Handborough’s stock

Given that ‘Handborough’ was started in 1985, it’s perhaps not surprising that it features some older items from the Graham Farish stable. When Graham rebuilt the layout, he retained the Peco Code 80 track. “I was worried about the clearance of the flanges on the older Graham Farish models,” he explains. “In hindsight, I should have used Code 55 as I’m in the process of replacing and upgrading all the models, which will eradicate the problem.” Those looking for a dose of ‘N’ gauge nostalgia need look no further than Graham Farish ‘Hall’ No. 6960 Raveningham Hall and two Farish ‘94XXS’ (Nos. 9400 and 9427, the latter having been repainted from GWR livery) and GWR railcar No. 19. The ‘Hall’ has been detailed with new front bogie, handrails and sandpipes. “I had a Winchester Castle [Graham Farish product code 1446] which, sadly, expired a few weeks ago. “I also purchased [an old Farish] ‘Battle of Britain’, No. 34066 Spitfire with the intention of converting it into No. 34051, but I am yet to find a company that makes a Winston Churchill nameplate, so that project has been put on hold for the moment.” Geoff has taken advantage of new ‘N’ gauge models coming from Bachmann-owned Farish and Dapol. He’s bought a ‘64XX’ 0‑6‑0PT (Farish), ‘57XX’ 0‑6‑0PT (Dapol) and a Dapol ‘Western’, which has been finished as Western Champion, using Fox nameplates. “Finally, I bought a Graham Farish ‘Warship’ Onslaught to remind me of childhood holidays in Teignmouth. We regularly stayed by the railway and I loved spending afternoons watching them go by.”