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john flann

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  1. This is from Nicholas Flann, John Flann's son. It with sadness that I have to inform you that John died on Sunday. It was sudden, and I don't believe Dad suffered at all. He was on his way to Church with his jacket and badge on, locking the front door on his way to the garage when he must have collapsed. He was working on Hintock St Loe that morning because I saw the changes he had made from the night before. Dad would often run ideas on his layouts by me, where to put a tree or getting the line of sight right when placing the buildings. I remember the insight Dad had when trying to fit a bridge across the middle of Port Bredy---put in a level crossing. Some of my first memories of growing up where helping Dad with his model railways. I was his assistant at many an exhibition in Manchester each year and then sometimes in London. I cannot express the thanks I have for everyone on the forum who corresponded with Dad over the years. His railway and his friends and fans he had on the forum gave him so much vitality and enthusiasm for life. He often shared your stories with me and kept me up to date with how many likes he was getting on his posts. Here are a few photos of Hintock St Loe as he left it.
  2. Having created in imaginary terms the back story now to the reality of the first practical step. The all important base board. Here I wanted strength, a resistance to twisting (the back scene screwed to the frame will help do this) and light weight. I used 1/4" birch plywood, a frame of 3/4" x 3/4" hardwood, with braces of the 1/4" ply, glued together and clamped together for 24 hours. This is the underside. Braces. Glued and clamped. After the 24 hours I could turn it right side up and do some initial track planning. It was most satisfying.
  3. Martyn, you mentioned the possibility of building a model of Easton; the above as you will recognize is of the old station building and shows its general character and of the station itself. My station building at HRX is based on it and that I built before Jackson's book was published with plans. It is, or was, a very attractive station and approached from Victoria Square (?) by a curving tree lined approach. Below is a map, courtesy of the OSS, showing it's compact nature. The engine shed was added about 1905. For anyone wanting a small BLT this would be ideal.I hope too you could get the basics into 6' x 2'. There are other photos; some in my March 2018, Back Track article "The Isle of Portland-its stone and five railways," and others available through Lens of Sutton, as now is.
  4. Kevin, thanks. You are quite right with the analogy. Yes, I do look on it as something akin to a stage presentation with promoter. story line and plot, script, actors, sets, performance and audience. Follow along and enjoy the show!
  5. Steve, thanks for those kind words. I had noticed your apparent absence and am glad you are back in touch. In building any layout I always locate it somewhere and remember that was there first. Dorset is my favoured location and in and around Bridport (Hintock Redux) . The other thing is that the early railways and particularly branch lines, were largely financed by local money, had local engineers, employed local contractors and used local materials. Hence there is a "family look" of the structures and buildings. One can see that with my Port Bredy layout (On my Hintock thread). And where they all hang together as it were. That too is illustrated by this image. Initially the Signal Box was shown as built with L&SWR brick and stood out like a sore thumb, Now re-sheathed in local stone like the Station buildings and Victory Mill, it fits right in.
  6. Scott, thank you, Yes, i have built one or two layouts in my time. But each I like to think has a different character yet within the same theme. The particular aspect here is the challenge of random and systematic shunting that the Inglenook design lends itself to. Add in Kadee couplings and one can fun. That's ever my aim.
  7. Glad you like it Peter. It shows promise. Yes, that is a valid point but your fears are unfounded. Actually, the baseboard has been built, track laid and trains run all to my satisfaction. I found too I can manage the board myself. But obviously it would be easier with another pair of hands. My next post will show the form of lightweight construction of the board; added back scenes will add some little extra weight and that of the buildings is negligible. Granted they all add up but nothing untoward.. The baseboard is reasonably conventional but nowhere near the recommended monumental methods commonly advocated.
  8. Andy, thanks and happy you approve. Present intentions are that it will stand alone and be used as an Inglenook. I'll get that built first. Nice idea though. A bit depends on space but it would be readily possible to add small staging yards (sector plates perhaps,) at either end, and make it into an attractive through station. I'll see what length of wall there is available.
  9. Let me introduce my new layout, Hintock St Loe, a cameo Inglenook and here tell you how I am setting about its building. It is another standalone layout (like Port Bredy) and yet part of my Hintock Branch story. It's virtue is that is a handy size of 6'0 a 1'4, of light weight construction, is readily portable, will sit on a table, can be stored upright in a cupboard or similar, be available for operating-playing with-in an ordered manner at home or exhibition and will provide hours of entertainment. As well as intellectual exercise. What more could one ask? In my imagination the village of Hintock St Loe lies a mile or so to the north of Hintock Redux across the River Brede. Ancient in origin it is set among the verdant and attractive SW Dorset countryside and with the opening of the Hintock Branch became an increasingly pleasant place to live; for the railway gave ready access for business and pleasure to Hintock Redux itself (this was before the introduction of the motor car) and to Hintock Junction and from there to Dorchester, Weymouth and Yeovil (each with its main line connection). All my modelling sets out to do is to create an impression, the overall effect is that which i seek. Exactitude is not so important, what I want is that it shall "look right." The period is the 1930's, the GWR and SR operate the branch Jointly, and as ever in Hintock country it's a lovely English summers day. And, on a personal note the name is taken from the pretty and small village of Newton St Loe a few miles distant from Bath. There, sent by my parents I spent the summer school holidays in 1944 away from the worst of the German V1 and V2 bombardment of London. Holidays over I returned to it. While I knew full well what I wanted to create I needed to see how things would work out and this mock up broadly resembles it. The trick is to pull it off in all respects. That is for subsequent posts.
  10. Martyn, yes, wrong loco but you wouldn't be wrong with Easton in 6'0 x 2'0 for it's handy size. In the last years Panniers did get to Easton with goods trains and after the passenger service was withdrawn. The loco at least is another step forward with the project.
  11. Thanks, I didn't know that. Sad, he was one of my favourites and a Scouse through and through. He just could not stop. One of a kind. He typified the Merseyside that was a revelation to me as I was born, brought up and schooled up in Surrey, a far cry from the realities of life as lived and experienced there. The first time i saw it was in January 1950 and only a passing glimpse of Lime Street from a green Liverpool Corporation bus as it dived into the Mersey Tunnel that took me and my fellow squaddies to a grimy ship in grimy Seacombe en route to Hong Kong. Little did I know then I would return, meet my future wife and lay the foundation for a happy family life and a rewarding professional career.
  12. Sorry John, it's beyond my limited computer abilities to get these links established in any form. But google will work for them.
  13. John, I'll send the links direct as it looks as if those above won't work.
  14. John, Back Track is published by www.pendragonpublishing.co.uk/ but it appears they have no 2005 back numbers. They do however refer inquiries for such to admin@www.vintagecarriagetrust.org. Should they not have what you seek there are in the UK several railway related book shops that carry large numbers of back numbers. I've used them with success through the years bu unfortunately cannot now be specific. I hope you can locate a copy. Back Track is renowned for the quality of its "amateur-scholarly" articles and its illustrations. There you will not be disappointed of those in Liverpool itself and one in particular of a street scene featuring the Overhead Railway that you recalled so vividly. Regards,
  15. John, I hope your recovery is complete, and your nostalgic re-collections brought many a pleasant memory back to me. Thank you. I won't add mine here but should members be interested they might care to look out an article "Reminiscences of a BR Surveyor" in Back Track, Vol 19, No8 August 2005. It tells of my time at Euston and in the Liverpool District Estate Office that I found quite fascinating as well as professionally rewarding, and the work of the Estate Department in general. My regards,
  16. Andy/John. a little OT but the GCR had a terminal at Seacombe, just above the Ferry. It was still functioning in the middle 1950's. I too, as John knows, have an awareness of the byzantine railway ownership's in and around the Wirral and Liverpool from my (happy) years in the LMR Estate Office through 1952-59. I found it all quite fascinating. And equally fascinating today is John's cleverness with his Granby Empire.
  17. While Frederick and William ready the full milk churns for loading, Charles and Norman wait with their wives (somewhat distant) Mary and Jane, for the arrival of mutual friends off the 10.37 am from Charford.
  18. From time to time there is discussion about what makes a good club exhibition layout. And this post is prompted by my recently seeing one in modular form at Union Station, Ogden, Utah put on by the local Hostler's Club. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=UMFMeiW4S-4 It comprised about thirty 5'0 long modules that made a rough circle about 30' in diameter. Each was different in presentation but hung together reasonably well. It made a good and entertaining exhibit and ran very well. Is this an idea that could be developed? Perhaps by a club with modules by members and/or or with modules by invitation from other clubs/RM members? Obviously there would need be common standards and some central management. But not I suggest beyond the bounds of the capabilities of a properly run and established club. I consider too it would be a welcome change from the stereotypes I see on YouTube.
  19. Gate stock and O2's regularly worked the Portland Branch and there are four illustrations of them in Back Track, March 2018 along with others in a fascinating (Editor's words) article on the Isle of Portland, its stone and five railways. And, I should declare an interest as the author.
  20. As at Chevening there is no snow at Port Bredy,always sunshine.
  21. John, so glad to see your staging yard-yes, I know it's an American term, but it expresses the purpose so very well. I'd like to see more of other members yards. Without them representing the rest of the world, no layout I suggest can have purpose. I have recent images of mine and shall post them in due course. And, as always I admire your workmanship and perseverance. Well done too with the video. No comment on the weather either yours or in the UK, here we just take it in our stride. On a personal note and OT, like you I too read the Guardian but the Telegraph I gave up years ago. Best wishes, PS, on Edit, -9C, 16F currently, sunny with snow on ground. Winter Storm Watch for weekend.
  22. As his engine stands on rhe quay wall at Port Bredy the fireman sits and enjoys the sun and breeze from off the sea.
  23. Martyn, all very positive there and looking promising. I think some quarryman lore has been recorded, and I can help with those of my grandfather John, when he retired in 1927 after 55 years in the quarries. Meantime the attached is of him, booking stone.
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