ebay Mike’s expedition THE PICTURES. - Just the pictures please.

[dunnyrail]

MinMike had a lovely visit to the 16mm gig at Peterborough and has a Garden Railway visit planned for today. I will post the pics as I can in the next day or so. I have been finding that making a long post can create problems with editing later when I find something spelt wrong or perhaps just plain not correct. So his visit yesterday will be in 6 parts of 4 pictures each.

On entering the hall the first thing that took MiniMike’s interest was the Moty selection. This Garden being particularly impressive. A1

Having seen that the Landmarks display of Lockdown Projects amply show many of the things that kep people sane during lockdown. A2

Inside the main hall MiniMike got up to one of his well known old habits of Bunking a Loco Shed, here on the Gauge 1 stand was a very impressive GWR Live Steam City. The owner of the loco gave MiniMike permission to be here as did all the layout and Stall owners/minders. Ridings/B13

There were a couple of Modular layouts presented by members of the 16mm, this was Modular 2 with a Pub that MiniMike had to visit of course. Strange that the Pub had no name, perhaps it is located in a Welsh prohibition Village.

 

[dunnyrail]

Ffordd-y-deryn was the next layout to be visited, well that was the Station named, this was another of the 16mm groups layouts. Looks like the Tardis may have made a turn to some decidedly different time and location zones.

Modular 1 was the next layout to be visited with this very impresive set of live plants on display, some being perfect Bonzai specimens.

The Tardis again made a wrong turn and visited a Mini Zone where the trains appeared decidedly small. Hadley, Stoney Brook 7mm/n16.5 Narrow Gauge. Complete with pub that he had a jib to squeeze into and the measures were decidedly mini sized!

Mike then decided to pose in front of the latest Mamod offering. This Steam Tram is a very nice looking Loco, but I think the width may be responsible for ploughing some odd line-side detail on his line if he purchased one. MiniMike was however suitably impressed. Y6

 

[dunnyrail]

Moving on, Mike next visited the lovely lady at Saddletank Books. Her little stories with cutouts for the kids look to be a real inspiration and ideal to get those kids involved. Y5

Right next door was the 7/8ths group. Mike was a little bit concerned about the very large bods seen here so quickly moved forwards. Y4

Mike the found a locomotive that he would die for, a model of a 2ft Gauge Lawley 4-4-0 tender engine on the Accucraft stand. This he feels is one of those locomotives that looks ‘just right’. Y3

Having had a small model and commercial interlude a layout was deemed in order. This was the G Scale Society stand with a very interesting British looking locomotive present. Clearly some kind of a bash or repaint.

 

[dunnyrail]

Saed-y-Park station on the Dixon Green layout caught his attention. He was firmly told not to say the Station name backwards!

This brought him close enough to Boot Lane Works to admire the 3D printed equipment available from this enterprising supplier. Though 32mm gauge track all 3D printed and very nice models to boot. R6

There were a lot of superb Trains to be enjoyed on the Cape Gauge Stand.

A FR Fairlie entertained MiniMIke on the Pentre Layout.

 

[dunnyrail]

The guys on the All Change at Chirk stand were very accommodating, offering Mike a ride in the Glyn and Brake Van perambulating around the layout. He insisted I take 2 pictures here.


He then had a look at the Kew Bridge Layout.

The Garden Rail Stand has been an interesting exhibit for a few years now with Phil creating an actual Garden Railway in the hall complete with real plants. G11

 

[dunnyrail]

This Micro Layout shows just what can be achieved in a small space. Mike thought that this created with LGB R1 track could fit in the smallest of Gardens.

Melin Llechi followed a very Welsh Slate works type of theme with some very effective scenery Mike thought.

Was good to meet Northsider busy driving a Battery powered CAEDONIA on the Isle of Man 15mm Groups stand. Battery or Live Steam appear to be the tractive power of this group. Mike really must get a High Viz vest if he is going to have trains approaching him from the rear! R4

Finally Mike just had to show the latest offering from Roundhouse. None other than a Darjeeling Pacific. He imagines that many will be lusting for one of these superb models.

 

[dunnyrail]

Wow an interesting day, MiniMike even appearing in adverts on the Forum now!

But in other news he visited a Gauge 1 Garden Railway today, no G scale involvement but great interest nonetheless. Mike admiring the Terrier with a G1 Deltic behind, this was also Battery DCC beast. No yellow vest again, bad boy.

The Terrier after its run with the Mk1’s takes on water and coal.

Mike even allowed Dunny to run his Gauge 1 Terrier that comfortably managed 4 Mk1 Bogie Coaches with ease. Mike was well impressed.

 

[casey jones snr]

Excellent pictures Jon. Thank you for posting them.

 

[Ralphmp]

Excellent pictures Jon. Thank you for posting them.

Yep, some great shots. Particularly like the Deltic!

 

[dunnyrail]

Mike had a day out at the Bluebell Railway (BR) yesterday. His first sight was this G scale Railway with both G and Gn16.5 trains running round a simple set of tracks. The owner was allowing kids to operate the trains, much to the young ones delight while queuing for tickets on the BR. The LGB loco was controlled by a Fosworks setup with Battery and Rx in the first coach, the Gn16.5 via an HnM Controller powered by a pack of 8 aa batteries. Very cave man setup.


Further down on the BR at Sheffield Park Mike had a trip round the sundry smaller layouts installed in the Loco Shed. Then view the varying locomotives dotted about.



As ever Beer featured in the requirements, clearly after the one empty one Mike had had enough!


Big these West Countries when you are only little.

Departing for another trip up the line Mike viewd the Hall on loan from Quainton Road for the weekend.

 

[dunnyrail]

Having gone back to East Grinstead we went back to Kingscote to enjoy 40 minutes peace soaking up the atmosphere at a quiet country station.


Mikes final view of the Hall at East Grinstead.

Another day, another Railway or two enjoyed.

 

[dunnyrail]

I took Mike over to Brambleton yesterday, I had intended to go the week before but trains let me down. They also dis yesterday so I went by car instead as it was a strike day.

First up Mike made an inspection of the 2 superb Steam Up bays. They have it well sorted here.

No railway worth it salt will not have an extension planned or in progress. Mike examines the next stage of the 16mm scale 32mm trackbed.

Then it appeared appropriate to view inside the Steaming Bay covers. Here he found an external fired Roundhouse loco and a Railcar that had started life as a biscuit tin.

Sadly no biccies in the tin.

Then he just could not stay away from this superb Garrett.

 

[dunnyrail]

Then out and about to see some trains first on the 16mm scale 32gauge line.

Then on the 7mm scale 32mm gauge line.

With many thanks to the Brambleton Crew for letting Mike look around this superb site. I believe that they are having another open day in September, well worth the visit if you can make it, even though they do not have our track gauge present.

So I think unless I can get to another line or two in the next week or so it will be time for Mike to move on to pastures new from Dunny Towers, he has been a great guest. curtis has PM’d me with an offer for Mini Mike to visit the Channel Islands while Summer is still present, so hopefully ebay mike will be happy with this.

 

[Paul M]

Jon, unfortunately a lot of the WHAGs were at a privately own garden railway opening day yesterday, but you are right, it is a lovely place to visit and normally you'd have the added ambience of the noise from the 1:1 scale layout!
I've PM'd you

 

[dunnyrail]

What I think may be the completion of Mini Mike’s stay with me. I had hoped to get him to Northsider before he laft but curtis has offered him a trip to the Chanel Islands that he is wishing to proceed with. Perhaps he can return St.Neots direct to Northsider then move on to pastures new.

But first he had a busy day on Friday traveling by Train to York. At Peterborough he saw these rather nice trains, first a Stadler Bi-Mode unit waiting to leave on a train for Ipswich, then a class 91 Lecy on a train to Kings Cross. Sadly we had to suffer a Satsuma on our train to York. I am not prepared to waste my camera bits on those abortions.

Whilst waiting for the NRM to open at 1000 Mike enjoyed a quick visit to Monk Bar Model Shop where a few bits of G, then some bus spotting was in order.

Once in the NRM some iconic exhibits had to be looked at.


Then we hunted for some Narrow Gauge and Industrial. The worksplate is for the little black industrial that a guy I knew when I lived in York was instrumental in getting preserved. 2 similar beasts of similar age have thus been preserved happily, the other one came from a closed Quarry at Wirksworth now served by the Ecclesbourne Railway

Then we moved into the best part of the Museum IMHO, the store where the Lancashire and Yorkshire staff training railway lives. Yes the track is Gauge 1.

 

[dunnyrail]

Still at York.
Then we hot footed back to be met by Dave for a day of Timetable running on his small but perfectly formed 16mm/32mm line. This line in a modest garden has in effect 2 loops, one across the lawn being used to gain mileage and serve a quarry. The track is laid out very carefully with sprung and electrically switched points to allow trains to use each loop. This is very cleverly utilised by the timetable to give a mind pummeling session with 2 freights, a loco hauled passenger train and a railcar all battery radio controlled. Wagons are directed by using colored magnets attached to small tin label places on each wagon. The 4 locations each have a different colour. During the sequence the ballast freight runs from Forest Green (the main station) to the quarry siding for a wait to be loaded before returning. Effectively the easiest of the 4 turns on the line.

Arriving at the line Mike was met by some well known characters.

He then of course needed to check out the talent and hunt for a pint.

This small local station was a nice place to watch trains passing.

A ride in the Railcar was in order.

He then inspected some of the other infrastructure on the line, the Station at Lakeside has a rather nice buikding and warehouse. This station is due to be renamed as the lake (well pond) has been removed, my thoughts were 2Drains. Whilst Forest Green has the loco facility with a rather sad moribund Blue Diesel present. The Roundhouse product behind the brake van is in rude health and was working the passenger train during the day.

Finally Mike met some nice guys to have his sins forgiven. The bit of old ruin was a happy find by Dave at York Market.

 

[dunnyrail]

Mike‘s final jaunt for the day was a trip to Royston to visit P Paul M ’s line. A line that he had previously visited. No matter a few quick pics I hope are still in order. With thanks to Dave and P Paul M for a super and long day out.

As ever up to his old tricks with beer and ladies.

Perhaps theese horse shoes may give him better luck with the ladies?

some other interesting buildings to be found.

Mike always likes to look round the Signal Box.

Then a train ride in the newly constructed Brake Van and a rather fetching loco.

That concludes Mini Mikes stay in the nits visiting local and some not so local lines. If you would like MiniMike to visit your line please PM me or post in the thread below where I will try to help co-ordinate as well as I am able to.

https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/ebay-mikes-expedition.315970/

 

[Paul M]

A Grand Day Out!

 

[PhilP]

Has anyone heard from the 12 inch to the foot, eBay Mike?
His contributions are missed..

 

[Gizzy]

Mizzy and I have just caught up with this thread. She is pleased to see Mini Mike is still enjoying his travels....