Hampshire Hog

Yes ess1uk I am very lucky that Rhys took Leaford on and plans to develop it further. I am sorry to say that the Brockenhurst show has been postponed until possibly later in the year, depending how long this horrid Coronavirus crisis continues meaning Millway Docks second show appearance will not now happen in May. One of LPA’s Sentinal no 7 threads it’s way through the narrowest part of the dock with a mixed freight. Kevin

Hi Pete it is good to hear you are well, I have some buildings that I built many years ago for Leaway Park that never got used, it is a shame not to use them, I am hoping to be able to use them. Cheers Kevin

Hi Bernard I don’t know what you mean! I suppose they are the same as any other machine, designed to a job efficiently, safely, and also be able to cope with worst conditions that the weather can throw at them, satisfy the needs of 6500 individuals and make lots of money for their owners, there is not a lot left to look good. Kevin

Wow, I think I have a long way to go before I can create anything like that, what a fantastic job, it would be interesting to see how the modern cruise ships would look in model form built to the same scales as above, for example the QE2 was approx 65000. tonnes (which was considered as big by any standard) whereas the Oasis of the Seas weighs in at approx 220,000.tonnes. Thanks for that Nigel.

Hang on you guys, don’t get to carried away, I have to finish building this one yet.

You may jest, and wouldn't that be great Paul, but even the smallest of cruise ships even from the 60's (Canberra for instance in comparison to todays monsters) would dwarf Millway Dock, Oh yes! I have certainly thought about it. Kevin.

There must be a cruise ship in! Ruston shunter D 2986 (straight out of Eastleigh after an F exam) places ex LNER Gresley luggage van on the loading bay.

Work continues at Millway Dock, another load of animal feed this time on a BRS ERF KV waits to be roped and sheeted, whilst Robson’s Foden waits for the crane to unload its concrete manhole rings, he hopes he can get away quickly as he will loose his return load. In the meantime LPA ‘s Sentinal no 8 “Tiger” waits for its next move.

That sounds a good idea, I have 1 or 2 Tinsley ones you could borrow, Cheers Kevin

Early morning at Millway Dock, driver of BRS AEC Mandater has gone for a pee in the process of sheeting down his fresh load of animal feed, it’s probably the excitement of having a load on new fangled pallets for a change, rather than the usual handball!! In the meantime shutter D3105 carries on with its business.

Sorry to be confusing in the title Kylestrome I will sort it out as soon as I fathom out how? Hi Pete, I hope you are well in these difficult times, I have already given some thought to another layout by purchasing some additional baseboards the same dimensions as Millway Dock and using the existing support legs and fiddle yards, not some much an extension but a new project perhaps something a bit more rural. Kevin

After taking Leaford apart and it’s sale, I have returned to Millway Dock projects, one of which is the road vehicles -some of them you have already seen above, here is my latest effort an AEC Mammoth Major getting ready to be loaded with Dog Biscuits.

Many thanks Rhys for rescuing Leaford (I would not have enjoyed breaking it up), the layout has given me many years of pleasure both in the building and operating over its many versions and extensions, and I know this probably sounds very corny but I sincerely hope you have the same, and I look forward to visiting Leighford under its new guise in the future. Kevin.

Thanks Imsforever, I am sure that there are many like us where are layouts are being effected by time rather less than us, and you were able to come to a compromise to be able to continue, but my problem is twofold one as above, and the other is that I now have two rooms in the house that have layouts in them, my misses has never complained about my hobby in fact she has always been supportive, but it just seems to be unfair at present so Leaford has to go. I always like to post a picture if I can and this one is of a class 101 waiting for time at Leaford Town on the shuttle service to Leaford Junction via Leaford Millway Road.

Thanks for that ess1uk, I remember it well, perhaps you can make Brockenhurst this year as Millway Dock will be there. Another picture of Nigel’s Leyland Comet, looks like they have now found the discharge pipe. Cheers Kevin

Yes Paul, I managed to save all the original paint on the outside of all the doors, but the inside got a bit damaged but nothing some faffing could not put right, anyway it’s all your fault it was you who got me into this vehicle carving.

Another picture of the road vehicles that can seen on Millway Dock at present, a Ford 400e van being loaded by its driver with Animal Feeds for onward delivery.

I visited my mate Nigel yesterday, and as he was was recovering from a replacement knee operation and not altogether mobile we spent the day looking through his rather large collection of model Lorries, Busses, Fire Engines and generally other model railway stuff, and my dropped jaw has only just recovered, I managed to sneak a couple of items away with me whilst he wasn’t looking, “only joking” and here is a picture of one that he had built out of various bits and pieces, great job Nige.

Hello Dan, the small Coaster “Molly J” is a Deans Marine R/C kit that has been much modified to be more in scale and to fit the RB22 on the deck, and also to turn it into waterline, and the self propelled bunkers barge started life as a Walthers marine transportation barge, again much modified with scratch built wheelhouse and pump room with deck machinery from Deans Marine, Kibri Hiab kit, Knightwing pipework and stuff from the scrap bin, I hope that this useful. Kevin

Sorry the picture is dark mate, but it was early in the morning and I was late, although I would like to pretend that my photographic skills were responsible. I will send you a pm as requested, here is another photo below of a busy Leaford Junction, I hope it comes out better than my previous attempt. Many thanks Kevin

Thanks Jamie, it is nice to hear from you, yes you are absolutely spot on in what you say, I now have the problem of can it be sold? bearing in mind how to get it out of its room and still be in a condition to sell, that is of course provided somebody would like to buy it in the first place, or do I just break it up, then what do I do with all the bits? Anyway here is a photo of the “Kremlin” you asked for. Cheers Kevin

Thank you for your kind comments lads, I have thought about modifying the layout to try to eliminate crawling underneath, but the layout is such a tight fit it is not possible. I think Pitbull summed it up when he said that there will be more opportunities with the Leaford gone. 08834 shunts some cement tanks up at the “Kremlin”.

Cheers lads, the facts are Being an old fart I can’t keep crawling underneath to gain access and to do maintenance, I am saddened to have to let it go as it is great fun to operate, but time does not stand still!

Having been away since the new year and just recovered my land legs I thought I would Just update as to both layouts, Millway Dock has now got both fiddle yards in place and can now be placed back in time to the 60s/70s, please see photos, and after a lot of thought Leaford will have to go , as I have 1 layout in the front room and 1 in the back bedroom, and it would appear my next move will be to the ex Coal Shed. Best regards Kevin.

Naah, it is either a Riley 1.5 or a Wolseley 1500.(based on the Morry 1000 shell) I suspect the latter coz the Riley was always just that bit jazzier. Best Regards, Kevin