ILL READING
A few weeks on the sofa at least offers the chance to read
So, what did I get out of the Model Rail Live show at Newark? A bad dose of flu! I must say, though, that it was a great show with some cracking layouts and the new venue worked out very well. Next year I fancy going early and checking out the adjacent air museum. Anyway, as soon as I got home on Sunday I started feeling rough and now, three weeks later, I'm just about getting back to feeling human again.
One consolation of being off work so long was the chance for me to catch up on some reading, including a new title from Holne Publishing, dealing with the history of the Derwent Valley Light Railway. This fantastic light railway ran from Layerthorpe in York, down to Cliff Common via Dunnington and Wheldrake and lasted into the 1980s (just).
I'd never heard of this line until I moved to East Yorkshire and my old landlord told me about it - he was living in the old station house at Elvington. Indeed, I used to pass over the trackbed a couple of times on my way into work at the NRM. Oh, and during my driving test, my examiner insisted on taking me past Murton station to look at the restored section of line (upon seeing my Railway Museum uniform, my test became more about trains than cars - needless to say I passed!).
A nice chap at Newark knew of my interest in this line and pointed out this new title, so I made sure I ordered a copy as soon as I got home and I'm glad I did. It's a good read and is full of vital info and loads of images, stoking my interest further and strengthening my resolve to build a small layout based on one of the idyllic locations.
Sorry to read that you have been ill. The book, however, looks fascinating. As a 12 year old (many years ago!), I had a spell of illness which required a week in bed...a neighbour brought round two years worth of model railway magazine backnumbers for me to read...bliss...I remember it as a wonderful time now, all suffering forgotten!.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Iain. There is something quite decadent about lolling about reading all day - makes a nice change from trying to snatch an hour or two here and there to read up on stuff. Certainly a silver lining on the ill 'cloud'!
DeleteGeorge.
George, was not a DVLR layout on your to do list?
ReplyDeleteAnd DVLR is not the only modellable light railway in Yorkshire. What about the Easingwold, and Nidd Valley lines; Cawood Wistow and Selby has been done by Phil Parker- or the Axholme lines? All have nice little books or monograms for inspiration.
ReplyDeletePicked up an old Dalesman book at the Newcastle Show called railway Byways in Yorkshire. Contains DVLR, Sand Hutton, Nidd Valley, Easingwold, SandHutton, Cawood - Selby, Spurn Head and Aberford railway - a good read and inspirational.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book references - I'll see If I can track down a copy. Yes, a DVLR layout is on my to do list.... hopefully sometime soon and maybe in O gauge!
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