NEWS UPDATE: SUMMER 2007

After so much ‘Look at me, I’m a building site’, parts of the Compton Down Railway are almost becoming respectable at last. The old windmill location how hosts curvy stone walls; the main part of which now has the church – St Britneys – standing on it. The original pond is now fishless – and has been built up higher to look like a disused quarry. During the summer I will experiment with building an abandoned quarry, complete with ruined buildings and abandoned machinery – and then flood it again. All splendidly eccentric – but fun.

It was with much relief that the last of the current tranche of heavy building work was concluded. Indeed, anything that follows in the future will be much less strenuous. But even that is some way off. I intend that this summer will be spent running trains and pure modelling. There is just so much I want to do and so many ideas to be tried out. One little folly currently being indulged in is building a 16 axle torpedo ladle wagon for the steelworks. I don’t really need one... but simply fancy the challenge.

There is enough completed now to make visits to the CDR worthwhile. The SM32 line is complete and visiting engines are welcomed. Email me at the contact address to make arrangements. I have already had a steady stream of fellow enthusiasts sharing my garden with me. All very nice too.

NEWS UPDATE: Spring 2007

Everything seems as busy as ever. Following the sad demolition of the windmill, the area it occupied is being turned into a further raised area - the principle featuree of which will be a turntable and a fan of tracks for SM45. The 0.16.5 layout 'Abbey Ducis' is being rebuilt. The low surroundings to the central pond meant that a Heron was getting amongst my fish. So this is all being raised up. Along the back of this area, I am taking the opportunity for a seperate project.

I shouldn't really be doing this but I am putting in a 20' length of Plateway track - a waggon way that has flanged track. Rolling stock wheels are flangeless of course. I have made the 'gauge' such that a conventional 3.5" gauge loco would sit on the track. In years to come I can indulge myself in experimenting with all sorts primitive railways. But for now it is just a question of getting the basic infrastructure built, whilst the rest of this area is being developed. Overall, I am looking forward to many more adventures on the CDR this summer.