A upload of a recent news articel about Buckingham Great Central Model Railway. please note I not affiliated or associated with the wonderful Buckingham Great Central Model Railway and have uploaded this for pure enjoyment only.
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 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.
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
Denny was the absolute master of the complete railway, nothing looks better than anything else, it’s muted, artistically and aesthetically very pleasing and runs well in a proper railway like manner Lovely to see this, long live Buckingham GC.
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!
What a wonderful surprise to see Buckingham Great Central, once again! Back in the late 1960s, I was visiting friends in Cornwall. Knowing that I was a keen model railway fan. They arranged for us to go and see the Vicker's model railway. Imagine my surprise and excitement when I saw and instantly recognised that it was Buckingham Great Central. Having read all about it in Railway Modeler. Seeing everything for real just blew my socks off... The incredible attention to detail. Everything scratch built and the sheer size of this wonderful example of a master modellers ability and dedication to his hobby. Peter was very generous in giving us a demonstration... The gas works idea went on to be incorporated into my own layout (currently resting in the attack at my daughter's house in Holand). The trains really had somewhere to go... Through the tunnel (hole in the wall) to the next room. This somehow made everything seem even more realistic, I believe Crispin was away at University at the time however, Peter also showed us his layout in an elongated dogs bone formation situated downstairs. Thank you for saving Buckingham Great Central and for reviving a pleasant memory from so long ago!
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.
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.
I was introduced to Buckingham Great Central in the 'The Encyclopedia of Model Railroads' by Octopus Books Ltd. (1979) that I bought as a teenager in suburban Detroit in the early 1980's. This book introduced me to British trains and still has great sentimental value for me. I'm glad to see this landmark layout actively preserved. This is the first I've seen of it in other than photographs, and in action. Wonderful! Thank you, sir.
Buckingham is my all time favourite model railway. It is such an inspiring piece of design and craftsmanship. I have many of the original railway magazines with articles by Peter Denny as well as the two books that were published. I have reread them many times. It's wonderful to know that the layout lives on and is still being enjoyed. I was always amazed by the automatic Crispin. Good luck with the future restoration work.
More of a miniature railway than a model. It has more of reality about it than many of the creations you see these days on the 'exhibition circuit'. Thanks for uploading.
I had no idea that the legend lived. I remember this layout from boyhood days. So glad to see it loved and cherished. Thank you for a most interesting talk through.
Ah, Peter Denny's Buckingham GC, Granborough Junct and Leighton Buzzard etc. Memories of inspirational Railway Modeller articles from the late 1950's, 60's, 70's etc etc. Among many iconic layouts of the time, Id have to place this and P D Hancock's Craig and Mertonford saga as the most inspirational and memorable. Reflecting on it now, I can fully appreciate the vast amount of work, creativity and, not too much of a exaggeration, modelling genius that went into it. the sheer ingenuity, given the lack of ready made items, is staggering. And to think, he built an excellent garden railway as well. Occasionally, one of his sons would appear in a magazine article photo and I remember wishing that I was one of their friends, invited to the vicarage for play and tea! Very well done to those who are now curating this marvelous layout.
What a resplendent layout nothing I enjoy more than a model railway that is operated like a railway. No dcc block detection automation. A thoroughly desirable drivers seat to operate a magnificent layout
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.
Well there is a delightful memory brought back for me. Like many others I fell in love with this railway the first time I saw it in the Railway Modeller. I am pleased it is with someone who appreciates the layout rather then stuck in some museum somewhere like the remains of something from the past. Thank you for sharing.
It is good to see a well known model railroad is being preserved along with the memory of the builder.Sadly the work on this side of the ocean the work of modelers such as Ellison or Armstrong live in memory only.
Thank you so much for posting this. There is not enough online about Buckingham Great Central. One great facet of this model railway is that it is not a model of a single station but a system. Most model railways are of one location or station and trains arrive and depart but here one sees both ends of the operation in many cases. In Buckingham Mk.I as described by Peter Denny in Buckingham Great Central pt.I published by Wild Swan Publications there are illustrations of the Mk.I version which bears almost no relation to this much more spread out and sparsely populated with greater space between stations and that has an even greater feel of a real railway (in my opinion) than does the later and grander incarnation. This layout really is a marvel and it is comforting to know that it is in good hands. This was after all nearly a lifetimes work and an inspiration to so many. As Peter Denny said it was all his own work.
How fantastic is this, certainly the Buckingham Great Central has ended up in the right hands. Lets hope he has the courage to continue and get the Automatic Crispen running again too. Definitely hats off for what they have achieved, I'm sure Peter is willing this man and his team on.
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.
I have a memory of an operating session with the late Peter Denny. A member of my local model railway club in Cornwall arranged a visit to the layout back in the early/mid 1970's. It was a great evening. One of the trains split, so in keeping with prototype practice, someone sent the 'train divided' bell code - and stopped the whole layout. Why? The 'automatic Crispin' didn't recognise the code sent!!! It took a while to re-set the system! That night the whole layout was in use and it was a great pleasure to have had the experience.
Thank you for showing this. For me this is one of the greatest model railways ever built bearing in mind everything had to be scratch built. I only wish I had been able to see it !
What an amazingly interesting railway! The actual layout itself is fascinating, and the story of it's history is equally interesting. Wonderful to see it being allowed to live on, it would have been a tragedy if it had not been saved. I am simply stunned by the level of detail, knowing that most of it was made by hand by a real modeller. That fact alone makes it so much more interesting, and really makes so much of it look so realistic. Truly a wonderful railway.
Well, this takes me back. Buckingham has been with me my whole life. From a smale Single track Terminus to double track single platform terminus to the terminus we see today. The original baseboard might be still be there, I suspect? Peter published a brilliant article on buiding a "Gas Work's" in the Railway Modeller. He also many years later produced a full article with diagrams on building an "Automatic Crispen." for the aforesaid magazine. This has made my day, thank you. Cheer's Chris Perry.
An excellent video. Think it's the first time I've seen how the whole layout and stations are inter-connected and relate to one another. It also illustrates the immense output and effort which Peter Denny achieved over six or so decades.
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.
Bonds of Euston Road. I'd forgotten them. There was a branch in Midhurst when I was growing up, I remember their model area at the back of the store. DIY tools and materials made the bread and butter of the shop, and modelling, both electrical and live steam, was where their heart really lay. They had ranges of minute building materials I remember, little bricks, beams etc.
In the late 1960s I started building i/16 scale trams, three and a half inch gauge and I bought some brass Vignoles rail from Bonds in Euston Road. Later, when my parents moved from Watford to Sussex, I found Bonds in Midhurst, as you say and made a bigger purchase. The rail is quite soft but that is useful and screws down to decking boards. It never needs cleaning as my outdoors tramline has an overhead wire and the Bonds purchase then just stretched to my 1990s garden line! It is now unobtainable and would be very expensive anyway.
@@johnjephcote7636 Very interesting, John. I didn't expect anyone else to remember 'Bonds o' Euston Road' as the Midhurst sign said! I grew up about three miles outside Midhurst and an old chap lived in large house buried down in the woods across from our old farmhouse. He built live steam items, I remember he had a minute stationary engine with a matching saw bench driven by belt that he would saw tiny sleepers out on for his railway tracks, and a crusher he would use to make sandstone rubble with for his different projects. He made various gauge locomotives and traction engines. I don't think he was a railway modeller per se but loved working out the intricacies of live steam. He used Bonds for all his supplies he couldn't make himself. There is still a railway modelling shop at Ford, by the level crossing, I expect you use them, but not sure if they do live steam or just electric models. You'll also be familiar with Hollycombe Steam Collection? I know the internet is handy but how can you replace the thrill of walking into a model shop, looking around in all, the dusty corners, chatting to the proprietor, having a coffee and knowing the quality of what you've bought?
@@bellerophonchallen8861 Yes, I remember Hollycombe. Not Ford though as I moved to Somerset and now in East Midlands. before '69 there were two such shops in Watford-H G Cramer in L.High Street and one in Exchange Road, both similar to the ambience you suggest.
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.
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.
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.
Re the Control System, sounds very much like Peter used a form of “ Linked Section Control” if you can worth looking for the series of articles by LE Carroll in Model Railway News commencing September 1953. I wonder who was first with the concept or perhaps they learnt from each other? Either way I am sure the articles may help with understanding some of the electronics on Buckingham. Lovely job of keeping an iconic line going, would love an Operating Session on the line sometime if that were possible. John Dunford.
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!
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!
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.....
volume caution: mic goes flat at 4:20 but don't turn your volume up as it comes back full volume shortly after! =) fascinating to learn he made everything from scratch
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
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.
