The Great Forum Railway Inspection
The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Peter's comment on one of the other threads reminded me that many years ago ( well about 7 to be precise) we had the Forum Great Railway Inspection running. This was a lighthearted 'critique' of members lines and visited locations, written and posted by themselves.
The 'Inspector' was a gentleman by the name of Mr Victor Isles and was a small, scale, figure wearing a abowler, an anorak and eventually a Hi Viz jacket and clipboard who would submit a report on the state and operation of each line, complete with photos of himself at work, before being posted to to another member to repeat the process. Many of the reports were hilarious and eagerly awaited, but then one day he disappeared in action after being sent to one member, and was never seen or heard of again.
It really was a shame that it stopped and I'm wondering if there is any interest in starting him up again?
The original thread is at https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... it=v+isles
The 'Inspector' was a gentleman by the name of Mr Victor Isles and was a small, scale, figure wearing a abowler, an anorak and eventually a Hi Viz jacket and clipboard who would submit a report on the state and operation of each line, complete with photos of himself at work, before being posted to to another member to repeat the process. Many of the reports were hilarious and eagerly awaited, but then one day he disappeared in action after being sent to one member, and was never seen or heard of again.
It really was a shame that it stopped and I'm wondering if there is any interest in starting him up again?
The original thread is at https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... it=v+isles
Philip
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Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
I am sure I can enlist an official GRF toy figure if people want to start this up again.
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Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Champion idea! I'd love to see the inspections resurrected, it was a fantastic read and great fun. Probably less contentious than the photo competition.
Tom
Tom
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Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Yes! I loved reading through the inspection thread when I first joined. Would happily take part if it is restarted.
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Great idea. I'll be interested.
Reminds me of something we did on the old G Scale Mad forum. A boxcar was sent from one member of the forum to another and photographic evidence of it running on each line was posted on the forum. Each member graffiti-ed the name of their railway on the van. I think it travelled on around 70 railways and clocked up 36000 miles (mostly by air).
Here it is on John Robinson's railway in New Zealand. And here's a map showing its travels Probably be more difficult to replicate on this forum as we have a mix of 45mm and 32mm railways
Rik
Reminds me of something we did on the old G Scale Mad forum. A boxcar was sent from one member of the forum to another and photographic evidence of it running on each line was posted on the forum. Each member graffiti-ed the name of their railway on the van. I think it travelled on around 70 railways and clocked up 36000 miles (mostly by air).
Here it is on John Robinson's railway in New Zealand. And here's a map showing its travels Probably be more difficult to replicate on this forum as we have a mix of 45mm and 32mm railways
Rik
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Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
I don't know enough about the operational requirements of real railways to be able to give a report on garden lines, however, a figure sent to various members could take his/her passport to be suitably stamped, pictures of his/her visit to the line, and other excursions, could be shared with a report posted on the Forum.
There would be plenty of creative opportunity to place the figure in dubious situations and generate comment and competition.
I would be willing to participate if it could be lighthearted in this or similar manner.
There would be plenty of creative opportunity to place the figure in dubious situations and generate comment and competition.
I would be willing to participate if it could be lighthearted in this or similar manner.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Peter,Peter Butler wrote: ↑Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:59 am I don't know enough about the operational requirements of real railways to be able to give a report on garden lines, however, a figure sent to various members could take his/her passport to be suitably stamped, pictures of his/her visit to the line, and other excursions, could be shared with a report posted on the Forum.
There would be plenty of creative opportunity to place the figure in dubious situations and generate comment and competition.
I would be willing to participate if it could be lighthearted in this or similar manner.
Lighthearted was pretty much the only intent afaik. Not much knowledge of real railways was necessary. Take a look at the thread link I posted and you'll see the 'reports' generated!
Philip
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Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Love the travel wagon idea, but probably wouldn't work well hear with all the mixed gauges.
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Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
There could be an increased cost implication (for some) in posting large items around the world if the next recipient on the list became their responsibility. A single figure, plus 'passport' would be much more economical and cause less issues with security descriptions etc...Tom the blacksmith wrote: ↑Sun Feb 24, 2019 9:12 pm Love the travel wagon idea, but probably wouldn't work well hear with all the mixed gauges.
I'm all for taking part but it needs to be kept simple.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Garn... I'll volunteer to get the ball rolling since there does seem to be some interest.
Only one rule, the Inspector may not spend more than ONE month as a guest of any one member before being forwarded to his next assignment, and then he must be posted 1st class. This is to avoid him going MIA as he used to occasionally, previously.
If you want to take part, please PM me with your screen name and name of your railway ( no address). I'll then compile and post a list, in the order that PM's are received. It will be up to the sender and recipient at each exchange to pass the next address BY PM ONLY, NOT a public post on the board.
I see no real problem with non-UK members taking part if they want to.
Only one rule, the Inspector may not spend more than ONE month as a guest of any one member before being forwarded to his next assignment, and then he must be posted 1st class. This is to avoid him going MIA as he used to occasionally, previously.
If you want to take part, please PM me with your screen name and name of your railway ( no address). I'll then compile and post a list, in the order that PM's are received. It will be up to the sender and recipient at each exchange to pass the next address BY PM ONLY, NOT a public post on the board.
I see no real problem with non-UK members taking part if they want to.
Philip
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
There has been an HGLW wagon wandering around for a couple of years (Tim's Wonderful Wandering Wagon, Facebook) which I think is 32mm. I've been keeping an eye out in case it comes anywhere near Wales, but I believe it is currently in Hong Kong...Tom the blacksmith wrote: ↑Sun Feb 24, 2019 9:12 pm Love the travel wagon idea, but probably wouldn't work well hear with all the mixed gauges.
I do like the Inspector idea.
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Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Hopefully by the time he has made a few other visits there will be enough of the Far End Tramway running for him to come out to the Former Colonies and take a gander. The Skebawn and Castleknox is outside of his jurisdiction, unless there is a McVile kicking about.
Cheers,
Peter in Va
Cheers,
Peter in Va
Traffic Pattern? What pattern? Spuds out; grain in, but cattle, sheep and passengers are a lot less predictable.
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Quick up date:
I must admit that personally I didn't see a whole lot of point to Peter's suggestion of a 'passport' for the inspector. However, it looks as though he actually might need a real one sooner than expected because of the 7 inspections requested so far, there are: 2 in UK, 2 in USA and one in Russia!
I must admit that personally I didn't see a whole lot of point to Peter's suggestion of a 'passport' for the inspector. However, it looks as though he actually might need a real one sooner than expected because of the 7 inspections requested so far, there are: 2 in UK, 2 in USA and one in Russia!
Philip
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
The way things are going, he might soon need one for Scotland and N Ireland ......philipy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 26, 2019 6:39 am Quick up date:
I must admit that personally I didn't see a whole lot of point to Peter's suggestion of a 'passport' for the inspector. However, it looks as though he actually might need a real one sooner than expected because of the 7 inspections requested so far, there are: 2 in UK, 2 in USA and one in Russia!
Rik
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
I don't have a railway for him to inspect yet, but I am hoping to get something started in my so-called "garden" sometime this summer, if I can. I'd love to support this fun activity in some way. I loved the old inspection thread- some of it was very funny. At the present time he could do a "works" visit at my house as a "consultant" rather than an inspector, or conversely if the timing could be arranged, I could take him on one of my visits to England, visit someone else's railway and do a cheeky "inspection" before posting him on.
I'm posting this here rather than on a PM because I don't know if these two ideas are rubbish and maybe I should wait until there's some rails actually in my garden.
I'm posting this here rather than on a PM because I don't know if these two ideas are rubbish and maybe I should wait until there's some rails actually in my garden.
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Hi Keith,
I see no probs with your suggestions, so could you drop me a PM please and I'll put you on the list in sequence. At present you'll be about 10th so he won't get to you until later this year at the earliest, I imagine.
I'm hoping we'll get things rolling sometime next week. Mr V. Isles, the previous inspector, seems to have permanantly retired, but I have been recommended to a Mr I. N. Spectre and he will be joining us as soon as he finishes with his current employer, at the end of this week.
I see no probs with your suggestions, so could you drop me a PM please and I'll put you on the list in sequence. At present you'll be about 10th so he won't get to you until later this year at the earliest, I imagine.
I'm hoping we'll get things rolling sometime next week. Mr V. Isles, the previous inspector, seems to have permanantly retired, but I have been recommended to a Mr I. N. Spectre and he will be joining us as soon as he finishes with his current employer, at the end of this week.
Philip
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Will be giving it a go, hopefully he can give a few pointers on the station line.....
ROD
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
I'm in! PM just sent. Looking forward to contributing, whenever it happens.
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
Yes please, I am sure a yard of the PMR could be resurrected for inspection or possibly my local ME track.
If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer!
Re: The Great Forum Railway Inspection
I don't know what others think (why do we say that? It's bloomin' obvious!), but I'd be interested in seeing a pre-build site survey. I'm sure there's plenty of opportunities for insights and humour in seeing how forward thinking might be going.
Rik
Rik
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