Perc

I've just showed Angela your post, and pointed out to her that it is true, but it's all down to the training she's received over the past 34 years! When I started spotting, the 56s didn't exist, let alone the 58s, 60s and 66s. MGRs were hauled by 47 3xx or class 20s, and from what I saw in Toton yard, peaks too. I lived down in Staffordshire in those days and my observation was MGRs to Rugeley or Ironbridge. The 56s and Westerns are my two favourite classes, probably because the Westerns were being withdrawn when I started spotting and a little later the 56s were built. It was exciting going round Doncaster Works and seeing their construction and the Sunday trips seeing the new locos at Shirebrook, Westhouses and so on. I live near Le Mans and the weather is similar to the south of England, although perhaps a few degrees higher. I'd love to get something going outside, we'll see how things pan out this year, it's a shame to have stuff packed away in boxes.

Hi Mick, I'm not very computer literate so not sure whether I write in 'quote' or where I am now. We'll see. My interest in railways started in 1974 but it was my younger brother who really got into modelling at the end of the 70s with a Zero 1 system. (I did have a Hornby Dublo layout in the 60s.) When I was living in Cornwall at the end of the 80s I built a simple circuit around the living room in our rented flat, but even before it was finished we moved and it was packed away. Some years ago, when finally settled, my mind turned to building a real layout but when I saw the price of locos I put the idea aside. My brother's layout had mainly Lima locos and at the time they cost about £12! For Christmas 2012 my brother, sister and mother got together and bought me some locos, wagons and a basic DCC controller. My brother also passed on his old track and stock. My wife's comment was, "This is going to be another of those occasions where your family's generosity is going to cost us a fortune!" And she's been proved right. We're renovating a house in France and the only place available for a layout was the walls around the bedroom and my wife accepted that as a tempoary solution. Over a couple of years I built a double track with station, a couple of siding and engine shed but alas, at the end of 2018 it had to be packed away as the room was to be gutted. When the roof on one of the outbuildings is re-done I'll have a large area to build a layout, but also, I'd like to build something outside. I found this site (thanks to my wife) when trying to find out what type of track to use for an outdoor layout. However, I've really enjoyed reading about your attic layout, especially as over the years I've been picking up MGRs as my layout must have a couple of rakes, memories of my days spotting at Lichfield Trent Valley and seeing trains operating to and from Rugeley power station. Here are a few pictures of my last effort. The circuit did get finished (although not the scenery) and I was able to operate trains. Some sections are in store waiting for the day they can be put back together. Perc.

Hi, I'm new to the site and have whiled away my Sunday going through your posts about Skew Bridge from beginning to end - very insprational, thanks. I love the couplings you're putting on the MGRs and don't think you're crazy at all, although you may be once you've finished doing all those wagons. Perc.