well filled baps The Sheep Chronicles. The adventures of a Sheep, the Works Forecat and the Works Apprentice, George.

[Winslow Boy]

5 hours ago, chuffinghell said:

Ewe will be assimilated…

…resistance is futile!

 

 

Would this be in a galaxy far, far, far away.

[Winslow Boy]

1 minute ago, dseagull said:

Spotted on Facebook...

 

 

Where are the hot cross buns to go with it.

 

No good without the buns!

[Schooner]

8 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

G'wan, you know you want to - makes a nice change.

 

 

Those little light shunting engines are all very well, but what about mainline traffic...?

 

Edited April 10, 2023 by Schooner
Joke's on me - taken 6hrs to realise it's a photo of a model. Bravo!

[Graham T]

You'd need rather a hefty space to have a prototype length US freight train, I think...

 

[mullie]

6 minutes ago, Graham T said:

You'd need rather a hefty space to have a prototype length US freight train, I think...

 

Not on a short line. 

 

Martyn 

[NHY 581]

I think the main problem I have with American railways is simply that I cannot identify with them.....at all. 

 

Everything I model has struck some sort of chord with me, be it an appealing loco or stock, buildings, tracklayout, sometimes the scenic side of things...Something has lit that light bulb. It has never happened with American prototypes, even short lines. Joking aside, I'm more likely to  model a European branch line such as those in France, Germany or Czechoslovakia. 

 

It just takes one image, that's all.....and all too frequently, that's exactly what happens...

 

Rob

 

 

[MrWolf]

7 hours ago, chuffinghell said:

Ewe will be assimilated…

…resistance is futile!

 

 

That's what I'm talking about!

 

Did you find that online or have you too much time on your hands again?

[MrWolf]

8 minutes ago, NHY 581 said:

I think the main problem I have with American railways is simply that I cannot identify with them.....at all. 

 

Everything I model has struck some sort of chord with me, be it an appealing loco or stock, buildings, tracklayout, sometimes the scenic side of things...Something has lit that light bulb. It has never happened with American prototypes, even short lines. Joking aside, I'm more likely to  model a European branch line such as those in France, Germany or Czechoslovakia. 

 

It just takes one image, that's all.....and all too frequently, that's exactly what happens...

 

Rob

 

 

 

I get that whilst I'm fascinated by the engineering, the terrain crossed and the folklore attached to the American railways I don't have the connection that I do with those of the UK.

Besides, when I started out with model railways, the price of American and European railway models simply ruled them out.

[John Besley]

I modeled an American Shortline back in the 80's, then found the thought of missing a Bullied too much ... and saw the light - however at the time the way model railroads where built, painting of stock, scenery etc was streets ahead of this country ...

 

We've come a long way since those days

[SteveyDee68]

21 minutes ago, MrWolf said:

Did you find that online

I do hope so … altogether too gruesome to think it might be in any way … real!

 

😳

 

PS

Last week was watching the newborn lambs frolicking in the fields, many of them with what looked like plastic bags on them. I assume these are some kind of cover to protect them when first born, but my immediate reaction was to think that farmers had somehow got them to be born pre-packed ready for “TESCO” or “SAINSBURY” 🤭

 

HOURS OF FUN!

[Schooner]

1 hour ago, NHY 581 said:

I think the main problem I have with American railways is simply that I cannot identify with them.....at all. 

This. Although, every now and again I come across something which fires a neuron or two of curiosity to explore further, eg

 

 

V much the rule-proving exception though.

[NHY 581]

9 hours ago, Schooner said:

This. Although, every now and again I come across something which fires a neuron or two of curiosity to explore further, eg

 

 

V much the rule-proving exception though.

 

 

Morning Louis, 

 

There are always exceptions.

 

Despite the subject matter, I really, really like this chap's modelling. American shortline modelled by an Australian. 

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cih_Mu-o5pR/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CiYC70bLqWU/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

 

That's the kind of standard I'm hoping to get to

 

 

Rob

Edited April 10, 2023 by NHY 581

[NHY 581]

And this is worth a watch........

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClKdHlqu5gs/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[NickBrad]

That is so atmospheric, exactly the type of thing that attracts me to US stuff, (alongside my W&U fascination). 

I think if you keep looking at stuff like that and find a 44 tonner loco at the right price, there's hope for N-ewe Sheepton in the future yet ;)

[AdeMoore]

3 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

And this is worth a watch........

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClKdHlqu5gs/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

You seen Boomer on YT Rob? eg https://youtu.be/at-cbTI8OLU top bloke great Canadian modelling.

 

[Oldddudders]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-65128574

 

 

[keefr2]

13 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

That's the kind of standard I'm hoping to get to

 

 

To my eyes you're not far off Rob.

 

Your standard is what I'm hoping to get to. One day...  🙂

 

Keith

 

 

[MrWolf]

This picture by Tim_1522 on Flickr is my personal memory of American railways and a summer spent working with some of the nicest people I have met at General Motors, Wentzville, Missouri.

 

[Schooner]

Lucky you! Those double-stack car wagons remind me of ill-advised track-hopping short-cuts home from the pub during a winter spent working one of the yards (ship-, not rail-) at the arse end of San Diego The dulcet tones of those late-night shunts were a particularly evocative lullaby...

[MrWolf]

This is the business end of them:

 

A long way from a "MOGO"!

 

General Motors 

 

It's a pity that GM couldn't get the Aero right:

 

National Railroad Museum 

[Siberian Snooper]

7 hours ago, Oldddudders said:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-65128574

 

 

 

Never mind the wellies, she could give me some therapy any time she likes!!

 

[Siberian Snooper]

On 09/04/2023 at 20:13, Winslow Boy said:

 

Where are the sheep.

 

I saw a few in Oregon this morning, is that any good??

 

Not seen anything, that provides modelling inspiration, since I landed on the wrong side of the pond. Some outstanding scenery, though!!!

 

 

[NHY 581]

Morning all, 

 

I think most modellers have a "non-British" interest which would divert them from their "British interest", however multi-layered that "British interest" is. 

 

As I mentioned earlier, I've never had that spark ignited by American stuff. Some of you fine types may well recall that I do have a modest collection of Czech or to be more accurate, Czechoslovakian stock. 

 

One day, I will get on with building a small layout set in 1985-89, located in South Bohemia. It's as much for the Memsahib as for me as she grew up in that period, in that area. Yes, I'm married to an actual  Bohemian. 

I've travelled on a few branch lines and minor lines in that area and they're fab. Even in that era, we had crumbling buildings, weedy track and well weathered locos and stock. That ticks all the boxes for me. The locos themselves were quite appealing as well, which helps a lot. 

 

The stumbling block is that of space, even in HO. Czech stations, be it a modest BLT or the small intermediate jobs are a series of loops. I'd therefore look for a minimum length of about 8 to 10ft for the scenic area alone. That's something that Château Sheep cannot accommodate at present. The lack of such an area may well be reviewed now that we have secured a place for the Memsahib Minor at our Comp of choice,  rather than the catchment area Zoo. Had we failed then we were looking to move if all else failed. Drastic but we really wanted the M.M to go to what we hope is a decent school. We are now more inclined to invest in adapting the attic or providing a room within the garage to become an expanded Room of Doom. Neither are going to happen straight away.........but it's more on the cards than previously. 

 

In fact, this year so far has been a series of events none of which could be seen as bad, but some of these have impacted/are impacting more than others and which may well account for my inability to play with trains. No excuses but life really has taken over. Not a "friendly supportive" situation ( please don't !)........... just happens and far away from a moan about it all, in fact there's s lot of positives going on. It's life, that's all.  Which perhaps explains why I've been a bit scattergun as of late, well, more than is usual in these parts. 

 

However, what focus there is rests on SWAG Members day now under two weeks away so much to do in the meantime. Do come along. It's a nice day out. 

 

The SWAG Members day for 2023 is scheduled for Sunday 23rd April. 

 

 

 

 

Rob. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mullie]

Life does indeed take over,  family always comes first.  We have had an  'interesting' few years, this year has been no different so far.  Positives and negatives as you say.  Keeps you on your toes, life is never dull. 

 

Martyn

[Gedward]

These last six months have been my longest holiday TBH. And although I'm loving my new rural surroundings and the long walks, a far cry from Beckton, East London.

I simply can't wait to finally get into my new railway / studio room and get back to working on Bovey Quay. But who knows when that will happen?

 

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to meeting many of you at my first SWAG in a couple of weeks.

 

Edited April 11, 2023 by Gedward