Flying Fox 34F

Very nice! I know you have had to compress the track layout down, but the shed is still impressive. I'm looking forward to Nottingham. As for A4's, after Barrow Hill will you be attempt all the Gresley A1/A3's to welcome back the Flying Scotman, when Riley's finally put her back together! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone

The 4F looks a treat. As for the coaches, I can see why they have taken so long and yes the catering car and all its fiddling bits looks a nightmare. I look forward to seeing the finished items!

I would be very happy at work if the P1 and train actually came round the corner over Harlaxton Road bridge rather than a class 66 on a container train. Very enjoyable Paul

A most spendid piece of work. It proves the old theory, when you have the right tools! By the way my apologies if my posts keep giving you the jitters. It was not my intention to scare you! By the way, looking at the maps, there seems to have been a crossover in the area you have put yours. Inspirational as always Paul

I have to say that the area around platform 1 is looking rather good. It is ironic for me to consider that where the D2 is sat under the canopy, this is now where i occasional reside in one of my capacities as an operator of the Grantham Emergency Panel, which controls the current day ECML from Stoke to Hougham! Mostly recently it was 6 weeks ago. I hope to make it to Nottingham to say hello and enjoy your work. If the shunting moves scare Mr King, i'm game for ago. I like a challenge

Its good to see your simple track painting method. Far easier than hand painting when fixed in place. Have you done anything to the pointwork to improve the electrical connections with the switch rails. I know in the past that the tabs that Peco use can be a pain!

Graham, As per usual i love the work you are doing. I have been pondering your comment about pictures of the westside of Grantham North box. I have managed to locate a suitable photo taken in 1962. You need to look in a copy of "The Eastern Before Beeching", page 35. It shows the locking room wall to have had alot of brickwork renewed or windows filled in! The nameboard is even in the correct colours as you portray. Mind you the photo you referred to does show white painted letters with Mr King's Atlantic. I hope this helps Paul

As a member of the Network Rail operating department, I can concur with the importance of having the route correctly set before clearing signals. Even in the latest Railway Operating Centres, where in normal operation you just click on the relevant signals to set the route and let the system get on with it, the signallers have to keep an eye on the screens and then if the route fails resort to a route card system and individual switches (clicked with a mouse) to set the desired route for the next train. Woe betide if a signal clears and the route is wrong! Stressed operating and S&T staff and a pile of paperwork is usually the result. Back to the model! It is good to see how you are wiring it up and the D2 looks lovely. I need to check my roster to see if I can get to the Nottingham show in 2014 without using precious annual leave. Finally, as for Graeme's comment about purchasing more Human memory, does anyone have any spare hours available that i can purchase. I need a 36hour day in order to catch up with everything I want and need to do!!!!!!

Robert, My apologies for putting you in a quandary! I too have come to the conclusion about the platform 3 extension before the large bracket signal was changed to colour light. Colour lights first appeared in the 30's between Grantham North and Barkston South due to the running of the high speed services. At the same time, the signalbox at Barrowby Road stooped controlling the ECML, only the Nottingham lines. I do know that platform 2 was extended northwards to the toe of the North Junction points in 1943/44 using Prisoners of War! This would be when the connection into platform 1 from Nottingham would have been finally removed! No doubt the signaller with theatre indicator was installed to replace the bracket signal you mention. Ironically, a section of the war time extension of platform 2 (now 1) subsided last year and was rebuilt about 6 months ago! As for your layout, i think you are right to keep the facing crossover to keep the trains moving, mind you, you can still terminate the occasional Nottingham service in platform 2. Paul Mellor Flying Fox 34F

Only just found this. Absolutely marvellous. Gives one hope of fitting sound into my models, Paul

Hello, I'm new on here, but I had the pleasure of meeting Mr King and his collection at the Grantham Model Rail show last weekend. The Streamlined mountain is very impressive. Your Grantham layout is also a delight and i've read all 25 pages of the thread! I have also studied the real location on and off for years as I am born and raised in this dear town. I noticed that you were intrigued by the signal at the south end of platform 5. It is possible that this was commissioned at the same time as platform 1 was extended northwards during the second world war. Allow me to explain, it would seem that until the line from Lincoln was opened, all trains from Nottingham and Boston would terminate in what became platform 2 on the up main! When the Lincoln line opened the new bay platform 1 was brought into use along with a connection from the Nottingham line. I suspect that from then on trains from Lincoln, Boston, Nottingham and Leicester would terminate in platform 1. Mind you at busy periods no doubt trains would still terminate in platform 2. Looking at various ordance survey maps and photographs, platforms 4 and 5 were used for Northbound departures. When platform 2 was extended northwards this cut the connection from the Nottingham line. The facing crossover on the Nottingham line was installed to allow Nottingham trains to arrive at platform 5. I've no way of telling if trains terminated in platform 4. Consequently, the need for a locomotive release at the south end of platform 5 comes into its own. This allows a locomotive to escape back to the North signalbox and onto the shed. Also installed at this time is an additional trailing crossover on the ECML to allow trains to depart platform 1. I have also spotted that an additional through line was installed in the down goods yard and a connection from the shed yard towards Grantham South signalbox! Finally, with regard to the features at the south end of platform 5, two photographs in the following books, "LNER 4-6-0's at work" page 108, the top picture shows the connection into the adjacent carriage siding and "Eastern Region Steam Twilight, part one" plate 202, shows Mallard in platform 2. On the extreme left of the picture, you can see the signal post on platform 5 next to the so called glass house! I hope my ramblerings have not sent you to sleep and that this helps you with the layout. If i can help in any other ways drop me a line Paul Mellor Flying Fox 34F