PaulS

Probably fair to say that tender-first running at speed was not popular with loco crews as coal dust would be blown at them, and there was less protection from the weather.

Thanks for the clarification; it all makes sense now!

Fresh enquiry, thanks to YouTube cab video! Thoroughly enjoyed this trip from Tirano to St Moritz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQHRP_sfBZk At 1:08;30, just before the train reaches Alp Grüm (heading north), the single track becomes a 180 degree-plus loop, curving sharply. Less than a long train's length from the points, the two tracks converge to give inadequate clearance for two trains to pass each other, and round the bend separate fully to enter the station. There would appear to be room at the platform end for the divergence to happen there. Google maps give an impression of this - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Alp+Grüm/@46.3736189,10.0318493,207m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x47839d91d76ac5fd:0xfca6b3a9caceba7f!8m2!3d46.3745587!4d10.0311902 Any thoughts why this should be?

Works for Marmite jars too!

Old maps of my local station (Linlithgow) show points on each through line on the bridge over the Edinburgh to Stirling high road. However these would only be for very slow speed manoeuvres into a bay and the goods yard, and it occurs to me that this might be one of the factors that informed decisions about siting of turnouts. They are now well off the bridge!

Look forward to seeing the pictures!

Have only just caught up with this thread, which is very interesting to me as we have spent a week in Sutherland every year for the past decade! Sutherland is a remarkably treeless area, with few areas with even medium-sized trees, once you get away from towns. You can easily walk five miles cross-country and not see a tree more than a few feet high! Are you basing your layout on a real location? That would certainly help pin down what is appropriate.

I am not sure if handed diamond crossings are an actual thing on real railways, but the term is often used in proprietary model track systems, to ensure that the correct diamond crossing is used to fit the track geometry.

Made an N-gauge Morris 8, our first family car, and elderly when we got it, complete with suitcases on roof and luggage rack. Originally intended for my layout, it now lives in a miniature diorama on my mother's mantelshelf! Must get a picture when next visiting.