I have joined a delightful (and local!) model railway club - the Erith Model Railway Club (details here). The level of modelling on show is of a high standard and varied in subject, which is lovely.
They also have a couple of test tracks, and it meant I could fully test out the types of train I intend to run on my new layout. Here is no.17 Silver Fox - ever the stalwart of the A4 fleet - testing out a nine coach train of teaks.
There was some embarrassment when no.103 Flying Scotsman (still in the process of being built) failed spectacularly with a bent coupling rod.
That rather put a crimp on my day as I had intended to run one of each of my main Pacific fleets!
So the Wolf got another run out instead...with a slightly longer nine coach instead.
...and we have some video to show for it! The remarkable haulage capabilities of my sole Thompson A2/2 did not go unnoticed. I'm very happy with the hill climbing capabilities too!
The club itself has a friendly atmosphere and a cosy, well lit location. I'm very much looking forward to going back there in the next week or so with another, different, test train.
Lastly, there's been a huge advancement in the writing of the follow up book in The British Railway Stories...
...to the extent where I have two copies of the book, ready to send to our artist, Dean Walker, and to a mutually interested party willing to help me edit it together. This should help avoid some of the errors seen in the first book!
I am very excited by Great Western Glory. The themes and stories within draw on a lot of real history, and we get to meet characters old and new throughout. If you loved meeting Stephen in the last book, you will enjoy meeting our new "Star' even more!
Of course, she will be a little grumpy to begin with...!
Until next time.
2 comments:
Is Silver Fox towing a 1935 style tender there? I can't quite tell if the beading is there or not, but the front of the sidesheets seem to be too straight for the 1928 ex A1/A3 type.
At the time of making no.17 I didn't have a 1935 tender, and the 1928 tender top from the Great British Locomotives collection was handy to partner the loco with.
I do now have a 1935 tender to partner her with and will do so at the earliest available opportunity.
The tender I have here will go behind another A4 instead :)
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