Ian Smeeton

Sorry to pee on your parade, but your gate has he diagonal going the wrong way. Wood is great in compression , but no good in tension. The diagonal should run from the base of the post end to the upper opposite corner, otherwise it is guaranteed to sag. Ask me how I know!! Regards, Ian

I have been trying to get quotes for a solar installation for nearly a year, now. I have found that you are either bombarded by Indian call centres or the companies just say, 'we are busy at the moment, we'll get back to you', and never do. Any pointers or recommendations would be useful. Solar Together either can't or won't deal with Lincolnshire/South Kesteven. Regards Ian

Allen is pretty good and very happy to rescale for N/2mm, and remarkably reasonably priced. Worth dropping him an email for info. He works on building coaches using the Comet methodology, so it is worth while looking for their instruction book (available a a free PDF download.) Regards Ian

Rocks by Rail is situated on the site of the Exchange sidings between Exton Park and Burley Park quarries and the Br (ex Midland Railway) Cottesmore Iron Ore branch RUTLANDS LAST IRONSTONE QUARRY REMEMBERED Fifty years ago this month the extraction of ironstone within Rutland passed into local industrial history when the last ironstone quarry at Exton Park, operated by the United Steel Companies Ore Mining Branch, ceased extraction. The first ironstone quarry workings in the county were opened up near the village of Cottesmore in 1882 when excavation was done by hand and horses pulled the small tubs carrying the iron ore along a narrow gauge quarry railway. Further ironstone workings followed at Uppingham, Barrowden, Market Overton, Burley, Pilton and Luffenham. In 1950 the United Steel Company started work on a huge 1000 acre ironstone quarry at Exton Park. This large project was not universally welcomed locally but following a public hearing the government approved the scheme citing the importance in providing ironstone for the manufacture of iron and steel in the national interest. The ironstone reserves were sufficient for 80-90 years production with a production target of 10,000 tons per week. Exton Park Quarry was one of the largest ironstone quarries in the East Midlands and involved earth moving on a grand scale to reach the ironstone seam up to 100 feet below the surface. In order to move this volume of overburden a giant W1400 walking dragline named SUNDEW was introduced in 1957. Built by Ransomes and Rapier of Ipswich it was, at that time, the largest excavator in the world. To provide the quarry transport system to the nearest link with British Railways a long private railway was constructed from near Cottesmore forming a large circle around the workings. Steam and latterly diesel locomotives, built by the Yorkshire Engine Company, hauled the empty wagons around the quarry lines to be filled up at the quarry face. The locomotives then returned the full wagons to the sidings near Cottesmore to be collected by a British Railways locomotive for the journey to Scunthorpe Steelworks in North Lincolnshire. A Yorkshire Engine Company built Type 1 saddletank waits for its wagons to be loaded with ironstone by the Ruston Bucyrus 100RB face shovel at the quarry face. The workings are likely to have still been active today had not modernisation plans at Scunthorpe be implemented which were based on the use of higher grade imported iron ore in the steelworks furnaces . The fate of home won ironstone production was thus sealed and the last train of ironstone left Exton Park Quarry in Rutland at 3pm on 29th May 1973 leaving the quarry workings to be restored to agricultural use. A Yorkshire Engine Company built Austerity design saddletank heads its train of loaded wagons on the Exton Park quarry railway through rural Rutland. The anniversary of the closure of Exton Park Quarry is being marked at Rocks by Rail – the Living Ironstone Museum near Cottesmore by a new exhibition which opened at Easter and lasts until mid-October 2023. The volunteer run museum Rocks by Rail based near Cottesmore specialises in the industrial heritage associated with ironstone quarries and their associated quarry railways. In addition to visitor train trips the museum is to display the only surviving diesel locomotive DE5 from Exton Park Ironstone Quarry together with a photograph display and scale model quarry diorama based on the quarry at Exton Park. A use of a scale model quarry diorama helps to convey the sheer scale of quarrying operations at Exton Park to museum visitors. A Yorkshire Engine Company Janus class diesel electric locomotive seen at work on the Exton Park quarry railway. The sole survivor of Exton Park’s quarry locomotives, YEC Janus type diesel loco number DE5, under preparation for a repaint in the museum building at Cottesmore. During the scrapping of dragline SUNDEW in the mid 1980’s the museum was able to save one of the driving cabs. After a number of years of conservation work, originally supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, museum visitors now have the chance to sit in the drivers seat of this 1675 ton machine. The Sundew cab overlooks the museums re-created ironstone quarry where machine demonstration and wagon shunting takes place during specific quarry working open days during the year. The museum is open to the public from Easter to Mid-October on advertised opening days, 10am to 4pm and admission charges apply. For further information on where to find the museum see the museums website www.rocks-by-rail.org Tel 07974 171068 or 01572 868415.

I'll just leave this here.... Regards Ian

Steel train was 6V92, Corby to Margam. Passed me at Wymondham at about 11.30 this a.m. Many years ago there used to be a loaded steel train to Corby at about 7 pm. Oakham Ladies (?!) Rugby club reckoned that the best place to be when this went past the Grainstore Brewery was in the ladies' loo for the best effects (?!) Regards Ian

A pleasure to get up close and personal with Freshwater. First time exhibiting in anger in 40 years, but a pleasant way to pass a Saturday afternoon, shunting with a vengeance. Regards, Ian

A late friend of mine who worked as a store manager for C & A was 'promoted' to run the Doncaster store. Moving up from London, he popped i to a local Estate Agent, and gave an indication of his budget. When he named a figure, the Estate agent asked 'North or South Side?' Unsure what was meant, my mate asked the Estate Agent to clarify. 'Well for that budget you can have half a street, North or South side, or, both sides East or West end' Regards Ian

I thought that I was reasonably fit and healthy, But a day spent firing a little Barclay left me stiff and sore in all my joints and muscles. Then a day as Roperunner, (Yard Foreman), walking on ballast, getting on and off locos and wielding a shunting pole and brake stick, meant that I found a few more. 3 days later, still suffering. Going back to work tomorrow for a rest!! Regards Ian

T H A T Regards Ian

Buckminster is an 'Estate Village' owned in its entirety by the Tollemache family, the Earls of Dysart. As such, with the exception of an extension to the shop, I don't think it has had any new building in the last 40 or so years. Love the photos, by the way. Regards Ian

I am very saddened to hear of Joannes' experience at the ELR. I have read a small part of Robin Moira's piece, and the comments above. At Rocks by Rail, we are not 'Woke' and have our fair share of the older (less enlightened?) generation. We also have a very competent lady steam driver. I wish we had more willing (female) volunteers in the operating department. We encourage every volunteer to develop their interests and capabilities in whichever way they want. We also try and encourage volunteers to step outside their comfort zone. If that means getting the blokes working in the cafe at least some of the time, and the ladies onto the footplate, I see it as a positive experience for them, but would never force anyone. In the Pub and Restaurant businesses that I ran, I encouraged anyone who showed an interest in what went on on the other side of their fence, to experience it for real. Some were reluctant, but at least it gave them an understanding of the pressures of working in different areas, and when it came to interaction between departments, they at least had an understanding of the limitations and constraints that their oppos were dealing with. Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, ages, etc, and within the heritage sector it is our job to fit them in to the organisation, firstly, in a way to make them feel welcome and needed, and secondly to fill the gaps within the establishment. If I became aware of such behavior and discrimination within any business I was involved in (commercial or voluntary), I would have no hesitation in dealing with it. I would rather lose a dinosaur, perhaps with skills and knowledge, than lose a keen, less experienced volunteer from a diverse or minority background. Meanwhile, back on topic, I am glad to say the we have a healthy crop of new volunteers ready for the coming season, and I am happy to see that the majority of those who have posted on this thread have had a positive experience. Regards Ian

There is a 2mm Association set of videos on YouTube shot over a few weeks during Lockdown which works through Templot. Gere: Alternatively, @Martin Wynne seems to be on 24/7 troubleshooting call on the Templot Club forum. Regards Ian

World Wickham Day is fast approaching. Lets see yours (real or model) Regards Ian

I can empathise with the feelings that you got. After a stressful week at work, to switch off among friends and do something (which might be the same, but might be totally different) from the working week helps to clear the mind. Hard physical graft and fresh air (if that's what you did) takes you right out of the everyday. I am glad that you found it rewarding, and happy that the Apedale Railway has found a (re)new(ed) volunteer. Regards Ian

They have been doing it the hard way. Much easier to use a pair of Haggis Hounds. Like the Haggis, they have developed over time for the dogs to have longer left legs than right legs. The bitches are the opposite way round. Dogs work the hill clockwise, bitches anticlockwise It does mean that finding pure bred Haggis Hounds is not easy as the mating is almost impossible without some form of human intervention. There are plenty of half-bred hounds, both dogs and bitches but the asymmetric leg is lost in the cross breeding and does not reappear with the introduction of a pure bred sire or dam to the equation. Regards Ian

For aerial photos there is also the NCAP, the National collection of Aerial Photos. https://ncap.org.uk/ You need to subscribe for maximum benefit, but the thumbnails are usually enough to give you an idea if the area that you are interested in is covered in sufficient detail There is also : https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/aerial-photos/ Which covers all the 'Britain from above' photos as well as more recent aerial surveys Regards Ian

I keep looking at the maps for legends like 'Here be Sea Monsters' Or 'Ere be lorst Brake Vans' Or 'Ere be good kindlin' ' Best Regards Ian

That really looks as if it belongs in the "When then real thing looks like a model" thread. Over bright LED lights, dodgy track laying (probably by the younger brother), while Dad's streamline flexi in the foreground just looks soooo smooooth. El cheapo wagons showing translucent in the light along with some toilet brush trees. regards Ian

The season is about to start (see above) This year, there is a big push on Singapore, as her 90th Birthday approaches. FEPOW MEMORIAL STEAM LOCOMOTIVE “SINGAPORE” ON DISPLAY IN 2023 The Far Eastern Prisoner of War (FEPOW) memorial steam locomotive “SINGAPORE” is on public display at Rocks by Rail - the Living Ironstone Museum situated near Cottesmore in Rutland (Postcode LE15 7FF). The locomotive was built in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1936 and sent to the new Royal Navy Dockyard in Singapore to carry out shunting duties. The locomotive fell into Japanese hands in February 1942 upon the Fall of Singapore when it sustained bullet and shrapnel damage, which remains visible today. The damage did not render the locomotive inoperable and it worked alongside working parties of allied prisoners of war from a local camp unloading Japanese supply ships in the docks. Finally repatriated in 1953 it worked on at Chatham Royal Navy Dockyard until retired into preservation in 1972. Resident in Rutland since 1979 the locomotive had a reunion with fellow FEPOWs in 1986 to mark its 50th year of active service. The locomotive became a registered war memorial to FEPOWs in 1998. The steam locomotive SINGAPORE will be on static public display at the volunteer run Museum when the Museum re-opens to the public at Easter Sunday/Monday and then on Tuesdays and Thursdays commencing on 11th April through to 12th October, Sundays 6th & 20th August and also on special event days during 2023 as shown on the museum’s website www.rocks-by-rail.org To mark the 78th anniversary of the liberation of Far Eastern Prisoners of War in late August 1945 the museum will include the SINGAPORE locomotive in a special memorial display to be held on August Bank Holiday Monday to the courage, comradeship and sacrifice of Far Eastern Prisoners of War 1941-1945. A further more poignant FEPOW commemorative event will be held on Tuesday 17th October to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the completion of the 250 mile long metre gauge Burma- Siam “Death” Railway which claimed the lives of 16,000 allied Prisoners of War and 100,000 native workers. Museum admission rates can be found on its website, but are unchanged from last year, whilst the Museum’s continuing fund-raising efforts for its FEPOW Memorial Loco Appeal has the objective of repairing the locomotive so it can steam again to become a working war memorial to Far Eastern Prisoners of War 1941- 1945. Any donations by way of cheques should be made out to Rutland Railway Museum and handed in at the museum or sent to:# RBR Treasurer, FEPOW Memorial Locomotive Appeal, 4 Main Street, Stanford on Soar, Loughborough LE12 5PY For any further information about the Appeal please contact curator@rocks-by-rail.org Regards Ian

Fantastic. Are these scaleable up or down? When are you going into production? Regards Ina

I seem to have that tee shirt!! Regards Ian

Put a whistle board in until the station is built. She'll think he PA is very quiet by comparison! Regards Ian

Now that you are old enough, RMWeb, please buy @Boris a beer. Regards Ian

Back wall? Probably cigarettes, tobacco, pipes etc and all sorts of other banned substances! Regards Ian