HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !! 30/04 -- 48 YEARS YOUNG

A slightly self indulgent post, but this weekend it is "my birthday" as the late Rik Mayall once said (Bottom episode) and aside from a card from "All the lads on the Ark Royal" I will probably have to find something to do myself today since no one else really cares (and why should they). 

Will be having a day out next week which has been an annual event now for a while going to Ascot Races with my brother and a few others. Unsure what the rest of the week will hold and money is tight but we will find something or just have a ride out on the trains or bus if the weather is nice pop down by the river would be a nice change so that would be Windsor or Richmond and have lunch. 

Used to plan a nice "present" to myself, alas that seems unlikely this time around, though as long as I find a way to go out to Ascot on Wednesday that will do for me. Can always look for something nice next month perhaps. 

Whatever else I do with this week off will probably depend on how well our day at Ascot pans out but since no one else will be getting my anything I better make sure I have enough for a nice drink if nothing else. Another year, and there won't be many more for me I fear. 

Happy Birthday !! 
Try and have a fun time mate. 

YORK MODEL RAILWAY SHOW - EASTER WEEKEND 2017

LOCATION:
Knavesmire Stand, York Racecourse,
Racecourse Road, York, North Yorkshire YO23 1EX

Sat 15th April 2017 - Mon 17th April 2017

OPENING TIMES:  
SAT/SUN 10am to 5pm, MON 10am to 4.30pm

ADMISSION:  
Adults £9.00    Children £4.00    Family £22.00  

Held in the luxury of the Knavesmire Stand at York Racecourse the York Model Railway Show began by the late Mike Cook in 1962 and this Easter Show has expanded to become the North's premier event and, at three days, one of the longer running Model Railway Shows in the Country

On display will be approx. 40 layouts with a further 40+ trade stands from around the country as well as Society scale stands and Preservation groups totalling over 120 stands in all. 

For those travelling by car the venue is signposted from York ring road. And the main railway station is about a mile away with local buses and taxi's available from immediately outside the station car park. 

There are of course a huge amount of layouts, traders and demonstrators scheduled to appear over the Easter weekend, plenty of variety and should take you ages to get around it all so take your time and pace yourself to catch it all.

Lower Exbury is a small layout and of the light railway genre. 

It does show how well S4/P4 track looks and is a good advert for layouts in a small space.




Here is a brief list of those layouts confirmed as follows; 

Layouts confirmed Presented by Scale / Gauge

Alstone Quay Terry Robinson 7mm 0-16.5
Angelbank Liverpool MRS 4mm EM
Angst-Lesspork Hugh Norwood 4mm 009
Back End Simon Thompson 7mm S7
Charlieville Christine Hodge 2mm N
Crioch Peter Fletcher 4mm EM
Dettingen Roger Epps 3.5mm HO
Duncan's Mine 2 Steve & Jean Grantham 3.5mm HO
Eaton Gomery Peter Thomas 4mm 00
Engelhausen Peter & Birgit Martin 3.5mm HOe
Foster Street Paul Price 2mm N
Gresley Beat Cliff Parsons 4mm 00
Grizzly Woods RR Raven Miniatures 0n30
High Stamley Paul Windle 4mm 009
Hollym Gate Brain Sunman 4mm 00
Lower Exbury (above) Alison Barker 4mm P4
Ludlow John Cox 4mm 00
Maloja Glyn Jones 3.5mm H0m
Megantic Bob Harper 1:48 - 1/2in
Melin Llechi Tony Hill        16mm/32mm
Millers Crossing Roger Nicholls        3.5mm HO
North Foreland John Smith 7mm 0
Overlord Chris Mead 4mm 00
Sand Well County Warley MRC 2mm N
St Martins Wharf Bob Alderman 7mm 0
Stamford East Robin Fox 2mm N
Thorne Hill Colliery         TBC 7 mm 0
Titheridge Junction Bradford MRC 2mm N
Towcester John Norton & George Woodcock 4mm 00
Whiteacres Stafford Railway Circle 4mm 00

William Smith Wharf (left) 
Jerry & Kim Clifford
2mm f/s





Map of York Racecourse, showing location of hospitality in the Knavesmire stand.

HILLINGDON RAILWAY MODELLERS OPEN DAY -- SATURDAY 8th APRIL

http://www.hillingdonrailwaymodellers.co.uk/

Soon to be looking forward to the second open day of the year at Hillingdon Railway Modellers which is being held on Saturday 8th April 2017.

Feels like a long time since I paid them a visit so want to be bringing along a few of Dads models for a run, I will hopefully get there for the afternoon with a few items in my bag to try out and given them a run as it's always a popular day and doors open to the public at 10:00am. 

18 February	Test Track Open Day (confirmed)
8 April	Test Track Open Day (confirmed)
10 June	Test Track Open Day (to be confirmed)

Yiewsley Baptist Church
74 Colham Avenue
West Drayton
UB7 8HF

* the entrance is at the side of the church down a path and the doors at the end should be open, don't try and enter the main doors of the church. 

Owing to rental costs of the hall there is a cover charge of £4 but there will be two extensive O Gauge and OO Gauge Test Tracks available and have recently added a three track N Gauge circuit too (Pic Below) all up and running so if you have anything you wish to see get a good run do please come along.

N GAUGE TEST TRACK 

There are always plenty of refreshments available, Tea, Coffee and cold drinks for the youngster, in addition the freshly made bacon rolls are highly recommended. (just don't scoff them all before I get there!!)

It should be stressed that these ARE NOT exhibitions, so please bring your own locos and rolling stock to run. At busy times we may have to introduce time slots so that everyone can get a chance to operate their stock. Here's a short clip of one of the earlier open days YouTube LINK

Below you can see a busy picture of their 8 road yard in O Gauge it's a very extensive track and will give your models a very good run. A few photo's taken from the previous open days are below, if you read back to some of the earlier postings in this blog I have tried to show the variety of excellent models on show, these guys are truly experts in their craft I only wish I had some of their talents and skills.

People will bring a wide variety of stock to run, nearly all are kit built though and the skills / detail is incredible.

Everyone will get their turn I promise.

This picture gives a good idea of the size of the O Gauge test track, you can give your models a really good work out here. This can also transform into an exhibition layout called Grindley Brook a scenic section replaces the long straight down the back. 

A few more pictures from some of last years Open Days, though they mostly focus on the O Gauge track there are also Test Tracks available for OO and N Gauge too. There are many society members on hand who are both extremely friendly and knowledgeable too so if you have any problems with modelling or questions they will be more than happy to try and help i am sure. 

THE BUSY OO GAUGE TEST TRACK

LONDON UNDERGROUND STOCK MAKE A WELCOME APPEARANCE

N GAUGE TEST TRACK

BRIGHTON BELLE IN "N". SOON TO REAPPEAR ON MAINLINE TOO

HOW TO GET THERE:

If you are Travelling by Car

Check here for Parking Options.

Nearest Railway Stations :

West Drayton [0.34 miles]

THE ROYAL WESSEX RAILTOUR -- SATURDAY 8th APRIL 2017

The Royal Wessex recalls the days of named steam trains from the 1950s on the former Southern Region of British Railways. We recreate this train, which ran from London Waterloo to the same three destinations.

The Royal Wessex leaves Three Bridges early on Saturday morning hauled by steam locomotive No. 34046 Braunton. The train stops at Haywards Heath to pick up more passengers, and at Preston Park, where passengers from the Brighton area can join the train. Our train by-passes Brighton, taking the West Coastway Line, with stops at Hove and Worthing for further passengers. The route follows the south coast of England with brief glimpses of the sea at Shoreham and between Chichester and Havant.

We pass through Fareham and Southampton before entering the New Forest, the picturesque area of heathland and forest, famous for its ponies. We stop at Bournemouth to set down those passengers who have chosen to visit this famous seaside resort, with its beautiful gardens, pine walks and sandy beaches. We continue westwards to Poole where there are spectacular views across the harbour. We stop at Wareham where passengers can choose to alight to visit the town, or maybe nearby Corfe Castle and the Swanage Railway. We travel through classic Dorset countryside and delightful scenery between Wareham and Dorchester, and then descend steeply to the coast at Weymouth. There will be over three hours in Weymouth for those who choose this option. This provides ample time to visit the beach and shops, which are close to the railway station, or to venture further a field to the Old Harbour or Nothe Fort.




Our train leaves Weymouth for the return journey diesel hauled at around 16:30. We call at Wareham and Bournemouth to collect those passengers who left the train at these stations on the outward journey. We continue to stop for setting down passengers at Worthing, Hove, Preston Park, Haywards Heath and Three Bridges.