Our world in miniature, hobbies

The same loco, returning from Nethermill, with utility van in tow(toe), after shunting the yard there. Will continue to Longford Park.

Allow me normally to blame predictive text, but I thought that I had checked that one.

For extra realism, surely there should be a couple of protestors glued to the train roof.

I think that they may have rethought that type of stunt.

Hi all Doing a bit to our wet&dry dock area. Copied how they work it at Brinklow wharf. They pump out a locked basin.

Hi all As with all new stock that arrives in Hall Brooks, the new mixed traffic loco, all details added, has spent a week as area pilot, so that we can iron out any running issues, in this picture waits to leaves Hounds Hill, & at the current rate of using the fiddle-yard sequences up, won't be seen again until a week tomorrow. That's about the most realistic aspect of our railway. Real loco spotting.

I have ordered a clipboard, an anorak and a bobble hat. Re the barge - do river craft have a freshwater equivalent problem to barnacles on their bottom?

Helen, I am sure on one of your old school reports you find a teacher's written remark - quote - 'Helen will go far, keep up the good work'

Hi Helen, During the last decade of steam operation, some sheds retained a pride in their allocation of locos, they were almost loved, given all the care of a baby. Sadly Coventry wasn't one of them, but Warwick was. In our fictitious Hall Brooks, the "Tippers Hill" shed gang do take a pride with their locos, so in this picture, instead of the grimy loco from York, we have a lovely Class 3 freight loco, & like many of the Class 3s, had received a steam heating pipe for working refrigerator vans, but could also heat passenger trains. I try to create in my mind the working picture that I recall as a trainspotting crank. Never had any of the association of trainspotting clothes as you mention. I was always smart, which got me into sheds (creep) that my chums were never able to.

That lighting gives a fine effect of a sunny morning burning off the mist. I'm in the middle of scruffy jobs, so a new anorak and bobble hat would be a step up in sartorial elegance right now. They wouldn't even let me loiter on the grounds.

Not my work and may have been shared before but worth another look!