Bernard Lamb

That was my first thought. The only place I could think of that might require gunpowder. If that is the destination I would not have expected it to go as far as Langholm. I note the arc of railings in the Langholm photo. I presume that is where the turtable was situated. Long gone before any photos that have been posted or linked to this thread. Christmas competition ? Find a photograph of langholm turntable. Another camera shy subject is the 7.5am up train from Langholm that was often run as a mixed train according to my information. Bernard

No. It's nearer to Hawick. (So a little bird told me). Bernard

Not completely true. One of the biggest factors driving modernization was the lack of labour. People were no longer prepared to do dirty jobs. Riddles tried to design labour saving features into his locomotives but even this was not enough. For an exercise let us draw a graph with modernization (not just on the railways) x immigration. Bernard

Very nice. I have seen the odd shot of a train with a van tacked on the back but this shows the consist very clearly. Any one know where it's going ? Is it fish ? Bernard

If you don't like that have a look at their take on the Bachmann A2. They had a whole page of them the other day all at £180 and all looking censored. Bernard

It was closed before the A14 became a victim of it's own success. Bernard

While this thread is talking about Kelso I give you the following. I came across the name some time ago but knew nothing about the company. As I was at The National Archive yesterday, seeking information on the real Waverley Route, I looked it up. The Carlisle & Berwick Junction Railway - (With a Branch to Hawick). Incorporated Oct 3 1845. To make a line of railway from the town of Carlisle in the county of Cumberland to Kelso in the country of Scotland, there to join the Newcastle & Berwick Railway at that place. This was but one of several schemes from around that time. Bernard

I now know why they put German buffers on the Clayton. Bernard

The answer will of course depend on who is paying for the infrstructure. Bernard

Has there ever been an RTR departmental loco before? This blatant piece of exploitation makes it suitable for well into the diesel era. I suppose that it could have been borrowed after overhaul at Stratford. That's my excuse. Bernard

Nowt to do with Hursley but I do remember the MRJ exhibition. I was working in Austria at the time and came back to the UK especially to see it. I arrived at Heathrow and got a taxi into central London. Must have been around 11 to 11.30 by then. After two hours in the queue and I gave up and went to get some lunch and returned to Heathrow for my return flight. Bernard

Hornby get this correct on the A3. Bachmann, with overscale lining on the A1, rather cloud the issue. I do not have an A2 handy to check. Looking at this area on LNER pacifics in general reveals some interesting variations with the lining on A3s when fitted with AWS conduit along the angle of the footplate. Bernard

Can you explain what you mean by fishy? If it the shop that I presume you are refering to they have always had a flexible attitude to pricing, on a supply and demand basis. This way you can get some real bargins at times. They actually give warnings about price increases on some occassions. Bernard

I would expect the full length of track to be included at that price All the money is going to a good cause so best of luck to them. Bernard

Dave This book contains many photos of the class at various dates. Probably the most comprehensive collection from one source. It will at least help you to avoid errors in getting the right dates for the painting of yellow end panels. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/22003-br-diesel-traction-in-scotland/ Bernard

Excellent news re the NBL type 2. I trust it will feature the dirty front windows so often seen on the real thing. Bernard

Seeing that it operated in that part of the world it could well be the one in Wandering Willie's photo. The caption seems to be a bit out. Matisa started up in the UK in 1964 so it could not have been a UK build. The type in the photos I posted from Matisa, which they say is of a similar type was produced before 1954, so the 1957 date of purchase by BR is not the build date. Bernard

Nor can I. The eternal problem with UK outline stock and coupling compatability at it's worst. Fit a Modeller's Mecca connector and you solve the distortion problem, but do not achieve buffer to buffer close coupling. Try to couple up a Hawksworth to a Bachmann Mk1 BG and whatever you do in the way of mix and match, you end up with a compromise. That is if you are lucky enough to hit on a combination that actually works. I am reluctant to take a saw to the moulded connectors on a vehicle that cost getting near to £30, but it is looking as though that is the only solution. Bernard

The Saga of the Scuttling Bothy. Continued. Matisa in Switzerland were very helpful. The machine was of a type built between 1945, when the company was founded and 1954. Two photos provided and you can see under the covers! (Sorry Ian!) Bernard

Found a close relative. http://www.the-siding.co.uk/extras/pages/tamper.htm Bernard

The Fat Controller has given me some information re Matisa and I have sent them an email on the off chance that they might be able to provide some more details. A long shot I know but worth a try. Re your other point. During my research for 'The Forthcoming Publication' I came across the LMR operations file that explained at least some of the history, including a piece about dates of operation due to the rebuilding of road bridges north of Carlisle. I did not follow it up unforunately as I was looking for specific items at the time. Bernard

Who can point me in the direction of more information, even a drawing, of the scuttling bothy? Bernard

Well you are in a much better position than I am. I havn't a clue what it's all about. Bernard

Note that the white stripe continues through the tablet catcher recess. Not something that I have ever seen on a model.For the seeker after minor variations a study of the different types of stripe painting would make an interesting project. I did this on my Heljan 26 by using a length of the diagonal stripe transfers intended for 16t minerals. Bernard

A Brawa Kof will set you back rather more than that. If the running of this wee beastie is half as good it will be a bargain. A German 0-4-0T steam loco that I was looking at the other day was priced at 199 euros. Welcome to 2011. Bernard