MattDitch

New Video - Exploring the Brampton/ Lord Carlisle's Railway It's been a little while since I posted a new video, sorry about that! People who enjoy disused railways should hopefully like this one as I take a look at the remains of the Brampton/ Lord Carlisle's Railway.

It's that time of the year again... I know it might be a bit early but I thought I'd let you all know that my 2024 railway calendar is now available to purchase. Below are some pictures of the calendar showing the various pictures used along with some actual pictures of the product. It's priced at £8.99 and you can purchase it from my eBay store here

Over the past several months I've been working on an all-new version of my 009 Kerr Stuart "Skylark" to replace the version I'd originally designed several years ago. This version is designed to use a cut-down Kato 108/109 chassis. I've also designed a version for the Bachmann "Peter Sa" chassis, but more on that soon... If you're interested in grabbing one of these then please follow one of the below links... Website >> https://www.mattditch.photography/online-shop-1/mdm01hcdisel009-hxw88 eBay >> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134696015028?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=BFNBBPTARoq&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=BFNBBPTARoq&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY And finally don't forget that I'm running a 15% off sale on my eBay page this weekend ;)

I'm having a weekend-long 15% off sale over at my eBay shop. If you're interested in picking one of my kits then please follow the below link... https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?item=133289066533&amp%3Brt=nc&amp%3B_trksid=p2047675.l2562&_ssn=mdmodels12

The first kit I released several years ago was an approximation of a Hudswell Clarke diesel, similar to those used on the Sierra Leone Government Railway. This was also a popular model and over the years I've sold many copies to all corners of the globe. However, as time went on and as my skills developed I found myself unhappy with the aging model. So, over the past few months, I've been working on an all-new version. It's not based on any particular loco but is instead an amalgamation of a few different locos. Like last time I have two versions available. A skirted version for the Kato 109 and an open version for those who may wish to use something different to power it. Although I'm leaving that up to the modeler as I haven't tested anything else under it. If you're interested in picking one up they can be purchased from the below links Hudswell Clarke diesel with side skirts Website >> https://www.mattditch.photography/online-shop-1/mdm01hcdisel009 eBay >> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134684039878?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=BFNBBPTARoq&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=BFNBBPTARoq&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Hudswell Clarke diesel (no skirt) Website >> https://www.mattditch.photography/online-shop-1/009-hudswell-clarke-style-diesel-no-tram-skirt-mdm12 eBay >> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134684040642?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=BFNBBPTARoq&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=BFNBBPTARoq&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

New Video - Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum 2023 Steam Gala

Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum 2023 steam gala The 2023 steam gala at Threlkeld Quarry near Keswick. This year's Gala featured visiting locomotives Andrew Barclay “Cegin” and Peckett “Liassic”. The full gallery can be found here

New video - North Tyneside Steam Railway "Lambton" Steam Gala

Here's a short video clip of Austerity No 60 & the demonstration goods train at the North Tyneside Steam Railway 2023 Steam Gala

North Tyneside Steam railway 2023 steam gala Here are my pictures taken on the second day of the railways Lambton-themed gala. The gala featured the reunion of Lambton locomotives 0-6-2 No.29 (Kitson w/n 4263) and Austerity No.60 (Hunslet w/n 3686). They were joined by the railway’s other visiting locomotive “Illingworth “ (Hudswell Clarke w/n 1208). As always the full gallery can be found here

New Video - South African Narrow Gauge in North Wales A selection of video clips showing former South African Narrow Gauge locomotives at work on the Welsh Highland Railway between the 23rd & 25th of June 2023. The locomotives featured are NGG16's 130, 87 & 143. Also featured is "Funkey" diesel "Castell Caernarfon" and the SAR freight train.

And here's the full video that covers the 3 days of the event...enjoy!

Here is a selection of new 009 models that I've been working on recently. The models are as follows... 1) Avonside based on those used by the Nepal Government Railway/ Jaynagar-Janakpur railway 2) Mini Russ (cut down) based on Russell from the Welsh Highland railway 3) "Druid" another Hunslet based on Leeds No.1 4) Russ with full-height features. All these models can be found on my website & eBay

Here's a short clip from the event. I'll have the full length video up in a few days (hopefully)

I had my first visit to Wales in around 15 years this weekend for the WHR 100 event. The weather was a bit naff at times but it was an amazing event. Below are some of my personal favorite shots. But the full gallery can be found here.

And here's the video...

New gallery - Tanfield Railway "Legends of Industry Gala" It was my locals first gala since before lock-down. It featured two visiting locos, Andrew Barclay 1219, which has been at Beamish for the past few months and Marston, Thompson & Evershed No 3 from Foxfield. Another attraction at the gala was the launch into service of Andrew Barclay "Stanley". The full gallery can be found here

New video - Statfold Barn Railway's Summer Spectacle of Steam 10/06/23

Statfold Barn Railway - "Summer spectacle of steam" 10/06/23 The full gallery c an be found here. But in the meantime please enjoy a few of my favorite shots from the gala

And here's the video

Multi gauge running on the Beamish Colliery railway. 05/06/23 Beamish Colliery Railway running day featuring visiting Andrew Barclay 1219, the boiler of new build North Eastern Railway K class No.559 and narrow gauge Andrew Barclay “Glyder” Full gallery >> https://www.mattditch.photography/rail#/beamish-colliery-railway-050623/

I started my little 3D printing business as a way to distract myself when I was going through a dark patch in my life. I would never have thought back then just how popular my little 3D creations would become. I've shipped my kits to all corners of the world and made some amazing friends along the way. Today marks 4 years since I officially started MD models, so as a way of celebrating this milestone and saying thanks to everyone who has purchased something from me I've decided to run a sale on my website and eBay. Use the code 4YEAR15 on my website for 15% off your order https://www.mattditch.photography/online-shop-1 Over on eBay, 15% should come off your order automatically. https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?item=133289066533&amp%3Brt=nc&amp%3B_trksid=p2047675.l2562&_ssn=mdmodels12

New Gallery - The Whittonstall railway The Whittonstall railway was a narrow gauge overhead electric railway built in the early 1900s to link the drift mines at Whittonstall, around 2 miles west of Chopwell with the Colliery at Chopwell. Where the coal presumably would have been transferred to the standard gauge Chopwell and Garesfield Railway. The railway was the first electric railway in County Durham and had a small fleet of centre cab overhead electric locomotives built by Siemens and Hano. The railway didn't just transport coal it also carried wood that was used to build pit props. And a number of branch lines were built to serve this industry. Locomotive haulage was phased out during the 1920s and all the locomotives had been scraped by 1930. By this time the full line had been converted to rope haulage. Whittonstall Drift closed in 1940 due to WW2 but was reopened by the National Coal Board in 1953. The railway was rebuilt and some of the more serious gradients were eased. Another of the NCB's changes was to end men riding in coal tubs. Instead, a purpose-built 3-car train was built by Wickham & Co. Mining ceased at Chopwell in the late 1950s as mining had moved so far west that it was easier to extract the coal from the Whittonstall end. A new drift was opened (West Drift) in 1960. Although this closed 6 years later in the winter of 1966. The track was taken up shortly after and the remaining buildings and mines were bulldozed and sealed off. Today it is possible to walk some sections of the tracked. The full gallery can be found here Looking up the incline towards Whittonstall Drift The trackbed heading towards Chopwell. There was another drift mine located on the right. Fishplate

For a while now I've been working on a 009 Hunslet heavily inspired by those used on the Howrah-Amta Light Railway. And I've very pleased to finally be able to share the model. If you'd like your own then it can be purchased from one of the below links Website eBay

New Gallery - Walking the Brampton Railway. The Brampton Railway was originally constructed in 1798. And, was primarily designed to transport coal from Tindale Fell to Brampton staiths. Initially, it comprised various short segments of wooden railways that had been built earlier. In 1836 the route was altered to meet the newly opened Newcastle and Carlisle Railway at Brampton Junction. The section from the junction to Brampton was later transferred to the North Eastern Railway, carrying passengers and goods, but it closed in 1923. The remaining portion of the railway was exclusively dedicated to serving collieries and other mineral-related activities. Over time, it experienced several extensions in the remote hills located to the south of Brampton. Its prosperity was closely tied to the success of the collieries. However, following the nationalization of the pits in 1947, a significant decline set in, ultimately leading to the closure of the line in 1953. Throughout its existence, the railway was known by various names, including the Tindale Fell Railway, the Midgeholme Railway, the Hartleyburn & Brampton Railway, and simply the Brampton Railway. More pictures can be found here >> https://www.mattditch.photography/disused-railways#/brampton-railway/