A catch up....where to start?

Ok so here are some posts I have been meaning to get around to sharing for almost 3 months! My life has recently been consumed by learning the ropes of my new role as RPI at CrossCountry Trains as well as the Christmas period which always sets me back (not just in £££ either!)
Not to hesitate any further here’s a quick look at the Newcastle & Districts Exhibition back in early November 2011.

Sunday 6th November

Just a quick hop down the road to Gateshead International Stadium on a quiet Sunday morning, me and my Grandad went to see Newcastle & District Model Railway Society’s Annual exhibition. I only managed to take a few snaps of my favourite layouts as the battery on my camera was low…that’ll teach me not to forget to check them before I leave! Although in all honesty not the greatest of Exhibitions, there was still enough to check out in the 90 minutes or so we were here. One of the most poignant moments of any Model Railway Exhibition also happened here, as via radio being played over the hall tannoy, we stood and paid our respects to those who have fallen fighting in the Great War and unfortunately still do to this day. Remembrance Sunday at a Exhibition was surreal….the whole hall fell silent, all layouts came to an abrupt halt as we stood, heads bowed in complete silence for two minutes.

Here are the pics I managed to capture before I was paying respects to my battery life……

Until next time.....

Model Railway Exhibition

I've been really busy at the moment with work giving me very little to blog about, however, with the Bank Holiday Weekend upon us, I am happy to say I will be attending the Blyth & Tyne Model Railway Club's Annual Exhibition held at The Parks Sports Centre, North Shields (see here for their website) I'll be visiting with my Grandad on Saturday and hope to catch Chris Heath, who's blog you can find here.
Until then, here's a few pictures that managed to slip the net whilst uploading my photos of my Railway Adventures in and around the Lake District in July. I actually took them whilst visiting the South Lakes Zoo. It's a short 7 1/4 inch miniature railway that runs parallel to the Tiger Enclosure. The train is 50p per ride and all monies raised goes to a charity that ensures the survival of some of the worlds most endangered species of Tigers.

Steam loco 'Guillaura' with a 0-4-0ST+T wheel arrangement awaits it's next

service in the loco shed at the end of the line.

Diesel Loco '4' with a 0-4-0PH wheel arrangement built in 2001

The raised level section which allows better views
into the tiger enclosure

Two of my favorite things in close proximity, Trains and Big Cats.

Until next time.....

My New Timetable

With impending Model Railway Exhibitions coming up, plus a few adventures planned, I've decided to make a timetable of forthcoming events to attend.

First off is the weekend of 9th/10th July with the Hartlepool MRC & Hornby Live event, held at the Wynyard Rooms in Wynyard Park, Hartlepool, followed by a weeks break in the Lake District where I'll be once again visiting the Ravensglass and Eskdale Narrow Gauge Railway and also my first visit to the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.

August sees the return of the 'Flying Scotsman' to the NRM York taking pride of place on the turntable of the Great Hall, now repainted in the famous LNER Apple Green livery as seen below:

LNER Class A3 No. 4472 'Flying Scotsman'

Another Model Rail Exhibition follows that on the 27th/28th of August in North Shields, which is organised the Blyth & Tyne MRC. Into September, and I can be found at the NRM for two steam gala's linked by the mainline running of the one and only 'Flying Scotsman', which will be hauling shuttle services between York and Shildon! Closely behind is another Steam Gala during September, only a 10 minute drive from me up at Tanfield Railway.

So plenty to do and see all which will appear on the blog in the forthcoming months, look out for them by signing up for updates to the right hand side of my blog....thanks!

Until then.....

Craig