rue_d_etropal

Laser cutting does do brickwork nicely, but designs need to consider brick sizes on corners. My idea I am playing with using 3D printing is corner sections, which connect to each all. I think it might be trick with laser cutting though.

I only just found this thread. When I saw the article in magazine I emailed Ben to say I was impressed. I remember playing on the trackbed as a child(well nearly a teenager). My parents moved to Sevenoaks in the mid 60s, we lived just up from Riverhead on the A25. The Sevenaoks bypass was being built at the time, but we used to walk over the Chevening. I remember the bridge and the lane next to the trees on the north side of the bridge. There was no sign of the old halt, but I think we must have cycled down to Brasted station, as I remember the old station and have a couple of photos taken with my then brand new Instamatic camera. The old station at Westerham I think had already been demolished by the time I was looking around there. I remember one of my friends at school was planning a model of Westerham in P4. P4 was just starting to get publicity, but I am not sure the layout ever got built. I seem to remember my friend was the son of the no2 to the vicar at Westerham. I mentioned the new bypass, the junction with the A25 was massive, so I think there were already plans to link to the then not built M25. I certainly remember seeing footings to the north, before it was officially approved(memory not photos ). Given the route the Westerham branch line took, there would not have been room to keep it and build the motorway, so the line was doomed.

Found this , with what looks a photo of some of the wagons in background. http://www.route-bleue.com/chroniques/item/1343-les-carnets-du-parc-pnr-la-narbonnaise Also looks like there might be a book. Could not find it on Amazon though. Photos showing the locos when they arrived on CF de Tarn, show they were painted a sort of yellow with white upper on cab.

Andy I was actually wondering what the colour was on the Camargue line. All b/w photos. There was a book printed 10 years ago9now out of print and difficult to find), but the magazine was from 1978 called Chemins de Fer Regionaux et Urbans. I was sent some scans of the article, and I suspect the book was based on this (50 page) article. Luckily I was pointed to a copy on eBay so now have a proper copy of the magazine. When the book came out there was a local touring exhibition, which unfortunately I did not know about. Photos of the exhibition suggest it was the same photos published elsewhere online. I plan to write an article myself, but probably won't be able to use the photos. The loco and coach drawings I will be doing myself as the plans are only original manufacturers , not what actually got built, and the Decauville coach has no drawings at all. All this started with talk about water carrying wagons, and being pointed to an article in MRN . It was actually one of the first copies of MRN I had bought. The Crochat locos on the CF de Tarn are now in red/white(well one is ). There is also a b/w photo on one page which looks like when they first arrived. Not certain on colour, but big numbers on non door side of cab. The more I think about it, the more I want to know. With the locos coming up to being 100 years old, there might be some interest. I am initially planning to use a model of one of the locos on my layouts inspired by the film and TV series of MASH, so Asia not southern France. That is assuming the chassis will go round my sharp curves(Fleischmann 25cm radius). I have many ideas for mini layouts so it is quite possible something based in France will follow on. Another fictional salt works in the Camargue would nicely combine two ideas of mine, but it would be in 5.5mm/ft using 9mm gauge for the Crochat loco.

Only can presume it was an industrial system under military control, or involved in war work. According to the CF de Tarn website, all the stock went to the preserved line, and it was because it was 50cm that they decided to build the preserved line as 50cm gauge not 60cm as the original line. Given the effect of salt it is still amazing the locos survived for 50 years in use, and are actually now approaching their centenary.Maybe that will trigger some new articles or a book.

yes the bridge was the branch line which ran west towards St Giles. I have driven round the area a bit as my brother lives over towards St Remy, just beyond where the tourist line runs from Arles(although I have not seen much activity recently). I had assumed the line down to St Marie was standard gauge as much of the embankment still exists, but when I ,not only found out it was metre gauge and electrified, I knew I wanted to build part of it. The station next to the main road bridge in Arles still exists, so I had passed it many times without knowing. There are loads of good photos online, I just need to visit Arles to take some door/window measurements. I only plan to build the buffer end of the station , to include the station building and the remains of the water tower. I have the magazine article from the 70s, and as some of the salt wagons went to the Cf de la Mure, there are plans of those wagons. I still need to know colours of locos and stock. Oddly there is nothing in the article concerning this. Its a choice between green or red, probably. I need to do a drawing of the #modern Decauville coaches. I have the dimensions so it should be possible , even for me. I intend to 3D print the locos and rolling stock, so my design software will do the drawings based on my designs.

Was the Rhone one the one served by the CF de Camargue. Sounds like it. I have been researching that line and intend another model project. Electrified metre gauge makes a change from steam/diesel.The lines finally closed in the 1950s. It had not helped that the allies had blown up the railway bridge connecting the transhipment depot with the main line. I think this is one reason for the transfer to the line on the other side of the Rhone. Not sure why the Crochat locos were built. Info says they were built in 1918. Crochat supplied a lot of different locos at the time, including 50cm, 60cm(best known) and standard gauge.

Interesting. The current tourist train is almost certainly a road train. It is even more interesting as it is closer to my house than the CF de Tarn, so would make an interesting project. I checked one of my books on industrial railways of France and nothing in it, a pity. I would expect photos of the line during its operating time to be around somewhere. According to one site, the locos were built during WW1, and sold to the Salin du Midi in 1919. Amazing to have actually survived at all.

I have just designed a 3D printed model of the 50cm gauge Crochat petrol electric locos no on the CF de Tarn. I noticed from info on website that they came from Salins du Midi(Aude). Just wondering if anyone has more info, especially photos. The preserved locos look like they have been modified slightly.

got one today. odd that it only got onto shelf today, but that might be dependent on who was on duty .

nothing in ASDA today. Maybe they decided the delay was not worth it.

Must admit I am very impressed. As I could not get to any of the shows, I ordered a few samples last week to try them out and received them very quickly. My only quibble is there only being one type of brickwork on offer. I know that if new bonds were offered then everyone else would ask for other different ones. I am hoping to be able to modify the bond , into garden wall bond, by covering up or rubbing down every 4th row, and re-cutting into headers. I am planning a Manchester/Lancashire warehouse building in 1/76 scale, and gwb was the standard for NORI brick buildings this size. I have also seen a local building with every 5th row as headers, but every 4th row seems to be more common. Plan B is to cut up some Slater brick sheets(English and plain), but I like the feel of the lazer cut bricks.

Interesting to read Chris's piece in latest copy of Railway Modeller, about exhibitions and remembering that people pay to come into the exhibition, so you as an exhibitor should put a good show on. Same line as , customer knows best, and listening to what the customer suggests. I have made suggestions as a potential customer, but had them thrown back in my face.

My local ASDA(one of, if not the most successful branch in UK) has normally stocked the mags, but latest(LN) not there yet. There is never anyone on magazine duties to ask, the card filler people work for someone else and know nothing about the magazines. Interesting about routing of freight across the Channel. I think my 3D printed stuff from Shapeways must come via another route as no delays so far. Maybe someone will realise it is better to stick the goods on a train and run it through the tunnel that way. That was what was originally planned. The M25 might jokingly be referred to as a car park, but the M20 appears to spend a lot of time as a lorry park. Always noticed how busy it is with lorries even when it is quiet on French side. Last time I came back, there was some problems in Folkestone or Dover due to an unexploded WW2 bomb so very few lorries coming through, and the M20 was nice and quiet. Maybe this is a wakeup call, and business will realise they need to consider transporting by rail again, as some companies realised a few years ago due to congestion on M6 motorway. Still does not help getting latest copy of magazine though.

Chris_nicole said In my experience it is not usually the points but the locos that are the problem, especially older ones or kit/scratchbuilt chassis ones. I also always wire up the points live so not dependent on power going through tips of point blades. I have seen more problems on layouts using live frogs at exhibitions, especially when temperatures are high, rails expand and gaps disappear.. Not all setrack points are R2 radius, the Y point is nearly 3ft radius and a pretty good space saver. The standard R2 points work well, especially the current ones with a very short insulated bit,. Reverse curves can be a problem, but even then problems might be down to incorrect back to backs on wheels. A small layout with several smaller points looks a lot better than a similar sized one with only say one or two nearer scale length ones.

how about adding a working wagon turntable? Added interest?

is the passenger service still running on the line to Fontveille. My brother lives about 5min down the road so I have driven across the 'level crossing' to the works in the woods on many occasions. Last time I was there the number of wagons was much reduced. Never have found out what the depot was for. The destruction of the bridge over the river in Arles did not help the Cf de Camargue much as the transhipment sidings were connected to the line which ran over the bridge. The area around the Camargue was not as prosperous as it is now. The town of St Marie has totally obliterated the site of the old station. If the line had survived another 10 years I am sure it would have been either preserved or upgraded. I had seen the railway embankment when driving round there but had assumed it was an old standard gauge line, only discovering it was not only metre gauge but also electrified last year. I have passed the old station at Arles many times, but only on the new main road, so usually wizzed pass without realising it was there. Apart from Nimes station, none of the other stations are really that interesting for a model. The layout at Nimes would not be easy to model, which is why I want to model the buffer end of the station at Arles, as there is always an excuse to shunt wagons down there, as well as running the loco (/baggage car) hauled trains and the automotrices. I have drawings of most of the stock I want, plus full dimensions of the 'modern' Decauville coaches. I plan to produce the models using 3D printing, initial9for a test) in 1/76 scale on 12mm gauge as I have a suitable loco chassis, and then in 1/55th scale using 16.5mm gauge. The area around Arles and the Camargue is special to me, and finding the railway is the icing on the cake. My artwork is inspired by the local Santon figures(there is a museum in village next to where my brother lives) , although it was the buildings I prefer to create, and I have used this in some of my fictional model railways. This is one reason I am not rushing with this project. A minor consideration, but one fact alludes me and that is the colour of the locos and coaches. The Decauville coach is almost certainly aluminium, but suspect the locos are either green or red. There don't appear to be any colour photos around which is a pity. It does make an interesting project though.

must be the heat, I was thinking of the other end of Provence , namely the Camargue. I tend to think of that as more Provence than the area around Nice. Nice is almost as far from Arles as Beziers the other way.

JeffP I take it that is of the remains, as the railway closed in the late 50s. I have managed to collect a lot online, but unfortunately missed the anniversary event a few years ago, and could not get a copy of the book produced. Luckily I do have the excellent feature in a magazine produced in the 70s, and probably not much different to the book. The station buildings and works still exist in Arles(or did the last time I looked on Google Map) and I intend to build a model of a small part of the station(buffer stops and station buildings across to the old water tower). I have some photos, but need dimensions. It is a pity the standard gauge line that runs west from near there is disused. I think there have been proposals for some type of museum line.

I have an interest in the area because I bought a house in St Pons. Unfortunately the 'preserved train service; had stopped by the time I found the line, but some of the track was still in place, although I only found out too late. The whole route is now a cycle way, but rails are still in place on one level crossing.A bit surprising considering how much money is spent resurfacing the roads locally. The book by Chris Elliott was for sale in local tourist information centre so I bought a copy. I was exhibiting at Liverpool exhibition soon after that trip to France and by coincidence there was someone there who used to visit France every year and told me he had helped with the book. I think Chris now actually lives in the valley, but I have not made contact with him yet. I have noticed talks about the railway advertised, but usually for when I am not there. Last year I started doing some research on the metre gauge lines to the south, centering on Carcassonne, with intension of building a model inspired by these lines which had closed down in the 30s. There was a reference to a new book being published, and also one on the line through St Pons. I also found that there had been plans for a direct route down to St Chinian.passing St Pons, which never went further than plans. Given the local geography, it would have not been cheap, but probably spectacular. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for books on the local railway lines. My metre gauge interest then actually switched to Provence, and the electrified lines based in Arles, not far from where my brother lives. One interesting result of the introduction of railways in the area was diet, and a switch from using flour made from chestnuts to flour from grain, which could be brought in by train.

David, If you or another one in the group had come forward and stated that when Chris first proposed the magazine then it would have sounded a lot more positive. Having been involved in the original discussion, we were all trying to help, but Chris seemed to turn his back on us. How ever much work he has done, it is not wise to ignore those who want to be supportive. On most of the online forums I have been on, there is somewhere to introduce yourself. Quite often this generates a lot of welcome messages, especially if the person is known to other members. I will have to double check, but I can't remember Chris doing this. That would have cleared up any misunderstanding that has happened.

Just found this blog from Kevin. I was the chap next door at Apedale. Thanks for taking photo, Kevin, it looked good in my local newspaper. My range of WW1 locos and stock, as originally designed for my own 1/35th scale project, which was also at Apedale. After repeated requests for other scales, I started with the 1/43 versions. The locos were relatively easy, but probably require more work to fit on chassis. The wagons, well the chassis required a lot of modification to the designs, to stretch to 16.5mm gauge. There as also a lot of redesigning to fit(just) 14mm gauge. One reason the wagons have not been resized to OO9!

I agree, but when Chris said he was planning the magazine, he was new to the MTI forum, and was not known to me, possibly others. Anyone can say they will produce something, fine, but he asked for money up front. Sorry, but that sounded alarm bells. It was nothing personal, just following advice given out frequently. There are too many stories with very similar beginnings which have ended badly. As for Paypal, he stated, only the other day, that cheques suited him better, and that has excluded not just non UK potential customers but also anyone without a cheque book. Any business advisor would recommend as essential some form of online payment system(Paypal being the easiest).

The lack of an online subscription system, or subscription form(with publicity info) to print off has been a sore point with some of us on the old MTI forum. It is a pity, because I think it can be successful, but the free business advice by some of us has been seen as criticism. Pity as you can not currently subscribe if you are not in UK or have a UK bank account, and then you need a cheque book. My children range from just over 30 years old down to 20, and none of them have ever had a cheque book . They do most deals online, and I used to asked for stamps quite often. In many ways I prefer the old days with cheque books, but remember having to wait for cheques to clear. Bank reorganisation has also meant I no longer have a local branch of my bank, so have to drive to another town to pay any cheque in. Systems such as Paypal take their cut, but when all the pennies are added up, it is not such a bad deal. Luckily both systems are running side by side for the moment, so some have the choice , but others do not.

Recently they have only been showing details of next issue. I did not think I was away long enough to have to get more than one back issue, and suspect I might have been lucky there were still several copies in shop today.