Guius

Hi Nigel, The Foxfield Railway is one preserved railway I would really like to visit and so far its escaped me. Youtube footage of the sights and sounds of locos attacking the incline is spectacular. One thing I would like to know is which locos are being overhauled at the moment for use on the Foxfield line? Regards Guy

Hi Alan, I may be wrong but didn't Tom Rolt describe such a derailment of the Cheltenham Express in 'Red for Danger'? Regards Guy

Me too, what a cracking idea and very well modelled. The Industrial aspect lends its self to applications such as this very well. Please keep us up to date with your progress PGH.

No, never seen this one either. Thanks, that's this evenings entertainment sorted out. Guy

Do you think the bug that bites and infects us with railway enthusiasm is a relation of the bug who's bite is responsible for a love of horses? By the way the picture on the left is of 'Charlie' the last horse to be employed by B.R. engaged in shunting a horse box at Newmarket in 1967. In the same year as he made an appearance at the Horse of the Year Show, his mate 'Butch' should have been with him but he had died in harness shortly before the show. The very last in a long line of unsung hero s. Best Wishes Guy

I think the word I'm looking for is 'synchronicity'. I live in Barrow-in-Furness, the shipbuilding town in the top north west corner of Lancashire (as was) were the S.S. Jervis Bay was built . The memory of bravery of S.S. Jervis Bay, captain and crew are still held in high regard by the people of Barrow. If I remember rightly Ludovic Kennedy's father was also killed in the same action you recount. You are right Bon Accord, this would have made a cracking film! Now all we have to do is come up with a cast list. Regards Guy

Another war time film I very much like is 'San Demertio London' 1943, the story based on actual events is centred around the attack of a petrol tanker whilst crossing the Atlantic in convoy. The ship was first abandoned and subsequently re-boarded by a section of the crew who jury rig the blazing vessel and get the cargo and ship back to a British port, without assistance as proves important in the later story line The personae dramatis are the usual mixture of stalwarts. Thoroughly recommended. Best Guy

I had a copy of Guy Williams The 4mm Loco but I lent it out to someone only never to see it again. C'est la vie. Guy

On the subject of scratch building locos in brass/nickel silver, would anyone recommend Simon Bolton's two books on the subject? Guy

Just to add to the list of worthy films I'd like to nominate 'Western Approaches' of 1944, a tribute to the mercantile marine. Mostly acted by Bona Fide merchant seamen (the acting bears this out) whilst making a transatlantic voyage in convoy, their ships subsequent sinking and rescue no thanks to the Kriegsmarine. To my knowledge it's only been aired once in the early days of Channel 4. I thought 'They Were Not Divided' was a quite a dark film in so much as the expectation was of a happy ending but as is true to life, war stores seldom have a cheery ending. Thought provoking perhaps. Best Guy

As a general rule of thumb any opening titles that gave 'music by Muir Mathieson' has always been well worth a look. Guy

Yes, I watched this film 'Love Match' a few days ago on You Tube, also has a cameo appearance of Rob Wilton (The day war broke out...) as a magistrate and 'Wally' Arthurs fireman. Not brilliant if you want to see railway content but ok for a laugh.

I too have been looking for a tool box/tool storage and the best solution I found was a cantilever tool box in aluminium from Maplin (in store), large enough to keep pliers, snips etc. in the bottom compartment but with smaller movable sections in the sliding trays. For me this has the advantage of being portable. At the time of purchase (Dec 2016) it was on sale @ £23.99. Thoroughly recommended. Best wishes, Guy

Hi Nigel. I agree with you about characterful tank engines and 4 wheeled coaching stock. If I could take an H.G.Wells type time machine it would be back to the Edwardian period I would choose, to soak up atmosphere of the pre-grouping scene. We are lucky, in one sense to have so many photos of the period, thanks to the Box Brownie If I were to write a blog on my modelling activity it would be very short and very infrequent Nigel, you see I work for myself and I've just taken on a big (for me) job and it doesn't leave a lot of time for much else alas, tomorrow (22nd) there's an O Gauge show in Leigh (Greater Manchester), about 100 miles from me and I would love to go but I've got a site meeting to go to so it's a non-starter, I'm sorry to say. Have you thought about joining the Gauge O Guild at all? I joined last year and have found it a good source of information and inspiration as well as help on the practical aspects of modelling in O. By for now. Best Guy

Hi Nigel. Do you intend to model any particular local or time period in NBR history? I'm a bit like you in the respect of just entering the 'Grown Up Gauge' and intend to model a pre-grouping scene (Furness Railway in my case). On reflection O Gauge stock is a little on the pricey side but you don't need much of it to make an impressive layout. Are you enjoying putting together the Connoisseur brake because it does produce a very nice van? Best of luck with your endeavours. Guy