MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE SENDING LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO ALL

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas for this year, I hope you enjoying a break from work (spare a thought for those still working as they are doing an awesome job) and get to spend time with friends and family. Also sending out the love to anyone missing this year, think of them, raise a glass too them and "Eat, Drink and be Merry" and then go play trains!!

Missing you so much Dad.

You always fulfilled my wishes, giving me whatever I wanted. Your presence in my life I had taken for granted. After your death my whole world has gone into a frightening void. When I had you, I had it all, now everything is destroyed. This is my repentance, my regret, I know you cannot hear me, but I still want to say, Dad I miss you and I'm sorry ... We had so much still to do together and despite the years that have passed I find it so hard to carry on without your love and influence. 

I always think that this time is a moment for reflection and while I hope it's been wonderful for you it may well be that together we have lost a lot of friends and legends so it's time to remember and never forget. Let us also move forwards to the new year, life is only as good as you make it and you have to let yourself live too, although this is something I don't allow myself and it is now time to do more, stop making excuses and get out there. 

Miss you Dad, miss you Mum xx

Let's remember the wisdom of the late Rik Mayall as we venture towards 2019. 

• All men are equal therefore no one can be your true genuine superior.
• It is YOUR future, It is yours to create, your future is as bright as you make it. 
• Change is a constant of life, So you must never ever lose your wisdom. 
• If you want to live a full and complete human life you have to be Free. Freedom is paramount. 
• And finally ... LOVE IS THE ANSWER.

HILLINGDON RAILWAY MODELLERS 2018 OPEN DAYS -- SATURDAY 15th DECEMBER

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

Welcome again, it's time for the final Open Day of this year at Hillingdon Railway Modellers, these regular events are very popular and the next one will be held on Saturday 15th December 2018.

Haven't attended here for a little while so this is a good opportunity to get myself over there and give a few of my Dads O Gauge models a bit of a run out since I've no room for a layout at home and I don't want them to live in boxes forever. I aim to hopefully get there for the afternoon with a few items in my bag to try out and also update a few pictures too. It's always a popular day and doors open to the public at 10:00am. 

Address 

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. 

Confirmed Exhibition Bookings for Grindley Brook

Date	Location
12/13 January 2019	Chiltern Model Railway Association (CMRA) Stevenage
12/13 October 2019	Great Electric Train Show

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.

I hope that these pictures give a good indication of the size of the O Gauge test track, you can give your models a really good work out here. This formation can also transform into an exhibition layout called Grindley Brook a scenic section replaces the long straight down the back.

This layout was shown at the Warley show at the NEC Birmingham in November 2017 and will have recently been making an appearance at the Wigan Show in October 2018 so well done to all concerned getting this large layout out there to be enjoyed by people far and wide. Will aim to update on that exhibition later in the year. 

A few more pictures from some of the previous 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]

CHRISTMAS RAILTOUR -- THE CHESTER CHUFFER (Steam Hauled)

Saturday 15th December, 2018

A FESTIVE EXCURSION HEADING TO HISTORIC CHESTER WITH AN INTERESTING CIRCULAR ROUTING FOR STEAM HAULAGE.

It is not that often that we have offered a main line steam hauled excursion during the pre-Christmas period but this year we make amends with this seasonal excursion to Chester at a time this famous city is decked out for the festive period. Its historic shopping area will be a haven of colour and lights, complimented by the many wooden chalets around the Town Hall Square and Cathedral offering exclusive gifts and produce.

Our anticipated three hour visit (13:30hrs to 16:30hrs) will be centrepiece to the days itinerary, which starts off diesel hauled from our joining stations through to Bescot Yard in the West Midlands. Here we take on our steam locomotive, which will haul our festively decorated classic carriages north over the Cannock Chase line, then along the fast West Coast main line through Stafford to Crewe before arrival into Chester. The historic City of Chester is more than shops, eateries and festivities. It has an array of other attractions including its cathedral, city walls, historic buildings, Roman amphitheatre, river cruises..... and more.

The return journey differs in that we traverse the old GWR main line up Gresford Bank and via Ruabon and Shrewsbury, before passing over Shifnall Viaduct and heading through Wolverhampton. Our train then threads through the Black Country onto Kidderminster and Worcester.

Steam Locomotive

It was the intention that no. 60163 'Tornado' would feature, but with it not now being available until next year, one of the Crewe based Locomotive Services Limited fleet will be used instead, for which we are most grateful.

Estimated Timings
Joining Stations	Depart	Return
Salisbury	0620	2340
Westbury	0650	2310
Bath Spa	0720	2240
Bristol Parkway	0750	2210
Cam & Dursley	0815	2145
Cheltenham Spa	0835	2125
Worcester Shrub Hill	0900	2035
Kidderminster	0925	2010
Stourbridge Jn	0940	1955

THE MODEL RAILWAY CLUB - Mini Exhibition - Open Day Sunday 2nd December

MRC LONDON - 2mm Finescale Copenhagen Fields

The Model Railway Club
  - Mini Exhibition - Open Day
Sunday 2nd December 2018

ADDRESS:
Keen House, 4 Calshot Street
London, Greater London   N1 9DA

OPENING TIMES:    11am - 4pm
ADMISSION:     Adults £3.00        

The MRC's Mini Exhibition at Keen House near King's Cross features a modern image theme centred around the club's Ingatestone OO layout and our second hand shop and bookstall.  Accompanied children free. Entry for MRC members is free upon presentation of a current membership card. 

Please note - access to most rooms is by stairs. If you have any concerns about accessibility, please contact us in advance. Parking is free on the local side streets, but we are very well positioned for public transport, including a cycle hire station opposite us, minutes from King's Cross and St Pancras stations and many bus routes pass close by.

List of Layouts Attending:
Ingatestone (OO) --This OO Gauge layout measures 20ft x 10ft in its scenic run, and is a representation of the station and countryside around Ingatestone in Essex, on the former Great Eastern main line to Norwich. Ingatestone is on a 25kV, two track mainline, with both commuter traffic and Intercity expresses passing through, as well as many freight operators in action. This is a time of franchisee change, so rolling stock will be in many colours, and the season is autumnal (leaves on the line). Nevertheless, the area has a timeless appeal, with its signal box, level crossing and fine Grade II Listed buildings, Ingatestone station set in a quintessential Essex landscape.

LACEY DALE N GAUGE LAYOUT

Lacey Dale (N Gauge ABOVE) -- This is The Model Railway Club's new N gauge layout, inspired by the viaduct and surroundings of Monsal Dale in the Peak District of Derbyshire with the Midland main line to Manchester. The period depicted is from mid 1950s to mid 1960s. Although this part of the railway was double track, to provide greater interest we have added long lie by sidings on both 'up' and 'down' lines, as provided a few miles away at Darley Dale. These enable faster trains to overtake the slower freights, and sometimes, local passenger trains.
Also ;
Oldshaw (EM) 
Minories (EM) 
Barber's Bridge Stabling Point (EM)

Nearest Railway Stations:
King's Cross Thameslink [0.16 miles] 
King's Cross [0.28 miles] 
St Pancras (London) [0.4 miles] 
Euston (London) [0.77 miles]

MAP to 4 Calshot Street, N1 9DA