clachnaharry

After the Enterprise network started, containerised coal was handled at Aberdeen Craiginches Yard, Elgin East Yard, Inverness Harbour branch and Thurso. I'm not sure if Georgemas was used for offloading containers. From memory, they ran for about 5 years from mid 90's to early 2000's

That looks good to me. Do you have an end loading dock already? If not - it would be a good use for the end of that siding.

..and it runs the full length of the siding, so in effect the siding is dedicated to livestock traffic.

I think it was pretty rare for cattle docks to be at the end of sidings, unless that siding was dedicated for livestock traffic. I believe the reason was that that cattle trucks tended to be turned around quickly, so other vehicles stabled there would essentially be in the way.

Sure. It's a much more interesting line than the Farringdon branch from a modellers perspective. Slightly unusual track layouts, not restricted to one engine in steam, signalling, military traffic, railcars - with and without tail traffic. What's not to like?

The layout begs the question why did the goods yard have a direct connection to the single line, which requires a FPL when it looks like it could have had a trailing connection from the loop which would have considerably simplified the signalling and locking arrangements.

Which comedy program had had the pink HST and a tunnel?

I think losing the branch line is the right thing to do. I can't think of any prototype where a branch has only a single connection to the rest of the network via a kickback from a passenger bay platform at a terminal station. I know I'm revisiting old ground here, but it looks like the ideal location for the shed and turntable. Alternatively some sort of rail connected industry - a dairy would be the usual cliche! You could even do both.

The odd arrangement of the cattle dock/loading bank adjacent to the run round point adds to the operational interest. The loco of any arriving train would have to propel any vehicle stabled there for unloading there further up the headshunt towards the buffer stop in order to clear the points. It would then have to run around its train and couple this to the displaced wagon to bring it back along side the dock. There was a trap point situated on the "main" line adjacent to the run round point to protect a passenger train standing at the platform from goods vehicles stabled at the dock, a fea

I have to agree on that one. I have always thought Macduff had the perfect track layout for a model terminus. Bay platforms are a bit of an anathema to me on model GWR termini as they were so rare in real life but fully half of GNSR branch termini had them. Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Macduff, Banff and Ballater had them. Lossiemouth, Alford, Oldmeldrum, St Combs and Boddam did't. Ballater was also a very nice terminus- with added Royal trains.

Fairford - pretty, interesting traffic pattern and an interesting layout. It's just a pity that it is too long to model in a reasonable space. Fraserburgh - 3 platforms, 2 branch lines and a large goods yard. I would love to model this one, and if exhibited, I would keep a bucket of rotting fish below the baseboard to complete the "atmosphere". Laxfield on the Mid Suffolk - again interesting traffic pattern and quirky layout requiring 2 locomotives to be stabled there, despite minimal traffic. Add the extension over the crossing to Laxfield mill.

I'm thinking a big gazebo over the terrace.

I'm going to guess something based on Devizes....

Thurso - there are many pictures of coal wagons in the bay platform, but I would presume they were unloaded on the offside. I'm not sure how that was allowed, as there was no trap point.

What about moving the turntable road to the right and running the carriage siding off the run round, parallel with that?