Model trams haul

This was supposed to be a cheap show! So, how did I come away from it a couple of hundred quid lighter? Not money spent on cake either...

Dodging the smelliest person I have ever encountered at a show while browsing the TLRS second-hand stand, I spotted some 7/8th scale Groudle Glean Railway coaches in the corner. Making my way over to them, partly to avoid the stench, I whipped out my pocket ruler (we all have one don't we?) and checked that the wheels were 45mm gauge. 

Closer inspection showed these to be an average-built set of IP Engineering kits. I don't like the livery on the ends, and the woodwork could do to be a darker colour, but you know what? They are a set of coaches to go with my Sea Lion. I have a feeling there are kits in the stash, at least I hope so as they don't appear that often, but these are built. One needs a coupling pocket rebuilt on the end, but they are built. I could run them. 

After a little negotiation on the price, realistically, I was likely to be the only person after something like this I pointed out, and they were stashed under the stand. It's opportunities like these that mean I enjoy a second-hand stall more than any amount of shiny new stuff. 

Of course, these weren't the only weird things I picked up.

Atlas Lisbon tram for a fiver in its box? Yes please. I really must go back there, ride more and take plenty of photos. Manx Electric Railway supplement - can't remember if I have a copy but why risk it for a quid? It's a good read too. 

The books were a cash donation. Vauxhall Cars is for my Mum. I was born in Luton, and her dad worked for "The Vauxhall" like so many others in the town, and she remembers him owning many of the cars in there. Mr Whippy is because I like ice cream, and it's the sort of history that fascinates me. So far, I've learnt that their headquarters were down the road from me in Leamington Spa!

And finally.  

Impulse buys. The four-wheel railbus is one I've eyed up in the 009 Society cabinet a few times, but never really thought much about it. The other is just an interesting kit. Both for 1/3rd the price they would sell for on eBay. They always say you regret the things you don't do, and I'd have kicked myself for not picking these up. Maybe I was the only person in the hall who would have bought them, I'm sure I'm one of the few who handed over the money intending to build them. 

And yes, I know my kit stash is bigger than it sensibly should be. But each one is a little dream, and I can live with that.  

Sea Lion painting

OK, I'm a sucker for one particular Groudle Glen Railway engine. When I saw this painting of the best steam engine in the world on eBay, I managed to resist, for a couple of weeks. Week three, and £25 later, it was mine. 

The watercolour may be slightly "naive", as the art world might say, but there is a lot right about it. The proportions of the loco, and the perspective for a start. Distorted round parts are a mark of the less-than-able artist painting or drawing a steam engine. OK, hiding the wheels helps, but I don't think artist John Beckett has done a bad job. At least the rivet counters will have fun with the bufferbeam! I'm pretty sure the scene is near Lime Kiln Halt too, where a track comes down off the hillside. 

I can't find anything about Mr Beckett online, so I'm guessing he's a talented amateur rather than an important, named artist. To me, this doesn't matter if I like what he has produced, and I do. 

At 42cm x 34cm, and very nicely framed (the price is worth it for the frame alone), should I ever own somewhere suitable to hang it, at least finding wall space won't be too much of an issue.  

Book Review: Groudle Glen Railway Souvenier Guide

 

It's about Groudle, so therefore, brilliant. What more is there to say? 

OK, there is a bit more. This latest version of the guide, at 70 pages, is far more than a simple stock list. The text takes the reader from the earliest days of the Glen, and then the railway at the end of it. It introduces the steam locos, then their electric replacements, and exactly how badly those worked out. 

We go through dereliction, and gradual restoration before coming up to the present day.  

Only after this, do we cover each locomotive, including a few no longer on the line. All the stock gets a moment in the sun too, and that includes the all-important working wagons.  

My only worry, is that this is such a good history, it negates the hardback history that is also an impressive read. That said, it's perfect, and well priced at under a tenner, for the normal visitors the line attracts. If they read the contents, a little of the magic of my favourite railway line will be revealed. 

Only available from Flavel's Emporium on the line, so go pay a visit! 

Back to Groudle

With a bit of planning, our trip ran from Friday to the following Thursday. This meant I could enjoy a Wednesday evening visit to Groudle - handy!

Pride of the line, Sea Lion was running, and the early trains were well loaded.  

Of course, there was cake. 

A delicious gluten-free slice baked by Chris the Guard's wife. While I don't need to avoid the glutens, I like to try the stuff and send photos to my sister. However, no need this time, as I was packed off with an extra slice to take back to her, and she enjoyed it as much as I did!

While visiting the line both times, I also caught up with some people I've been chasing for Garden Rail articles. They were chastised for going on holiday, when they could be writing, but having done this, I'm wondering if I can put the whole thing down as a work expense...

The souvenier I can't get home - yet.

Regular readers will know that some time ago, I bought a side tank, and cab back from Sea Lion. It's my favourite loco in the world, the price was right, and so I couldn't resist. For a few years, thanks to Mike Buttell, they lived in Port Erin Railway Museum, but when the curators decided they weren't wanted in there any more, I was faced with the problem of where they should live next. 

I managed to get the tank back a couple of years ago, but this left the cab back on the island.  

Since we were staying in a superb, and highly recommended, cottage in Port St Mary, a couple of minutes from the goods shed the back is living in, I had a plan to bring it back in the car. 

A set of roof bars was purchased, the idea being that I could strap it up there for the journey home. However, measuring Sea Lion, I worked out that we could actually get the thing in the back. OK, a bit of a squeeze, but the Berlingo is spacious if you shuffle the seats around. 

So, I arranged to collect the cab on the Tuesday morning. 

At this point, we hit a snag. In my mind, I'd bought the cab back. A flat sheet of steel. What I'd forgotten is that this came with the sides and bunker.  

The guys helping me gamely tried to squeeze the thing in the back of the car, but it wasn't going to work.It might have gone in at an angle, but not quite. We'd probably have had to leave my sister there, although she would have been happy to stop with the donkeys at the Rest Home for Old Horses!

As for the roof bars, well they are rated at 75kg, and this cab back is f*cking heavy. Even if we could have got it on top, there's no way I fancied a trip down the M6 with the thing up there!

So, back it went into the shed, and I need to formulate a new plan. A hired van would work; I just need to take a deep breath when booking on the Steam Packet website, where they seem to expect you to buy them a new ferry for transporting you over the water!

Sunday morning at Groudle Glen

A couple of weeks ago, my Mum, sister and myself, spent a week on the Isle of Man. 

We wanted to show my sister some of the places that meant a lot to my Dad, and obviously, one of those was Groudle Glen. 

We struck luck with the weather the whole week, especially for the glen, as the overnight rain saw everything looking very green in the daytime sunshine. 

Reaching Sea Lion rocks, I took the opportunity to stand on the same bank Dad and I stood on back in 1993. Then, there wasn't much to see, other than the track. When the train departed, we wondered quite why it seemed like a good idea to hang around in the drizzle, in the middle of nowhere. It did though, and we revisited the spot many times afterwards!

Fortunately, there is now an excellent cafe. Sister was delighted to find gluten-free cherry cake on sale, which both she and my Mum scoffed. In memory of Dad of course... 

I opted for a vanilla slice, but Dad hated custard, so Little Brian wouldn't look at it!

Saturday Film Club: The Origins of Groudle Glen

Why is the Groudle Glen Railway the best in the world? 

It's not just because of the trains, even though these are the best in the world, it's the whole package. The Glen was once a major tourist attraction, and this video provides loads of history as well as the chuffy bits, so sit back and enjoy. 

Then book your trip to see it for real later this year... 

Groudle Glen Railway

 

Now for the jewel in the island's railway crown - the Groudle Glen Railway. Easily the best in the world, and home to the greatest steam loco, "Sea Lion". 

Two visits this year. The first was in the morning of a rare all-day session on the Wednesday. This was very busy thanks to a weather forecast promising heavy rain at lunchtime. Trains ran as often as possible, and full. And fast. "Otter" was in charge, and the driver was rattling along, faster than I recall travelling on the line!

We headed out to the cafe for tea and cake, with the return behind electric loco "Polar Bear" which had been pressed into service to ease the strain. We managed to leave just as the first spots of rail arrived. I suspect the afternoon was quieter, but reports after the event said it had been the busiest day anyone could remember - good news for the line's income!

If you follow the GGR Facebook page, there have been many impromptue videos published as they get ready for the day's operation. For both my Dad and I, these were a bit of a lifeline over lockdown. A chance to see our favourite railway, even if we couldn't visit. 

Chance was taken to thank the chairman for these, and later Alex Brindly who films them, which resulted in a quick tour of the sheds along with a few funny celebrity stories. Guy Martin visitied on the quiet, and was due to have a steam ride along the line - then he saw the two Hudswell diesels, and shot underneath them, completely in his element!

Sunday's return trip was for the extravaganza, when all the locos would be running. We enjoyed a trip behind diesel "Dolphin" at first. A proper trash, as the hill might not be steep, but it is long. Challenging for a small loco on a well-loaded train. 

Three decades ago, I stood on this bank and watched "Sea Lion" run around the train and take it back to the main station. Once it left, the scene was desolate. Rails, a station sign, and nothing else. In the years after, the site as been rebuilt, complete with the excellent cafe. All the rolling stock has been rebuilt, replaced or heavily refurbished. It's here, more than anywhere else, that you notice the changes over the years. 

We managed a couple more rides, finishing with a special - double-headed "Sea Lion" and "Brown Bear". It's alway tough to tear ourselves away from the Groudle, but this provided a perfect finish, and definite high-point for our week. One day, we hope to be back. 

 I'm gradually uploading extra photos to Flickr. 

Saturday film club: A ride on the Groudle Glen Railway

All being well, as you read this, I am on the Isle of Man enjoying the enthusiasts events and (probably) dodging the rain. 

With that in mind, what could be better than a ride on the Groudle Glen Railway? 

Accucraft Sea Lion

I recently read on Facebook, someone complaining that their feed was full of people on model railway groups posting the latest thing they had bought and it was getting boring. Well, today I'm doing just that.

This is my latest purchase - a 7/8th scale live steam model of the Groudle Glen locomotive Sea Lion.

I don't care if it's boring. This is far from the usual parade of Hornbachpol models you'll see elsewhere.

Saving for this model has taken my father and I the best part of 4 years. As soon as it was announced, I ordered one and so we had a goal to work to. Excess stuff has been sold on eBay and other odd bits of cash have gone into the account to raise the sum equivalent to nearly two Mulberry handbags (can you tell I write chick-lit?).

In the cab you can see all the controls. A chunk of the purchase price is taken up with the factory fitted radio control system. Manual control is an option but if you care buying something special, you might as well tick all the options. Besides, it's more fun than crawling around trying to furckle in the cab one a ground level line.

The model is lovely. Yes, it's not finescale perfect but compromises have been made because it has one advantage over your plastic chuffer - real metal and a belly full of real steam!

This model is available from Track-Shack.