[alastairq]

I agree with Gary...and have said as much before in these pages, and others.......we are incredibly LUCKY in this particular day and age, of having such a choice of possible CURRENT prototypes to chose from.

Back when I started putting wheels to rails, the prototypes were simply what we saw, or went before. The preservation scene was very much in its infancy.

But today it offers a perfect foil for the 'tother' side.....the preservation scene isn't simply about 'running what you feel like'.
There are incredible options for detailing basic stock, either 'as found', or 'nicely renovated', or various combinations in between.

I have an idea for a shelf layout, based upon the TYPE of operations seen at Grosmont, on the NYMR....particularly with its 'interchange' with the 'real' railway.
Quite simply, a 'curved' track through a platform, with today's banked ballast style, plus today's DMU sets, running to and fro.....all in the background.....with the foreground as the preserved side.....maybe not even the whole platform length......with trains arriving, departing, swapping of locos, etc.......plus lots of light engine movements....watering up, etc....with older [chaired?] track....perhaps the road crossing......then there are the training course trains...either light engine, or with the prepared 'goods' train?

so plenty of variety....and the possibility of actually replicating actual stock (and movements)...rather than 'freelance'...

the only downside to preserved action, is the actual lack of working 'goods' operations.....that is left to the strictly modern stuff.

now for my netwrok Vitrains #37..perhaps detailed as a loco undergoing preservation? plenty of rusty, missing panels, yet mechanically working well, so utilised for the season?

or a sulzer day?

There's the 08 working fresh coaching sets in and out....

a pity there is no Bachmann or Hornby GWR 2-8-0 tank.......or lambton 0-6-2.....which my wife so thoroughly enjoyed firing and driving?

Preservation offers somthing very different in terms of operation, to the 'other' side.....without much 'suspension of belief?'

 

[alastairq]

or going that 'one step further?'

making one heck of a garden railway?

 

[alastairq]

ought to show a replica paint job (with incorrect size numbers) #37.....similar to the Vitrains one....entering Whitby last year.....

 

[alastairq]

QUOTE And wouldn't that make a model of Grosmont that much more interesting!)

Imagine sound-equipped locos, BLASTING their way up the steep gradient into Goathland?

talking of Goatland.....surely the most appropriate prototype to go with one's 'Hogwarts Express'?

especially as, Hornby (Scaledale) have created buildings/fittings modelled on items from the NYMR?
(footbridge??)

 

[alastairq]

QUOTE In the films the warthogs express runs along the West Highland line. They seem to be determined to include the Glen Finnan viaduct in every film.

but...the station scenes at Hogwarts /Hgsmeade, were filmed at Goatland station....

 

[alastairq]

its the same with 'Heartbeat'......I recall coming across the filming at Goatland church of, I think, a wedding......in the episode, a low key affair...in reality, the crowd surrounding the spot resembled something found outside football grounds on a saturday afternoon!

Somehow, the programme, fine tho' it is, doesn't match my memories of life in the area around that time......I recall driving a United Automobile Services BU single decker around Goatland area, 1974/75ish.....

 

[alastairq]

ah yes, the 'HAnts' line..with the only REAL Thomas on the go...the one thatturns up at York didn't for one moment fool my 8 year old son!

 

[alastairq]

so..preserved railways have at last legitimised our freelance efforts?

What I do find amazing is that manufacturers haven't followed the route of producing more of those locos/stock to be found on the [bigger] 'preserved' railways?

Surely given the popularity of such lines, even from a laypersons' viewpoint, models of 'what has actually been seen' seem to me to be a good seller?

Especially considering most young folk won't have actually 'seen' many of today's offerings 'in the flesh'....yet they prove popular sellers.....and not just with the 46+ age groups?

 

[alastairq]

perhaps a bit of up-front info on the packaging might not go amiss?......I suspect many money-laden folk who visit actually don't know a K1 when they see it....to have the link made via the packaging might help ease the money out of the wallet?

Also, it aint always the big glorious engines that folk find lugging the train they're on......I'd still like a rtr model of a Lambton 0-6-2T!