Bulwell Hall

Queen Charlton has a nice Somerset ring to it....... Gerry

Good to see it happening at last Chris. Please do consider calling it Berrow - or perhaps East Brent - in tribute to Mac Pyrke who was a very local modeller. He had a very good friend who lived in Unity Rd, Keynsham - this was Reg Evans who built a lovely model of the GWR terminus at Ashburton in his garage and the layout was described in MRC in the 1960s. Another of his group was John Harrison, who lived in Horfield, and had several GWR layouts on a Cornish theme - these were the Torpoint layouts which appeared in RM at various times over the years. Gerry

Never met Dave Jones but that description seems to apply to the current Prime Minister!

Very nice indeed Dave - there is no mistaking the inspiration for it. I have never found any drawings or other dimensions for this structure so any model can only be a 'best guesstimate'. And it was demolished so long ago now that there will be few around now who even remember it let alone know any dimensions. I would agree that the paintwork beneath the canopy would most likely be the usual GWR exterior structure colours - I think it had disappeared by the time Bridport station was repainted in BR (S) green and cream. The only comment I would make if I may is that the iron 'spear' fencing was almost certainly painted with black bitumen paint - certainly that is how I recall this type of fencing. And depending on the period in which your layout is set you might want to add a Camp or Virol enamel sign - bearing in mind the recent correspondence regarding the removal of the majority of enamel signs by the GWR in the mid 1930s. The top photo of the real Bridport station shown above was taken in 1947 by Jim Russell and shows these enamels signs fixed to the spear fencing which looks like it may be in black. Hope this helps. Gerry

When Lady of Legend was under construction at Didcot and before many of the 'traditional' GWR fittings were added I was often struck by how much she looked like a typical American 'ten-wheeler'.

I don't have it immediately to hand but I have a copy of the GWR Carriage Working Programme for the Bristol Division for the summer of 1947. As well as carriages, this document also gives details of the workings of vans, siphons, gas tank wagons and other passenger vehicles. There was a daily van working between Weymouth and Newcastle with a GWR van working one direction and an LNER van on the opposite working. One of these Dean BGs could very well have been the GW vehicle used as, if a siphon was to be used it would be specified. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the LNE van on the opposite working was an ex NER six-wheel PBV. I have a photo where one seems to be in the formation of a stopping train near Weymouth and a video clip filmed in 1948 seems to show one at the rear of a GW train near Yeovil. There are a few photos of these ex NER vans at Oxford which is of course less circumstantial. This isn't much of an answer to the question but does suggest a reason for a GW Dean BG appearing on the ECML. And I do have a D&S kit for the ex NER van stashed away so that the working can be modelled in due course! Hope this is of use. Gerry

With the mention of the GWR O13 Milk Train Brake Van I thought it timely to show this photo of one that I have recently completed. The basis is the elderly Mallard Models kit with some additional work following close examination of the preserved van at the SVR. Built to P4 standards it shows the van as it was in the 1920s and one of the difficulties that I encountered was I could find no photos of the vehicles in service until one taken in BR days - so quite how they were finished in the1940s is a mystery. The model now resides in New Zealand with its new owner. The lettering was available at one time from CPL Products and are Methfix type transfers. I bought two sets in case of problems with the lettering but in fact they went on first time so I do have a spare set if you'd like them. But they are tricky to use and you only get one shot! Gerry

Was your twin brother lost for a long time because he was in the small lane without a machete?

No fireman's jacket hung up in the corner.......

The sad news of Bobs death reached me overnight and his passing really does mark the ending of an era. I first encountered the appellation of 'R. J. Essery' way back in the early/mid 1960s when his series of articles on building 4mm scale models of LMS wagons was published in the Railway Modeller. So inspirational were they to me as an impressionable teenage modeler that I was encouraged to try my hand and I believe that my first scratch built model was an LMS open wagon - from thin plywood and using Kenline fittings and Jackson wheels. I followed the developments in fine scale modelling during the subsequent period as they were publicised in MRN and MRC and met Bob for the first time when I joined the infant Scalefour Society. He was usually present at the few meetings that I attended at Ken York's shed in Harrow where we were able to view progress on the Heckmondwike layout and he was always championing the cause of fine scale model railways. Of course at the same time he - along with others but most notably with David Jenkinson - started compiling and then publishing their volumes on LMS subjects and it was during this period, whilst working for OPC for a while, that I got to know him a little better. Of course Bob soon knew of my own GWR predilections and there were many anti Swindon comments - to which I felt obliged to respond of course - and I was always pleased to be able to remind him that the very first article that he had published was a description of a GWR BLT - Portreath Branch, Railway Modeller, February 1962. As has already been mentioned elsewhere Bob made an enormous contribution to the development of fine scale railway modelling in general, to the recording of the LMS and constituents in particular and there can be very few modellers who retain an interest in the traditional steam railway that will not have came across his name or indeed have cause to thank him for his monumental efforts. With the recent passing of Don Rowland and now Bob Essery the times they are a changing. RIP Bob and thank you so much. Gerry Beale

I concur completely with the sentiments in this posting. I too had a most excellent day yesterday. Two friends came over, we ran some trains - my railway is nowhere near as advanced as LB but I do have two complete and operational circuits of the shed - we did some work by forming tumblehomes and detailing of sides for some new etched brass coaches, we had some excellent cake made by my better half, ran more trains and then adjourned to my local for an early dinner and a pint - or two! A most excellent day and one that entirely reinforces what this hobby is all about. And Vincent's Claughton is just gorgeous! Gerry

Lovely pic of Horsebridge - superbly nostalgic! This line remained almost entirely LSWR in appearance until the end. At Horsebridge there was a superb lattice post lower quadrant LSW signal at the Romsey end of the station (outer home?) - I remember climbing to the top of it one day and it was very high! I walked the line from Mottisfont to Andover Town once along the track not long before it was lifted. And yes - even the Hampshire diesel unit is nostalgic now! Gerry

Two lamp huts for me as well please! Just what I need for Maiden Newton. Gerry

Had the D&E been built I am sure that a Charlie could have handled the resulting gradients!

If I remember correctly the original Borchester, as described in the MRN and MRC in the early 1960s, was actually known as Borchester Town. I was lucky enough to have seen it at the MRC Easter show in 1962 where it made a big impression!! I was just ten years old and my father took me to London to see the show. Amongst a host of memories of that day - my first ever trip to the capital - was also the incredible Rydes Vale in 2mm FS - the BR 3MT in 2mm FS sticks in my mind still. We travelled via Reading and spent an hour or so 'platform ending' at Paddington before going across to Westminster and I clearly recall my first and only experience of a 'King' in service on a Birmingham train. It was quite a day in many ways and is still well remembered nearly 60 years later - yikes!! Gerry

Interesting Stu. The photo is actually by A. J. Wallis. Wallis was Borough Engineer for Weymouth and lived in Upwey. He was an enthusiast who would have been well known to railwaymen around Weymouth in the 1950s and probably knew your dad. Is it possible that you dad was driving 1403 on the goods and that Wallis sent a copy of the photo to him as a keepsake - that sort of thing was common practice amongst some of the old school enthusiasts? As an aside Wallis had a nice collection of name/number plates including a number plate from 21C1 Channel Packet which would be worth a fortune now. I met him just once around 1970 and he also had a very nice 5" gauge Midland Compound 4-4-0. He will be long gone by now I should think. Interesting mention of 7780 as well. She was formerly a Bristol St Philips Marsh engine and was transferred to Weymouth in the mid 1950s. She was still there when Weymouth shed was transferred to the Southern Region - in 1959? - and survived until 1963 when she was condemned after a shunting accident at Weymouth shed when she came off worse in a collision with a BR Standard 5. I didn't know she went to Eastleigh for shopping although Eastleigh also did work on the London Transport 57xx panniers so they had quite a bit of experience of them. Gerry

Nice work Stu. Now she looks ready to take out the Abbotsbury branch goods! And would that be 7780 lurking in the background of the bottom photo?

Fabulous video! I was there on the footplate with the chaps! It makes me think that a visit to the NYMR is very long overdue! Gerry

I was once told that whenever Guy Williams visited Pendon Museum one of the jobs he regularly did was to go round the working locos with a black felt tip marker and touch up the worn footplate edges. I don't know if that is actually true but I have certainly done that with my own models. Gerry

Very sad news this - Len's work was one of the major factors in making finescale railway modelling a viable practicality. I well remember the excitement he caused with the introduction of the K&L range at Scalefourum many years ago - it would have been way back in the City Uni days IIRC. He went on to develop the Exactoscale system which, to my mind, produces the best traditional bullhead track yet and I am pleased to have been able to use it extensively on my own project. His contribution - along with that of Brian Rogers with his Ultrascale wheels - has enabled accurate modelling and satisfactory running to be achieved thus bringing satisfaction to many finescale modellers over the years. Thanks for everything Len - it really is appreciated - RIP. Gerry Beale

If I remember correctly the same applied to London Transport - until the 1960s oil tail lamps had to be displayed, certainly on the surface lines and even on the tube I believe. Gerry

I think you would have to be of a certain age to understand that one!

I have often wondered about that photo of the 72xx with a shiny bunker. Could the photo have been taken when the 42xx 2-8-0T was converted to a 72xx 2-8-2T? Just surmising but I reckon that as she was a freight engine they wouldn't have repainted her unnecessarily - just painted the new work.

It's also a great shame that a Urie Arthur didn't survive as well! And whilst its nice in black they look fantastic in the full glory of pre-war Maunsell green. Gerry

You only have to look at the few genuine pre-war colour views to see the differences in shades of brown - and cream - to be seen on GWR coaches. David Jenkinson's 'Big Four in Colour' has a number of views that shew the variations to be seen and this book has became almost a bible to me in my efforts to get an authentic appearance to trains. Gerry