The layout developed sufficiently that it was exhibited several times. After Bodmin Mike started a smaller P4 layout he called Pen Till using the stock intended for Pen Mill. The car spent most of its time on the drive. Mike had a modern house in Potters Bar with a built in garage barely big enough for a car let alone a decent layout. It was basically his pipe dream, much as Brimsdown was mine for many years. Regarding Mike's plans for Pen Mill, I'm afraid that is as far as his project ever got.
Regarding the Triang clerestories, I remember seeing numerous articles in the model railway press during the 1960's detailing various conversions people had done with them. That is not to say that I like the layout any the less, I wouldn't have spent so many hours helping to keep it going if I hadn't. My total contribution to the rolling stock was a Ratio brake van and an ex Heckmondwike Ratio LMS box van. There were enough true GWR devotees in the group for that. In truth I made a far larger physical contribution to the group's previous layout Heckmondwike (LMSR) than I ever did Bodmin. Because I have been involved with the North London Group's Bodmin layout for so long people tend to make the not unnatural assumption that I must be a fan of the GWR (although something must have rubbed off). When it comes to things Great Western, I have to confess that I am speaking largely from a position of ignorance, my true allegiances lying somewhat further east. Referring back to an earlier post, short Dean bogies were 6'4" wheelbase (I had to look it up but 6'6" didn't sound quite right) and they always looked rather odd to me under a passenger vehicle. Do you recall just how big it was going to be?
If Mike was planning on building Pen Mill in P4, he must have had a very large space. Good to hear I’m in such exhaulted company with the clerestories. My friend Mike Sargent who was hoping to build a model of Pen Mill in P4 produced a couple of decent looking coaches that way and they still do valiant service on Bodmin. I sometimes wonder just how many of those Triang clerestories were butchered in an attempt to produce something reasonable, it must be hundreds if not thousands.
There is a Mallard 57' railmotor kit on Ebay today - bidding starts at £99.00, now where did I put my three unbuilt ones ?Ĭlick member name to view archived images view images in gallery view images as slidesĪndrew Duncan wrote: Tony W wrote: Hi Andrew. I would be happy to have some of your kits but you won't get them back I assume the moulds are in Somerset but would be better off with somebody would could get the kits back on the market.