dunwurken

You have hit the nail on the head. Nor did he worry about practical things in his layout design such as how, in the third layout, the population of Craig were supposed to access Craig Pier station without either taking a boat across the harbour or clambering over the boat building yard or wandering through Peter Allans works!

Bernard, thank you for undertaking this task. I await you populating all the 'chapters' in due course. (A grateful) Malcolm

Four fat, sleeping Graham Farish men. Three of the figures are in the club collection whilst the fourth, the one which includes the chap reading the newspaper was gifted to a former member of the club, Ron Stevenson, on whose layout they were photographed. Three fat sleeping men by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr Rons Stevensons tram layout Apr 2013 crop by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr At one time I thought Andrew MacAlistair, described on p67 of NGA and on p55 of the Mar 1954 RM as the chap having forty winks on the back of the work car, was the same Graham Farish model posed as Andrew McNab at Glenmuir [RM Nov 1955 p252] and over the years appearing in different places to suit PD’s photographic purposes. As the 1950’s published photographs were in black and white and a tad grainy it was virtually impossible to say whether PD was using the same figurine not just for Andrew MacAlistair and Andrew McNab but also the slumbering man at Craig goods shed [NGA p32, lower right & RM Apr 1958 p81], the slumbering yard foreman [NGA p50 & p357 RM Dec 1967], the chap slumbering on a seat on Craig Station [NGA p53 & P356 RM Dec 1967] and the chap on the cart on p100 [lower right] of NGA. However later colour photographs and surviving models at least answer some of the Who’s Who questions. NGA p50 – the yard foreman slumbers in a chair propped up against the tool shed [now at Dundreich]. When the Ravenglass & Eskdale RPS donated various buildings from Craig to the E&LMRC there was a box with a number of items, coal stage, water tower, driver having a cuppa and this slumbering figurine. It would therefore appear to be fairly safe to assume this slumbering figurine is the Yard Foreman and this is backed up by the photo below: C&M1026 -Craig engine sheds crop by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr I must have a rummage and see if I can trace the foreman's seat. In the photo below there is confirmation of the chap on the bench at Craig station. There is a b&w photo of this chap and seat on p51 of NGA. RM 1990 Special No2 p16 - C&M0815 by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr Ruling out the chap on the station seat can you work out which of three models were used for Andrew MacAlistair and Andrew McNab but also the slumbering man at Craig goods shed? Malcolm

Albyn The only version of 'Old Andra' the shepherd I can think of is the version shown on p60 of NGA, and in the same photo caption we are also reminded freebies from Christmas crackers also found their way onto Craigshire!! Angus McPwhat, or Macpwhat depending on which page of NGA you are reading, appears in various guises. The chap 'could that possibly be Angus himself' on p57 of NGA looks like the caveman to the left in the photo below with the hammer over his head rather than the bare chested chap with the hammer working at the anvil. Whichever one is Angus hammering away who is driving 'Colin' with Angus's dog standing on top of the rear bunker? Which of the two footplate crew is Angus? Two of Angus Macphwat / McPhwat by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr You could end up in the funny farm trying to unravel it all Malcolm

That famous police greeting of 'ello, 'ello, 'ello comes to mind..................., Hat, coat etc..... Malcolm

A quick search suggests the wagon train survivors have lost their wagon! There is a wagon in the collection but it is not the Airfix wagon train vehicle. However here is one the lesser[?] photographs of one of our slumbering gent figures. This is a photograph that could probably reproduced in colour as I think all the items on display have survived. Malcolm NGA page 100, Westons figures in foreground by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr Sleeping Beauty?? by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr

Yes it would be a labour of love to produce a book of the early photographs. If you wish to view a number of the early photos reproduced to a much higher standard you should read PD's obituary in Narrow Gauge and Industrial Railway Modelling Review No.88 Yep, we have Airfix wagon train survivors in the population box and I have seen a wagon somewhere.......... Malcolm

That's what I like a volunteer. Go for it Bernard, I can say from bitter experience it is a problem finding which company produced what and when. As far as Craigshire is concerned I also have to bear in mind a certain gentleman was not above using freebies from his morning cereal packet! There are a few Campbells and Weston items around Craigshire. If you scroll down to the Charter Day 2020 photograph of Dundreich station below the Model T is a Campbells model. This vehicle was missing and for the trip to the 009 Society Convention in 2013 a green car from the ‘spares drawers’ was substituted. For quite some time I was not able to find an exact match and indeed I suspected the car might have been a plastic one out of a cereal packet or a cheap toy from Woolworths. As an interim measure I have settled on a white metal kit by Springside Models [Ref No. R.V.51] as the closet example I could find even though the original car is left hand drive whereas the Springside model is right hand drive! I kept searching for an exact match and whilst at Narrow Gauge North in March 2016 I noticed on the 009 Society second hand sales stand some parts for an HO Model T Ford Truck of American origin. An internet search revealed the missing Model T to be a Campbell’s Scale Models 1914 Ford Roadster #1131 and an old, unmade, model was acquired from the USA. It seemed a shame to build a pristine old kit but needs must……. Campbell1131 by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr Interestingly the loss of this vehicle must have happened around the time of PD’s death. There is a photograph showing what appears to be the Model T sitting in a display cabinet at his home shortly before the house was cleared. Are you sure about the fisherman Albyn? Close up photo attached. IMG_3362 Fisherman by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr PD at one time had an extensive collection of military figures and no I don't know where they all went! I note what you say about the crane. It and others had a fairly nomadic existence. The Rocket tender is thought to be the Rosebud / Kitmaster kit possibly bought soon after the kit was introduced in 1959/60. There is a Benbros Rocket tender in the collection and it was at one time stationed at Glenmuir I think as water tank for the CMR locos. The other wagon is the FR hearse van. Trains were run on 29th February 2020 as required by the charter. A report was published in the May 2020 009 News. Dundreich, Charter Day 2020 by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr Lord Craig gives instructions to Moira's driver. by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr Dundreich with l to r Hearse Van, Duncan with Morag behind him and then Moira with two Kemtron coaches by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr Keep safe Malcolm

Yes Bernard you are correct she is a Merit model. I've amended the original post. That looks very much like 'Owd Andra' the shephard in the same set of figures. Malcolm

Given what has been said on other threads regarding the close connection between S-R and Hamblings [sharing directors and Arthur Hambling in effect in control of the day to day running of S-R by 1949] I think it would be fair to assume one and the same. Indeed I seem to recall that being said on another thread [probably by that ex Hamblings employee 'Bertiedog'] but cannot trace it. 'Bertidog' elsewhere stated the Essar models were of a generic 0-6-0T [round top and Belpaire boilers], a MR/LMS 4F 0-6-0, a 0-6-0 diesel shunter (class 08) and the 'Gnat'. S-R also made the moulds and did the castings for a Bulleid WC/BoB/MN for Hamblings and apparently the same applied to the 08 Diesel (sold as LMS/ GWR as well). Gnats were not sold direct from S-R, only Hamblings. Malcolm

Bernard is correct, the one model of Lord Craig that has been identified is the gentleman farmer from the Britains Lilliput World series but I have seen a similar figure described as a pig farmer and being sold replete with sow and piglets! Lord Craig's bloodline may not be all he would have you think it is. [Lord Craig was depicted by other models but I have not been able to identify any of them amongst the 150 or so members of the Craigshire model population. Lord Craig - Lilliput World by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr Lord Craig - Brittains Lilliput World Models by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr One other from the second photograph works on the standard gauge NBR/NER line - to the left in the photo below. The girl with the feed bowl is a Merit figure - see following post by Bernard TPM. A female p-way worker in 1912!!!! P-way hut by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr I have a partially complete Who's Who for Craigshire. According to PD the first decent figures to appear actually came via Ireland from the firm called ‘Authenticast’. These were really ‘HO’ gauge or 3.5mm scale figures but PD describes them as fairly generously proportioned and perfectly useable. I have still to identify them amongst the 150 or so Craigshire figures that survived the end of their world in 1987. PD did make use of Graham Farish figures - in his view they produced extremely good station staff and passenger sets. Though these were slightly over-scale for 4mm scale this was all to the good when used alongside his 4.5mm narrow gauge models. He adopted the idea of using them in the foreground of the layout and reserving the Authenticast and other figures further back which PD admits was a somewhat vague attempt at perspective modelling. Among the Graham Farish figures PD found some of real characters and he acquired a number of these figures, for instance, the rather stout gentleman designed for sprawling on a station seat in a relaxed manner with his bowler hat tipped over his eyes and a seated gentleman with one leg crossed while he scanned the pages of a newspaper. There are at least four models of the rather stout gentleman. One model has him as Andrew MacAlistair [not to be confused with Alisdair Macandrew the roving cameraman] slumbering on the back of the work car, as Andrew McNab slumbering at Glenmuir and as the slumbering Yard Foreman at the standard gauge engine shed plus other un-named appearances. Rons Stevensons tram layout Apr 2013 crop by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr PD made use of many examples from the American manufacturer Weston Figures. PD thought their figures were well animated, some even of a semi-humorous nature, but that they sometimes had slightly unnatural proportions but could always be relied onto be full of character and detail [NGA p98]. The local Worthies scene on p68 of the Mar 1975 RM is formed from Weston figures as are some of the MacGregor family [and the washing] in the Dundreich stationmaster’s garden on p70 of the same issue of the RM. Weston Campbells Mrs Spumond - Mrs Macgregor at Dundreich by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr PD mentions that Hornby Dublo and Tri-ang produced a series of genuinely 4mm scale figures and he wished he had acquired more before they disappeared from the scene as with the inflow of continental HO equipment manufactures began to produce figures theoretically suitable for both HO and OO gauge layouts but to make matters worse he reckoned many of the continental figures were nearer 3mm than 3.5mm scale - see Narrow Gauge Adventure pages 98/9. His complaint, at the time of writing NGA, was that one of the few sources of genuinely 4mm scale figures was the world of model soldiers. He found a number of 20mm war game figures that were fairly easily adapted to civilian needs – NGA p99. An American Civil War figure can be seen at Dundreich in front of the Model T car - quite a diverse range of models in the photo below The H0 Model T Ford in Oct 2016 by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr A description of how PD made his wire and wax models is given in NGA p98/9 and in the RM for Jul 1955 on pages 154/5. Davie Gilmour is one of those named – ninety three if he is a day – and according to PD he’s a direct crib of John Allen’s ‘rheumaticky old man’ [RM Jul 1955] but girls in swimsuits and a chap swinging a hammer also feature in published photographs. Against all the odds some have survived. Davie Gilmour has resided for many years in the thatched cottage [Ballard Bros. Birmingham] opposite Dundreich engine shed. I'll let you work out how old he is now. Davie Gilmour by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr Malcolm

PD does recall that it took a bit of work by him to get 'Alistair' to run smoothly. That said back in 2013 when I last had 'Alistair' on loan he/she ran very well indeed for a 63 year old model! Malcolm

Thanks for that Bernard. I recognise others in set 052 as now being resident in Craigshire. That poor golfer will be back on the golf courses of Craigshire tomorrow once restrictions are lifted up here in North Britain. Whilst the origins of the chap with the briefcase are now known the question remains - what is he up to?. When you examine the later b&w and colour photographs he was one of a number of loose figures who would be moved around to add interest to a photograph. He looks sinister and quite out of place in some of the photos. Cannot be a KGB agent it being 1912 and all that. German spy pre WW1 eyeing up routes into the country for other spies? In all seriousness there will be a reason as to why PD selected that model but the reasons are now lost in the mists of time. Malcolm

Frank Thank you for reminding me that the Essar motor was integral with the chassis, something I managed to completely forget when writing my e-mail! Others may be interested to know that Essar mechanisms were available in 2 or 3 rail, 4, 6, 8 and 10 coupled and with a choice of wheel size and wheelbase. Stewart Reidpath Essar Catalogue by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr There are four six coupled mechanisms in the PDH Collection, all different in length, wheelsize and spacing and one was adapted by PD to power an NER Fletcher outside framed 0-6-0 No.529. NBR 828 sits on mechanism No.3719, NER 529 utilises mechanism 05163, NBR 817 was being altered to run on a Mainline 0-6-0 chassis but is believed to have previously run on mechanism No.3150 and spare is mechanism No.05135. Thinking further re the numbering of the mechanisms I cannot help wondering if these are indeed works/order numbers so that S-R could keep track of orders in case their were queries, complaints or re-orders. (Found another mechanism -10 June- without chassis and wheels which has no number but is lettered H H E.) Below is the chassis altered by PD to outside frame for the NER Fletcher: Extended axles for o-s framed No529 by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr I previously mentioned that two standard round top firebox 0-6-0 tank bodies found there way onto Craigshire. One was shortened at the front end and mounted on a Mantua 0-4-0 chassis. Peter Allans by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr The current whereabouts of this model of Peter Allans No.1 are unknown however the other body was modified to look like a NBR Class D [LNER J83] 0-6-0T No.828 and this is in the PDH Collection: NBR No828 crop by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr As far as I can see there is no record of other Essar/S-R mechanisms being used in any of the other Craigshire locos however PD was well known for buying and selling through the small ads so who knows, indeed some the Essars in the collection were probably purchased second hand! Malcolm

Albyn I do recollect of at one time saying something about a figure possibly being a caricature of PD however that was a bit of idle speculation on my part and anyone I spoke to who knew PD I think thought I was seeing something that was just not there. One thing no one has been able to answer is the appearance in many a photograph of a gentleman in a grey overcoat carrying a black briefcase and wearing a hat and often seen lurking by the lineside or close to the railway. By way of example crops from two published photographs attached. There are two models of this particular figure but then I can find three or four of some others! Malcolm C&M0228 - Mar79A - Craig Locomotive sheds - Pub RM Feb1993 p56cropman by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr C&M0729 - Mar79F - NER 4-4-0 passing Dundreichcrop by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr

Frank I was not aware of the W&H / Romford alternative however as will be clear from my earlier postings the Craigshire 'Gnat' is 100% Essar and Hamblings. Which brings me back to the letters E A stamped on the mechanism. What do they stand for? Do they tell us which version of the mechanism it is or is the mechanics initials? I note that all the 0-6-0 mechanisms in the collection have a different number stamped on them. Are these numbers similar to works numbers allocated to prototype locomotives by their builders? Anyone know the answer? To be clear did the W&H Essar 4F and diesel shunter have the same chassis as the Hamblings ones? In other words was it just the mechanism that was different? Malcolm

The 1954/5 colour photograph is one of a small number of colour photographs dating from the 1950's in the E&LMRC PD Hancock Collection. Some are very poor quality however the photograph you refer to is probably the best of the bunch. Graham Watling [Grum], who knew PD and was in regular touch with him, was given permission to post the photograph on his blog. I may be mistaken but I do not think any of the other 1950's colour photographs have actually been published, not even in 009 News which is where most C&MR updates are announced, though a few were submitted for publication elsewhere however nothing has come of that. There are no immediate plans for publication but I hope they can be published at some date. The photos of the surviving buildings etc can still be viewed on the web at https://get.google.com/albumarchive/112904466287746079405?source=pwa I will at some time get round to getting something better on the web. However there a few jobs in front of that particular one such as completing a survey of the standard gauge locomotives that ran on Craigshire! Malcolm

5050 Undertaking more SR/Essar research and I came accross this posting by Bertiedog on April 5, 2011 in the Essar Locomotives. How rare? thread. As Bertiedog worked for Hamblings I presume this is necessary confirmation two types of 0-6-0T were produced. Malcolm PS - I note Bertiedog was last active on RMWeb in Sept. 2018. Has he passed on or is he just not posting on RMWeb anymore? That list is right, the Bulleid should be included as S-R made the moulds and did the castings for Hamblings., the same applied to the 08 Diesel(sold as LMS/ GWR as well. Gnats were not sold direct from S-R, only Hamblings. There was an HO version of the cast standard tank, without the Belpaire firebox top, sold pre-war only. Stewart Reidpath personally preferred HO to 00, his ESSAR motor design could fit either scale. The cast standard tank in 4mm has two version, one with Belpaire and one without. The brass mould used was the same, with just the top part of the mould changed before pouring the lead in. The Belpaire boxed one was also made for a time with a tapered top boiler, to be sold as a GWR variant. I was told the mould part got damaged and was discarded, so these are the rarest. S-R moulds were brass/bronze blocks, held together by hinges and pegs, in several parts that were assembled and fitted into steel tongs to handle them. The whole lot was heated on a gas ring to about 200C to dry it and ready it for casting. One cast was made and discarded, the temperature would then be right for further castings as long as no problems occurred. Very much a cottage industry production, low volume, but did make a very sound body for further detailing. I do know the details from very direct experience as I worked at Hamblings in the period that they still cast accessories etc., with the then elderly S-R moulds. I also repaired several, and tried to trace the loco ones, but the then owner had removed the loco ones and they vanished. At various points in the 1950/60/70 period the old moulds were used for further production in the Cecil Court workshop, or by Kirdon or other sub contractors, so exact age of the castings is difficult to determine, but no locos were made after about 1959/60, only the bogies, parts and buffer stops etc., All Hamblings cast parts were ex S-R products bar some moulds made by me. Stephen.

According to what can found on Google yes they did round top and Belpaire firebox versions of the 0-6-0T. There were two round top boilered locos used by P D Hancock both attributed to Stewart Reidpath and Bertiedog had a topic a few years ago relating to a Belpaire boilered example. " A rather tired at over 66 years old Stewart Reidpath 060, a product designed Pre-war but made in the late 1940's and on to about 1952. It is the sister of the Reidpath 060 with a plain boiler, with the top changed to a Belpaire box." As I have been unable to acquire a Stewart Reidpath catalogue or trace a definitive history of the company I am afraid that is the best evidence I can place before you relating to the production of the two types. Malcolm

David Yes Gnat was available in a variety of liveries, see attached scan of a page from Model Railway Enthusiast. Malcolm Gnat Hamblings Liveries by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr

As to who built the Atlantic 'Hazeldean' I can do no more than point you in the direction of pages 84/5 of Narrow Gauge Adventure wherein "As already mentioned, my own Atlantic is a model of No.787 "Hazeldean" , and this was built for me by Mr A. S. Reidpath of Stewart-Reidpath Ltd.........It must have been among the last few models built by Mr Reidpath, for I was saddened to read of his death a few short months after receiving the model." Now PD is known to have said one thing in the Modeller and another in NGA so you will not be surprised there is a question mark regarding the above statement. The model first appears in the December 1961 Railway Modeller but if I have traced the correct Archibald Stewart Reidpath it would appear he did not die until 1969 . Does anyone have a definitive date for Mr Reidpath's death? https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/21062621/person/19581499749/facts Malcolm

Thank you, that is extremely helpful. I had forgotten about that chap in Italy selling old catalogues even though I have purchased from him in the past. Senility!! In addition to servicing and repairing the models I am attempting, where possible, to provide some historical background for each model. Sometimes it is straightforward, eg GEM kit, others require a bit more research! Would cost you a bit more than 95/- + PT now but they do come up now and again on ebay and other auctions. Malcolm

P D Hancock was a Stewart Reidpath fan and a number of Stewart Reidpath products found their way onto Craigshire during the 1950's in particular. Even when in the 1960's when Romford and Pittman motors became available he retained a fondness for the by then obsolete Stewart-Reidpath spur-gear mechanisms which, though noisy, would grind their way through everything. Shortly before his death Mr Reidpath completed a North British Railway 'Atlantic' for PD and amongst the other standard gauge North British, North Eastern Railway and industrial locomotives I can additionally account for a 'Gnat', two 0-6-0 tank bodies and four 0-6-0 mechanisms. I am taking advantage of the time available to me during the coronovirus lockdown to survey each of the 11 standard gauge locomotives in the Edinburgh & Lothians MRC's P D Hancock Collection and where possible repair and restore them to operation but without in any way compromising PD's handiwork. In other words cleaning, oiling and repairs such as quartering, tweeking pick ups, soldering broken wires will be undertaken but generally leaving as is. I have in the course of the past few days been examining NBR 'G' class 0-4-0ST No.146 which is a conversion from an SR Gnat. This loco whilst a wee bit bashed around the body has a chassis that seems as good as when it was new around 65 years ago. Two queries regarding the 'Gnat'. I can recall seeing an advert for the 'Gnat' locomotives when they were new in a 1950's but can I find it again, no I can't. Can anyone provide me a scan of the advert or with a publication date? Secondly the chassis has E A stamped on the side. What is the significance of these letters? Malcolm NBR No.146 by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr Chassis for NBR No.146 by Malcolm MacLeod, on Flickr

That wall seen underneath the canopy is spotlessly clean. Malcolm

Or Kirkcaldy or Brechin or Forfar or, if you wish to start a pronunciation war, East Lothian's version of "Mill guy", Gullane.