I'm very thankful that you took on to continue the work of Roy on this superb layout, a task which can't be taken lightly. I enjoyed every second of this video, having Google maps open in a separate tab to compare the layout with the current situation. It's very true that Retford lost its appeal with the rebuilding of the crossing, I liked how trains between Sheffield and Lincoln/Gainsborough could use the station via the connecting loops, whereas now a separate platform has to be accessed to swap between the two directions, and also it's impossible to run trains directly onto the ECML from the Lincoln direction now. I hope future generations will keep this gem alive like you do now.
What a wonderful legacy of a truly gifted model railway craftsman. wishing you all the best in continuing with keeping this work of art alive..........Tony
Wonderful layout, brings back so many memories for me, as a young lad and train spotter living in Worksop, i was lucky enough to get a ride from there to Retford with the driver and fireman in the Mallard, 1962. very well explained and filmed, its a credit to you all there, Cheers from Australia.
I was born in Cleethorpes and visited Retford several times as a train spotter in the late 50's. It was so wonderful to see the Anglo-Scottish trains go through at speed.I wish you all the best in your efforts to finish the layout.
Hello Sandra I knew it was going to be something special but this layout has completely blown my mind. I wish you all the best in your endeavour to complete the layout in the fashion that it was started. I hope you will show us more as you progress. Many thanks Paul 🙂👍
As a schoolboy at nearby Worksop College at the end of term I used to catch the Pullman Master Cutler from Sheffield to Kings Cross at Retford. This would have been in the early 1960s.
Sandra thank you so much for taking on Roy's project and developing it. It is truly one of the best model railways around at the moment. Thank you also for letting us shrae the thrills of the East Coast line all those years ago. The next best thing to a time capsule!
Fabulous model recreation of the scene, hats off to all those who helped build it. So much intricacy has gone into this latout in a true life like representation. 🙂👍
Having stumbled on your amazing video my first impression was that it was all actual outside footage of the real thing. Absolutely mind-blowing attention to detail....I'm now a fan, thank you so much for sharing.
I live in Retford and I was born in 1957 and have seen the station area change over my lifetime from what you see here to what is now a shadow of itself in real life
Though I live here now, in '57 I was at primary school near Watford but I built a scratch GN Atlantic 9 years later as my first essay into scratch building. I guess I have some GN in my blood as my father would not go to bed until he heard the old Stirling Single working out its days, slipping as it left Humberstone GN, Leicester.
Extraordinary. So rare to see such a poignant and gracious introduction. This is a lifetime’s work, several lifetimes in fact, and as much a memorial to the prior and current builders as it is a model railway. Like Pendon it immortalises a perfect moment in time, the memory and emotions, a lost reality captured by the skill and artistry of its engineers. Best of luck to you all and may it bring you joy and friendship through your endeavours.
Hi, I remember visiting the layout just the once, it was a truely remarkable day out and so interesting............I was made very welcome and everyone was so friendly................It is really wonderful to hear that this amazing work is going to survive for ages yet...............a true inspiration to many modellers out there. Best regards Dave.
That is a truly magnificent lay-out. We sit like children, enjoying your experience and modelling excellence. Thank you for having this to post. Keep Well, now. Cheers!
Truly a work of art. I'm an American modeler that really appreciates the effort and successful execution of your layout. Looking forward to seeing your other videos!
I work on both the ECML and the GC line. It was only recently that i found out that their had been a flat crossing. intrestingly enough if you walk around RETRORD high and low level stations yo can see the remains of some of the original inferstructure. A Great model.
The flat crossing was one of Beeching's victims - his MGR trains caused its removal with construction of West Burton and Cottam Power Stations needing to be fed with coal from west of the ECML. The flat crossing was seen as the cause of too many pathing issues and do sadly in 1963 the work started to replace it with what we have today. The work was completed in 1965.
Although I'm a OO modeller, I think this layout knocks the spots of much of what I've seen at exhibitions. I'd say it's a toss between 'Bramblewick' and 'Retford' for sheer scale and observation. This is definitely a 10/10.
Extremely impressive attention to lack of track perfection giving some hauntingly real coach and truck lateral roll and shake. Most scale modellers would hardly know what I am even talking about, let alone try to reproduce it, let alone make it so perfect..
