Neal Ball

Its all been a bit quite at Henley lately - other things seem to be getting in the way ☹️ With the SRM landing at Kernow, I have resisted the urge to post on the SRM page on RMWeb - but I have checked when I paid for it 😎 1st December 2022 - Hopefully with the news that Kernow are working on November / December 2022, my sound fitted version will be despatched soon. In the meantime, the passengers and crew have arrived from Modelu. I ordered more sheep as well - you cant have enough sheep on a layout - although I should have ordered a new signalman and some loco lamps. Hopefully I will remember next time. I opted for HO crew and passengers and OO sheep (although compared to my other sheep, they are quite small). On the far left is the guard from the SRM crew, with the fireman and driver on the lower right. The OO sheep are on a board - a wider version of a coffee stirrer, to the right of them is the first batch of SRM passengers, the second batch being on the right (You get 5 in a pack), with 2 seated chaps in the middle, who look as if they are off to the Regatta! The two characters on the far right are whitemetal crew that came with the County loco kit. Whilst painting the characters, I was waiting for the loco running plate to dry. I had previously glued it together, but it wasn't quite right! - Its looking better this time. To be continued.... (as ever!)....

Yes! For quite a few years until I moved away. - I was living the other side of Heathrow at the time. I'm not sure I was there when 4110 arrived, I certainly remember the 28xx arriving and also some of the open days.

Thanks Mike - I have photos taken many years ago of me in the old Margarine factory loading dock during the GWRPG time there. Plus of course the unloading of the 28xx from Barry! Different times.

It must be market day in Earlsbridge.

Blimey - unrecognisable.

Before you break it all up - why not make up a plank with track, so you can continue running stock.... It could be a (long) plank with a fiddle yard... Suggesting for a friend 😎

Sounds like a steal Graham.... My modelu order of crew and passengers for the SRM, plus some sheep, cost £50 with Spanish duty of €17 - defies logic. Good news about the Hall Graham - I look forward to seeing what you do with it. Don't tell the authorities 🤣 Enjoy the show Bill.

That’s a lovely carriage John, you’ve made a good job of it. Strangely I looked at my fleet of carriages needing a spray today, but despite it being warm outside, the carriages were still cold to the touch in the railway room. Spraying will wait for another day!

http://www.worsleyworks.co.uk/4mm/4mm_GWR.htm I guess you could do one of the Ratio 4 wheel with full brake sides from the Frogmore(?) range.

If you could find an old Mailcoach kit of the K22 would be nice….. I think Worsley works also do a kit of sides and roof. Dapol have spoken about an RTR in their possible list of Mainline Toplights.

That looks great.

Welcome back Nick. I’m glad Much Murkle future is assured… I don’t think we will be in the UK for any of those shows, much is the pity.

I was thinking exactly that… pinned down over the Russel drawing….

Thanks Rob, very kind 🤣 The front windows, I might get away with the careful line of paint to represent the window frame. But the back windows are quite distinctive…..

Todays County 4-4-2T update. It's a backhead... It might not be as fancy as @MAP66 homemade version for his 48xx - but I think its going to look quite good. Of course, you wont see it when the loco is finished. I have a conundrum..... I think I need to make up a jig of some sort - probably utilising some veneer pins.... The loco rear windows and front spectacle plates are of a narrow / high design. I have looked on the Wizard etch for loco cab windows and unfortunately they are all too small. With the jig in place, I will need to solder brass wire across a home-made frame and the windows will be complete. I think trial and error will be the order of the day! Have a good evening, Neal.

In fact that’s the better of the two handrails! The camera has caught it at the wrong angle 🙁

Hopefully, I can fix the loco to the chassis under the chimney. The front running plate might need to be fixed separately to the chassis. Im not sure at the moment.

My County tank loco 4-4-2T is progressing nicely... its even been running up and down a section of track today on 12v DC. I have updated the blog - there is still quite a way to go, but I am pleased with how its coming along. The smokebox handrail looks worse in this photo than it is in reality - at least when you look at the front of the loco it looks better! I need to work out how I am going to fix the front running plate to the loco. I reckon I need to made up a couple of angles from scrap brass and fix underneath, out of sight.

Very frustrating. Good luck for tomorrow Phil.

Is there a local history society for Helston? Failing that, any records in Helston library? Good luck

I would say you are correct with your blue line…. The original cottage being the station side of Mill lane. The cottage was definitely built before the bridge. I am surprised the cottages were built for the farm, rather than the railway. No evidence either way. The bridge was built at the end of the sidings - some being curtailed, being between the stop blocks and the cottage. The cottage was definitely there before the bridge. Agreed, thanks David

I should add that the original building is the section closest to the camera. Thanks David

This is from 1952 - you can just make out your cottages: https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/cy/image/EAW045422

Hi Rich, thank you for commenting on my Henley-on-Thames page, here on RMWeb. A lot of my historical data comes from a book published in 1982 by Wild Swan by local railway author Paul Karau. Which has been supplemented over the years by various people on RmWeb, notably local railway professional Mike @The Stationmaster. The level crossing at Mill Lane, was replaced with the current bridge, when the line was doubled in 1897. The house had already been built for the crossing keeper, with the signal box being added about the time of the double track being laid. Over the years I have made various visits to Henley library which is a very rich source of historical data - the last time I was there was during the summer of 2022. In the book there is an impression of the crossing keepers cottage on page 9 dating from 1865. there are photos on page 93 which show the signal box and a corner of the house and Paul's caption states that the box was built in 1896. It's possible that the two cottages were built during the 1940's - maybe earlier as henley was starting to expand. I am not sure what, if any connection they have to the line. I am sure Mike will know. @The Stationmaster Hope that helps. Feel free to add any photos you might have. Re: La Mirada - yes a lovely spot above the beach. We have had property here since about 2002, moving over in 2019 - its a nice part of the world. Thanks again for your comments. Neal. This was the former crossing keepers house taken from the bridge in 2008 looking North towards Twyford:

The ease with the trunk system - I used it when we were still in the UK, but living here in Spain it makes it so easy to ship things. Add in the very easy shopping / on-line experience- it made Christmas easy, give my parents the link and hey Ho! That’s an easy Christmas present sorted. Plus their PX service, shipping redundant items back to them for cash / exchange. They will certainly be missed.