At Royal Air Force North Luffenham 1960 ish a group of us decided to create the line from Oakham to Stamford. We visited Grandborough Junction and had an enjoyable evening watching the layout being operated. The hole in the wall was quite remarkable. We came away with lots of ideas for our own layout, BUT some sneaky thief decided to break into the building where we had our rolling stock and locomotives and stole it all, We were so demoralised that we gave it up. The spirit still lives on though.
Hi Tony g I was wondering if you could help rev peter denny was my grandfather I am Stevens denny son Matthew I was wondering if I could get any contact info for Crispen any help would be great and love to see the railway is being put to good use
Fantastic achievement ! Well done to yourselves and colleagues on the re-creation. I heard that a lot of the wiring was buried behind scenic sections etc. dismantling alone must have been a very tricky job.....Rev. PD explains in a book of mine about how he wanted a hobby with industrial archeology, artistic scope and craft skills involved - well he certainly found that "in-spades !" A great inspiration to other modellers that there is often a simple way to do everything.....
An insperation to us all. As a kid, this layout just blew me away with the detail and the fact it was all scratch built. My view 60 years later is still the same. Thank you for sharing this masterpiece with us.
I remember seeing this wonderful layout featured in a Railway Modeller or Model Railway Constructor many years ago. To me, it is quite wonderful to see that Rev Denny’s vision lives on. And to see that it is in good hands. This has made my day to see this again!
It was a delight to stay for B&B in the vicarage with the Denny’s. The highlight was an evening spent operating the layout and having Peter tell me all about it. I was rostered to shunting the yard at Grandborough Junction. His like has never occurred again. A unique layout built by sheer genius.
Fascinating that he built so much himself. Can't really see the fun in simply buying all the bits that most train-hobbyists use. That's just playing with tiny toys. What the Rev. Denny did is a hobby.
Good morning, what Hornby type7 X... or L... number worm is compatible with the 40 tooth brass or nylon gear? I can't see or find that anywhere. Even Hornby technical Service don't know.
I was delighted to learn that this railway has been preserved. It was one of the first "proper" model railways I ever saw featured in a magazine (about 1961, aged about 13). I saw Rev. Denny once at a model show, and asked him if he ever hosted visitors to see the layout. He said at once that I was welcome to do so. He was retired and living in Truro. When my work took me to Truro a couple of years later I phoned him and asked if I could visit. He said it was best to come on a Saturday evening, and he was free that weekend. I was supposed to leave on the Friday, but postponed my departure by a day! He spent virtually the whole evening showing me round, and allowing me to operate trains. At one point he said he thought his work wasn't all that good. I replied that, in that case, I wished I was as bad a modeller as he was. He was generous with his time (and tea and biscuits). I was glad I had had the opportunity, as he died a few years later. Definitely one of the classic railway modellers.
@@brucewoods9377 Hi Bruce, apologies i've been having a few issues with Ebay recently , especially the replacement for paypal for sellers. as you are in OZ I am happy to ship to you from here (NZ) if you pay directly into my ANZ account? I will work out postage, how many do you want? cheers Kevin.
So great to see that Buckingham has been saved in an appreciative home. Well done! and thank you to all concerned. A fascinating commentary explains why Buckingham was to far ahead of so many other layouts of the time. My friend's dad took Railway Modeller each month and we looked forward to reading all about the latest developments on the line. Thanks for the insights and for sharing this great video!
I watched this layout grow from his articles in the Railway Modeller through the early 1960s.He did like his scribed Merco smokey brick paper,it`s really missed today.
I am an Italian railway railwaymen and railway model maker and I am 60 years old. I use the HO scale, but have read several books written by British model railway masters including Buckingham Great Central (1972 edition). I believe that even today, in the age of the computer, of digital modeling (I work in analogue with vintage models, 50s-80s of the last century) of layouts such as Buckingham, Edward Beal's West Midland and John Ahern's Madder Valley, can be an example and an inspiration for young model makers. Thank you for being an example, Reverend Peter, and I hope that one day in Heaven I will be able to give you my hand! Excuse me if have a maked mistake, my English is DIY!
I first saw Buckingham around 1964 an article in railway modeller so impressed then and nothing like it finished up its kept me inspired all these years and I'm so grateful that it's been saved by someone who cares about it, thank you
Thanks for this. I remember many articles about Buckingham in Railway Modeller in the 70’s and 80’s. Finally seeing it in this video really brings it to life after seeing (the mainly) black and white photos of those articles. A real revelation.
This was my favorite layout as a child in the mid1980s , and still is. I became aware of this layout from "The Encyclopedia of Model Railways" , which I still have. I always tried to emulate Buckingham's buildings when I scratchbuilt models for my layout. I would read and re-read the segment on Buckingham in the Encyclopedia and just lust at the pictures.
Great to see them out of the cupboard! Lovely layout, happy to have found it. Love that 37!! Beautiful. Would definitely like to see more of this, consider me subbed! Thanks for sharing. Cheers.
A wonderful layout, well ahead of its time. Glad to see it has a good new home 😊😊 The Rev's work, his speed of loco building? Remarkable! I wish I could build a loco that quickly from a kit, let alone from scratch!
It was my & my late wife's delight to have a holiday with Peter & his wife Silvia, at their vicarage in Newlyn East in 1978. His skill was without question, I loved his garden railway too. Thank you for your efforts in restoring this work of art.
I remember it well from the old Model Railway News (2/-). I still model according to the methods suggested by Ernest F.Carter in his Model Railway Encyclopaedia.
