retbsignalman

Good evening, I've just taken a proper look at the train formations and destinations sheet. I was aware of the Chislehurst ARC terminal, but there's an Ashford terminal too on there too. Would that be Hothfield or was there a flow to Ashford as well? Which leads me to ask how big a train was (is) it? Guessing motive power in the mid 80s to 2000ish would have been 56s/58s/59s/60s. Might have to exercise the credit card. Again! Thank you, Graeme

Top stuff, thank you! I may be somewhat busy.... G

Hi, What is the S Kits catalogue number for these buffers please James? I feel a similarly large order coming on! Also...what silver grey paint do you use on the HAA bodies please? Ta in advance, Graeme

Ta everso! Suitably inspired! Cheers G

Top work with the MGRs and indeed just about everything you tackle!! 47467 looks the biz, memories of it working the sleepers out of Inverness for a spell in the late 90s in that condition. Quick question, (and apologies if its already been mentioned in the thread) what make are the Instanter couplings you've fitted to the MGRs? Ta, G

Hi Cracking workmanship! I've probably missed the link, but could you post/repost the contact details for PPD for the etchings please? Thank you! Graeme

Thank you again Ian and Paul, The station layout was indeed remodelled and resignalled as of 23rd August 1992 (just found the Signalling Instruction...No5-1992 ....) The Down Bay which was behind the Red Star building (with a VEP in Pauls first picture) was realigned and lengthened to follow the Dock Siding (where the HAPs and VEP are stabled) creating an 8 car bay. The works were part of the preparations for the Channel Tunnel opening. Great pictures - a distinct lack of cars in the car park (it was crammed when I was there last month!). Most useful as I didn't realise the Dock Siding was used for stabling units! Cheers G

Thank you all again! Wish I'd paid more attention (and taken more pics!) when I lived a nadge more local than I currently do (Inverness)! G

Hi! Thank you again for the assistance on the siding - long enough to hold a 4 car unit would fit, as the down bay platform was only long enough for a 4 car! Just one other query on Maidstone East, does anyone know when the A229 Fairmeadow dual carriageway was built under the railway alongside the Medway please? Thank you! Graeme

Hi Del, Thank you, most useful! Cheers G

Hi, Before it was resignalled in the early 90s, there was a berthing siding beside the down line on the London side of the Medway bridge at Maidstone East. Does anyone know how long the siding was please? Ta in advance! G

Hi! The Kyle line formations at that time were planned to have a BG in the middle of the 3/4 car set to ease the loading/unloading of mails/papers/Red Star traffic at intermediate stations. The other BG was added to the set from the overnight service from Glasgow/Edinburgh giving it its odd looking formation. IIRC the additional BG was allocated to Bounds Green and was one of a diagram that took variously Kings Cross/Edinburgh/Inverness/Wick/Thurso/Kyle/Red Bank/Bristol TM. They were all DB/DH vehicles and were from a shunters point of view a royal pain as all inter vehicle connections had to be coupled - both air bags, vacuum, steam heat, ETH and RCH lighting connectors which was quite time consuming! Not perhaps the help you were after but it might help with the train formations! Cheers G

Oddly, the 'Dutch' yellow looks to be within a whisker of being right in those pics......the yellow ends still look the same undernourished lemony shade as on the rest though. G (looking at it just up off nights and with only 2 cups of tea so far!)

Out of curiosity.... being the proud owner of a plain blue and lemon 73 that takes fits and starts and incorrectly illuminates, is the large logo version challenged in the colour department as well? Its just I have a need for another........ Ta! G

Hi! Not sure if its been brought up before, but how about some foreign wagons on 4mm/ft. They've been a part of the national network since the war. Thinking along the lines of the Transfesa ferryvan, or the Interfrigo 4 wheel refridgerated van or perhaps the SNCF 4 wheel Hbfs ferryvan? Trying to make H0 stock look like it belongs on a 00 layout doesn't really work! Cheers G

Hi! Nicely laid track and pointwork! Just out of interest, why have you put a trap point between the three way and the main line? Could the three way point act as the 'trap'? I only ask as (from modelling experience - not professional...thankfully!) if you set the route towards the main from the yard through the 3 way and forgot to set the trap and mainline turnout (on the big railway these would be worked off the same lever or switch) you'd have a derailment when the trap did its job. If you dispensed with the trap, you could work the right hand leg of the 3 way point with the main line point together and save yourself a point motor. The exit signal from the sidings could be a yellow disc signal which would allow movements to the sidings from the headshunt without the signalmans intervention, but would need to be worked when the point had been set to exit the yard. Just a thought - keep up the excellent work sir!! Cheers Graeme

Hi! Great pics, thank you for sharing. I visited the box a few times and like you I got some internal shots, but I don't seem to have any of the 'box itself! A trawl of t'internet doesn't come up with much, so does anyone have some please? Ta in advance G

Hi! The Mk2s came from the first overnight arrival from Euston, and were quickly cleaned (manually - no carriage wash machine at Inverness back then!) and taken round to form the Kyle service, which was back into Inverness with sufficient time to be marshalled with the sleepers to return to Euston that night. Whether it was with the Inter City / LMRs blessing we weren't sure, but it certainly helped us out with stock provision as we had so many VB vehicles out of service/shopped/ waiting repair (they were all falling to bits, and those that weren't had sharp flanges thanks to the tight curvature of the lines north of Inverness). It all went well for a while until one day near the end of the season we had a ballast train off the road near Clunes, blocking the line to Dingwall with this set trapped on the wrong side and we had to hastily gather a 'scratch' set of air braked stock which wasn't in the peak of health to go to London..... don't think Euston were best pleased, but needs must! Cheers G

Hi! A good call Mike and definitely the Bulleid 2/4 EPB which would hopefully lend itself to a 4Sub without too much faff in the moulding dept.... The PGAs would be nice too (memories of Cromptons flogging their way through Lee station with 16 on)! I'm sure a lot of Southern region modellers could use DACE PWay wagons too In anticipation ! Graeme

Hi! I recall the traffic working from Inverness with class 56s on the front, along with 37s and RES 47s before the 66s took over properly. Departures from Inverness could well have loaded OTAs, ferrywaggons, Safeway containers as well as the Lovat Spring traffic. One of the Lovat Spring VGAs was lurking on the Bicester Military Railway a couple of years ago - complete with logos. Cheers G

Wish I had that view today!! Looks like it was taken in the old staff car park 'in the triangle'.......the signalling centre has been built on this spot, and that looks like it was taken from where our door and windows look out onto platforms 5 & 6....! Much more sterile view now, platform 5 has been raised and shortened, platform 6 is now a car park and theres a wall been built separating it all from the TKMaxx car park and the stock is made from tupperware in the shape of 158s.....that'll be this progress thingy then!! Cheers G

Hi! I believe one went from Inverness to Achnasheen and transferred to the east bound working from Kyle, also one went to The Mound and back on the Wick line too. Cheers G