Warehouse Wednesday: City of Birmingham Electric Supply 1920

 

Head up to road level from Bournville station, and this is what you find. A 1920s substation, from the days when "The Corporation" handled electricity. 

What a beauty it is too. OK, the various extensions don't add anything to the look, but at least the building is still doing the same job it was built for - even being upgraded a few years ago.  

Younger readers may not understand just how widely the tentacles of the local authority once spread. Nowadays, everything is chopped up, and sold off, but once, the council was seen as a benevolent body that looked after the local area. People actually cared who their local representatives were. When this place was built, people were proud of their construction, and intended it to last a very long while. I wonder if they expected it to be doing the job a century later, though. 

From a modelling perspective, putting the name of your fictional council on the end of a building like this would help the viewer form an idea of where the layout is set. This isn't a complicated building either, as the view on Streetview shows. 

This is why my collegues think I'm weird

Sometimes, work post for me goes to the office, and has to be forwarded on. At Doncaster, my boss handed me a jiffy bag that had just arrived in sunny Bourne. 

Inside the packet was this. A Beatties carrier bag, and a postcard.  

On the back of the postcard, it just says "Phil. One for your collection" - so I don't know who to thank, but I really appreciate anyone taking the time to pack a bag up, and pop it in the post. Even if the people I work with think I'm odd. 

It was not the only bag from the show though. I couldn't resist Anorak's Anonymous's new one. 

 

I know someone is going to shout "AI slop", but I think it's fun. Now, where's my bobble hat...

Doncaster haul

Did I come away with anything from Doncaster? Yes, but if I'm honest, there wasn't much to grab me, as I keep reminding myself that I DON'T NEED ANY MORE TOY TRAINS!

But, the rules are, you must exit a show with something. So, on Sunday, I had a wander. This isn't a problem, as I mostly look for weird stuff that no one in their right mind wants anyway. 

 

The North York Moors Railway produces a couple of amusing signs, and Tea Junction made me chuckle. My walls are full, but a fridge magnet-sized version should fit, and give me a smile while working. 

The slim (20 pages) book is a biography of Norman Cave, who worked on the railways and looks to be something written by a friend. For a quid, I decided it was worth a look - I have soft spot for local publications that almost certainly sink without trace. However, stuck in the back of this book is a letter from Norman's widow, adding a personal touch. 

 

Not everything I came away with was on a trade stand. The excellent Nick Midgley has delivered me another project. 

A 16mm scale, 3D printed model of Dolphin from the Groudle Glen Railway! He has partially assembled the loco, but I can take it apart again so the surfaces can be smoothed off. I'm looking forward to this one. While the steam, locos get all the glory, Dolphin and Walrus saved the line, providing motive power in the early days after the restoration, so they deserve a bit of love. Can I complete this before heading to the island this year, to bring model and prototype together? 

The Festival of British Railway Modelling 2026

 

If the model railway hobby is dying, then no one told the good people of Doncaster. This was one busy event!

I was told at breakfast on Saturday that pre-booked ticket numbers were well up, and the first person was in the queue at 8am, 90 minutes before the doors opened. Plenty of people paid on the door to. This leads to a few complaints that the hall is too busy, but most people seemed to manage, and really enjoyed themselves. Sunday was easier, as it always is, better for layout spotting, if not bargain snaffling.

I spent both days talking to people on the stand while my colleagues sold more subscriptions than last year. Trade overall was up, another good sign. 

I did manage to get around and look at layouts, carrying out seven photo shoots this year. I can honestly say there wasn't a duff model on show, something confirmed by commenters online. A good mix ensured that there was something for everyone, especially if you liked the big roundy-roundy Grantham. It was next to our stand, and despite its size, there weren't any gaps along the barrier on either day. 

Of course, I'm a small layout fan, so the winner of "Layout Phil would like to build" goes to the excellent Forge Island. 

Alex has produced a superbly detailed scene, with excellent weathering. It's tiny, the scenic area fitting into a plastic box. You'll have to wait until later in the year to see my photos, but I can assure you, the wait will be worth it. 

There is a second prize for "Layout Phil has already built sort of" which goes to Offerston Quay. 

This 7mm scale model is based on my old BRM project Ruston Quays - and it's superb. Well detailed and with the added joy of working, radio controlled road vehicles. The top level is controlled by a laptop, rather than the shuttle I used, but it does the same job, keeping the station active while the lwer level Inglenook is shunted. Have I photographed it? Not yet...

But enough of the layouts, what about the cake I hear you cry.  

Elaine's Trains came up trumps with something special, peach melba, complete with cream. I would like to point out that I consumed the smallest piece, as I wanted to save space for dinner. Fish'n'chips and mushy peas, followed by knickerbocker glory. 

Again, I need to point out that only one of these is mine. The other, and the sherry triffle, belonged to other people. I could have been tempted, though, as these were really good!

All in all a really pleasant weekend. Yes, I know it's my job, but I enjoyed myself, and hope everyone else did too.  It's good to enjoy the atmosphere of a really busy show, 

Saturday Film Club: Gauge1 live steam & electric model locomotives

Just some Gauge 1 locos thrashing around a track. Nice camerwork, and some very impressive models. Makes me want to get out and steaming again.