GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

It sounds like a wonderful trip, John

I visited Nuremberg a couple of months ago. I really enjoyed my stay there and can even suggest a couple of bars for you

Cheers
Evan

What a super break - enjoy every moment.

(Have you secretly packed a model to make???)

Regards and bon voyage,

Michael

Thanks for the good wishes guys.
Arrived safely 30 minutes early courtesy Air Canada and a tail wind. The immigration process at Heathrow was very impressive…..previously, as non EEC nationals, there were massive lineups but now Canada and some other countries are included in the auto scan passport system. We just walked through without any delay …….same with car rental….even got an upgrade to automatic

Once we sorted which side of the road to drive on we were on our way to Chievely. Two and a half hours after the wheels touched we were sitting outside the Crab and Boar with a glass of Rose and a nice lunch…..convincing our body clocks that it wasnt really 5 am.

Today we are off to the Steam museum at Swindon and then to Bath for a couple of days

Regards to all

John

Welcome to the UK John.  I hope you and yours all enjoy your stay.

The weather should be good whilst you are here notwithstanding that its the cricket season and Wimbledon fortnight!!

Enjoy Swindon and Bath.

Kind regards

Barry

Welcome to Europe John.

It seems HM Border Force has got it's act together although I do wonder if that has something to do with the need to make "new friends" from old in readiness for UK to "go it alone" from November onwards……………………………..  I'm not sure you'll have a similar reception from the French authorities ………………. :hmm

As I read your latest post, the combine was entering the field next to us so I'm hoping everything will go smoothly for the delivery of my new "box".

As Barry said, enjoy yourselves - hope Swindon works it's magic - I know Bath certainly will !!!

A bientot …………..

Welcome to the UK.  If you haven't visited Bath before, you will love it.  A beautiful spa city with lots of history.  We visit often.

Michael

We have been home for two weeks now. I have never worked out which direction of travel creates the worst jet lag. I suspect that, regardless of direction, excitement and adrenaline take you through the time difference at the start of a trip whereas once you have returned home reaction sets in. Certainly the case with us…..we were zombified for about a week. In addition my irrigation system was almost too successful…..the garden was like a jungle.

I am afraid that my aim of keeping in touch by posting the odd holiday snap lasted about a day. While we thoroughly enjoyed (almost)  every day of the trip it could hardly be described as relaxing. Of necessity, the itinerary was very fragmented…UK 5 towns 10 days, Prague 2 days, Danube cruise 7 days, Budapest 2 days, Gaillac SW France 7 days, Paris 4 days……..given hindsight a bit ambitious for Old age pensioners. Next time we visit Europe  we will be staying in less places and looking for quiet shady French cafes rather than crowded Chateaus!  

I thought I might share a few photos that we took at the GWR Steam Museum at Swindon. We were very impressed with the Museum…….its much smaller than the NRM at York but tells the story of the GWR and their Swindon "servants" (as they were called) in a very clear and enjoyable fashion.

Alone with 4073 Caerphilly Castle











2516 Dean Goods.





I tried, but failed, to capture the row of phantom firebox rivets that Oxford slavishly reproduced.

.




Previously I was a bit uncertain about the static figures. When you see them in the context of the museum as a whole, they make perfect sense. It seemed to me that the main theme of the exhibition was about the people of Swindon who worked here. It was a story that was brilliantly told. We particularly enjoyed all the audio visual links where long past employees enthused about their work. One got a very strong sense of the GWR as a family















Inside the cabin there was an inter active display that intrigued Mrs D




The challenge was to temporarily move a branch train from the main line to clear the way for a Royal Train




In no time at all she was hopping from lever to lever like a proper bobby.




To finish here is a non railway shot



I hadnt realised that the whole site is owned and administered by the National Trust. This gorgeous border captures the spirit of the place……..definitely a five star visit.

Regards from Vancouver where we are basking in a very pleasant 25o

Lovely pictures and so glad to hear you enjoyed yourselves. A bone to pick with Mrs Dew… where's the rag for changing those points and signals? :-)

After making a few trips from Oz to Blighty, I'd say that going east is definitely worse, not that going west is much better.

Nice photos John. The railway museum in Swindon has never really made it on to my list of places to visit on the occasional trip back to the UK but maybe it should be there. I am sure I can swing it with the boss if I point out it can be on the way to her friends in Bath!

Of course it's on the way… even if you are coming from Cornwall.

Hi John and welcome back fully to YMRC.

I commiserate with you regarding the time to overcome jetlag, it has always been flying west to east that gets me, but I also agree that the excitement factor goes a long way in mitigation, as you stay up longer in the new environment.

So good to see you enjoying the Grand Tour and I thought you would like Steam, the museum of the GWR at Swindon. When I went, there was the added distraction of a model railway exhibition, so perhaps I should return for a fuller GW experience.

Hopefully, Granby's rails didn't get too dirty during your absence and are responding splendidly.

I thought of you just the other day in a second-hand UK book store when I spotted the 1947 history of the GWR sheds for £3.99. You were quite correct, it's a most useful book and I was delighted to see my local boyhood shed details of Princetown.

Best,

Bill

Thanks for the comments guys……..its good to be back!

The museum is definitely worth a second visit there is so much detail to absorb






[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

Hopefully, Granby's rails didn't get too dirty during your absence and are responding splendidly.

I thought of you just the other day in a second-hand UK book store when I spotted the 1947 history of the GWR sheds for £3.99. You were quite correct, it's a most useful book and I was delighted to see my local boyhood shed details of Princetown.

Best,

Bill

Its amazing how much dirt gets on the rails if no trains are run for a couple of months. Operating sincr we got home has been very stop start……..with most of the stops involuntary……lots of fingerpoken I am afraid

Glad you picked up a copy of the book Bill, and at a great price. As you say its very useful ……its surprising how often I refer to it.

Cheers

John

Despite some glorious weather I managed to find time to work on the Engine Shed back scene.

Regular followers will recall that it is in one of two deep set window sills which present both physical (its a fearsome 4' stretch) and aesthetic challenges (attractive views of the composter)

As a reminder this is what it looked like a year ago





and a week ago





The Metcalfe warehouse has been in place for months but the large Scalescene warehouse was only placed there last week.

Its not a new build…..I cant make them that fast!……….its recycled from the other side of the room





 Last Sprng I reluctantly decided that, for operating peace of mind, it had to be replaced with something lower and shallower.

So waste not want not …..after a minor modification, it fits perfectly in its new home.

Still in recycling mode….. the Bilteezi tenements, also from the other side, have been refurbished, yet again, and mounted on Langley arched walls
.




In their new home they will act as a back scene to a brewery (also recycled!). The added height is designed to stop the Warehouse from totally dominating.

Planning the brewery was quite a challenge. The wood structure, on which it rests, covers two double running/storage lines used for the long coal trains. For obvious reasons this structure is removable……..consequently the brewery module also has to  be removable……..and remembering the 4' stretch….easily removable in one lift.


First step was to cut out the floor which will be loose laid on the wood.




I dont find Scalescene cobblestones particularly convincing but the viewer will rarely see them

Next challenge was to cut out and fit pavements to go under the brewery entrance and overbridge





Here are the random collection of modified Metcalfe buildings that have been in storage since I dismantled the brewery in 2017.




Glued to the card base, along with a little added detail, to make a single moveable unit





Finally, and not without a few scares, in position on the window sill





I know that a bus on a bridge is considered to be a cliche……hopefully this is not the case with a bus under a bridge!



Here is the view from the doorway…….. most visitors vantage point.




It aint perfect……..the foundation isnt level so Granby now has its own leaning tower……could be a useful source of revenue. Overall though I am reasonably content. It will make an effective backdrop for the shed photos I like to take.

 It is, of course, not complete. There is about 18" of vacant space on the sill in addition to the massive cream pillar separating the two windows. Granby Castle is sounding an increasingly attractive proposition. The second window with its seedy collection of high street models is now looking very tired. Apparently a layout is never finished………





 
 However this post is about to finish with a scene in total contrast to Granby's grime:


  
 



 No prizes for guessing where that was taken.

Looking good John!

Thats brilliant Phil…….thank you so much…….is it ok if I use them elsewhere?

Cheers

John

No problem John :)

I thought I would top and tail this post with a repeat of Phil's brilliant editing job on the window sill back scene.

If you are not already following his layout thread Pen Y  Bryn, I would urge you to do so…….here is the link

http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=10077&forum_id=21.

Its a super layout, packed with amazing life like detail.



After all my acrobatics leaning out over the station roof a lot of little people outside the station did lose their balance and fall over! 




The station is actually three separate buildings. Both the centre module and right hand wing are glued to sections of the roof. They have to be easily removeable to give access for maintenance.

Figures are vulnerable at the best of times. It is even worse when they are set up just outside, or in the doorways, of buildings that are easily nudged.

A large part of last weeks railway room time was spent glueing stuff back in place



Close ups sure add to the todo list. The porter's jacket clearly needs a touch up.

Looks as though I missed the gentleman on the left……or else he had a good lunch.

I guess I must have had a good lunch when I positioned the taxi signs





Lost count of the number of times I have had to re position the newspaper boy. He used to be positioned under a lamp post but sadly thats in the workshop for a while.




Equally Lt. Huw Rees-Jones has lost his balance more than once, as has Ivor Evans who is now semi upright again… perpetually tying his shoe lace.

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse at Granby's little people. I must confess I rather like this shot





This weeks work is a bit more mundane. The motors on two of the double slips failed along with one on a crucial route into the storage yard……..one of the problems of a "mature" layout. It seems solenoids have a finite life.



 Regards from Vancouver

John

Love the taxi's John!

BTW, what make are the people, H0/00 or 00?
L

Thanks Phil………I have to work on this layering lark your shots look so much better.

The taxis are mostly Oxford but there is one kit made years ago that, to my surprise, doesnt look too out of place. Its the one with a driver……..so thats another job ……thet didnt have driverless cabs in 1948!

The figures are all 00. Soldiers are Langley. Civilians Montys Models and Modelu with some Airfix in the background

Cheers

John

I love these meanderings around Granby John.  One misses so much of the detail with overall shots, although for their part, they give a scale to the layout in general.  I'm sorry but that means you'll have to continue posting both …………………………. :cheers

The taxi rank is wonderful.

I know exactly what you mean about the little people - most of mine are currently in a pile (for safe keeping) whilst I destroy the left hand side of the layout………………………………