ISSUE: 2 December 2003 National show looks set to wow crowds... THIS year’s Warley National Model Railway Exhibition, which is being held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), , over the weekend December 6- 7 promises to be one of the best the Warley Model Railway Club exhibitions’ arm has staged. With ticket prices demonstrations ranging owned limited company pegged at last year’s from basic model Warley MRC Exhibitions rates, Warley Model making for beginners, Ltd., with members and Railway Exhibitions Ltd to the more complex friends providing the is once again expecting techniques required for support and staff for the a capacity crowd on both coach construction, card event, without whose days. modelling and soldering. efforts the exhibition And, because of the In addition, many could not take place. sheer size of the event— model making, and Visitors planning to which includes layouts in specialist societies will travel by rail are advised a wide range of gauges be represented at the that a number of Virgin and styles—visitors are show, including the Trains services in the being urged to allow Historical Model Railway Birmingham area are sufficient time to see Society (HMRS), Pendon likely to be affected it all. Museum Trust and by engineering work Wolverhampton MRC’s popular Stoke Top quality the Double ‘O’ Gauge over the weekend and Summit (above) will be appearing in Association. that they should check diesel guise at this years Wigan show. There are more than 20 layouts in 4mm scale The organisation of the web site for details alone, with 18.83 mm, the event is handled (http://www.warley- Wigan autumn event 18.2 mm, 16.5 mm, and by the club’s wholly mrc.org.uk/). narrow gauge variants to feature 28 layouts all vying for the visitor’s attention. WIGAN Model Railway Exhibition looks sets to Inside this issue... reinforce its reputation as one of the North Several of the West’s most popular events. layouts, including Bachman 45xx Prairies—a first The event, which is being held December 13/ Wolverhampton MRC’s look at these new locos...p.10 14 at the town’s Robin Park Arena and Sports latest creation, the GCR Centre, will feature 28 layouts and 38 trade inspired Charwelton, will Maidens Dale—our December stands. be appearing at the NEC layout of the month...p.5-7 Among the 4mm/ft layouts booked to appear show for the first time. are Wolverhampton MRC’s Stoke Summit, Among the top quality Archives boost for HMRS...p.2 Compton Park (LNER, EM gauge), Mostyn offerings on display (BR 70’s/P4), Crawford Bridge (BR 50’s/OO), Society plans its first show for Tebay (BR 60’s/OO) and Hudson Road (NER/ are: Dartley (18.83), OO). Askrigg Bank (16.5), four years...p.15 Chillcompton (16.5), The show will also feature two OO9 narrow Wainthrop Bridge (18.2), Book of the month, plus three gauge layouts, three new O-gauge layouts and a quartet of N-gauge layouts. Sutton (16.5) and Port pages of book reviews...p.12-14 Foxdale (narrow gauge). Modelling demonstrations and displays Plus two pages of stock and loco include contributions from the Historical As might be expected Model Railway Society (HMRS), EM Gauge at such a major event, reviews, two pages of club news Society, and Diesel and Electric Modellers there will be a range and much, much, more...... United (DEMU). of ‘show you how’ Alstom ‘gifts’ Met-Cam archives to the HMRS ALSTOM Transport has given the Metropolitan-Cam- mell company archives—some 10,000 original draw- ings—to the Historical Model Railway Society (HMRS). Alstom donated the which became the archives to the HMRS knowing of the group’s Carriage & Wagon charity status and the Co (1862), Charles planned opening of its Cammell (1837) which museum and study became Cammel Laird & centre at Swanick within Co (1903) and Midland the , Railway Carriage and Butterly, Derbyshire. Wagon Company (1877). This purpose built conditions and allow headquarters building access for bona-fide These, with others, will house the HMRS research”. amalgamated to become Inspiration for Hornby’s new model Q1. Archives together with Metropolitan-Cammell the George Dow Library, He added work was Carriage, Wagon & plus a Research & Study well advanced on Finance Company Hornby’s Q1 looks Centre, an Information creating a computerised (1929). Metropolitan and Sales point, and catalogue and the Cammell Ltd further an Exhibition and “HMRS intends, in due amalgamated with GEC set for debut at Education area. course, to digitise the & Alcatel Alsthom in drawings and offer them 1989. The society’s publicity for sale as part of their Warley NEC show offer, Paul Phillips, Drawings Service”. Further details are told Trains On-line available from HMRS VISITORS to the Warley Exhibition at Magazine: “The HMRS The Met-Cam Membership, 11 Gorse the NEC may well be the first modellers will have the capacity drawings originate from Avenue, Mansfield, to see Hornby’s new Q1 locomotive. to store the original companies such as Notts, NG18 3NS. or at drawings in museum Joseph Wright (1823), www.hmrs.org.uk. The company’s livery); BR black Roadshow is visiting weathered (1964) the show once and Southern Railway Historic collection is ‘digitised’ again and staff will black with the running The HMRS has released a new catalogue to accompany the be demonstrating number C8. digitisation of its current collection of 5,000 drawings. a number of new The Q1 Class was born The Drawings Catalogue is available to the public on CD-Rom in releases, including the from a need to replace several formats, or as a printed list of 97 pages. Fowler, Q1 and Class 50, along with the the ageing Maunsell The collection is now available to the public in a range of sizes and new steam locomotive Q Class, and was first prices, ranging from A2 (£6.50) to A0 size drawings (special order Mallard. introduced to service in only, £18.00). HMRS members receive discount on all products. the early 1940s. There will also be the opportunity to Designed for fill in a Roadshow the Southern by PAGE DESIGN ONLINE Questionnaire and O.V. Bulleid, these win a new Hornby locomotives were the locomotive. Hornby say same weight as their these questionnaires predecessors but were for ALL your have already brought more powerful and modellers the Class were quite at home on 50 and Q1, as well as freight duties. a host of new coaches The loco features cab print and web and wagons. detail, brake rods and The Q1 will appear at is powered by a ‘DCC first in three liveries— ready’ five-pole skew design needs: BR black (early 1950s wound motor. Winner nets a Hornby loco www.pagedesignonline.co.uk The winner of the November Hornby website competition is Brian Stanford from Scone, near Perth, Scotland. Tel: 01509 237895 Brian was one of the 1,037 people who entered the competition, and wins an R2331 Rail Express Class 86. Editor’s space...

THE past month has seen a series of new arrivals from the main model manufacturers and we have included news and reviews of some of these in this month’s magazine. However, the late arrival of some items has had a knock-on effect and Comet adds two to the magazine itself has been delayed. I am sorry for this, but I am sure you will agree this month’s issue is a big its Centenary set... improvement on our first, and worth WITH the release of its latest As is usual, Comet is also the extra couple of day’s wait. GWR Centenary Stock coach ‘00’ making the sides available gauge kits, Comet Models has separately to convert exist- almost completed the set—only ing ready-to-run coaches, or THE two big events this month—the the seventh and final coach, the for scratchbuilders. The cost of National and the Wigan shows—will corridor composite to Diagram these is £8.50. no doubt attract many thousands of E149 remains. Comet has already released visitors. This month’s additions repre- the Restaurant Open Third (Dia. But don’t forget the many other sent the Left Hand (W72, above) H44), Restaurant First (Dia. smaller shows that take place in the and Right Hand (W73, below) H43), Corridor Brake Composite immediate run-up to Christmas and Corridor Third Brakes to Dia- (Dia. E150) and Corridor Third those in the period immediately fol- gram D120. (Dia. C69). All retail at £36. lowing it. These coaches retail at £36 The remaining coach kit is Most modellers will have seasonal each, though you will need to al- expected to enter the range in cash to spend and the traders that low extra for the recommended early 2004. The price has not attend these shows will be more than wheelsets and bearings. been announced. happy to relieve you of it! I shall certainly be on the look out for the odd bargain and these smaller shows are often the best place to find one.

A seasonal THANK YOU is in order to those clubs that have been in touch either offering links to us from their own web sites, or sending in details of Heljan Hymeks are on their forthcoming shows. Contributions from clubs are very welcome at Trains On-line Magazine, their way to UK shops so keep sending in your news and di- HELJAN’S latest ary dates. 4mm scale OO If your club or society hasn’t yet con- gauge British outline tacted the Editor, why not make it model, the Western one of your New Year’s resolutions to Region Hymek, ensure that either you do or your club should be reaching secretary does. the shops soon. The loco follows on from the company’s BY way of an end-note readers might acclaimed Class like to know that I am starting work 47s, which are now The real thing (above) pictured on the West in the New Year on my own ‘big’ lay- available in a number Somerset Railway at Minehead in the 1970s. out having commandered a bedroom of livery styles and been incorporated model is DCC ready for it. class variations. into the model, and has a fully wired Heljan’s now which is carried on a NEM 652 eight-pin It will be urban, based on the West standard features, heavy die-cast alloy plug as standard. Midlands, where I spend my forma- such as illuminated chassis. In addition, a tive years, and will measure roughly headcodes and tail Powered by five- number of consumer 10ft x 9ft. pole centrally applied parts will lights, finescale Progress will be reported regularly in mounted motor enable the model’s RP25 wheels and future issues of the magazine. a highly detailed driving all axles via buffer beam to be body shell, have twin flywheels, the further detailed. Modellers are ‘too fussy by far...’ “MODELLERS”, said the salesman, “are just Have moulding techniques reached their limits too fussy for their own good. We spend tens or are we right to expect detail to continue to of thousands on developing a new model and improve for ever? then they moan that it’s the wrong colour, or As an independent observer, I am inclined to there are bits missing”. think there is still room for improvement, though exactly where the limit lies I haven’t a clue. The shopkeeper, taken aback by the outburst, stepped in to defend his modelling clientele, What concerns me more, is the degree of attention stressing that they weren’t being fussy; they just lavished on locos, while the rolling stock—coaches wanted things to be RIGHT. in particular—seem to be largely ignored. The story is fantasy, of course, but it has a point. True there are excellent Mk Is available from Bachmann and we have Hornby’s highly regarded Are modellers becoming too critical of the latest new Pullman coaches, but in general there have offerings from the main players? been no major advances in RTR coaching stock for some time. Most of the pre-BR stock has been in the catalogue in one livery or another for years—and not always the correct livery! Where are all those lovely LNER teak coach designs, Stanier’s LMS coaches, GWR Toplights or Maunsell coaches? I dare say that one day there will be sufficient demand—or commercial necessity—for one of the main manufacturers to introduce new coaching stock to their range, but until then I suppose we will have to either carry on constructing kits or scratch building the stock that we want. Perhaps 2004 has a surprise or two in store for us…we can but hope. LAYOUT OF THE MONTH Maidens Dale

ABOVE: The view down the steep hill on Shaun Robson’s Maidens Dale. This particular incline would certainly be a challenge for the white van’s brakes, though ABOVE: A general view looking over the station, goods yard and if they failed the driver might just be able to engine shed emphasises how well integrated the various structures turn the vehicle into the goods yard entrance are into the railway scene. Despite the comparatively small size of at the bottom of the hill. the layout, it avoids the ‘shoe-horned’ look that can so easily mar The street itself is flanked by two rows of the more ‘compact’ exhibition effort. Victorian terraced houses.

LEFT: Steam shed scenes are always evocative of a past era, but this view of Maidens Dale’s two road engine shed contains a visitor with a past—the legendary (or some might say notorious) Fell Engine. Alongside is a more regular Midland line loco, a Jinty tank engine in late BR livery, looking some- what cleaner than many enthusiasts recall them. Detailing around the shed includes the hand coaling stage, typical water crane and fire devil and gas lamps. The farmer prepares his tractor for the days work, while his cattle graze contentedly on the hillside—this is a nice rural cameo that draws the viewer in with its subtle detail and well executed Cameos with just a touch of humour... GOOD exhibition layouts are always unique. There’s always something about them that sets them apart, be it location, scenery or operation. Maidens Dale is one built and based on such layout and is filled existing structures. The with cameos that are buildings and wiring white public house is both humorous and were all his own work. actually in Sheffield, well thought out. the hillside pub was The original seaside Owner Shaun Robson inspired by one in layout was subsequently thinks modellers can be Belper, the original abandoned and was too serious and makes signal box was at FROM TOP: A man in the jitty behind the never exhibited. sure his efforts show Basford and the station houses struggles to shake off a dog that has more than just a simple However, after a building is a close copy firmly attached itself to his leg; a caravan railway scene. His break, and with of Adlington, near occupier answers a call of nature (he is out ‘jokes’ provide a talking renewed interest, Stockport. of focus to preserve his modesty!); A man in point for visitors and a Shaun converted it to a blue (!) Mackintosh chases (flashes) the diversion for him. the ‘tail-chaser’ layout farmer’s sheep. “No two buildings of today. BELOW: Gents toilets often feature on model “You have to have a are the same in real laugh and a bit of joke, This is based on a life, they are different railway layouts, but this roofless version is especially when you are fictional location on colours and shapes,” clearly well used! standing all weekend the Midland Region, said Shaun, “and some behind the layout”, he set in the 1960s and layouts are spoiled said. using ready-to run because the same kits stock, augmented by are used by everyone. Ilkeston Woodside Building your own Maidens Dale began MRC members stock avoids this and makes life as a seaside layout (including the Fell it more interesting.” complete with quayside loco). and beach. The beach That is something that Measuring 11ft by has gone and the obviously impresses. 6ft 3in on six linked quayside has become Since the layout began boards, it uses Peco a canal that nestles up its exhibition career code 100 rail with against the edge of the in November 2000 it electric pencil point layout. has won a number of operation. Scenery is awards, including Best Inspiration for it came carved polystyrene with in Show (Buxton 2002) in 1986 when a 15- strips of glued paper and the Tim Warden year-old Shaun visited a and chicken wire over Cup (Loughborough Nottingham exhibition. the tunnels. 2003). He determined then intention of ‘retiring’ been doubled in size to Based on a relatively Although Shaun now that he wanted to Maidens Dale, far provide greater variety simple layout it is ‘user- has another exhibition exhibit a layout himself from it, for he is still at shows, a new wiring friendly’ and ‘anyone contender in Heanor The baseboards were improving it! ring is being installed can use it’ says Shaun. South (to be featured built with help from his and he is promising to The majority of the in these pages in the The original eight dad, but the scenery, finish the signal box! buildings are scratch New Year), he has no road fiddle yard has Your views ... 1

I was interested to read in your first issue the article about the ‘gauge wars’ and wondered if it would be possible to devote some space to the respective societies and the question of gauge and scale. As someone who is comparatively new to the hobby I am confused by the various standards in use. P Faulkner, Shrewsbury. We will take a look at the issues you raise in a future edition of Trains On-Line Magazine. As a beginner it is probably best you stick to ‘OO’ as this is well sup- ported by manufacturers. Ed.

Am I the only modeller that was mystified by Hornby’s recent steam loco system. It seem to me that the cost of a’set’ will deter all but the most affluent modellers, and there will undoubted- ly be long term problems...corrosion for one! Please Hornby, concentrate on what you are good at and let’s have a wid- er range of R.T.R. models.

ABOVE: A class 45 takes the curve as it gets the ‘off’ from the Maid- The 4-4-0 arrangement was a ens Dale starter signal. classic one and all of the major BELOW: A DMU waits for passengers in Maidens Dale station. pre-grouping companies, especially North of the Border, used them. How about a GNoSR, GER or GWR example? Puffing Billy (alias), Gateshead. Now that would be an interesting ven- ture for either Hornby, or Bachmann. Ed.

I note with some sadness that Mid- land Mainline have killed off ‘Bambi’! No doubt this will eventually lead to a new batch of stock in MM’s new livery...and pressure on model man- ufacturers to follow suit. I know that many modellers revel in the multitude of liveries in which they can run their stock, but spare a thought for those who cannot afford to keep up with the changes. By the way, just when does ‘modern image‘ modelling cease to be mod- ern? Twelve months after a change, two years, 10 or even 20 ? It is all becoming a bit of a fuzzy area isn’t it? J. Martin, Gloucester. This space could be making money for you by selling your products.

A full page advertisement like this could cost you as little as £50...and can be linked to your own web site if you have one.

E-mail us at: [email protected] OR Fax or ring us on 01509-237895 for all our current rates. All change for club’s Your views ... 2

Does anyone know where I can find Christmas show information about carriage forma- tions in use during the period 1923- THIS year’s Ashford Model Railway Club’s annual Christmas 1947? show has a new venue and a new date. The event, which is being held on Saturday December 13, is being staged at the I am interested in all the Big Four, Centrepiece, Bank Street, Ashford the club’s home. but particular those workings that involved more than one company, The club’s latest 20 layouts, including projects and layouts WEB WATCH standard and narrow such as the LMS/Southern, GWR/ LNER and Southern/GWR. will be on display. –stories from gauge in a wide range These include a new of scales. EJF, Loughborough dual 00/009 gauge the W.W.W. Ed. Would anyone who thinks they can layout, Penstone SOUTHWARK railway stands and more than help with information, e-mail us at Trains Harbour and the award modellers appear to 800 visitors) the 2004 On-line Magazine: winning layouts Grove have a major problem. event promises to be Ferry & Upstreet and The Southwark MRC’s [email protected] Swaleby, owned by bigger, better, and even more value for money! web site carries the Terry and Mark Whitling sad news that the club respectively. is temporarily closed UCKFIELD Model RC Why is it that so many people ig- There will also be and its layouts are in is holding it’s 2004 nore urban layouts when building a an opportunity to storage. Annual Exhibition at model railway? explore the club’s the same venue as this Members are looking own premises, with year—the Uckfield Civic for new premises in the Is it because they involve modelling more layouts and Centre. Southwark , Greenwich too many buildings, or because they demonstrations being or Lewisham areas of somehow see them as untidy. shown. The decision is based London. on the success of their For more information Surely, railways grew up to serve 2003 event. on the event, telephone COBDOWN MC has the needs of the urban community 07900 263620 or email details of its Top Secret [email protected] The club says it will be project on its site—a and its industries, in the main move- featuring a selection of ing materials from rural areas of low Planning is already replacement for its some of the best quality aeging exhibition layout population/need to those areas of under way for the club’s layouts around. next annual model Wouldham Town, which greater population/need. railway exhibition in has been on the circuit There will be full trade 2004. for nearly 20 years. True , I haven’t seen many success- support as well as ful urban layouts on the exhibition Following the success demonstration and The details are circuit, but the scope they provide of their 2003 show engineering stands.It sketchy but worth a for innovative modelling must surely (with more than 45 is hoped to have about look! challenge some of our ‘top gun’ mod- ellers.

GJC, Swindon.

Ed. Check out Iain Rice’s book on De- signs for Urban Layouts, reviewed on page 13 of this issue.

Does anyone know what is hap- pening to Lima and its range of UK models?

I have tried their website, but that is in Italian and I can’t make head PAGE DESIGN ONLINE nor tale of it—plus there are signs saying it is under construction (iron- for ALL your print and web ic or what!). There are some photographs of their design needs: current continental range on the site, but I cannot find any UK locos. www.pagedesignonline.co.uk Can it be that this beleagured com- pany is actually ceasing production or will it phoenix like rise from the e-mail: ashes once more?

[email protected] No doubt time will tell.

IKB (alias), . REVIEWS...locos...REVIEWS...stock...REVIEWS Bachmann’s baby arrives for Christmas WESTERN branch line modellers will ABOVE: A close up view of the business end of 4566, showing be beaming this Christmas— thanks the finely detailed valve gear, rivetting on the tank sides and to the latest steam offering from the well executed lining. Bachmann Branchline. BELOW: The attractive lines of Churchward’s small prairie de- After months of versions have been sign are captured in Bachmann’s latest GWR/BR offering. waiting the first batch delayed in the post!). of Churchward small prairies has arrived. First thing that strikes you about 4566 is the And, was the wait feel of the loco…it is worth it? You bet! heavy and obviously well constructed. This little beauty has to be one of the Second thing, it looks nicest models to arrive absolutely gorgeous, on these shores from with its BR lining China. perfectly executed and with so much detail it There are three is more like a quality versions currently on scratch built model sale and we will be than a ready to run reviewing all of them one. in due course (our BR black and GWR liveried There is even plenty of detail inside the cab, though you need a CHURCHWARD designed 2-6-2T 4566 torch to see it and you spent most of its working life in the Biography of might have difficulty West Country, ending its days working fitting a crew on to the on the St Erth - St Ives branch, and footplate. subsequently spending eight years in prairie 4566 One slight niggle Barry scrap yard before being rescued During its spell on Penzance shed’s is the number plate by the . It was books it could regularly be seen transfer, which appears restored to working order in 1975. to be a tad oversized traversing the many branches that and sits across a row One of 20 small prairie tanks built at crisscrossed the peninsular and was of rivets—this might Swindon in 1924 it was first shedded at actually shedded at St. Ives for some of cause a few problems Newton Abbott, but moved to Taunton the period 1953-1962, though it is likely if you want to change it in July 1927 for use on the Minehead that all of the ‘locals’ spent some time for a brass one—still it branch. berthed at the terminus’s single road is a minor blemish. shed. The loco appears to be Moves to Swindon, Westbury (early pretty accurate when 1930s), and Bristol (Bath Road—1935), There is photographic evidence to show compared to diagrams were followed in February 1938 by a the loco working the St. Ives branch in J.H. Russell’s classic return to Swindon and work in, and throughout the 1950s/60s, along with reference work A around, Andover and Chippenham. classmates 4500, 4525, 4537, 4540, Pictorial Record of Great 4545, 4548, 4563, 4564, 4570, 4571, Western Engines. There followed another brief spell at 4574. Bristol during the later years of WW2 The loco arrived too and then a move in November 1946 to • Further information on the workings late for it to be tested, but if it is typical of on the St. Ives branch can be found in Penzance, which technically remained Bachmann’s Blue its ‘home’ shed until its move in Journal (Special Riband series it should September 1961 to Plymouth (Laira). It Cornish Issue) late summer 1992 and run smoothly straight was condemned seven months later. also winter 1993. out of the box. REVIEWS...locos...REVIEWS...stock...REVIEWS Oxley’s 0-6-2 tank joins the GWR goods fleet... OFTEN thought of as exclusive to the Welsh Valleys, the Collett 56XX class eventually found its way across the GWR network and by the company’s demise most of the major sheds had a couple on their stock list. The latest variation on is well detailed, if not the 56XX theme from quite up to the stand- Bachmann is a case in ard of more recent Blue point, being shedded at Riband additions. Wolverhampton’s Oxley Although this particu- in 1947. lar example arrived too Apt then, that it late to test run, previ- sports the GWR livery ous examples have of that period, though proven themselves to ABOVE and LEFT: I doubt the shed staff be confident handlers Side views of would have burnished of prototypical loads up its brass safety (the editor has several Bachmann’s latest valve cover. in his stud). version of the Col- Once a feature of In common with other lett 0-6-2 tank en- the former Mainline late batch locomo- gine in late GWR catalogue, the loco has tives, 6600 is fitted livery—all that is been much improved with steam heating needed now is a by Bachmann. equipment (its neatly version with the Like its smaller rela- moulded along the left ‘Shirtbutton’ logo. tive reviewed on page hand running plate). 13, this loco has a solid Equally at home on feel and captures the freight and passenger ple, regularly used on ). your collection. rather chunky, unbal- trains this class of Stourbridge Junction- If you are GWR mod- anced look of the pro- loco was not confined Birmingham Snow Hill eller, then it should not • 6600 left the West totype. to Wales—though they trains in the BR era, be too hard to find an Midlands in the early The copper-capped are most often associ- (check out Marsden Rail excuse (reason) to 1950s—for a new chimney has the correct ated with the area. videos 8 and 21 to see add an example of this career shedded it at profile and the body They were, for exam- them in action in the modestly priced loco to Cardiff! ...with a few new wagons for good measure Three new wagons have been released by Bachmann. A GWR Toad in BR grey livery (top left), an LMS ventilated van (be- low left) and a GWR PARTO ventilated van (below right). The planking and lettering detail is of a high order. Also, new to the Dapol catalogue (top right), is a five-plank coal wagon in the livery of H. Pres- ton, Coal Merchant, Worcester. It comes complete with moulded coal load! REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS

Railway Stations From the Air THE third, in what looks to be a developing series of aerial views from the extensive Aerofilms collections, concentrates on stations and excludes any photographs reproduced in the earlier volumes. This book was obviously conceived with railway modellers in mind with photographs selected on the basis of those that would most likely form the basis of a layout. As a result there is a bias towards branch line termini and smaller country stations, though the selection is unusual and covers the whole of the British Isles. Each station occupies a double page spread and is supported by both an OS map extract and ground level views. Among the more unusual locations are: Cowes, Hadleigh, Kirkcudbright, Lanark, and Wigan (GCR). There are also views of more popular stations, including Lambourn, Calne, Tenterden and Kidderminster. This book is a useful addition to the modellers library, even allowing for the variable quality of some of the early photographs, dating from more than 60 years ago. Railway Stations From the Air, Ian Allan Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 0 7110 2980 6. £35 Modellers’ Guide to the Great Western Railway FIRST published in 1990, this terminus and passing stations. book rapidly became a classic The book is generously illustrated and much sought after. This new with both models and prototypes, version, updated and re-illustrated, and includes a number of line brings the story up to date, while drawings of typical GWR structures. remaining essential true to the text of the original. The chapter on locomotive and coach liveries ought to be essential A brief history of the company reading for all manufacturers of is followed by a description ready to run models, as they might of locomotives, rolling stock, then avoid some of the more obvious liveries and detailing hints. There errors still seen on r2r stock. are also chapters on buildings and structures, signalling and Despite its slightly dated look this the permanent way, and road guide still has much to commend it, vehicles. especially to those contemplating a GWR layout for the first time. The final chapter offers some general advice on modelling Modellers’ Guide to the Great Western the Great Western and includes Railway. Silver Link Publishing Ltd. a selection of typical plans for ISBN: 1 85794 204 3. £17.99

The Gloucestershire Railway—Snow Hiil to PAST and Present books have a growing audience and the introduction of the ‘companion’ series, to complement the existing, and surely near complete original series, is a natural extension of the concept. This book from Roger Siviter, features the line from Birmingham Moor Street/ Snow Hill via Stratford on Avon and Honeybourne to Cheltenham (St James), with an integral look at the preserved section operated by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Most of the ‘past’ pictures feature steam or diesel pictures from the mid- 50s to mid-60s, with a couple of pre-nationalisation shots included for good measure. All are acceptably well reproduced. If you are planning to model the North Warwickshire line and want some general reference pictures of GWR structures then you will find plenty here, but there may be too many shots of DMUs (old and new) and preserved steam for some tastes. Past and Present Companion: The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway—Snow Hill to Cheltenham. Past & Present Publishing. ISBN: 1 85895 208 5. £15.99 REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS

Designs for Urban Layouts EASILY the best book to come meant for home construction, our way this month, Iain Rice’s though most can easily be adapted exposition on urban layouts is at for exhibition use. once inspiring and challenging…and a convincing argument for devoting The writing style is light and more time to modelling the ‘town informative—‘towns and railways go railway scene’, warts and all. together like pie and gravy’—and will undoubtedly entertain and educate Setting out to capture that special at the same time. atmosphere of the cluttered, heavily built-up area, the author provides The author begins his exposition the reader with a range of solutions with a look at what elements make encompassing both the small a landscape urban, considers some (the Mini-MPD) and the grandiose of the practical aspects of scale (Bankdam Mills, L& Y). and gauge, and then some of the solutions available to the modeller. There is even an updated version of the Cyril J Freezer’s legendary Designs for Urban Layouts is Minories—Harestone—which has a excellently illustrated throughout, more suburban air, though retaining with just the right balance of a similar sized site to the original (6ft prototype photographs, sketches 6in long by approximately 1ft 3in and diagrams. wide). This draws its inspiration from It is hard not to be inspired by a Caterham, terminus of the short ex- book like this and at only £14.99 it SER branch from Purley. is a snip. Get it on your Christmas Each design is drawn out in books list before it is too late! Book of typical Rice style with both sketch Designs for Urban Layouts, Atlantic the Month representations and track layout. Publishers. ISBN: 1 902877 08 2. Some of the designs are obviously £14.99.

This layout for Shadwell Basin is typical of the layouts that appear in Iain Rice’s excellent book and is designed with 4mm scale in mind. It draws its inspiration from the old Great Eastern’s London Dock Branch, and fits comfortably in an L-shaped site roughly six feet by eight feet—small enough for most spare bedrooms or a corner of the lounge!

Working Steam: Collett Granges and Manors I HAD forgotten just how handsome Collett’s Grange class of locomotives were, particularly when wearing fully lined out BR late livery. Roy Hobbs’ book gives the reader plenty of opportunity to enjoy such visions of Granges, either in ex-works condition or lightly grimed from their labours. My favourite shot is on page 62 and features 6858 Woolston Grange easing its way out of Stratford on a Class H freight for Honeybourne in 1961. Looking at this picture it’s hard to understand why they were never as loved as the bigger wheeled Halls, or the lighter Manors, which share the title and pages with them. It is a shame none survived the cutter’s torch. The book pictures Granges and Manors in a range of locations—urban, rural, on shed and goods yards—and all the photographs are well reproduced, as you would expect of this series. If the rumoured Hornby Grange materialises, this book will prove indispensable to those who enjoy detailing their latest purchases. Working Steam: Collett Granges & Manors. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN: 0 7110 2973 3. £14.99 REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS...books...REVIEWS

Great Western Lines and Landscapes IF your interest in railways is limited to moving trains, or pictures of same, then this book is not for you. However, if you are after a greater understanding of what is needed to ensure that railways attract business and how railways—the GWR in this case—promote themselves then you will not be disappointed. Rather academic in tone, but filled with the results of considerable research, Alan Bennett’s book attempts to set the GWR’s promotional works into a contemporary context—social, economic political and cultural. Not a book, perhaps, for the casual reader, but one which delves into the way the company saw itself and the way it hoped others would see it. It looks at the marketing tools used by the company, not just to promote itself, but also the nation to the ‘English speaking peoples of the world’. How successful the company was in that you must judge for yourself, and the author concentrates on six principal areas: Imagery and Enterprise; The Ocean Coast; Selling to America; Western Wonderlands; Industrial Interests, and the Holiday Line—Post War Perspectives. Book illustration takes a back seat to the text, but there are a number of posters (some in full colour), leaflets and black and white photographs to brighten things up. Great Western Lines & Landscape: Business, Pleasure, Heritage and Landscape, Runpast Publishing. £14.99 West Country Branch Lines: A Colour Portfolio FANS of West Country branch lines Kingsbridge branches. will find much to interest them in Coverage is not limited to the this latest collection of photographs former GWR branches and there are from Peter W. Gray, which this time also pictures of ex-Southern Railway begins a little farther to the east in locations, Plymouth Friary, Exmouth Gloucestershire before travelling and Padstow. through Somerset to and . However, the penultimate shot in the book has a particular relevance, The photographer began recording for it features the 10.55am St Ives to the railway scene on colour slides in St Erth local hauled by ex-GWR small 1957 and it is through these images prairie 4566—one of the BR liveried that the last great flowering of steam locos Bachmann has modelled. (See railways in the west can be enjoyed. review page 13). There’s a huge range of locations This book is a must for West among the 80, or so, pictures—station Country modellers—put it on your and landscape scenes predominate, Christmas shopping list. covering many of the branch lines so popular with modeller. West Country Branch Lines: A Col- These include the Looe, Sutton our Portfolio, Ian Allan Publishing Harbour, Fowey, Kingswear and Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 2950 4. £14.99 Erith MRS in bid to Club better 2003 show Scene NEXT year’s Dartford Model Railway Exhibition will be even larger than 2003’s show, say its organisers, the Sutton Coldfield Railway Erith Model Railway Society. Society has been forced to change The show, which He added that along is being held at its with the increase Looking to the venue of its annual show next usual location of in layout numbers, year because of reported structural Temple Hill Primary additional ‘specialist’ the future difficulties at its regular venue, School, St Edmunds trade stands have Bishop Walsh School. Road, Temple Hill, been added to those MOST clubs have Dartford, Kent, who regularly attend, enough problems Instead, and for 2004 only, the takes place over the getting a show weekend of January Wide range show will be moving to Bishop together that’s 24/25. The stands now 12 months away, Vesey’s Grammar School in the offer a wide range but looking two town. It will feature up to 25 quality layouts of products including years ahead is a including Abergolwyn transport books, bold move. The event, which is being held rolling stock and (GWR/O), Bude (SR/ The Norbury and over the weekend of April 24/25 OO), Stapleforth (N), spares, tools and components, scenic South London Trans- (Saturday and Sunday), will feature Swaleby (OO) and port Club is planning many others products and more than a dozen layouts in a accessories. to celebrate its 70th variety of scales and locations, In addition, there anniversary with a including Hasland Sheds (4mm) will also be a Further layouts and bumper show. number of modelling exhibitors are still and Trains On-line Magazine’s being added all the Its Model Railway featured layout, Ashbourne Midland demonstrations, loco and Transport Exhi- repair services and time, he said. (4mm/EM) bition is being held static model displays. at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, Surrey THE Alton Model Railway Group A spokesman for Further details can the group said the on October 22/23, will be taking the opportunity to now be obtained 2005. show off its own modelling efforts venue now boasts full from the group’s disabled access to all at its annual exhibition in February website, which has Exhibition details parts of the enlarged the full listing— on their web site: 2004. exhibition. www.erithmrs.org.uk www.fircroft.clara.net The event, which takes place on 7th and 8th of the month (Saturday and Sunday), will once again be held at Society plans its first show Amery Hill School in Alton. The exhibition is a general purpose after a four year’s gap... railway modellers event, providing a friendly atmosphere for vistors to THE Western Model Railway Society has announced see the modeller’s art in its many details of its first exhibition for a number of years. forms by combining the best layouts The event, which is being held at acclaimed Akton Vowinkel, which and trade in the South of England in the Greenford Hall, Ruislip Road, completed its exhibition life at a wide variety of scales. Greenford, Middlesex on Saturday the 2000 show. 6th and Sunday 7th March, The new layout has been built Layouts so far confirmed include follows a four year absence from to enable the use of the Digital SE28 (1960s Southern Region 00- the exhibition scene. Circuit Control (DCC), a new gauge), Penhallick (00 Fine Gauge), The group say they are returning and exciting way of controlling Corrinford (1930s West of England to this easily accessed venue layouts. in 00) and Tarrant Valley (009). in West London, for their first Other layouts cover all aspects exhibition since the March 2000 of the hobby, both British and event at the same venue. THE Tonbridge Model Railway foreign outline and also cover Club’s one-day Exhibition is being There will be a full range of standard and narrow gauge. held on 21 February, 2004 at the layouts covering all scales from Z They include Chelfam (009) and Angel Centre, Tonbridge. to O gauge. Central (00).

The centrepiece will be the Further details can be obtained The organisers hope to have 20 first appearance at a London from John Tanner, the Publicity layouts on display, along with a exhibition of the WMRS’ latest and Sponsorship Manager: selection of trade stands. layout—Grunfurter Strasse. This Telephone number 07791- has replaced the critically 097726. 009 small, but perfectly formed IF you like your models a wee bit on the small 2ft 6in (the imperial equivalent of 570mm and side, then you might like to consider joining the 760mm). 009 Society, the world’s largest 009 narrow Many members opt to model the British NG, gauge modelling group. which encompasses a wide range of track gauges The group caters for all aspects of small scale and subjects, from industrial to passenger carry- narrow gauge modelling and welcomes new ing, such as the Lynton and Barnstaple. members irrespective of their skill levels. The group has its own newsletter, published A spokesman for the group told Trains On-line once every two months, which includes news, Magazine that they welcomed new members views, hints, tips, and drawings covering all as- whether they were active or armchair modellers, pects of the hobby. beginners or experienced scratch builders. There is an annual membership fee and mem- The majority of the club’s members worked in bership is valid for 12 months from the date 00 and OH scales and by using a track gauge of of joining. Further details on membership 9mm they were able, he said, to model NG rail- can be obtained from the group’s web site: ways with prototype track gauges of 1ft 10in to www.009Society.com GUIDE TO 2004 EXHIBITIONS...

2004

JANUARY 24 (Sat) Egham and Staines Model Railway Society exhibition, Manorcroft School, Egham, Surrey. January 31-February 1 Stafford Railway Circle Annual Exhibition, Staffordshire County Showground. FEBRUARY 7 & 8 Alton Model Railway Group’s annual exhibition, Amery Hill School, Alton. 21 (Sat) Tonbridge Model Railway Exhibition, The Angel Centre, Tonbridge. 21 & 22 (Sat & Sun) Syston Model Railway Society show, Sileby Community Centre, High Street. Sileby, Leicestershire. 22 (Sun) Ilkeston Woodside MRC show, Trowell Parish Hall, nr. Ilkeston , Derbys. 27,28 & 29 (Frid, Sat & Sun) Modelrail Scotland, SECC, Glasgow. MARCH 6 & 7 (Sat & Sun) Western Model Railway Society Exhibition, Greenford Hall, Ruislip Road, Greenford, Middlesex. 20 & 21 (Sat & Sun) East Midlands Model Railway Exhibition. Harvey Hadden Sports Centre, Nottingham. JUNE 12 & 13 (Sat & Sun) Wingfield Railway Group Model Railway Exhibition, Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell, Derbys OCTOBER 16 & 17 Uckfield MRC annual exhibition, Uckfield Civic Centre, Bell Farm Lane, Uckfield, East Sussex.