[Mike Pyers]

I certainly have enjoyed your postings and have certainly found much to inspire me, not least your sense of humour. I would also add that I would never post praise if I didn't mean it - if I can't find a reasoned comment then I won't post on the thread, and there are layout threads here that I could have happily posted "that's c**p".

Hi Tony
Obviously I have missed something so could you enlighten me why you are leaving as I totally agree with Britho`s statement above regarding your thread. Totally enjoyable reading, unlike some threads that are posted.
Kind regards Mike

 

[Chinahand]

Whoa Tony. What happened ?

I've always looked forward to your GVR postings and was really looking forward to seeing it being revitalised after the big clean-up. Maybe even a few new storylines to rival the elephant droppings one. As for your recent postings showing your 1970s hand-built locos, well, I think Richard summed it all up so I didn't want seem condescending by just saying the same thing over again.

Please don't deprive us of all the Goonery.

 

[tank engine]

Please reconsider Tony, Your wonderful layout and your narrative, describing its building and history and extracts from your own interesting past have been enjoyed by over 11000 visitors to your forum site, It would be a sad loss for us to be deprived of your experience and humour because of a very few tactless comments. Enjoy with the vast bulk of the modellers on this forum your experience and the sharing of ideas and humour with them. Regards to you and the GVR. Derek.

 

[Brian Considine]

I can only endorse the other members Tony - I've certainly enjoyed your contributions - hope to see you again soon.

This has been an excellent thread so far - & approaching 12,000 views.

Does anyone here know how to contact Tony direct ? - I'm sure he will reconsider when he realises his support & popularity.

 

[LetoII]

This is a shame, I had actually just taken to reading this thread from the start whenever I can and am quite taken with the background information and the obvious passion you have for the hobby. As someone who has no real knowledge of railways I find your posts both entertaining and enlightening in a very accessible way. I am also very impressed by your scratchbuild models, both scenically in the form of houses and the rolling stock/locos. I sincerely hope that by the time I have read the thread all the way through there will be more installments. Please keep up the posts

Dave

 

[10001]

Hi .

I have noticed that over the last few days there have been quite a few "views" to this thread, which if I may say so is quite gratifying.
So I presume that there is still some interest in the Goon Valley Railway.
I have also noticed that this thread has disappeared off page 1 of this forum and has been relegated almost to the bottom of page 2 which is excellent as that means that there is a lot of good work going on on member's work benches.It also means that the G.V.R. might be a little more difficult to find.

By posting this message the G.V.R.will be bumped up to the top of page 1 thereby returning it to a more readily accessible position enabling would be viewers to enjoy (or otherwise) the journals of my part of Goonshire.
Cheers,

 

[Chinahand]

Hey Tony.

Good to see you're still keeping an eye on proceedings.

Have there been any new developmennts on the GVR. How did Rodney & Charles react to the F1 result on Sunday ??

Incidentally, did the scouts ever get their ornithology badges for their study of that family of Parus caeruleus caeruleus ??

 

[10001]

Hi Trevor
Rodney and Charles did not react very favourably at all.
The Boy Scouts , bar none , got more than their ornithology badges.

I'm still working on some new developments on the GVR. It may have something to do with sheep and you know how New Zealanders are fond of their sheep.

Thanks for your interest.
Cheers

 

[Chinahand]

QUOTE (10001 @ 17 Nov 2010, 01:36) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Rodney and Charles did not react very favourably at all.

I suppose the only consolation is that the car is built in Milton Keynes and Alonso didn't win the championship.

QUOTE I'm still working on some new developments on the GVR. It may have something to do with sheep and you know how New Zealanders are fond of their sheep.

That did worry me a little

but I look forward to it with eager anticipation. Just so long as there are no penguins.

 

[10001]

Spring is almost a past season here in the village of Bluebottle ( where the bluebells grow). So it was a few weeks ago, when,with camera in hand I could not resist taking a picture of this beautiful drift of bluebells in the village High Street.

Later I received an email from my good friend Moriarty with an attached similar picture of , not French nor Spanish , But true blue English bluebells, called En Francais Clochettes.

With the fast approach of the northern winter we hope you like our pictures

 

[Chinahand]

It's nice to see a touch of Summer. Everything in UK gardens is dead now.

Seeing how healthy your plants are I think I know where all those elephant droppings ended up.

 

[LetoII]

Hi Tony, thanks for re-enlivening the GVR.I did, as previously stated, maange to read your thread from the beginning and it's a superb layout that you should justifiably be proud of. Thanks for the reminder that my garden is a mess by the way

I look forward to subsequent posts

Dave

 

[10001]

QUOTE (Expat @ 19 Nov 2010, 10:33) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Seeing how healthy your plants are I think I know where all those elephant droppings ended up.

No Trevor ,by the time I got to Greenslade bridge Fred Flange had flogged every bag full. So I had to use pelletised sheep poo. Good stuff it is too. Probably left behind by some of those sheep I was talking about before !!

[quote name='LetoII' date='19 Nov 2010, 11:04' post='165051']
Hi Tony, thanks for re-enlivening the GVR.I did, as previously stated, manage to read your thread from the beginning and it's a superb layout that you should justifiably be proud of.

Thanks for your kind remarks Dave . Glad you liked the thread.

Regards

 

[10001]

Southern Railway West Country class 21C123 Blackmoor Vale on an express made up of Maunsell coaches
approaches Eccles Junction.

LNER Cless O4 No 6190 on a short freight passing through Eccles Junction on the down relief line is about to rejoin the main line.

Ex SR Battle of Britain class 34081 92 Squadron with Pullman Goonshire Belle leaving for the south.

Rebuilt Patriots. 45531 Sir Frederick Harrison leads 45540 Sir Robert Turnbull ( in experimental British Railways apple green
livery) starting their climb up to Min Tor at the head of a London train made up of ex LMS coaches in "Blood and Custard "
livery. These should be in chocolate and cream (a la GWR) but will have to do until they are due a repaint.

Out in the fells,BR ( 2nd Express blue livery) A4 60012 Commonwealth of Australia pounds towards the summit below
Min Tor at the head of an up express comprised of 9 Gresley coaches in crimson and cream.

The Jubilees, Neptune and Vernon, on a down express, about to cross, the freight only line at Ellington Goods yard.

 

[Chinahand]

Hi Tony,

Some great shots of your locos there and I like the double headers.

Have you been doing something to your backscenes ? I don't remember seeing the Fells before.

It does look quite good though. Very bleak and lonely.

 

[10001]

Thank you Trevor. The incline ,where the Patriots are , is quite steep.in fact the steepest on the train set . When new the Mainline locos couldn't manage hauling any sort of train up the hill without double-heading . Nowadays they have all improved beyond recognition and run quite well but I have gotten to like double-heading so much that these engines and a couple of Royal Scots and two pairs of Jubilees remain paired together.As spotters we always got excited on seeing two engines for the price of one .

The backscenes have always been as they are in the picture and the Fells have always been there but as they are on the upper main line they are not often photographed . The small bridge carries the bridle road over a stream and waterfall which tumbles down the cliff and ends up near the shop in the village of Greenslade below( in the photo) , near to where Rodney and Charles fly their flag. I see I shall have to find my track plans or draw another set for showing on the forum.

 

[DaveR]

I think we have to like this thread. It's a mandatory requirement!

Even in my yoof (diesel times) we got excited about one loco dragging another. Just out of interest how many coaches are your double headers pulling?

 

[Brian Considine]

Nice pictures Tony - thanks for posting them.

 

[83A Models]

Thanks Tony wonderful photographs, brings back many memories, keep them up.

Mike & Helen

 

[10001]

QUOTE (DaveR @ 14 Dec 2010, 07:16) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I think we have to like this thread. It's a mandatory requirement!

Even in my yoof (diesel times) we got excited about one loco dragging another. Just out of interest how many coaches are your double headers pulling?

Hi Dave . There's nothing mandatory about liking this thread . If you don't like it be upstanding and say so. If there is something you like about it, swallow your pride and say so ! ( beware --- I'm not keen on 'stream of consciousness' postings) I have,and run quite a few diesels on the Goon Valley Railway ,( surprisingly I have over 60 diesel locomotives). One is even named in honour of the Goon Valley Railway's Chief Mechanical Engineer.( that's me!!) What about you??? Loll. I acknowledge that diesels are a part of Railway History and should be treated as such. It is a pity that some juvenile so called enthusiasts can't be similarly disposed towards the older form of traction and its supporters.
In my yoof ( as you so in-aptly put it) there was never a case of one loco dragging another . Both pilot engine and the train loco crews worked in unison and maximum effort was achieved. Most often communication between engine crews was done by whistles,. That should give something to chortle about.
But to answer your question , my double headers (DC control of course) manage 9 coaches up my inclines.( 1 in 38 to 1 in 50). There is no need to try any greater load as longer trains will not fit in my platforms nor in my passing loops.

Regards