BobDM

Been making slow progress on my plan for this station and have come across a couple of things. On a map of the station it shows a bay with 3 tracks to the west of the main Down platform. I thought this might be a goods yard but now I don't think it was. Was this the Faringdon bay? Another puzzle is what role did the various tracks to the east of the main Up platform perform? I'm not talking about the goods yard but tracks which appear to be linked with either 1 or 2 small platforms. Thirdly how did the process of switching engines from Western to Southern region take place? Any guidance much appreciated. Thanks

Fantastic! What a great selection of material. Apologies for not posting these thanks earlier but I haven't had the chance to visit this forum for a few weeks. It is really nice to know that other people have got pleasure from the replies. I have been reading the Laurence Waters' book and it has been really valuable but some information I needed is missing and these pictures and comments are helping fill the gaps.

Hi Does anyone know where I can find any detailed information about Oxford station and MPD before 1968. I managed to locate some stuff about the LMS station on Disused Stations but stuff about the GWR station is hard to find. I think I found a turntable on an 1899 map but it seems to be in a funny position. I am not sure how the trackwork was laid out or where the shed was. The beauty of Oxford is that it attracted engines from all over the place and was a haven for spotters so there must be some good pictures about somewhere.

Just in case anyone else wants a copy of this Railway Magazine article, it was split in 2 parts which ran in January & February 1968.

All I can say is I placed an pre-order for the Pride of Sussex, one of their commissions, and when I said I assumed they would send me an e-mail confirmation I was told by the person who dealt with my order that they would not send me one.

Thanks a lot for the replies which have been really helpful. I managed to find a copy of Vivien Thompson's book at Abebooks and it landed on the doormat yesterday morning. Fantastic - scale drawings of the signal box and the goods shed, as well as some drawings showing part of the station. If I could find a copy of the Railway Modeller for January 1968 where I think she shows drawings of the roundhouse and possibly the rest of the station I think I would have everything I need. I am actually modelling the station in the mid 1970s period (1974-75) though I have decided to take liberties with the facts as I would like to include the roundhouse and goods shed. The roundhouse was badly damaged by German bombing and towards the end of its life was basically still a bombsite with some structures still standing. I think it was gone by 1974. Anyway even if I don't ever get the Railway Modelling stuff I still have plenty to get started on. Many thanks everybody.

Thanks Nearholmer. You don't happen to know the title do you?

Hi I would like to model Eastbourne Railway station and need some good books that will help me with information about modelling the Southern region, especially East Sussex. I have Chris Ford's book Modelling the Southern Region and 2 members of Eastbourne MRC have helped me with some valuable info which has helped get me started, but there is a lot I still need to know. Is the Southern Railway Handbook any good? Any recommendations for books on rolling stock and infrastructure would be welcome.

Definitely. Of the 3 magazines I started subscribing to in December last year (BRM, Railway Modeller and this one) I have found this one easily the best. I think their reviews of new products are the best I've seen. I can't see myself renewing my sub to BRM because I don't find there is enough in it which is useful to a newbie like me.

I have got to add my appreciation of Rails. I placed an order with a well known Widnes railway retailer for one of their commissions and was told they did not send e-mail confirmations of orders. Half an hour later I placed a normal order with Rails and as I am talking to the guy on the phone, "ping", there is the e-mail confirmation. One shop cannot be bothered and the other one can. That's why most of my pocket money is going to Sheffield. And of course Rails are usually cheaper. Got to agree about their website though - must be one of the most user-unfriendly I have ever come across.