Marcus' Model Railway Journey

I took Cleo out today for some shopping and just to get her out of the house for a bit of fresh air and sun.

We popped to Hobbycraft and she bought tons of wool for her crochet.

We did some food shopping at Asda and Aldi then we went to Lord & Butler to see if there was any train stuff I needed.


Here are the colours she chose: Steel Blue, Soft Green, Orange, Purple, Pink, Cream and Pumpkin.

Friday 25th April 2025



ETHNONRAIL UPDATE

Second-hand items purchased from Lord And Butler



Hornby R237 Blue Circle Cement Wagon
AIRFIX 54200 BR INTERCITY BLUE GREY MK2 2nd CLASS BRAKE COACH
AIRFIX 54201 BR INTERCITY BLUE GREY MK2 1st CLASS OPEN COACH

Hornby R237 Blue Circle Cement Wagon

AIRFIX 54200-5 BR INTERCITY BLUE GREY MK2 2nd CLASS BRAKE COACH

AIRFIX 54201-8 BR INTERCITY BLUE GREY MK2 1st CLASS OPEN COACH

From my book of 'British Railway Locomotives'
London Midland Region Coronation Class 4-6-2 No.46250 "City of Lichfield"

TNPV Stars

TNPU

28th April, 2025

Steam locomotive 35028 Clan Line is last steam train to pass Surrey and Hampshire signal boxes​

The last steam train to pass through through Haslemere


Last Saturday, 26th April, three manual signal boxes in the south of England at Farncombe, Petersfield, and Haslemere marked their imminent retirement by signalling a steam-hauled train through their area.

This was a moment of railway history as it was the last time that the signal boxes, located between Farncombe in Surrey and Petersfield in Hampshire, would signal a steam train.

The train was hauled by Merchant Navy Class No. 35028 Clan Line, on the first leg of a nine-day tour of the UK by the Great Britain XVII rail tour.

On this first day of the tour, the train travelled between London Victoria and Bristol via Haslemere, Southampton, and Salisbury.

Later this year, the signalling systems between Farncombe and Petersfield will be upgraded, and control will be transferred from the three signal boxes to the Rail Operating Centre (ROC) at Basingstoke.

The retirement of the three signal boxes is part of wider upgrades to the line between London and Portsmouth, and the replacement of the existing signalling systems by new digital signalling technology.

The upgraded signalling will make services more reliable and enable the capacity of the line to be increased to allow operation of more and faster train services.

Inside Haslemere signal box


After signalling systems from Farncombe, Petersfield, and Haslemere signal boxes have been transferred to the Basingstoke ROC, they will be decommissioned.

However, Haslemere signal box, which has been signalling trains since 1895, will still have a future as it will be converted into a small museum to be run by the Haslemere Community Station and Signal Box Trust.

The last steam train through Haslemere was signalled by Ashley Hillier, a signaller at Network Rail, who commented that it was an honour to be part of this fantastic piece of history and to get to take part and to cherish that in his memories.

It was fantastic and he was very, very, proud.

Inside Haslemere signal box


“We are determined to preserve the Haslemere Signal Box as an educational facility for future generations to enjoy and celebrate the railway’s heritage in this year of Railway 200. We would like to thank NR for their constructive support in our endeavour, and look forward to being able to open the signal box up to the public in the very near future.”

Ken Griffiths, Chairman of the Haslemere Community Station and Signal Box Trust

Stamps

Here are the commemorative stamps that were issued here in the UK in 1964.

Shakespeare Festival​

April 23 1964
Commemorative

Puck and Bottom (A Midsummer Night's Dream), 3d
Feste (Twelfth Night), 6d
Balcony Scene (Romeo and Juliet), 1s3d
'Eve of Agincourt' (Henry V), 1s6d
Hamlet contemplating Yorick's skull (Hamlet) and Queen Elizabeth II, 2s6d


Presentation Pack - Shakespeare Festival

20th International Geographical Congress, London​

July 1 1964
Commemorative

Flats near Richmond Park (Urban Development), 2½d
Shipbuilding Yards, Belfast (Industrial Activity), 4d
Beddgelert Forest Park, Snowdonia (Forestry), 8d
Nuclear Reactor, Dounreay (Technological Development), 1s6d


Presentation Pack - 20th International Geographical Congress, London

Tenth International Botanical Congress, Edinburgh​

August 5 1964
Commemorative

Spring Gentian, 3d
Dog Rose, 6d
Honeysuckle, 9d
Fringed Water Lily, 1s3d


Presentation Pack - Tenth International Botanical Congress, Edinburgh

Opening of Forth Road Bridge​

September 4 1964
Commemorative

Forth Road Bridge, 3d
Forth Road Bridge and Railway Bridges, 6d


Presentation Pack - Opening of Forth Road Bridge

Meanwhile....In Ireland, my Nan was selling these stamps to her customers.

Birth Bicentenary of Wolfe Tone (revolutionary)

13 April 1964
Commemorative

Wolfe Tone, 4d Black
Wolfe Tone, 1s.3d Ultramarine

New York World's Fair

20 July 1964
Commemorative

Irish Pavilion at Fair, 5d. blue-grey, brown, violet and yellow-olive
Irish Pavilion at Fair, 1s.5d. blue-grey, brown, turquoise blue and light yellow-green

Europa

14 September 1964
Commemorative

Europa “Flower”, 8d. olive-green and blue
Europa “Flower”, 1s.5d. red-brown and orange