Re6/6

On looking closer, you're quite right Adam, it does appear to be a coach from the 'drain'!

A couple more of Nigel's Stirling single have emerged. Both taken on his now dismantled large P4 roundy-roundy. Also a few more assorted snaps from Nigel's effects. Taken in BR days (note DMU in the gloom).. don't know where though. Loco info http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteam.php?row_id=22110 Loco info: http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteam.php?row_id=15031

One would hope that Larry has seen this potential misuse of his name in the promotion of a sale.

Another Totnes snap has come to light from the 70s. Note that being in pre- MAS days the trailing crossover on the fast up and down was still in situ. During those days some interesting movements were made through it. Apart from the usual engineers workings it was regularly used by Laira for crossing over serviced HSTs on test runs. This was shortly after the introduction of '125s' on the route replacing the 50s and coaching stock on the Londons that paired 43s, back to back or with sometimes one coach in between used it regularly. Indeed, one of the oddest seen just the once only was a sole 43 power car that run up on test from Laira and returned blunt end first. Quite how this was driven like that, I never did find out. Needless to say it never happened again. Whether it was due to a *******ing from management the fitters wouldn't say! After the MAS re-modelling it was moved back over the Dart Bridge. Can't remember if it is now facing or trailing. Also the re-signalling troughing was being installed. Also note the old small signal box at the side of the old bay which was used by the Totnes based S & T gang as their mess room and small stores. It would be nice to know where it originally came from. Behind that were two sheds occupied by (IIRC) a car repair shop. All was swept away after the new buildings were in place. Now the down bay is filled in and there are railings immediately behind the lamp standard and car parking spaces behind them. The green portacabin was installed for the use by the Plymouth railway masons whilst the new downside station buildings were built by them. Anyone remember when such work was done 'in house' on BR.! A rather ordinary snap shot really but it tells a story back then. Judging by the shadows and the trees the train is probably the up 'Limited' in summer as there was always a gap between the 1006 hrs and the 1306 hrs on the up Londons. A subject of much 'moaning' by the local civic community, which was ultimately conceded to. It was at that time that the planners wanted to reduce the service stopping there even further. Now look at the traffic!

Thanks Neil, that's very kind. Perhaps I should've kept quiet as this all seems to be developing momentum now!

Found the plaque in the bottom of the box Would look good on any resurrected layout with an unusual gap between plaques of around 35 years+!

The goods yard crane.

As promised, the other picture: Also a few snaps of the remaining Swaveney buildings which were dug out from the bowels of the garage. They are all in a derelict condition, and will require extensive repair and updating, all needing new roofs. I think that due to their 'historical' value that they do deserve repairing and perhaps fitting some new etched window frames. They do capture the essence of GN &GE joint buildings. Somebody in DRAG with buildings experience will probably be co-opted into the task! The signal box is particularly nice with a full interior and signalman. It even has box diagram to hang up. Note that the signalman doesn't know his own strength! And finally one of the lovely signals up in the roof of the garage.

That certainly happened as far as I know. I suspect that is long gone into landfill by now. It would be useful, I think, to compile a definitive listing of the early layouts and what became of them. Some of us at DRAG are keen to resurrect this rather nice piece of early 4mm finescale modelling.

Indeed it is John. There are plans! It was built like the proverbial brick ********* and heavy with it! The scenery and the buildings have just about disintegrated, but the big plus is that all the trackwork is ply and rivet and the lovely somersault signals are still present. The suggested plan, for sometime in the future and subject to confirmation of the membership, is to remove and refit the trackwork onto a more suitably modern 'undercarriage', but keeping the look and essence of the original. I stand to be corrected (10800 please!) but I think that Swaveney is the only remaining layout from the beginning period of P4. The others were Bembridge, Heckmondwyke and a couple of others that I can't remember. There is another picture of the 'Single' somewhere, so watch this space!

I came across this picture of a scratchbuilt P4 GNR Sterling Single built (I'm fairly certain) by Nigel Hunt, amongst some odds and ends that we (DRAG) saved when his railway room was cleared out. He even manufactured his own wheels on his lathe and milling machine.

My driving wasn't quick enough. Got stuck behind a slow car then met a pal coming the other way on the very narrow road leading to the bridge!

....for sale by 'Billy Bunter'........for those old enough to remember the character....!

4464 leaving KW.

A few snaps of Bittern's visit yesterday. ...and from motion shot

I have been advised by a regular toy and train auction attendee that he seems to pay top dollar (even well over the odds) for job lots in order to block others out for his onward selling. It must be a good business model for him as he seems to have many happy clients. It never ceases to amaze me that buyers don't bother to research first, as Ivan has said some items, like the Dave Alexander kit, which can be acquired more cheaply direct from him!

Not surprised at all Colin. I auctioned some Wrenn locos a while ago and many 'bidders' seemed obsessed with the condition of the boxes. This lot is obviously in really 'mint' condition and thus desirable to those, shall we say, obsessive collectors. All daft nonetheless!

I found a couple of Totnes snaps taken sometime in the 80s HST running into the down platform in pre- MAS days. Note the siding still in situ. (Approximately on the old Quay Line alignment.) A 33 (?) on the down through with what looks like a parcels or perishables. Note the original old footbridge which was dislodged by a rail mounted crane and replaced.

I've found a couple more of the stops at Alphington taken when accompanied by CK. (plus a few more locos at St Davids snaps on http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/69802-seen-at-exeter-st-davids-a-few-years-ago/ (Matford would've been behind camera!) I wonder if anything will ever get this far down again. Would be nice!

Further to reporting on the Public Accounts Committee's pronouncement, the on the BBC 2's 11 o'clock news bulletin, much was made of the 'Stop HS2' group's glee and the words of an 'anti' professor but nothing from the other side. A very lucid positive argument was put on an earlier R4 today interview from a spokesman from the Manchester Chamber of Trade who argued the capacity issue and freight. Nothing about this argument from the R2 news. I assumed that The BBC's news policy was balance. This 'imbalance' in their reporting on railways has been mentioned recently by Nigel Harris in 'Rail' magazine.

The usual Daily Mail biased reporting: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2325254/Controversial-HS2-rail-link-3bn-black-hole-budget-ministers-got-sums-wrong.html One would have thought that they would have printed an appropriate image rather than one of a (nearly) 20 year old Eurostar. It is the Mail though..... The qualifications of the MPs on the Public Accounts Committee to make a judgement regarding 'railways' has to be questioned.

One would doubt it!