October 2024
Things are somewhat quieter now after the show in September. However, work is already underway for the next year’s show. Make a note of the dates: Saturday and Sunday 27/28th September, 2025.
During October, yours truly was invited to the Silk Mill Museum in Derby to see behind the scenes at the O scale model railway that is one of the exhibits there. The layout portrays the Midland Railway in the early 20th century before the first world war.
It has been in exisitence for many years and is now on its 6th incarnation as improvements are made and the layout is expanded. All the structures are scratchbuilt and based on actual prototype buildings, both railway and non-railway.
An excellent model, well worth a visit. The rest of the museum is worth a visit anyway as it contains many railway artifcacts, including historical items and more recent items from the Railway Technical Centre in Derby.
Here are some photos from the trip.
The first thing that greets you as you approach the museum is this wonderful mural of peregrine falcons. The museum is opposite Derby Cathedral which has a resident pair of falcons.
As you enter the building, there is this:
An “exploded” Toyota car suspended from the ceiling!
Some views of the layout:
Some photos of other railway related artifacts.
Once again, our photographer, Spike has been out and about. Here are his latest photos.
Photo 1. With the previous night’s northbound sleeper service cancelled and the need for the stock in Scotland for that night’s southbound service sees the rare sight of sleeper stock at Stafford in Daylight, GBRF class 92 No.92043 brings 3Z11, 10.01 London Euston to Polmadie ECS sleeper stock through Stafford on its way north. 02/10/24.
Photo 2. Autumn time brings out the leaf busting RailHead treatment train which very quickly get very dirty, GBRF class 66 No.66701 and 66752 reverse at Stafford while working 3J01, 11.52 Kings Norton to Bletchley circuit. 23/10/2024.
Photo 3. LNER A4 No.60007 Sir Nigel Gresley passes Stafford and opens up through the Station after crossing from the fast to slow lines just south of the station while heading home from the Bluebell Railway working 5Z98, 10.46 East Grinstead Sidings to Crewe. 23/10/2024.
Photo 4. Rail Operations Group class 37 No.37608 at Colton near Rugeley Trent Valley working 5M57, 09.53 Carlisle to Derby R.T.C, heading back to base after delivering some mk3 HST trailer to Scotland. 26/10/2024.
Photo 5. Still carrying its original livery applied 25 years ago on delivery (except for the removed EWS logo)DB class 66 No.66028 passes Rugeley Trent Valley with 6O16, 11.32 Ditton Foundry Ln to Dollands Moor Sdgs. 26/10/2024.
Photo 6. Racing north with 1S69, 13.30 London Euston to Glasgow Central service, Avanti class 390 Pendolino No.390009 overtakes DRS class 57 No.57304 and class 68 No.68013 on the 0K69, 09.31 Wembley Lmd to Crewe Gresty Bridge as they approach to Rugeley Trent Valley. 26/10/24.
Photo 7. GBRF class 66 No.66701 and 66752 pass Rugeley Trent Valley with 3J01, 10.30 Kings Norton Ot Plant depot to Bletchley RHTT. 26/10/2024.
Photo 8. The new order on the WCML have now started to enter service, here Avanti Bi-mode class 805 Evero No.805010 and 805008 race through Rugeley Trent Valley with 1A58, 14.32 Chester to London Euston service. 26/10/2024.
Photo 9. DCR Class 60 No.60028 approaches Rugeley Trent Valley while hauling 6Z90, 14.50 Leicester Humberstone Road to St Helens Ravenhead sidings sand train on the 26th October 2024 which had originated at Middleton Towers, Kings Lynn.
Photo 10. LMS Jubilee No.45596 Bahamas races past Elford loop, near Tamworth, while working 1Z29, 10.34 Derby to Stratford-upon-Avon Vintage Trains Shakespeare Express charter. 27/10/2024.
That’s all for now. Don’t forget the date – 27/28 September 2025.
