Broithe

For reasons of The Plague and other logistical things, I haven't been to many exhibitions in the last five years - just two Stafford ones, probably - but, it's very clear that model railways is, essentially, a retirement hobby now. You will see families with young kids, but they are largely just there 'to look' at the exhibits. I don't personally know anybody without a pension book who has a layout. There are a good few youngsters on here, though, which is encouraging. Also, people, in the UK in particular, live in smaller houses filled with loads more 'other stuff' these days, and a layout of any size would be difficult. Evolution happens.

Things change all the time, especially if you're relying on sponsorship, or just goodwill, from commercial interests, who may well have their own problems on the horizon. Sometimes, one single issue can make things on the whole just practically impossible - I gave up with one place because His Lordship's new estate manager was just too difficult and unreliable. They've had a good run and it may be time to 'quit whilst they're ahead'. The alternative may be to give themselves a harder and harder time, until the inevitable happens..? Costs have a habit of steadily increasing, without a great willingness from the paying public to fill the gaps. The last ones I did were at an MoD site, where I had a tame 2i/c and few costs...

It is hard to do these things, especially on a voluntary basis, and they sometimes just do have a 'life-cycle'. I used to do fairly large outdoor events at various stately homes - car rallies. The number of people who would actually turn up and do something, both before and during the event would steadily drop over time and it eventually became clear that we (that were left) just couldn't do it all ourselves, even though we got better and more efficient. If you're wise enough, you will stop before it all falls to pieces on the day... The events get bigger and the active personnel dwindle. After the Covid disruption, Stafford has drifted back into the autumn and may take up some of the slack, but it's generally fairly full anyway. For people arriving by road, it's probably better, and they run a bus from the station, but it's nowhere near as convenient as the NEC for the rail-borne visitor. Trade vehicle access to the halls may be less convenient than the NEC, but it's not too bad.

It is nice that they are able to provide a systematic run-down, this is very rarely the case. I remember the worldwide shock when Mr Mashima decided that retirement loomed in the future and his efforts to lessen the problems for his customers.

A year later, this item is at £126:95 - this being 29% down from the £179:95 that it spent the last six months at. According to the 'Number Sold', not one has been sold since it was £27:89*. 872 are 'watching it', probably for the same reason as I am... * I didn't buy one, even at £27:89, because I thought twelve quid would be about right and I got a very similar one for that.

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/model-railway-shop-manager-stole-22425050

Yes, and 181s.

As generally despised as they are by the purists, I like them - a solid, compact and powerful last attempt at a 'modern' steamer.

What is down the 'subway'?

I have one in stock, for that very reason.

Irish railway-themed postcard collection. https://irishpostcards.wordpress.com/transport/

Another variation, on a Camel fuselage, intended to confuse the perception of the direction of travel.

Be fair! If they tell you, you'll have forgotten before you get upstairs.

That's what you get for being in the Far East. I'm currently at 7½ degrees west, which is worth a whole half an hour more (at the end).

They were working for me, then they stopped, even ones I have already seen... is it possible that you have blundered into the Dark Web and upset some gangland overlords?

There is 2' track on the Curragh, for the firing range, I believe. A little overgrown now.

There is still quite a community devoted to Morse Code. One issue the more enthusiastic adherents can have is 'wander', where the key can drift across the desk surface. This is more prevalent in the 'paddle' style of key, as seen here, with a bit of additional weight, to reduce the problem.

Most bridges on the Premier Line are original - any new ones are unlikely to be under-gauge, I imagine. They are more beams than arches. Platforms might be more of a problem for carriages than locos? So, not a problem. It would only need a turning arrangement at the ends, for any runs that are likely to happen. It seems unlikely that track weight capacity would be less now than it was back then. Is there any chance of electrifying it and shoving a big speaker in? And maybe one of those ultrasonic humidifier things for the steam effect.

Fantasy layouts can be as bizarre as you like and still have a level of credibility. Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch would be well beyond ridiculous, if it wasn't real...

Intensive pilgrimage travels to the Holy Stone of Clonrichert would have kept the line open. Knock managed to get an airport from a similar set-up.

We may not know, we cannot tell. What pains he had to bear, But we believe it was for us, That he laid the track right there. There are earlier versions of the lyrics...

Two brown hills, Far away, without a city wall, Where the track was ballasted, And bridged up to the wall...

Needs a 'chew chew' sound.