DaveF

I'd almost forgotten about this thread, it is time to bring it up to date with what may be a sad ending to some of you. Over the past two years the hidden sidings were relaid and realigned which made for much better running and scenic work continued. About 24 extra wagons were constructed, some being old Peco wagon kits. The layout has been run a lot and has been very reliable, I had about one derailment per running session, usually my own fault. For most of the last two years I have had had a painful neck and shoulder with a nerve which sometimes gets trapped which has made going up and down loft ladders less than enjoyable on bad days. It is probably a result of a car accident over 40 years ago. Fortunately it is very slowly improving. I've also found that I actually prefer working on my 0 gauge Midland Railway layout, set pre WW1 and my n gauge layout, set in Switzerland, which can be worked with stock suitable for periods from the late 70s to the late 90s. So two weeks ago I decided that the time had come to close the 00 layout and dispose of the stock. Today the stock was sold and it has gone to its new temporary home with a trader. In the next few weeks the track will be lifted and the scenery removed, followed by dismantling the baseboards. Then the loft will revert to being just a storage area. Meanwhile work continues on the 0 gauge while the n gauge (which doesn't have a thread yet) is to be extended and partly rebuilt. Perhaps I should mention that the 0 gauge and n gauge layouts are in the same room as both my computer and modelling table. In most houses it would be thought of as a spare room, for use by visitors. If I have relatives or friends to stay I arrange for them to stay in a local hotel, it works much better for all concerned. It seems strange not having any 00 stock for the first time since I was a small child over 60 years ago but feel it is the right decision. By the time I had carried the stock boxes down the loft ladder I was pleased I was doing it now not in (say) 5 years time when I would be in my 70s. It was quite hard work. David

There were still various lineside allotments then, either official or unofficial. David

Southern Region today with one from Gillingham and four photos from Teynham. Gillingham Class 73 removing coach with hot box from mystery tour return Ramsgate to Alfreton and Mansfield Parkway Aug 77 J 5816 Teynham Class 73 up p w May 77 J5697 Teynham Class 411 7174 Victoria to Ramsgate May 77 J5698 Teynham Class 73 up parcels May 77 J5699 Teynham Class 411 7182 Ramsgate to Victoria May 77 J5700 David

Northern Germany today with a few photos from Flensburg and Jübecktachment=889935:Flensburg harbour branch 11th Aug 92 C17767.jpg] Flensburg harbour branch 11th Aug 92 C17767 Flensburg DSB 4052 12th Aug 92 C17774 Flensburg 12th Aug 92 C17784 Jübeck 6280204 12th Aug 92 C17807 Jübeck Class 628 Husum to Newmunster 12th Aug 92 C17811 David

Almost a week ago I posted some photos on the way north from Grantham, ending at Dry Doddington. We'll visit Dry Doddington again for today's images. Dry Doddington Class 47 1989 down 1020 Kings X to Leeds Oct 70 J2429 Dry Doddington Class 55 09.20 Newcastle to Kings X Dec 76 J5556 Dry Doddington Class 47 47516 10.10 Kings X to Leeds Dec 76 J5559 Dry Doddington Class 254 HST up Oct 81 C5582 Dry Doddington Class 254 HST down May 82 C5674 David

A few more photos from Tanum in Sweden for today. Tanum 3207 Goteborg to Stromstad 9th Aug 94 C19571 Tanum 3207 Goteborg to Stromstad 9th Aug 94 C19572 Tanum level crossing north of station view south 9th Aug 94 C19577 Tanum 3212 10th Aug 94 C19639h Tanum 3210 10th Aug 94 C19639i David

Western Scotland today with some more photos on the West Highland line. The Banavie photos were taken while on holiday, the others were taken on a WBHS (Whitley Bay Horticultural Society trip from Newcastle (and other stations) to Fort William and back in a day. When we reached Bridge of Orchy it was clear that we would be held there for some time, many people got off the train and walked around the station and local area until the locos hooted to indicate we needed to get back on board. Banavie swing bridge Aug 76 J5402 Banavie swing bridge Aug 76 J5403 Banavie swing bridge Aug 76 J5404 Bridge of Orchy 37259 and 37121 northbound 11th May 85 C6858 Glen Douglas 37037 Glasgow QS to Oban 11th May 85 C6901 David

Still in Sweden, this time at Vanersborg to see the station and some bridges. Vanersborg bridge over Gota river 8th Aug 94 C19540 Vanersborg view east 8th Aug 94 C19541 Vanersborg view west 8th Aug 94 C19542 Vanersborg SJ emu pass to Stockholm 8th Aug 94 C19543 Vanersborg bridge over part of Lake Vannern 8th Aug 94 C19545 Vanersborg lift bridge over Gota canal 8th Aug 94 C19546 David

It's one of dad's photos, it could well be wrong - he'd have worked it out by looking at the likely passing times from a public timetable. That makes sense. Thanks to both of you, I've altered the caption. David

Remember it is 1500VDC which will make some parts different from 25kVAC overhead. David

Tyne and Wear Metro today with some photos taken at Gateshead Stadium and Heworth. Gateshead Stadium T&W Metro South Shields to Bankfoot 1st Aug 85 C7009 Heworth T&W Metro 4070 St James to Heworth 1st Aug 85 C7020 Heworth T&W Metro to South Shields 1st Aug 85 C7023 Heworth T&W Metro 4068 St James to Heworth 15th Aug 85 C7130 Heworth T&W Metros 15th Aug 85 C7131 David

Sweden today with some more photos at Gothenburg. Goteborg X2000 11th Aug 94 C19584 Goteborg tram 264 11th Aug 94 C19597 Goteborg Rc6 1405 11th Aug 94 C19668 Goteborg tram 257 12th Aug 94 C19678 Goteborg Tram 711 12th Aug 94 C19684 David

Some more photos from Ratcliffe on Soar on the Midland Main Line south of Trent for this afternoon. They were taken over a 14 year period. Ratcliffe on Soar A3 4472 Flying Scotsman Mystery Tour No3 St Pancras to Kings X March 69 J1564 Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 St Pancras to Derby? May 75 J4319 Ratcliffe on Soar Class 37 up p w Oct 76 J5499 Ratcliffe on Soar Class 47 St Pancras to Sheffield Nov 77 J5859 Ratcliffe on Soar 2 Clas 20 up ballast Feb 83 C5941 David

Germany today with a few photos of the railway and trams at Nordhausen in August 1992. Nordhausen was in the former East Germany. Nordhausen tram 74 7th Aug 92 C17493 Nordhausen view west 7th Aug 92 C17503 Nordhausen 7th Aug 92 C17508 Nordhausen tram 79 7th Aug 92 C17509 Nordhausen 199 011 7th Aug 92 C17515 David

Photos on the Great Eastern in May and June 1975 for today at Manningtre and Bentley. Manningtree 47129 Liverpool St to Norwich May 75 J4294 Manningtree 37090 down l e May 75 J4305 Bentley Class 31 up parcels June 75 J4377 Manningtree Cattawade Bridge June 75 J4379 Bentley Class 47 down June 75 J4492 David

Austria today with photos taken at Innsbruck in September 1989. Innsbruck 1020 006 l e Sept 89 J10308 Innsbruck 1020 005 and 1044 094 and DB 111 050 l e Sept 89 J10332 Innsbruck 1044 120 Innsbruck to Lienz Sept 89 J10334 Innsbruck 1044 207 Arlberg Express Buchs to Innsbruck couchettes from Ostend and Paris Sept 89 J10336 Innsbruck 1042 640 Lindau to Innsbruck Sept 89 J10442 David

Next some more photos from the London Tilbury and Southend at Leigh on Sea and Laindon. As usual the service is provided by Class 302s. Leigh on Sea 302302 Shoeburyness to Fenchurch St May 79 C4555 Laindon 302249 Fenchurch St to Shoeburyness March 80 C4967 Laindon Class 302 249 down Dec 77 J5873 Laindon Class 302 229 up Dec 77 J5874 Laindon Class 302 285 down April 78 J5998 David

A visit to the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway today. Lakeside Fairburn 4MTT as CR 2085 Aug 75 J4604 Lakeside MV Swan Aug 75 J4608 Haverthwaite Class 03 ex D2117 Aug 75 J4612 Haverthwaite Hudswell Clarke 6 Renishaw Ironworks Aug 75 J4614 Haverthwaite Fairburn 4MTT as CR 2085 Aug 75 J4617 David

A very brief excursion to southern Norway today. Norway Skjeberg NSB E13 13 2132 9th Aug 94 C19552 Norway Skjeberg NSB E13 13 2132 9th Aug 94 C19553 Norway Skjeberg NSB E13 13 2132 9th Aug 94 C19554 Norway Skjeberg 9th Aug 94 C19555 Norway Skjeberg 9th Aug 94 C19556 Norway Skjeberg 9th Aug 94 C19557 Norway Skjeberg SJ Rc5 1333 from Oslo 9th Aug 94 C19558 David

I suspect that C4092 with the 31 is an ecs - possibly coaches destined for Doncaster Works. The trespass notice is a Great Northern Railway example. David

Back to the ECML today, starting at Grantham and heading a short distance north towards Newark. Grantham 254007 Kings X to Edinburgh Feb 79 C4307 Peascliffe Tunnel Class 31 up empty cartics July 83 C 6116 Hougham 31232 down Aug 78 C4092 Dry Doddington Class 55 down April 79 C4425 55014? Dry Doddington Class 47 down April 79 C4428 David

A few more photos from Tanum this afternoon. Tanum view north 9th Aug 94 C19569 Tanum 3207 Goteborg to Stromstad 9th Aug 94 C19570 Tanum level crossing north of station view north 9th Aug 94 C19578 Tanum 10th Aug 94 C19639c Tanum 3207 10th Aug 94 C19639f David

Time now for a return to Scotland with our first visit to Glasgow Central on 2nd March 1984. In 1984 the 2nd March was a Friday, so I was probably visiting Glasgow Exhibition. I think it was held slightly later then than it is now. Glasgow Central 311 103 2nd March 84 C6408 Glasgow Central Class 107 2nd March 84 C6409 Glasgow Central 311109 and Class 116 set 387 2nd March 84 C6410 Glasgow Central 2nd March 84 C6411 Glasgow Central 86103 Glasgow to Parkeston Quay the European 2nd March 84 C6413 David

Still in Sweden, this time of a train at a level crosssing near Skee. Skee is just south of Stromstad, near the Norwegian border. Skee view towards Stromstad 9th Aug 94 C19559 Skee view towards station 9th Aug 94 C19560 Skee 3213 Stromstad to Goteborg 9th Aug 94 C19561 Skee 3213 Stromstad to Goteborg 9th Aug 94 C19562 Skee 3213 Stromstad to Goteborg 9th Aug 94 C19563 Skee 3213 Stromstad to Goteborg 9th Aug 94 C19564 David

It's a very enjoyable ride. I do have a few more of Dad's photos plus some of my own taken in more recent years (i.e. 1980s onwards) when I get time to sort them out and caption them. They cover quite a lot of the route. David