Where It Begins

Now that Christmas guests have long-since departed the spare room at Himself's can return to its role as the training ground for the next generation.

Being something of a hoarder, like myself, he still has a large collection of OO stock amassed through the 70s and 80s before I was responsible for diverting our attention to modelling the FR, and the rest, as they say is history.

Once upon a time all this was part of an extensive loft layout complete with multiple aspect signalling.

Back in those days we were content to use SuperQuick card buildings and tarting up ready to models with a bit of paint detailing was as far as our modelling went.

It was a far cry from scratch building stock and assembling intricate brass loco kits, but it seeded a lifetime interest in model railways for me.

Many people would be rather sniffy about things like these old Lima models now - some of them are still used as the basis for Hornby's Railroad range - but if you're going to be playing about on carpet like this (never recommended of course...) then there's nothing better.

I was also reminded how once upon a time I raided a couple of Pullman cars for the table lamps for our Bodysgallen model....