Our world in miniature, hobbies

10/10 Pix, thank you.

Nice pix, Pix. I mean to get out to Stoneleigh eventually but I haven't got anything as stylish to park in front of the houses. How could I miss Pam's lovely ice cream van. Can I have a double 99 please?

Thought I'd better show how it was done then Helen

Hi all, A few new items have arrived at Hall Brooks of late.

The class 22 Diesel Hydraulic, was a very early hydraulic , the forerunner before the Hymeks, Warships & Westerns. They had a chequered history, but for Hall Brooks, our first all blue livery loco.

The Coronation class, totally out of place in Hall Brooks, was Pam's choice, both loco & crimson livery,

Lord Rodney, is totally my choice, The parcel coach in the background is motorised & has taken over parcel duties between Bishops Heath & Curzon St.

The Coronation class, often called Duchesses, were huge, using every inch of the LMS loading gauge. Their tenders were shortened, as otherwise, like the Princess class, they would not fit onto turntables. I often saw them in Coventry, but more commonly on the Trent Valley line through Nuneaton. I never saw any on the Foleshill line, although a friend did, during the early civil engineering work for electrification of the West Coast Main Line. I preferred the Brunswick Green livery, but on balance, it is the same livery as the 46240 "City of Coventry". This "Sir William A Stanier FRS" was the final variant of the class, named in honour of the designer. At Hall Brooks, it spends most of its time in a refuge fiddle yard, only appearing on specials.

Looking very picturesque as normal. I particularly like your Coronation Class engine. My dad as a young man made the model train of the size you could pull seats on wheels that could give rides. One eighth? When my grandparents died he sold of all but one - the Duchess of Buccleuch. For some reason he had painted it rather roughly in blue but was repainting it in the right livery when he became too busy. I'm hoping that when my brother retires he will finish the job.

Hi all, I have started work on our Hall Brooks railway, the disused & dismantled railway, which was dismantled before I was born. Travel anywhere by rail, we will see evidence of junctions, bridges & so on, long long gone. So it is on our railway. The over-bridge which helps to provide a sight-break. Also added is a castle ruin, an ornament for a fish tank.

I think you will need a bigger room.

Hi all Since adding the castle ruin, we have now added a toll gate to the far side, which is also a fish tank ornament. Weathering of the bridge also in progress. The use of using ornaments is purely cost effectiveness. Precision kits are very expensive.

Philip, why not do what any rail company does to cover increasing costs. Increase the fares.

I'm liking the ruin. The fish's loss is our gain. Is that another ruin further away in the second picture in post 751? Oopse, scratch that, it's just the top of the other one. The bushes confused me.

Brilliant work, Philip - my 12 year (OK and me!) would love to see that sometime if there are tickets available!