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Gday Mr Contents maybe the wrong moniker? Best wishes Brian

Gday Manna, some of my worldly possessions including all of my models / modelling equipment. I thought we had problems with our house move. You also beat me hands down though by distance, we are only moving thirty miles. all the very best Brian

I remember an article from Railway modeller back in the sixties N gauge in the garden. A garden layout in any gauge is an attractive proposition, getting the necessary planning permission from the authorities another matter.

Two of Davids Water Orton photos seen before but worth repeating

Wow..I have always loved railways in the garden. As an eleven year old I walked up an access driveway between houses in Watton Lane Water Orton. The driveway became an L shape leading left and right to the back of those houses and their garages and sheds. I looked to my left and at the end of the drive I saw an O gauge 94xx crossing a trestle bridge with a long goods train. I walked up and discovered in that garden a replica of Hatton station. The owners were the Underwood family. They were a family of railway enthusiasts . I was spotted engrossed by the spectacle of their railway. I’m pleased to say rather than tell me to buzz off they invited me into the shed which housed the stock and work bench. I had the pleasure of visiting many times later. The years passed and in 2014 I had my layout of Water Orton published in the April 2014 edition of BRM. I was contacted via the magazine by David Underwood, who now lives in Vancouver Canada with his wife, also from Water Orton. They were visiting the UK that summer, could they visit and view the layout. They both visited and whilst our wives conversed David and I went to the loft and fifty odd years disappeared ….wonderful. I couldn’t understand though how a family who lived so close to the splendour of the Midland at Water Orton, had photographed it even , had adopted the Great Western. The answer, trips to Hatton during the heyday of Castles and Kings. I couldn’t believe how kind fate had been to grant me this opportunity to show my work to one of the people who nurtured that interest all those years earlier. I think I may have recounted this story earlier in this thread, no matter worth repeating.

Another image of Saltley, what atmosphere

Sincere thanks Hayfield for this info, I have however a comet 264t chassis pack in my spares box, left over from my building garratts some time ago. I think it can be easily adapted. The high level gear box wheels etc also lie waiting in various packing cases. We are moving in just over a weeks time. My wife has some plans to “ do the garden” …and of course there is the unpacking. John R has kindly suggested I set up my modelling bench asap when we move, thus staying out of her way, and allowing her the necessary space, whilst she does this essential work. I am just waiting for the right moment, preferably away from any heavy or sharp objects to suggest this to her. best wishes Brian

Hello Stephen the three car set which I still own ( I had a big clear out of stock as well as dismantling Water Orton) was created from Lima single railcars and a collet coach. There was an article by Monty Wells as stated in an early edition of MRJ . It involved cut and shut, and fitting flushglaze. I have still to fit wipers as you can see. if I were doing it again I think you can / could get etched sides from Worsley models. I have used those and MTK cabs to create a four car class 123 unit, which also used the Derby line for a short period in 1964. I still own that set as well. I found it easier to part with a lot of beautiful RTR rather than some of my worked on models. I will reply to your pm best wishes Brian

We are finally moving to Tenbury early April. It has been a long stressful process. We have though been in the area a lot recently . I have got to know the A 456 to the A 49 very well indeed over the last few months. I can’t help it, I always try and follow where the line of the railway ran alongside. I know and keeping my eyes on the road not least to avoid potholes. No matter how well you know an area it always throws up things of interest . I thought the line followed the A 456 on the left hand side of the road travelling from the Salway Arms back towards Tenbury . I then noticed the remains of a bridge to my left the other day which showed the line crossed over the road before going back to the other side by Little Hereford. Apologies to those not familiar with the area as I have become recently. This was confirmed by my examining a 1902 OS map. I am too committed to modelling my old Midland haunts at Coleshill Warwickshire, but I will though run the Heljan ex GWR railcar through it, I have in homage to my newly adopted area. I also have a three car ex GWR set which I altered as per Monty Wells article in MRJ in the eighties. I needed it for my then model of Water Orton. In 1955 the Westminster Railway Society used it to travel to Derby. photo taken by Andy York when he photographed my model for the April 2014 edition of BRM.

Hello John well done what’s next on the scratchbuild list a Raven pacific perhaps. . No excuse it being not your modelling period. Humour aside I think when you build or adapt your own models you create more than just a replica best wishes Brian

Hello John always a nice moment when any chassis you have built runs smoothly. I envy you at the moment, not done any chassis work/ soldering in a while. I am even missing not assembling high level gearboxes. best wishes Brian

My favourite Latin from Porridge I believe nil carborundum illegitimi don’t let the -xxxx grind you down

Yes John looking forward to it, almost there…After moving I have to convince my son to put a ceiling in this garage….sorry layout room, a bit of insulation…window in the wall looking out to the garden..behind the position where this photo is taken. A bit of plaster on the walls…nice flooring, kettle …who needs a house

The original paper covered roof returned after I realised I had built the replacement plastic one too big. House now virtually complete just awaiting a couple of chimney pots and a layout to place it on!

Nice model John best wishes Brian

It might not look like it but quite a bit of work since last photo. I wasn’t happy with the paper covered roof, nor the colour of the walls. Roof now from wills , the new walls covered in scale scenes pebbledash. The tedious task of creating the windows now underway. I have just commented to John R via PM at least Coleshill station master seems nearer to his new home than we are… The colouring on the previous paper covered roof was better, so this new one will be re painted in due course . It is just resting on the walls at present to allow me to fit glazing to windows.

A taste of things to come when they appear on my new layoit

A cheer me up present. A loco ordered some time ago whenI had a layout to run it on. It’s a beautiful model can’t wait to see it double head through Coleshill with HS4000 like it did in real life .,. ahem…

On a happier note station masters house taking shape…hope he has better luck moving in than we have into our new abode!

Hello Andy I could fill a whole thread with what has been happening. Sadly for my good friend John (R) he has had a flavour in our pms. I won’t burden the rest of you. It has allowed time to model Coleshill buildings and plan for the new layout. I still have the buildings from Water Orton wrapped in bubble wrap. A sad sight…I won’t have enough room to include them in any layout…my thought is to have a diorama on a shelf. The other option would be to donate them to a welcoming home? They consist of the station building, Minworth Road bridge, the platform with waiting rooms. All signal boxes and the four road footbridge.

I cant really believe I’m typing this, still waiting to move house. In the meantime distracting myself by building , what was the new house for the station master and their family. I won’t show the build here yet. It’s been difficult a distinct lack of photographs especially on the side that faced towards Leicester. The station master and their family really needed to be at peace with the railway with exchange sidings for Hams Hall behind them and their garden. The house itself looks to be an inter war build grey rendering on the outside. On the locomotive front awaiting being reunited with my soldering iron and putting a new chassis under the Flatiron. To cheer myself up have just paid for my Heljan E2001 from Rails of Sheffield. It was preordered many moons ago. I saw the loco at Rugby about 1972 just before it was scrapped. I will post some photos in due course.

Sincere thanks Stephen I would never have guessed that the railway went under the road! Your old map shows it clearly. I will be in the area a lot in the coming weeks, pending a house move to Tenbury ( I know I never thought it would take this long, but nearly there) best wishes Brian

Hello Methuselah Are you aware of any photographs of the line / bridge that would have been over the A49 by the present Salway Arms . I have travelled around that area a lot recently and can follow the remains of the line…removed bridges, embankments etc? I assume the line would have crossed over the A49 and run towards Wooferton station where the present service station is. I look forward to your reply best wishes Brian

John I will send you some of my wife’s custard. it will stick anything

I was drinking with my friend Don Taggart today in the Great western pub Wolverhampton, to celebrate his birthday. The venue is situated between the newly rebuilt High Level station, and Low Level. The latter has mostly been preserved but is now a banqueting hall. The pub is full of railway memorabilia and has a good selection of beers and food. My point, a number of other enthusiasts were there celebrating with Don. This group included a gent, who had been a prominent member of the MNA. I had heard and seen the term used many times. I enquired what it meant….only to have the same explanation as given by John. I gather this involved using services late at night for example. The gent whose name I won’t divulge looked in fine fettle this lunchtime. As ever great modelling by Darius