Does anyone recognise or remember that name? Mr Eagles was involved
with The Model Railway Club in the 50s, I believe, and probably
thereafter. What became of him? I'm asking, because I was involved in
the disposal of the estate of a Norman Eagles who died possibly twenty
years ago (perhaps less), and, at the time of his death, was living near
Colchester. The same gentleman, perhaps? The Norman Eagles with whom I
was involved certainly had a railway modelling interest.
The thought has arisen purely because I'm reading Jack Ray's 'Lifetime'
book at the moment, and Norman Eagles is mentioned. Anyone with even a
passing interest in the history of railway modelling, particularly 7mm,
in the UK is recommended to read Jack Ray's book. Absolutely
fascinating. Is Jack Ray still alive? He would be a fair age by now.
I recently gained a carton of old MRCs (etc) of 1950s-60s vintage and read
through them.
The name Norman Eagles appeared somewhere amongst them - now I'm going to
have to read them all again to find whatever it was!!! =8^O
Norman Eagles was responsible for the Sherwood section of the LMS,
wasnt he? ISTR that it was a clockwork O guage model of a fictious
part of the LMS based around 'Nottingham Castle' station.
Greg,
Norman Eagles was well known some years ago for his large clockwork
powered 0 gauge layout called "The Sherwood Section". I think I
remember the layout being featured occasionally in the magazines in
the late 50s and early 60s.
Jim.
Jack Ray is alive and still pursuing model railway matters from his home
in Suffolk.
Norman Eagles was employed by London Transport, I believe, and was an expert at
time-tabling. He had a large indoor railway based on a Nottingham/Trent
story using coarse scale O gauge. His railway was run like the real thing
and developed over fifty years or so. The earliest article by him on his
railway was in Model Railway News in the late 1920s or early 30s. He
gathered a large operating group around him and when he retired they built
a railway room in the grounds or his new house. I heard that it went on
running for some time after his death.
Ken.
Of course!!! :-)
There were a couple of articles about fitting different proprietry mechanisims
(Hornby, Bassett Lowke etc) into models where they apparently wouldn't fit at
first glance, by way of angling and trimming etc and fitting stub axles -
fascinating ingenuity!
Regards,
Greg.P.
Are you sure about that? I can't recall any such articles. I suspect you
may be confusing Eagles with Drew Donaldson who modelled Irish O gauge
clockwork and was a wizard at re-modelling spring mechanisms (he insisted
they were spring drives, quite rightly). His layout was a similar size to
Eagles and also indoors. His forte was stub axles. Articles appeared in
MRC and Model Railways I think.
Ken.
SNIP
Yes I remember reading several articles in Railway Modeller in the 70s about
the Sherwood section. and Norman Eagles. It was a fascinating layout
/concept, one of the main interests of the group being strict timetabled
running.
Regards
John Watson
In message , John Watson
writes
Thank you, everyone, who contributed here. Yes, my memory has been
jogged :-)
I would still like to know which part of the country Normal Eagles lived
in, and whether or not he is still alive. Anyone?
In message , Graeme Eldred
writes
I had the great pleasure of going to Norman Eagles home for a running
session on the Sherwood Section.
The house is in Oxfordshire (sorry can't remember exactly where). Norman
died a few years ago.
The layout was housed in a large purpose built building in his garden
and was indeed operated by clockwork O gauge locos. Norman worked for
London Transport in their timetabling department and this showed in his
attention to the detail of the timed running. He had a clock which ran
faster than normal (I think it was 4 times faster) on one wall on the
layout room and all trains were run to this time. Heaven help you if you
were even a little bit late or hadn't wound the clockwork motor up
enough!
Norman was also a member of The Model Railway Club and for many years
ran their demonstration stand (demons) at the club's exhibitions in
Central Hall and Horticultural Halls, which is where I met him.
He was a true gent
Mike
In message , Mike Hughes
writes
Thanks to both John and Mike. I'm now sure that the Norman Eagles with
whom I had contact wasn't *the* Norman Eagles of Sherwood fame. The
original question provided some fascinating stories though, for which my
thanks.
In the latter half of the 1950's, and the 1960's, I was a member of a model
railway group [South Australian 'O'-Gauge Railways] in Adelaide, South
Australia. This was an outdoor layout in the backyard of the Founder's house.
He, Brian Johnson, was a great admirer of Norman's layout, although necessarily
from afar. We used to read of the Sherwood Section in the occasional
model-railway magazine that came our way. For some years I corresponded with
Norman, on behalf of the above-named group.
I have often wondered what eventually happened to the Sherwood Section. I don't
know if Norman's son, Bruce, took it over, or perhaps one or two of the original
group.
Ron Hann [Christchurch, New Zealand].
N orman lived near Princes Risborough in the late 1960's.I seem to recall he
worked for London Transport but not sure. He had a llarge O gauge layout in a
garden shed which he operated using proper bell codes and signals.. A group of
friends used to gather monthly for an all day 'session'.
Since you are replying to a message posted 12 years ago, I suspect that
Mr Eldred either already has an answer or doesn't care any more. In any
case there are all sorts of reasons why he is unlikely to see your answer.
Eric
Norman Eagles in the late sixties had a building in the back garden which housed
the Sherwood section. I visited with some friends on working Saturday .The
layout was extensive, worked by clockwork generally, operated using, ex br
block signallling equipment. I seemed to recall a regular team meeting monthly,
am maintenance pm running, evening socialising with wives. It inspired some
friends to do likewise-a most sociable and agreeable routine. I think Norman
worked for London Transport .
Norman Eagles in the late sixties had a building in the back garden which
housed the Sherwood section. I visited with some friends on working Saturday
.The layout was extensive, worked by clockwork generally, operated using, ex
br block signallling equipment. I seemed to recall a regular team meeting
monthly, am maintenance pm running, evening socialising with wives. It
inspired some friends to do likewise-a most sociable and agreeable routine. I
think Norman worked for London Transport .
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