The Sidings returns....

I ceased blogging a few years ago but with more time on my hands I've decided to have another shot. Updates may not always be as frequent as I'd like but they'll happen. As I write this in late February we are awaiting our "roadmap" out of lockdown, something which although of necessity has hit a lot of people really hard, financially and emotionally. 

I have many interests but the main ones are railways, model railways and classic cars, particularly Morris Minors. My own moggy is called Geraldine and she joined the family in the Spring of 2020. I've always wanted one and when she appeared in an online advert I jumped quickly to secure her.

She's been well cared for by previous owners but is not in concours condition, has a few blemishes but shows her age well. Besides, I use her as much as possible and although not my daily drive she is given a nice run at least once a week, more so when lockdown ends.  

My railway interests are many and varied but chiefly GW branch lines especially those of my native Gloucestershire. The Cheltenham to Kingham line and the Tetbury branch being my main loves. 

My model railway exploits are all in 3mm scale and so far portray fictitious GW branches set in Gloucestershire but all feature elements from real stations. My first exhibition layout, Foxbury made it's debut on the circuit back in 1995 and was retired in 2004 to be replaced by Dunkton Combe. Although fictitious, the name was a cross between Monkton Combe and Dunkerton, both on the old Limpley Stoke - Camerton branch of "Titfield Thunderbolt" fame. Dunkton Combe was sold to a fellow 3mm society member and still appears at model railway exhibitions. It's predecessor, Foxbury was however consigned to the tip, once all recoverable items were removed of course!

The next layout to be completed was Chipping Compton. This layout enabled me to fulfill a boyhood dream, that of having a layout featured in Railway Modeller magazine. The article appeared in the December 2016 issue.    

   The station building on Chipping Compton          

   

This layout was also sold to a fellow 3mm society member in order for it to have a good home as my own domestic circumstances were about to change. After a short hiatus from active modelling I gained a nice workshop once more and room for a layout. This enabled me to begin construction of a small branch line terminus which would use the name of Foxbury again.