Page 23 - May June 2012

Why North American? – Episode 8 from Nigel Kitchener
The editorial in the December 2011 ‘Roundhouse’ and reference to the late Cliff Young set the grey cells thinking: just why did I forsake decades of modelling the Great Western Railway in 4 mm and 7 mm scales to model a prototype that was thousands of miles away?
I grew up in the post-war years when the range of model railways was limited to Trix-Twin and Hornby Dublo (very expensive and both systems used very unrealistic third rails!). For Christmas 1950 Santa delivered a Rovex trainset with a ‘Princess Elizabeth’ and two coaches. I recall it was Boxing Day before my father and uncle allowed me to play with it! In time a Triang ‘Jinty’ 0-6-0 tank locomotive and goods wagons added to the variety.
In the early ’50s an aunt took me one Christmas to Messrs Gamages departmental store in High Holborn, London where, on seeing the magnificent (to a 10-year-old) Lionel O gauge layout that was an annual feature, the scales fell from my eyes. Here were chuffs, bells, horns, the clatter of wheels on the track and trains in bright liveries, so different from the austerity in Britain at the time.
Back home, stock from the Triang Transcontinental range was quickly added and I still recall two Budd coaches, one a vista dome, sandwiched between my two Southern Railway motor coaches! In later years all this was replaced with British scale trains and modelling, but the seed of interest in happenings ‘over the pond’ had been sown. Periodically the old ‘Model Railway News’ would in its photo gallery feature American rolling stock, and the ‘Constructor’ ran the occasional US layout feature. However, it was the arrival of the October 1966 ‘Railway Modeller’ that introduced me to what turned out to be the first
version of Cliff Young’s Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Here was a railroad with long trains, multiple locos on the point, and operation so different from what I had seen before. Cliff’s articles introduced waybill operation, which I promptly adapted to a British layout. It is true, in hindsight, that the scenery on this and Cliff’s second layout (‘Railway Modeller’ October 1973) was basic, but the ethos behind both layouts was prototype operation over grades and through the Rockies, and I was ‘sold’. Marriage and the raising of a family precluded assembly of a US-based layout, and then I was struck by a second thunderbolt. In 1973 the ‘Railway Modeller’ published a description of John Allen’s ‘Gorre & Daphetid’ railroad. Here was a layout with floor-to-ceiling scenery, trains passing through magnificent settings and, again, the emphasis on operation. I had seen nothing on this scale before, and from this point on there was no turning back and gradually the interest in all things Great Western diminished. A tentative purchase of the Spectrum 44-tonner (in DRGW colours, of course) showed me that American manufacturers were capable of producing locomotives that didn’t need a push to start. Twenty years on, that little switcher still operates Craig yard from time to time.
Through membership of the NMRA a small operating team has developed, and trips to the Rockies over the years continue to fuel my interest in the DRGW. I’m afraid my good intention to restrict my modelling era to the 1950s/60s has failed dismally, and Rio Grande locos and rolling stock from the late 1940s to the early 80s run alongside each other (I’m happy to ignore the subsequent takeover by ‘Uncle Pete’!). We do though make sure that cabooses still reign well into the 1980s. In fact I’m contem- plating the prospect of an AC6000CW in Rio Grande Gold! After all, the Model Railroader ran for years with the headline banner ‘Model Railroading is Fun’.
REGISTRAR NEWS JUNE 2012
‘Welcome to the following new members...’
name
David Bean
phillip Gardner
Rev. john Oliver
noel D Crain
CHanGeS OF aDDReSS
Derek milby has moved to: Flat 6, abbeyfield House, Victoria Road, ulverston la12 0BY, Telephone 07919 967202 alasdair Kenneth’s phone number is 01302 831885, not 01302 831855 as printed in the Directory.
Bryan Clarke has moved to Burston, Diss, norfolk Ip22 5uG. His phone number will follow when it is known.
neil Stubbs has moved and his new phone number is 01226 710081.
Guy Hardy has moved to Rookholme Cottage, 7 Gorsey Bank, Wirksworth, Derbyshire De4 4aD, 01629 820814. Ian Ogden has moved to 173 Goetre Fawr, Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8eu, 07711 713176.
new address: Steve ashton, 9 abberley View, Worcester WR3 8lu, 01905 25729
aDDReSS Sleaford Redhill Southampton Bath
TelepHOne 07515 017724 01737 221670 02380 812702 01225 835496
SCale(S) On30 O, OO, HO HO HO-OO
RaIlROaD(S) Y/n* DRGW Y Various n
Southern Y Gn-C&O Y
nB Division representatives use the DIV code in the directory to send out phone/mail messages to send out local meet information. If you wish to be included in this service in an adjacent division you must inform that representative. Only contact the Registrar if you wish to be permanently re- coded to another division.
Joining a friend? phone me or e-mail and I will send a form. Current subscription rates are usually listed in ‘Roundhouse’.
all members please make sure that you inform the Registrar of any change of address or phone number. please do this even if you have advised the editor. Send any changes to: The Registrar, michael Ingham, 15 Harcourt Drive, earley, RG6 5Tl. michael@theinghams.com