Andy of Khyamanzi was at the Leamington and Warwick model railway society's annual exhibition last weekend, and came back with some impressive pictures of members' exhibits and layouts.
See Andy's post Too much to see.
At least one of the model rail track layouts he pictured has an impressive canal with a narrowboat pair running alongside the tracks – and even locks.
Not to be outdone, Derek of NB Gypsy Rover includes some model rail pictures of his own (but no canals).
This reminds me of my own post of 30 months ago: A model train service – one that runs on Sundays!
My post then was written in the wake of the fight to get a Sunday train service from Oxford to Banbury, mentioning Burnham & District Model Railway Club, and their inclusion of a railway that ran alongside a canal.
This further reminds me that I've never heard of a Model Canal Society (or Club).
John Rawson builds his wonderful Bespoke Model Boats to typically 1/24th scale, although he does many other scales. Since many of his 1/24th models actually work – in one way or another – with propulsion, I would be amazed to seem him build them at the model railway 00 gauge, which is about 1/76.
Still, it would be interesting to see a working model canal system. Is there one?
If not, I'll build one as soon as I make my first million.
We have a working model canal system: the Little Union Canal. It's next to the Grand Union at Batchworth Lock in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. check it out if you're ever in the area!
Posted by: Rickmansworth Waterways Trust | Friday, 09 November 2012 at 04:11 PM
Having now dipped into Andy's blog I am reminded of a boat called 'N-gage' [spelling possible awry] whose crew helped us down part of the Caen Hill locks a few summers back after a gear cable snapped on our boat. We breasted the two boats up and N_gage propelled the pair through several locks whilst I jury rigged the gear linkage with a bent coat-hanger, that splendid standby of the amateur engineer. I initially thought the boat name was a Star Trek reference but, peering into the cabin, I saw that there was a complex N gauge model railway under construction.
Posted by: Baz Juniper | Saturday, 24 January 2009 at 11:42 AM
The 'original' Legoland in Billund has [or had - my only visit was in 1991] a working staircase of about 5 locks which a Lego boat would descend at regular intervals before chugging off across a small lake.
Posted by: Baz Juniper | Saturday, 24 January 2009 at 11:29 AM
Would be good to see a working model of the BCN with the Trent Mersey and Staff or Worcs
Posted by: Dave Baynham | Friday, 23 January 2009 at 03:46 PM
Halfie: See my post from 2004, "A Dee, a toy, a canal - Lidl!"
http://www.grannybuttons.com/granny_buttons/2004/06/a_dee_a_toy_a_c.html
Posted by: Andrew Denny | Friday, 23 January 2009 at 12:09 PM
I recall someone mentioning a working model canal system being sold by Lidl (or was it Aldi?) a while back. Others then tried to get it but there were none left.
Posted by: Halfie | Friday, 23 January 2009 at 12:05 PM