Richard Chown

[David Holman]

Wow, what an occasion that must have been! Nice to see Shannon on Castle Rackrent.

[Colin R]

Back orders of MRJ now on there way to me, I just wonder if there would be enough interest to do a book on past Irish models and modellers, for me I know these people by name but it would be great to have more details of what they have done.    

[Colin R]

Has there ever been a book on Mr Fry and his layout?

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Colin R said:

Has there ever been a book on Mr Fry and his layout?

No, though “I know a man”; there eventually will be one.

[Colin R]

Besure to ask him to include drawings of the various layouts and Mr Frys handiwork please plus loads of photos  

[jhb171achill]

19 minutes ago, Colin R said:

Besure to ask him to include drawings of the various layouts and Mr Frys handiwork please plus loads of photos  

The plan is - a mix of Fry’s models, his photos, and in a few cases other photos of the prototype of other models he made. A bit of his personal history, too - and yes - a plan of his layout.

[Colin R]

Sounds great 

[Mayner]

To return to Richard Chown;  There is a fairly comprehensive overview of the sheer scale and breath of his modelling from cameo to very large layouts in the Highland Miscellaney Blog https://highlandmiscellany.com/tag/castle-rackrent/ together with "Day Return to Castle Rackrent" & Last train to Castle Rackrent. Interestingly the basement layout was being re-configured and extended before his death with the addition of at least 3 new Block Posts/operating positions (stations, junctions or yards).

There were articles on Castle Rackrent in Model Railway Journal 234 and 202.

234 "Castle Rackrent-a celebration and a challenge" (one page) Celebrates the layouts 40th year in operation and looks forward to the planned re-configuration and enlargement of the layout.

202 "Fair Day at Moygraney" provides an overview of operating the layout and includes a schematic of the running lines & block photos and colour photos of all five stations.

Castle Rackrent Moygraney and Pacific featured as Railway Modeller 'Railway of the Month" in February 78, the article (black and white!) included a track plan of the original layout and its 'Extensions". 

The layout was modular in nature and appeared in different configurations depending on the space and the number of operators available at exhibitions and normally lived in a very large purpose built layout room.

[David Holman]

Brilliant! Thanks for this link, John.

[David Holman]

As an antidote to the woes of the world, I urge everyone to check out the link in Mayner's post above and then just wonder at the vision and sheer output of this remarkable man. Check the links within the post too - there are yet more photos, though sadly the website no longer functions.

[Galteemore]

A copy of ‘Model Railways’ has just appeared on eBay, the one which features Drew himself on the cover, from May 76. What I think is his Meccano-based  rivet machine is also in view! 

[jhb171achill]

9 hours ago, Galteemore said:

A copy of ‘Model Railways’ has just appeared on eBay, the one which features Drew himself on the cover, from May 76. What I think is his Meccano-based  rivet machine is also in view! 

Looks a bit young for Drew in the 1970s?

Could be an old photo? It does look very like him when younger, perhaps.

[Galteemore]

It could be an old photo JB, but if you want to read the article he wrote it’s in that 1976 mag ! It’s about clockwork mechanisms, funnily enough. Or could we be seeing the airbrushing and filtering of railway modellers at an early stage? Was this a trend we started that the Kardashians followed? 

Edited February 12, 2023 by Galteemore

[David Holman]

Given we can now have ourselves scanned, so that miniature versions go on the layout, the options are endless, it would appear!

[jhb171achill]

3 hours ago, Galteemore said:

It could be an old photo JB, but if you want to read the article he wrote it’s in that 1976 mag ! It’s about clockwork mechanisms, funnily enough. Or could we be seeing the airbrushing and filtering of railway modellers at an early stage? Was this a trend we started that the Kardashians followed? 

For those who knew Drew, or his reputation, the idea of his reaction to those plastic Americans would be worth ten dollars a box…….

[Galteemore]

I found Drew’s obit in FFT

 

[jhb171achill]

That’s a nice tribute from Joe, who would have known him extremely well.

[Mayner]

On 12/2/2023 at 8:22 PM, Galteemore said:

It could be an old photo JB, but if you want to read the article he wrote it’s in that 1976 mag ! It’s about clockwork mechanisms, funnily enough. Or could we be seeing the airbrushing and filtering of railway modellers at an early stage? Was this a trend we started that the Kardashians followed? 

Drew's article on his collection of small GSWR 4-4-0s appeared in Model Railways in 75-76. As far as I recall locos features included a Kerry Bogie (D19). 52 and 60 Class and an ex-WLWR 4-4-0 all in lined CIE green naturally! 

[jhb171achill]

14 minutes ago, Mayner said:

Drew's article on his collection of small GSWR 4-4-0s appeared in Model Railways in 75-76. As far as I recall locos features included a Kerry Bogie (D19). 52 and 60 Class and an ex-WLWR 4-4-0 all in lined CIE green naturally! 

Indeed - purist as he was in all things GSR & CIE, he particularly liked the lined green of main line passenger locos so much, that he painted ALL his CIE locos like this, even though the vast majority would never have been anything but dark grey!

[Killian Keane]

One of Castle Rackrent, from an old mag, knew the name sounded familiar but only got a chance to dig out the material this evening

[David Holman]

That could well be Galteemore in the foreground - so now you know what he looks like!

[Galteemore]

He’s also been known to appear in blue and green …

[David Holman]

And there is the A3 Pacific Galtee More!

 As the old saying goes - you are never alone with a clone...

[Nestor]

A little late to the party but this upload from the Gauge O Guild has some footage of Richard Chown’s French layout Allendenac 

 

[David Holman]

And THAT viaduct of course. Not many could manage such a challenge apart from Richard.

[Nestor]

4 hours ago, David Holman said:

And THAT viaduct of course. Not many could manage such a challenge apart from Richard.

Not sure our one bed will quite squeeze it in but with house move planned for next year…