ERIC THORNTON'S TRAMWAY

[@peterthornton6854]

Steven, My father built every tramcar from scratch himself. He was an engineer and draughtsman by trade and would research each tram, make a precise detailed drawing and scale it down. He built each one from tinplate, cast the wheels and truck items, and then painted it exactly as the original full size vehicle. The Bristol tram is one of our favourites but my father was very proud of car 232, Bradford double decker.

[@peterthornton6854]

My father built every tramcar himself throughout his whole lifetime. Starting each time by drawing the plans. He also built and wired up the layout including casting and making the quarter size replica controllers. How we miss him and his models.

[@Lennon6412]

I really like the noise they make, they sound just like the real thing. They are works of art and this video is a great tribute!

[@chris4321das]

Beautiful!

[@hugoverdeguer6891]

Great!! Now I'm hooked on model Trams..this is brilliant!!

[@Twittler1]

The skill, patience and craftsmanship of this layout and vehicles is . . . . . well, there are no superlatives I can think of that would be remotely adequate! Thank you so much for sharing this. Oh, the pole reversers are fascinating - I kept rewinding to watch them!

[@thegoldenarrow8484]

What a fabulous set up he had, the trolley reverser is a work of art in itself. Off to Crich tomorrow.

[@peterthornton6854]

Thank you for your comment. It was a great layout. We miss it, and him of course. Our son and grandson have plans to revive at least part of the layout at some point. Enjoy Crich.

[@peterthornton6854]

Thank you Tramcar Trev. My father was meticulous in his model making. The trolley reverses intrigued everyone. Though as you can see in the video, they didn't work every time. We still have the two controllers but to us, his family, they are unique and priceless. Good luck in your modelling.

[@LizDavidRhodes]

I also make 7mm scale model trams so understand the skill and time which your dad had . I started making trams 54 years ago and bought a number of plans / drawings from your dad He even specially redrew a plan of a Bradford tram for me . His plans were very detailed and thorough. Thank you for posting this video for us all to enjoy. He will be a sad loss, particularly to his family.

[@keithhalton2588]

A very pleasant 9 minutes' viewing. To think that, if it wasn't for KZbin, most of us would never have seen your father's beautiful trams in motion.

[@peterthornton6854]

Keith Halton Very true Keith. Glad you enjoyed it. It is unfortunately now the only way our family can see the tramway layout too.

[@TheMIKEP5]

Thanks for sharing the video. I knew Eric very well as a driver at Seaton from the 1970's. He was so professional and always thanked you before you left after a driving session. I remember him staying at John Wills house during the week. He was a real asset to the tramway and got a lot done in his time there.He was excellent at his job and gained everyone's respect due to his superb Knowledge.

[@RubbaDubbaDubba]

Thank you for sharing the video. Your father has achieved an outstanding work. I guess I have never seen anything like these beautiful models.

[@niczano]

despite the large scale these models are absolutely among the best I have ever seen, especially the performance of the operation!

[@peterthornton6854]

niczano Glad you enjoyed them. He was a perfectionist when it came to detail.

[@unpaintedleadsyndrome]

I hope those labours of love are still around rattling down a track...

[@peterthornton6854]

I am afraid that the layout is still in storage and would need a lot of work to get it running again. The trams, however are in safe hands spread across members of our family.

[@tressteleg1]

Hello Peter, in 1984 thanks to Alan and Sue from Seaton tramway, I had the pleasure of visiting your father's tramway. I took about 7 minutes of video there, and am considering putting it on KZbin. It was a fan's night out as I am a modeller also, as was another couple who came along too, so there is a fair amount of chatter, most relevant. Would you like to check it out before publication?

[@peterthornton6854]

Hello and thank you for making contact. Yes, I would very much like to see your footage please.

[@Steviedeee65]

I remember my Dad (who was a tram nut) taking me to see Eric's layout around 1975 when I was about 10 years old. I was absolutely wide eyed with amazement by the scale detail and having a go with the old tram controller. I don't remember the layout being quite so big. Was it originally smaller and in the loft? My Dad thought that Eric was a true tram hero and I was very impressed by him too.

[@peterthornton6854]

Hi Steve, you are correct. In the 1970’s my parents lived in Dorset and the layout was much smaller and in a loft above our sitting room. After my mother died my father moved to a bungalow in Welshpool and adapted and enlarged his layout to fit a double bedroom. So pleased that he and his workmanship so impressed you and your father. Thank you for your comments.

[@peterthornton6854]

Thank you farric1. Glad you enjoyed this video. Sadly the layout is in storage at Seaton Tramway in Devon where my father was Cheif Engineer in his retirement and helped get Seatons trams back on the map. We have all his tramcars though but unfortunately are not able to run them so having this video to watch brings back the memories.

[@maciejqantas5535]

Very nice. I`m very impressed. Beautiful.

[@peterthornton6854]

Maciej Qantas So pleased you enjoyed it.

[@chunkychunks857]

Lovely sound to these, as near to the real thing as you can get.

[@peterthornton6854]

chunky chunks Thank you. He tried to get everything as realistic as possible. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@hugoverdeguer6891]

Truly exquisite modeling!

[@peterthornton6854]

Glad you enjoyed the video Hugo. I wish I had inherited just half of his expertise, but sadly not. I did enjoy driving my father’s models though when I was growing up.

[@ianthompson9201]

Very atmospheric. The sounds are wonderful, too. I'm full of admiration at Eric's skill and patience. This layout needs to be recognised, and its very long-term future assured, as a National Treasure.

[@peterthornton6854]

Thank you Ian. Unfortunately the layout is in storage but the models are being cared for by the family, but not able to be run. This video is currently our only reminder of how wonderful the layout was.

[@MikeDragon87]

These large scale models capture the real thing so well.

[@peterthornton6854]

Glad you like them, though we don’t think of them as large scale particularly.

[@hugoverdeguer6891]

wonderful decal work too!

[@nztphotography5758]

Dream layout, a real inspiration to me

[@peterthornton6854]

DSFCO Films glad you enjoyed it. It’s now the only way we can see them run.

[@nztphotography5758]

Yeah. These Trams have the same sound as the real ones. They remind me of the ones on the Pathe news, where the owner put bells underneath them.

[@luisantoniomarrega1120]

Parabéns que trabalho bem feito, até o pantógrafo funciona! Rio RJ Brasil

[@paulw.woodring7304]

I'm not primarily a traction fan, but enjoyed watching this video. I was particularly fascinated with the British practice of turning the trolley pole on a "wye", so a second trolley pole facing the other way is not needed, which was U. S. practice. Very ingenious.

[@peterthornton6854]

Glad you enjoyed it Paul. Everyone seems to be fascinated by the trolley reverser.

[@peterthornton6854]

You are correct Andrew. There was a trolley reverser at each end of his layout.

[@TramcarTrev]

Every time I watch this video I get slump in my throat. exquisite modelling.

[@peterthornton6854]

Tramcar Trev So happy that you enjoy watching it so much. Unfortunately it is now the only way we too can see my father's wonderful models running.

[@peteshoulders1]

Lots of lovely work to see I like the controller and the reverser for the pole is brilliant, even the gearbox grinds are spot on thanks for sharing

[@peterthornton6854]

RubbaDubbaDubba Thank you. I'm very pleased that you enjoyed the video. He certainly was very talented which unfortunately I have not inherited.

[@Sohave]

If I can trust the date stamp 1998, then I must admit I am rather amazed with the video quality and macro photography. I remember my mom's video-camera from that time, it was an absolute potato. The models are also astounding. Being a model builder of the newer generation relaying on 3D printed parts and ordered photo etchings based of CAD drawings I have a special admiration for models reaching similar and even better realism without these techniques.

[@peterthornton6854]

Thank you for your comments Sohave. You can trust the date. I shot the footage myself on a JVC Handicam and the date was generated in camera at the point of shooting. My father was a draughtsman in his early career and built all his models from scratch, starting with his own precise and accurate drawings done by hand on a drawing board. No computer or printer involved at any stage. I wish I had inherited his talents. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@albertdupontel2340]

Extraordinaire

[@willibaumgartner2499]

Perfect Layout !!!

[@peterthornton6854]

Glad you like it. He was very gifted.

[@ianh2705]

A true craftsman.

[@peterthornton6854]

Thank you. Indeed he was.

[@ianh2705]

@@peterthornton6854 Dianne Gay now Preece sent me the link and asked to be remembered to you.

[@peterthornton6854]

@@ianh2705 Thank you Ian. I’m afraid you will have to remind me how I might know Dianne!

[@ianh2705]

@@peterthornton6854 Not sure they are friends of my partner ,they said they knew You and your dad, possibly in Hereford?, will find out a bit more.

[@peterthornton6854]

@@ianh2705 thank you. Not sure about the Hereford connection but my wife and I remember a Reg Gay from our distant past. Possibly Dianne’s relation? Father, perhaps. I look forward to hearing more. Thanks again. Glad you liked Dad’s trams, by the way.

[@peterthornton6854]

Hi Ben, yes my father was a very patient and clever man. The scale he worked to was 1/32. So not O Gauge but slightly smaller I believe.

[@normanboyes4983]

Peter thank you for posting this tribute to your very talented father (Eric?), I hope Seaton have managed to get his layout up and running and displayed? Sorry I have only just found this video.

[@peterthornton6854]

Hi Norman. Glad you found the video. Hope you enjoyed it. Unfortunately Seaton have decided not to put the layout on show so at some point soon we shall be having it back. Sadly we won’t be able to assemble it all as we don’t have the space.

[@peterthornton6854]

Thank you Mario. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@r-cweber2078]

I am years to late. Bur i like, i like, i like. Nice cars, nice layout, quiet and nice kommentar

[@denysowen1681]

R - C Weber n

[@leverettrailfan5414]

This is the first time I've ever seen a trolley pole reverser! Very clever idea, turning poles can be bothersome, why not have the pole turn itself!

[@peterthornton6854]

Clevere aren’t they. My father spent many hours fine tuning them. They worked most of the time, as can be seen in the video.

[@peterthornton6854]

Tramcar Trev, the cars themselves make that sound. There is no secret device generating anything. And as for he controllers....I wish I could supply but can't at any price. Sorry. So glad that the years my Dad put into his models gives you such inspiration. We hope there are a few more of you out there who feel the same. Keep Watching.

[@TramcarTrev]

Just a question; the sound is so realistic as well, presumably generated by the cars or are they fitted with some sort of sound device? Name your price for the pattern to have the controller face cast.... I keep watching, it gives me inspiration when something goes belly up on my own tramway....

[@peterthornton6854]

Yes Andrew, you have the scale correct. I have no idea why each tramcar sounds the way it does but my father was meticulous in all of his model making. Hope you enjoyed the video.

[@peterthornton6854]

Lennon6412 My father was a very talented and patient model maker. Glad you like my video.

[@peterthornton6854]

So pleased you liked it

[@farric1]

Lovely stuff Peter. Your father was inspirational with his hobby....does the layout still exist? I build model trams as well myself, like the ones in this video. The trolley reversers are great to watch!

[@Tuckaway]

I have just noticed a sign on the bridge that says "Death Trap" ?

[@tominnis8353]

The wiring is amazing - so realistic. How on earth do you go about constructing something like that?

[@peterthornton6854]

He was a very clever and meticulous engineer. He would have designed everything on a drawing board as he was a draughtsman by career. No computer graphics in his day. I wish I had inherited just half of his talent! Thank you for your comment.

[@peterthornton6854]

Tom Innis thank you for your comment. He was a man of endless patience.

[@tominnis8353]

@@peterthornton6854 He must have been. Thank you. A rare quality.

[@peterthornton6854]

Tom Innis so glad you enjoyed the video.

[@stevenparkes3127]

Can I ask you please on where you found the bristol tramways car. I have been asking for years in local model shops and no one knows for sure.

[@deej.1416]

Where can I find trolley poles like them at they are awesome?

[@peterthornton6854]

My father made them from scratch himself so not available anywhere, I’m afraid.

[@Cody_Cigar]

Now that's some incredible craftsmanship and attention to detail. Just marvellous. I'm curious since the layout is currently in storage, do you still own it? Is it a lack of space that's keeping it in boxes? :)

[@peterthornton6854]

We do still own it and you are correct. We don’t have the space to set it up. It is currently stored with Seaton Tramway in Devon who we hope will one day will find the space to put it on show for all to see.

[@TramcarTrev]

Superlatives fail me!!1 Amazing the pole reverser's and they work! But the thing I notice most is that the trams are running off overhead. so many tramway modellers don't bother with this. Ummmm I don't spose you have any spare controllers? My efforts pale into insignificance along side this....

[@bensummers5287]

Very impressive. Your father must have had a lot of patience to build such a wonderful layout. Just a question about the scale: is it OO or O?

[@LizDavidRhodes]

Sorry this and the last post should be from David Rhodes, but we don't know how to change it!

[@peterthornton6854]

Thank you David for your valuable comments. I'm pleased that you remember your contact with him and that Dad helped you with plans and drawings. Long may your model building continue.

[@juliansaul7560]

Superb model trams. Please put a driver in the front of them to add to the realism.

[@caroleast9636]

I agree, beautiful models but no figures at all. Even just a driver would do!

[@peterthornton6854]

Tuckaway. I'm afraid I don't know the significance of this sign other than it being a warning for the narrow bridge over the canal. My father may have had a deeper and more meaningful reason but he never shared it with me. Hope you enjoyed the video.

[@denysowen1681]

Peter Thornton h

[@rodrigaosvasconcellos8430]

What is gauge??? (Scale) Best regards!!!😀

[@peterthornton6854]

Rodrigão SVasconcellos The scale is 1/32 of full size.

[@allanegleston13]

:)