Parkmore

Around 25 or 30 years ago, D&S Models in England brought out a brass and white metal kit for the Cowans and Sheldon 15T crane. Actually 2 different kits, with different shaped jibs. They were widely used in England on the NER, GWR and many other railways in between all with locally sourced runner wagons. While digitising drawings in the IRRS Archives 5 or 6 years ago, I came across a nice drawing for a 'GNRI 15T Breakdown Crane'. It was pure Cowans and Sheldon. Identical other than the gauge. When I showed the drawing to the proprietor of D&S, he was very impressed because when he was doing the kit he consulted Peter Tatlow who wrote the definitive 2 volume book on Cowans and Sheldon cranes, but Peter did not have very good drawings, and some of the 'works' in the kit was a bit sketchy. (Guess how it goes yourself - style) Looking at photographs of such cranes, the shape of the pipe-work around the boiler seems to differ on each crane - maybe it was replaced over the years. I don't share Leslie's optimism in seeing a ready to run model as soon as 3 years hence, and I doubt that it will be anywhere near the initial advertised price.

The Scalefour Society have a lot of this covered. They certainly supply sets of gauges and punched wooden sleepers. I bought a pile of them 30 years ago. There was some interest in making laser cut wooden sleeper bases for 5' 3" points; I supplied prototype information from the IRRS Archives. I suspect that Covid has set things back a couple more years, as all small suppliers are too busy at the moment. No doubt a bit more demand would help to lift them up the priority list. For those that knew Tony Miles and Adavoyle, he built it prove that P4 track standards were perfectly workable in a round-roundy layout; there were no others at the time as far as I know. It just happened to be 21mm gauge and GNRI. Decent modelling just needs time to do it and enjoy it.

Although it is over 50 years since I last saw Wilfrid and Patricia (the Courtauld's tank engines built by Peckett's), the scene looked just like in the photograph. Back in 1967 or 68 I was about 13. I lived at Galwally/Newtownbreda and some of my school friends lived around Stranmillis/Malone/Lisburn Rd/Finaghy and from time to time I would cycle to Lisburn station. One Saturday afternoon I cycled up Stockman's Lane to the roundabout (I think) at Andersonstown. The gates to Eastwood's were wide open so I walked in as there was no-one to stop me. What I saw just inside the gates perfectly matched the photograph that you have shown. I didn't have a camera with me, but the light was particularly poor even on an otherwise sunny Saturday afternoon; just like on the photo.