petes blog

What did I set this site up for? Well thanks to all of you who contribute as my aim was  to help share information,  not just about models, but also on the real thing. I always find there is someone who knows more than I do. Take the LMS 12T wagons – thanks to Mark Smith who took the time out to give us chapter and verse on the drgs we posted, and point us in the right direction. Thanks to him and a few other “Railnuts” we will be able to produce a better model.  The same goes for the Class 22 as Fred has found an old boy who knows them well and is digging out some photos. Again this will result in a better model. If we are to push our models forward we must work together – things must always change as a hobby that stands still gets passed by.

I’m about to get involved with what should be the worlds biggest 4mm layout , so for the first time in years I’m working with 00 models,  and yes they’re a lot better than when I was building Acton back in the 70s in EM. Even in this guage some things haven’t changed which has made me look harder into the research side. What I can see straight away is the old thorny question – train set or model railway?  Box collectors or people with a passion for railways?  This site was set up for people with a passion for railways who want to share it with fellow enthusiasts and improve their knowledge. We never set out to be the most popular site but this month we are the most visited railway site on the web.  This is  fantastic news so lets keep it up and by helping others and then you will ultimately help yourself.

The photo …….I just like it!

Ok , after lots of nudges to look at the Class 22, there are a couple of things I will need to find. As far as I  know I have all the NB Drgs available – you may have more. However I do need cab shots of both ends. Over to you guys.

Early days but I had to show this  pre Telford to show what we’re up to.  This should be ready for Reading in Dec. We will be doing both 10′ & 12′ wheel base

Hand built by Paul Mason. Still a bit to do.

When we at Just Like the Real Thing started to look at 10000 and 10001 we did not quite realise what we were letting ourselves in for. I therefore was shocked today the 19th of August to see an ad for a 4mm model that would cover all their history. I then read the spec that went with the ad. There is no way that one version of this loco will do the job. We do four very different kits to cover them and even we dont cover all the models. These locos were almost hand built and can be split in to two groups 10000 pre 1957 and post 10001 as built and post 58.  The two bodies are very different, as are the roofs,  both under went major changes with the fitting of water pick ups in 57/58.  These locos are not about black or brunwick green, large or small logos. The FIA train 4mm model is wrong. Its always easy to announce a new model, however doing the reserch that some of these locos require is a different thing. We take our research very seriously and sometimes it can take years, but then we know we have got it as close as we can to the Real Thing.

Is this a first locos of my own company on my layout. Waterman Railways Class 20s Built by Alex Carpenter and painted by Conrad Cooper.

Hi, this time lets get your input  – these are the LMS van we are about to do. Can you tell us if you know there’s anything we’ve  got wrong and what Dia numbers they are. A Dia 2090 B. Dia 2088 BR 1/2088. C Dia 1897. D Dia2097  BR 1/200

I popped down to Bridgnorth to see their new platform lamps.  Monday saw me at Crewe  – locos everywhere. The Class 37 is a project between DRS and WRHT Apprentices  is about to start……. more about it later.

I just thought I’d pop over to a bridge just outside the station to see what the timetable was like. It was 4 o clock in the afternoon. First shock – they run in to the station at very high speed which made taking photos a bit hit or miss. Second shock – there were trains everywhere. The station is about the same size as Euston but thats about it. There was a move every 20 seconds, and that did not include the Shinkansen as this line was under the one I was watching. When I get back I will put the pics up. Before Network Rail moved when they were located in the Euston Tower I stood with Iain Coucher watching the trains leave –  he always thought that we should double the amont of trains we run out of Euston. Iain – I’m with you as I now see what can be done. I went back at 6pm and there were about 20 trains a minutes, with two local tracks with just 15 secs between trains ! Cor Im now 28 floors above the station NOW this what I call a Train Set !!! County Hall watch out.