Last week we found ourselves in the North West resort of Southport, there was a time when we were frequent visitors to a rather good Italian restaurant on the towns famous Lord Street, which is said to have inspired Napoleon 111 to create the tree lined boulevards of Paris, whether that is true or not I couldn't possibly say. But more importantly there is a splendid old fashioned bookshop just off that famous street which is well worth a visit if you are in the area. Its everything a bookshop should be, as you wander in its liking stepping back in time with floor to ceiling bookcases set against every wall. I asked if they had a railway and transport section and was directed upstairs to room six. Climbing the stairs we passed numerous old prints of local interest, framed maps and railway posters, numbered rooms lead off each landing each being dedicated to particular subjects which are listed on each door. Entering room six I quickly found the railway section and the first thing I noticed was a collection of old copies of the Railway Magazine and I mean old ones but leaving those aside I started to scan the titles of the good quality secondhand books that were on display. I found it all rather exciting as I began to search through numerous packed shelves, in the meantime my better half told me that she would be next door browsing in room seven, Heather is as bad as me when it comes to books and we both agreed that we could have spent all day browsing. I came away with this little lot for the sum of £19 which I thought was very reasonable given their condition, as for Heather, well she selected an old book on making Teddy Bears, which with luck should save me a small fortune because she collects those made by Steiff with a button in the ear.
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Bill Rear's books are superb and those two complete my collection, I have fond memories of the Corwen to Rhyl line as I spent many happy childhood holidays beside the station at Rhuddlan. Passenger services had ceased but the occasional goods train, more often than not behind an Ivatt tank or 2-6-0 could still be seen, if I remember correctly there were two or three camping coaches parked up in the rearmost goods yard siding. Jack Ray's book had been on my wanted list for a while but somehow or another I never got around to buying it. As for the book on the Mid Wales Railway, well finding that was a bonus because it was all but hidden from view. Though I admit to using Amazon from time to time nothing beats the sheer joy of browsing through a good bookshop as you never know what you are going to find. We chose a rather fine day for our visit so with the sun beaming down we headed off for afternoon tea in the nearby gardens and flicked through the pages of our purchases.
On the modelling front, well I've formed and painted the scenic shell for the diorama and have actually made a start on my Comet A44 driving trailer. So far I've prepared the sides, ends and underframe.
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If all goes well and I can stay motivated the coach should look something like this. These coaches were originally built for service in South Wales but by the time they had arrived on the scene DMU's were in charge. Some ended up on the Severn & Wye and I think others could be found down in Cornwall but I stand corrected? With a driving compartment measuring just 3ft 6 " deep and with no internal doors they certainly wouldn't have met current health and safety standards. Frankly I'm surprised that the rail unions didn't kick up a fuss about the driving conditions and safety or maybe they did and I never heard about it?
Bill Rear's books are superb and those two complete my collection, I have fond memories of the Corwen to Rhyl line as I spent many happy childhood holidays beside the station at Rhuddlan. Passenger services had ceased but the occasional goods train, more often than not behind an Ivatt tank or 2-6-0 could still be seen, if I remember correctly there were two or three camping coaches parked up in the rearmost goods yard siding. Jack Ray's book had been on my wanted list for a while but somehow or another I never got around to buying it. As for the book on the Mid Wales Railway, well finding that was a bonus because it was all but hidden from view. Though I admit to using Amazon from time to time nothing beats the sheer joy of browsing through a good bookshop as you never know what you are going to find. We chose a rather fine day for our visit so with the sun beaming down we headed off for afternoon tea in the nearby gardens and flicked through the pages of our purchases.
On the modelling front, well I've formed and painted the scenic shell for the diorama and have actually made a start on my Comet A44 driving trailer. So far I've prepared the sides, ends and underframe.
If all goes well and I can stay motivated the coach should look something like this. These coaches were originally built for service in South Wales but by the time they had arrived on the scene DMU's were in charge. Some ended up on the Severn & Wye and I think others could be found down in Cornwall but I stand corrected? With a driving compartment measuring just 3ft 6 " deep and with no internal doors they certainly wouldn't have met current health and safety standards. Frankly I'm surprised that the rail unions didn't kick up a fuss about the driving conditions and safety or maybe they did and I never heard about it?