The Rev Thomas Parley was a clergyman, initially based at Darlington and subsequently St Margarets, Tivetshall, south of Norwich in Norfolk. Parley first became well known as an amateur railway photogrpher and engineer, prior to the Great War, although it is his locos and layout building skills in Tivetshall during the 1920a and 30s for which he is remembered. The pre grouping layout was built in the grounds of the rectory at Tivetshall, based on the main line from London to Aberdeen, populated with clockwork models of Caledonian, Great Eastern and Great Northern locomotives, some of which were converted to LNER following the grouping of 1923.
Parley passed away in 1956 and many of his locomotives were discovered by Jack Ray of Crewchester fame. Many Parley locos were run on the Crewchester layout, with some remaining extant, and still seeing regular active service, although many of the original clockwork motors have been replaced by electric propulsion, as in the examples illustrated below.
Rev Parley Great Northern Railway Class J22 (LNER J5) 0-6-0 tender locomotive Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
Rev Parley Great Northern Railway Class J22 (LNER J5) 0-6-0 tender locomotive Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
Rev Parley Great Northern Railway Class J22 (LNER J5) 0-6-0 tender locomotive Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
Rev Parley Great Northern Railway Class J22 (LNER J5) 0-6-0 tender locomotive Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
Rev Parley North Eastern Railway Class R1 (LNER D21) 4-4-0 tender locomotive Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
Rev Parley North Eastern Railway Class R1 (LNER D21) 4-4-0 tender locomotive Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
Rev Parley North Eastern Railway Class R1 (LNER D21) 4-4-0 tender locomotive Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
Rev Parley North Eastern Railway Class R1 (LNER D21) 4-4-0 tender locomotive Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
Rev Parley London North Eastern Railway Class A1 4-6-2 tender locomotive 4471 Sir Frederick Banbury Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
Rev Parley London North Eastern Railway Class A1 4-6-2 tender locomotive 4471 Sir Frederick Banbury Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
Rev Parley London North Eastern Railway Class A1 4-6-2 tender locomotive 4471 Sir Frederick Banbury Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
Rev Parley London North Eastern Railway Class A1 4-6-2 tender locomotive 4471 Sir Frederick Banbury Image credit Stop the Drop Auction |
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