APOLLO

Not forgetting both politicians and brown envelope manufacturers. Brit15

Brit15

A gravy of (crusty) Wiganers. Brit15

For what its worth (or not !!) my father was a press photographer. He always said that only Fuji film had the colour right. This was back in the old 35mm colour slide days. He didn't shoot a lot colour though, and was a mainly an 8 on 120 Black & White Rolleiflex / Mamiya man. I find the same today in digital photography, I have two Fuji cameras and the colour is always right, I have tried others in the past, Canon seemed to give wishy washy colours, Nikon to vivid, My next camera will be another Fuji. Brit15

Just back from a few beers and a pie or two with friends at the local. Railway content - I have read that the New Springs Branch at Wigan was the first branch line built to serve industry in the world, and not only that, after the death of Huskisson at Parkside earlier, the distance between two sets of running rails was set at 6 feet when this line was built, and became a standard. My mother was born in Belle Green Lane opposite the site of the Industrial Bee Colliery, which was closed well before I was born, but I remember the vestiges of the old line, 6 years old, swinging on the level crossing gates while a clanking old "Dub Dee" passed, a long time ago, another world. Brit15

Ahh The screaming Valenta !! Brit15 (HST fan !!)

Long time since I posted - I must do some updates soon. Just found this interesting site describing the Atlas O gauge range - which set me off in American O scale back in 1982 when it was as cheap as chips !! http://tycotrain.tripod.com/atlas1970soscaleresource/index.html Brit15

There was some controversy re 8F's and yellow stripes - I seem to remember reading that they striped the wrong loco. I'll try to dig out the reference. Brit15

Just had a look at my rail trip book (which starts in July 1963) My last BR steam hauled train was on a cold, wet misty 25 November 1967, a round trip. Wigan Wallgate to Liverpool Exchange DMU M50775 Liverpol Exchange to Preston Black 5 45281 Preston to Manchester Victoria Black 5 44816 Manchester Victoria to Wigan Wallgate DMU NE51814 And that was the end of BR steam for me !! Brit15

Never forget the HST "saved" British Rail - well the non electrified "INTER CITY" part of it. A wonderful train (once the problems were sorted) in my opinion. Probably it will never be bettered. I've never seen or rode on an 800 (yet) though I'm sure the teething problems will be solved. Basically the 800 is an electric train with diesel as a bolt on extra, designed originally for "end of electrified main lines" use, NOT sustained 125mph on existing main lines which WERE scheduled for electrification. The biggest problem the 800's have is our pathetic government (all colours) dithering and back sliding on electrification etc. The current Carillion fiasco won't help either. Any way, we have got em now, and more to come quickly, time to knuckle down, chin up and MAKE them work !! Brit15

Photos of the last week of all 3 sheds on my Flikr site below Brit15

The event is being described in some newspapers as a "British Enron" scandal. Brit15

And the bu**ers bombed my Grandads favourite pie shop !!!!! (Railway content - the New Springs branch is shown - gave the name to Springs branch where the famous shed was built at its junction with the WCML). They were after the Steel works at Kirkless (Wigan Coal & Iron Co) but the prevailing wind decided otherwise. Brit15

My little helper - now 17 & at college. She built the rockery under the trestle bridge - the layout hasn't changed much here, but now has working signals (my twin girls helped with wiring runs under the layout a couple of years ago - extra pocket money and no back ache for me well worth the "commission" !!). Brit15

Kev I can only echo what others have said and wish you all the very best in your "fight" - and fight with might you certainly will, you're a Wiganer !! All the best Lindsey

Thrutchers and Twichers is what I call locos that barely move when powered. Usually worth a fiver, and I can usually get them to work as The Johnster describes above - had quite a few, some for only a quid, some given to me also. If they cannot be made to work I strip em for spares, the rest is off to my model scrapyard !!. Some of the locos for sale by the Liverpool boxshifter are just no -no's, certainly not worth the asking price given the description of some, I only buy occasional new bargains from them (and I have always had good service from them I must add). Yes books and mags are seemingly worth little today. I insure my model railway and book collections together, (I use magnet model insurance), insured value is based on replacement cost equal to what I paid for them. What they are worth (or not) will be of little concern when I'm aboard the last "westbound". Some good stuff is available on ebay - but again be careful. I've just bought some as new O gauge Weaver American freight cars, special run paint jobs, boxed for £30 each - a bargain considering the size of them compared to the size and cost of British O scale. Brit15

There's a new sign for going "down the pan" where the 800's run !! Brit15

I remember commuting Wigan to Liverpool back in 1969/70 attending Riversdale Tech. A 2 car DMU, always packed, standing room only out of Lime Street, sometimes not able to get on and a 30 min wait, all trains were stoppers - a bl**dy awful journey. Today we have (secondhand) 4 car ellectric 319's, 3 trains / hour, one of which is an express - 2 intermediate stops only. Superb In 1971/2 I attended Stretford tech in Manchester (near Man U's ground). That journey was a 6 car DMU Southport - Wigan Wallgate- Salford - Manchester express, nearly always got a seat, the centre cars were unpowered therfore quiet !! A far better journey. Today it's either a nodding donkey or suchlike, total rubbish. Or walk over to North Western station and catch a trans Pennine Express Edinburgh / Glasgow to Manchester Airport Class 350 EMU - takes around 20 mins but always full - standing room only from Wigan and a scrum to get a seat coming home. On this route the old times were definitely better. Thank god that's the only train commuting I ever did. I couldn't wait to finish my apprenticeship and buy a car !! Brit15

I'm not too interested in today's railways, but if I was to make a model of Wigan North Western station as it was today I could make a very good stab at it with what's available / recent models. Pendolino's Voyagers, Various Northern DMU's, 350's (would have to be repainted - Trans Pennine vinyl overlays are / were available). Not sure about 319's. though. Steam specials would be easy though. On the freight side I reckon most stuff is available, but as a lot of freight passes overnight you can always run anything and switch the lights off !!! (I've lived line side for 20 odd years, but haven't got a clue about overnight train formations etc). I have read displaced East Coast 91's and Mk 4 coaches may make an appearance soon on London - Blackpool trains. I don't think the modeler of today's scene has it bad at all, though it depends on chosen location. Brit15

The trouble is you know that there are simply far, far to many prototypes and liveries, and a myriad of combinations of the two to satisfy everybody, both mainstream and more specialised modelers. Quite a lot of models "that would sell" will, quite simply, never be made, ever. I think we should all be grateful for what we have available, right now, both new, and previously released (probably available s/hand). I started off with Tri-ang TT which was a fading range & scale back in the 60's, with very little choice, but we improvised and carried on. It was a big occasion when Tri-ang renamed it's TT Britannia from 7000 Britannia to 70036 Boadicea back in 1963 - (both of which I still have !!). Nothing else was renumbered as far as I remember, a choice of a dozen locos and the GEM / BEC white metal kits. I now model both in OO and American O scale - the latter of which little is available new here in the UK. Weaver, a major manufacturer in the USA closed down (due to retirement) a few years ago. A shame as it was an excellent firm to deal with, I ordered a couple of custom paint diesels from them back when £1 = $2. Now I get by by scouring Ebay etc and have found many bargains the past few years. Yes I have to compromise and make do - but for me that is part and parcel of the hobby. As to current costs - simple, if you really want it & can afford it - buy it. I have my personal cost / value cut off points - which cut off quite a bit these days !!!! Brit15

Merco smokey brick paper - WONDERFUL STUFF !!. Nothing like that available anymore (or if it is where can I get it from ?). That particular Borchester layout was a superb layout (as was Frank Dyers two layouts of the same name) - They had more "atmosphere" than most fine scale layouts today. Brit15

Last day of steam at 8F Springs Branch Wigan. November 1967. Dad (who was a press photographer) took the photo. Only time I "did" the Branch with permission !! Spot the Boss (giving me a funny look - "I'm sure I've seen HIM before" !! A fifteen year old Apollo !! Brit15

You could model a Blue Pullman crashed into a train of derailed parrot wagons being recovered by a couple of cranes. Cost you a fair few bob though !!!! Brit15

Your layout certainly has some industrial town atmosphere. Nice photos. Brit15

Some info here http://www.air-quality.org.uk/26.php Brit15