Cowley 47521

Very little trace of that scene now, but if you’re passing and you know where to look you can just about work out where things used to be.

Is that panel in the little cabin at Britannia Crossing? I seem to remember reading that the whole line was operated from there? Regarding the line itself though. Yes it’s a bit soulless in some ways, it’s definitely not preserved in the sense that it retains semaphores and pretty stations (although Kingswear is pretty special in its own way). However, to me it’s always made up for some of this purely due to the job it does in bringing train loads of tourists into Dartmouth who might otherwise try and drive into the town. It’s also, in my humble opinion, the most perfect stretch of steam railway mile for mile in the country. Within seven miles (which some would say is the perfect length for one of these lines) it has sandy beaches, viaducts, a decent length tunnel, waterside estuary running, an interesting terminus, proper climbs that make the locos work hard and beautiful views of the Devon countryside. When you’re behind the loco looking at the views on the climb up to Churston it takes some beating.

Lucky it didn’t end up in Neath. 😉

(I apologise in advance for these) I don't know if any of you have seen the article, but the guy who invented 'predictive text' sadly passed away yesterday. The funfair is planned for next week… Also though, I’ve been thinking about a change of career recently. I saw a job advertised, hanging mirrors. It’s definitely something I could see myself doing…

I’m in a similar position Andy. Happy to only have a couple of locos with sound, but they have to be something I definitely want if I’m spending money like that. Probably just plain BR blue for me if it’s of the correct era. Nick

Brilliant work Bob. Some of those classic scenes are really starting to take shape now.

It’s not actually a push-pull 47/7 as there’s no RCH cables on the front. I can’t be certain on the small screen on my phone but it looks like standard 47/4 47528?

Happy New Year everyone. This is my go to place for model railway inspiration and I love being a part of it. Hopefully we’ll all take a step forward with our plans and projects this year (or maybe we’ll just continue to procrastinate)… Wishing you a wonderful 2024 from deepest darkest Devon. 😉

It’s interesting observing the differences between the intercooled versions of the EE power units compared to the basic turbocharged (SVT) ones. I had a run behind one of the Portuguese 1400s earlier in the year which have basically the same engine as a class 20 but with charge cooling produce an extra 350 (I think) horsepower and rev up much more quickly. Quite similar to the differences between a class 31 and a 37.

Yes for Charge Cooled I believe?

Tantalising stuff. I’d also like a split box version - preferably named and with pre TOPS numbers in BR blue, plus an end of service 45/1 with an unofficial Tinsley name. Can’t wait actually!

Mervyn was an electrician and never worked for British Rail as far as I’m aware. Anyway he’s pictured in Branch lines to Ashburton (Middleton press) about a third of the way in apparently. He’s still got his DVR shares from back then and very proud he is of them too! I think he was involved in rescuing Dumbleton Hall as well.

I wonder if you both might have known Mervyn Holwill as well? He’s my friend Paul’s father and he was involved with it all back then. In one of the books of the line (just trying to find out which one) there’s a photo of him carrying out guard duties at Totnes Riverside in the 1970s.

Sorry about the poor quality photo but here’s a shot of either 56053 or 56055 (I think the latter?) at St David’s sometime around 1987. My stepbrother and I had gone down to the station after school and noticed it waiting for the road at the London end of platform 4. This was the best photo he managed to get before it shot off in a haze of exhaust fume leaving us somewhat surprised as they were very rare beasts down our way at the time.

I think I saw you. 😉

I must say that I’ve been absolutely exhausted this last couple of days after running Moors View with Paul and Roly at the weekend. It was great fun though and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, thank you to everyone that organised it as it looks like an absolute monster of a thing to put together.

Dan Fox recently covered this on his podcast. Well worth a listen if you want to learn a bit more about it:

Interesting, thanks for that. I’ve seen these for sale and was wondering about getting one. There’s plenty of cheap Siphons on eBay and you can get them unpainted so I might try and tackle this as at some point because they also ran on the Barnstaple line in BR blue days. @Calnefoxile - I just tried searching that thread but no joy. Would you be able to give me a link possibly? Nick

This week I have been mostly messing around with parcels stock… I keep hitting eBay after a couple of glasses of wine and buying Big Four vans to add to my late 1960s era rake of vans. It’s something I can run on Moors View and Lapford (well that’s how I’m justifying it anyway). Here’s a couple of post weathering photos: There’s all sorts in there, although I could really do with a Siphon and something LNER for the full variety.

I must admit that I don’t really use Facebook (although I do have an account). I’ll try and take a look at that though. The thought of a bogie Cargowaggon at Torrington might have just pushed me over the edge!

Should probably have added a wink to that last one. 😉 I’ve been watching these over the weekend as my stepbrother sent me one of them. It involves some fairly astonishing model making but it’s also utterly surreal and I think, hilarious. I’d highly recommend just watching the first couple of minutes to get the feel of it as it’ll probably hook you in… Has anyone else watched any of these?

This arrived from eBay the other day. The thing is, I’d ordered cat food…

Yes this one seems to be generating quite a bit of local opposition! As a separate question, does anyone know if any more modern wagons were trialled to Meeth? Someone’s suggested to me that HAA’s might have been up there once but that seems implausible to me.

I didn’t realise it had been rebuilt from a WW1 narrow gauge loco.

Well that’s really interesting. I’ve seen a photo of the jetty and the conveyor system now too so it’s all making a little more sense.