cobbler

Told you he was a Diva RC

Funny thing is, comparing John with Tom Hanks, keep thinking of Forest Gump

Thanks Steve It's a tempting offer, Father Christmas brought me the new Peco handbook on N Gauge modelling. I can only dream of operating a layout sitting in a chair. Keep thinking an operator is for life, not just for Christmas RC ☹️

I thought I was the star operator, keeping the layout running show after show, pandering after their every whim miss one show and they film a DVD How the mighty have fallen ☹️ Richard

I bet watching the DVD being filmed was interesting. John being his usual diva self, insisting on fresh flowers around the layout and having his personal hairdresser flown in by helicopter from Towcester, George doing his Kenny Rogers impression and demanding that his version of " Coward of the County" is used as the backing track on the DVD Richard

I found the free DVD that featured Towcester layout very useful for putting your tea mug on Hope Fenchurch one will be of the same quality Happy Christmas Richard

It's a new book, new photographs, track plans, yard information, updates etc Brought a copy at Warley, had a quick look at, looks very good, my copy been sent to Father Christmas Richard

Northampton yard has a grounded VCA van, DC 200535, it it was used by the Carriage and Wagon fitters as a store, it is now disussed and covered in graffiti Richard

It's a failed DMU substitute service, George has a DVD with two coaches stored in sidings for use when there is a railcar shortage or failure Richard

Is it Model Railway Journal Have you finally made it ?? Richard

John We have spoken about this Remember big breaths, big breaths Richard

Hi Steve Enjoying your updates and new layout thread. Wish some of your enthusiasm would rub off on me B-( Keep up the good work Richard

Hi Carl Layout and new Tippler wagons look great Keep up the good work Richard

When he does build it. Have been researching the workings to Geismar in the early 1990,s Have been recording train formations, loco and wagon numbers and types. Been given access to TOPS consists and Working details. Class 08 and 31 working in with ex SPA wagons carrying equipment and air braked vans carrying parts. Dropping ballast etc Richard

Simon is in the process of moving house and is also getting married in October ! He has built the baseboards and collected track materials. All in store in spare room. I keep on to him to get started, he's still keen but is busy we other things. He does have permission to build a layout, just not yet ! Richard

Liddlington Tip on the Bletchley to Bedford line dumped spoil into the worked out brick pits. When Liddlington closed, spoil was dumped at Forders Sidings, again in old brick clay pits Richard

And the fluffy three legged cat, he was very put out that his favourite chair was pushed aside and covered in boxes. 26 ft layout very tight in 26 ft living room !! Richard

Massive thank you to everyone who helped make the show a success. Highlight for me was the dodgy floor, if more than one person watched my layout the floor sunk, sending wagons racing across the layout!! We raised £207, all of this will be donated to Cancer Research Best wishes Richard

Two weeks, nobody told me ! Better finish off the layout. Don't worry about track plans, only 3 sidings and one point, very easy to remember. Richard

Geismar is situated on the stub of the Northampton to Bedford line. About half a mile before you get to the Geismar site was a private siding called Hammer Steel, this private siding was laid in the early 1980,s to serve a steel stockholder, receiving wagonload steel from the Continent. The sidings closed in the 1990,s the point work was taken to Geismar for constructing the run round loop. The line was ballasted in a unusual way. In the C&W sidings at the station, a large number of Catfish, Dogfish and Mermaids were awaiting repairs to chute doors and mechanisms, unfortunately the couldn't be repaired as they were part loaded. Mysteriously, they were taken down the branch, unloaded at geismar site then taken back to the yard for repairs! Everyone a winner, line and point work ballasted, wagons repaired and the train crew football club receiving a new strip sponsored by guess who!!! Those were the days Richard

During the 1990,a, a varied selection of main line locomotives worked down the Bridge Street branch. Class 31, 37, 47, 56, 58 and 66. Class 59,s worked into Northampton on spoil trains, class 60,s on engineers trains, don't think they ever made it down the branch It's nearly 10 years since the last train ran down there, incredible !! Richard

Hi Simon Well done for starting the layout, it's been long enough ! Looking good, Richard

Popped in today whilst on holiday, great little shop, came away with Gaugemaster scenery bits for my new layout Richard