From Miniature to BIG

There sure is something to be said for O gauge models when you see this level of detail, of course the downside is the amount of space you would need to create some sort of layout is enormous so for the time being my collection of these are limited to display models - which of course is fine as they suit that very well also. I also intend to try to add the odd wagon or whatever every month or two. One idea I may play with is the idea of a layout along shelving high up on the wall. I remember seeing some Thomas O gauge (or was it G gauge?) setup and running just like this in of all places a sweet shop when I visited Wales some years back. Basically it was a big loop going round the whole of the shop area, I could sort of replicate that by putting a large oval round a room on shelving and running a train round it when I feel like it. Definitely something to investigate at some point although the fear of a de-railing incident is something to be concerned about!

In the meantime, look forward to the next batch of nuts, bolts, screws and rivets as I'm sure any new wagons will offer this. I particularly like the 'private owner' coal wagons as there is a massive selection of different wagons in all sorts of colours and carrying various owners. I think you can actually find some collectors who just buy those and nothing else trying to build up a massive selection of the wagons. Myself I'm not going to do that, but just pick up a mixture as I go to make for some nice variety. If you're wondering why I picked that particular wagon first, after all there are some far more colourful/detailed livery ones out there, its quite simple really. I was born in Croydon, Surrey where the owner of that one is nominally listed on the side of it - I must be getting sentimental in my old age lol!

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Incidentally taking those pictures was actually handy as I noticed when looking through them that the guards van does actually have a small problem.  On the side facing the camera you can see a small hole on each upright post at the end of the cabin, there should be fitted there small 'lamp irons' (used to mount rail lamps on when in service to designate various things).  You can see the lamp irons in the back ground of the picture poking out from the uprights on the other side, if I'd not taken and studied those pictures I may not have noticed.  Having done so I've got on to the supplier to see if they can send me spares to fit them myself rather than having to send it all the way back to Sheffield!