brianusa

It does look like it needs trip through the washer. Have to agree about the warning panels although on that particular engine they help! Didn't like them to begin with - still don't and have they actually saved life or limb over the years? Brian.

Colin, lovely T9, a favourite of mine. Brian.

I'm all in favour of a little layout levity. Probably I can get away with it on my tinplate layout but it helps the 'serious' business of running a miniature railway into a more people friendly level, especially at shows. Phil mentions about the U boats; there doesn't appear to be much depth in the estuary! Brian.

...and that's why I have a train room but also two duckunders which cause a headache every so often. It would appear that the layout is getting lower as I am getting older! Brian

Thanks CME. I noticed the pictures were a bit fuzzy so here is a better example which shows the rather thick painting! A pity Lionel didn't venture further into this series but they seem to show up a lot in the UK and are a good subject for a repaint. Brian.

Both of these Lionel Halls are comparative bargains and can be had at far less than list price still. I have added a front coupler for double heading and a adapter for Hornby/Lionel coupling.. Brian.

Its the same at many venues especially at holiday time. They are there together because Dad is interested in trains and Mum is dragged along. She usually brings her knitting and reads a good book. Just go to any model train show and there she is again, sitting behind the table needles in hand! Dad is checking out other layouts! Brian.

In this technical day and age, a pull cord seems definitely something NR and H & S would worry about. But there again, it works! Brian.

Definitely related to train sets and space or lack of but small curves were the criteria so there weren't many options. It didn't bother kids and most adults but when the kiddie market waned it was left to the adult enthusiast to demand perfection, or as close to. Even then a lot are never satisfied even those who were weaned on the old train sets! Brian.

This fiddle yard could be accepted as some else's marshalling yard; looks good to me. Serious fouling of the track approaching the water tower though! Brian.

OK -THESE layouts then! Brian.

Agree with the previous post. This layout is almost as good as the real thing! Brian.

Love the locos but hate overhead wires. Just think, they will soon ruin the GW main line after all these years! Brian.

As a closet Southern fan I must agree but I really owe my allegiance to the GW. That was always the trouble in Plymouth; you really never who really supported which railway! The spectacular slipping of the Bulleids getting a grip on the way to Friary was always good for pro and con loyalty comments. Brian.

Ah Turnchapel - Gateway to Jennycliff! That was the best ten minute train ride; from Friary past 72D in its forlorn state, over Iron Bridge, turn right at Plymstock, past Oreston and over the Hooe Lake swing bridge.. All that railwayana in such a short trip. Much better than the P & O boats!! Someone must have modelled this already or should do now that authentic stock is at hand! Brian.

Checking on the progress at Horrabridge. Agree with the Cap'n having burned just about every finger at one time or another and melted a lot of castings! While not building anything as critical and intricate as a OO model, I now use super glue or Duco cement which just about fixes anything. Brian.

Probably time to change topic unless it happens again! Brian.

Without wishing to deviate too much from the subject, was it not Ivor Dewdney? It was in my time and in the same vein Sellecks pasties were considered to be the best. For the older amongst us, they were in East St next to the market and latterly after the blitz in the basement of Ebrington St Wesleyan chapel. The good Cap'n will be too young! Brian.

Agree. While the A4s are pretty, I think the LMS streamlining was better and more typical of the era. However, both were better than the GW effort of meddling with a Castle and a King. Both GW locos were far prettier in their original form and were it not for the streamlining of everything from cars to toasters at the time, they would have been well left alone. Brian.

By 2022 the traffic will be that much worse. Four coach trains at commute time? Better build a long platform and a decent shelter. Imagine waiting in the cold and rain in the winter at that exposed location! Brian.

Love this thread about Horrabridge but after reading the above, I'm glad I switched back to tinplate trains!! Brian.

Only been to Parkend once on the DFR so sadly it was not instantly recognisable. Is this the original track layout? No matter, its a very fine N gauge layout. Brian.

Classic FM, on the internet. Brian.

The best part about sharing ones hobby is that we all can learn a lot whether or not we share the same interest. Lets face it, my particular train layout is far from the classic scale branch line here modelled but I have gleaned a lot from Horrabridge that I was not familiar with and also the prototype. Quite possibly, had this layout been set anywhere else, there would not be much interest for me but this area was my old stamping ground. So please carry on as I welcome all aspects of the discussion. Brian.

As I was very familiar with this area and the line, this discussion and the layout has great interest for me. However it has convinced me that my eventual settling on a tinplate layout was my best option. I had dabbled in N - too fiddly. Tried OO, Buckfastleigh and Staverton with mild success which faced some of the same problems as this one as well as similar criticisms. Then a foray into LGB which was really too big for indoors but in the end opted for O tinplate because one doesn't worry too much if things aren't prototypical or exact. Much easier! But back to Nick's Horrabridge; I would be happy to have such a layout just as it is and eager to follow its course to completion. Brian.