PlaymoFriends
General => Community Events => Topic started by: playmofire on August 03, 2013, 20:27:10
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Well, the 4th annual Kirkbean Playmobil was another success (I'll leave Elaine to tell you the final results) and here are some photos of the railway layout this year, the Great Woodville-Sea's End branchline. But we'll start with some history first.
The railway came to what was then the small market town of Woodville late in the 19th century railway boom when the Amalgamated Central and Northern Railway Company was persuaded to run a branchline to the town. It was a good move as the line opened up the industrial and business region inland to the produce of the area and, in the opposite direction, brought a wide range of goods into the town, leading to a boom for its shopkeepers and small businesses. This was added to when the owners of the businesses now supplying goods and services to Woodville and the surrounding area realised that it offered a peaceful and attractive place to live just over an hour's travel from their work. At first, the owners of the factories and other businesses built houses in and around Woodville purely to live in during the summer, their families living there throughout the summer months, while they travelled in to live in their town home from Monday to Friday, coming to Woodville just for the weekends. The Amalgamated Central and Northern Railway Company saw the potential here, putting on a summer service leaving at 08:15 on Monday from Woodville to get into the city by 09:30, with a Friday service leaving the city for Woodville at 15:30. This proved so popular that it eventually became a daily weekday service with the result that Woodville became, in effect, a commuter town with wealthy businessmen and factory owners and their families living there all year round. As a result, the previously small market town grew and, in the 1870s changed its name to Great Woodville.
The businesses in and around what was now Great Woodville had prospered because of the railway coming to it, and local businessmen and councillors decided that linking Great Woodville to the small estuary fishing village of Sea's End would bring still greater prosperity for the town. The intention was that Sea's End would develop as a holiday resort (a genteel one, of course), while the rail link to Great Woodville and beyond would be a benefit for the fishermen there and local farms. They approached the Amalgamated Central and Northern Railway Company with their idea, but it was not interested having realised that the railway boom had ended, so they set out to raise the money themselves. The intention was to complete the new branchline to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne and call it the Victoria Jubilee Line, but it was only completed some eight years after that event and so was simply named the Great Woodville-Sea's End branchline.
From the outset the line was doomed. The cost of building the line more than doubled and the only way the consortium of local businessmen could get any trains running was to hand the finished line over lock, stock and barrel to the Amalgamated Central and Northern Railway Company who operated a basic service. The investment needed to turn the harbour at Sea's End into one to support a growing fishing fleet never took place and changes to the coast line north of Sea's End led to the estuary starting to silt up. Then, a mainline coastal extension led to a viaduct being built across the mouth of the estuary and this further speeded up the process of silting, leading to the end of any plans for a fishing fleet and holiday resort.
The line survived the closures following the 1964 Beeching Plan as the result of a typographical error, a typist omitting the line referring it's closure and so it now survives as a heritage steam line and is more successful than it ever was before.
So to start with, some photos of the layout in its bare bones, as it were, beginning with the site of Great Woodville Station.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1016.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1016.jpg.html)
A close-up of the run-around at Great Woodville. The asymetrical loop on the right is taken from one of the Malta railway stations.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1014.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1014.jpg.html)
Now the exit from the Great Woodville, showing the estuary bridge.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1011.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1011.jpg.html)
A view of the estuary and remains of the harbour with the bridge linking the Great Woodville side to the Sea's End viaduct:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1013.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1013.jpg.html)
The viaduct itself, with the site of Sea's End station with its passing loop on the left:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1012.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1012.jpg.html)
Lastly, a detail of the viaduct:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1015.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1015.jpg.html)
The idea behind the layout was that it was the prototype for a similar layout but with the track and stations raised about 6 inches above the baseboard.
More pictures will follow tomorrow.
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Well, work in the garden took longer than expected but at last I've had the chance to sit down and sort out some photos, starting with Great Woodville Station.
First, a general view of the lines at Great Woodville. The line on the left goes to the goods shed. The middle line is for Sea's End and the right hand line is from Sea's End.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1099.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1099.jpg.html)
Now a view of the early morning train leaving for Sea's End. It's always just a single coach and goods van. (The goods van actually contains a sound unit so that the the loco has a whistle and steam sound. I'll include some video links later with sound.)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1100.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1100.jpg.html)
Next, a steam mixed goods train comes in from Sea's End.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1083.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1083.jpg.html)
A view at platform level. As you can see, the passengers get close to the trains! (I'm using the early Playmobil platforms which were much lower than the modern ones and were based on narrow gauge platforms.)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1078.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1078.jpg.html)
The station master comes out from his office to see that everything is running smoothly. (His coat is from the PCC pirate.)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0069.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0069.jpg.html)
Finally in this post, a view of the level crossing at the top of Great Woodville High Street.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0041.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0041.jpg.html)
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With its steam trains, the passenger service is always busy with people buying tickets:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0071.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0071.jpg.html)
luggage to be moved:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0073.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0073.jpg.html)
passengers seem to have more luggage every trip:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0047.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0047.jpg.html)
A view of the train from Sea's End with the loco shortly to run round to head the train off on its return trip:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0039.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0039.jpg.html)
The station's porters are renowned for their helpfulness.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0084.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0084.jpg.html)
Finally, a view across towards the station on a busy afternoon:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1018.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1018.jpg.html)
I'll continue tomorrow with some photos of Sea's End and round the rest of the layout.
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:clap: :clap: :clap: Wonderful layout, Gordon! How ever did you get all of that in your car? Are the trestle, grey supports for the track and the roadway playmobil? You did a great job keeping the track level as it goes over the bay. Everything turned out perfectly.
Thanks so much for the pictures.
Joe
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very nice! i'm so dissapointed we couldn't make it. :-\
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:clap: :clap: :clap: Wonderful layout, Gordon! How ever did you get all of that in your car? Are the trestle, grey supports for the track and the roadway playmobil? You did a great job keeping the track level as it goes over the bay. Everything turned out perfectly.
Thanks so much for the pictures.
Joe
Thanks for your kind words, Joe, and there are more pics to come.
The large green boards and the blue board were all provided by Elaine from the village hall's supplies. (In fact, they were also used last year but have been repainted.) The only boards I took were the two grey ones which form part of the harbour wall, plus some lengths of wood for edging the beach. I was surprised at how much space there was left in the car when everything was packed in.
The road is just painted on the green edging it with masking tape to get a straight line. The bridge is made by LGB and is approximately Playmobil scale. The viaduct and its supports and the supports for the bridge I made myself out of wood and MDF and using stone paper to cover the piers. All this was done at home and when I came to set everything out I realised that in my calculations for the height of the piers I had forgotten to take account of the thickness of the green boards! However, a bit of work with some lengths of timber and bits of cardboard solved the problem.
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very nice! i'm so dissapointed we couldn't make it. :-\
Thank you, and there's always next year for you to come!
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Wonderful, Gordon! I liked it before I even got to the part where there were klickies or buildings. The layout itself is very well planned.
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Wonderful, Gordon! I liked it before I even got to the part where there were klickies or buildings. The layout itself is very well planned.
Thank you, Bonnie. The basic layout has taken up a large part of our living room floor for the past few months with Diane's blessing, and I have found it great fun to operate trains on.
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I really love the viaduct and the beach with real sand by the waterside :love:
And I can just spot a house being built in the background!
Looking forward to more pictures :)
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I really love the viaduct and the beach with real sand by the waterside :love:
And I can just spot a house being built in the background!
Looking forward to more pictures :)
Thank you, Birdie, and you are right, there is a house under construction. Watch out for more of it later.
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Now, a look away from what's happening on the railway (we'll come back to it later) with a trip down Great Woodville High Street.
We'll start with a view from the bottom of the High Street (it's a busy day):
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0087.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0087.jpg.html)
The fire brigade are out checking the fire hydrants (although there is something happening that will need their attention later):
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1057.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1057.jpg.html)
The postlady is on her rounds:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1091.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1091.jpg.html)
while there's more work for her later in the day collecting letters:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1092.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1092.jpg.html)
At the station a train is due in and people are waiting to collect passengers (although the taxi driver reading his paper in the back of his cab doesn't seem too keen for a fare):
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1090.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1090.jpg.html)
There's also people waiting at the bus stop. (Mum with the baby buggy looks a bit tired of waiting.):
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1094.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1094.jpg.html)
The bus is probably held up outside town by the level crossing at the top of the High Street being closed for a train:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0076.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0076.jpg.html)
To round off our trip down the High Street, there's the baker delivering fresh-baked bread:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0083.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0083.jpg.html)
and someone just finishing her shopping at the newsagents/general store:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1095.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1095.jpg.html)
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Wonderful looking layout Gordon. Enjoying it immensely so far
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The problem with these wonderful (WONDERFUL!!!) dioramas is that I see sets that I had no interest in before, and now I really want them! I have no need of a bike rack, but I WANT A BIKE RACK!
Some beautiful scenes - I particularly loved the cans tied to the Just Married car! :love:
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Nice layout. Can't wait to see more pictures and the overhead shoot with everything.
How busy was the exhibit?
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Thanks for your comments Tim, Salamander and Wolf Knight. More photos will follow tomorrow.
Salamander, no collection is complete without a bike rack! :)
The Saturday was the quietest day because the weather was good and lots of people went to the beach. Sunday and Monday were better and the whole weekend was a success. Just short of £900 was taken on the door and selling refreshments, but there may be costs to come from that. Skypurr will have the final figures.
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The close up pics are nicely done, Gordon. Your commentary draws attention to details that I missed earlier. So much thought and preparation went into this. I can tell you must have had a wonderful time planning it out and executing it. I just love looking at it. :love:
Joe
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The problem with these wonderful (WONDERFUL!!!) dioramas is that I see sets that I had no interest in before, and now I really want them! I have no need of a bike rack, but I WANT A BIKE RACK!
Salamander is right, this is another slippery slope you have created, Gordon! :lol:
Joe
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It was a great layout Gordon, really inspiring....and it was lovely to be able to meet you and Diane.
Best regards,
Claire :wave:
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The close up pics are nicely done, Gordon. Your commentary draws attention to details that I missed earlier. So much thought and preparation went into this. I can tell you must have had a wonderful time planning it out and executing it. I just love looking at it. :love:
Joe
Thank you, Joe. Not all the detailing is mine. Amongst others, Diane set out the figures at the Old Lifeboat Station Cafe (still to appear) and the taxi driver in the back of his cab
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That's great!
And indeed a LOT of baggage to handle! :o
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It was a great layout Gordon, really inspiring....and it was lovely to be able to meet you and Diane.
Best regards,
Claire :wave:
Good to meet you and your father, too, Claire, and I look forward to seeing you again next year. :wave:
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Thank you, tahra. I've had a good morning gardening and a snooze after lunch so I'll post a few more photos before going out to sort out the PM I took to Kirkbean.
It's the beach scenes today, and I must admit I was so pleased with some of the groups of figures in last year's beach scene that I used them again with one or two additions.
The old harbour wall means sea fishing is possible and the catches good. (You can't see it in this picture, but this is the young lady's third catch of the day.):
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1030.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1030.jpg.html)
Where there's water, there's danger, so a lifeboat patrol is maintained at weekends and during the hoilday season:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0091.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0091.jpg.html)
This sea canoeist needs to take care as there can be awkward currents round the bridge piers, especially as the tide turns:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0090.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0090.jpg.html)
However, you don't actually need the sea to have fun in a boat:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0067.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0067.jpg.html)
A pool left by the tide provides this mariner with enough water for sailing:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0064.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0064.jpg.html)
For these young ladies it's as the pop song said, "School's out!"
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1027.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1027.jpg.html)
While for others it's "Dive! Dive! Dive!":
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0048.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0048.jpg.html)
Last row of the day:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0062.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0062.jpg.html)
Ready for tomorrow:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1029.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1029.jpg.html)
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Those beach scenes are amazing! The sand, the klickys... the poses... wonderfully imagined and executed :)
(though I do find half a klicky kinda.. creepy :-[ )
The beached little boats look awesome!
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It really was a wonderful display Gordon, with so much attention to detail and so much to see.
Thank you very much for bringing it for everyone to share.
I have finally packed away all my Playmobil :( and for the first time in three weeks or more I have an evening to spare so will try to sort out my photos ready for posting.
Elaine (http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/mgqueen.gif)
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Thank you, Elaine. Both Diane and me enjoyed ourselves tremendously. I've started tidying up the garage so I can then start putting the Playmobil away, and not just from this year, but back to February 2011!
I'll aim to post the rest of the pictures tomorrow when we get back from our walk from Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby.
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great pictures, so many great details. All clickies seem to be having fun. :)
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I really love the guy getting into the boat, clever how you removed his legs! I assume the arms are somehow tacked? Also, the guy teaching his wife/girlfriend how to fish. Brings back memories of when Chris and I were dating! :love:
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Thank you tahra, Rhalius and Bonnie.
Klickies cut in half aren't to everyone's taste, but it's easier than cutting a klicky shaped hole in the baseboard! :) His arms are angled so that his hands are either side of the boat's deck which sticks out clear of the sides.
The klicky about to roll back over the ship's side and into the water kept being turned round so she was going to jump in feet first, so I guess there were some youngsters there who hadn't seen too many underwater nature films on the TV.
Glad to bring back happy memories, Bonnie. I did set the figures up so the man's left hand was steadying the right arm of his companion, but in this picture I notice it isn't. They did fall over once or twice early on as a seagull kept falling off the bridge and hitting the fish.
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Awesome pictures! Everything in that diorama looks great! Thanks for sharing! :)
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It's so lovely :love: Those beach scenes are adorable!
I like how you made that little wooden pier to the boats and the grey brick walls.
Looking forward to the rest :)
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really nice pics and setup. Some ideas look so simple, yet so greatly executed, such a shame we couldn't make it. :)9
Maybe there'll be a large bikergroup coming next year to the town, who knows.
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They did fall over once or twice early on as a seagull kept falling off the bridge and hitting the fish.
Obviously a hungry one, that's why they hang around there
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Well, after an enjoyable walk of about six and a half miles yesterday, followed by a fish and chip lunch and then some tidying up of PM in the garage, and today a morning gardening, followed by more tidying up of PM in the garage, a bit of time to post some more photos. Thanks, first, however, to those who've commented since the last lot of photos. Your comments are much appreciated and encouraging.
A house under construction was mentioned some time ago, so here are a couple more photos of it. It didn't appear quite as intended because of lack of time; I had meant to have rafters and beams in real wood showing.
First a scene at ground level with the owner and architect checking some points while a couple of joiners get on with their work. Hopefully, the owner isn't making major changes at this late stage.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0085.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0085.jpg.html)
Next a view showing work on the gable ends. This DS scaffolding set is one of my favourite accessories.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1097.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1097.jpg.html)
Now some views of what's happening around and about.
Near the railway, some land has been given over to allotments for keen gardeners, and two of them are hard at work. There's nothing like fresh-picked vegetables and fruit such as raspberries. (In our new garden we are seeing some results after nearly three years here - new and old potatoes, a few raspberries, peas, French beans, runner beans and courgettes. Next year, we shall have four 2.4m x 1.2m raised beds in use, so there should be more still.) Note the garden chair in the shed for when the work gets too hard!
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0079-1.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0079-1.jpg.html)
Some dog walkers have met up in the wooded area bordering the beach area. I imagine they meet regularly walking their dogs - dogs can be a great way to start talking with people.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1021.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1021.jpg.html)
Just a bit further along, a group of school children are being shown round the old lookout tower. Many of them are thinking of pirates and sea battles, but it's nothing as romantic as that and was built in Victorian times as somewhere to walk to on a Sunday afternoon and then watch the sailing ships passing by.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1055.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1055.jpg.html)
Some one's having an exciting day as their barbecue gets out of control! Hopefully, the fire brigade will be there soon. (The family don't seem particularly surprised at what's happened, maybe it's happened before!)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0053.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0053.jpg.html)
And here's an old friend, Fred sitting in the garden with his dog. Looks like he's finished the crossword in the newspaper today. I wonder where Maisie is?
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1040-1.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1040-1.jpg.html)
Tomorrow, we'll look at Sea's End and some general photos of the railway.
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Nice story & pics. Almost felt if I was part of it..
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Nice story & pics. Almost felt if I was part of it..
Thanks, Martin. I hope you can get over next year and bring some of your bikers.
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Love the house under construction! The beach scenes were also great! :)
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Great pics - love the barbecue fire!
The house under construction is also very very nice. I quite like the scaffholding too.
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great pictures, though the first is my favorite! nice to see one clicky holding the board steady while the other is sawing it to pieces.
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Thank you to those who have commented since my previous post. There are some photos in and around Sea's End to come and then some links to some short videos. There is a longer video which gives an overall view of the layout and trains running, but I'll have to set up a YouTube account for that as it is too big to load up to photobucket.
First, then, Sea's End. Sea's End never became the successful holiday destination and commercial port the builders of the line hoped and this is shown in the size of it's station in this aerial view. The station buildings are not the original 19th century ones as these were so much in need of repair that they had to be replaced.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1082.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1082.jpg.html)
As can be seen, the amenities are few and far between and Sea's End is not so much a station as a halt, albeit one at the end of the line.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0051.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0051.jpg.html)
What brings people to Sea's End, apart from the chance to ride on a steam train, is the beach (which we have already seen) and the Old Lifeboat Station Cafe which is very popular with visitors:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1033.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1033.jpg.html)
That orangey-brown hat looks familiar in the picture above - yes, it's Maisie meeting up with her and Fred's nephew. (So that's why Fred's sitting at home with the dog by himself.):
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1039.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1039.jpg.html)
Judging by the queues, they were wise to get here early:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1060-1.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1060-1.jpg.html)
Here's to Sea's End, summer and ginger beer!
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1058.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF1058.jpg.html)
Finally, a couple of photos of the Great Woodville bridge and the Sea's End viaduct which together carry the railway over the esturary.
The afternoon goods train leaving the bridge and coming on to the viaduct:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0058.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0058.jpg.html)
and then a bird's eye view of the train leaving the Great Woodville bridge:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0089.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/kirkbean%20railway%202013/DSCF0089.jpg.html)
I've a bit of editing to do on the videos, so they will follow tomorrow.
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Great pics!
Did you paint the barn doors for the cafe?
And... what's the brown sheepy doing there? And.. is that a WHITE frog in the stop?
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Great pics!
Thanks, tahra.
Did you paint the barn doors for the cafe?
Yes. The lifeboat service in the UK uses a very dark blue for the hulls of its boats - http://www.appledorelifeboat.org.uk/news/images/Padstow_Tamar_at_sea.jpg - and I had a pot of a similar colour whcih I used to paint the doors. I've got lots of these green doors.
And... what's the brown sheepy doing there? And.. is that a WHITE frog in the stop?
It's a sheep. I thought it would be fun to have the cafe owner keeping a pet sheep and have it at one of the tables asking to be fed. And yes, it is a white frog. To entertain the visitors there are always frogs, rabbits and a "Where's Wally?" figure in the displays. They are moved every day so if people come more than once they can look for them again.
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Now I am going to have to look at all the pictures again! :lol: This is so much fun from afar, it must have been great to see it up close and personal. :D
Joe
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Thanks for the explanations, playmofire ;)
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Here are links to some short videos of the layout. On some of them there is a loud whining noise on the sound track, but that is noise from another display.
First two of the steam loco with the steam sound unit working:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/th_Shortsteambackwardsmvie.jpg) (http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/Shortsteambackwardsmvie.mp4)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/th_Shortsteamforwards.jpg) (http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/Shortsteamforwards.mp4)
Now some of the diesel loco:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/th_Dieselgoodsuse1.jpg) (http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/Dieselgoodsuse1.mp4)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/th_Dieselgoodsuse2.jpg) (http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/Dieselgoodsuse2.mp4)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/th_Dieselgoodsuse3.jpg) (http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/kirkbean%20railway%202013/Dieselgoodsuse3.mp4)
I'll try and load the longer video up to YouTube in the next few days.
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You can find a longer video with more views of the overall display here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XytMRBpDwQY&feature=youtu.be
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That's great Gordon, I loved the sound effects from the train.
I also noticed Mr Bunny sitting in the garden shed waiting for the carrots to grow. :lol:
Feel very guilty that I haven't shown any of my photos yet :-[ I'd hoped to post them over the weekend, but I've had so much to do lately that I just haven't had time yet - did start to sort them out last night though so hopefully will get them done in a day or two!
Elaine (http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/mgqueen.gif)
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Thank you, Elaine. I must admit I was very pleased with the steam sound effect, although it is nice when you turn it off!
Look forward to seeing your photos - have you changed your camera yet? - there's no need to feel guilty, the amount of work you do just for the exhibition would keep at least two ordinary people busy!
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Awesome photos, thanks for sharing! :)
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What an amazing diorama this turned out to be :) There are so many things to look at and so many little scenes to enjoy.
You must have had a lot of work planning beforehand.
Thanks for all the pictures, I have thoroughly enjoyed them!
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Thank you, Playmoman and Birdie. Planning for the next year started while I was at this year's exhibition.