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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 9h

I got the switch panels for my #modelrailway labelled up. Following GWR practice, points are black and power switches are blue, which was reserved for miscellaneous functions such as point locks.

A white hardboard panel with nine micro switches with a printed legend above indicating the switch functions.

A white hardboard panel with three micro switches with a printed legend above indicating the switch functions. Two are black indicating points (catch point and main line to platform one) and one is blue indicating power supply to the main line.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My order from @kernowmodelrail.bsky.social arrived this morning. Ordered on Sunday and all complete so an excellent job. #modelrailway

Model railway stuff: 4 Peco rail built buffer stops, 2 Peco twist lock point motors, a Peco re-railer, small cutting discs and an SPDT centre-sprung switch.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Our monthly ramble took us down the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, across country and back up the Grand Union Canal. #ukcanals #warwickshire

A lock gate in the foreground with a stretch of canal and a split bridge in the background on the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal.

Trees line the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal casting dappled shade on the water.

Trees line either side of the Grand Union Canal casting dappled shade on the water.

Bridge 63 across the Grand Union Canal covered in some sort of dark red vine as seen from the towpath.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Fixed my 2251 class this afternoon. It was more difficult than the pannier because separating the body and chassis was tricky and I had to split the chassis to free the gears up. A good clean to get rid of the sticky oil, a run on the rolling road and it's running nicely now. #modelrailway #GWR

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

It's been a bugger of a day so time to self-medicate with some sloe gin.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The summer is giving us a final hurrah in the garden. #gardening #flowers

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Just back from an intermediate overhaul, #GWR class 5700, 7752, runs into Birmingham Heath Road with a local goods train. #modelrailway

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I fixed my Replica Railways 5700 class loco again. The motor stuck. I've had this loco for at least 30 years but it's never had a good run and isn't used regularly enough, which I think is the cause of the problem but now I have my rolling road I can run it in. #modelrailway

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

That's the catch point installed and working. I used a Peco twist lock motor as a trial. Although over twice the price of a SEEP motor it was so much easier to install so I think I'll be going ahead with these. #modelrailway

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Maybe it's time to purchase one of these. Or model the GWR or GC with their lovely roomy loading gauges 😀.

Picture of a joint GWR/LMS model loading gauge.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

My lovely and talented wife made a batch of bramble jelly from the blackberries at the bottom of our garden. It works particularly well with butter cream in the filling of a simple sponge sandwich. #growyourown #preserves #baking

Five and a half jars of homemade bramble jelly sitting in front of, for no discernable reason, a plush elf.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I can't see these biscuits selling well up north 😀.

Picture of a packet of biscuits with Leibniz Keks written on it.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I'll admit to paying to get through a pay wall to access this information... 50p from a charity shop.

Picture of a book, "A Guide to Tolkien".

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I picked up this bargain in Letchworth for £10 the pair. #GWR

A picture of both volumes of A Pictorial History of Great Western Engines.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

This year's sloe gin bottled up and the raw ingredients for next year's foraged this morning.

Two clear bottles containing an orange-red liquid.

A plastic box of sloes. Small dark purple berries.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

After a slow start, I'm rather pleased with the zinnias I grew from seed. The French marigolds are doing well. #gardening #flowers

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

After a trip to the garden centre. The rose is a bit more bronze than the photo suggests and will look good in the hot border to replace the acer we lost to honey fungus. A replacement astilbe to be put in a shadier spot The flower is an established tree hollyhock. #garden #flowers

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

That's the first of the distributed switch panels wired in and tested. It worked first time. #modelrailway

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

There's lots of berries on my rowan tree and it's good to see a blackbird taking advantage. Also, it keeps the witches away. #garden #wildlife #folklore

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

The first cucumber is ready to eat. Last time I looked it was tiny. They grow up so quickly 😥😀. #garden #growyourown

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

One of the joys of summer is the sight and sound of bees on the lavender. #garden #nature

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Today I have been mostly putting tiny condoms on switches #modelrailway

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

This year's garlic crop. It's not quite as good as last year. Four failed to split into cloves, possibly because we didn't have a really cold spell in late autumn and early winter. #garden #growyourown

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

The mimulus is doing even better this year than last. We saw a lot of this growing wild along the Llangollen Canal so, when we saw some in the garden centre we thought we'd give it a go. #garden #flowers

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

The first batch of lettuce is ready to pick. Just in time as we'll be eating a lot of salad next week. #garden #growyourown

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

In the past couple of years the pickerel weed has swamped out my water lily. This year I cleared it out with extreme prejudice and the water lily has rewarded me with this beautiful flower and another on the way. #garden #flowers

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

The River Avon in #Warwickshire on our ramble around Ashow, which is a beautiful gem of a village.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

I'm rather pleased with how well this rose bush is doing. The new growth on the fern is an interesting orange shade, which will turn green later. The fox and cubs makes me think of 'sparkweed' mentioned in Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea series. #garden #flowers

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

The first of the winter spring onions. I'm very pleased with these. They've done well despite the squirrels digging in the container. I have netting now so hopefully a larger crop next year. #garden #growyourown

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

By contrast our slightly smaller version at RHS Wisley in the UK. No algae, presumably he was off on an adventure with Biggles.

A picture of a long rectangular pool with water lilies and a fountain at the far end and absolutely no algae.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Anything the Scots can do we can do better 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. Stuff the kicking of the pig's bladder lets have a football chant competition a la Eurovision.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

The boring bit of building a layout. In between gardening, I've been rewiring the redesigned control system. I've now finished the main power bus. #modelrailway

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

🎶 Roses are blooming in Coventry. 🎶 #garden #flowers

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Here's one I built earlier. Thirty years earlier 😀. #GWR

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Basil and the first tranche of lettuce planted out. #garden #growyourown

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

The goat's beard is fully out and was popular with the bees this morning. #garden #flowers

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

My garden supports arrived this morning so I was able to put up the support structure for my runner beans and get them planted out.

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Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

One of my more disappointing horticultural experiences. These poached egg plants have yet to produce a single poached egg 😀! I grew these from seed, thinking they are half-hardy annuals but they've come back for the last two years. #garden #flowers