south_tyne

Apologies, we talking at cross-purposes, so I have royally confused things! Sorry... It's all relative mind isn't it, I wouldn't fancy the life of a merchant seaman nowadays, never mind then!

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly Stephen. That description is great and the photo is smashing in showing the method you have used. I am currently debating on what to utilise for the traverser on the micro layout I have just commenced; I do have a sheet of foamboard kicking around, so I think I'll give it a go. Thanks again for your help. David

Thanks that is really useful. Don't worry it is from bodging and, even if you insist it is, then it is still greatly effective. I think it looks the business, so thanks for sharing the technique. Sorry we do indeed have our wires crossed here. My own family migrated from the Diss area and were agricultural labourers and that is what I was refering to in 'swapping one hard life for another', rather than directly referencing Wagonman. His post was fascinating though and hints at a different pattern of movement from East Anglia to the North East. Me too!!

There was something sad but ultimately inevitable about Martin O'Neill's exit from Forest on Friday. Unfortunately, I think his managerial style has been somewhat left behind. He was hugely effective, particularly in his Leicester days, but I wonder whether he has failed to adapt to the modern game. Although I hate to hear rumours that 'player power' has forced him out, football has maybe moved on. I hope that isn't it for his managerial career though, it would be a sad way to how out - you never know, there might be a coda to come as a final swansong.

Glad to see Outwell again. It has always been one of my all time favourite layouts. Captures the unique atmosphere of the W&U perfectly. Sadly I have never managed to catch the layout in the flesh but have always greatly admired it in the modelling press and on here. Wonderful stuff!

The inlaid track looks fantastic Paul. I had never thought I usig balsa for this, or indeed have never heard of it being used as a method before, but it looks hugely effective and so neat. No doubt a lot cleaner process than using using any kind of filler too! Thanks for describing the technique you used.

Those coaches (parcels stock?) look absolutely superb.

Stephen, Please to see you making progress. If you don't mind me asking, how many layers od foamboard have you used for the traversed? Sorry, I can't quite tell from the photograph. Mind it must be robust enough if it supports the weight of a class 47!! Cheers, David

Still plenty of Pacers to be seen between Newcastle and Sunderland. Good to see more 158s in service up here though. Will that be allowed with the DDA regulations?

Cracking stuff Kieran, it is great to follow your progress. I love that video of the 141 on sugar beet duty!

James, I think that backscene looks hugely affective. Personally I would be very happy with that as a permanent solution. It does capture the big open sky feel of West Norfolk. Sorry to be cheeky, but would you mind giving a quick rundown of the technique you used for painting and the colour and type of paint used? Many thanks, David

Thanks that's absolutely fascinating. To be honest, they will have swapped one hard difficult life for another; rural poverty, working in the fields in all conditions, to working down the pit. Both would be back-breaking work. However, the living conditions in County Durham were likely to be better than in Norfolk, with better facilities at home. There is no romanticism about the life of the farm labourer in the 19th Century.

Ha ha I won't take it too personally! It's great to be following again. Given the amount of interest here, you will be running bus trips for visitors when you are finished and up and running!

Definitely...... I don't mind saying it as I am an honourary East Anglian. My family originated from the Diss area but travelled north on the agrarian depression to find work in the pits of the Durham coalfield. My aunt then moved back down to Yarmouth in the '70s to work and has been there ever since. This was before we were aware of the historical family ties. I now have lots of family once again spread all across Norfolk and Suffolk! I do feel as though it is a second home and I myself had a spell living and working in Suffolk too. On a nice day East Anglia can be heaven!

On that note; rambling mode on....... I remember being in a pub a couple of years ago in rural Norfolk with my cousin. It was a proper pub... no TV or radio, all wooden panelling and original fittings, newspapers to peruse, a couple of hand-pulls on, cheese and cold roast potatoes on the bar; a rare gem It was an absolutely glorious day and by coincidence the Strumpshaw steam rally was taking place just down the road. Suddenly, without warning, all of these old boys in overalls rocked up in their traction engines, steamrollers and steam lorries, stopped in the pub car park and piled into the pub Cue a completely surreal afternoon whereby I tried to have a conversation with these men of Norfolk, without much understanding on either side!! Whether that was only due to dialect issues or it was somewhat influenced by 8 pints of a potent local wheat beer I honestly cannot comment!! However, finally a bloke who was originally from Barnard Castle showed up to save us all. He had lived in the area for 30 years and heard my accent and pitched in to act as interpreter!!! He seemed delighted to have a fellow North Easterner to talk to. As I said, that was one of the more surreal experiences of my life, although there have been a few in rural East Anglia over the years......

I'm sold Porcy..... I will definitely be there now!!

Ha ha, what a great story Chris! It's a shame you didn't make the move to this part of the world. Actually, it is funny how there are certain words that are common, or at least that are recognisable as similar, between Geordie dialect and Norwegian and also to Danish and sometimes Dutch too. When I visit my relatives in Norfolk there is often a need for a translator to allow us to converse!! S_T (an incomprehensible Geordie!! )

I'm very partial to rambling on, so sometimes need to be kept on a short leash.... but maybe I lack the knowledge aspect to be a valuable contributor!! Yes I heard the trailer for the R4 feature on Doggerland. Something I will be definitely be making sure that I catch up with.

He keeps cropping up doesn't he!! I think the term rogue owner may be somewhat placid for him...

We do seem to have a disproportionate share of rogue owners in the North East. It's happening lower down too.... just read a little of the carry on at Durham City and you will quickly realise why folk become disillusioned with football. Having said that, the more interest you take, you soon realise that this kind of thing is going on all over the country at all levels of the game. There are George Reynolds and their like ruining football clubs throughout the land!! Thankfully we (Gateshead) seem to have settled down now and I am looking forward to next season. Will be acquiring my season ticket in the next few days. It's the hope that kills you......

I too bad always thought the Finnish-Hungarian link to be true but then I read something recently saying it was an urban legend.... I still hope it's true! I read an endless supply of 'Scani-Noir' thrillers and I must say that the Finnish ones are the darkest of the lot, both literally and metaphorically. There seems to be a deep melancholy that runs through the people's consciousness... I also spend (waste!?!) a lot of time watching similar TV. I'm a huge Danophile and love the country. I have watched so many of these programmes that I have developed a somewhat rudimentary understanding of Danish, recognising words and phrases.... all probably useless and related to murder mind!! Danish, Swedish and Norwegian are similar enough that they can be mutually understood. Evidently the joke is that the Danes think the Norwegians are just slow, both in a language context and in life in general...... What this has to do with a light railway in West Norfolk I have no idea so will cease my rambling and apologise to Me Edwardian for my random drivel!

I've found you Martin! I wondered what had happened to your layout thread so am so pleased to have tracked Nether Madder down again. I have just spent an enjoyable half an hour catching up on the latest from your little empire.... you have made amazing progress in the past month or so! As I have said somewhat ad nauseam (so I do apologise), I find your project so wonderful. It is no exaggeration to say that I think it is the most inspiring, creative layout on this forum. I absolutely love the concept and design and now the way you are executing it. It must be giving you so much of a boost to get track down and trains running. It so quickly brings things to life and transforms it from a sea of plywood into a railway! Thank you for sharing and I will be following with interest now that I have located you again. All the best, David

That's true. I think there are certain parallels with Liverpool and their fanbase, but obviously not in the success of the club. Personally, I wouldn't touch it whilst Ashley is still there. I think you're right - as it not to do with not being allowed to have a certain percentage of ownership in two clubs?

The Northern Echo today is pitching Stephen Gerrard for the Newcastle job. I would say it is too early for him and he should pitch in at Rangers for a couple more seasons. However, people have been saying exactly the same about Frank Lampard........ Did the fat man not have an interest in Rangers at one time? I seem to remeber Ibrox being plastered with Sports Direct adverts too. I could be competely mistaken though. In other news, it looks like Spurs have finally spent some money!!

I suppose it may have been a little more melodramatic than necessary. Not on our front mind, we were 24 hours from going bust three weeks ago and we have been forecably relegated too. But things are looking up for the Super Heed Army for next year... it's onwards and upwards for my lads. However, with regard to Newcastle, it is a shambles. The ownership has no relationship with the fanbase, seems to make decisions that purposely alienate the fans and also seem to have no long-term plan for the club. They have no divine right to be successful, no club does, but it's a football club.... it's more than just a business, the fans just want the club to have a little bit of ambition. I am not a Newcastle fan but I do feel sorry for them with this fractious relationship. I realise that folk in other parts of the country feel they get disproportionate coverage for a mid- lower-table Premier League club, but ultimately they do get 52,000 through the gate each week, rain, hail or stone. It's a cliche that the North East is a 'hotbed of football', we haven't won the league since Sunderland in 1936 or the FA Cup since 1973. Newcastle's cup triumphs of the '50s are a distant memory. Our recent collective history has been rubbish. So it's a complete fallacy. Every club across the country has passionate and dedicated supporters, from the top to the bottom of the game. However, one area we have done well is the FA Vase; we have just about owned that competition over the last 15 years (until this year ironically). Shows the strength of the Northern League. Anyway, we will wait and watch for the smoke signals out of St James Park......