Metropolitan H

Only if you are using the 3-rail DC current collection system. If you are using 2-rail "Forward" and "Reverse" refer to the direction of travel along the track (which ever way the loco faces). One of the reasons I like "Deliberately Old-Fashioned trains"! Regards Chris H

And here are a couple of pictures of the real thing - 251, the first and last of the Ivatt "Large Atlantics" - taken today at the new Danum Museum, Library and Gallery in Doncaster. First the best shot I could get of the backhead and regulator handle. The driver's side from the front: The crosshead, slide-bars and works plate on the fireman's side: looking forward along the fireman's side - sorry about the pillars that get in the way, but they hold the upper floors up! There are a few more - as this is one of my all time favourite locos (along with "City of Truro", LSWR No.120, the SNCF 141R and BLS 251 !!!) - but I don't want to get boring so to finish here are a couple of views of the wider "Railway Heritage Gallery" P.S. - "Green Arrow" is another favourite! Regards Chris H

Simon, Sorry to hear of your health event! I hope you have a good recovery - keep taking the tablets, exercise regularly without overdoing it and eat/drink sensibly. Having suffered a nasty early bout of covid in November 2019 - about 3 months before it was recognised as being at large! - I then suffered a similar "Heart-attack" a week after I thought the worst was over. Happily, a Friday breakfast time call to 111 resulted in an Ambulance crew at the door 5 minutes later, who confirmed my diagnosis and decide to take me on a "Blues and Twos" ride from Milton Keynes to John Radcliffe in Oxford. Straight into the operating theatre and a stent fitted - switching off the pain - I was into the recovery room by mid-day. I was released home on the Sunday p.m. - happy with the service. Unfortunately the recognised Pandemic commenced 4 months later just as I was supposed to start post-cardiac physiotherapy - which was then cancelled. I'm not as strong as I was, but I'm still here and enjoying the trains - of the "Deliberately Old-Fashioned 0 Gauge" variety. I look forward to more from Porth Dinllaen before too long. Regards Chris H

I would be fascinated to Know when that picture was taken - and if the gentleman in the yellow Hi-Vi is Peter Pribik? The other gentleman almost looks like David Elan - late of Bracknell? Does anyone Know? The buses are both fascinating - as is your model of the Thames Valley "Tilling-Stevens", very well done. Regards Chris H

One memory from my time in the Acton Works "Carbody" shop was the "Fitter" who was the quickest at removing worn door tracks - he had a two pound hammer and a strong right arm. Normally only two strikes on each stud / nut required, but it was dangerous to be in the vicinity as the schrapnel flew quite wildly. There were other nefarious practises, which eventually were stopped - to the benefit of workplace safety. Regards Chris H

Very impressive, I must get on and do the similar bits for my layout - happily I only have 5 track joints across the edge (2 tracks) and end (3 tracks) of the lifting flap to deal with! Regards Chris H

That is a marvellous picture of "North Box" - once grandfather's place of work (before WW2). Regards Chris H

Circa 1964, our family went to Innsbruck for 2 weeks holiday. While there we travelled on the Stubital Bahn to Fulpmes and then got a bus to the waterfalls at the head of the Stubital. While on the bus, a German gentleman tapped my Father on the shoulder and asked if he came from Bottomboat, Stanley, West Yorks. Recovering his composure Father admitted that was where he was born and lived till aged 9 his family moved to Peterborough (New England - a Railway House on Lincoln Road). Further conversation made it clear that the German gentleman had been a prisoner of war for most of WW2 and spent a lot of time studying the accents of the camp guards and where they originated from. Needless to say while my Father kept his Bottomboat accent for the rest of his life his younger brothers - one born in Bottomboat and the other in New England - bothe developed real "Swedey" East Anglian accents. Nowt as strange as folk. Regards Chris H

I didn't doubt the location which fitted the picture - only the possible attribution of the building. Chris H

Looking at the relevant page - https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwe/S773.htm of the Signalling Record Society, that shed / greenhouse is definitely not the Dulverton Signal Box which was on the platform towards to other end of the station. It is a very interesting station layout all the same - hope someone is sufficiently inspired to build a model! Regards Chris H

Possibly a bit over-dressed for Hilda - especially as it is now supposedly "Spring", but I shall not be shedding my coat - let alone my vest - for a while yet. Regards Chris H

I hope it is note going "into" the wheel-drop - that suggests lots of paperwork and plenty of overtime for the Breakdown gang - with a lot of damage to the tender that will need repairing before the loco gets back in traffic. If you said "onto" the wheel-drop Id be happier. 🙂 Regards Chris H

Interesting that the Fire Hole door is in the side of the Firebox rather than on the boiler front (I am using proper terminology here)? Consequently this is much more esoteric beast than a Neilson "Box tank"? Regarding the Box tank, I suspect that its wheelbase is very similar to that of a W4 Peckett 0-4-0ST - but the Neilson is nothing like as pretty as the Pecketts. Apropos of nothing, I once bought a model locomotive from a Reverend Peckett - of Leigh on Sea (west of Southend). He had started work in the family firm at Atlas Engine Works, Bristol, before leaving to take Holy Orders. But in retirement he ran a LGB layout with large Diesel and Electric locos till a heart attack prevented him from lifting the heavier locos - so I purchase the RhB Ge4/4II "Arosa" for my outdoor line! Regards Chris H

Glad to hear Richmond is included in your plans. Regarding the shed - 25ft x 12ft would nearly fill our garden, which is already home to the 45mm gauge narrow gauge line - scale depends on particular trains being run: When the weather warms again I will mow the grass and get the trains out again. For indoor operationthere is a Another Deliberately Old Fashioned set-up. But that is another story. Regards Chris H

Have I missed something, your discussion of sheds and the locations of layouts seems not to have mentioned the rather good "Ricmond" Layout. Is this an over sight or something more sinister in a Beechingesque manner? I wish I had the room for the 25ft x12ft shed for railways! Regards Chris H

Good to see you are back and continuing progress with Henley - as mother's family came from the area and I grew up liking the products of Henley Brewery Co., I am a regular watcher / lurker. Now I also have a question - in your first recent picture, how did the Red & Cream single decker bus get to the loco siding side of the turntable? It looks an interesting bus, but I suspect it should not be there. Sorry to nit-pick. Regards Chris H

Spring is sprung! The grass is ris, I wonder where the birdies is? The bird is on the wing, But that is absurd as The Wing is on the bird. That is the version I grew up with! Similarly; Why does a brown cow give white milk, When it only eats green grass? Regards Chris H

I know this is the season when a young mans sap is supposed ti rise - but I am no longer young, like most of the other responders to this thread! So what is the relevance of all the latest posts and why aren't we seeing the renaisance of Birlstone in all its refreshed "BR Grot" compactness - we need to see the new Nearholmer layout arising like a Pheonix from the ashes. Regards Chris H P.S. - I know my own Deliberately Old Fashioned layout is in need of further progressing, but my excuse is the construction of a train of TR slate wagons to run behind the little steaming dragons "Talyllyn" and "Dolgoch" on the outdoor line - which must be tidied and ready for the invasion of the Grand-Childer-Beasts over Easter! CH

Considering the page number, I was hoping to see one of the predecessors to the 48xx / 58xx class 0-4-2T - maybe "Fair Rosamund" that plied its trade not that far from the 12" to 1ft location of Little Muddle. Although that is most unlikely, I congratulate you on reaching the magic number of 517 pages with Little Muddle, long may it continue to provide a regular dose of smiles. Regards Chris H.

Went through Ravenglass on Saturday p.m. on the train seen in the following picture. A very pleasent steam-hauled ride south along the Cumrian coast to Carnforth - behind a loco that looks similar to "Henry" in outline. No sign of "Rex", "Mike" or "Bert" as we passed through Ravenglass! Looks like you had a good day out yesterday. I like your pictures. Regards Chris H

Tom - No apologies needed - all your modelling and pictures are wellreceived here. Regards Chris H

Regarding "Brahn boots" surely it depends on whether one is going up to London or down to the country? I'm one of those who continued with school uniform for best till about 14 years old - then it was a sports jacket and tie, or a M&S windcheater for more casual days out, till student days. Now well retired dress code is back to sports jacket for best - I do have a suit, but not sure I can still get in it. In the trousering dept, I now normally wear denims or corduary trousers - except when required to smarten up by the authority. I also now wear "Brahn boots" and belt except on very posh occasions. Now can we get back to trains - and the memorable layouts that appeared in RM etc. - Borchester still gets one of my votes, along with Buckingham GC and ????? Regards Chris H

The loco is switchable from 3 rail to 2 rail, with appropriately insulated wheels, and comes with the relevantly sized strip of plastic to raise the 3 rail pick-ups clear of the rails. The mechanism is by ETS assembled into the cast pewter (heavy) body by DJH. It runs smoothly and quietly while being a grand hauler - but I haven't enough relevant stock to run one of the very heavy trains that won the V2s the soubriquet "The locos that won the war". Yes the track is Atlas 3 rail with O-54 (27 inch radius) curves and turnouts. The underlay is carpet tiles which keeps noise levels reasonable and helps the smooth running. You might realise that I am rather a fan of V2s. I have a few of my late Father's photographs from Peterborough North station showing the brand new locos in the late 1930s - about the time his Father (my Grandfather) got promotion from Peterborough North Box to Crescent Box - like this: Hope you like - although you might have seen them before somewhere on here. Regards Chris H

What - like this one? 3-rail, coarse scale) - produced by "Seven Mill Models". There are some still available from relevant retailers in UK. Regards Chris H

1473 "Fair Rosamund" please. Regards Chris H