See you at the 16mm Society AGM Peterborough April 9th

As you know, we love all things 2' or 60cm gauge. Malcolm is coming with 16mm bogie kits for  WD wagons and French Péchot system wagons. He will have examples of his WD Baldwin 4-6-0 live steam locomotive and best of all, you will be able to see progress on his latest batch.  (of Quarry Hunslets)

Wrightscale WD Baldwin 16mm model

Sarah will come with copies of  her biography of Colonel Péchot. If you are mean, you can browse the inspection copy, and come away with information about the man who changed history. If you already have a copy, please come anyway and record your reactions, and any new information. She will bring along her notebook and you'll find your views on tour blog in due course. If you haven't already got a copy of Colonel Péchot: Tracks To The Trenches, buy one at our special Show discount.

Colonel Pechot: Tracks To The Trenches Hardback, 259 pages, about 300 illustrations including drawings and contemporary photographs RRP £36.75 Discount at Show

What is the link between Malcolm's and Sarah's interest?
Malcolm was the first to be hooked. Survivors from the First World War ended up on small rural and industrial lines in Britain. Ancient rolling stock and locomotives could be found when we were young, holed up in Penryn, the Great Little Trains of Wales, Amberley or across the Channel at Froissy. These were tiny kingdoms of track, remote and romantic. How could a fellow resist?

The romance of 2' gauge Photo MD Wright

16mm quarry Hunslet model. Come to the Wrightscale stand at Peterborough and see how it has progressed since January!

Sarah' first reaction was: 'Why?' Why did an idea born on the Festiniog Railway in Wales get taken up in France? Why and how did 60cm gauge become so important? Who was Prosper Péchot, and how did he manage to persuade the entire French Army and Navy to adopt his Péchot System?  

The celebrated Péchot-Bourdon lococmotive. Photo courtesy of Raymond Duton

Why did all the combatants on the Western Front develop their own versions of 60cm field railways? Why did networks rivalling in scale the trans-siberian railway just all disappear?
What could she do but embark on a book! We hope that it helps to answer some of the questions you may have.