Iain Mac

A man of my own heart. Knowledge is based on constodianship not ownership. To those reseponsive of receipt it is free. And I believe we all have something to learn from everyone to a degree, be it interest. Or CWS yearly's, centripetal force, close coupling, the list is indeed inclusive and vast for which my knew knowledge is grateful. We do have to have financial capabilities for life but for me, my hobby will provide mutually beneficial symbiosis I would hope at most (least? Trying to get across benefit not fiscal so whichever suits appropriately) I've know desire to set up a 499 issue partwork type thingy magazine and model to charge less than a tenner a fortnight for the never never. The sharing or exchange of skills, knowledge and occasionally lessons to pitfalls to avoid along with healthy banter make, I am sure, many a hobby fine. Right, apologies. I haven't been reading any Buddist text so coming across as the Dali Farm is not intentional. It's probably a consequence of time of evening family free.

Setting skill set value not aside, considerably more. The barter economy and challenge are the real attractions I'd suggest. Other than that truth should be foremost. "I can't help and I earn more by other renenue streams per hour. Sorry".

The commission requests can be a bit of a conundrum I've found too. I have been requested to produce buildings (Perth Station and more of a sizeable nature) on various occasions. I have to ask if there is a budget to work to, which sets the standard of work or. It's a 300+ hour job to a standard I'd put my name to so what would the person commissioning consider a fair hourly rate? Intended to distance the probability of recieving a commission in all honesty. I am working with a like minded modeller in producing Hawick in 1 :76.2. Time given materials recieved. It is purly a passion at that, most of our, level (s) I feel. Not to mention the personal benefits of apptitude testing, piece, tranquility and total pride. Money's nice, I feel rich in other ways. I probably should say or add, my dear lady wife and daughter also contribute to feeling of well being

Possibly a a combination of the loading process being (over time) less than gentle and the in transit dynamics of trackforces. A former colleague remebers going to pick a set up from Motherwell Bridge, funnily enough at Motherwell. Banana bolsters were presented and consist refused. "Loaded as delivered" was given explanation. On investigation it was established that the electromagnet on the crane failed with power trip and down came the billets onto the deck. Switch it off, switch back on, does it work? "Right. Punt them down the exchange and keep schtum".....

Happen!

Bit of a weird one. I like the Farm series, Victorian Farm, Edwardian etc and although I enjoy all the presenters/guinea pig historical re-enactors but the profusion of the use of the phrase has me threatening the TV screen with the remote. I'm ordinarily a Saint, no one who knows me will ever tell you. But, what had once been the preserve of the estuary English (very good description sir), one assumes thanks to media of varying forms, is now prevalent even in Ayrshire where I now reside. My wife being a native of these parts. The locals are not keen on the correction when they utter the words. Being of Highland decent, their objection gets ignored and correction is given without hesitation. I spent much of my youth in the North West, Lancashire in particular, and I never recall hearing it uttered by way of description. The Mancs have their own ways though, probably steming from not knowing whether to claim to be from Cheshire or Lancashire. Think I've provided enough fuel for the fire there and anticipate the Monty Python routine shortly. "15 of use crammed into a corpse" "You had a corpse"? LUXURY!......

I do realise the in joke for gramatics and diction herein, and Tony's former profession. Just a northerner pointing out the nuances of regional takes on the use of language, clean language that is. "Off of" is a pet hate. However I managed to blend in when I lived in Kent 20+ years ago.

No, Tony was correct. 'from' or 'off'. 'Off of' is a particularly annoying trait infuriatingly used by south of the Ship Canal inhabitants and profuse in the language south of Watford Gap.

I've made a start on some LMS subjects for rendition in 4mm scale initially. All CAD stage at the moment and 1 : 1 at that but readily scaled down and modeling standards applied they can be printed or etched, or combination. Working through the 1939/40 Coronation Scot artic and singles coaches which were predominately finished post war. Only general arrangement drawings exist in archives so a lot of work has gone in to working out materials and practice to complete fully detailed drawings and CAD models of the prototypes. It's not something any of the rtr manufactures are likely to produce due to expense v's profits. I want a couple of sets so it is something that can be offered as a by product of my desire to model them to anyone interested. Iain Mac.

Yep, I use that resource a lot. It is 1:1 in CAD though and I can do all sorts with it, scale, add gradient profile, curvature, multiple date coverage for site development and ultimately build it in 3D creating landscapes. I do find nls a great review point for starting, but its still just a map on an aerial view.

Not sure how readable this will be, screen capture from CAD. 52.75mp-53mp route map, ongoing project. Aerial photos copyright Bing although suitably altered, to give credit to origin. Plenty of room......

I'd understood it to be that the type 4 had failed and come to a stand just in rear of the up distant and the type 3, slightly underpowered for consist, was sent to rescue. Cant mind what Bruce told me when he sent me it years ago. Either way, the duff is DIT and not tandem working the consist.

Permissible speed Hawick to Riccarton culvert was only 45mph and climbing at 1:92 would factor in stopping distance. Anything of length or weight would of had the speed scrub by the constant curvature from the north anyway.

Campbell Richardson and the electric cooker chariot......

And as screen captures for 'at a glance'

Hi all. From memory the up sidings were lifted circa 62, which I have photos of in my archive. A single long lie ran back from the Counties Junction end to the co-op stores progressively weaving across the former siding crossovers on an eased alignment. This had a link round to the Counties ballast hole siding. The down yard lost much of its prominence when the smiting and concretes plants moved to Loch Park Hawick in the 50's (53 or 55 I seem to recall). A fan of 4 sidings and a kick back for ash disposal were retained with No 1 siding housing the weigh bridge. North box closed in the early 60's and the crossovers, siding entrance for the up and the head shunt and exit for the down sidings were removed and cut back. The shed burnt down varying between 1903, 1911 or 1922 depending on which source you use. The shed roads were retained as open storage and the new lean to and coal road affair constructed shortly after the shed burnt down. The gas plant suffered an explosion early in the 20th century and this date I think adds to the confusion for the shed fire. That's all just 'of the top of my head', I'd need to dig out the books and references to double check in detail. I am slowly putting much of the route, Bridges and Structures through CAD. Keep up the great work and let me know if you need any info. Mac. 2. .Riccarton Junction_scale.pdf 3. Riccarton Junction_xref.pdf 4. Riccarton Footbridge 205b-Layout5.pdf

Larger Version.

Doors off but this is how the beds were built up for panel recovery on the Sturgeons to clear the head stocks. A snip from a Gordon Hall photo of the last day 1969 for detail. (D1974 Special heading south). I don't have permission to share the whole image so included purely to answer this question. Mac.

Teviot Viaduct has pulled the same trick on me. You've got to remember it's out of context until you've got the landscape around it. Tends to settle down visually then. Positive progress should not be underestimated. Great work Richard. It seems to be winning that game of Twister too!

Found some I'd edited years back at Roy's bequest. All Roy G Perkins photos circa 1966. They prompt more questions than they answer I'm sure. Such is the way of these things........ Mac

I have sourced a few images that may be of assistance for main building, outhouses and ancillary buildings and , what I've just realised to be, a Victorian cast iron carsey on the approach drive by the wooden garage. They're Tiff images unfortunately so let me have a play around and I'll get them to you shortly. Mac.

Roy G Perkins photo from 1963. There is a full sequence of images of a 26 and consist running round using the BCR stub and Riccarton platforms. Something about Hawick North box not being able to accommodate the move (locked out certain days? Pre its closure anyway), so long(er) trains were sent down to Riccarton Junction to run round and recess on the BCR stub out of the way. Roys collection was potentially going to the Armstrong trust, not sure where that ended up in the end. Nice to see Bruce releasing them in the best location for them, RailScot. Mac.

Weird what you find on a family day out. National Museum of Rural Life, Wester Kittochside farm East Kilbride. Looked an original.

Bit late to the party here but some useful info/photos for you Richard. Chainage of curves running north to south was 24 chain radius onto the viaduct, 27 1/2 radius over the viaduct and through the platforms, transition from left hand to right hand curve, 27 1/2 radius onto 28 and then you're probably off model. I have a photo of Matt's gradient board in situ but with no identifying landmarks to pin an exact location down. I can't see it present in any of my archive photos with the wider railway in view but going from the negative sequence it's near the retaining wall in the cutting. My gradient profile has it between the footbridge and the ramp end on the up but not according to the photos in my archive. All photos are my own and taken with permission at a site visit. I sort of knew the owners. Mac.

This should probably go in the structures section but it crosses several discussions. 25" Maps and the whole route going through CAD currently and matching the scaling to Geolocation. Lots of other Waverley related items but just getting back into Rmweb so they will follow when appropriate. Mac.