Roddy Angus

As a regular user of the London-Edinburgh train over the past 9 years, my observation is that it depended on whether you are on a through train or not.  If you were on the Aberdeen train than it tended to stop at platform 19, so the 1st class carriages would be closest to the centre of the station.  Otherwise the train normally terminated at platform 2 where the first class carriages were at the end of the platform and furthest away from the centre of the station.

The increased use of the old suburban platforms (on the Market Street side of the station) predated the change to Virgin, so I don't think you can blame them for that.

Roddy

I am sure there is a picture of it at Leith!

Roddy

The nominal RMS voltage in the UK was reduced from 240v to 230v in 1994. In the UK, there is a legal allowance of + or - 10% around the nominal voltage as the cost of replacing transformers and equipment set for 240v would have been astronomic.  Old equipment rated as 240v should still work without any problems, as should older European devices which were designed for 220v.

Roddy

The wagons in the Clayton picture at Roslin are Leith General Warehousing grain wagons.  They looked similar to salt wagons but you can just see the letters LGW on the sides of the wagons.

Roddy

I've  now got some more information on the Bachmann specials which will be produced for Harburn Hobbies.  They are all 00 scale and should all be available mid to late 2015.

• Set of 3 West Highland Line green and cream Mk1 coaches (1 BCK and 2 TSOs) as used on the "jacobite" tourist trains between Fort William and Mallaig.
• "Scottish and Newcastle" 14 ton tank wagon.  This is very similar to the one produced recently which sold out very fast
• Devlin's 5 plank wagon.  These wagons were used to supply bunker coal to Devlin's fishing trawlers at Granton Harbour.
• Flat wagon with two AF containers branded "MacFisheries".

Hope that this is helpful.

Roddy

Hi Jim

The announcement was 4 or 5 new limited edition wagons, but unfortunately I can't remember what they are. 

Sorry

Roddy

I think that this is the rebranded D&F models, following the previous owner's retirement.

Roddy

Harburn Hobbies did a limited edition twin pack of the Lovat Springs VGAs a few years back.

Roddy

Hi Mick

Have you ever thought of putting all your knowledge on test trains down on paper and writing a book? Whether only on the prototype, or how to model them, I am sure it would make a profit. I for one would buy it as your articles have inspired me, if only I could paint though!

Thank you for your very interesting and entertaining column.

Roddy

My understanding from a conversation is that the LGW version is intended to represent the wagon as it ran in BR times. However I don't have any photographic evidence to back this up as the copies of LGW wagons that I have seen aren't good enough to read the markings.

Does anyone know if Leith General Warehousing had any other wagons apart from the grain wagons? The use of "general" in the name would imply that they handled other goods, but of course they may not have had their own wagons for these.

Roddy

I tried some weathering using acrylic washes but they didn't really take on the shiny tank surface so I washed it all off. I'll try spraying next to see what happens.

Roddy

I understand that Harburn Hobbies is very likely to be doing a re-run of the Leith General Warehousing wagons but with british rail numbering so that they match the period when the class 17s were about. Plans are still at an early stage but Bob has found details of the markings that were applied. It will presumably be the Bachmann salt wagon which will be used again rather than a proper grain wagon but it is similar.

Roddy

Only speculation, but if the new chassis arrive in November then it is likely the new class 17 will follow shortly afterwards. If they are making replacement chassis, and I'm waiting for 2, then it would be sensible to make them as apart of a larger run for the new versions.

Here's hoping that I am right because they will go nicely with the new Leith General Warehousing grain vans which will be along in a few months.

Roddy