cnw6847

My first attempt at 009 is in the planning stage. The story goes: The Beccles & Bungay Railway was formed in the late 18 hundreds. Financed by W.M.Clowes & Sons LTD and a few other local businessmen. To keep costs down narrow gauge was opted for. 2' gauge was chosen. Clowes are printers, they owned an Ink factory. The ink produced was transported by rail into Beccles and also sold to Clays at Bungay. The seven mile line had a number of stations starting at Beccles then Barsham Hll, Barsham, Shipmeadow, Mettingham and Bungay. Other than ink and some raw materials for the factory, traffic consisted of agricultural products, livestock and coal. Passenger trains also ran but were never particularly well used. People in Beccles and Bungay preferred the standard gauge Waveney Valley Line. Traffic picked up considerably during the two world wars but at the end of WW2 the large amount of surplus army lorries spelled the end for the B&B Railway which managed to survive until 1950. My layout is going to be set in late Spring 1944. There is a small station consisting of a loop and one siding which serves a small goods shed and a cattle dock. Also on site is the Clowes ink factory. Coal is brought in with some other raw materials and finished ink taken away. Woad and linseed is grown locally to produce the ink and this is brought to the factory from the local area by horse and cart. Also nearby is a rifle range. The local volunteer rifle corp originates from 1859 and the rifle range is used by the local home guard who use the train to get to the range. (The exact location of the rifle range is unknown) The railway is pure fiction but the Ink Factory and rifle range are factual. I haven't started construction but have the backscene which my wife had done for my first wedding anniversary gift! It will be a point to point layout with hidden sidings each end. The main board 48" long by approx 20". I shall be using Peco track and DC electrics. I have one loco which I am close to finishing and some rolling stock kits to build! Its early days and progress won't be fast but hopefully it will be an interesting venture into 009. Thank you for looking and I will post some photos of the site, backscene and loco under construction. Cheers Richard backscene for layout

Thanks shortliner for putting the scans on. They all look fairly recent cars so probably a bit new for me. The stretched limos look good especially the Hummer!

that looks really good. Does it give the years of the vehicles on the box?

They look quite good, and don't cost a lot. Be interesting to see how they go together, they remind me a bit of the William Brothers kits from the U.S. except they were made from clear plastic. These type of vehicles are good as you can put people in them while you make them. I think thats a Land Rover discovery you have.

thinking about placing an order soon, has anyone used them lately?

and the availability of cheap lorries after WW2. excellent photos, it would be nice if the platforms could be cleaned up.

been listening to 'The Gaslight Anthem' latest album 'Handwritten'. Not quite as good as previous album 'American Slang' but i'm sure i'll enjoy it more after a few more listens.

Thats my local shop, as you say very well stocked and nice people.

Superb looking layout. I would also agree with a previous poster that black for the fascia would be the best option.

another

Have tried to get a few reasonable pics of them. The NEM boxes are the correct height and I have installed Kadee number 18's (after photos were taken), just had to add plasticard shim to eradicate droop.

A box arrived yesterday containing 6 mermaids. Have to say from the brief look I have had of them so far they look very good.

Theres no rush! I can get Christmas paid for first! Looking forward to them though.

Shall check out the pics, deifnately getting Blue Peter for my Heritage Fleet, etch nameplates are a good addition.