The Stationmaster

Welcome back Missy - good to see you (and Elvis) at the Farnham show a couple of weeks back and hopefully I'll make Didcot this coming weekend as well.

I have used SMP with Peco points and it doesn't look too bad even unballasted and 'unweathered' - pic available should you wish.

I think it works well with the chain and I can see why you changed - tension in cotton thread simply wouldn't work like the real thing. The big difference from the 'old way' is in the fact that you are pulling the wagon without any braking effect on it and you also don't (and can't) get the spring/tensioning effect that used to come with rope on the real thing. The answer - as you say - is to somehow add some 'drag'/braking effect to the wagon (which is how it was done in full size land of course - it being very easy to start a wagon with a capstan but impossible to stop it therefore a brake lever would be dropped and used to counter balance the 'tug' of the rope by applying the brake a bit harder when the thing needed to be stopped). Your starter for 10 ......

I look forward to seeing you/Hythe Parkway at Maidenhead then Simon - and glad all was well with that joint in the end and that the weekend went well for you all.

Very nice that Barry Slip - something you rarely see modelled.

Good match there Tim - hope the Zillons are happy with the original.

But these close views of the roof prompted my brain into other activity and made me wonder why there's no flashing on the roof hips - but lo and behold it seems not to have been common on MR 'boxes (and where it did exist might well have been a later repair/improvement job. http://www.signalbox.org/gallery/mid.htm

I can't wait to see the Garratt on the brewery trip.

Excellent stuff Cap'n and I am impressed by the lino, just the right colour for fairly new stuff that's had the paraffin treatment but not too many coats of polish as yet.

Lovely layout and some interesting chat on Saturday thanks - helped make my heftily delayed trip worthwhile.

Delicious

Very imposing - are you going to alter the window frames to look more like the original? (BTW you said 'southern approach' where I think you meant to say 'northern approach' - the turntable was on the Up side by New Yard Sdgs and more or less opposite Snow Hill North Signalbox).

Absolutely lovely little railway Julia and really nice to see some of the pieces coming together into what is definitely a layout with a real sense of style which, I think, captures some of the true essence of the DN&S (but what on earth was that pink engine doing on that railway?).

Wot, no lino (on the floor that is)? Tim, In my experience most Western Region 'boxes had lino on the floor although it might now be to late for that and floorboards it will be? Looks rather fine for all that and despite the 'funny' Midland lever frame.

As a matter of interest what's the purpose of the 'rat run'?

Looks great Barry - apart from the weird colour of course although in fact that looks quite good on that loco so some salvation there. As a modelling exercise I think it's a tremendous idea and I've always thought that Lima did a much better job than Hornby in 'catching' the appearance of the 'King' and your attention to it has made it distinctly better than passable judging by the pics.

Excellent good Cap'n - a really good WR atmosphere created in there apart from that leftover lever frame from the previous owners (which is nicely done - it's just the origin and type of frame that don't ring my block bell). If the Signalman is tapping out a bell signal don't forget that the plunger is on that nicely reproduced GWR devised token machine - and not on the blockshelf

Very nice - but where are the puddles?

Good to hear you're now sorted on the job front Missy and to see that your amazing modelling has not lost out completely

Smashing stuff - as ever - Missy, The railcar looks good, very good.

Fascinating approach Chris and it looks to be working judging by the pic. I will however be very interested to hear how the gradients work out operationally - what radius are the curves?

Much more 'Midland like' (alas) Cap'n; 'kin shin bashers with levers at most peculiar angles ugh (But you have caught the appearance pretty well - have you tried shortening a lever handle by a smidgeon?)

Looking good - I await closer examination at Taunton with a sense of considerable anticipation.

Keep your diesels Cap'n - they looked very nice in recent pics (but I do think a Beattie well tank might be going just a tad too far ).

Best excuse I've seen this year for not doing more on Highclere B) .

I really must try to get along to have a look at 6430 as well.

I go with Beast's advice. It always seem sto me that either today's modellers go over the top with all the grass and muck or my memory of the much tidier four foot, cess and lineside of the 1960s is dreadfully wrong.

Lineside maintenance did not drop off until after the end of steam and really good weedkillers (which would kill all sorts of other things as well) weren't banned until some years later after it was found the best one in use on BR contained Agent Orange B) . And as for the condition of cess etc paths - maintained in fairly good order well into the 1970s I seem to recall.