Gopher

I think Herefordshire has been "discovered", and this is reflected in the house prices. Certainly quite a few people come here to enjoy the rural life (including me), or retire. I'm not sure all who move to the rural villages understand some of the challenges they will face though.

A tight turn into the goods yard

Thanks for the compliment😀. The coal wagons are all Bachmann. I've simply weathered them and added coal loads. The two box vans behind are Oxford on the left and Bachmann on the right, again weathered by me.

Graham - I may be (and probably am) totally wrong, but think there is a bit of a gap in the 00 market for quality station buildings (of all sizes), so branchline, branchline terminus, town etc. Of course huge variety of styles (even just GWR, and absorbed companies)

I echo the comments above Graham. Your buildings are definitely good enough to sell commercially. No idea how you price them though, given how much time and effort you put in. Would you also consider taking commissions, (or is that what you mean by bespoke buildings ?)

Those buildings are great Graham, lovely modelling

Graham - sad to see CR disappearing before our eyes. I actually found it very difficult to scrap Dewchurch 2. I tried not to think about the hours and money I had invested in the layout. I salvaged buildings and the easy to remove scenic items and kept telling myself I could easily put them all back. Once I started track lifting and severing my electrical mess (otherwise known as layout wiring), there was no going back. I managed to salvage all but two of my Marcway points/crossings. Took ages of gently prising the points up from the cork underlay, and wetting the ballast if necessary. I found that where I had used Ballast Bond (as opposed to diluted PVA,/washing up liquid), it was very difficult to lift the points. The stuff had set like concrete. I had to repair a couple of points when retrieved, and check all were still lying flat (on our kitchen work top) so not bent/warped in any way and in gauge. I did not bother trying to salvage the SMP track, just bought all new for Dewchurch 3. I was nervous about using salvaged points on the new layout - given that they were about 15 years old. However once I had salvaged them, checked them and made necessary repairs, I knew they would be O.K. When I built Dewchurch 3, I invested in very good quality baseboards (so agree with Andy's comment above). I took ages laying and testing the track. (I re-laid some sections a few times until I was happy). I used Tracksetta templates to regulate the curves. I was also far more disciplined with my wiring, colour coded, and wiring notes. Anyway taking my time with the basics has paid off. So far so good, the new layout has proved reliable. Sorry if I am waffling on and stating the bloody obvious. I find the basics a bit of a chore and am always keen to move onto the scenic modelling. CR Mk II will be an excellent layout with all you have learned on CR, plus you already have some excellent buildings, rolling stock etc from CR. So lots to look forward to. If you do end up living close to/or in Herefordshire, you already know you will have access to some excellent model shops, including my favourite Hereford Model Centre. Derails and Cheltenham Model Centre are also excellent. I popped into Footplate Models in Kidderminster a few months ago, nice range of items. If you have a day out in Cardiff - head for Lord & Butler. My go to railway model shop when I lived there, and still pop in if I am in Cardiff. Best of luck Clive

Tea break

More household coal for the citizens of Dewchurch

Torquay Manor at rest

Class 24 arrives at Dewchurch with a train from the Southern Region

I'm The Man - Joe Jackson

Dewchurch station in all its glory

End of leave

The other side of George Street

Busy time at Dewchurch.

Race with the Devil - Girlschool

Redundant siding at Harewood Halt

The rush hour auto train arrives at Harewood Halt

That is a good plan Roja. I think you should embrace the dark side and factor in a GWR terminus. You know it makes sense, so resistance is futile 😄 Clive

Yes that would work John . Other alternatives - do nothing (as you say), build a 1920s/30s GWR layout (no room). Stretching Rule 1 to the limit - there is of course the very well known GWR museum in Worcester, where they have a number of preserved and still working locos - including the rail motor I think you should go for it Rob. Then I can use the time honoured excuse "Well Rob bought one"

A bit of a battle going on at the moment (all in my head). I model BR Western region late 1950s/60s. I am not adverse to using Rule 1 (within reason). So I run trains from other regions on my layout. The consistent theme being they are all pretty much of the same era, and possibly might have visited the Welsh Marches. So why am I consistently drooling over the Kernow Steam Rail Motor ? I never thought I'd see a ready to run model of this loco, and it looks wonderful apart from the oversized lamps. I could just about justify running the preserved version number 93. Or even argue under rule 1 that another version was preserved (I quite like the GWR lined crimson lake livery - number 85). Get thee behind me Satan (and keep pushing). I also normally pay for new locos by selling other locos/rolling stock. Can't see me doing that this time, so may have to sell my body 😄. (which is very unlikely to raise anywhere near the required funds). I have not mentioned any of this to my wife - so please keep it between us.

Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees) - Aerosmith

You are spot on John. I'm always amazed at how many private owner sidings there were on our railways back in the day.

Been a while since the Curran's siding was used