One of the railway buffs out there!

Hello All,

You will notice that I am not really a very commercial beast and it is rare that I advertise things for sale on here. Generally, I like to preserve the cafe as a peaceful place: somewhere to rest your feet and let the mind flow. A change, however, can be as good as a rest; so here is a small change to the usual fair.

You will notice below a link to an ebay page, where I am currently selling an electric trainset I acquired recently. The set is originally from the 1950s and shows many original features.

Just look at the rugged beauty and elegance of these simple models. You can see why their design inspires collectors today. Just look at the optimism present in the design - a simple belief that even if the detail was not there, children could have hours of fun copying the real world!

These models were made by a company called Tri-ang, who produced models from about 1950-1971. In fact, they actually bought Hornby and for some years, there were models called 'Tri-ang Hornby'. At the time, Tri-ang was the more popular brand because it was significantly cheaper. Hornby was always the prestige brand that people could bought, but which was very expensive for what you got. Eventually, Tri-ang stopped using their name for trading purposes and became simply Hornby Railways.

Now days, its pleasant to look over the lines of these simple early models and marvel at the clarity with which the early modellers saw the world. Small fiddly details did not matter, what mattered was you had a little copy of the world in your own living room. You could even invite friends over and participate in an activity together! We have plenty to learn from the 1950s!

This particular set is an especially early one, from about 1952. This is dateable because the controller is designed for batteries, not electricity from the mains! So, you can see it was an especially early one. The livery on the locomotive is also a give away - it can't be much later than 1958 or so, because the livery changed in 1957. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230596403283&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

I have put a few pictures in, so that you can see what I was talking about after the item sells. However, in the mean time, it can be yours on ebay for just £85 plus postage!

Enjoy...!

The Beautiful Parts of Leicester no-one seems to talk about!

Hello Dear Readers,

Here, after a little delay, is the post as promised.

I recently went back to Leicester for a little wonder around. I took my camera with me because I was keen to shown you some of the more picturesque parts of the city I lived in for three years.

Now, I know you might be scoffing - you might might well say that beauty and Leicester City Centre are mutually contradictory terms. You would have a point; but there are some rather beautiful bits in amongst the 'grimness'.

And before you ask, no I am not talking about the ubiquitous shopping facilities in Leicester. Although they are perfectly pleasant as far as they go (especiallg John Lewis), I can find perfectly good shops elsewhere.

No, what can't my interest this time, was some of the interesting buildings that make the city environment far richer than many would have you believe. There are, for example, Medieval Survivals that are dotted about the city, as well as other buildings of historical interest.

There is the old town hall and city court, with its wonderful beams and Middle Ages demenour. I have put that on the top of the page to attact attention. Although it is now simply a museum about social history, it was used as the main court and meeting place of the council well into Victorian Times. I believe that it was the main Civic Centre in Leicester until 1873, which when you think about the all the industrial buildings that sprang up around it, seems all the more remarkable that it survived so long. It is open most days and is next to the cathedral.

The Unitarian Church is an exceptionally fine example of Eighteenth Century religious architecture. The symmetry, emphasis on reason, the use of pillars in a classical style, tapered windows mixed with square windows, all align to give the impression of a building based on reason and religious impulses. The use of red brick reminds one that at the time, not using stone for a church was quite a break with tradition, emphasising the novelty of the Unitarian perspective in 1780, or so: essentially that you can be a Christian without believing in the Trinity. From the perspective I have taken it, you could be forgiven for thinking it was a country house, but if you visit the building in Leicester, you will see the grave yard and former school rooms which surround it. In about 1900 or so, there would have been a great many people connected with the church, since it provided schools rooms, assistants for parents in the area and of course, the functions of a place of worship. The chruch continues to be a place of worship for modern day Unitarians still based around Great Meeting in Leicester.

Then, there is the very interesting St. Mary Le Castro - a very fine example of a Medieval Romanesque church - it could be out of text book of 'how to build like its 1100 AD'. The arches above the windows simply ache with the period! Walking around the building was atmospheric in the extreme. You could imagine that people such as Simone De Montfort, King John, John of Gaunt, Henry VIII and very possibly seen this church; and even more impressively, it has hardly changed over that time! Its well worth a visit - but check its open before you go - it seems to be open for about an hour one day a week!

Finally, there is the Newarke Museum. Although the contents of the museum are hardly worth a special visit, being comprised of little bits of Leicester history in only passing depth, the front of the building is very smart. The museum is also free, so, if you find yourself in the East Midlands why not - but don't make a special visit for the musuem. The churches, on the other hand are special!