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A wonderful photo - thanks for sharing! Do you happen to have any others photos within the power station at Rugeley by any chance - I play in the brass band that was based there and used to be a member of the model engineering society. Sorry all for the thread hijack - just too good an opportunity to miss, Rats are my all time favourite class, will post some of my Rat photos on here soon!

May God bless you, watch over you and give you peace and strength Jim. I pray you never lose sight that there are many people around you who care about you. Keep focussed, stay strong and talk to people. We love you and care about you my friend - we are all here for you and always will be. Blessings and prayers to you.

Interesting to read about the B2 control centre at Bletchley. Does anyone happen to have any photos, details of its location, etc, please.

Hi, a few photos below.

A couple of unusual loco changes/stoppers at Bletchley in the late 1970’s during Sunday engineering work. 47443 has taken over from a class 86 on a northbound express 25051 hauls a class 310 on a Northampton working Photos by me, film processed and prints done by my dad!

The Perth express used to stop at Bletchley in the 1970s. I used to get it back from Euston to Bletchley after watching Chelsea play evening games at the Bridge with my dad. Quote a lot of expresses used to stop at Bletchley prior to CMK opening.

Please look after yourselves, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.

That is one of the 4 08's that were Bescot based and fitted with rubber skirts to prevent water ingress from frequent trips though the washer at Oxley.

I recall regularly seeing the boiler van at 'the Cross' in the early 80's. Does anyone have any plans for them or ideas for building one in oo gauge please. Thanks in advance

Congratulations Dennis - may you have a long and happy retirement! Having known you for almost 40 years, I am am sure we will continue to bump into each other either at an exhibition or at a Gulls match! If you are ever in the Rugeley area, drop me a PM and feel free to drop in for a cuppa and a play on one of our layouts. Take care and stay safe.

Received my weathered blue rat today - simply an amazing model, well done Heljan! What are people using to glue the grills and blanking plates on with please.

I recently purchased a 6' x 6' multi level OO gauge layout via Ebay. The layout was sold as exhibition standard. I have just found 2 exhibition plaques on it - both from Newcastle exhibition - one in 1990 and one in 1991. I am planning to restore the layout and update it to suit the 1978-1982 era which I model in. If anyone happens to have any details of the layouts past, I would welcome them. The trackwork is all handbuilt, there is a 2 train main line with a raised level branch line. All the points are worked by wire in tube. Thanks in advance.

I remember the parcels platform well, usually had a couple of vans in there collected by a class 25 early evening. Does anyone have any photos of it please - want to model it on my new layout

Just bought a 6 month subscription to paper BRM which also said it has links to the digital edition. Nowhere can I find a link for the digital version - bit of a pain as I wanted to download it to take on holiday tomorrow to occupy a bit of in flight time.

They also had a spell on the WCML based at Bletchley, taking over from the (much missed) 310's and then being replaced themselves by brand new Dusty Bins. They were very reliable units from what I recall from my daily commute into Euston - although the power cars gave the crossover south of Hemel Hempstead station a right bashing when on the up fast!

The A52 goes across the north end of the yard and you can see the depot from it too. On the Derby-bound side, there is a layby just before the bridge where you can park and walk along the grass verge. You can also see the lines of stored 60's from here.

Sounds an interesting job - quite tempted to apply! Best wishes to Dennis for a long and happy retirement. I first met him at MKMRS in the 70's when I was a very junior member. Then used to see him regularly on the train when we both worked in London/Watford. Our paths have continued to cross over the years at various exhibitions and also at football - both following the Gulls (Torquay United) through thick and thin! Model railways do give us some wonderful memories at times

There is a good article in the latest edition of “Rail” about the widened lines.

We are moving to Rugeley in the next couple of weeks, must give them a try!

Gosh, I helped to build Verney Junction as a very junior member of MKMRS!

Used to be seen regularly at Bletchley on stone trains from Tytherington to Bletchley, Bedford and Northampton. Then got replaced by 50’s for a while - those were the days!

Out of interest HartleyMartin, who do you play for and what do you play? I play cornet for Lea Hall brass band in Staffordshire (we used to be Rugeley power station brass band). Have played with them for 16 years, one of the best things I have ever done and it’s interesting how many times brass bands and railways overlap!

I recently bought a G&H workbench. It fitted together perfectly and is very robust. I will be returning to them to buy a fiddle yard turntable in the near future. I never realised they are only a mile from my office. When I placed my order, I asked if I could collect it during my lunch break. When I called in, they were all really friendly people and made me feel welcome - despite the fact they were all on their lunch break too! A good honest Black Country company whom it was a pleasure to do business with, they had quite a few model locos and carriages around their workshops.

They will hopefully be more reliable than the ageing 150 and 153units currently in use. Failures are commonplace at present and often that knocks on throughout the day until another unit is sent from Tyseley. Their interiors are far more modern and clean - the branch will be a good proving ground for them and I wish everyone involved success with the contract. Just need a 00 gauge one now for my Bedford St Giles layout!

They are wonderful, thanks for sharing