Paul Carpenter – författare

In this stage adaptation of the hugely popular TV series by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, Paul Carpenter and Ian Gower revisit the 1950s and Maplins Holiday Camp with its host of colourful characters. It's the start of a new season and founder Joe Maplin announces that he is setting up a camp in the Bahamas. He needs female yellowcoats to go and work out there and the annual 'Miss Yellowcoat' competition will decide who is to go. Rivalry between the girls is fierce, with Sylvia and Gladys joint forerunners to win the coveted yellow sash. Camp cleaner Peggy, meanwhile, is thrilled at the prospect of a vacancy for a new yellowcoat and convinces Entertainments Manager Jeffrey that she is the ideal candidate for the job. Ted is forced to employ numerous money-making schemes when his ex-wife turns up at the camp with a bailiff in tow and Yvonne and Barry Stuart-Hargreaves send the rumour mill into overdrive when they overhear Gladys escorting Jeffrey into his chalet late one evening. Hi-de-hi, campers!

The objective of this book is to share the pleasures provided by miniature railways of all sizes and encourage anyone wanting to build an engine or railway to ’have a go’.The book describes how the author embarked on such projects with great enthusiasm and passion, but with little knowledge. It confirms that ‘where there is a will, there is a way’ and knowledge will follow. The author found himself on a ‘voyage of discovery’, supported by joining clubs, talking to people, asking questions and then simply ‘having a go’. You don’t need to be an engineer to make a start and many outstanding engines and railways have been built by people from all walks of life. How to choose the most appropriate design and what equipment will be required to succeed is discussed.Steps are presented for building a steam locomotive, an electric locomotive, rolling stock and finally track, all illustrated by photographs and drawings to inform, guide, and encourage.It reviews some published steam locomotive designs and shows how they can be modified to perform better, using modern analytical techniques.Operating a miniature passenger hauling railway is great fun. Lessons learned are shared through all the activities in the book. Everything can be achieved by enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and a commitment to overcome challenges.Have a read, join a club, cut metal and embark on your own ‘voyage of discovery’!And remember -- Engineering is a great and exciting profession!

This book in Pen & Sword's Gallery' series starts with a brief history of the Cambrian Railways' early years, followed by a magnificent comprehensive set of early photographs of Cambrian engines and Oswestry Works made available by the former Chairman of the Manchester Locomotive Society and the National Library of Wales. A tour of the sumptuous scenery of mid Wales follows - the trains in the landscape taken from Andrew Dyke's collection and a few so expertly colourised' by him that most find it difficult to distinguish these from the many genuine colour photographs, the Welsh countryside deserving the rich and varied hues. The book is jointly authored by David Maidment and Paul Carpenter, the latter bringing the story of the Cambrian up to date and persuading a number of former railwaymen who worked on the Cambrian system to share their memories and experiences. The book finishes with a description to restore part of the closed section of the line through the efforts of members of the Cambrian Heritage Railways. The book has over 25,000 words of text, and more than 250 photographs, including over 40 in colour.