Broadoak

A pair of Southern Pacific EMD F7’s wait in the loop while an I&W SW1200 switcher works the bauxite ore cars through the loader. Photo Andy Knott Peter M

A Talbot Valley Alco RS1 crossing Colonel’s Creek with a Santa Fe covered hopper. Photo Andy Knott Peter M

A visiting D&H Alco RS 36 is seen working a cut of empty bauxite ore cars through the loading facility at Colonel’s Crossing. The brake man standing on the front porch takes the opportunity to roll a cigarette. Photos by Andy Knott Peter M

The D&H Alco trundling past the agent standing on the platform of the depot at Colonel’s Crossing and then past the disused water tower. Photos by Andy Knott Peter M

The Alco RS36 is seen rolling over Colonel’s Creek while switching cars in the yard at Colonel's Crossing. Photo Andy Knott Peter M

A few photographs from a long dismantled American switching layout I built. A visitor to Colonel’s Crossing a Delaware and Hudson Alco RS36 #5023 seen here with a small train from Benson. The model belongs to Andy Knott who also took the photograph. Peter M

Andy P Thank you for your complimentary remarks but I feel I should point out I am 77 years old in a few weeks time. Kind regards Peter M

Andy Knott, while in David Bailey mode took a few arty shots of the bench inside the engine shed. In the second photo a very damaged differential can be seen on the bench. It looks beyond economical repair. Sacks of potatoes out side the greenhouse with tomatoes growing inside. These provide a cash crop in the Summer as the greenhouse is used to chit seed potatoes in the Spring. The Scenic section on the layout is 38 inches long. You will be relieved to know these are the last pictures of Two Sister’s Farm. Peter M

A selection of photos of a favourite at exhibitions especially with young lads, it is the GMC based railtruck. Photos by Peter M Peter M

The small van like many of the devices on the layout is an ex military vehicle called Tilly, and is used for track maintenance as she is a bit too light for anything else. She can also be used to rush fuel or spares out to the fields if needed urgently. Photos Peter M Peter M

A couple of shots of the wooden bodied Simplex built in the farm workshops to provide a bit of shelter in the winter. This is not fiction but is based on an actual device that was used on the Fleet Light Railway on the fens in the 1950’s. Photos Peter M Peter M

As a child I remember one of these delivering sacks of logs in winter it was a Canadian Ford. It belonged to Fair ground operator who wintered at a nearby farm. I rather like its chunky purposeful look. Photos Peter M Peter M

The gas producer is an early Opel Blitz truck from the late 1930,s. The tank on the front holds the gas and the radiator cools it ready for use. The large vertical cylinder behind the cab is the heated device that turns coal or wood chips into a gas to power the truck. It produces only about 40% of the power that petrol would, but on a flat area like the Lincolnshire fens it made worth while savings on fuel costs. Photos Peter M Peter M

A couple of shots of the little Porter 0-4-0 quietly working in the yard on two different occasions. In the first picture she is waiting to follow the jeep out into the fields. The second picture shows her pushing the wagon loaded with items for repair. In the background is another small yard shunter that is rarely used as it is very light and not very powerful so can only pull small loads. Photos Peter M Peter M

Photo Chris Nevard Photo Andy Knott This shunter built in the farm workshop is a piece of pure fiction. It has a diesel engine at one end which powers a large generator at the other end. This can be used to power one of the shunter’s bogies or as an independent power source for use out in the fields. I think imagination is one of a modellers most useful tools. Peter M

It’s early morning and a mechanic is seen checking over the Fordson Super Major in 1958. This is the year this particular model was introduced. It was more powerful, easier to start and generally a great improvement over the TVO (tractor vaporising oil) powered earlier Fordson Major it replaced. Photos Peter M Peter M

The Canadian Ford rail truck is used to take workers out to the fields in the morning and then bring them back to the yard in the late afternoon. Photo by Peter M Peter M

No trains this time but a workman taking a mid morning break from sawing and chopping wood. Note the Labrador puppy inside his shirt. Photo by Andy Knott. Peter M

Tipper chassis used for carrying a motley collection of items for repair or even scrapping if of no further use on the farm. Photo by Andy Knott. Peter M

The Porter has been gradually Anglicised over the years and now shows less of its American origin. Used rarely in Summer and at the Autumn harvest time she is a spare means of propulsion really. Photo Andy Knott. Peter M

The Davenport shunter is another bought in machine and works mainly in the fields, where she makes up trains to be taken to the standard gauge connection by one of the bigger shunters. Photo by Andy Knott, who was often my fellow operator. Peter M

The Opel Blitz rail truck is fitted with a Gardner diesel engine powering a generator that in turn powers the traction motors in the leading bogie. She is built on a modified chassis made in the farm workshop, the two bogies give extra braking power as the wagons don’t have brakes. Photo Andy Knott Peter M

It’s the end of the day and the Simplex has just spotted a wagon full of items for repair outside the small engine shed. The mechanic looks tired out having spent the day struggling to repair a tractor out in the fields. Photo by Chris Nevard Peter M

The small Ruston 20/28 hp shunter is fitted with a Dorman diesel engine and is one of the few locomotives bought in and not made on the farm. She is seen here waiting for the gas producer to come into the yard before she can make his way out to the fields. Photo by Chris Nevard Peter M

The Yellow shunter is a creation made in the Farm’s workshop it too is another Gardner Diesel powered device. She is seen on a weed killing train in the yard about to start a day’s work in the fields. Care has to be taken with the chemicals used for weed killing because continued use damages the track itself. Photo by Chris Nevard Peter M