before I move onto more specific replies, I'm sure I'm late to the party on this one but britainfromabove.co.uk has a number of aerial shots of
Longsleddale in the 1930s, one of the real world inspirations for Greendale. I might have to try and draw up a map of Greendale before I start building terrain, so that I have straight in my own head what should and what shouldn't be there.
@Arlequín - you're exactly right. people's willingness to accept and help make any and all ideas into something truly fun is what makes this, to my mind, the greatest wargaming forum on t'interwebs. I'm a bit young for Trumpton, Chigley and Camberwick Green, but I was just looking at what other options there might be. I'm quite tempted to try and make an alternative reality map of the UK (something akin to the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics) using only television settings, but that might have to wait for another day.
@the Emir - thanks for the video link. I do remember watching that episode and thinking i didn't really understand it at the time. with an extra 15 years experience I still don't really 'get' it as it doesn't seem to have much to do with Postman Pat or Il Postino. nevertheless, it is funny and is probably quite close to the scenario that's cooking up in my head. the residents of Sodor are looking to side with the fascists and trying to connect to the mainland through Greendale who are still loyal, but starting to favour the ideologies of the socialists.