Smallwonder

70810: Southbound a mile south of Lazonby on 3 April 2024

70810 Passing Lazonby & Kirkoswald: Southbound on 4 April 2024

70810 Approaching Lazonby & Kirkoswald: Southbound on 4 April 2024

Work stalled for a while until I realised I wanted to see the trains more. I also quite unexpectedly stumbled upon a prototype. I abandoned the terminus, did some engineering works with the TV tunnel and changed the lift out section to a repositioned flap. Much to be done, but far better for watching the trains go by.

Enjoyed seeing this at the weekend. The building interiors looked fantastic. Something I enjoy doing, but no-one sees my efforts. The banking operations were a great feature too.

Does anyone know how arrivals and departures were dealt with at Millerhill Yard in the late 1980s? I have seen photos of Speedlink trains pulled into the Bilston Glen branch, but was this to allow them to reverse into the yard? There seem to have been sidings with loops to allow engine release next to the through loops; were these used when trains were not reversed in? No intention of modelling it, just interested as it was not an easy place to see what was going on.

I wonder if the 31 had been sent to rescue 47207? Seems more likely than the 31 having double-headed all the way from Millerhill.

The 656s are worth the wait...

Between 1987 and 1990 I didn't see a 26 head beyond Cockenzie except occasionally to Oxwellmains (cement works at Dunbar). When a 26 made it to Carlisle in those days it was still noteworthy enough for a mention in "Rail", but again I can't remeber seeing any sightings on the East coast. In early 1990s 26s piloted 56s on coal trains south on ECML from Millerhill but only as far as Granthouses. In the 600 or so pages of Dave F's photos in the Prototype Discussions section that I have been through I can't recall seeing a 26 or 27 and he has a lot of coverage of ECML north of Newcastle in that period. But there again I can probably account for less than 0.1% of services in that period so would be quite easy for many to have slipped down the line (and it seems from he responses above that they did especially via Carlisle).

Stumbled across this:

Some variety: 47147 passes Blindwells on the ECML heading towards Millerhill on 2 July 1989 with a Speedlink Coal Network train (6S43) at 1655. By1735 it had swapped that load for some empties and was waiting to join the ECML South at Monktonhall Junction. Waverley, 4 July 1989; 47470 which departed with the 1044 to Brighton. I think it would have run round first and headed for Carstairs. South end of Mossend; 37111 arrives and heads for the yard at 1315 on 19 July 1989 37114 passes through Waverley Eastbound at 0936 with a crane on 8 August 1989. Awaiting their turns at Carstairs, 47593 and 47627 with an unidentified 47 behind on 19 July 1989 at 1615.

Shiny 37403 on The Royal Scotsman at Waverley on 4 July 1989. And from the front. It was shown on the Platform display as the 1118 to Taynuilt. 47715 at Waverley on 4 July 1989 propelling the 1130 to GQS. 26005 at Waverley on 4 July 1989 about to continue East with a civil engineers train. Stirling on 8 July 1989 for the next three: 08725 47570 with the 11 coach 1510 to Inverness. 47707 with a service south at 1325 And finally for now: 47378 arrives at Millerhill at 1730 on 9 July 1989 with the return working of the petfood train; the return carrying empty cans south I believe. The train headed on south around 1755

Niddrie North Junction - passing the site of a line that used to link the suburban line directly to the ECML before the route via Millerhill. On 20 June 1989 at 1925 47569 approaches Waverley the long way round having been diverted round the suburban line. Millerhill at 2030 the following day, 21 June 1989. 47572 stabled. 47569 is the loco on the left with the strange cabside logo. Apparently the description of it is in my "Notebook 3" which isn't immediately to hand. The other occupants of the Chute on the same evening. L to R -unknown, 47644, 47643, 47569, 47572. On 27 May 1989 the sun shines at Millerhill on 37013 and 26001. I spotted 26001 on 65 occasions from December 1987 to July 1990. On all but one occasion at was on shed at Millerhill. The one exception was on 26 July 1988 when it was at Waverly pulling the 1203 to Euston (as far as Carstairs) whilst still in original Railfreight livery.. Evening sun at Millerhill on 28 June 1989: 26006 and 37175 at 2100.

15 June 1989: 37260 Radio Highland at Millerhill at 2030. Withdrawn just over two months later. 18 June 1989: 37373 at Millerhill at 1700. 15 minutes later it headed north light engine. That's a while salmon logo on its no.2 end cabside. 18 June 1989: 47371 arriving from the south at 1715 with the 6Z93 petfood bound for Glasgow. Held in the loops at Millerhill . The "71" in its number was black in outline only. In September 1988 I spotted this one at the head of the Royal Scotsman at Waverley. An injured 37175 keeps company with 37167 at Millerhill on 18 June 1989. 37175 seemed to stay in the area for a few weeks around that time. It still had a boarded windscreen a month later. 37167 seemed to be a regular visitor to Millerhill in 1989, presumably bringing speedlink coal services north (see previous photos). I also spotted it at Oxford in July that year.