Our world in miniature, hobbies

Hi all Coventry is now devoid of a model railway retailer. Rugby or Birmingham are the nearest. Pete, proprietor of Hobbyrail, in Sutton Coldfield, is a brill friend, but he retired in 2015. His business was bought by couple of enthusiasts, who are part of Bournville model railway club. They moved into the centre of Sutton, the business well scaled down from Pete's emporium shop, but with the club's expertise, they can undertake all manner of servicing or modifications. Very handy for me with my precarious vision. It's almost an embarrassment for me, all the model & kit building that I have done over sixty years, but when my eyesight is iffy, that's how it has to be when I want attention to a loco or the like. Not added anything new to our railway this Christmas period as yet, but if all goes well with Pam next week, a visit might be on the horizon. The railway remains reliable, & provides an interlude every now & again for a shunt in the goods yard, with a coffee & mince pie.

I know it would be difficult for you to get to Philip but there is still a model railway shop in Tutbury.

Hi Anne & thank you. Yes, several in B'ham too. It's all internet nowadays, which is ok until something needs doing. On vision good days I can cope with most things, but motor replacement needs such good vision just to wire the digital contacts. It's like wiring up a telephone exchange. I use Rails of Sheffield for mail order, & they offer a good service when needed, but by the time I have parcelled up, am half way to Sutton.

Hi all, Pam had a new parcel arrive this morning, my tongue in cheek! I do hope you like. It's a Stanier 2-6-0, the first design of loco from Stanier's drawing board for the LMS. Almost a prototype for his Black Five masterpiece.

Hi Philip That's a complicated bit of signalling - closest to camera.

I wouldn't mind living there Philip, so peaceful and no litter bins in sight! I bet you are both delighted with your new acquisition. The best to you both.

It's mostly odds & ends from model shop junk boxes. The high level ground signal repeater is working. Our signals are tailored to suit the sittuation. Thank you so much for your kind words. The new loco pressed into immediate service, about to leave Bishops Heath with the morning parcels to Curzon St. Those signals are made from terminal strip. The loco is the most advanced from Bachmann having tender axle pickups. It's brill.

As I use self-isolating points on our railway, does that exempt me from having to self isolate?

Your sidings will be a safe-haven Philip!

Certainly while riding on your excellent trains. Other franchises may differ.

Hi all, Do we all have comfort zones or hideaways? My comfort zones have varied over the years, but somewhere railways have never been far away. In our current social distancing regime, trainspotting might be seen to be antisocial, or might even increase my risks of infection. So, my model railway becomes my comfort zone. It allows me to recall events that intrigued me at the time. One of my regular train spot venues was Hatton, a one time small village station a few miles north west of Warwick. It offered the spectacle of trains working hard ascending Hatton climb. One day, 1963, after an enjoyable morning, I wandered up to Hatton station to eat my sarnies. Unbelievable, was a Britannia loco, William Shakespeare, shunting the small goods yard. Ten years previously, that loco was the pride of Stewarts Lane shed, working boat trains from the continent. I haven't got a Britannia, but the sentiment is provided in this picture, where Tippers Lane depot have sent a recently overhauled Austerity Class 2-8-0, to work as area pilot. I must be easily pleased.

70004 William Shakespeare was regularly used to haul The Golden Arrow boat train

The painstaking effort to build all that, the attention to detail, not to mention the cost, not to mention the 'loss' of a room to it - means that you are most definitely not easily pleased. A hobby like that is almost a lost art. People want their pleasures yesterday and with no effort. They're missing out. There is a lot of fun and satisfaction in making stuff. Learning new skills, including getting an eye for what will work and what won't. I have both my parents to thank for encouraging me to explore... everything. Having interests allows you to keep puffing along the tracks of life. It also creates things for other people to enjoy and think about - like MR's and Pixrobin's photos. I make great strides in my pursuits off the hobbies of others. I certainly need my hideaway. Where else would I put all my big girl toys ?

No words needed.

The mind boggles at what "big girl toys" might be