Lyddlow

Please let me introduce myself. I have been interested in model railways since receiving my first train set as a Christmas present in the early 1960's. It was a freight train hauled by a steam engine, I had no idea then how rare both would become.

As an avid fan of small layouts I find it possible to model in more than one scale, hence the "rubbergauger" tag. I have layouts in various scales ranging from G to N (1:24 to 1:160), with themes ranging from urban industrial sidings to rural light railways.

I am a member of Crewe Model Railway & Engineering Society and Cheshire Railway Modellers. Before moving home I was a member of Glossop & District Model Railway Club and am still in touch with them, usually attending their annual exhibition in September with one of my layouts.

My career with British Rail spanned 27 years. Starting at Manchester Piccadilly in 1974, then moving to Guide Bridge in 1975 where I worked as area relief clerk. After a spell in Glossop ticket office I moved to the telegraph office in Manchester and when that office closed in 1994 I was assigned to Crewe telegraph office, hence the move from Derbyshire to Cheshire.

Class 506 unit at Glossop station (photo - John Law)

After leaving the railway with a favourable redundancy package in 2001 I took a job as a delivery driver before becoming semi-retired to act as a full time father to our beautiful daughter, Rhiannon.

During the 1980s I was on the committee of the Carters' and Motormen's Social Club in Glossop, a fine drinking establishment if ever there was one. It was while on this committee that I received the nickname Bob Blackcloud due to my cynical outlook on life. The name has stuck and I now use it as my email address.

Sandbach, Cheshire, UK