Book Review: The Southwold Railway

Another book review: The Southwold Railway, 1879-1929.

I love books about obscure and characterful railways, especially narrow gauge lines, and the Southwold ticks all of those boxes so perhaps it's no surprise that I enjoyed this book. It's a classic book of the type too, a good quality hardback with an attractive dust jacket, and covers the history of the railway including the various proposals, building, operating, the route and stations, and the locos and rolling stock, so it is everything you would expect.

There are three authors listed: David Lee, Alan Taylor, and Rob Shoreland-Ball, and the introduction sets out how their work has come together. Rob is the main author, building on and including the work of David and Alan. This can mean there is a little repetition in places where the subjects of different chapters overlap, but the book is logically structured and presented, and easy to follow, with a consistent style.

Actually the text is well written and easy to read, and a good balance is struck of interesting detail without becoming dry. The photos are well reproduced and captioned, and clearly referenced in the text - a nice touch. There are plenty of maps, diagrams, and drawings too - including of course locomotives, stock, and some buildings. There's even a chapter on operation which describes train consists, and how shunting took place, a topic that could easily become dull yet does not. So there is plenty of detail for modellers and enthusiasts, but the story of the railway told in a way that even non-enthusiasts would find easy to follow.

Although a good friend of mine has modelled the Southwold Railway it is a line I knew little about, this book has introduced me to the railway with enthusiasm, and I have to say the love the authors have for the line, and keeping the memory of it alive, shows through. The book finishes with a summary of the Southwold Railway Trust, what they have achieved and their plans for the future.

So if like me you enjoy reading about long forgotten railways, you will like this book. It manages to be a historical record while remaining engaging to read and showing warmth for it's subject.

Southwold at Sompting Show

On Saturday I popped into the small show in Sompting. I mean small, as the hall used is quite tiny! Still there were about 10 layouts plus some dioramas, a Thomas layout for the kids to play with, and two traders too. This time I was accompanied by my 5-year-old daughter, which made a change, and she seemed to enjoy it.

A good range of modelling was on show, as well as typical RTR-based layouts in N and OO there was a very nice model of Wantage in 3mm fine-scale (that's 14.2mm gauge).

I also really liked this German (I think?) layout in HO. Simple in track plan but excellent running, and detailing. I've no idea if the buildings are kit or scratch-built but they were well done either way!

Narrow gauge was well represented, with 4 layouts in different scales. One of them was Southwold, by my friend and Sussex Downs 009 group member Simon Wilson. Although the Southwold Railway was built to 3' gauge Simon has used 9mm gauge, which looks fine with the small Southwold stock. Southwold station is easily recognised, and he has modelled the river bridge and a proposed extension branch. This means that despite being a relatively small layout he doesn't just have one station...

Nor just two stations...

...but three! Simon has captured the railway in the landscape look, and a real feeling of the openness of the landscape of that part of Britain. With trains running on both main and branch there was a fairly intensive service running too.

 You can see more pictures from the show here.

Southwold at the Lancing Show

The local group of the N-Gauge Society hold an annual show not so far from me, and as they invite layouts in other scales too it is worth a visit. I have to say N gauge doesn't grab me, but then it is ideal for main-line trains and they are not my main interest. Having said that, London Underground is not an interest of mine either but the OO layout "Abbey Road" was superb, nicely detailed with a frequent service of colourful trains, great for my 2-year old too!

My friend Simon Wilson from the Sussex Downs 009 group was exhibiting his layout Southwold, based on the 3' gauge line that once ran to Southwold. Simon uses 009, which feels in keeping with the small stock the line used even though by rights it should be 12mm gauge, and runs various loco's and stock as well as models of the line's original stock. The relatively large area of the layout has been used to give feel of the train in the landscape, and getting down to eye level to look across the fields to the next station (there are 3 on the layout!) there are some great views.

Simon was awarded the Best In Show trophy - well deserved I say, even if the gremlins had been attacking the running (board joints need attention!).

Although I have seen the layout before I took the opportunity while there was good light, few people about (well, less than EXPO!) and my toddler was distracted (!) to get some photos. You can see more photos from the show and of Southwold here.