“Hi Alastair,

I’ve been lurking on your emails for a while, and thought I should send you a taste of what I’ve been working on – a fictional layout in a much-too-small space that sorta represents the railway line between Barchester and Winter Overcotes in the Angela Thirkell novels.

It is set in the late 40’s, probably, so there might be some BR stuff along with GWR and even some LSWR and Southern stuff with varying degrees of run-down-ness.

I’m located in California so that I have to get all the stock from eBay or the various mail-order stores. This picture is of an ancient Hornby 14xx pulling a couple of 4-wheel kit coaches with the interior roughly modeled and painted and with an assortment of figures sitting in it.

If you are interested I’ll send some other pics.

Roland”

Yes, Roland. We’d love to see some more.

Now some more from John (his last post is here). I found this in my inbox from a bit ago:

“Alistair,

Just a quick one.

Got the photo-shop program fired up and worked on the N&W J Class #600, built in 1942, in the railway’s own Roanoke Shops, in Virginia. This restored loco is pulling a railfan trip with the Powhattan Arrow in tow through the home mountains the J’s were built for.

Man, when the imagination gets going…

John From Baltimore”

And now something that might perplex some of you. Why would I post a pic of a tabel and one solitary model?

Simple – it’s because it’s what counts: making a start.

“Just finished building what is going to be a small layout… only 40”wide and 9’ long.

Had to check out how the first thing on it would look !!

Thanks, appreciate your time and trouble for making our life easier !!!

Don, Waxahachie, Texas”

And of course, Don’s model is made from the print-out-scenery range, which you can see here and there’s more here.

That’s all for today folks. Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to make a start like Don, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Seen the latest ebay cheat sheet yet?