Axlebox

Owen died in his sleep on Tuesday 25th July, whilst his health had been failing for many years he was still a regular visitor to the model railway shows in the North East...a very talented model maker with many of the kits he mastered still in production today. Thanks for all your kind words Owen.

Tursdale Junction mid/late 70s...ECML down freight approaching double amber when it flicked to single amber...emergency stop and whole train reveresed back to previous signal...(Hett Mill level crossing had been switched in and allowed to open thus the change in signals)...it was an LMR loco so perhaps the driver wasn't 100%...or thought he had passed a signal at danger...who knows...

...Dr Dave Dunn was at the Mining Institute model railway show today with proof pages from the "Steam Memories" book on the Tyne Dock - Consett line (and very nice it looked to...particularly liked the iron ore hoppers being tried out and loaded with coal at Ashington)

it was a determined little soul...and it did weigh half a pound! ...and it appears on the Middle Peak photo above

...really busy 1st day, nice cool venue for such a hot day...never thought I'd ever say that about a model railway show...and walking out of the door at 5pm was like stepping off the plane in Magaluf...first the heat hits you and then you get trampled underfoot by the party loving young people... ...back for more of the same tomorrow....

...uncle purse, you're far too old to stay out till 3 or 4 in the morning night clubbing (on your own)...and, apparently there is a show in the middle of Newcastle today...see the above...

...and of course these lads have got coal dust a plenty...(photo by Andy Y - RMWeb)

...just to get back on topic (says the man who rambles on about real ale pubs)...this gentleman has crushed limestone in his pockets and hes not afraid to trundle it around all weekend...the limestone that is...(photo by Gordon - bluebottle - RMWeb)

Dave will be there all weekend...althougth a fiver says he'll be half an hour late turning up...hes also at Railex NE in July. Proper beer in Newcastle is my specialist subject... The Split Chimp is the micro pub 200 yards down the road! The one on the other side of the railway arches is the Box Social...also worth looking up in the area are: The Head of Steam (opposite the station), The Bridge Hotel (at the end of the High level bridge) and the Town Wall (the otherside of the Central station)...if you have more time on your hand (and within half a mile) are... The Crown Prosada (my fav), The Central bar (Gateshead end of the High level bridge) and The Bacchus (nice interior)...and thats only for starters...

...you won't have time!...just ask Dr Dunn to put on some industrial pics for you and you'll be there for hours...and hours...

...also on Saturday 17th June and just 2 metro stops away (not incl the 800 yard walk) is Gateshead Toy Fair http://carlisletoyfair.com/gateshead_toy_fair.html

..thats not even my trainset...its Ian Blenkinsop's Marine Park Yard (owned now by Mr Les Paul)...and grand cameo layout based on a small yard somewhere along the Tyne...

After the sucess of last years show...here come this years... The format is the same (and some of the layouts make a welcome return), the setting is one of Newcastle's hidden gems (someone will post a picure of last years show for sure), and there are a number of cameo layouts amongs the exhibitors...for all those looking for inspiration...also Dr Dave Dunn will be in the lecture theatre (with his projector) to remind us of what the railways once were...and there is a micro pub 200 yards away and lastly the Central station is close at hand... Details as follows... Exhibition of Coal & Limestone Carrying Model Railways Address: North of England Institute of Mining & Mechanical Engineers, Neville Hall, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SE Day 1: Saturday 17th June Opening times Day 1: 10:00 - 17:00 Day 2: Sunday 18th June Opening times Day 2: 10:00 - 16:00 Prices: Admission Free - Donations welcome : : Disability access: No Car parking: No Organising body: Stephenson Locomotive Society Organiser: Les Paul Near Newcastle Central Station Layouts:- Kepier Colliery (00), St. Georges Pit (0), Croft Depot (P4), Middle Peak (EM), Braddyll Colliery (N), Marine Park Yard (00), Blyth (N) Live steam - 16mm narrow gauge Exhibition of archive photographs Unfortunately this historic venue is currently not wheelchair accessible however works after this Exhibition are hoped to improve the situation

Purse Love how you've gone to all the effort of distressing your grill...you have taken observational modelling to new heights (or lower depths...depending on how much beer you have left in your glass)...so why does it look finer...just weathering, have you stripped off the paint and reapplied...or does this distressed section lead the eye astray? A/box

What about a spur of the Somerset and Dorset to Dead Woman's Bottom... https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getoutside/local/dead-womans-bottom-mendip

...sausage anyone?

. ...and the on the end of your nose...

As per Keith...the York Tap...a massive selection of well kept real ales (with something for every taste)...and the added bonus of being smack bang on a railway platform...sit and drink beer and watch trains...and if you have to go to a model railway exhibition during the day...you can always nip in on the way back (someone will always put you on the right train home)...

...thank god I don't hold grudges... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMHFZ8t7xaM

https://www.flickr.com/photos/110691393@N07/17173715462/in/album-72157638438054524/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/110691393@N07/12188321746/in/album-72157638438054524/ ...have we seen this cut of 16 tonners before?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgOxglry8Dw ...have we seen this before?... jump forward to 8.04...

Paul I think your right about propelling, one of the coal roads would be for fulls and the other for empties...that way you could get wagons onto and off the drops without a loco...from the pictures we have it looks like the centre line was taken out before closure, which makes you suspect the coal traffic wasn't great...also what was the height of the drops as thats s a hell of a long way for the coals to fall...all great stuff and power to your elbows! A/box

I take it thats a no then...

...are you doing the Bowburn one aswell??

very good Arp...you really captured the layout and the crew and all its/their glory..