We need more like this...

[Peter Butler]

When I first got involved with a narrow gauge modelling group, my friends introduced me to wonderful new experiences and locations I had never heard of before. One of these was the Cadeby Light Railway, Leicestershire, UK. This was a private collection of traction engines, steam rollers, steam and diesel industrial narrow gauge locomotives and stock, model railway layout and other collectable railway items. All sited in and around Cadeby Rectory and overseen by Rev. Teddy Boston, an eccentric of the first order!
I was privileged enough to visit during an open day and ride behind 'Pixie', also to exhibit our 7mm narrow gauge layout in the village hall on another occasion.
The video attached shows the variety of the collection and the enthusiasm of Teddy to preserve as much as possible for the future. For me it was a very special occasion, which I will never forget.
Other videos are available on YouTube, one of which includes an interview with his widow who pointed out that he always wore sandals, but added that a pair of shoes were placed in his coffin so he could look smart when he met his God!



Do you have similar experiences?

[drewzero1]

If anybody else is a fan of the Railway Series and/or Thomas the Tank Engine, Rev. Teddy Boston may be familiar as the "fat clergyman" who discovered a long-lost engine by falling through the roof of a buried shed!

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My grandparents had a friend who was a railroad enthusiast and recognized that I was also very interested in trains. He took me trainspotting a few times in the local railyard, then a hub of activity for the Wisconsin Central railroad. He also took me to visit his model railroad club which had a very detailed HO scale layout inside a former Milwaukee Road depot... I was young and don't remember much, but it definitely inspired me for my own childhood HO layout.

This same gentleman stored a 50' wooden boxcar in my grandparents' barnyard. Unfortunately he never came back to restore it and it fell apart and was eventually burned. I kept a grab iron from it as well as one of the knuckle couplers, and I now have a model of that boxcar on my HO shelf layout.

https://www.mnrhs.org/about/our-home/

[philipy]

In similar vein, I did once meet Rev. Wilbur Awdrey ( Thomas the Tank Engine author). He was showing his Thomas layout at an exhibition that we were also showing at. Nothing remarkable about it, but it continues the Teddy Boston theme. Wilbur, of course, was in his own books as "The Thin Clergyman" ( which he was)!

[Preseli Chris]

Must be something about the clergy .
As a schoolboy way back when, my Art teacher who was a model railway enthusiast organised a trip to visit a model railway in Newquay Cornwall . The Railway was (is ) called Buckingham Great Central . As one walked into the room Buckingham was on the left wall, the line then travelled around the other two walls passing Grandborough Junction. before exiting into another room then returning back into the main room terminating at Leighton Buzzard. All of the model railway was scratch built, the track was em gauge . There was even a clockwork analogue type computer using punch cards to run the timetable . The owner, builder of the railway The Rev Peter Denny Allowed a few of us to operate a loco in the goods yard of Buckingham.
Ever Since that visit I have yet to see anything better imo. It became a benchmark for me and prompted my journey though my modelling of railways in various scales . His project commenced Back in 1947 . No Laser cutters ,3d printers not even plasticard . I am glad that his masterpiece lives on !

[Preseli Chris]

I must add that I visited this Railway back in 1971 when it was in its prime .The layout has aged somewhat after all its over 70 years young.

[philipy]

I've never seen it, but I do remember a lengthy series of articles in, I think, the Railway Modeller back in the 70'sor early 80's.

[Preseli Chris]

Yes Leighton Buzzard appeared in the mags a few times with its tweaked track layout.

[Peter Butler]

The layout has aged somewhat after all its over 70 years young.

It is an incredible piece of work and a great achievement by Peter to create such a thing, particularly with limited skills (at the start) and basic equipment too. So soon after WW2 with limited materials and our modern plastics etc. unavailable, it is even more astonishing achievement to produce such detail.
I also recall the many articles in model railway magazines and have always been in awe of Buckingham Great Central, in just the same way as John Ahern's Madder Valley Railway has inspired me over the years. I think both of these railways are enhanced by their current appearance, they should be preserved in their matured state and not cleaned up.

[Petersfield]

Re Buckingham GC, two books were published about the model.

https://britishrailwaybooks.co.uk/books ... 103143.php

https://britishrailwaybooks.co.uk/books ... 103216.php

Currently out of print but the titles may be available second-hand somewhere.

[ge_rik]

It was Peter Denny who inspired me to get out into the garden. His clockwork powered Trepolpen Light Railway was yet another masterpiece.

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Rik

[Preseli Chris]

IIRC there was a 3 1/2 " or 5" gauge railway in the front grounds of the vicarage.
Do you have a link for his clockwork line ? I would like to read up on it .

[ge_rik]

Hi Chris
I've not seen anything online, but when I get home I'll scan in the two articles from RM and send them to you via a pm

Rik

[Preseli Chris]

Hi Rik .
That's very kind of you .thank you.
Chris.

[Preseli Chris]

Hi Rik
Many thanks for taking the trouble to scan and send the Trepolpen article I will be printing it off shortly .

Chris

[Preseli Chris]

I was intrigued by the introduction and contents page of the August 1967 edition of RM with the mention of N gauge in the garden ! So much so I managed to hunt down a copy on Ebay. I remember now the August edition was /is dedicated to garden railways.

[philipy]

I was intrigued by the introduction and contents page of the August 1967 edition of RM with the mention of N gauge in the garden

Not my RM article, but back in 1975(!) I dabbled with N Gauge in the garden. We moved after only about 18months so that was the end of that experiment. The biggest problem was wind!

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[Preseli Chris]

I recently built a n gauge layout 7ft 6ins by 2ft 6ins and was able to run 6 coach trains without them looking as if they were chasing their tails. Your garden n gauge must have been interesting with scale length distances between stops and scale length trains .