Turning up the Wickham

 Just to put a positive spin on the Amberley visit. I would point out that if you are in any small way drawn toward industrial railways it is the place to visit; there is just so much stuff sitting around to photograph. Here a two foot gauge ex MOD Wickham trolley. This is problematic as I do have in the box a Nu-Cast kit for same. The addition of a shortened Kato tram mech would look like a smart move.

Amberley Museum

A trip out to Amberley Museum on Sunday. The first time I'd visited as a paying punter as opposed to exhibiting. Something was different and I can't quite put my finger on it. Was it the sunshine? Or has the whole operation become a little too complex for the volunteers available? Has it lost some of the elastic band and string feel that gave it its charm before? That's not a criticism - nice weather lots of stuff running around and some interesting models, but the vibe had changed.

Clockwork Bagnall

Trawling through the archive of prints turned up these out of a set of four or five. As this is a bit of a Bagnall season. This is the 240 Bagnall Polar Bear as seen, I think, after its basic restoration. Taken at Amberley Museum at least a decade ago. Looking at the photos it's interesting to see how much the site has changed. This shot of Martin Smith with key, out side of what (then)was one of the two small loco sheds.

These are tiny locos and this is worth bearing in mind for anyone modelling the loco's home Groudle Glen's 2' line or the Rye and Camber's 3' as the locos were fairly similar in shape and size.

More Listers

As requested a few photos of rail Listers, all taken at Amberley early 90's.

These as far as I'm aware are the 30" wb version. I have now found a GA drawing of the 20"wb without the central weight. Not sure that it would reproduce well on here though.

Garn fitting

Now that is showing my age.

Since Amberley last summer I have planned to beef-up the fascia mounting on Garn. Today it got done with the help of my glamorous assistant. I sawed, he screwed. The magnetic catches were taken off and new lumps of 2x1 were fixed. Then holes were drilled through both the new timber and the gallows arms to take 6mm bolts. This makes for a slower break down, but a sturdier fascia. Now if Phil Savage waves his arms around he'll just knock the whole layout on the floor. Sorry Phil. Kiss, kiss...

Amberley

A trio of shots from today at Amberley where 'Garn' has been showing itself in the 'Hove Booking Office'. The first shot is of the Groudle Glen railway Polar Bear. This surely needs a caption... suggestions?
The bottom two are of Garn's Falcon 'Miles'. A mix of Chivers kit and scratch plasticard on a cuckoo chassis.
Lots of people came and said hello including two of the bloggers on the list to your right and a lovely chap who has been inspired to build buildings from individual card slabs... fool.
One of the Sussex Down Group demolished the Garn's facia; he will remain nameless but looks like Phil Savage. And while on the subject of all my old friends in the SDG: Tim complained about this blog site for not having the information he required about Garn.