RMweb Gold Regularity Posted June 7, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 7, 2019 6 inch spacing, I believe. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Kirk Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 The station looks the same. I have not been there since the mid/late 70s. Maroon coaches and green diesels then of course. Probably OT but there was a Model Railway manufacturer in the area at the time. I did some pattern making work for them and they did some castings for me. The former Cotswold Models white metal casters were worked on by some Highlands development agency and persuaded to re locate becoming Sutherland Casters. They had some Highland Locos in their 4mm kit range and between us we did some highland wagons. The workshops the development agency got them were temporary buildings (the same sort of things they used as school classrooms) in I think Bonar Bridge. The owners got a former Hydro Board house out beside a dam somewhere and I stayed with them when visiting. The owner was Ron Charlton but as he had been a tail gunner in a Lancaster I doubt if he is still with us. The kits went to Nu Cast and are now I believe with SE Finecast. best wishes, Ian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Regularity Posted June 15, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 15, 2019 15 minutes ago, Ian Kirk said: I have not been there since the mid/late 70s. Maroon coaches and green diesels then of course. Have you lost a decade there? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Kirk Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 11 minutes ago, Regularity said: Have you lost a decade there? Quite possibly. By the time of my trips to see Sutherland we must have been in blue but, possibly because I associate the area with the "most miles on a runabout ticket" trips of my mis spent youth my memories see things in red/green. Besides, old age doesn't come itself you know...... best wishes, Ian 3 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted August 10, 2019 Author Share Posted August 10, 2019 (edited) Thought some folk on here might be interested in a little bit of history about the stations at Ardgay and Invershin, during the war years when North American forestry corps loggers came over to the Highlands to assist with the war effort. I noted down some details from a talk given this year: 'Lumberjack Visitors: Forestry Corps in Wartime Scotland' by Alasdair Cameron: “The fundamental requirement, during wartime, was timber. There was plenty of timber in the British Isles, but no workforce available to harvest it. Essential timber items for the war effort included pit props for the coal mines (coal was needed for steel foundries and the steel for guns, vehicles and equipment). Agriculture also depended on steel for tools and equipment. Timber was used for boxes and crates essential for packaging. At the frontline timber provided planking for trenches, duckboards and, sadly, coffins. North Americans were invited to fell the timber in this country and Newfoundland men were very keen to come, because of close Highland family connections. There is limited information about the Canadian lumberjacks who came during WW1. Some details are known about Dornoch 1 and Dornoch 2 sawmill camps, from personal diaries. There are notes about horses, steam and narrow gauge railways. While getting a camp ready there is reference to the Finns (Scandinavians) and a mention that "the Finns are not coming!". There was a unique setup at Ardgay where ten mills were installed. Six mills were funded by Newfoundland and four were private. Seven mills at Balnagown and three mills at Skibo are recorded. The setting up and maintenance of mills at Ardgay placed a great pressure on Ardgay Station. A new road access for the stations was constructed to cope with the heavy transport associated with movement of equipment, vehicles and timber, which all had to be transported by rail. Each lumberjack was also supplied with 7.75 lbs of meat per week. The military works at Invergordon depended on timber from Ardgay. One group also brought their own pet bear! The heavy traffic from the sawmill at Invershin Station, caused a back up on the roads, which required more gravel for repair work. There was also a dislike of sheep sale traffic, which was seen as interfering with the work of the sawmills. Accidents were not unknown, but the nearest hospital, at the time, was at Tulloch in Dingwall. The lumberjacks built their own timber huts and portable sawmills, with tarred paper covering on the roofs. Newfoundlanders were not used to bicycles, much to the amusement of locals, however they managed to buy spares and built their own bikes. On difficult sites timber was cut using simple hand saws - this timber was used for pit props.” Short excerpt from this British Pathe film about the Canadian Forestry Corps in Britain. Edited August 10, 2019 by Marly51 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted September 15, 2019 Author Share Posted September 15, 2019 On 27/07/2018 at 17:00, Marly51 said: A week ago I undertook a small measured survey of the signal box at Rogart Station. We are using Rogart Signal Box as the prototype for two models on the Lairg Station Layout. The station is privately owned and also the location of Sleeperzzz - hostel accommodation in old carriages, showmans wagon or B&B in the ‘Waiting Room’. http://www.sleeperzzz.com Currently modelling two HR signal boxes in 2mm scale, but couldn’t resist buying the 00/H0 Peco kit, which I may use for a diorama or shelf layout! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike 84C Posted September 17, 2019 Share Posted September 17, 2019 Thanks for posting this info on the Far North line. My wife and I love the whole area from Inverness northwards with Brora being our favourite spot. If in Helmsdale in the evening a visit to "La Mirage" is worth it, some of the decor just makes me smile! The food is excellent and also, in Helmsdale is a very well restored late 1950's Albion lorry that is worth photographing. The community museum on the old colliery site is well worth visiting if your in Brora. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NCB Posted September 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 24, 2019 On 15/06/2019 at 18:28, Ian Kirk said: The station looks the same. I have not been there since the mid/late 70s. Maroon coaches and green diesels then of course. Probably OT but there was a Model Railway manufacturer in the area at the time. I did some pattern making work for them and they did some castings for me. The former Cotswold Models white metal casters were worked on by some Highlands development agency and persuaded to re locate becoming Sutherland Casters. They had some Highland Locos in their 4mm kit range and between us we did some highland wagons. The workshops the development agency got them were temporary buildings (the same sort of things they used as school classrooms) in I think Bonar Bridge. The owners got a former Hydro Board house out beside a dam somewhere and I stayed with them when visiting. The owner was Ron Charlton but as he had been a tail gunner in a Lancaster I doubt if he is still with us. The kits went to Nu Cast and are now I believe with SE Finecast. best wishes, Ian I've still got a Sutherland Model Casters' Highland Railway Small Ben tucked away, half complete. Must get around to finishing it. The engine body is very nicely done, although the chassis is simply a block of machined brass. From memory the tender castings weren't quite as good. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 On 11/05/2019 at 17:10, Marly51 said: Great to see a steam locomotive again, here at Lairg Station! Some shots of the ‘Steam Dreams’ tour passing through today. Steam engine, ‘Mayflower’ No. 61306, one of only two surviving Thompson 'B1' 4-6-0s. Just came across this thread? Lovely to see steam on the Far North I caught up with this tour at Rogart with the train heading North. It stopped there for 15 minutes or so before heading for Brora Cheers David 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 On 27/07/2018 at 17:00, Marly51 said: A week ago I undertook a small measured survey of the signal box at Rogart Station. We are using Rogart Signal Box as the prototype for two models on the Lairg Station Layout. The station is privately owned and also the location of Sleeperzzz - hostel accommodation in old carriages, showmans wagon or B&B in the ‘Waiting Room’. http://www.sleeperzzz.com In May 2016 we stayed a couple of nights at Sleeperzzz, travelling all the way from Dornoch! Pictures attached together with a couple of a southbound train. I also think I remember the SRPS have the lever frame from one of the Rogart boxes on display in their exhibition hall at Boness 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 Far North service leaving Inverness in September 2019 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted July 17, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 17, 2020 Do they still split/attach the respective Wick and Thurso portions at Georgemas Junction? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Alder Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 No, runs through to Thurso and on to Wick or Inverness, depending on direction of train. Not popular with Wickers as it adds an extra half hour on to their journey. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Solo Posted July 19, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 19, 2020 There's something about this part of the world that lends itself to train-less photos - this just outside Helmsdale: 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 On 03/06/2018 at 13:43, Marly51 said: Running to catch the Wick train yesterday, my daughter took a quick shot of The Royal Scotsman at Inverness! Not enough time to take more photos. ☹️ I saw this one in Inverness last year too, Sept 2019 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 This is the other end of the train heading North from Inverness 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 This is Tain this morning with the 11.10 departure to Inverness. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishswissernie Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 I have a Flickr album containing some 770 plus images of the Farther North line and another covering the Dingwall and Skye with views going back to between the Wars. Probably nothing from this Century though! 9 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Alder Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 And highly recommended - a real treasure trove.... 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted September 15, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 15, 2020 3 hours ago, Ben Alder said: And highly recommended - a real treasure trove.... Should come with a warning though.... Go in there for a 'quick look' and it may be some time before you come out again! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 9 minutes ago, keefer said: Should come with a warning though.... Go in there for a 'quick look' and it may be some time before you come out again! Agree with you there. I ended up looking at photos of Grangemouth which took me back to the mid seventies . One look at Ernie's archive and you will head off in a completely new direction! We must resist! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted September 15, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 15, 2020 well guess what, i fell into my own trap. just after i posted, i clicked through into Ernie's Flickr via the photo above - not really my interest - so checked the albums for a couple of locations. Came back out 45 mins later! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted October 9, 2020 Share Posted October 9, 2020 This is Dingwall today. With an Inverness service 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 More from Dingwall yesterday, a true relic of the steam age 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 This is Fearn taken today 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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