watch or sleeping etc. Many thanks for following too. Kind regards, Chris

Dear John, What a smashing layout here after just catching up with it on the forum! Such skill, time, effort and dedication and you can certainly reap the rewards for your talent. Amazing! It's always a joy to see a well turned out GWR layout and this one is easily one of the best! My hat goes off to you. You have certainly gained an extra follower here... Kind regards, Chris

Hello everyone, Following on from the last update, I have been working on a new 8750 pannier tank that has recently been acquired. Some additional weathering has been done and good, quality crew have been painted and fitted. Photos of the new loco in service should be following in due course in a future posting. However, for now here are a couple of shots from earlier this week: Autocoach W231 stands patiently in the summer sunshine ready for the 14:02 departure. Meanwhile, the lunchtime quietness decends in the goods yard as the local delivery lorry stands idle. I have often found older rolling stock mouldings to be tiresome sometimes, especially when obvious details are missed out during production. Fellow GWR modellers have probably picked up the fact that Bachmann's toad brake vans never seem to have their windows glazed. I often find things like this annoying but, still, it gives us another job to tackle. So, the other week's activities included glazing all of the windows on the toads here at Berry Pomeroy using liquid glazing. I found that it worked pretty well and shows up nicely. At least the guard will be happy when the seasons change! Chris

Hi Dave, Brilliant! Good use of the free space from the remodelled point work. The platform and edging look great too. Keep the photos and updates coming... Chris

Hi Mark, Yes indeed I am. I have two new DJM 14xx locos ordered - unlined black and lined green which will match perfectly with the auto coaches. I have a Hornby 14xx which is fine for running in and out on the autocoach but that's about it. They tend to be very unreliable and terrible for realistic shunting in the yard. It will be lovely to actually use a 14xx on a pick up freight to do some shunting for once Chris

Thanks very much, Andy. Glad you found a new home for your wonderful fishing port layout. I must say, I was most tempted... I am currently thinking of a similar layout for my next one. Chris

Evening everyone, The camera has been out again of late catching some snaps of some stock and locos that have, until now, dodged the local photographers on the branch around Berry. So... Ex GWR Pannier tank, 9786, trundles into the terminus after arrival with the early afternoon passenger service from the junction. This is the 12:38 from Harbourton General. All change please! We see the accompanying autocoach W231 standing at rest after arrival. The coach has been lightly weathered with powders around the bogies and underframes as well as smoke and soot effects on the roof. Finally, as 9786 gently propels her autocoach down the platform heading for the platform water crane, the photographer has just time to snap the front end of the coach. These much awaited rolling stock additions are wonderfully detailed and perfect for any GWR themed layout. It will go wonderfully with a new 14xx tank... Thanks for stopping by as ever, Chris

Hi Dave, Haha, brill. I thought so. Don't worry, we all have oops moments. I very often have those 'sack the signalman' moments when points are set wrong which causes a dead section or the occasional SPAD I like the shot of a train at the platform. It looks like it fits a loco and 2 coaches on nicely? Cheers, Chris

Hi Dave, Super progress here with some great scenery work going on. Is your station just a one platform job? Also, I couldn't help but notice the signal box - is the roof removeable? The chimney might be better off at the back where there would be a stove perhaps? I could be wrong but usually the window view was unobstructed by a fireplace/chimney breast? Anyway, forgive my noticing. Lovely updates here and looking forward to seeing how the station develops further. Chris

Hi Rob, Excellent details and weathering here. Amazing skills! Just how vans and wagons should look for that authentic touch. Chris

Hello everyone, It has been rather busy earlier this week since the last update on here with not much in the way of modelling. Some of the stock has been serviced as we had an exhibition to attend on Saturday and we took some of the stock to use as well as taking a large majority of our products from our model shop as we had a trade stand too. Plenty of interest in both which was pleasing! Anyhow, I recently purchased some newly released Bachmann box vans. They caught my eye with their level of detail and quality and, being fruit/vegetable vans, they would be ideal for a rural branch line look. Here they are after shunting and resting around the yard waiting for their return trips, one of which is to Spalding it seems. Finally, after shunting the yard, 4560 takes a breather and simmers in the sun. As always, thanks for looking. Chris

Hi Kev, The developments on the layout are looking good! I especially like the Hippodrome sign and building end for the scenery. I mentioned this to my grandad earlier today and he recalls "being a bit naughty" and getting into there for free a couple of times by sneaking in some way or another. Tut! Recalling these tales of his youth and looking like butter wouldn't melt! Anyway, the L&Y book is a good read. Incidentally, my parents now work on the industrial estate on Cricket Street where the shed used to be next to the line to Southport just outside Wallgate. Fancy that! Cheers, Chris

Hi Ben, It's Chris here from the Stockport Open Day show. I co-own North Western Models and we were chatting at length before the end of the show. I've managed to locate your blog at last and I shall follow your lovely layout with much interest. It kept me entertained today during quiet periods on the trade stand. All the best and hope to see you again soon, Chris

Good afternoon all, I have enjoyed a few more painting sessions recently from a few new additions to the population. So here we go: Alongside Alf Springton (he popped up in an earlier posting whilst busy kneeling down gardening. Watch those knees!), Arthur Lumbrette is eyeing up a prize broccoli with his pitchfork down in the allotment. Meanwhile, over at the station, William Barnlow busily has a catch up with porter, Harry Oldburn, whilst waiting for his train. What could they be nattering about? - The latest cricket scores? The glorious weather? The EU Referendum debate? (Ed: Sorry, just remembered, we are in 1959 here). The 15:30 afternoon pick up goods saunters into the yard from under Tanner's Hill Lane bridge behind grubby 4680. Thanks for taking the time for a browse, Chris

Hi Andy, Lovely sequential photos here of the 8750's arrival, shunt and departure. That milk tanker is crying out to be weathered, it's far too clean. Unless it is its first day out in the big wide world? Have you any crates, boxes or drums etc to by the quayside? Not too many but maybe one or two bunched together might be nice? Chris

Hi Les, Lovely updates on here. The station building is coming on a treat. Very impressive and will look wonderful when completed! The weathering on the 43xx and the wagons is superb. Plenty of atmosphere and detail here. 43xx is looking like a right little medium sized workhorse. Keep up the super work and enjoy your photography with the layout. Cheers, Chris