George Woodcock

Hello

   I am fine Steve and hope you are as well. A sugar beet is like a very big Parsnip, though a little bit longer and an awful lot fatter. Diameter across the top a good 9ins. When they are harvested the tops are cut off along with the leaves. We used to load them using root forks which are like large muck fork but with little round lumps on the end of the tines so they don't pierce the roots. I seem to remember that we loaded them levelish with the top of the wagon though after over fifty years my memory may be playing me false. Our crop used to go to Peterborough which is where I imagine your crop would go to. The factory used to be near the station on the way out to Northampton, long gone now, closing in 1991, along with many of the others. The four remaining plants are at Bury St Edmunds, Cantley,(nr Norwich), Whissington and Newark. The railway line we used to load the sugar beet was the industrial iron stone track from the Market Harborough-Northampton line which ran through top of our yard to the ironsone quarry at Pitsford. They would bring two or three wagons up from the exchange sidings in the morning and collect them in the late afternoon so we had to get a move on. This of course could only happen when they weren't moving iron ore trains. My father was the quarry manager. The quarry closed in 1964 along with several others in the area over the next five years they were all restored to agricultural use and very little remains to show where they were. Another local sugar beet grower, Harvey's Farms, built a ramp at Chapel Brampton station gods yard and loaded their beet there. After the closure of the ironstone line we used this as well. The ramp is now where the café coach stands in the yard at the re-opened Chapel Brampton station on the Northampton and Lamport heritage line. Hope this helps.  

Hello

    I used to load sugar beet into mineral wagons when I was a teenager by hand. That was after we had loaded them by hand in the field onto the trailer to take them to the siding in the farm yard. Always cold as I remember but at least working got you warm . Very muddy as well.. Seeds sounds great for the beet, especially in N. keep up the good work.

                                                                                                       Cheers

                                                                                                                   George

Hello

      I always enjoyed watching this layout as I have a sentimental attachment to Charwelton. My father was the quarry foreman back in the 1950s and he also was in charge of the restoration work when the quarry closed in the early 60s along with other BSC quarries in Northamptonshire. the track to the quarry would have long gone by the 80s. I wish you well with the project and very much look forward to seeing this outstanding layout  back on the exhibition circuit. I will be looking forward to seeing your progress. Northamptonshire has quite a few lines that are worthy of giving the kiss of extended life to.

                                                                                                                      Cheers

                                                                                                                              George

Hello

      Towcester has now had it's troublesome Dapol semaphore signals replaced by new colour light signals, just like the real railway in the late 1970s. You can see the layout this coming weekend at Ally Pally with one or two other additions and a celebrity guest operator. What more can you ask for.

                                                                                          Cheers

                                                                                                     George

Hello

  We were given an award for 'Towcester' at Glasgow which stated we were second best visiting layout in 2125. We still treasure it very much. 

                                                                                                         Cheers

                                                                                                                    George

Hello

    I think Mick is referring to layouts owned by Richard, John and In where occasionally the odd name gets missed off a programme or magazine article. I know it is a very minor thing, almost childish to complain, but some people do take it very seriously. Ho hum.

                                                                                                   Cheers

                                                                                                               George  

Hello Steve

        The layout is looking really good, perhaps I should build a Fenland layout now. I've just learned this weekend that Fenchurch St Peter will feature in the next edition of Rail Express Modeller. By the way I think you need more tractors. See you soon.

                                                                                                     Cheers

                                                                                                              George

Hello

   Towcester has now left Towcester museum and is back at John's house. A few little jobs to do and then hopefully it will be off to the exhibition ant Preston next weekend. Look forward to see people there. Thank-you to the good folks at Towcester museum for letting us feature in their splendid SMJ exhibition.

                                                                                              Cheers

                                                                                                            George

Hello

 The only person to blame was me Terry but as I said it is all back to normal now. Just a few bits of greenery to put on this morning and a good clean of the track.

                                                                                                                 Cheers

                                                                                                                          George

Hello

  With the announcement of these forthcoming models as well as the Hattons version I was wondering what models/kits are available for loads suitable for the 1980s period.

                                                                                                        Cheers

                                                                                                                  George

Hello

       After it's successful outing to Stafford the layout was damaged on it's return to base. I am glad to say that it has now been repaired and is back in full working order. Thanks to Richard for his help in doing this rather delicate job. The layout now has a rest till July when it will be appearing at Railex North-East.

                                                                                                                                Cheers

                                                                                                                                            George  

Hello

    For any-one who still wishes to see the layout in the exhibition it will now be there till the end of February. It will be coming out on Feb 28th, a few minor repairs and tidying up and then it will be off to Preston Show on 4/5th pf March.

                                                                                                                            Cheers

                                                                                                                                   George

Hello

   Fenchurch is now ready to be loaded tomorrow morning for it's journey to Stafford. A show we always enjoy both as visitors and exhibitors.

            IPA !

                                                      cheers

                                                                George

Hello

 Been using them for years. Nick, Jem and the staff provide a faultless service. As Reg says you need to support your local model shop and we are very lucky in Northampton to have one of the best.

                                                                                          Cheers

                                                                                                        George

Hello

       This all depends on your definition of East Anglia. In the 'Companion Guide to East Anglia' the author John Seymour said that East Anglia consisted of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. I live in Northamptonshire which is not in East Anglia, in fact it does not appear to fit easily into any area but in TV terms we are part of Look East as is Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire none of which are in the East. The old Soke of Peterborough was in Northamptonshire until the early sixties when it moved to Cambridgeshire where it  is now. So by John Seymour's definition Peterborough is in East Anglia. In my previous post I said Spalding was in East Anglia which, being in Lincolnshire, is obviously incorrect. The Fens as portrayed in Fenchurch St Peter cover the counties of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Lincolnshire so they too are not all in East Anglia. Fenchurch being in Cambridgeshire is however in East Anglia. The Fenland region is flat with big skies and is  the archetypal East Anglian landscape. This is definitely not the case. Large parts of Norfolk and Suffolk are rolling countryside admittedly without ant areas of very high ground. Anyway  I love the landscapes of Eastern England just as much as the mountains of the north and west. Those big skies always do it for me. Sorry to ramble on Stewart but that's the way I am.

                                                                                                                 Cheers

                                                                                                                        George   

_Hello

          _{I think it may be awhile before it is in your neck of the woods Guy so you might have to travel a bit.}

                                                                  _Cheers

                                                                             _George

Hello

   I can confirm that we will be at Bury on September 9th. Hopefully it will appear on their web-page soon. It will also be at Spalding in November so two more East Anglian shows for the Fenland layout.

See you at one or the other I hope.

                                                                                                      Cheers

                                                                                                               George

Hello

     Thanks for the continued kind comments and good wishes. We are very grateful and flattered. Hope to see some of you later in the year and not just with Fenchurch St Peter but also with Towcester, Georgemas Jct and not forgetting Bedlam Heath's last appearance,(with us) at Tonbridge in February.

                                                                                                      Cheers

                                                                                                                  George

Hello

   We just missed out in last nights Golden globe awards in LA. Still we have the Oscars to come yet though.

                                                                      Cheers

                                                                                George

Hello

   Fenchurch St Peter will have a few small editions since the pictures and DVD were taken at Peterborough when it appears at Stafford. Nothing too dramatic, well perhaps one of them is.

                                                                                                    Cheers

                                                                                                            George

Hello

    Utter rubbish, it's only car-parks I have trouble with.

                                                                Cheers

                                                                            George

Hello

How did he get into our layout thread? Who is he anyway? Any way got my copy of BRM today and am very pleased with the article . Everybody gets their name checks so hopefully no complaints! The DVD is probably watched with a friend for those of a nervous disposition. Any way thanks to Andy, Ben and every-one at BRM for featuring us. I tried to make the article a bit different from it's predecessor , I hope I succeeded. Actually Dave did make a contribution to Fenchurch; he loaned us the diesel brake tender.

                                                                                                        Cheers

                                                                                                             George

Hello Paul

    It was Sunday when they did the filming Paul which is when you had your two hours of fame keeping the show on the road. Once again many thanks. Is that a giant chicken in the picture with me Andy, don't remember it at the time but then my memory is getting worse all the time. Can't remember where I was earlier John as I just mentioned just now. No message left on the answerphone. I am here now though.  No I haven't got the magazine yet, obviously the supply chain has gone to pot over the festive whatsit. 

                                                                              Cheers

                                                                                             George

Hello

    Just finished reading 'The Nine Tailors', (again), which as I said a long time ago was the inspiration for the layout name. Always a good read at this time of the year. Happy New Year.

                                                                                                         Cheers

                                                                                                                   George  

Hello

  Sorry Steve I must have missed it in the general chaos around here but here is my belated reply. The water in the Middle Drain on Fenchurch is indeed by Deluxe Materials and is called Solid Water. Basically a two part resin and hardener, easy to use, sets in a few hours. The reeds are stuck in place first with some of the green material being added after the 'water' has set. The ripples are also from Deluxe Materials and is called Making Waves. It is a bit like PVA Glue , just brush it on and make the ripples, again it sets overnight. Make sure your river/canal bed is sealed tight or it will run out, if there's a gap it will find it. You also need to paint the bed with an appropriate colour before putting the resin in . Hope this helps. 

                                                                                                     Cheers

                                                                                                                     George