PatC

Two weeks until Narrow Gauge South. What should be the final list of layouts, barring unforeseen developments, is posted below. Two recent additions to this are  Creag Dhubh Summit by Ted Polet and Yurze Ore Mine by Lucien Eijdems, both visiting from the Netherlands.

All other arrangements are as shown at  http://www.narrowgaugesouth.org.uk/wp/?page_id=983 

Hope to see many of you on the 27th.

As posted by PaulRhB above, barring any last minute changes, we have the final list of layouts for Narrow Gauge South in two weeks time. Two late additions are Creag Dhubh Summit by Ted Polet and Yurze Ore Mine by Lucien Eijdems.

All other arrangements are as shown at  http://www.narrowgaugesouth.org.uk/wp/?page_id=983 

Hope to see many of you on the 27th.

A little over a month until Narrow Gauge South 2024, the latest exhibition information can be found at http://www.narrowgaugesouth.org.uk/wp/?page_id=983 

The end of March approaches rapidly which means there's a little over a month until Narrow Gauge South 2024. Up to date information can be found on our website at http://www.narrowgaugesouth.org.uk/wp/?page_id=983

I'm sure I remember them running to Portsmouth. I went to school at Southbourne ( between Havant and Chichester) in the late 70s/early 80s and I remember seeing them on the coast line there. 

The Narrow Gauge South 2024 exhibition webpage at http://www.narrowgaugesouth.org.uk/wp/?page_id=983   has been updated with the latest information. 25 NG layouts in a variety of scale/gauge combinations are now confirmed with more to come. Among those confirmed is John Crane's truly impressive Kurseong.

Eastleigh Lakeside Railway's 7¼" gauge L&B 2-6-2T Taw will be on display, following its recent overhaul.

The Eastleigh Lakeside Railway will  be operating later than normal on the day, with the last train leaving Monks Brook Halt at 5.10pm, for those wishing to use the park and ride facility outlined on the webpage.

Many thanks for the heads up Richard. I'll definitely be adding a copy of that to the IoW shelf.

The T9s that were transferred east were generally paired with six wheel tenders, usually attributed to shorter turntables on the  Central section.

The later batch of Schools were allocated new to  Portsmouth Direct line duties, shedded at Fratton from 1935. When the direct was electrified they were used on Bournemouth line duties where they showed their full potential, matching King Arthur performance. The Arthur's were also used in Eastern and Central sections services, again the six wheel tenders being required for shorter ex LBSC turntables.

I received a copy of the Beyer Garratt book for Christmas (well, I actually bought it from Kevin on your stand at Warley but had it taken from me when I got home😂).

It's an absolutely stunning book. Currently working my way through it, particularly in relation to Garrat locomotives used in South America. Fascinating reading. 

Wessex Narrow Gauge  Modellers are pleased to announce:

Narrow Gauge South 2024 

Saturday 27th April

Barton Peveril College, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 5ZA

10.00 - 17.00

Full details at http://www.narrowgaugesouth.org.uk/wp/?page_id=983

We return to  Barton Peveril College for our bienniel exhibition, celebrating the very best of narrow gauge modelling. The final list of layouts is still to be confirmed, keep an eye on the website for the latest information. We  expect about 30 layouts in scales around 3.5mm, 4mm and 7mm etc covering British, Irish and overseas prototypes. Stands from specialist traders, railway societies and NG Railways. 009 Society AGM on site during the afternoon.

Ordered one of the SECR van kits on Tuesday. It was waiting for me when I got home this evening. Fantastic service, thanks Gary. Had a quick look at the print, it really is very good and everything appears to have survived  the post intact. Just need to check if I've got some wheels for it in the drawer.

Very impressed, I'll be back for something else soon I dare say.

Yes indeed, can't wait for the nightly highlights. Al-Attiyah has moved from Toyota to a new team with Pro-Drive Hunters so it'll be interesting to see how he gets on. Seth Quintero will now be in the works Toyota having moved up from the lightweights. The there's the bikes where there's a whole load of talent in contention. For real excitement though, watch the trucks.

Not much modelling going to get done for the next couple weeks I guess😂

One of my all time favourites. I remember spending a lot of time watching it at IMREX (probably in 1987 or 88?), around about the time I first visited Switzerland and became fascinated by the railway network.

Just been catching up on your thread having lost touch with the name change and everything. So sorry to read that someone has been criticising your work. That's totally out of order. Personally, I love a micro layout and have always been a Brighton fan at heart so have really enjoyed following your progress. You've also drawn my attention to Oak Hill Works, so I can see an order for a couple of wagon prints being placed quite soon.

Keep up the good work.

Currently shown as 'sold out'  on the Light Railway Stores website https://www.lightrailwaystores.co.uk/collections/mosskito

Try the two Oakwood Press books by JIC Boyd as a starting point. Various editions and reprints over many years. Quite a lot of known errors, mistakes and assumptions but still worth having I think. Peter Johnston's two-parter by Pen & Sword also worth a look. For locomotive history look no further than Little Giants, it is absolutely amazing. In truth, I don't think there's one single modern publication that will cover all the bases.

2 hours ago, whart57 said:

 

I had hoped my smiley would have defused things. To tell the truth, I thought the SECR MW was a class L, it was only when I consulted Bradley before posting that I found out different. So you could get away with giving the Rapido loco an SECR paintjob and numbering it 752. The other interesting thing is that it doesn't seem to have suffered the slate grey  livery. A photo in Bradley from 1921 shows it still in the Wainwright livery. Presumably it wasn't thought worthwhile to get it back into the paintshop.

 

One point I don't think has been made is that locos like this were popular with contractors engaged on railway works. That means you can have them on what is otherwise a mainline layout, sitting in a siding with a couple of wagons until they were given temporary permission to go and do a bit of ballasting or shore up a cutting wall.

 

Despite my gripes, I want one though, so when I have figured out how to place a pre-order, I will. Now about that W&L Earl/Countess in On16.5 .......

A picture of 752 on page 152 of the Smithers book shows the loco in what I take to be the later grey SECR livery with large numbers.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what Andy and his team do with L class. There are so many possibilities and a number of attractive prototypes that could be portrayed. With regard to the Old Class I and K, I have the RT kits in the drawer waiting their turn so probably ought to make a start on one of them soon, just as soon I finish the ex Lambourn Valley four- wheel coach that I currently have on the go. 

Well done Rapido for taking the plunge.

This is really great news. An MW saddle tank is an inspired choice. Personally I'd like the K or old Class I but if it turns out to be an L, or whatever, it will still be incredibly useful for all sorts of light railway projects that I have in mind. I'm not one for making rash promises but I can see me acquiring a couple of these, may be three, whatever version is produced. Time to start selling off surplus stock to generate cash me thinks. Thank you Rapido.

Had an enjoyable day at the SVR yesterday. A wonderful line up of traction and an excellent timetable, even if it did slip.

I had a three hour journey up from the south coast so had booked in advance. It turned out that was no advantage at all as the queue for pre booked tickets stretched back across the mainline station car park when I got there at 8.40 and it took over half an hour to actually check in with the one person checking names off against a printed list ( so the QR code was pointless). Those turning up to pay on arrival on the other hand were just shepherded to one of three booking office windows and were in. Don't  think I'd pre book again.

That aside though, it was a splendid day. Particularly enjoyed the soundtrack from 37263 and travelling to Arley on the HST, despite the sedate pace, was quite special. The Scotrail set was very popular. I managed to get a seat on it from Highley to Kidderminster mid afternoon, but it was standing room only otherwise as people were getting on ready for the next run with 88004. I was tempted to stay on but decided, even in a first-class seat, it was just too packed for me.

Great event SVR, hope the railway made plenty of money out of the weekend.

The decline started in the late 80s when the Cromptons started to disappear from our laocl passenger traffic. I was born and brought up on the south coast so anything loco-hauled that broke up the procession of EMUs was of interest to me. I kept the interest up through the 90s but the end of the slam door EMUs and all their differences, if you took the time to look, in the early 2000s more or less put paid to it really. I used to commute to work in Southampton in the early 2000s on the SWT Class 170s and I found myself noticing the details the odd unit that wasn't in sequence with the rest of the Salisbury allocation (yellow interior fittings, ended up going to Southern). It made me realise I needed to get out more😂 

A huge thank you to everyone who supported Narrow Gauge South on Saturday be they exhibitors or visitors. Paul RhB has been posting some images of the goings on over in the main Exhibition section of the forum. Although we were somewhat surprised to find a huge hole in the main car park when we arrived the college provided more than ample extra parking in the end so all was well. 

Here's to 2024!

I'm really very sorry to hear that anyone had a negative experience trying to get into Narrow Gauge South. We certainly did our best to direct visitors and several hundred people got in to both the exhibition and the other event at the college with no trouble. We will certainly look into the issues that have been raised.

As we explained in a previous thread, the large hole in front of the college came as a surprise to us (and to some of the college staff apparently) and we were advised that parking would be an issue. We were therefore pleasantly surprised to find a huge area on the college playing fields cordoned off as a temporary car park when we arrived early on Saturday morning.

I can only say that from the comments and feedback that I received on the day and from what has subsequently appeared on forums and on social media, an awful lot of people enjoyed themselves at Narrow Gauge South.

A huge thank you to all those who attended, whether as exhibitor or visitor.

The first Narrow Gauge South exhibitors are in the midst of set up as I write these words.

An update on the parking situation. The builders moved in to Barton Peveril College this week and started digging up the car park! The upshot is that parking is likely to be more problematic than normal for the venue. Extra parking has been made available on the playing field so please follow directions from college parking marshall's on arrival. There is also public parking on the road along Chestnut Avenue, please park carefully in order to make best use of the available space. Parking restrictions apply on local residential streets.

There is also parking at the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway from where you can catch the train to Monks Brook which is just a five minute walk away.

The first Narrow Gauge South exhibitors are in the midst of set up as I write these words.

An update on the parking situation. The builders moved in to Barton Peveril College this week and started digging up the car park! The upshot is that parking is likely to be more problematic than normal for the venue. Extra parking has been made available on the playing field so please follow directions from college parking marshalls on arrival. There is also public parking on the road along Chestnut Avenue, please park carefully in order to make best use of the available space. Parking restrictions apply on local residential streets.

There is also parking at the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway from where you can catch the train to Monks Brook which is just a five minute walk away.

We've just been told that N Drive Productions will not be attending Narrow Gauge South as previously announced.