Alex TM

Hi folks, Just a quick question as to the availabiity of this model. If I have read this thread correctly, and not missed a post along the way, is it still the case that this model is only available directly from DJM, or from the railway? I just ask as I've seen it available elsewhere at full price. Thanks. Alex.

Hi, Have to agree with the others that this is stunning. The shot looking up the line from behind the buffers certainly conveys a great sense of space. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Is that the smallest '0-gauge' layout there is? I've seen box-file layout in 0 some years ago, but it was around three times the length of this one. Regards, Alex.

Only one day a week; he must have been a workaholic! Most of us only work for the first half of that day …….

Hi folks, I have had a couple of those over the years, and they ran fine on the range if 00 track types that I had. Fitted wire handrails and crew. Repainted, too, but nothing inspiring on that part. As for alternate chassis types, I've seen them fitted onto the 'Smokey Joe'/Caley Pug type and, I'm sure, a Terrier too! Just go and have some fun with it. Regards, Alex.

Hi Andy, Did I see right, that this is in the new edition of the Toddler? If so, congratulations. Regards, Alex.

Hi David, Don't worry about the tenements, as they do capture the feel of Edinburgh. The fact that the stonework has been cleaned will simply make some think that the layout has moved to Morningside! Please keep up the good work. Regards, Alex.

Hi David, Those look like awfully posh flats - the stonework is so clean! I spent most of today between Leith and Newington, and the majority of the tenements were grey to filthy. Enjoying the progress of this. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, Good to read of positive developments in a model shop. Used to be a regular customer when I lived near them but now too far away to drop-in. Always good service and conversation. Staff always had time for customers (including those who didn't quite know what they wanted or were doing). Wishing you all the best for the future. Regards, Alex. (Currently Leith/Trinity - formerly Corby)

Hi David, Still following this and enjoying it's progress. I am tempted to say to forget the gate. On the real Scotland Street the gates to the private siding blocked the only run-round loop! Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, Mark, thanks for the additional information and the pic of the 20t tippler. Is the tippler in a photographic grey (wondered since the legend seem to be black rather than white)? Does anyone know what the livery would be on the Bachmann type slope sided tippler? Many thanks for all the great help. Regards, Alex.

Hi David, Just wanted to say that this is a great thread, and an even better project. I live just over twenty minutes' walk from the site of Scotland Street; I also know some of the southside areas around Newington and beyond where some of your other influences come from, and combined I think they really work. I'm looking forward to seeing this finished (and exhibited?). Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Yes, always worth shopping around for these. Currently 'Rymans' Edinburgh branches are doing special offers although stock varies quite a bit across branches. 'WHS' also seem to do a '3for2' every now and again. 'Hobbycraft' tend to keep a good range but I rarely see deals on them. I have no connection with any of the above companies other than as a customer. Has anyone tried to build a layout in one (I've seen a couple in the magazines but wondered if anyone her had done so)? Hope this is useful. Regards, Alex.

Hi again folks, Rangers - thanks for the additional information. Grandabob - thanks for the pic. I see that, now sleepy Weldon, is still named on the return address of the wagon. It is quite a bit darker than the Bachmann ones. Mark - thanks for the link. I think the wagon type is of the right era, but still drawing a blank on prototype pics. As for the Bachmann wagons, I have three: the lettering varies slightly, and all have different running numbers. Again, thanks for the help. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Please don't apologise (I am not a local). As a Glaswegian I enjoy occasionally offending the locals by using four-letter words such as "tram"; to some it's more offensive than many other common ones .... ! I do have some pics of the local 68s - I'll have a look and see if any are good enough to post. "Stormtroopers" works for me! Like the "SpotRail" livery reference too! Regards, Alex.

Hi Rangers, Thanks for that information. I hadn't realised that S&L hadn't come into being until quite as late as that, possibly because most of the folk I knew from the works had been there only in BSC days or later. Glad to read that the Bachmann wagon is the right colour though, interestingly, the Modelmasters transfers (P 063) state that the wagon should be a red oxide (white shaded black lettering on an RCH 7-plank with side door only). Any thoughts? Thanks again. Regards, Alex.

Hi, Great collection of pictures of these beasts. The picture of 'Fearless' in post 2 is actually in Edinburgh Waverley working what looks like one of the peak service Fife Circulars (I work in Leith, and the locals can be a bit touchy about confusing the two places, despite the port having been a part of city for nearly a century!). I haven't heard any of the locals call them anything other than ugly (usually with something Anglo-saxon added in). Milk floats at Mountsorrel - I also, as stated in post 13, seem to remember two of them being there in 2011 just before I moved from the East Midlands to Edinburgh. Hope that's of interest. Again, great photos. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, I thought that I would post tis question here, rather than in the prototype questions section, since it is focussed around one particular industry, location, and producer. Question: What I am hoping to find out is what types and liveries of wagons were used by Stewarts & Lloyds during the period from 1923 until 1947. Particularly, I am interested in the stock used in and around the Corby area. I have information on LMS coal, coke, and iron ore wagons but not on S&Ls own ones. Background: From 2008-2011 I lived and worked in Corby; during that time I discovered that a vast amount had been recorded in both written and photographic form about the works, its quarries, and railways. Despite searching then, and more recently, all the rolling stock information that I could find related to the period subsequent to 1948. As my modelling interests have moved back to the grouping area, and I am thinking about building something with an East MIdlands feel to it, this has renewed my interest in these particular rail workings. So far all I have been able to find are photos of Bachmann or Dapol 8-planks! Many thanks in advance for any help. Regards, Alex.

Hi Richard (47137), I have had this happen in the past with one of mine. As soon as it was on the track the wobble disappeared. Found this happen, too, with a pannier tank that made me feel seasick when watching it on the rolling road, but was fine when on the less than perfect track. If it's of use, it was a Bachmann roller setup. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Thanks for all the additional comments and information. The video is really interesting, especially as it's shot in the light. As for the question from roythebus (post 6), you are quite correct - the 90 was at the back of the train leaving Euston. Again, many thanks. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Thanks you gentlemen, for your help, I can also confirm that there was no loco change, other than to drop the 67 at Wembley; it had dragged the sleeper set, and class 90, from Euston. Once under way from the Yard it was electric all the way. Part of the reason for the question was that I have bought some of the Quail map books and begun to trace some of the journeys I have undertaken; this was the only one where there was a gap that I couldn't figure out for myself. Again, many thanks for your time and knowledge. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, I am hoping someone may be able to enlighten me as to the route a diverted sleeper service may have taken one winter night late in 2007. My wife and I were booked onto the Euston-Edinburgh service however, for a variety of reasons, we were diverted from the WCML to ECML via north London. All I can be absolutely sure of is that we travelled from Euston to Wembley Yard (hauled by a 'royal' 67) where we waited before heading in 'reverse' across the north of the capital, passing the new Arsenal ground en-route. The highlight of the journey was waking up in Darlington, in the snow, to see two other sleeper sets alongside. Any suggestions as to the likely route will be appreciated. Regards, Alex.

Hi Andy, In light of the comments about curtains I feel I had to comment that what's great about this layout is its "Martini" approach to modelling - i.e. it could be any time, any place, anywhere, with all of the above dictated by imagination and locomotives. Great work, great layout; keep up the good work. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, Thanks for taking the time and trouble to share your memories and information. Some great photographs there. I must admit to being really quite surprised at how long some of these lasted without seeing a brush and some yellow paint. The specific request in terms of D8028 was simply that I was thinking of getting one of the current Bachmann releases but wondered about whether it would have lasted in such a condition until as late as, say, 1967. I was happy to renumber but was hoping to avoid doing any painting. Again, many thanks for all your help. Regards, Alex.

Hi Dave, Thanks for the pic - it's certainly new to me. It looks like one of those locos that, if you modelled it as in the image, someone would pull you up and state that " ..... there weren't any like that ..... ". As for the hunt for a date, the MLI edition on the 20s has some nice shots of one of the Kittybrewster engines in plain green dated to 1964. Once more, thanks for the help. Regards, Alex.