Mantles Wood - Not finished yet!

Thanks for the update.

It's always nice to see your incredible workmanship and modelling skills.

Just a very brief update. I've been working along the end wall last winter and this spring (approx 13ft). Every time I think I'm nearly ready to post something, more problems/ideas arise. The area beyond the tracks is pretty well done. The line is the area beyond electrification (apart from the turnback siding), though LT stock may still appear in the shape of steam-hauled Dreadnoughts, and coal trains to/from Aylesbury.

Off picture I've been working on the Up and Down goods loops, and a couple of nearly disused sidings which I hope will feature before end-June.

rev back wall scenic work a by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

rev back wall scenic work b by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

Wonderful!

It’s been a while since the last full update and quite a lot happened in the world in the first half of 1960. We started the year with Emile Ford and the Checkmates at No.1 and this held the position until almost the end of January. Some number 1’s were long stayers like Lonnie Donnegan and the Everly Brothers whilst others just had a one or two week moment of glory.

Jan 29th Starry Eyed – Michael Holliday
Feb 5th Why – Anthony Newley
Mar 10th Poor Me – Adam Faith
Mar 17th Running Bear – Johnny Preston
Mar 31st My Old Man’s A Dustman – Lonnie Donegan
Apr 28th Do You Mind? – Anthony Newley
May 5th Cathy’s Clown – Everly Brothers
June 23rd Three Steps To Heaven – Eddie Cochran – becoming UK’s 2nd posthumous No.1 in just over a year.

Other events at home and abroad:

January 2: John F Kennedy announces his candidacy for US President.
January 3 Constance Spry (florist and author) died
January 5 – closure of the Swansea and Mumbles Railway
January 6 Nigella Lawson born
January 9: In Egypt, the building of the Aswan dam starts.
January 10 – British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan makes the "Wind of Change" speech for the first time, to little publicity, in Accra, Gold Coast (now Ghana).
January 12 Neville Shute (author) died
January 14: Elvis Presley in promoted to Sergeant in the US Army.
January 18 Mark Rylance (actor) born

During January (not sure of exact date) the state of emergency due to the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya was lifted by Britain, though it wouldn’t be until August 2003 that the Kenyan govt lifted their ban on the Mau Mau organisation.

February 3: Harold Macmillan, makes his Wind of Change speech in Africa, against the apartheid regime angering South African politicians. If at first you don’t succeed…..
February 8: Queen Elizabeth II announces her and her family will be known as the House of Windsor, and her descendents will take the name Mountbatten-Windsor.
February 8 Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (architect) died. Amongst a long list of projects were Battersea and Bankside power stations, the iconic red phone box, and the Guinness brewery at Park Royal
February 19 – the Queen gives birth to her third child and second son, the first child born to a reigning British monarch since 1857. It wouldn’t be until 1989 that Cher would record ‘If I Could Turn Back Time…….’
February 29: The first Playboy Club opens in Chicago.
February 29 – Edwina Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma died, last Vicereine of India (born 1901)

March 5: Elvis Presley finishes with the US Army after 2 years of service.
March 14 – Jodrell Bank Observatory makes contact with the American Pioneer 5 over a record-breaking distance of 407,000 miles.
March 16 Jenny Eclair born
March 22: The first patent for lasers was granted to Arthur Schawlow and Charles Townes
March 24 Grayson Perry born
March 26 – the Grand National is televised for the first time. The winner - Merryman II.
March 28 – Cheapside Street Whisky Bond Fire in Glasgow; 19 firemen killed in the UK's worst peacetime fire services disaster.

April 1 – Bill Griggs of Northampton first markets the Dr. Martens 'AirWair' style boots.
April 2 Linford Christie born
April 3: In RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee, Elvis Presley records “It’s Now or Never”, “Fever” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight”.
April 11 Jeremy Clarkson born (must admit it feels like he’s been on our screens longer than that)
April 13 – UK announces cancellation of the Blue Streak missile.
April 14: The first underwater launch of a Polaris missile occurs.
April 16 – The Times newspaper stops use of the term "Imperial and Foreign News", replacing it with "Overseas News"
April 16 American rock and roll singer Eddie Cochran, 21, is badly injured in a car crash in Chippenham Wiltshire and died in hospital in Bath in the early hours of April 17.
April 22 Gary Rhodes (chef) born (died 2019)
April 27 – The first production of Harold Pinter's play The Caretaker at the Arts Theatre in London.
April 30 – Yorkshire County Cricket Club opens its first season since 1883 under a professional captain, Vic Wilson, who leads the club to the County Championship. Obviously no truth in the rumour the 1st professional captain would be Willie Eckerslyke.

May 1: (Francis) Gary Powers’ U-2 spy plane is shot down by Russia
May 1 – Charles Holden (born 1875), architect and designer of over 40 stations in the London area died
May 3: The Anne Frank House opens in Amsterdam.
May 6: Dwight D Eisenhower (US President, not 60008) signs the Civil Rights Act in 1960
May 6 – Princess Margaret marries photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey in the first televised Royal wedding
May 7 – Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Blackburn Rovers 3–0 in the FA cup final
May 10: John F. Kennedy wins a primary in West Virginia. He would go on to become president of the United States in Nov1961 election.
May 11: Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann is captured by Israeli soliders in Buenos Aires. He is later tried under the Piracy laws, in which pirates can be punished wherever apprehended.
May 24 Kristin Scott Thomas and Guy Fletcher (Dire Straits) are born

June 7 – Sir Maurice Bonham Carter and English Liberal politician and cricketer (born 1880) died, (grand-father to Helena Bonham Carter)
June 8 Mick Hucknall born, and now he’s holding back the years.
June 16: Psycho directed by Alfred Hitchcock opened in New York City – never has cocoa powder been so scary.

In 2015 Mark Rylance would play the part of Russian spy Rudolf Abel in the film Bridge of Spies, where he was exchanged for Gary Powers.

Some time in 1960 (date unknown) an 8 year old Jill Viner would decide she wanted to become a bus driver. It would be 1974 at the age of 22 that she became LT’s first female bus driver, working out of Norbiton garage.

On the Mantles Wood layout I’ve been working on the section beyond electrification, which means there will be fewer opportunities for LT rolling stock. The proposition being that the goods area was expanded between the wars for the area to become a dormitory town for expanding Aylesbury, but the population and thus traffic, never came.

Neasden’s 80147 pulls away from Mantles Wood with a train of Dreadnoughts bound for Aylesbury and is seen passing the goods yard in the going-away shot.

rev 80147 and Dreadnoughts front by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr
rev 80147 and Dreadnoughts rear by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

D5000 passes Neasden’s 80143 with a Banbury-Marylebone train of milk tankers. D5000 did actually work on the Great Central route, albeit a bit after my timescale. The standard 4MT is in the Up and Down goods loop with a short parcels.

rev D500_80143 by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

L99 has been to Aylesbury to pick up a short rake of coal wagons for Neasden but must wait in the loop – possibly for the guard to sort out a tail lamp.

rev L99 rear by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

And here we see why L99 was waiting. B1 61186 works a Nottingham-Marylebone express with quite a decent load including a buffet car. When the London Midland region take over, this will be reduced to four BR Mk1’s with no buffet, working to a semi-fast timetable as they’ll be promoting their soon to be upgraded WCML.

rev B1 and L99 by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

The future? There’s an area at the end of the scenic section which is left to finish. On original plans, this would have been a job for next winter/spring. At one time I was hoping activities for seniors would become easier this autumn but the practicalities of getting out of lockdown aren’t easy.

rev final scenic area cropped by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

The U3A is very active in Newcastle Emlyn and I used to go to at least one activity per week. Also short mat (ie indoor) bowls should have restarted in the autumn (1 match and 1 practice per week). Although west Wales is relatively ‘safe’ compared with some parts of UK, all these activities are people over 60 in halls of various sizes, so in varying degrees of close contact for 2-3 hours at a time which pushes up the risk. There’s also the weekly O gauge model railway club where it will be difficult to distance. So, it’s possible the next lot of scenic work may have to fill my time sooner rather than later. We shall see.

J15 65405 was kept at Aylesbury for working the Watlington branch but did escape on other duties.

rev J15 Watlingon goods by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

Thompson L1 67778 with a rake of Gresley stock heads north for Aylesbury. From the cab of a southbound DMU we can see the empty goods yard.

rev L1 heads for Aylesbury crop by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

Great to see another update and further progress. The photography is also great and I'd be interested to know how you achieve the clarity and depth of focus.

Also, and perhaps here is not the place (Mods feel free to split off) what would have been the effect on the Dreadnought carriages of running "off the juice", if any?

Looking forwards to future updates.

Summer/Autumn 1960 was quite eventful. Several No.1’s hit the charts, all of which are still played as classics. I wonder how many 2020 No.1’s will be regarded the same way in 2080?

7 July Good Timin’ Jimmie Jones
28July Please Don’t Tease Cliff and the Shadows
04Aug Shakin’ All Over – Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
11Aug Please Don’t Tease Cliff and the Shadows 2 more weeks
25Aug Apache – the Shadows
29Sep Tell Laura I love Her – Ricky Valance 1st male Welsh singer to have No1 hit (Shirley Bassey had previously hit No.1 being the 1st Welsh person overall)
20Oct Only The Lonely – Roy Orbison
03Nov It’s Now Or Never – Elvis


July 1: Following a treaty signed in 1958, as of this day in 1960, no passports are needed inside Benelux. The three neighbouring countries that make up the Benelux are Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
July 4: America’s new 50-star flag is revealed to include Hawaii.
July 6: Barbara Moore completed 3,200 mile walk LA to NYC
July 6: Aneurin Bevan, Welsh Labour politician and father of NHS, died
July 10 Belgium sends troops to Congo
July 11 Moise Tsjombe declares Congolese county Katanga independent
July 11 – Caroline Quentin, English television comedy actress born
July 13 – Ian Hislop British broadcaster and editor born,
July 21 - Mrs Bandaranaike becomes the world's 1st female elected head of government, as Prime Minister of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
July 21 Francis Chichester arrives in NY aboard Gypsy Moth II, setting record of 40 days for a solo Atlantic crossing

Aug 6 Chubby Checker performs his version of "The Twist" on "The Dick Clark Show" starting a worldwide dance craze
Aug 7 – the Bluebell Railway in Sussex begins regular operation as the first standard gauge steam-operated passenger heritage railway in the world.
Aug 14 – Sarah Brightman, English soprano singer and actress born
Aug 17 Francis Gary Powers U-2 spy trial opens in Moscow
August 17th or 18th (sources vary): The Beatles, with their original drummer Pete Best, perform their first public performance at the Indra Club in Hamburg.
Aug 27 British swimmer Anita Lonsbrough sets 200m breaststroke world record for the gold medal at the Rome Olympics
Aug 30 East Germany imposes a partial blockade on West Berlin

Sep 5 Cassius Clay [Muhammad Ali] beats 3-time European champion Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland by unanimous points decision to win Olympic light heavyweight boxing gold medal at the Rome Games
Sep 8 German Democratic Republic limits access to East-Berlin for West Berliners
Sep 9 – Hugh Grant, English actor born
Sep 10 - Colin Firth, English actor born
Sep 10 – ITV broadcasts the first live Football League match to be shown on television, and the last for 23 years
Sep 15 – First traffic wardens deployed in London
Sep 15 – Danny John-Jules, English dancer and actor born
Sep 17 - Damon Hill, English racing driver born
Sep 26 Cuban leader Fidel Castro delivers a 4 hour and 29 minute long speech at the United Nations
Sep 27 – Sylvia Pankhurst, English suffragette (born 1882) died, poss of boredom listening to that speech
Sep 30 "The Flintstones" animated sitcom created by Hanna-Barbera premieres on ABC in the US

Oct 6 "Spartacus", directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier, premieres in NYC
Oct 8 – closure of the original Sheffield Tramway, leaving Blackpool as the only place in England with electric trams
Oct 12 Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev bangs his shoe on his desk at UN General Assembly session
Oct 19 US imposes embargo on exports to Cuba
Oct 21 1st British nuclear sub HMS Dreadnought launched
Oct 25 – barges collide with one of the columns of the Severn Railway Bridge in heavy fog, causing two spans of the steel and cast iron bridge to collapse. It is never repaired.
Oct 27 Singer Ben E. King records "Spanish Harlem" & "Stand By Me"
Oct 29 Cassius Clay's [Muhammad Ali] 1st professional fight; beats Tunney Hunsaker on points Louisville, Kentucky
Oct 30 – Michael Woodruff performs the first successful kidney transplantation in the UK, at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Nov 2 Penguin Books cleared of obscenity for publishing DH Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover. The Crown’s case was probably demolished with a single out of touch sentence by their QC to the jury “Is it a book that you would even wish your wife or your servants to read?"
Nov 8 John F. Kennedy is elected President of the United States, defeating Republican candidate Richard Nixon who was the incumbent Vice President
Nov 16 – Gilbert Harding, radio and television personality died, especially known for ‘What’s My Line?’ – Who can forget the time he correctly guessed a contestant was a saggar maker’s bottom knocker?

So what’s been happening on Mantle’s Wood? As I feared the general inability to socialise in any numbers curtailed activities through the summer and autumn, meaning I spent far more time in the garage than would be normal. The missing corner has been filled. It took me 2 goes as there needed to be a slope upwards from the end of the yard to the backscene, and another slope from the inside of the layout to the tracks – I’m unable so far to get a decent shot showing this as the camera would need to be on the far side and all attempts to show this have failed.

A view of the final corner of scenic work:
rev Corner view by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

The north end of the yard is now complete apart from a few details:
rev lunchtime by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

During the summer I bought a 3D printed body of a 97xx class condensing pannier which fits on Hornby J52 chassis (and I believe the Railroad version of the Jinty):
rev 9703 by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

The new order of things represented by a bubble car (later to become Class 122) with tail load for parcels:
rev Class 122 with load by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

The old order still hangs on as C13 67420 departs with a push-pull set:
rev Push Pull set a by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

For the future I need to return to the station area, as I’d left it ‘ok for a quick view’ but needing a lot more detailed work. I also have more calls on my time with these 2 scamps.

Last winter I’d decided to get either a rescue dog or cat, and with the likelihood of another winter without being able to get out to group activities made serious enquiries this autumn. In the end I decided against a dog (though I love them). The need to turn out twice a day or more in prolonged bad weather coupled with advancing years means cats would be better.

rev 10Oct20 Togetherness by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

The pair I have are works in progress. They came as a pair as they’d bonded strongly in the rescue centre. The little one is said to be an exotic cross and is actually 6 years old, with a heart murmur but is a sweet little thing (Spangle). Nephy is twice her size, 5 years old and is said to be a Selkirk Rex cross. I was told she wouldn’t be a lap cat but wasn’t told she wouldn’t let me touch her…… though in fact she follows me around like a little doggie – just don’t touch!

What of the future? The date of my layout is a bit fluid 1957-61 so I can justify various things that were just coming in, or still hanging on, so maybe I can do some updating for early 1961 next time.

Not a lot happening with No.1 records since the last update, as Elvis stayed at the top for 8 weeks:

03Nov 1960 It’s Now Or Never – Elvis for 8 weeks
31Dec 1960 I Love You - Cliff Richard and the Shadows for 2 weeks
14Jan 1961 Poetry In Motion - Johnny Tillotson also for 2 weeks

Despite this update covering a fairly short period it’s clear with hindsight just how much the ending of the colonial era in Africa was moving ahead, not to mention the situation worsening in Vietnam without us really appreciating the gravity.


08Nov John F. Kennedy is elected President of the United States, defeating Republican candidate Richard Nixon who was the incumbent Vice President
10Nov – Lady Chatterley's Lover sells 200,000 copies in one day following its publication since being banned since 1928. (You’ll recall the court case at the end of the last update)
12Nov Coup against South Vietnamese President fails
14Nov Belgium threatens to leave UN due to criticism on its policy on Congo
23Nov Tinseltown dedicated its Walk of Fame at Hollywood Blvd & Vine St
27Nov Dr Felix Houphouet-Boigny becomes president of Ivory Coast, a post he would hold until late 1993.
28Nov Mauritania gains independence from France

01Dec Paul McCartney and Pete Best arrested then deported from Hamburg, Germany for accusation of attempted arson.
02Dec – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, talks with Pope John XXIII in the Vatican, the first ever meeting between the leader of the Anglican Church and the Pope.
07Dec Ivory Coast claims independence from France
09Dec 1st broadcast of "Coronation Street" on British ITV
10Dec Willard Libby won the Nobel prize in Chemistry for his work developing carbon-14 dating. Kenneth Branagh born, Northern Irish actor and director
14Dec – Chris Waddle born, English footballer and commentator
16Dec TWA 266 & United 826 collide over Staten Island, killing 134
20Dec The National Liberation Front, better known as the Viet Cong, is officially formed in South Vietnam
24Dec – Carol Vorderman born, British television presenter
27Dec – Maryam d'Abo born, British actress (The Living Daylights)
31Dec Last day on which the farthing is legal tender. The last man is called up for National Service, as Conscription ends. Steve Bruce born, football player and manager

01Jan 1961 Betting and Gaming Act 1960 comes into force, permitting operation of commercial bingo halls. Fiona Phillips, journalist and television presenter and Mark Wingett, British actor, both born
02Jan Neil Dudgeon, English actor born
03Jan US breaks diplomatic relations with Cuba
07Jan Members of the Soviet Portland Spy Ring are arrested in London (and charged 2 days later). The Avengers television series first screened on ITV.
08Jan The French vote for Algerian independence from France in the wake of seven years of guerrilla war
13Jan – Graham McPherson born, British singer aka Suggs
15Jan Berry Gordy signed The Supremes with Motown Records


It wouldn’t be until January 1974 that the first would be a public holiday in England, but as it happens 1st Jan 1961 was on a Sunday so the power was switched off and some engineering work took place. A couple of rakes of LT wagons, plus a BR rake consisting of a 97xx plus Grampus wagons. A shuttle service was run between Mantles Wood and Amersham using one of the new railcars (later to become Class 121).
I’ve been waiting a few days to get the photos back from Boots. It would be nice to think our scientists could develop something faster, what with us now being in the space age. It wouldn’t be until 1977 (in Canada) that I would have my first experience of 1 hour photo machines. How revolutionary that was!

Despite service being severely curtailed there are still a few takers.
rev a tight view 800px by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

BR’s share of the work was undertaken with this 97xx and Grampus wagons
rev b 97xx with Grampus wagons by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

Pannier L92 simmers gently whilst not a lot is happening
rev d L92 800px by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

The ‘bubble car’ departs for Amersham
rev c DMU arriving 800px by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

Very good again-pleased to see your prospective passengers dressed up when going out, as was the case then.

Never noticed before, but doesn't the GT3 have very sad eyes? And a rather resigned mouth?

Must be anticipating Beeching before he was even summoned by Marples. There's an excellent metaphor in your modelling-fine artistic touch.

Hope Jago Peters didn't suffer from the cold down there, either.

Was that concrete station name with seat and two adverts scratchbuilt?

I'd like something similar for what I am doing - but I want the version with lights (preferably working - an smd LED should make this possible)

Thank you. This will save me from trying to make my own using plasticard or something... I like this version having seats but was really hoping for a version that had lights - which could be adapted to actually work. Maybe what I should do is get the drawings (if possible) and have it 3D printed.




Photo from here:

c20society.org.uk/building-of-the-month/loughton-station-essex

With a relatively short time since the last update, we only have some minor changes at the top of the charts:

Aug 3rd – Well I Ask You, Eden Kane
Aug 10th – You Don’t Know, Helen Shapiro
Aug 31St – Johnny Remember Me, John Leyton (which would be there until Sep21st)

Aug 1 Australian cricket captain Richie Benaud takes 6 for 70 in England's 2nd innings at Old Trafford
Aug 1 German DR limits traffic to West Berlin
Aug 2 The Beatles 1st gig as house band of Liverpool's Cavern Club
Aug 3 Suicide Act 1961 decriminalises acts of, or attempts at suicide in England and Wales.
Aug 7 Cosmonaut Gherman Titov circles Earth for a full day in Vostok 2
Aug 7 Soviet premier Khrushchev predicts USSR economy will surpass US (wonder how that will turn out?)
Aug 10 UK applies for membership of the European Common Market (wonder how that will turn out….)
Aug 13 Construction of the Berlin Wall begins in East Germany
Aug 21 Jomo Kenyatta released from jail after 9 years in Kenya (we called it keenya in those days)
Aug 21 American country singer Patsy Cline records "Crazy"
Aug 23 East Germany imposes new curbs on travel between West & East Berlin
Aug 26 – Police launch a manhunt for the perpetrator of the A6 murder, who shot dead 36-year-old Michael Gregsten and paralysed Valerie Storie. This would be known as the Hanratty case. After long running campaigns to prove his innocence, DNA evidence in the early 2000’s would confirm his guilt.
Aug 30 James Benton Parsons is confirmed as 1st African American judge of a US District Court
Aug 30 USSR says it will resume nuclear testing
Sep 1 USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR (thanks for the head’s up)
Sep 5 USA begins underground nuclear testing
Sep 5 US President JFK signs law against hijacking (death penalty)
Sep 5 USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
Sep 6 USSR performs nuclear test at Kapustin Yar USSR
Sep 10 USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR (can’t be many parts of Russia contamination-free by now)
A few notable births but no deaths:
Aug 7 Brian Conley, comedian, television presenter, singer and actor, and Walter Swinburn, English flat racing jockey and trainer (died 2016)
Aug 8 Simon Weston, Falklands war hero
Aug 16 Saskia Reeves, actress
Aug 18 Huw Edwards, Welsh television journalist and news presenter


2nd September was the last Saturday of summer dated trains that year. You could still see sights like ex-GWR locos pulling ex-SR stock on workings like Wolverhampton-Margate with 6942 Eshton Hall.

rev 6942 Eshton Hall 800px by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

Meanwhile a typically unkempt Black Five 44663 hauls a uid summer Saturday extra.

rev Black 5 unkempt 44663 800px by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

Ex LNER D11’s could still be seen in frontline service on a Saturday though this isn’t a summer dated train. 62663 Prince Albert is working a Nottingham-Marylebone footex. Nottingham Forest were playing West Ham in the English League Division 1 (the top flight at the time). West Ham would win 3-2 though this was before the time football hooligans took it out on BR carriages after they lost.

rev ex LNER D11 62663 Prince Albert 800px by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

There was some excitement locally when spotters heard that silver stock would finally appear but it turned out to be new 1959 stock on a mileage accumulation run rather than the hoped-for A stock.

rev 1959 stock 800px by Sarah S1ddons, on Flickr

I’m looking at making some of these for my Harrow layout so I’ll let you know how it goes.