Jim Barrett
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jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
Jim Barrett
@jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
320 followers 270 following 520 posts
Railways, history, model making, RNPS, WW2. Modelling US railways - building an HO scale switching layout and making Youtube videos of the process. #TMRGUK #BSMRGUK
https://youtube.com/@jimbarrett1975?si=UqA7VLuaA9DEn9FQ
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Jim Barrett
ramblingidiot.bsky.social
And look how great the Green Man looks when he’s been framed. Get your Christmas shopping sorted, from the comfort of your own home.

www.cutfromtheland.co.uk/product/the-...
November 26, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
bronhebog.bsky.social
A colourful group of Garratts. Four of the NGG16s from our collection which will be doing their thing on Bron Hebog in Manchester next month.
November 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
My little haul od goodies from #nationalfestivalofrailwaymodelling yesterday. I think I got a couple of bargains, and definitely some bits I wanted. And kept within budget.
#modelrailways #modelrailroads #modelrailway #hoscale #187scale #bsmrguk #176scale #oogauge
My NFRM haul - Athearn AC4400 - I've been after a Building America locomotive for a while, and this was at a great price. Not ideal for the switching layout but will look nice on a shelf; Atlas Ginderson 7550 boxcar - can't have too many boxcars, or graffiti projects; Oxford Rail Mk 3 - to run with my Bachmann 90 or Accurascale 89. Damaged coupler, so cheap. I have a project idea for these; Containers - I have a slack train but lack loads. The Scaletrains ones look a bit short in height, I'm not sure if there are two sizes IRL, I thought they were all standard; Oxford Rail Landrover - can't have enough Landrovers; Rubber brushes - to help with masking, hopefully. That was exciting wasn't it.
November 23, 2025 at 10:08 AM
jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
Of all yhe layouts large amd small at the #nationalfestivalofrailwaymodelling one of my favourite was also the simplest - a single track HO(M) layout named Kreuzweg.
#modelrailways #modelrailroads #modelrailway #hoscale #187scale #bsmrguk #176scale #oogauge
November 22, 2025 at 8:12 PM
jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
Great day out at the #nationalfestivalofrailwaymodelling at the NEC. Great layouts and excellent trade support. I was glad I got in early as by luch time it was extremely busy.
#modelrailways #modelrailroads #modelrailway #hoscale #187scale #bsmrguk #176scale #oogauge
Venture Park, OO gauge fictional Midland Main Line depot at Kettering. Hasselt Harbour Bridge, O gauge Whittlesmarch, OO gauge cement works. Dunsfold Road, OO gauge South London
November 22, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
aemjay.bsky.social
Workshop is done. And this is what i did today #modelrailroad #h0scale #workshop
November 21, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
lukrailway.bsky.social
Ready to go for two days of LEGO train chaos at the National Festival of Railway Modelling in the NEC! #lego #legotrains #nationalfestivalofrailwaymodelling #nfrm #nfrm2025 #lgauge #modelrailway
November 21, 2025 at 10:25 PM
jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
I'm not sure if this counts as #modelrailways - I spent the afternoon fixing my daughter's old Happyland trains, neither of which worked, ready for Ebay. It was a slightly bigger job than I'd thought it would be.
Two Happyland toy trains, neither of which worked. First job was to remove the base plate and wheels, and to clean the corroded battery terminals. Inside the little diesel loco, I found that the wires were quite corroded and one had come off the terminal. These were cleaned up and soldered back in place. The steam loco required a bit more work, and was fully stripped, cleaned and re-soldered in places where the wires had corroded.
November 20, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
I'm giving away two signed copies of my (recently republished) book 21st-Century Yokel, with two postcards of this fab otters linocut by my mum, Jo.

Just repost this & pop a comment below to enter.

You might like it if you like:
Walking
Wildlife
Folklore
Bees
Ghosts
The Sea
Social history
Badgers
Otters linocut by my mum, Jo The cover of 21st-Century Yokel The back cover of 21st-Century Yokel
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
For no particular reason I photographed Sandsend and Sandsend Ness through a hagstone from the beach.
Sandsend photographed through a hagstone. Sandsend Ness photographed through a hagstone. Upgang beach toward Sandsend photographed through a hagstone.
November 19, 2025 at 11:44 AM
jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
When my parents married 53 years ago, someone (or a few someones) painted a good luck message on the railway bridge between the church in Little Oakley and the reception, using road marking paint. It was still visible until a couple of years ago. Probably my parents' greatest claim to fame.
"Good Luck Shaun and Anne" painted in yellow road marking paint on the railway bridge on the Manton Line crossing the road between Little and Great Oakley, Northamptonshire.
November 18, 2025 at 4:23 PM
jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
Only on Facebook could I end up in a pointless argument with people I don't know about the location of a bridge that they've clearly never seen before. I hate Facebook so much, but have connections there with old friends that I don't want to lose.
November 18, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
nse-latchmere.bsky.social
Ten minutes doing scenery work. And some lovely corporate colour schemes!!

#TMRGUK #NetworkSoutheast #modelrailways #modeltrains #BritishRail #Latchmere
November 16, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
shiprailstudios.bsky.social
East Broad Top 16, recreated as a somewhat 1:48 scale Lego model.

Made to run on 3 stud gauge Lego track, like its real life counterpart. Engine & Tender come out to 1,440 pieces and I’m using one Power functions L motor for power.

Really, really happy with the turnout.
November 15, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
davodentetsu.bsky.social
Class 37 and OTAs in video format.

youtu.be/gmqn8I644PQ?...

#ooscale #modeltrain #modeltrains #bachmann #hornby
Class 37 and OTAs
YouTube video by Davo Dentetsu
youtu.be
November 9, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
davodentetsu.bsky.social
Class 37 and OTAs are up and running again!

#ooscale #modeltrain #modeltrains #bachmann #hornby

1/4
November 9, 2025 at 1:48 PM
jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
Fantastic #autumn colours in #DalbyForest #Yorkshire which I think always looks it's best at this time of year. Images from October 20th 2025.
#forestryengland #nymnp #northyorkshiremoorsnationalpark
A misty track through the woods at Dalby Forest. Autumn leaves at Dalby Forest. Cattle grazing beneath misty woodland, Dalby Forest. A red and white mushroom in the woods at Dalby Forest.
November 8, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
hioo01.bsky.social
Watch as I add ballast to my model railroad switching layout.This is my first time ballasting a layout and it seems to have turned out ok! #modeltrain #modelrailroad #modelrailway #modelmaking
November 8, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
I've TWO of these beautiful 'Witch & Hare' original linocuts by my mum, Jo, to give away to my Bluesky followers. The print is from my recently republished book, Help The Witch.

All you have to do to enter is repost this story from the book (maybe give it a read too?) www.tom-cox.com/robot-2/
Witch, hare and herbs linocut by my mum. My book Help The Witch
November 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
theduncanmackay.bsky.social
Remember, Remember,
The 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and…
ARSE BISCUITS!

Ever had a burning (or fizzling) desire to know what Guy Fawkes said in his moment of failure? Wonder no more.
#PlaymobilInfestation #GuyFawkes #BonfireNight
November 5, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
I have two - TWO - of these gorgeous original A4 meadow hare linoprints by my mum, Jo, to give away to a couple of lucky people here on Bluesky today.

Rules are simple: to be in with a chance to win, you just have to repost this piece I wrote about Jo and her art: www.tom-cox.com/the-magic-ro...
A somewhat psychedelic linocut of a hare
November 5, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
Derailment resolved, at the cost of a broken point on the other route! It turned out to be a combination of twist and broad gauge leading into the turnout. #modelrailway #modelrailroad #hobbystreak 7
The rear driver of my Grand Trunk 4-4-0 staying on the rail as it backs into the switch.
November 5, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
trainsongscentral.bsky.social
'And tomorrow brings another train
Another young brave steals away
But you're the one I remember
From these valleys of green and the grey'
- 'Green and Grey' by New Model Army (1989)
- 📷 Cardiff, Wales, 1979, taken by Andy Hoare
November 2, 2025 at 5:40 PM
jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
I really wish I'd had my camera with me tonight rather than just my phone.
Leaflets tree silhouetted against moonlit clouds.
November 1, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
Hello! My CEO Roscoe and I are giving away TWO signed copies of my novel 1983 to two randomly selected people who repost this & pop a reply below. You also get a free postcard of this illustration of Roscoe by my mum.

It’s been called “Stranger Things rewritten by Kurt Vonnegut & Sue Townsend”…
Roscoe with 1983 and a postcard of her which depicts her looking unusually cheery The rear cover of 1983
November 1, 2025 at 10:45 AM