Jim76

Purely due to the sheer number services requring hauled carriage and later DMU stock. Up until fairly recent times there was also Cheetham Hill and Queens Road sidings (now the Metrolink depot) both of which bordered Red Bank. I am aware there were once even more sidings some serving the adjacent Manchester Exchange station.

Hi Peter, Looking very promising. Is it going to be electrified so you can run your Class 85? It could be electrified as part of one of the various suburban electrification schemes. Cheers, Jim

I would be interested to know if any one knows of any photographs of either the Class 87s mentioned above or the Blue Pullman at Reddish depot or on the Fallowfield line. I found this image 'The Blue Pullman at Reddish Sheds mid 1960s' (photo via Robert Todd) at the following site : http://levyboy.com/railway.htm

I hadn't read the above comments until now, however based on this announcement I also got out my copy of the 'Illustrated History of the ICI Hopper Wagon' to which my wife asked 'what book are you reading?' - cue strange looks when I told her lol It really a very well researched book and a great read Paul. We used to get a great view of them on the former CLC mainline between Cheadle and Cheadle Heath from the top floor of my former high school (Parrs Wood) hauled by pairs of 20s, 31s, 37s or single 47s at the time 1987 - 1994.

Hi Dave and Peter, I stand to be corrected but I don't believe any of the slow speed control Lothian Coal Traffic Class 26/0s would've had miniature snow ploughs fitted. Cheers, Jim

I think the moral of the story here is always read the small print and to be fair to Olivias they did eventually repair my two postal damaged Class 76s after 2 years. I just had to travel half way around the world to get them done lol

The 58 is a good model Peter. Interestingly I note you don't pay VAT on them from Hattons but I did from Olivias direct who commissioned the model.

Rick, the Hornby version are in white incidentally. Hope you enjoyed your trip back to Englandshire!

On the Invicta model the white stripes are yellow. Is this a mistake or were some actually yellow?

Maybe you could consider building a little tramway up it Peter? ;-)

Yes all good Peter. I saw there was a meeting at Jeff's - I would have liked to have gone but I was out on both Thursday and Friday nights (!) so needed to score some 'brownie points' in order to stay in the 'good books' so to speak ;-)

Hi Peter, Hope you are well. Your Railfreight Class 31 looks fantastic. The original Railfreight livery looks great on the Peds - much better than the later Red Stripe variation. I think it's to do with the proportion of the double arrows. Cheers, Jim

As a fellow overseas RM webber I certainly hope not - in addition you shouldn't have to pay VAT. From experience postage of OO gauge rolling stock to Australia roughly equals the VAT saving so you are effectively paying UK prices. Jim

Hi Peter, I think it is Crewe. The early 25kV AC installations are of a heavier construction than that of later schemes and were a follow-on design to the Woodhead 1500V DC system so appear similar. Those in the Manchester area particularly around Stockport are similar too. Of note is the Woodhead scheme was in turn based on an earlier system in Bombay, now Mumbai. Jim

Mick, I must concur with your comments - yes it was Witton which I first saw at the MMRS exhibition in 1984, followed by Kyle of Tongue back in 1985. What struck me about both of these layouts and in turn Bryford Road was their pure simplicity and absolute realism portrayed. These layouts together with the seminal Fisher Street - Victoria Bridge still inspire me to this day. Jim

Nice photographs Peter, the first one looks like Perth but when - and where is the second one just out of interest? Jim

Hi Dave, Have been lurking on your thread for a while. Your layout gets better by the day. Know the prototype well having spent my formative years spotting at these locations then latterly living in Edinburgh for 17 years, commuting to and from Glasgow from Haymarket for 10 years and working at both Waverley and Haymarket Depot in addition to Edinburgh Tram project. One suggestion regarding your scenic break at the east end of the yard. There was previously a rail overbridge at this location carrying the erstwhile Caledonian Railway Barnton / Granton / Leith branch over the E&G. The remnants of the bridge abutments are still just visible. Perhaps you could model your break as a rail line, in use or disused or perhaps as a 'might have been' extension to the Western Approach Road or even Light Rail line. Just a suggestion. Kind Regards, Jim

Being a big Woodhead fan I have always had a soft spot for the former GE 1500v DC lines. I remember visiting Stratford in early 1988 to experience the fledgling DLR service in operation and being astounded by the endless procession of Class 305, 309 and 86 hauled electric services through Stratford station. I think the Jaffa Cake livery suited the Class 309s best. I also recall the 309s operating in the NW of England in the mid-90s under the guise of RRNW with a green stripe which suited them well. It would be great if Bachmann brought out a model. I would definately make a purchase. Jim

Hi Peter, the recent pictures are superb - particularly those of Class 37 428. Although a bit before your layout's time period, viewing the photographs of Llanbourne take me right back to an enjoyable week's holiday at Deganwy in the summer of 1983 when I was only seven years old. Lots of time was spent just watching the trains go by at the foot of the garden of the guest house we stayed in. I also visited both Llandudno and the junction - lots of 40s, Peaks and of course DMUs, some of the latter still in refurbished white/blue I recall. Happy days...! Jim

Hi Peter, was good to meet you last week. However I must say I always preferred the original L&SE sector Jaffa Cake livery. Would've looked interesting on a loco! Jim

Hi Rick - great photographs and thanks again for hosting such an enjoyable afternoon (and evening)! It was fantastic finally seeing Penhayle Bay 'in the flesh' so to speak and of course meeting everyone. I really enjoyed the day. Jim

I have just stumbled across this thread from a link from Flickr. I have always been fascinated by this route particularly the section from Georges Road junction through to Tiviot Dale. Some of my earliest memories are of viewing this line in the late '70s and early/mid-1980s on the drive in our trusty Maxi from Didsbury to the Dinting Steam Centre (RIP). I was particularly fascinated by the disused scrap sidings and derelict signal box at Georges Road. I can only once however recall seeing a train on this section of the line - a Class 25 around the Portwood area. I don't know if this was perhaps on a train to do with the stone sidings (would it have still been open at this time?) or perhaps a track lifting train? It was possibly during the time the motorway was still under construction or just shortly after as I recall being in a massive traffic jam. I can remember the slow progress by road along this section before and during the construction of the M63. Once the motorway was opened through to Portwood I was always fascinated in following the line of the route high up and through the red sandstone cutting.