BusDriverMan Posted August 7, 2020 Share Posted August 7, 2020 The desk in my living room, where I've spent almost all my waking hours since the middle of March, overlooks the site of one of the stations on this route. Trucks go past all day. As an aside to the history of the route, where should the new Strathmore Route go? I'd take it as a given that it'd take more or less the historic route from Stanley Junction via Coupar Angus to a new site in Forfar. But from there - to Dundee via Broughty Ferry/Monifieth? To Arbroath via Friockheim on the original route? My preference is to have a new through route from Forfar to Brechin to the ECML south of Laurencekirk - thus allowing an alternate Aberdeen-Perth route avoiding the single-track section between Montrose and Usan. When I moved to Scotland, I spent a year or so driving buses to most of these places. A train would've been better! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer27jd Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Saw this thread come up again. It's such a shame that there is so little about this route. Here are some photos that may be of interest; John 5 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Interesting photos, but where is it? (for those of us not familiar with the route) Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer27jd Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 59 minutes ago, Caley Jim said: Interesting photos, but where is it? (for those of us not familiar with the route) Jim That is a rather obvious omission - oops! It’s Forfar. John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusDriverMan Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 (edited) A contemporary view of the same site. Heartbreaking, isn't it I've just finished "The Arbroath and Forfar Railway" by… a disappointing author. The book was good, but rushed exponentially towards the end. I wanted to know why Forfar got this new(?) signal box in its later years. Found another photo here, a 1981 railtour from Edinburgh Waverley to Forfar, with a 122 leading what might be a 108. Very inconsiderate to marshall the van end of the 122 at the front of the train and deprive passengers a view forwards! https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/810725db.htm ps @sulzer27jd John - I like your location Edited August 10, 2020 by BusDriverMan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Would like to keep this thread live and see if we can garner enough interest to get a subgroup going. Below are photos of Brechin from 2015. I did once model this in o gauge. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Torper Posted August 24, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 24, 2020 On 09/08/2020 at 22:33, sulzer27jd said: Saw this thread come up again. It's such a shame that there is so little about this route. Here are some photos that may be of interest; John These are such sad pictures. I remember catching trains from these curved platforms when the place was busy, bustling and alive. DT 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer27jd Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 On 10/08/2020 at 10:06, BusDriverMan said: I've just finished "The Arbroath and Forfar Railway" by… a disappointing author. The book was good, but rushed exponentially towards the end. I wanted to know why Forfar got this new(?) signal box in its later years. Like many of the similar books they are almost obsessed by the early years of these lines, which I understand is of interest to some. What is lacking however is more detail of how the lines were worked throughout their history. I suspect unfortunately that much of the detail from the pre-grouping and pre-nationalisation eras is now lost. What is disappointing is that even through the BR years there is very little knowledge of the operational aspects of the network of Strathmore lines. John 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 12 minutes ago, sulzer27jd said: Like many of the similar books they are almost obsessed by the early years of these lines, which I understand is of interest to some. What is lacking however is more detail of how the lines were worked throughout their history. I suspect unfortunately that much of the detail from the pre-grouping and pre-nationalisation eras is now lost. What is disappointing is that even through the BR years there is very little knowledge of the operational aspects of the network of Strathmore lines. John You've 100% agreement from this observer. It's no secret that I'm a Waverley Route obsessive, plus the NBL's counterpart route the Perth Direct, via the dramatic Glenfarg, however, the Strathmore has intrigued me for years too. It's an unsung closure much like the Perth Direct, although each line had its signature trains towards closure - on the Strathmore it was the Three Hour Expresses that provided the final fling for the A4s, alongside Class 29s and 40s... For my money the Perth Direct boasted the Kings Cross - Perth car sleepers. I welcome all and any research into these networks especially in their latter years toward retrenchment and ultimate closure. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted August 25, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 25, 2020 I dont think that drawback is restricted to the book on the Arbroath & Forfar. Most such books seems to have plenty of information on who did what in the 19th century, yet often very little on say, post war operations. Seen some fascinating pictures on FB recently of a Class 50 on a freight in Forfar. It seems they sometimes filled in after hauling the Highland sleeper as far as Perth. I assume the loco was changed for a 26? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer27jd Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 (edited) Burrelton station house and goods shed John Edited August 25, 2020 by sulzer27jd 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer27jd Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 More from Forfar; South end showing the sharp curve. North end John 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer27jd Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 Forfar yard loading bank and goods shed, with Station Park, home of the mighty Forfar Athletic FC in the background. Goods shed and the new concrete goods shed. Close up of the concrete goods shed. I have numerous close ups and detail photos of the buildings if anyone is interested. John 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 Hi John, I would love to see your further photos of For far. It would make a great model I think. Cheers David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 The concrete goods shed looks very similar to the Ratio/ Peco modular Provender Store. I recall seeing one on a suggested layout plan based on Llangefni station on Anglesey. I bet if I looked closely there were examples across the network - even St Boswells on the Waverley route; thinking about them they were associated with animal feed distribution, hence the concrete stilts to help keep rattus norvegicus at bay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cessna152towser Posted August 25, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 25, 2020 Rather blurry still capture from one of my old super 8 cine films which I discarded years ago. June 5th 1982, Forfar with the last passenger train about to depart for Perth. 40 143 was used for morning and early evening out and back trips, allowing the Forfar folks a last train trip to Perth and those of us joining at Perth an afternoon in Forfar. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cessna152towser Posted August 25, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 25, 2020 Back in Forfar on 9th June, 2011, the steam shed was still intact, having been used latterly as a wholesale food store. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cessna152towser Posted August 25, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 25, 2020 (edited) This PW hut was still extant on the up side near Kirriemuir Junction in 2011. Edited August 25, 2020 by cessna152towser 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cessna152towser Posted August 25, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 25, 2020 By 20th April, 2011, embankment erosion between Glamis and Forfar had caused this fogman's hut to develop a rather jaunty angle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cessna152towser Posted August 25, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 25, 2020 (edited) Cargill Viaduct over the River Tay, 30th May, 2011. More on my Flickr Album https://www.flickr.com/photos/cessna152towser/albums/72157626541391698 Edited August 25, 2020 by cessna152towser 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 6 minutes ago, cessna152towser said: Cargill Viaduct over the River Tay, 30th May, 2011. More on my Flickr Album https://www.flickr.com/photos/cessna152towser/albums/72157626541391698 That is a truly beautiful structure. Thank you for sharing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusDriverMan Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 51 minutes ago, cessna152towser said: Back in Forfar on 9th June, 2011, the steam shed was still intact, having been used latterly as a wholesale food store. It's still there now! Or at least, mostly still there - haven't been close up to compare to the photo here. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Regularity Posted August 25, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 25, 2020 2 hours ago, sulzer27jd said: Station Park, home of the mighty Forfar Athletic FC Ah, of Forfar 5-4 Fife fame. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham108 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 11 minutes ago, Regularity said: Ah, of Forfar 5-4 Fife fame. You mean East Fife 4 - Forfar 5 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 On 20/08/2020 at 17:32, Eddie R v2.0 said: I’d absolutely love to see the route reopened in some form or other. A proper double track mainline that should be electrified all the way from Dunblane to Aberdeen. like so many routes that were closed prematurely, it’s potential could be huge. Another would be Peterhead but that’s for another thread. It's a great pity that Stanley Jc/Forfar was allowed to disappear; Nowadays it would be the ideal place for an extension of the Edinburgh/Perth service. However I can't see how, despite the constraint of the single line between Montrose and Usan, two separate routes between Perth and Aberdeen could be justified, especially as one would miss the major traffic centre of Dundee ! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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