Steam Railways

[mangerton]

Not about steam trains but this seems a suitable thread for a geeky anoraky posting!
BBC4 9pm tonight, programme about model railways, The Joy of (Train) Sets. (not that I ever had one but I once went to a model railway exhibition in Chippenham which was totally fascinating)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01q9vhy

Yes, I have set my machine to record this, as I had firstly a Hornby clockwork and then electric railway. I'll wear my geeky anorak too, although (Anna please note) duffel coats were the garments of choice for many trainspotters.

For the avoidance of doubt and smart remarks, I did not get the electric railway just after electricity arrived in Scotland.

mercia, thanks too for the news about the Welsh railways. I'll make a note to watch.

[Anna]

Yes, I have set my machine to record this, as I had firstly a Hornby clockwork and then electric railway. I'll wear my geeky anorak too, although (Anna please note) duffel coats were the garments of choice for many trainspotters.

Saly and mangerton's replies confirm I am not totally weird regarding railways! I intend to do nothing this evening but to have a veggie pasta meal, start my new book (another Ian Rankin) and watch the programme. My two elder brothers didn't have a train set, but I inherited their model cars, garage, etc., but I did love my farmyard set. I was torn, at the time, to become either a car mechanic or a sheep farmer raising orphan lambs in the Aga.

[Resurrection Man]

Saly and mangerton's replies confirm I am not totally weird regarding railways! I intend to do nothing this evening but to have a veggie pasta meal, start my new book (another Ian Rankin) and watch the programme. My two elder brothers didn't have a train set, but I inherited their model cars, garage, etc., but I did love my farmyard set. I was torn, at the time, to become either a car mechanic or a sheep farmer raising orphan lambs in the Aga.

Is that the new Rebus one, Anna? I've just started it....definitely up to par!

Has reference to this model train site been made yet ? http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/

Sadly I only had an electric train set sent to me by my grandparents in America....not our gauge at all and so never really developed. I did play around with the idea of a N-guage layout with lots of hidden points and a micro-processor controlling it all. So you never knew what train was coming out of which tunnel or what route it would take. Then I realised that I was getting about 75% enjoyment out of the design, 20% from the build and 5% from actually running it. Some friends had a model train layout at their rented house but the landlord was a bit miffed with them as they'd knocked holes through the walls about 4 ft up in the air and ran the track all the way around the house!

[salymap]

Is the programme on Welsh railways the same one as the Blaenau Ffestiniog one that I wrote about some way back on this thread please ?

[mercia]

Is the programme on Welsh railways the same one as the Blaenau Ffestiniog one that I wrote about some way back on this thread please ?

not sure, to be honest SM - the first two programmes are about the Welsh Highland (is that BF ?), the second two about the Beeching cuts

[Vile Consort]

Has anybody been watching Dan Snow's series about the Locomotive?

What did you think of it?

[Mr Pee]

Has anybody been watching Dan Snow's series about the Locomotive?

Haven't watched that, although I do enjoy Michael Portillo's "Bradshaw" series, both the UK version and the European excursions he made last year. (Nice work if you can get it!!)

[mangerton]

Is the programme on Welsh railways the same one as the Blaenau Ffestiniog one that I wrote about some way back on this thread please ?

I'm almost certain it is NOT, saly, going by the online blurb.

[mangerton]

Is that the new Rebus one, Anna? I've just started it....definitely up to par!

Has reference to this model train site been made yet ? http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/

Sadly I only had an electric train set sent to me by my grandparents in America....not our gauge at all and so never really developed. I did play around with the idea of a N-guage layout with lots of hidden points and a micro-processor controlling it all. So you never knew what train was coming out of which tunnel or what route it would take. Then I realised that I was getting about 75% enjoyment out of the design, 20% from the build and 5% from actually running it. Some friends had a model train layout at their rented house but the landlord was a bit miffed with them as they'd knocked holes through the walls about 4 ft up in the air and ran the track all the way around the house!

I have had the new Rebus book in the house since November, and I'm ashamed to say I haven't read it yet. I'm glad to hear you give it a good review. I have read all the others.

Great landlord story. Your friends' behaviour seems reasonable to me.

I've had a quick look at Wunderland - looks wunderbar.

[mangerton]

Saly and mangerton's replies confirm I am not totally weird regarding railways! I intend to do nothing this evening but to have a veggie pasta meal, start my new book (another Ian Rankin) and watch the programme. My two elder brothers didn't have a train set, but I inherited their model cars, garage, etc., but I did love my farmyard set. I was torn, at the time, to become either a car mechanic or a sheep farmer raising orphan lambs in the Aga.

Oh, not weird in the slightest. I had model (Dinky) cars too.

As far as lambs go, you just seem to cook them now. Had any good tagines recently?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm almost certain it is NOT, saly, going by the online blurb.

The Welsh Highland Railway is quite the finest of all narrow gauge lines.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

programmes about Welsh railways next week

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0178f9d/broadcasts/upcoming

or perhaps they're repeats

First shown in 2011 according to the link - but I missed the series then (if it was ever shown east of Offa's Dyke) and I'm thoroughly enjoying it now, so thanks for the nudge. Terribly sad how so many of the original volunteer enthusiasts died before the project was completed, though.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The Welsh Highland Railway is quite the finest of all narrow gauge lines.

It is quite exceptionally beautiful, indeed.

[Roehre]

The Welsh Highland Railway is quite the finest of all narrow gauge lines.

And certainly in combination with the Ffestiniog railway
In summer the view from the train the first couple of miles of the WHR from Caernarfon is reduced by the trees and woodland surrounding the track upto approximately Waunfawr. From there, passing Rhud dy, Beddgelert and Nant Glaslyn to Porthmadog, it is simply gorgeous. Switch trains in Porthmadog and then the train to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
For railway fanatics and those who love rough, mountaineous (Welsh) landscapes an unforgettable experience.

[Nick Armstrong]

Not about steam trains but this seems a suitable thread for a geeky anoraky posting!
BBC4 9pm tonight, programme about model railways, The Joy of (Train) Sets. (not that I ever had one but I once went to a model railway exhibition in Chippenham which was totally fascinating)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01q9vhy

Saly and mangerton's replies confirm I am not totally weird regarding railways!

I caught this programme about model railways at last, yesterday. Fascinating programme, couldn't take my eyes off it. I had a modest Hornby set when little, loved my Britannia loco



and cool Pullman carriages. I also had one of those early Diesel engines in green, but even though I wasn't 'into' railways, I could tell it was plain and functional compared with Britannia with its very cool side panels at the front

That said, apparently I went nuts waving at the Royal Scot (and getting a wave back from the driver) as I peered over a railway bridge when small (very small - I see they went out of service by 1965...).

I found the old footage on the model railway documentary, of real engines steaming and roaring along, most exciting!



It only remains for me to say: