On an another thread I've created a bit of interest by describing first the construction of my Z scale Deltic which then prompted a discussion on the unique engines fitted to these locomotives and thence to the displaying of 'Cuyahoga' my Nickel Plate Road ' layout in front of a real Deltic and also a genuine Deltic power unit at a show. Full size railways and Z scale combined. Recently history repeated itself when I was invited to take Republic Steel to the model railway weekend at Carnforth heritage centre. Carnforth has many historical attributes. Firstly as a major railway junction where the LNWR (London North Western) Furness and Midland railways met then , most importantly to the general public, as the location where film director David Lean's classic wartime romantic drama 'Brief Encounters' was filmed and during the demise of Steam on British railways in 1968 one of the last strongholds of LMS Steam. It then reinvented itself as the site of 'Steamtown' in its day a major rail preservation centre.. Nowadays the former Steamtown is the base for West Coast rail, one of the U.Ks leading steam loco operating excursion outfits but the site itself is closed to the public The electrified West coast main line sees high speed Pendolinos and high speed intermodals blast through on the mainline whilst the Furness line see cross country passenger trains and DRS freight trains head west to the Cumbrian coast. more soon
So railways runs through the DNA of the town to this day. The heritage centre focuses on the movie with the film showing constantly in a small cinema and there is railway memorabilia on display and an excellent cafe . Every August they put on a small but well attended model railway weekend with about eight layouts and various trade stands. uniquely the traders are outside, on the platform but underneath the station canopies so setting up on Saturday morning I got the baseboard on its stands, went out an photographed the Northbound and Southbound DRS freights passing through platforms 1 and 2, came back inside and put the stock on, went out and filmed one of our 88 hauled Tesco intermodals blast through on a Daventry-Mossend Anglo-Scottish train by which time the public were arriving and then over the course of the weekend alternated between operating Republic and going out and filming trains. It is quite disconcerting when a Class 47 and a dozen coaches rumbles past the traders outside! to add to the pleasure the Micropub on the now closed Up platform was open all weekend! The recently completed Class 37 ran like a watch all weekend although once again I took far too much stock for the layout!
