Cigarette Card Stars : An introduction

In the days before smoking was considered bad for you (or at least no one cared much if it was), cigarette packets came with cards to collect. Parents often giving the cards (which could cover any number of topics) to their children to collect. The cards nowadays can be highly valuable and tended to be collected by adults! The Ardath Tobacco Company released a number of card series on up and coming stars (or hopefuls in any event) of film and stage, we will be looking at some of these cards and the starlets portrayed on them in an upcoming series.

Model Week : A new N loco

I decided that the new N gauge layout needed a new locomotive, so bought this superb Class 33. I envisage that during normal operation of Shard End two locomotives and a multiple unit will be in use in the "active" pool at any one time. I only had three locomotives suitable (a fourth is out of period) so the Class 33 is needed anyway. I've also got the track i need to complete the track layout. Once that is finalised can then get on with some proper layout work.

Churches (94) : St Paul, Tupsley

The parish church of St Paul in Tupsley (nowadays a suburb of Hereford) was built in the 1860s to save parishioners from having to walk miles to the nearest church. After money had been raised and land donated by the diocese, the corner stone was laid in 1864 and completed the following year. The church has a South West tower, a nave with North and South aisles and a chancel.

The church is built from course dressed rubble with ashlar sandstone detailing.

Up the junction

Some flywheel action as 139 001 departs Stourbridge Junction.

Surrey Places (4) : Guildford

The town of Guildford in West Surrey has Saxon roots (Guldeford), traces of Bronze Age and Roman settlements have also been found in the area. Guildford was an important town in late Saxon times, being the location of the Royal Mint until early Norman times. The Normans built a castle which still overlooks the town. The church of St Mary dates from late Saxon times.

As with many places, new transport links helped the town prosper. The Wey Navigation was opened in 1653 which gave Guildford waterborne access to the Thames (and therefore London). Guildford railway station opened in 1845, the station is now on the lines between London and Portsmouth and Reading and Redhill.

Nowadays the town is an affluent commuter and university town, one of the most expensive places to buy a home outside of London!