32475

Such sad news. I only got to meet Bob late last year when Johnson044 and I took him to the Uckfield Show. Bob was an absolute mine of information and anecdotes on all things railway, music and beyond; I really wish I had recorded our car journey. Alas Bob's firebox has gone cold but he has left a wonderful legacy to railway modelling. RIP Bob.

Glückwunsch Herr Johnson. Der Eismops ist tot. Es lebe der Eismops!

I should point out that SRNI No 1 started life as an Airfix Pug kit and it had an intimate affair with a garden shed, some platform canopy columns, a post box and various assorted left overs. Johnson044 and I had a bit of a Christmas/ New Year pugbash challenge so stay tuned to this wireless station for news on his creation.

Behold, Howling Locomotive Company’s 0-2-2, ‘No1’ built for the Southern Railway of Northern Ireland in 1927

Oh I say. What a fine job. Well done!

Since the line in question has not been reported as having been drawn as yet, no doubt there is a Drawing the Line Committee. On the agenda will be such questions as: Should we use a pencil, quill pen, biro, felt pen, permanent marker? What should the line be drawn on such as a sheet of paper, exercise book, wall or something else? Will it be a straight line, curved or wobbly? Who will get to draw it? How long will the line be? Will it join up with any other lines? Will the line be thick or thin? Will it have an London Underground route named after it? There is just so much decision making to be done which cannot be underestimated.

Every year for the last ten years, Mrs 32475 and I have reared three or four lambs and since we get them at a day or two old they are bottle fed and so become very tame. Last year I declared to a three year old granddaughter that the lambs were to be called Craven, Stroudley, Billinton and Marsh. She wouldn't hear of it and declared that they were to be called Moo, Oink, Neigh and Quack. The names stuck. This year we asked three young grandchildren to name a lamb each so this year our flock are named Tractor, Bug and Fairy. I've always considered names such as Bhuna, Korma and Pasanda to be eminently suitable but I'm sure I'll be out voted again next year.

Inspired by Johnson044's little ditty, I've been inspired to pen my own version. If Miss Julie Andrews wishes to make another film musical to cheer us all up, I have no doubt that Mr Johnson and I would be more than willing to write some lyrics for her. Anyway, here goes...... Cats in the sunshine and old platform trolleys Green Maunsell coaches and commuters with brollies The sounds of a signal box levers and rings These are a few of my favourite things Sharing a smoke with an elderly porter Copping a feel with the signalman's daughter Awaiting the postman to see what he brings These are a few of my favourite things Rusting old rails which stretch to infinity The plate layers hut where I lost my virginity On a horse hair filled mattress which hadn't got springs These are a few of my favourite things When the dog's sick Like an oil slick On the kitchen floor I simply remember my favourite things Then I don't feel bad no more

Well done. That was something to test the patience and the eyesight. Now go straight back to 0 gauge, pass Go and collect £200!

Bravo Monsieur. Vive 'La France'. Such fortitude and determination on a tiny scale. This explains precisely why my optician recommmends 00 or 0 gauge modelling.

Thanks for your comments and advice so far. If I find any drawings I will indeed share them to help the common cause. My alternative is a day's expedition to Isfield with a measuring tape!

I want to scratch build a 4mm scale model, probably using a combination of printed card brick and slate with plastic components. Can anyone advise where I can obtain some measured drawings to work from? I'm aware of the kit produced by ABM Railcraft a few years ago and that's the level of detail I want to aim for but this kit doesn't appear to be obtainable any longer unless anyone knows better. There's also the wonderful laser printed kit based on Isfield box which is tempting but I quite fancy a scratch challenge

Richard's 0 gauge layout was a few Basset Lowke engines and rolling stock. He had a layout of about 25 metres, double track in a large oval and I wish now that I had taken one or two photographs. Richard obviously had much delight in sending a train round the circuit at top speed just like a schoolboy and without any derailments! I realize now that I may well have been the last person to 'play trains' with him. Whether I was or not, it was a real privilege.

Just a correction : that should have read 1930 - 2020; still a very good innings by any stretch of the imagination

Sad to report that Richard Lines died last night. Richard was part of the Lines family and was instrumental in setting up the factory in Margate in the 1950's. I only met Richard a few months ago on hearing that he and his wife lived only a mile from me near Sandwich. They invited me over and I spent a wonderful hour or so with Richard reminiscing about his time at Triang, setting up the factory and developing new locomotives, rolling stock, Minic motorways and everything that Triang had to offer. I had also arranged for the Railway Mania podcast and website to interview Richard this month but due to Richard's ill health that was delayed and will sadly never happen. Richard was such a charming fellow and so enthusiastic about his career. I was delighted when he signed my battered 1964 Triang catalogue which I had kept since the age of four and he even invited me for a session with his 0 gauge layout in the attic of an outbuilding in the garden. I feel very proud to have met Richard who's career influenced the lives of so many (mainly) schoolboys, myself included. How fitting also that he died at hospital in Margate, barely half a mile from the old Triang factory which Hornby have now returned to.