I find it intriguing that pre-group modelling has suddenly become 'cool'.
I welcome it, as I have always thought the real golden days of railways were pre-1923 (or arguably, pre-1914), but I wonder how long it can last. Perhaps people have finally realised what I figured out many years ago. That you can no more go back to yesterday than you can to <whatever year you choose>. History began five minutes ago.
It would have been so nice (in Real Life) if "Ben Alder" hadn't been scrapped.
A "Claud Hamilton" would also have been good although, with so much rebuilding over the years, I don't know if there were still any in "original" condition.
It would have been so nice (in Real Life) if "Ben Alder" hadn't been scrapped.
A "Claud Hamilton" would also have been good although, with so much rebuilding over the years, I don't know if there were still any in "original" condition.
Yes, the loss of Ben Alder was a Very Bad Thing.
I hadn't heard about the new Rapido GNoSR loco (Gordon Highlander, I presume?), but remember that IRL it never bore green livery - by the time it was built, the GNoSR locos were black...
As you say, maybe it's time for the Great Eastern to get another look-in? Accurascale have done a really good job with the delightful little J67 0-6-0T, so maybe they have something else GER up their sleeve...I was tempted to buy one, to go with my Rapido ex-Wisbech & Upwell coaches (as used on the Kelvedon & Tollesbury line), but managed to resist. I already have a Hornby J15, and the Rapido Y7, in BR livery, so must NOT stray further from former Southern territory...
a. Would it sell?
b. Would it go round 2nd radius curves?
(a) Probably;
(b) Probably not!
BTW, I see that Rapido's website features no less than 12 variations on the GNoSR 4-4-0 theme. I had forgotten that Gordon Highlander and his shedmates were only part of a series of very similar engines, many of which lasted well into LNER and BR days:
Hats off to Rapido UK for producing such oodles of lovely locomotives and rolling stock (I have several of their very nice wagons and vans). Their O1 has received excellent reviews, although it appears that on some models, at least, quality control has not been as good as it might have been. Mine is still in the post...
ETA: the South Eastern & Chatham acquired five GNoSR 4-4-0s, which worked from Our Town's shed. They lasted into Southern days, and Rapido (of course) plan a couple (different numbers) in Southern olive green. *sigh*
I find it intriguing that pre-group modelling has suddenly become 'cool'.
I welcome it, as I have always thought the real golden days of railways were pre-1923 (or arguably, pre-1914), but I wonder how long it can last. Perhaps people have finally realised what I figured out many years ago. That you can no more go back to yesterday than you can to <whatever year you choose>. History began five minutes ago.
This.
It's noticeable that manufacturers seem to be producing pre-grouping locomotives and rolling stock which lasted well into post-grouping and even BR days. This ISTM increases the potential market for such models, though whether the market will last is another matter, as you say.
The appearance and operation of historic locomotives and coaches on heritage railways must help, of course.
The high prices of high-end models are also of some concern. There are videos on YouTube concentrating on small, low-budget, layouts, often in N scale, using the neat Kato track (with integral ballast), but there don't seem to be many (if any) UK manufacturers offering low(er)-price models in any scale. Even Hornby's *Railroad* range models aren't exactly cheap...
I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford high-end prices, though the problem now is finding space for the models. Never mind - my sorrowing Heirs and Assigns will benefit, in due course.
As you say, maybe it's time for the Great Eastern to get another look-in? Accurascale have done a really good job with the delightful little J67 0-6-0T, so maybe they have something else GER up their sleeve....
Would you lot mind shutting up about stuff that would suit the Thaxted branch until I have spare cash, please?
I find it intriguing that pre-group modelling has suddenly become 'cool'.
I welcome it, as I have always thought the real golden days of railways were pre-1923 (or arguably, pre-1914), but I wonder how long it can last. Perhaps people have finally realised what I figured out many years ago. That you can no more go back to yesterday than you can to <whatever year you choose>. History began five minutes ago.
This.
It's noticeable that manufacturers seem to be producing pre-grouping locomotives and rolling stock which lasted well into post-grouping and even BR days. This ISTM increases the potential market for such models, though whether the market will last is another matter, as you say.
The appearance and operation of historic locomotives and coaches on heritage railways must help, of course.
The high prices of high-end models are also of some concern. There are videos on YouTube concentrating on small, low-budget, layouts, often in N scale, using the neat Kato track (with integral ballast), but there don't seem to be many (if any) UK manufacturers offering low(er)-price models in any scale. Even Hornby's *Railroad* range models aren't exactly cheap...
I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford high-end prices, though the problem now is finding space for the models. Never mind - my sorrowing Heirs and Assigns will benefit, in due course.
As the resident N modeller, I’m just going to point out that Kato is not cheap. Even allowing for the integral point motor you’re looking at £40+ for *each* set of points. And then you have to buy the point switches separately.
On a Kato double track roundy roundy with some sidings in 8’ by 2.5’ you’re looking at north of £1000 of Kato track before you buy anything else.
On the other hand, it is the best solution for N gauge.
What you clearly need is a Union Pacific "Big Boy" or "Challenger" ...
Then we'll have a problem. This being a sort of religious forum and all, there are going to be emerging factions that claim that Beyer-Garratt is the only true prophet of Thaxted, while the high priest of the Mallet faith will declare the Garratt followers to be godless savages. And there will be war. I shall declare my adherence to the Garratts.
I did enjoy building a 1600 piece imitation LEGO version of Big Boy but was disappointed to discover that it could only run on straight track, having too many in-line wheels to cope with the radius of curvature of standard LEGO track.
What you clearly need is a Union Pacific "Big Boy" or "Challenger" ...
Then we'll have a problem. This being a sort of religious forum and all, there are going to be emerging factions that claim that Beyer-Garratt is the only true prophet of Thaxted, while the high priest of the Mallet faith will declare the Garratt followers to be godless savages. And there will be war. I shall declare my adherence to the Garratts.
Though of course there are Garratts and Garratts.
Some favour the East African Railways 59 Class.
I am firmly with the Rhodesia Railways 16th Class.
On which tangent I commend to the house Sam Wright’s excellent book ‘Tracks Across the Veldt’, being his memoirs of working for Rhodesia Railways 1950-76.
I find it intriguing that pre-group modelling has suddenly become 'cool'.
I welcome it, as I have always thought the real golden days of railways were pre-1923 (or arguably, pre-1914), but I wonder how long it can last. Perhaps people have finally realised what I figured out many years ago. That you can no more go back to yesterday than you can to <whatever year you choose>. History began five minutes ago.
This.
It's noticeable that manufacturers seem to be producing pre-grouping locomotives and rolling stock which lasted well into post-grouping and even BR days. This ISTM increases the potential market for such models, though whether the market will last is another matter, as you say.
The appearance and operation of historic locomotives and coaches on heritage railways must help, of course.
The high prices of high-end models are also of some concern. There are videos on YouTube concentrating on small, low-budget, layouts, often in N scale, using the neat Kato track (with integral ballast), but there don't seem to be many (if any) UK manufacturers offering low(er)-price models in any scale. Even Hornby's *Railroad* range models aren't exactly cheap...
I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford high-end prices, though the problem now is finding space for the models. Never mind - my sorrowing Heirs and Assigns will benefit, in due course.
As the resident N modeller, I’m just going to point out that Kato is not cheap. Even allowing for the integral point motor you’re looking at £40+ for *each* set of points. And then you have to buy the point switches separately.
On a Kato double track roundy roundy with some sidings in 8’ by 2.5’ you’re looking at north of £1000 of Kato track before you buy anything else.
On the other hand, it is the best solution for N gauge.
A fair comment. I must admit that I hadn't realised how expensive Kato track is.
Fleischmann N scale track with ballast is still available, though I suspect the prices are not too different from Kato - a simple manual point is over £20.
I used it many years ago for an Austrian HOe layout, and remember it being of very good quality - the sleeper spacing was wrong, of course, but it looked OK to me!
BTW, those awful Rapido people - clearly out to bankrupt us - have just announced yet another new locomotive, in the form of the Southern Railway class U 2-6-0...
This is a lovely story, putting one in mind of both "Fire Queen" and "Duke the lost engine": https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clylnxd1lrdo. As it happens we travelled on the railway a couple of months ago. I can't see me going up there, even though I'm attracted by the sight of a "Terrier" high up in the Welsh valleys (the top end of the railway, at Whistle Inn Halt, is only a few feet lower than Waunavon up the line, the highest main-line station in Wales and only 92 feet lower than Drumochter Summit - the P&B would love to get there!).
This is a lovely story, putting one in mind of both "Fire Queen" and "Duke the lost engine": https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clylnxd1lrdo. As it happens we travelled on the railway a couple of months ago. I can't see me going up there, even though I'm attracted by the sight of a "Terrier" high up in the Welsh valleys (the top end of the railway, at Whistle Inn Halt, is only a few feet lower than Waunavon up the line, the highest main-line station in Wales and only 92 feet lower than Drumochter Summit - the P&B would love to get there!).
Thanks for that - as the headline says, *nun-believable*!
I think that's an excellent choice. Bachmann used to do the similar N class but that was well over 10 years ago.
In N gauge, Farish have just announced a new hi-spec "Hall".
Indeed. I'm rather tempted (but MUST resist) ordering a BR-livery U, as I remember them (and other Maunsell Moguls) from the Town Of My Yoof. They were fairly well-kept, even up to the end of steam on the line to the west in 1964.
I expect Rapido have thought about producing a River class 2-6-4T, rebuilding backwards IYSWIM. No more of a niche market than the lovely Metropolitan 0-4-4T, I suppose...and they could do a Met version of the River, too...
I find the idea of really high-spec N gauge models a bit odd, frankly, as the fine detail must be so small as to be almost invisible to the naked eye (or even the specs) of old buffers like me. There are some exquisite N gauge locos available, it has to be said.
Lucky me - I've just received my Rapido O1...a delightful little engine, known in this part of the world for working on the Kent & East Sussex, and on the East Kent.
Captain Parsley and Sergeant Sage are equally pleased, and have rostered
s1065 for the passenger service tomorrow. She will look nice hauling our ex-LSWR brake 3rd in Southern olive green, and I expect the passenger will agree.
Gosh ... a passenger! Not a military chappie by the name of Stephens, by any chance?
No, no - alas! he died some years before the period I'm modelling (1940s/1950s), but Captain Parsley is ex-Army. Sergeant Sage was his batman, I understand.
The regular passengers are the Vicar, Father Thyme, and his daughter Rosemary...
Alstom wins Polish double-deck tender according to the Railway Gazette today. I'd like to see a picture of the locomotive that goes with that tender. (OK, OK, - I know...)
Go to YouTube, and look for *Hitler's Breitspurbahn* - there might have been 3-metre gauge trains (possibly steam, but certainly diesel) criss-crossing the Reich...
AIUI, the various drawings and mock-ups are based on actual plans.
Gosh ... a passenger! Not a military chappie by the name of Stephens, by any chance?
No, no - alas! he died some years before the period I'm modelling (1940s/1950s), but Captain Parsley is ex-Army. Sergeant Sage was his batman, I understand.
The regular passengers are the Vicar, Father Thyme, and his daughter Rosemary...
They're on the wrong train. Should be going to Scarborough.
Horrifying indeed, but, apparently, technically feasible, at least as far as diesel traction was concerned. IIRC there's a learned book on the subject, in German, of course. Memo to self: check eBay and/or Abebooks...
There are a few models around (scratch-built), but even in N scale they take up rather a lot of space.
The learned book I referred to is indeed available on line, at prices ranging from £100 to nearly £300 (plus postage from the US, Denmark, or Germany).
Interesting niche though the subject is, I think I shall a rain-check take.
Anent the unrebuilt 'Royal Scot', there was the Mainline 00 scale version some years ago. Did that become Bachmann? A friend has a kit-built Claughton - indeed a fine looking locomotive that I admire.
I don't know if it's still in production - that's an old advert (and I think they speeled the name wrong), but there are used examples on eBay.
I seem to remember that it was available at some time in the past in BR green, though I hope that wasn't 46112. As 6112, it was one of the first to be reboilered, and went straight to Leeds, where I think it remained for much of its life thereafter. The Leeds rebuilt Scots were more or less completely commandeered for the Carlisle workings and were very rare south of Leeds. When the Midland Division got a second allocation of Scots in about 1959 for the Manchester services, those were a different tranche of engines.
Quite a few parallel boilered Scots would have been in BR green as the last one was not reboilered until about the end of 1954.
Sadly for modellers, great though a rebuilt Scot looks in LMS red, the only one that ever got that livery in service rather than preservation was 6170, the rebuild of Fury.
I'd like Rapido to produce the lovely little Highland Railway 0-4-4Ts which ended up in BR days working the Dornoch Light Railway. That, of course, would be even more of a niche market, though there's a delightful colour photo in H A Vallance's book The Highland Railway of 55053 at Dornoch station. The engine is immaculate in lined BR black, the coach is in blood-and-custard, and Dornoch Cathedral is visible in the background...
Come to think of it, the Dornoch line in its later years used the HR 0-4-4Ts, BR standard 78000 2-6-0s, and GWR pannier tanks - not all at the same time, of course! Modelling the main line junction at The Mound would allow you to employ LMS Black 5s, various ex-HR engines, such as the Loch and/or the Jones Goods...
Neither a Loch nor a Jones Goods ever had the good fortune to meet a BR standard or a pannier tank there, though! 😛😤🤐
Anent the unrebuilt 'Royal Scot', there was the Mainline 00 scale version some years ago. Did that become Bachmann? A friend has a kit-built Claughton - indeed a fine looking locomotive that I admire.
I don't know if it's still in production - that's an old advert (and I think they speeled the name wrong), but there are used examples on eBay.
I seem to remember that it was available at some time in the past in BR green, though I hope that wasn't 46112. As 6112, it was one of the first to be reboilered, and went straight to Leeds, where I think it remained for much of its life thereafter. The Leeds rebuilt Scots were more or less completely commandeered for the Carlisle workings and were very rare south of Leeds. When the Midland Division got a second allocation of Scots in about 1959 for the Manchester services, those were a different tranche of engines.
Quite a few parallel boilered Scots would have been in BR green as the last one was not reboilered until about the end of 1954.
Sadly for modellers, great though a rebuilt Scot looks in LMS red, the only one that ever got that livery in service rather than preservation was 6170, the rebuild of Fury.
I'd like Rapido to produce the lovely little Highland Railway 0-4-4Ts which ended up in BR days working the Dornoch Light Railway. That, of course, would be even more of a niche market, though there's a delightful colour photo in H A Vallance's book The Highland Railway of 55053 at Dornoch station. The engine is immaculate in lined BR black, the coach is in blood-and-custard, and Dornoch Cathedral is visible in the background...
Come to think of it, the Dornoch line in its later years used the HR 0-4-4Ts, BR standard 78000 2-6-0s, and GWR pannier tanks - not all at the same time, of course! Modelling the main line junction at The Mound would allow you to employ LMS Black 5s, various ex-HR engines, such as the Loch and/or the Jones Goods...
Neither a Loch nor a Jones Goods ever had the good fortune to meet a BR standard or a pannier tank there, though! 😛😤🤐
True, but that wonderful concept of *what if?* comes into play...
Rapido have come up with the useful phrase *prototypically literate*.
Trying to understand the genealogy of some of the older models, I came across this: http://www.wrennrailways.org.uk/historyA.htm. The diagram is incomplete and rather complicated. If anyone knows a more detailed source, I'll be interested to see it.
The history of many manufacturers is sometimes rather obscure ISTM. I can't help thinking of today's *Hornby* as Triang under another name!
Some firms carry on unchanged for decades. I received today (via eBay) a lovely vintage Faller H0 kit - the little Hintertupfingen station - which will (DV) serve a planned H0e layout set in Central Europe (possibly Ruritania) using the small amount of Jouef/Eggerbahn stock I possess. The kit must be a good 50 years old...though AFAIK the model is still in the Faller range.
Of course, if it had been a Welsh line you could have called the station Llareggub - a very backward sort of place made famous by Dylan Thomas. (I'm sure the name has been used before).
If it had been a standard-gauge line in Norway it could have been Hell; however that would require the accurate modelling of a genuine prototype.
Of course, if it had been a Welsh line you could have called the station Llareggub - a very backward sort of place made famous by Dylan Thomas. (I'm sure the name has been used before).
Ivor the Engine occasionally stops at Llanmad, which was Postgate & Firmin's tribute to Dylan Thomas.
See also Llamedos on Discworld though I don't think it gets a railway even in Raising Steam.
I believe that you can depart from Hell as well as arrive. It is, however, a request stop!
To which I can testify. I have a photo of me under the 'Hell' sign in 1968. We saw a steam shunter still working in Trondheim on that trip, and I saw what must have been a DRB Kriegslok 2-10-0 on banking duty, from a youth hostel window at Dombås.
Yes, an 009 layout based on Llareggub appeared in Railway Modeller quite a few years ago, and I daresay there have been others...
Postcards of Hell station (NSB) are very popular, I'm told.
It’s a station on the grandfather of them all IIRC - the Madder Valley
The Madder Valley has stations at Gammon Magna (with its main street curving up the hill to the Norman Castle, admission sixpence), Much Madder, Madderport, and the branch terminus at Gammon End (based on Watlington in Oxfordshire, now closed). Llareggub doesn't feature, though the MVR may have provided inspiration for Dave and Shirley Rowe's layout, way back in 1977.
Comments
I welcome it, as I have always thought the real golden days of railways were pre-1923 (or arguably, pre-1914), but I wonder how long it can last. Perhaps people have finally realised what I figured out many years ago. That you can no more go back to yesterday than you can to <whatever year you choose>. History began five minutes ago.
A "Claud Hamilton" would also have been good although, with so much rebuilding over the years, I don't know if there were still any in "original" condition.
Yes, the loss of Ben Alder was a Very Bad Thing.
I hadn't heard about the new Rapido GNoSR loco (Gordon Highlander, I presume?), but remember that IRL it never bore green livery - by the time it was built, the GNoSR locos were black...
As you say, maybe it's time for the Great Eastern to get another look-in? Accurascale have done a really good job with the delightful little J67 0-6-0T, so maybe they have something else GER up their sleeve...I was tempted to buy one, to go with my Rapido ex-Wisbech & Upwell coaches (as used on the Kelvedon & Tollesbury line), but managed to resist. I already have a Hornby J15, and the Rapido Y7, in BR livery, so must NOT stray further from former Southern territory...
a. Would it sell?
b. Would it go round 2nd radius curves?
(a) Probably;
(b) Probably not!
BTW, I see that Rapido's website features no less than 12 variations on the GNoSR 4-4-0 theme. I had forgotten that Gordon Highlander and his shedmates were only part of a series of very similar engines, many of which lasted well into LNER and BR days:
https://rapidotrains.co.uk/lner-d40-4-4-0-gnosr-v-f/
Hats off to Rapido UK for producing such oodles of lovely locomotives and rolling stock (I have several of their very nice wagons and vans). Their O1 has received excellent reviews, although it appears that on some models, at least, quality control has not been as good as it might have been. Mine is still in the post...
ETA: the South Eastern & Chatham acquired five GNoSR 4-4-0s, which worked from Our Town's shed. They lasted into Southern days, and Rapido (of course) plan a couple (different numbers) in Southern olive green.
*sigh*
This.
It's noticeable that manufacturers seem to be producing pre-grouping locomotives and rolling stock which lasted well into post-grouping and even BR days. This ISTM increases the potential market for such models, though whether the market will last is another matter, as you say.
The appearance and operation of historic locomotives and coaches on heritage railways must help, of course.
The high prices of high-end models are also of some concern. There are videos on YouTube concentrating on small, low-budget, layouts, often in N scale, using the neat Kato track (with integral ballast), but there don't seem to be many (if any) UK manufacturers offering low(er)-price models in any scale. Even Hornby's *Railroad* range models aren't exactly cheap...
I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford high-end prices, though the problem now is finding space for the models. Never mind - my sorrowing Heirs and Assigns will benefit, in due course.
Would you lot mind shutting up about stuff that would suit the Thaxted branch until I have spare cash, please?
As the resident N modeller, I’m just going to point out that Kato is not cheap. Even allowing for the integral point motor you’re looking at £40+ for *each* set of points. And then you have to buy the point switches separately.
On a Kato double track roundy roundy with some sidings in 8’ by 2.5’ you’re looking at north of £1000 of Kato track before you buy anything else.
On the other hand, it is the best solution for N gauge.
Then we'll have a problem. This being a sort of religious forum and all, there are going to be emerging factions that claim that Beyer-Garratt is the only true prophet of Thaxted, while the high priest of the Mallet faith will declare the Garratt followers to be godless savages. And there will be war. I shall declare my adherence to the Garratts.
I didn't dare say that - but I thought it!
Though of course there are Garratts and Garratts.
Some favour the East African Railways 59 Class.
I am firmly with the Rhodesia Railways 16th Class.
🤣
A fair comment. I must admit that I hadn't realised how expensive Kato track is.
Fleischmann N scale track with ballast is still available, though I suspect the prices are not too different from Kato - a simple manual point is over £20.
https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/c/711/Fleischmann
I used it many years ago for an Austrian HOe layout, and remember it being of very good quality - the sleeper spacing was wrong, of course, but it looked OK to me!
BTW, those awful Rapido people - clearly out to bankrupt us - have just announced yet another new locomotive, in the form of the Southern Railway class U 2-6-0...
In N gauge, Farish have just announced a new hi-spec "Hall".
Thanks for that - as the headline says, *nun-believable*!
Indeed. I'm rather tempted (but MUST resist) ordering a BR-livery U, as I remember them (and other Maunsell Moguls) from the Town Of My Yoof. They were fairly well-kept, even up to the end of steam on the line to the west in 1964.
I expect Rapido have thought about producing a River class 2-6-4T, rebuilding backwards IYSWIM. No more of a niche market than the lovely Metropolitan 0-4-4T, I suppose...and they could do a Met version of the River, too...
I find the idea of really high-spec N gauge models a bit odd, frankly, as the fine detail must be so small as to be almost invisible to the naked eye (or even the specs) of old buffers like me. There are some exquisite N gauge locos available, it has to be said.
Lucky me - I've just received my Rapido O1...a delightful little engine, known in this part of the world for working on the Kent & East Sussex, and on the East Kent.
Captain Parsley and Sergeant Sage are equally pleased, and have rostered
s1065 for the passenger service tomorrow. She will look nice hauling our ex-LSWR brake 3rd in Southern olive green, and I expect the passenger will agree.
No, no - alas! he died some years before the period I'm modelling (1940s/1950s), but Captain Parsley is ex-Army. Sergeant Sage was his batman, I understand.
The regular passengers are the Vicar, Father Thyme, and his daughter Rosemary...
AIUI, the various drawings and mock-ups are based on actual plans.
This article may be preferable to wading through all the stuff on YouTube:
https://warhistory.org/@msw/article/the-breitspurbahn-of-the-third-reich
They're on the wrong train. Should be going to Scarborough.
That one had escaped me - it's horrifying! The Welsh narrow gauge lines now have infinitely greater appeal.
There are a few models around (scratch-built), but even in N scale they take up rather a lot of space.
The learned book I referred to is indeed available on line, at prices ranging from £100 to nearly £300 (plus postage from the US, Denmark, or Germany).
Interesting niche though the subject is, I think I shall a rain-check take.
Quite a few parallel boilered Scots would have been in BR green as the last one was not reboilered until about the end of 1954.
Sadly for modellers, great though a rebuilt Scot looks in LMS red, the only one that ever got that livery in service rather than preservation was 6170, the rebuild of Fury. Neither a Loch nor a Jones Goods ever had the good fortune to meet a BR standard or a pannier tank there, though! 😛😤🤐
True, but that wonderful concept of *what if?* comes into play...
Rapido have come up with the useful phrase *prototypically literate*.
Yes, I believe it was.
Some firms carry on unchanged for decades. I received today (via eBay) a lovely vintage Faller H0 kit - the little Hintertupfingen station - which will (DV) serve a planned H0e layout set in Central Europe (possibly Ruritania) using the small amount of Jouef/Eggerbahn stock I possess. The kit must be a good 50 years old...though AFAIK the model is still in the Faller range.
The station will not be named Strelsau or Zenda, as those places are on the standard-gauge main line.
If it had been a standard-gauge line in Norway it could have been Hell; however that would require the accurate modelling of a genuine prototype.
Postcards of Hell station (NSB) are very popular, I'm told.
It’s a station on the grandfather of them all IIRC - the Madder Valley
Ivor the Engine occasionally stops at Llanmad, which was Postgate & Firmin's tribute to Dylan Thomas.
See also Llamedos on Discworld though I don't think it gets a railway even in Raising Steam.
To which I can testify. I have a photo of me under the 'Hell' sign in 1968. We saw a steam shunter still working in Trondheim on that trip, and I saw what must have been a DRB Kriegslok 2-10-0 on banking duty, from a youth hostel window at Dombås.
The Madder Valley has stations at Gammon Magna (with its main street curving up the hill to the Norman Castle, admission sixpence), Much Madder, Madderport, and the branch terminus at Gammon End (based on Watlington in Oxfordshire, now closed). Llareggub doesn't feature, though the MVR may have provided inspiration for Dave and Shirley Rowe's layout, way back in 1977.