How a visit to a great little train led to a 16mm railway then to an interest in British War Department finally to Col Pechot

Hi. We should explain why a family trip to the Talyllyn railway led first to an interest in 16mm railways, then to a fully scenicked garden railway, then to historic links with World War One and the THOUSANDs of miles of 60cm and 2' gauge railways used near the Western Front.
We were much taken by the little narrow gauge railway.

 It is not only the characterful locomotive in the foreground but also the setting. There are mountains, a variety of fascinating rock formations, greenery and waterfalls through which snaked the narrow gauge railway. Here and here, a small station building drew the eye back into the Welsh hinterland. The memory stayed with us.
Within a few years, the 16mm Association established itself. Small scale narrow gauge has a particular appeal. At 1:19 scale, locomotives and rolling stock are a good size yet the 32mm track can adapt itself to the contours and flowerbeds of an ordinary suburban garden. The feeling of forest and mountain can be recreated in a rockery! A few paths acting as roads and small buildings are enough to scenick the layout. The passions of gardeners and railway enthusiasts can be satisfied in the same smallish plot. I was happily involved in gardening as shrubs, rockeries and garden railways thrive together under judicious direction.
There is one place where Malcolm has never compromised. He always wanted to relate his models to a prototype, reflecting his passion for railway history. In the first place, this showed itself in the model locomotives. Let's face it, the Prime Mover always catches the eye.  He took a pride in reproducing engines which actually ran. Just to take one example, he knows the Corris Number 4 back to front, from her inception at the Kerr Stuart Works, through her service at the Corris Railway to time at the Talyllyn. He found out about the other locomotives in the Kerr Stuart Tattoo Class.
Not content with the railway literature, he started fact-finding trips.  Gradually new items entered his photos. He was looking at rolling stock as well as engines. Lurking in old photos, sidelined in old quarries, glimpsed in defunct yards were enigmatic, battered old wagons. He explored further. Some of these dated back to the First World War. Why did they exist? Very few people seemed to know. I was drawn in at this point. Soon after, a friend said  'You'll need to look at the French stuff too' That was our introduction to the lost world of military narrow gauge.