Geoff Endacott

It would make it further away from the ground, of course. Geoff Endacott

Maybe it has only been moved part of the way and the rest will be done by moving the sky up. Geoff Endacott

I still think Trainy McTrainface is a better name than Azuma. Geoff Endacott

Can you get high visibility tweed? Geoff Endacott

No - it's a wreck. Geoff Endacott

In answer to my own "Spot the Difference" competition: The northern stairs should be 16 steps, landing, 16 steps - a total of 32 steps. They are actually 9 steps, landing, 9 steps, landing, 9 steps landing, bend, 9 steps. This is the flight which is more than three metres too long, obstructs the entrance to the car park and as a consequence has led to Network Rail taking away most of our car park. The southern stairs should be 13 steps, landing with 180 degree turn and 18 steps. We have got 12 steps, landing and turn, 12 steps, landing and 12 steps. This is 2.85 metres too long. There should be two flights of steps and one landing leading to the platform. There are two flights of 11 steps, one of 10 steps and two landings. This is also too long. The bridge should be 4.5 metres from platform to underside. It is taller than that. The engineering drawings show parapets which are 900mm solid and 900mm glazed. That is not what has been built. The glazed sections are much smaller. The steps should have 1.5 metre high solid parapets. The parapets as built are higher, but have lower solid sections with gaps above. (Children will be able to climb through these.) Pedestrian areas should be lit from above by lighting columns as shown on the approved plans. The bridge is actually lit from the side by lights attached to the parapets. Bridge supports should be single steel columns. They are actually cross-braced girders. The support for the bridge on the southern side should be open as as not to obstruct the view of the Grade II Listed station. It is actually filled in with blockwork. So the bridge is too long, too high, has different steps, different parapets, different lighting and different supports. Apart from that it seems about right. If these are minor amendments, I hate to think what would constitute a major one. Never mind. We ought to finish painting the old clubroom before we leave. It is Grade II Listed and should be painted Hollybush Green (as approved by the Panning Department.) Given that minor changes no longer seem to matter, I think I will paint it pink with yellow spots. Our Planning Officers will probably not even notice. Geoff Endacott

The bridge as built is 3.3 metres longer and impedes the entrance to the car park. That's not minor. It is also higher. This is the engineering document: Elevations 0.pdf Geoff Endacott

This is a drawing of the southern end of the bridge taken from the approved plans: This is what has been built: I am now taking entries for a "Spot the Difference" competition. Geoff Endacott

The more I look at this bridge, the more I realise it differs from the approved plans. The extra long steps at the northern end mean that Network Rail will be taking back the land outside the Bentley MRG clubrooms which we use for loading, unloading and parking. That is why we are moving to Calne. I have now examined the plans in more detail. The plans show 32 steps on the northern approach. The bridge has 36. The plans show a single landing on the northern approach. The bridge has three. In the opinion of Wiltshire Council's Planning Enforcement Officer, "I do not believe the bridge is actually any longer than approved." So Network Rail have built a bridge which is too long and our local authority do not believe that they have. I dread to think what is going to happen when they start work on the Western Arches. Geoff Endacott

All this talk about piles is making me feel very uncomfortable. Geoff Endacott

I thought that he already did. Geoff Endacott

Is this locomotive blue or maroon https://www.flickr.com/photos/rgadsdon/4748813498 ? Geoff Endacott

Every Western was blue with full yellow ends by early January 1972. No Westerns were withdrawn until May 1973. That gives a period of 16 months when the entire class of 74 locomotives was blue with full yellow ends, If you want to model a scruffy one, try searching for photos of D1020 circa 1970. Geoff Endacott

Chris PINE. A woman who wears a CAPE. Will the film ever run? Geoff Endacott

I don't know what's the matter with some of these depot painters. Haven't they ever looked at models too see what weathering is supposed to look like? Geoff Endacott

Corsham isn't very far from Dursley. Geoff Endacott

Of course, the WSR also has lots of junctions. Geoff Endacott

"All look in unable condition." http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/oo-ho-n-Gauge-Job-Lot-Of-Precision-Model-Airbrush-Paint-Pots-Etc/141902142300?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140221143405%26meid%3Dc3e040c223cb421db5c41d20236c9c92%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D24%26sd%3D251894049046 Not exactly the best endorsement! Geoff Endacott

I think I have solved the Dawlish problem. Put the track on a big turntable. When the wind is from the south east, turn the track so it faces the other way. Simple! Geoff Endacott

British business now seems to concentrate on moving money around and that doesn't need to travel by rail or road. Geoff Endacott

Fortunately it was only a Brief Encounter. Geoff Endacott

Why don't they put the line in a tunnel through the Goring Gap? Sorted! Geoff Endacott

So how long will the layout be at Trainwest? Geoff Endacott

Looking at those photos I feel you might be better off scrapping the layout and starting again. You could salvage the buildings, but if you already intend to renew the track you might as well do so on a new baseboard. That will give you much better results in the long run. Geoff Endacott

That shows it had electrification warning flashes on one side, but not on the other. Geoff Endacott