Our world in miniature, hobbies

I have to say that I'm very disappointed, Philip. I thought that you'd built a shrinky machine and had used real trees. Now you tell me that they're fake.

Hi all, Sometimes it helps to lighten the load. All of my concerns for folk in the heat now have been unloaded onto our railway. Whilst the risk of line side fires remains high, severe restrictions on steam locos is in force. Here, my first ever diesel loco to run in Hall Brooks, a Class 24, is pressed into service, replacing a WR 4300 Class Mogul. It's a fabulous runner, to match the smooth performance of any loco anywhere. I had it from new, twenty years ago, along with a class 37. About to leave with a short trip goods to Water Orton yard, where the crew will sign off duty & probably go into the Dog for refreshments.

Hi all, My Ivo Peters' Bentley has just arrived in HallBrooks. Actually, it's not Ivo Peters' Bentley, it's mine. I have bought a black one, Ivo's was dark blue, but the same model, of 1951. There are lots of modellers who have his exact number plated car, but I wanted my own.

This tickles me no end

I'm sure that when you, Helen, along with our forum detectives, are hard at work, grafting together links to buildings or maps or whatever, you are all caught up with it, just as though you are there, on site, piecing it together. I'm no different. I just hope that the block & tackle used to lift the car out of the bed truck don't scratch the paintwork.

Disturbingly, I have started to dream of the old streets.

Oh Helen, don't start sleepwalking, for heavens sake, we need you in here!

Hey, they're all at it. Someone else for a Bentley, & someone for a sports job.

Hi all, It really must be said. The shunter's gone to bed.

So they're not on strike? Where's the milk off to/come from?

Moo-cows.

Whose moos?

Hi Helen, Most of my working life was spent making sure that the company's balance sheet balanced & that it made good reading for the board. In my fictional railway world, I've moved most of the nasties of life aside, so it's all for innocent enjoyment. For example, the one time textile factory now produces pickles & jams. During the non-fruit season, they produce rice pudding, tapioca & sago. So they need plenty of milk. There's nothing new in that. Bulmers Cider, for example, turn their bottling & tinning facility to do all kinds of preserved food & drink for over six months of the year. Just nice things.

Parcels is booming.

Afternoon all, Type two, resting at Longford Park, after bringing the morning parcels. It's booked to work the mid-afternoon stopper to Leamington via Coventry. Its journey involves the single line section through Bramble Lane & Three Spires. It's waiting for the down semi-fast, a DMU, that continues to Priorsfield & Nethermill, the current terminus. It's only just left Foleshill.