THE PENDLE DALESMAN RAILTOUR - Thursday 29th October

Thursday 29th October
The Pendle Dalesman Railtour

This tour will run from Chesterfield to Carlisle and back again, initially hauled by heritage diesels it will be handed over to it's designated Steam Locomotive from Carnforth which will continue the journey over the famous Settle to Carlisle route which would include the outstanding Ribblehead Viaduct. . 

Departing Stations: Chesterfield, Sheffield, Swinton, Wakefield Kirkgate, Brighouse, Blackburn

Enjoy a nostalgic day to remember, travelling behind our splendid vintage steam engine along England's most famous railway. From our earlier pick up points we head north behind a vintage diesel engine to Hellifield/Carnforth where one of the oldest steam engines in service today will take over, this alone is a sight to behold as the engine builds up sufficient steam for the highlight of your journey on the famous Settle to Carlisle line.

The Settle-Carlisle Railway on which we will travel needs no introduction; this breath-taking journey will take you over 20 viaducts, through 14 tunnels and countless beautiful vistas. The climb over Blea Moor and the crossing of the world renowned Ribblehead Viaduct are arguably the highlights of England´s most scenic Railway.

We anticipate an afternoon arrival time offering a couple of hours or so break. This great border city dominates the borderlands between England and Scotland, sitting within the vale between the Cumbrian Mountains and Scottish Southern Uplands. In Carlisle you’ll find yourself at the centre of a stirring past and a vibrant present. Many of the city’s eateries and licensed premises are just a few minutes’ walk from the station entrance and if you visit www.discovercarlisle.co.uk you will find information to help you plan ahead. And for those who would prefer to use their short break to wander around in the beautiful and historic heart of the city you may choose to visit the Castle, cathedral or indeed the Tullie House Museum.

After a break of around two hours in Carlisle, we head south across some of the finest countryside Great Britain has to offer, where we head to your home stations via the famous Settle to Carlisle line in the comfort of our beautifully restored heritage rolling stock. Return journey from Carlisle leaves around 15:30 and gets into Chesterfield around 21:30 so that's a long old day on the trains, wonderful scenery and company, I hope all about thoroughly enjoy yourselves.

Approximate Departure Times
Chesterfield                 06:31
Sheffield                      06:51
Swinton                       07:07
Wakefield Kirkgate      07:52 
Brighouse                    08:40
Blackburn                    10:07

Arrival at Carlisle is expected around 13:18

Info provided by realtime trains 

CLASSIC LAYOUTS -- CHILTERN GREEN N GAUGE (MRC)

This blog post is an opportunity for me reminiscing about a fine layout called 'Chiltern Green and Luton Hoo' which for me was one of the classic N Gauge layouts that I remember from my youth of the late 70s and early 80s. My late father was involved in a number of model railway clubs including the BBC, and the MRC itself as well as a few local ones so it had many a happy summer visiting many locations during the weeks as well as a lot of the bigger exhibitions. Central Hall, Westminster at the time (1970/80s) was the big show of the year, I think that is now the Warley Show held at the NEC. And it was here one summer that I was fortunate enough to join Dad and the likes of (MRC President) Tim Watson and other members of the Model Railway Club to show off this outstanding layout. 

I think it was also a big feature in the Railway Modeller magazine or more than one occasion, I have a copy of the April 1980 edition and I know was proud to have been associated with this club, while at the time was also a long standing member of the BBC Railway club too, which like many things has sadly ceased to function. As a young child, taking to my late father to one show I think was at Royston during the summer I had the great pleasure of operating the small branch seen here on the cover of the magazine, the single railcar running under the mail lines back and forth was enough for me, never mind the extensive four track main line, this branch shuttle would eventually become the extension to the layout called Luton Hoo, and would feature again in the Railway Modeller some years later ! 

The layout was rescued by the Devon Railway Centre, further information can be found on their own site, but also managed to find this information about how they came to save this famous layout (thankfully).
Quote from the then manager of the Devon Railway Centre "I am glad to see so much interest in Chiltern Green.  It really was ground breaking when built as it was the first layout to show the railway running through the landscape and to show the merits of N gauge.  When it finished on the Exhibition circuit it went to Walter Harper's Oakhill manor and when that closed to the public in 1986/7 it was just covered up and left in a barn!!  Fast forward 15 years and Walter contacted me and said come and get it if we wanted it but that the barn was due to be demolished next week. Two days later we rescued the layout and carried it out across all the rubble which was around as the roof and most of the top floor of the barn had been removed that day - the builders were ahead of schedule. The layout was repaired over the next winter and placed on display. Since then further work has been done on scenic, wiring and track." 

There is an excellent reminder of the work and sheer quality for this layout found here on You Tube (link below);

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiMa1cUexGE

The whole thing is a decent watch however if you want to skip through to approx 8m 20s there is a decent piece with the MRC President, Tim Watson about the layout. 

With great thanks to everyone at the Model Railway Club, Kings Cross, London. 

OXFORD AND DISTRICT MODEL RAILWAY CLUB - OXRAIL 2020 [Live on-line]

With all planned Exhibitions and open days remaining cancelled throughout October 2020 we have found at least one Society seeking to keep things rolling with an online event. The Oxford and District MRC are hosting their annual Exhibition Live On line this year. Not the same as the real thing of course but good to see people making an effort to get the word out and share their expertise. 

Saturday 24th - Sunday 25th October 2020
OPENING TIMES:  10am - 10pm
Oxford & District Model Railway Club are proud to present our free International on-line model rail show. With totally new and exclusive videos of O, OO, N, OO9 and Z scale layouts. And including some unusual and surprise guest appearances. This Show will appeal to model railway and model railroad followers from across the world. Browse the exhibits. Participate in and watch the live events. Watch the specially made short documentaries.

We have put this show together during Lockdown. Visiting railway modellers and filming their layouts. Asking them the questions you would ask them at a live exhibition. Our featured layouts cover both exhibition layouts and private layouts that have never been seen before. And we will premiere an extraordinary and unique set of short videos made of a long term project to build a highly detailed continental model railway. We will also show you the oldest running model railway in the world. As well as model railways built with the help of youngsters. We will also showcase the best of Oxfordshires historic railways and three of our modelling projects focused on recreating the lost history of Oxfordshires railways.

Show site at www.oxrail2020.com for more information.