ParkeNd

Yes. The green plate is covering the name Uskmouth.

Time for a bit more photo action especially for the folk who like the Dean Forest Railway but don't get the chance to visit as often as they would like.

Just adding final details to Parkend in the Forest of Dean. Everything on the layout existed but not all at the same time. Using my own photos taken on visits, track plans at various dates, books, and residents memories I have modelled Parkend retaining all the best bits between 1878 and 1965 depending on what appealed to me. So a newsagents shop demolished in 1930 still stands rather than a 1950s house that replaced it for instance.

Whilst researching for my layout based on a real place and the village around it I found the internet only partially useful. Books were easily the best but even the railway section at major bookshops had no more than about 20 books on railways. The solution for me was the bookshop within the museum at my local Heritage Railway. Not only do they have for sale 40 or 50 books about there own railway and area but another 200 or so covering all areas of the country. Thats before even starting on the coach full of secondhand railway books.

I have just had a look at the satellite pictures of the track leaving Parkend towards Speech House, and I reckon that unless there is some grand plan afoot getting much past Fancy Road would appear to be a real challenge because of the more recent buildings, the caravan business, and the cycle path. I will ask next time I go to Norchard.

Hi Sparks. They are some great photos to add to the thread. At Norchard the high level platform now is used for everything except the last train of the day which terminates at the low level - and then the loco runs around the train unless it's a DMU of course. But great photos.

A question on the two points above. Would getting across Fancy Road next to where The Square used to stand be a problem now?

Thank you Captain Kernow. A few more photos taken on the same day including a moon bear glimpsed at Norchard , a not so usual view of Parkend station from Farrimor Close, a coming and a going, a standing still being painted, and finally a waiting for painting next.

rode their bikes

A few photos from Wednesday 18 Feb 2015 Forest Flyer. It was still very much winter and hard to take photos that didn't include "we'll need that soon" type of items laying around everywhere. The three car Class 108 was immaculate though.

Off to Parkend and Norchard tomorrow for the Forest Flyer.

The last train of the day hoves to out of the trees in the Forest of Dean.

How about a forest - with a train in it. This is a 57XX departing Norchard in the Forest of Dean towards Lydney.

I took these at Parkend in 1973 - well before the digital age.

Gladys at Norchard 2014. Nikon F2 Photomic with HP5.

A bit quiet around here so here are some photos at Norchard.

Thanks corneliuundie. I have bought most of the recent books on the DFR and the Severn and Wye and as you say the research is absorbing. The truth is that I have a Class 57xx (tried for two more but they wouldn't run), 2 x Class 22s, 2x Class 25s, a slope tanked Prairie, 2 x Class 108s, a Class 14 Teddybear, a Class 14xx with autocoach, and a Class 37 with one more on pre-order. I don't have a Dean Goods but I think they were fairly rare at Parkend. My trouble is I have several other locos I just like - so I run them. Occasionally I have strictly behaved days but not often.

Thanks Phil. I am sure I have seen your name mentioned in hallowed tones in DFR circles.

New thread just being started in Layouts section

OK. Thanks for the interest. Should I start a new thread in another area of the forum with a new title ? If so where - I cannot see an N gauge section.

2.5 Likes per week and 0.7 Replies per week is being virtually ignored. What I was looking for was involvement with others and I picked the wrong place. But that's my error.

Final response for F-Unitmad. 17 comments from other people in over 6 months and an unknown number of views - that's the logic behind my decision. And this Group is more than a bit quiet to be honest. But thanks for your lone comment - much appreciated. I'll close the door on my way out.

Hi folk. I am finding maintaining this thread of no value to me since it is proving to be a bit of a one way street, and the Glos and Forest Group has virtually no active traffic. So I am bowing out. Mods please feel free to delete this thread. Over and Out.

I doubt if any of you are members of the N Gauge Society - I am. The construction of the layout "Parkend" is the subject of an illustrated article in the current edition of The N Gauge Journal published yesterday Part 1 is 4 pages in the current Journal and Part 2 will be in the next Journal due to be published end March 2015.

The man in charge of the fire devil on the day I took the pictures told me they are making two siding connections to the main line. Evidence below.