Hando

Lionheart Trains are developing a range of RTR Lynton and Barnstaple stock in O-16.5, which is expected to be on the market by next August, which could generate more interest amongst manufacturers in O scale narrow gauge. https://www.lionhearttrains.com/index.php?route=blog/article&article_id=13

The only notable example of a post-nationalisation common-carrier light railway survivor that I can think of is the Derwent Valley Light Railway, which served the farming communities to the southeast of York. The line closed as late as 1981 and remained independent throughout its existence.

Lovely, Carry on the great work! Alex

I'm fascinated... What class is the engine?

After a long time of looking, I've finally found photos of the illusive Manning Wardles FRENCH (1582) and KITCHENER (1574) KITCHENER: https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s15035&pos=8&action=zoom&id=17827 FRENCH: https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s15034&pos=1&action=zoom&id=17826 Both locos have very small boilers compared to E or F class engines, by the looks of things, so I assume that they are D classes?.

Thanks, Prototype-wise, I was thinking of building a East Anglian light railway/backwater line.

Is bog-standard Code 100 flat-bottom rail appropriate for use in S scale?

May I suggest this excellent classic series?

Stafford and Uttoxeter Railway: The Clog and Knocker (something to do with the Stafford shoe industry I suspect) Stamford and Essendine Railway [Sibson Extension]: The Bread and Onion line

It seems that Tom Dauben's beaten you to that idea already! This was on his Hebridean Light Railway Isleornsay layout (https://hlrco.wordpress.com/blog/)

So is your cunning plan (as a certain Edmund might ask), be a variation of Don Sibley's layout, "El Inglesa Tortuga", if you will?

Yes. They were formerly based at the North Bay Railway.

NBE hasn't been near Scarborough for years (they're based in Darlington), so I wouldn't be surprised if they continue trading under that name.

An article in Narrow Gauge World said that the new management want to solely focus on the 1920s Steam-Outline Diesel locomotives, so I reckon that's caused her to be put up for sale.

I'm planning a model of a line that is similar to this idea, but not entirely the same. The Gwash Valley Railway was first opened in 1867, running from Ryhall on the Stamford and Essendine Railway to Empingham, with the intention of building a line from Oakham to the East Coast, through a planned extension to Peakirk via Market Deeping to join the Peterborough, Wisbech and Sutton Bridge Railway's extension to Crowland (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/f4558d58-5a68-41cf-ae75-da0ed4abe55b). In 1870, the Gwash Valley Railway was extended to Oakham. Running powers over the S&ER were granted to the GVR in the same year and a spur was later constructed near Ryhall to allow trains from the GVR to run south to Stamford East. In 1872, the Marquess of Exeter attempted to sell the S&ER to the GNR, who declined. Afterwards, the Marquess approached the GVR with a similar offer. The company agreed and the S&ER was subsequently amalgamated into the GVR, with the GNR retaining their running powers over the ex-S&ER lines. The assent of the GN&LNWJR in 1874, drew the attention of the GVR, who soon set their sights on create new semi-direct middle-distance route between Leicester and the East Coast, rivalling the MR's Syston to Peterborough line. An extension was proposed in 1876 running from Oakham to the GN&LNWJR at Tilton, providing the GVR with access to Leicester with running powers over the Great Northern Railway's Belgrave Road branch. The new line was completed by 1880. Another extension was also planned in 1876 to link the Sibson Branch of the former S&ER to the Eastern and Midlands Railway's Peterborough Wisbech and Sutton Bridge line at Paston via Ailsworth. Unfortunately, this fell through due to opposition from Earl Fitzwilliam, who was displeased by the proximity of the line to his Milton Park estate. Like the GNR, in 1876, the GVR also gave its support to the ill-fated Norfolk Central Railway, a scheme proposed to build a line from March to Norwich, via Wisbech (connecting to the PW&SBR) and Watton (connecting to the independent Thetford and Watton Railway). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/3e042169-424c-487b-9a20-8fe0a9b369ba

This is great!

The second, without its enormous headlamp looks like it could have made for quite a fetching English P-G loco had it not been exported!

Hi all, Can anyone identify this particular Falcon-built Locomotive and where I might be able to find engineering drawings for such? https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Falcon_Engine_and_Car_Works Thanks and regards, Alex

Don't forget the Severn & Wye!

These are excellent! Keep up with the good work! Alex

Minitrains make some relatively low-cost American H0n30 RTR locos: http://www.minitrains.eu/mt-steam.html and also freelance carriages: http://www.minitrains.eu/mt-pass.html

So might this feature as part of the Achingverse Canon? I know a while back you expressed your interest in a Doggerland-esque Island too:

http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/52/Sea_Camp.htm

Reminds me of this comment by @Hroth on the Castle Aching thread a while back...

@Nearholmer What's the verdict boss?