2750Papyrus

And the occasional anarchist!

The Scott names are whimsical, but I have to vote for Somme, in remembrance of all who suffered and died there. May we never see the like again.

I suspect many are uncomfortable with this naming theme. Personally, I understand that certain animals are pests and have to be controlled, but I would prefer that to be by the most humane means possible. On Saturday I had to remove a dead mouse from a trap and felt full of remorse, though for some time it had at night been scratching in the loft immediately above our bed. Irrespective of any such qualms, the naming of these locomotives is a historical fact and the use of similar names for warships also goes back many years. My choice of favourite name is The Pytchley, 62750, after my Trix Twin 4-4-0 of that name. With pocket money of 6d per week, it took many weeks of saving plus birthday and Christmas money to amass the necessary £5-17-6d. Aged maybe 8 or 9, I knew that BR had added 60,000 to LNER numbers and somehow dreamed it was the loco featured in 2750 Legend of a Locomotive, which I had borrowed from the library.

Stoke was an excellent layout for travelling back in time and just "watching the trains go by". In doing so, it provided almost continuous movement for children and the casual visitor, and also a good mix of train types and locomotives. There are many branch line layouts which are beautifully modelled but where the daily train service could be counted on one's fingers. I can enjoy watching the fill-in shunting movements on such layouts but only if the movement is prototypical and not just moving wagons up and down for the sake of it (and the illusion is spoiled by the arrival of the great hand from the sky to poke stalled locos and to fish for 3 link couplings!). I think what I like is a combination of both, which probably means a station on a continuous main line. This provides both (hopefully interesting) passing trains and also purposeful shunting and light engine movements. These are probably the layouts I enjoy most at exhibitions and try to emulate at home. A mix of nostalgia, relaxation and stimulation? I find the comments of use of coaches interesting. There are many sources of information on the design, construction and operation of locomotives and an increasing number on goods vehicles. There are some good books on coach design but very little on the "why" and "how" of passenger train and vehicle operation (Steve Banks excluded). The operation of Carlisle will be interesting!

In the first lockdown, you could walk down the middle of the main road into the village it was so quiet. This time, there is no discernible reduction in traffic from normal. Additionally, there is no obvious age-group predominating: there are as many or more middle aged lady drivers and passengers as young men. I am afraid that many of the population are fed up with lockdown or believe we should let the virus run its course.

Another for Bedfordshire

Let's hope we can all attend it safely.

Thanks very much for those pictures, which help in understanding the construction and operation of the layout.

I had hoped there might be separate votes for Footballers and famous houses! I took little interest in football till I lived in digs In Manchester. My fellow residents were nearly all footballers and fans and one night we went to a match at Maine Road. I was hooked! Good times; Charlton, Law and Best at Old Trafford and Lee, Bell and Summerbee at City, whom I supported as (initially) the underdogs. My parents were deeply involved in Scouting all their lives and therefore 2871 loses out on this occasion to 2846, Gilwell Park, which was for them and many others the spiritual home of the Scouting movement.

I also have some reservations about voting for diseasels. However, my Dad and I used to watch out for Deltics displaying new names in the FP depot sidings or crossing the Seven Sisters Road bridge. My first serious girlfriend lived in a house backing onto FP depot, so in time I saw most of them. I prefer the names in the racehorse tradition to the regimental names, my favourite being Pinza. ( I was in a group which used to play Searchers' numbers!)

Worth trying the "sliding" middle wheel solution. Wheels fitted to 2mm tube, free to move on 1mm rod as axle.

I think I remember seeing and cabbing Britannia at an exhibition when she was new in 1951. Marylebone or King's Cross? So she has to be my choice, although years later I enjoyed a footplate ride on a sister loco.

Mike, are the 5 wheeled coaches prototypical?

The illustration includes the definite article but the headline reads just Knight of Thistle.

Hornby, you'll get in trouble if you don't decide between Knight of the Thistle and Knight of Thistle!

I did!

Best - Tudor Minstrel. Worst 60500 - ET, for the alien operations he performed on defenceless locomotives.

First saw him in 1963. Last saw him in 2019. RIP Gerry. I wonder how many Liverpool fans have heard of Carousel?

Thanks for posting those photos, Tony. A pleasure to see them on a gloomy day.

Wolf of Badenoch is a wonderful name but I cannot support it as a favourite in rebuilt form. So my vote goes for Tudor Minstrel, a melodious sounding name.

Very nice! Any plans for further GN buildings?

Very useful if you are taken ill whilst away from home on business or holiday. Our surgery operates an an-line system for requesting consultations and repeat prescriptions and also provides viewing of ones medical record.

That's a smashing layout for young children. Lots of detail as well as action, well done. I am sure you and your (step) grandchildren will continue to get many hours of enjoyment from it.