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Railway song of the week
"Slow Train" is a poignant and nostalgic song written by the British musical comedy duo Michael Flanders and Donald Swann, part of their 1963 revue At the Drop of Another Hat. The song reflects on the decline of Britain's rural railways following the Beeching cuts of the early 1960s, when many branch lines and stations were closed as part of a cost-saving measure.
With its gentle melody and melancholic tone, "Slow Train" lists the names of various stations that were either closed or under threat. Rather than simply being a lament for the loss of transport, the song captures a deeper sense of mourning for a way of life that was disappearing as modernisation took hold. It's imbued with a sense of simplicity and charm, making it a beloved piece of British musical history.
Flanders and Swann's delivery, as always, is tender and witty, combining humour with heartfelt sentiment. The song remains a touching reminder of the past and the changing landscape of post-war Britain.
The Quebec Bridge gained notoriety due to two tragic collapses during its construction. The first disaster occurred in 1907, when the bridge's south arm fell into the river, killing 75 workers. A subsequent attempt to complete the bridge met a similar fate in 1916, when another section collapsed, resulting in 13 more deaths. Despite these setbacks, the eventual completion of the bridge stood as a testament to perseverance and engineering determination and its successful use marked a turning point in Canadian railway history.
Let's start with the backbone of any urban layout - housing. In their latest releases, Metcalfe offers a range of terraced house kits that allow you to build authentic-looking streets. Their OO/HO Scale Terraced Houses come in both brick and stone finishes, giving you flexibility in creating diverse neighbourhoods. Each kit provides two complete houses, and with a selection of doors, gates, and windows, you can customize your builds. For those tight on space, Metcalfe also offers low relief house fronts in both brick and stone. These are perfect for creating the illusion of depth along the edges of your layout.
Now, picture this: you've got a bare wall on your layout that's crying out for some character. That's where these nifty kits come in handy. Metcalfe offers low relief terraced house fronts in stone, perfect for creating that classic British street scene. Each kit gives you two blocks of two houses, so you're getting four house fronts in total. Imagine the possibilities! You could create a whole street with just a few of these kits.
But wait, there's more! What about those pesky gaps between buildings and backdrops? Fear not, because Metcalfe has thought of everything. They offer low relief terraced house backs in both brick and stone finishes. These are ideal for adding depth to your scene without eating up valuable layout real estate. Like the fronts, these come as two blocks of two houses each, giving you plenty of options for creating varied and interesting backdrops.
Now, let's add some commercial areas to your layout. Metcalfe's low relief shop fronts, available in both brick and stone finishes, are ideal for creating bustling high streets. These kits come with a variety of shop signs and interiors, allowing you to populate your town with unique businesses. To add an extra layer of interest, consider incorporating Metcalfe's Railway Arches Facades. These can be used to create realistic under-bridge scenes, perfect for urban industrial areas or as a backdrop for a station approach.
Remember, these are card kits, so they're lightweight and easy to work with. They come pre-painted, saving you time and effort, but of course, you can always add your own weathering or detailing if you fancy. So why not give your layout some extra dimension with these fantastic low relief buildings? Your miniature residents will thank you for it!
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Do you need to order?
Send us an email or give us a call to check availability or to reserve anything, whatever scale you model in. As usual, if we do not have in stock what you are looking for, we will order it for you and you will get it fast (usually within a week if the manufacturer has it in stock). We place weekly orders with most suppliers.
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