DLT

Thanks very much Nick for your comments, and Stu for the photos. Between you you've spurred me into action. I've got some more photos I can dig out and upload, particularly of the rolling stock. Stu, your son (or bits of him) appear in the photos, he did a long and very helpful stint of operating, but I'm sorry to admit I can't remember his name. Thanks, Dave.

Definitely!

Thanks Steve, You would be suprised at the number of people I've met who were convinced that it WAS there. I've even fooled myself; occasionally when passing on the A35 I find myself glancing up the valley hoping to spot a bit of the old embankment. Then I have to say to myself, "Idiot, pull yourself together, you invented it! " Cheers, Dave.

Long-Johns would have to feature...

Brilliant stuff Tim, I take you've included the slugs and blackfly? Dave.

Brilliant!

Hi Pugsley, Can you recommend a free Photoshop clone? I have Photoshop, but a very old version (Elements 2) I would like to upgrade, but I dont want to fork-out for the latest Photoshop! many thanks, Dave. PS Apologies for hi-jacking your thread Richard.

Yes, there is a gradient. The line starts to climb between the loco shed and the starter signal. The gradient is 1 in 35 to gain enough height to cross the lane. It adds visual interest to the layout, and (I hope) gives the impression that the line is climbing into the hills. I was inspired by the Welshpool and Llanfair, with its steep and very visible gradients, particularly the climb out of Raven Square. Cheers, Dave.

Terrific finish on those Mermaids Richard, Cheers, Dave.

Yes, there will be a crew added, when I get around to finishishing it! It has been further developed since this photo, (must take another one) all bright metal chemically blacked, paintwork on footplate edges sorted out etc. Not weathered yet though. Problem is I've rather lost interest in the loco, mainly because its taken too long to finish and I've moved on to other projects. Some self-discipline definitely needed. Hi Ian, Thanks very much. It runs beautifully thanks to a Faulhaber motor with integral gearhead in each bogie, driving the axle through bevel gears (by North West Shortline?) Its a Backwoods Miniatures kit by the way, I didnt scratchbuild it! Cheers, Dave.

Slightly silly actually, especially hauling half a dozen Welshpool wagons!

Thanks very much Gents, and now at last some pictures of trains. Dave.

But you KNOW what the trains look like, Mudders Dave

Thanks very much for all the kind comments Gents. There are a few more photos to come, including some with trains in them! Cheers, Dave.

Ok, so if you're not fed-up yet, here's a few more. This time of the area around the level-crossing and the General Store. Dave.. PS Please dont look too closely at my dodgy Photoshop attempts to blank out the background.

Hi Don, Yes, the group had to move out of Hope Hall last summer. We havent found permanent premises yet, but we meet monthly in a ver nice local village hall. All the best, Dave.

Nothing thats suitable for uploading, its all very rough sketches, crossed out, rubbed out, gone over again etc. Locations such as Cyfronydd on the W&L, Wenhaston on the Southwold and Uffculme on the Culm Valley may be incorporated somehow. I know the last ones standard gauge, but it really should haver been narrow. I'm tempted to pinch a few ideas from Steve Howe's amazing history and plans for the Helford Valley Railway as well. So plenty of food for thought. Cheers, Dave.

A few more pictures, this time showing the goods yard area. Still a few more to come. Cheers, Dave.

Hi There, Thank you very much for the comments. Yes indeed, the "goldplated" loco still exists, and no it hasnt been painted! It doesnt come out much now though, as theres enough painted locos to run the service. The Railway Modeller series on Charmouth was from 1995 to 2001, so not quite 20 years ago. More recently its featured in the specialist magazines, particularly Narrow Gauge & Industrial Review. Did you see the layout at a show? It was exhibited widely from about 1985 to 1998. Its only been out once since then. All the best, Dave.

Hi Mike, It was at Small & Delightful, Shepton Mallet in 2008 Hi Paul, I would definitely like to do another Marshwood Vale layout, an intermediate station is a very viable option, possibly built into a continuous run. Gawd know when though! In addition theres a lovely old watermill just north of Bridport that really needs its own siding connection. Theres lots on paper..... Cheers, Dave.

Hi Darren, Thanks very much, Bridport and Charmouth deliberately show the contrast between the town and country ends of a railway, one squeezed between the buildings, the other open and spread out. My main inspiration for this was the Welshpool & Llanfair. It will need a little maintenace and TLC before it goes out next year, some of the pointwork switching is getting a little ropey, but the track was laid in 1984! All the best, Dave.

My Charmouth layout has been around for a very long time, but for some reason I've never posted any photos of it on RMweb. Time to put that right, these photos were taken several years ago, but the layout is still much the same. Firstly the station, and the station throat and loco shed area.

Some time ago I was asked if I would show some photos of the layout from further away, in order to get an idea of the whole layout rather than my usual closeups. Heres a few that I think fill the bill. They're not great quality I'm afraid, they were taken in a hurry at a busy show but I think they give the right impression. I've had the photos for a while but for some reason never got around to posting them. Cheers, Dave.

I quite agree, the old H&Ms were very good controllers, and the standard of the day, much as Gaugemaster is now. I use standard Gaugemasters (non-feedback) on the layout, as I prefer small handheld controllers, but my 35 year old H&M Duette (as criticised in the review) powers my test track and runs my locos very nicely, including those fitted with Portescap RG4s. I dont know enough about electronics to comment on best circuitry or output, but with the switches on the Duette set to Full Wave and High Resistance, it works very nicely. Poor control in days gone by had more to do with the quality of motors and gearing (which have changed a lot in the last thirty years) than with the controllers. Hope this helps! Dave.T