Jim Barrett
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jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
Jim Barrett
@jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
330 followers 280 following 540 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
paulbernal.bsky.social
One more thing. The main drive to ban social media for under-16s comes from a fear of regulating it properly *for adults*. That's a fear of the tech-bros and their power. Governments are more willing to regulate kids than techbros.
January 28, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
I thought it might be nice to give away my last 2 signed hardbacks of my novel 1983, with two lovely linocut hares by my mum.

All you have to do to enter is repost this (& leave a reply).

The book's been called "Stranger Things rewritten by Kurt Vonnegut and Sue Townsend”.
Extract in the replies.
The final two first edition hardbacks of my novel 1983 that I have in my house. Two cut-out linoprint hares by my mum, Jo. This is a hare linoprint which she originally did to illustrate a chapter in my earlier (non-fiction) book, Ring The Hill, which has a hare subtheme darting through it.
January 9, 2026 at 12:57 PM
jimbarrettrail.bsky.social
I've got a bit of a production line of weathering going at the moment, with three HO box cars and an OO wagon in progress. This is one of the Railbox cars that will be receiving graffiti. Still in the early stages, but doing a bit every evening. #bsmrg #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #weathering
An HO scale Railbox boxcar being weathered
January 7, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
warpedhorizon.bsky.social
If anyone is looking for hope this holiday season it can be found on a corn syrup tank car in Northtown Yard
A stubby black tank car with the word "hope" written on it in light blue paint, photographed on a sunny winters day.
December 22, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
twmcltd.bsky.social
Feeling festive yet?

Many of you will know "Carol of the Bells" was a Ukrainian song.
Today is the birthday of composer Mykola Leontovych, born in Vinnytsia and murdered by a Soviet agent in 1921, aged 44 - some things don't change.

"Shchedryk" sung by Ukraine choir 'Homin' in Austria's parliament
December 13, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Jim Barrett
nse-latchmere.bsky.social
33056 passes through Latchmere with a parcels train for Exeter.

#ModelRailways #ModelTrains
December 8, 2025 at 10:22 AM
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