Project no.2 - Wooden Flat Wagon

In June I joined (re-joined actually) the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association (7mmNGA) at their annual exhibition in Burton-upon-Trent and purchased a copy of the society's 'Going Minimum Gauge' handbook.

A wooden flat wagon is one of the modelling ideas… Using a Peco N gauge wagon chassis and a handful of those wooden coffee stirrers that every railway modeller I know squirrels away by the handful.

Given that my 'Project no.1' will need something to pull and that my box of potentially useful bits and pieces contains both a suitable chassis and numerous coffee stirrers I'm going to build one, something along these lines…

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway 'Top' wagon, Irton Road Station, 10/7/14

This is one of nine four-wheeled wagons used by the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway's permanent way department. Eight of the wagons have removable bodies (tops) for ballast carrying (as seen above).

Railway Adventure - L.T.C. Rolt

After yesterday's trip to Expo Narrow Gauge I'm a bleary-eyed bundle of aches and pains today and will be resting up with this for company…

I suspect that most people reading this will be familiar with the book but just in case, I can do no better than to borrow the following quote from the website LTC Rolt, writer and engineer

"Railway Adventure is a very full and fair account of the first two years of the world's first successful take-over and restoration of a moribund railway by enthusiasts and volunteers. The main object of the book at the time was, of course, to help publicise and assist the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society’s cause. In this it succeeded…"

Although e-books are increasing in popularity I still prefer print for many reasons, not least that you can use an old railway ticket as a bookmark! (I noticed recently that Mrs. B is currently using an old Paris Metro ticket in that very fashion…)

Also on my beside table is something I picked up yesterday for the princely sum of £1 from The OO9 Society Members Sales and Recycling Stand.

There's no obvious date on it but I'm guessing late 1950s…