Mike J

The BBC have announced that Colonel Gadaffi may have slipped into Jordan. Has that woman no shame?

We passed through the new tunnels on our recent trip to Portsmouth from Scarborough, a long drive made a lot easier by these impressive structures. When we told the receptionist at the hotel that we'd come through them she seemed genuinely excited and asked what they were like. It's great that the old road is being returned to nature. Now if only the Highways Agency would dual the A64 cart track into Scarborough before it strangles the town for good. At least we've still got the railway!

There is a tale told in a book about East Riding (Yorkshire) ghost stories about Market Weighton station. One night after the last train had gone, the porter was closing the station when he heard the steady beat of an approaching steam locomotive. Not sure if there was a special due that he was unaware of he knocked up the station master who was also unaware of any specials due. They were both standing on the platform as the train roared through. Neither of them saw the train, but both heard it and felt it as it swept through the station and 'disappeared' into the night on its ghostly journey! No explanation for what they both felt was ever forthcoming.

A real custard pie.........millions of starving Africans........a much better use of ingredients!

Well, you just can't blame the man! Susanna Reid...definitely worth getting up for in a morning.

Here, here

Seven dwarfs in the bath all feeling happy......Happy gets out so they all feel grumpy instead.

Gets me everytime

Roy Scheider playing Chief Martin Brodie in Jaws, as part of the three man team hired to kill the shark, led by Quint on his boat Orca. The look on his face and the realisation "We're gonna need a bigger boat!"

A lack of respect and manners on one side, and intolerable snobbish behaviour from the other, as well as a conspicuous silence from the prospective groom. None of the parties has come out of this particularly well.

22.6.11. Track laying continues at both ends of the layout. The station throat showing from the left, the goods avoiding line, the branch and bay platform roads, the four track through main line and the excursion siding. The station throat from what will be the overall roof. The feint line in the foreground across all the tracks marks the extent of the roof. The three level loops at the left hand end of the layout showing the main line (low), goods line (middle) and branch line (high) levels. These tracks will be covered by the self contained industrial layout. More work on the middle section tonight at the club. Thanks for looking in.

An 80 year old man walks into a jewellers with a gorgeous 25 year old blonde on his arm. "I need a special ring for the lady" he says to the assistant. "How bout this diamond ring for £5000 sir?" replies the assistant. "No, I need something really special" the old man says, winking at his young companion. "Ok sir, this is the most expensive ring in the shop, platinum and diamond, at £65,000" says the assistant, rubbing his palms in anticipation. "I'll take it, can I pay by cheque and collect on Monday after it has cleared? the old man beams as his gorgeous young lady squeals with delight. On Monday the jeweller phones the old man with the news that the cheque has bounced as there is no money in the account. "I know" says the old man, "But can you imagine the unbelievable weekend I've just had!"

Did you hear about the bloke who while half asleep in bed reached out and swigged from a bottle of Tippex instead of his liquid Viagra? He woke up with a huge correction!

Thanks for your kind words Missy, I do drop in to Highclere every now and then to check on progress. Always impressive! More track was installed over the past week at both ends of the layout, but visually there doesn't appear to have been a lot of progress, so I'll post some more photos when it looks like we've actually been doing something! (At least we're not building our own so progress will be quicker, although not as good visually as yours) Best wishes, Mike

The station throat. The four main line (2 platform and 2 through) roads will curve into the fiddle yard under the overall roof of the station which will be built to give the impression that the tracks continue in a less severe curve/straighter course. The branch line through road dog bones into a reverse loop (avoiding line) and fiddle yard (extreme left of photo) reached through a series of cut outs in the backscene. A bay platform containing two tracks will sit between the main and branch lines. A long single line to hold specials will diverge from the right hand main line and run along the front of the layout.

3.6.11 Track laying has continued at both ends of the layout. Return loop for the branch line Main line loops to fiddle yard (under station roof) Left hand end loops to fiddle yard at level one (main line)

Thanks for all your kind comments and interest. I'll try to keep future postings as visually interesting as possible with photos of our progress. As said before NoEL 1 (The North of England Line-Scarworth Junction) will continue on the exhibition circuit and can be seen at the following shows;- edit 2011 17-18 Sept.....North Fylde 12-13 Nov......Newcastle 10-11 Dec......Wigan 2012 21-22 Jan......Kendall 12-13 May......Cleethorpes 4-5 Aug...........Redcar 1-2 Sept..........Blackburn 11-12 Nov.......Spalding 25-26 Nov.......Warley 2013 12-13 Jan......St. Albans 2-3 Feb...........Stafford 9-10 Mar.........Wyre Forest (Worcester) 24-25 Aug......Railex NE (TBC) 16-17 Nov......Alsager-Crewe

NoEL 2 update 28.5.11. The first of the "new" track was laid on 27.5.11 at the left hand end of the layout. The main line, level one set track curves to the fiddle yard were successfully installed by Geoff, Rich and Mike, and tested using an LMS Jinty, two 57ft bogie coaches and a milk tanker. It is planned to lay the set track panels at each end, starting where they join the old layout fiddle yard, first. After this has been completed, the points and flexitrack sections will go in, followed by the raised sections (levels 1 1/2 & 2) of the branch and goods lines. A separate scenic board at level 3 is being built to sit in the same place as the stately home on NoEL 1, that will contain a totally independent industrial layout. This small section of the project will be able to be exhibited as a small layout in its own right as well as part of NoEL 2. More photos will appear when there is something of interest to show! Mike

Each square represents 100mm on the plan, and thanks for mentioning us in that illustrious company Mr. Artizen. Regular posts will appear as the layout progresses. Cheers, Mike

Cad drawings of the proposed station for NoEL 2. The drawings were produced by Rich B. from a sketch that I made of Darlington Bank Top.Roof girdersFull end screensEnd screen detailStation plan (since modified)

Thanks Tim, both Richard and myself can draw, but the sketches were down to him this time. He has also produced a CAD drawing of the station roof end screens from a rough sketch I made of Darlington Bank Top which will be used by me to create the actual model. The roof will have a slight curve a bit like York...visually a bit more interesting. We're awaiting delivery of the track at the moment so that we can start building proper. Best wishes, Mike

I haven't got a big bottom jaw, but there was a very loud thud just now. Just need to make another space in the trench. Outstanding!

The plans and sketches produced for NoEL 2 by Rich B are now available in the NoEL 2 album in the gallery section. They give a pretty good overview of what the team is trying to create. Thanks for looking in. Mike

Thanks Russell, There are five boards, each 0.9m long, plus the two end boards of 0.45m long, making a total of 5.4m. NoEL 2 will be 5.8m long. (The two end boards will each measure 0.65m) Mike

NoEL 2 now has its own gallery which will be regularly updated. First up, packing Noel 1 into its travelling crates and setting up the baseboards for NoEL 2, 29/4/11. (Nothing too riveting to start with!)