dr tim

Very impressive, somehow this has escaped me thus far. One of our club members has seen the articles in BRM and has spotted the semi-circular cut-out in the dock (?) platform, clearly visible in a number of photos in this thread. Apologies if I've missed it somewhere, but what is/was this for? I can see something on the map extract in one of the early posts but quite what isn't clear. Thanks Tim

OK, thanks everyone - many more examples to look at and think about. To clarify my (as it turned out) not so clear original question, I'm interested in lines singled "as a result of Beeching" rather than later (say 1980s) schemes and also not interested in schemes based around relatively short singlings over viaducts due to specific maintenance issues. Tim

I have a glimmer of inspiration for a new layout but need some information... I know of a few former double track lines which were (partially) singled after Beeching - the West of England Line from Salisbury to Exeter, the "Cotswold Line" from Oxford to Worcester and the line from Swindon to Stroud (singled Swindon - Kemble?) Are there any other examples? The lines need to have remained open with a passenger service, I'm not interested in freight only lines. Thanks Tim

Colchester and District MRC Open Day on Sunday 8th April at the Orpen Hall, Lexden Road, West Bergholt, CO6 3BW. 11 am to 3:30 pm; layouts, secondhand stall, demonstrations and light refreshments.

Thanks for the positive comment, glad you enjoyed it. We will (all being well) be back doing it all again next year! Tim

Normal service has been resumed Tim

The 2017 Colchester and District MRC Exhibition will be taking place on Sunday 29th October - our 50th! The exhibition is at Colchester County High School for Girls, Norman Way, Colchester CO3 3US. Details on our website at http://www.colchestermrc.org/exhibition.htm Please note that the list of exhibitors does include layouts despite what it says on the web page. Thanks Tim

I will be there with St Saviour Street, an N gauge Minories based layout (previously seen at Colchester show last year) Tim

I'm looking at a possible layout based on New Mills Central during the BR Blue era (mid 70s - mid 80s). The more I look, the less I understand... The questions: - The local DMUs from Manchester used to turn back using the stub of the Hayfield branch (in the tunnel) and the crossover between the station and the tunnel. When did this stop? (I believe it to be after my chosen period but would like confirmation) - When was the track removed from the Hayfield branch tunnel and also the crossover between the station and the tunnel? - When was the small building removed from platform 2 (and replaced with a bus shelter?) - I understand that at one time the DMUs from Sheffield terminated at New Mills Central and went back to Sheffield. When did this stop, and how did they get from platform 1 to platform 2? - When were the semaphore signals replaced with colour lights? - Which section (or sections) of the working timetable covered New Mills Central in the late 70s and early 80s? Thanks Tim