Jamie

Terrible news, and my heart goes out to you and the family Graham. Only crossed paths fairly infrequently over the years due to distance, but his generosity (at a time when he didn't know me from Adam) and the inspiration of his modelling has had a huge influence on me. It was always an absolute highlight of an exhibition to catch up with Ken, hear the news and inevitably various entertaining tales. Rest in peace big yin, and get the new workbench set up wherever you are.

Nice one Mark. I imagine the exhibition will be beyond my reach but I will keep an eye on progress and I hope it goes well.

Good show @Jim49 et al. Glad I decided to go for a look as there was plenty to see and a good selection of trade too. Garlieston is looking promising and running well John - good to see another bit of Galloway take shape in miniature.

Hi Mark I do like the Clans. I reckon they're a touch more elegant than the Brits thanks to that smaller boiler. Nevertheless I'm restraining myself from your Kernow tip despite a forthcoming birthday. Some information on the tablet catcher - or the mounting for same, not sure they were fitted often, if ever - thanks to Chas of the Alloa crew: Some comments on nameplate colours around the same point in the thread, plus or minus a page or two. Have to say I don't recall seeing light blue nor green. I didn't get hung up on the colour as mine disappeared under a layer of Kingmoor grime. As forewarning, I find the (fairly bright) lining on the running plate really highlights any wear and tear to the weathering caused by handling the loco. In retrospect I'd have been better removing it. Keep up the good work J.

Doesn't quite look as crude there as I recalled, and in fairness the airfix planking isn't brilliant either. Here's a side-by-side with Airfix body on LHS, Dapol body on RHS: I can see why people might choose either, but the deep dark plank lines are too much for my taste. And yes my lettering is just about as bad! Both are shown running on Parkside chassis with Lanarkshire buffers.

No, the body seems to have been retooled in Dapol days, leaving the newer examples suffering from over-pronounced detail. From memory these include planking lines which one could drive a bus through, and oddly shaped corrugations in the ends. Both purport to represent the BR built diagram 1/204 van - in body at least. Some very useful notes on 4mm LMS (and LMS-derived) vans from the Airfix/Mainline/Dapol, Parkside and Ratio models can be found here: https://windcutter.wordpress.com/2012/04/22/the-lms-van/

Some info here:

My reaction to the unfolding Covid situation last year, despite being of good health and in my mid thirties, was to make out a quick crib sheet of what I had and where my family could seek help in either selling or finding good homes for my models if the worst happened. Yes, both. As far as I know the Brassmasters kit is the 'best' route to a long firebox Jubilee - a loco that is very conspicuous by its absence on my layout. Too difficult for my skill levels (now and in the short to medium term) and too expensive to break into a source of parts to mix with other kits or models. It seems Corkerhill will continue to be sending it's Jubilees out on other diagrams meantime.

This view will be spectacular. I love the generous use of space and how the scenery is going to dwarf the train - the only way to really capture this prototype location I guess.

Hi John, Hornby seem to have produced both the rivetted and welded variants of the LMS bogies, and you've got an example of each. I'm pretty sure they've always issued their coaches with matching bogies at each end, but I dare say stranger things happened on the prototype. The books lead me to believe the LMS built coaches with each type of bogie concurrently.

The recent 'bookazine' (effectively a compilation of what would otherwise form individual articles) from the Hornby Magazine publishers on the subject of modelling engineer's wagons is the first publication I've bought in a long time, other than the MRJ. It opened my eyes a bit as to what the mainstream publishers can still produce, and I would welcome further similar works. Somehow, I don't feel that the internet has yet equalled the printed press. Forums and facebook type sites offer piecemeal content frequently thinly spread amongst in-jokes and off topic discussion. All the interesting information may be in there, but the presentation of a well-written article would make it far more coherent. One interesting side effect of 2020 and its lockdowns is the advent of the virtual exhibition. These videos offer an opportunity to see a layout in action but with the possibility to be as informative as a written article by narrating what is happening on camera. Such apparent anomalies as double-headed 4MT/5MT locomotives on two-coach trains or loaded coal going in both directions along a stretch of line could be explained and understood rather than potentially written off as just sloppy modelling. I have seen a lot of marvellous modelling at exhibitions without having a clue about what was being represented.

Take the mechanicals out of crashed Teslas etc and fit them within locomotive tenders, consulting some Hornby and Lima designers from the 1970s-80s if necessary. That should still leave space for a sound chip and speakers within the redundant coal space.

https://railphotoprints.uk/p968868046/h24EEB274#h24eeb274 Presumably the same train, just a few miles south beyond Barrhill. It's a lovely photo.

Have to admit, I only noticed after one of mine started to part company from the main body shell!

Another variation included by Hornby is in the front buffer beams, some are flush, some have (protruding) rivets depicted. Interested in the tender variations, particularly to learn (or re-learn if I ever did know) more about the part-welded version. I must have a look at your alterations to the tender chassis Ray - mine certainly 'drag' a lot more than I would like. For all Hornby's Black Five is starting to show its age against more modern models, I can forgive my fleet many sins given how easily I've converted them to EM, and how smooth the running qualities are. In addition to weight, I believe one thing which can affect traction is the sprung rear driving axle, which can lift the centre axle slightly. Not that it was ever much of a problem with the lightweight loads my locos hauled when the layout was up and running.

Several 67B Hurlford crews seemed to have great pride in 'their' 2Ps, with smokebox door hinges polished or painted, or even in one case outlined in white. Similarly the buffers. Other exGSW sheds seemed less mad with the paint and polish, from a quick straw poll of my (parochial) library I don't see any Ayr or Ardrossan examples embellished in the same way. 40608, 661, 665 and 688 fall immediately to hand. I have a pic of 40621 on shed at 67A in less run-down condition (can't post due to copyright) the smokebox is in shadow but it doesn't seem to have any 'decoration' at that unknown date. Could we be looking at chalk-art as with the replacement shed plate? Not to rain on your parade by any means! - I have my own homage to the GSW's 2Ps in the form of 40661 c/w polished steel embellishments half-built upstairs.

In respect of tarpaulin lettering and numbering, does anyone know a source of suitable transfers to assist in this task?

Given we know it's a Corkerhill loco, pic 2 has something of the Nith Valley about it. Nice work as always Mark.

I don't really see any problem at Stranraer per se. Sure it's at the wrong end of the pier to the town centre, but few people will be commuting into the town by rail, as the next station is Barrhill. People choosing to head out of Stranraer by rail probably aren't fussed too much if there's adequate parking and if the town bus services link the station to the town centre and housing areas. As there's little else on the pier now, one would hope that parking was available. Surely rail could be an attractive "easy option" compared to driving or being rattled around in a bus to the central belt and back? A lot of NI supermarkets seem to be served from Scottish distribution centres, could we not see the likes of the Inverness "Tesco train" where road transport starts on the Irish side of the ferry? As mentioned Girvan - Maybole - Ayr sees more passenger traffic, in part due to a woefully slow circuitous bus service and reasonable onward connections to Glasgow. Stagecoach Western could readily take chunks out of that if they ran a direct bus service up the A77 from Girvan. Galloway seems somewhat 'forgotten' and remote from the central belt. Removing infrastructure would just make it even more remote. Railways are easily lost but murder to reinstate if demand increases in future.

OK, so most pics turned out to be St Enoch-Ayr/Girvan workings but on shed at Stranraer I found pics of 73077/079/102. Caprotti 73145 seems to have been south of Girvan a few times towards the end of its days. 73100 possibly the only one I've seen recorded on the PP&W, coupled inside a black 5 on Stranraer Town to Dumfries which I think was in one of the books on your 'bedspread' and possibly my favourite for your scenario 73009 allegedly standing in for a DMU in the bitter cold of February 1963 at Barrhill - that's in 'On G&SW Lines'. There's a couple of howlers in that book, so I don't know what to trust - that particular caption is plausible though. Looked at troop trains yet? Those could keep your Clans busy and throw a curve-ball into your operating sessions.

There's another pic on Railscot of the same train at roughly the same position headed by a GSYP Class 27 and similar Standard 5 - so that dates it quite well as, what post yellow panels so 1962 approx and pre singling of the Hawkhill curve quoted as 1965. Additionally, many references to the closure of the Port Road describe Anglo-Scottish boat trains being diverted via Mauchline. Which implies Ayr Hawkhill Jct - Annbank - Mauchline and regular workings over that curve. I can't immediately recall seeing a picture of such a working actually on the Ayr-Mauchline line, but there may be one in a Derek Cross book. All very interesting. I'm finding the discussion on Jubilees and Boat trains very useful - I get these things straight in my head then gradually it all fades into confusion again soon after! There's a few Std 5s pictured on Glasgow trains, don't think too many are Caprottis, fewer photos on the PP&W line. The Stenlake/WAC Smith books would be my first port of call - I can have a look later if I get a chance.

Dan, I could be wrong but I read it as the N.Irishman being through coaches for London, whereas the other columns in the timetable are showing connections with departure times from London and Glasgow to meet each train at Dumfries. Could be wrong though.

There is a sensitivity about taking on a layout as a 'second owner'. I understand it, having been in that position for almost a decade now albeit without having the added complication of the high profile nature of Retford. I've done a fair amount of work and upkeep to the layout since it came North, but I have always been careful to respect the original modellers' design and creation. Whether my input has been driven by a desire to improve accuracy or just through personal preference, anytime I've written about my progress I have been careful about how it may be read as a reflection on the (invariably high quality) original work. I can see how an occasional loose turn of phrase could have potential to ruffle feathers and I would hate to risk offending the original builders who I still count as distant friends. I'm sure everyone's intentions are good in respect of Retford and it will be marvellous to see it back in action if only via the web nowadays. It is good that the layout has a future, and I expect the desire to do justice to the previous work will push new contributors to also do their very best - a situation where everyone wins really.

Six-wheel fish van to the rear of this goods train - no saying it's actually carrying seafood but certainly seen on the PP&W and there's all the justification you could want: https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/39601597742/in/album-72157689678658815/ As for Stranraer - was pleasantly surprised when I took a wander round town a few months ago, the town centre much healthier than I expected. The station and harbour are rather sad looking though. Plenty of nice villages and coastline nearby too, just make sure you get the weather right.