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Hi- all the coaching stock came from elsewhere, either Derby Friargate, where there were extensive coach sidings, or across from the east - Nottingham Victoria, etc. I have seen photos of GNR/LNER/LMS stock all mixed together! The suburban stock tended to be quad arts until quite late, then BR or LMS non corridor stock. Friargate Station remained gas lit until the end - and I mean the end when it burnt down one night after it closed! Here are a few photos taken as I have been adding flock to the scenery.

You will note the strange sight of pine trees on the platforms. All the Derbyshire Extension stations had these small flower beds on the platforms, with shrubs and conifers in them, and as the years went by, they just got bigger, and bigger, until eventually at Mickleover, the far side waiting room was completely hidden by greenery! Mickleover lost its passenger service on the outbreak of war, and only retained occasional Saturday stopping specials after that, but it did see through traffic to Burton and Birmingham - often hauled by 4f's, Crabs, and the last one - a Jubilee. This gives me the excuse to run some interesting trains.

Hi Steve and Brian - yes I have scratch built the aqueduct and the double headed single masted signal next to it. To me they are structures which defined Mickleover. The layout will be appearing at our club show at Goathland on July 18-19th.

Once this was dry it was covered with two layers of papier-mache, using our local paper - which gave some interesting headline combinations once it had dried!. This was then allowed to dry for a couple of days before it was coated with two layers of Artex. This gives a nice, resilient finish which does not crack.. Once this was dry the model resembled a winter scene - very stark and white, so it was painted with a coffee coloured matt match pot, to resemble an earth brown colour if any of the resulting scatter should come off. Right, time for tea now, I will add a bit more tomorrow to both the blog, and the layout. Kevin.

Well, here is the next installment. I have created the contours of the land using saved pizza boxes assembled rather like an upturned boat, or a armadillo!. In fact the pizza printing was well visable. I suppose it is another take on the "pizza layout" - small round n gauge layouts.

Hi Paul - no that was 4 weeks ago, I am gradually adding the photos now, in fact today I was planting trees and making sleeper fences!

Hi Mike - yes I have a copy of Mark Higginsons book, and yes, the photo of Flo Spencer is my aunt. Their father - my grandfather was Driver Authur Haynes of Derby Shed, known as "Big Mac", his brother Reg was a District Loco inspector known as "Mechanical Mac". Both were involved at Derby in 1947 with the LMS 10000 diesel. Back to Mickleover - I have managed to make a suitable rendition on the Station Building using a mixture of Metcalfe buildings and their matching brick papers. The signal box has been made by modifying the Metcalfe LNWR box. I will post more later. Kevin.

I have been wanting to build a model of this station for over 40 years, but it has only just come to fruition. The Great Northern railway wanted to build a line Westwards, from Nottingham, through Derby and by joining North Staffordshire lines, gain access to the Potteries and Burton upon Trent. This was so they could move coal from the Notts Derby coalfield to Staffordshire, and move ceramics and beer down to London. There was much opposition to the new line in Parliament, mainly from the LNWR and Midland, who monopolised much of the business, and set the rates for transport of these materials over their lines. The Act of Parliament was passed allowing the building of the line back in the 1870's, and it came into being later that decade. My interest is as follows: I was born, in Sims Avenue, Derby, about 200 yards from Friargate goods yard, I went to school in Great Northern Road opposite the goods yard, walking over Uttoxeter Old Road railway bridge everyday. At this time - early 1960's - there was a wooden staircase from Uttoxeter Old Road, down into the goodsyard, and the gate at the top was unlocked, so you could slip through and watch the procession of trains and shunting at Derby Friargate Station. My mother, and her sister were both employed on the line as signal women. It was common during the war for women to be trained in these positions, and both my mum and aunt stayed on as signalwomen, as did many others on this line. My mum normally worked Mickleover and Etwall boxes from 1945 onwards, when she was taken on as the youngest signal women in the country. During school holidays, my dad would often take me in the car to Mickleover or Etwall to collect my mum when she finished a day time shift. If we arrived early I was sometimes allowed to sit on a chair in the corner of the box and watch the proceedings. By now, most trains seemed to be coal or empties, hauled by black 5's, 8f's or 9f's with occasional type 2 diesels. The line closed to passenger traffic in 1964, to freight in 1968, but was retained West from Derby as one of the Research Departments test tracks until the 1980's, my mum being involved in staffing some of the boxes during high speed testing of the APT running gear, and 4 wheel goods vehicles. She always said that her days at Mickleover were the best time in her life. My mum passed away 7 years ago, but I still have her LNER whistle, (and the books belonging to my grandfather - Driver Arthur Haynes - but that is another story). Three years ago I moved to Whitby, and erected a 16' shed in the garden to house the station of my O gauge garden railway. I suddenly realised I could house a 13' x 2' n gauge layout on the other side of the shed. Quick calculation with a plan of Mickleover showed that by using some compression at the East end of the layout, between Station Road and Mickleover tunnel, I could build the rest of the station and goods yard to scale. Four 3'6" x 2' boards were made out of old flush doors, held together with split hinges and over centre catches. Track was laid using Peco n gauge, including a double slip, single slip, and a scissors cross over! I will write more shortly Kevin.

Hi Mike, there are three ferromagnetic elements which exist at room temperature - Iron, Nickel, and Cobalt. Nickel silver, or German Silver is an alloy of Iron and Nickel hence why it is magnetic. I can assure you that electric guitar strings are Nickel Silver, the top strings are usually plain, not wound, and come in 7/9/11/14/18 gauge, and are a cheap source of Nickel Silver wire. Just search google for Nickel Silver guitar strings. Best Wishes Kevin

Hi Guys - Nickel is magnetic, which is why electric guitars work! Best Wishes Kevin