Edwardian

Forgive me if this one has already been covered, but Nearholmer's got me into a South London frame of mind; the Mid Sussex Group's EM "Brighton Road", as picture on the Scalefour, Scaleforum 2010 web-page:

In Edwardian days, they still built in plenty of curves to the design. They did so with their locomotive designs too.

Nearholmer - Feel free to PM if you want to co-operate on Kew or any project. I am currently almost homeless with all my kit and books in store, but hope within a few months to become active in layout building. Epoch/Eras mislead people into thinking that loco A and coach B could run together in circumstances where they could not, so it's, in fact, worse than useless. What you need is blurb saying "in condition running date X to Y in A location or B services"

A pretty brand new toplight (in Lake?) with a destination board off an express, so either being shunted by the Pannier or attached to humbler coaches to form a local for the Torbay line? I notice those Ratio 4-wheelers have cropped up again!

I have read the detailed explanation of the epoch system, and conclude that it remains, for me, neither use nor ornament. It's like the man in Middle Ages who goes to bed one day believing that life is a vale of tears and that death will free him of his corrupt corporeal existence, but wakes up the next day celebrating his humanity and suddenly able to draw in perspective because an historian has decided it's now the Renaissance.

Let's not forget rickets; bow legged malnourished urchins surely a must. Kew does sound worth a go. By adopting the Era/Epoch system, you can avoid troublesome dates, especially if you 'hide' 1933 in the middle of an "Epoch". My main problem with it is that, as a system, it's what my Yorkshire Grandmother would have condemned as "neither use nor ornament".

I suppose that the problem with forum post is that the mildly tongue-in-cheek remarks don't always get read as such [sigh]. Nearholmer, you have my attention. A less ambitious alternative to Addison Road is clearly worth investigation.

John, I assume you mean there is a problem with the term "pre-grouping", not with the pre-1923 era! Consider, the overwhelmingly dominant era to model is the '50s-'60s, a fact likely to change only in favour of the '70s-'80s. Grouping is well within the realm of historic railway modelling. Late Grouping is fairly accessible, due to the, frankly, co-incidental ability to use stuff produced for the BRmodeller. Anything before, say, 1935, is quite difficult. Trust me on this as one who is working his way through a list of 125 or so coaches intended to represent the South Devon mainline in the mid-'30s. Not a single Great Western vehicle required is available RTR to a reasonable standard - that will remain the case until the new Hornby Colletts arrive. Pre-groupers get a single section in this vast RMWeb forum, presumably, because that is all the level of interest warrants. Given that, I have no problem including anything from 1825 to 1923 - the most interesting railway century! As to terminology, all era definitions are for convenience and can be helpfully descriptive, but he danger is that they become too rigid and, therefore, any utility they had quickly becomes lost. One of my, I hope few, pet hates is Bachmann's adherence to the stupid era system, which achieves no more than confusion as to what in the catalogue can run with what. I have a pet theory that the system was invented by German manufacturers so as not to have to mention the war or certain grimly resonant dates. I could be wrong, of course!

It appears to be a static display. A considerable challenge in producing a working model of this period (I am guessing its no later than early 1830s) is the working of passenger, and some mineral trains, by horse traction. Another feature that you would not find on a layout is the use of cards identifying the various places and features, which, of course, is pretty essential in the museum context. It's a lovely model and I could look at it all day. From left to right it takes your from the coal pits (including a rope worked incline) to the coal ships, so it tells the story and illustrates the rationale of the line. It was, frankly, refreshing and inspiring to see models representing this early scene. It made me want a similar, working, model, probably set slightly later, in the 1840s with the, then, new North Road station (1842) (which houses the museum), and a model of the locomotive Derwent (1845) (which is in the museum) and some of the passenger coaches of the same period. At least on RMWeb we have the considerable pleasure of Cornamuse's Gainford Spa, which is, I believe, set in the 1860s, and features a version of North Road station building and all those good north eastern things such as coal/lime drops, and chaldron wagons. I do recommend the museum. It is not a huge place, but very informative and set in a lovely structure. The former train shed houses just 4 locomotives: Locomotion (yes, the original No.1), Derwent, A Tenant 2-4-0 of 1885 (which is simply stunning), and a Q7 0-8-0 of 1919.

My poor wife had to adopt a gluten free diet. The one, considerable, silver lining was her giving up Marmite! Each to his own, however. What a great metaphor for finescale standards; enjoy yours by all means, but don't shove it down my throat!

It's generally non-fatal if they don't breath on you afterwards. Accidentally kissing them, that's the real killer. Survivors say they can never quite lose the after-taste. Dreadful.

As, in the North-East, Grouping appears to have occurred as early as the 1860s, I guess this is a pre-grouping layout! It's the Darlington club's model of the Stockton & Darlington at the Head of Steam museum, Darlington. I will add my voice to that of Cornamuse of this parish in praise of this museum. Note the Dandy Carts in which the horses rested(!) whilst gravity took over!

Nice to know that there is still someone out there to make those sweeping generalisations we all know an love, thanks MIB. You've not met the wife, I take it?

In the '30s 3150s used to hang about Totnes Goods Shed between turns, judging from several photographs in which they are to be spotted. What I wonder about is shunting the Quay Branch. It was loco shunted up to a point, after which horses took over. Did the locos from the trip goods do this, or did they take advantage of the apparently regular presence of the bankers?

Rob, Well, I don't know what formations are accurate for 1947; I had assumed that all your formations were accurate and I am shocked, shocked, I say, at the suggestion this is not so! I just tick the pictures of your stunning layout, particularly when graced with Swindon's finest in their native liveries.

I really don't think all this talk of water columns is really helping those concerned with incontinence. Just because its on topic for a change is no excuse such a lack of consideration! Flush. Gurgle. Drip, drip. Splash. I have the Mike's Models water columns, and never questioned their fidelity or quality - are they old hat these days, do either of the more recent offerings represent an improvement?

Is he a specialist in incontinence, or a specialist incontinent; I wasn't quite sure which you meant?

And there was a sign on the shop saying "Spar"

Drove through Gainford today ....

Someone mentioned Somerset Girls in sepia. Google image search is a wonderful thing:

I suspect a K40 would be more use than a K38, though the Ocean Mails branding has always made this a popular subject. Cracking model, however. The world was a better place when everything was lined out!

King William IV special edition - Is this not the old Hornby King with a flash new paint job, rather than the forthcoming re-tooled version? If it is the old King, it is yet more mutton dressed up as lamb and somewhat cheekily priced, or, rather, perhaps it is the last flogging of a long dead horse. If collectors buy this, instead of waiting for the new Kings from Hornby and Hatton, it vindicates every doubt I have ever had concerning their intelligence and powers of discernment.

Late to this party, but I wanted to register my unqualified enthusiasm for this release. Aside from the dearth of small RTR industrials (how many times have the 9 L&Y Pugs sold off by the LMS been forced to appear on layouts as a result?!?), this is a pre-grouping era design. For me, a late Victorian design is perfect, and, potentially, it answers a need that will not be met by DJH (without much hacking) whose own small industrial has a post WW1 cab design. I hope the Hornby model will be capable of representing the class near the start of its career.

Can't see "O2" without hearing it spoken with a Sheffield accent. Can't think why. Great model. Nicer in lined olive green, though (even nicer in Drummond livery, but I suspect I can whistle for that!).

And I thought that Captain Blackadder attended the University of Life. Or am I confusing real life with something not real life? Never quite sure. Anyway, as everyone knows, the two greatest universities in the land are Cambridge and University College Wales, Aberystwyth, though I am sure that Hull is also excellent.