Alex TM

Hi Neil, This modelling is great as ever but the back story just adds a whole new dimension for me. Fantastic entertainment. Looking forward to the next instalment. Regards, Alex.

Hi Arthur, Many thanks for that. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Great piece of film. Quick question: at the start of the footage the loco comes under some form of 'gantry' with what looks to be a signal, yet it looks to be a bit over-engineered if that's what it is. Can anyone tell me what it's for? Thanks. Nice to see an 'ex-works' working loco for real. Regards, Alex.

Hi Simon, Still think this is great; still makes me laugh too. Since most of our model railways are, in fact, fantasy then it seems only fair to take this along on the tangent that you have. If we can have fictional places and railways then why not populate them with fictional species such as hobbits, dwarves and wargs. Will your next project continue this theme or perhaps take railway modelling where " ... no man has gone before ... "? Once again, brilliant work. Regards, Alex.

Hi Dave, et al, I continue to be ever more impressed with this layout. Some of the more recent pics remind me of part of the RB Tennent works in Whifflet where there was a very tight run-round/headshunt right next to a public road. My wife was curious as to why I might be interested in modelling something industrial so I showed her this thread. As a country/town girl she is not familiar with heavy industry but she now understands why some of us would seek to model it. Another convert! Regards, Alex.

Hi again, In light of the information on 'mixed' liveries and legends perhaps we need a 'transition liveries' section for the grouping and nationalisation, as well as the current one for diesels. Thanks for the warning that the 4Fs were always black; having seen both Bachmann and Hornby (c/w Fowler tender) models in lined blue I simply assumed ...... I remember passing up the chance to pick up a blue 2P in ModelZone before it closed, though I think the Hornby release may have been a couple of years ago. Once more, thanks for the shared wisdom. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Sorry for the long silence on this topic. I now have two of the Bachmann Bagnalls so one will be up for renumbering; I am also contemplating a 4F to repaint into blue. Otherwise, I have the SR wagon history book ordered. Again, thanks for all the advice and information. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Once more, thanks you for all the help. In terms of the company stock, what happened to it at the grouping in 1923 or did it soldier on until the SDJR was absorbed? Specifically, would the Bagnall/Jinty have run with SDJR vans or LMS ones? Once more, many thanks in advance. Regards, Alex.

Hi Dave, I have been following this since the initial design thread. All I can say, really, is that I am very impressed. I grew up in a new-town surrounded by rolling hills but found myself ever more interested in the steel mill (Gartcosh) and the pits (Cardowan & Bedlay) that lay not so far away; on a clear day we could even see the plume of dark smoke from some of the pours at Ravenscraig (even though we couldn't see Motherwell). To me this layout really does convey something about what they railways were about and were truly good at. Please keep up the good work. Hopefully it'll tempt you to stay in 00 for a bit longer. Regards, Alex.

Hi Julian, This is a fantastic piece of work especially when you realise how small a space it has been done in. I am now at the stage of designing a new layout and 'Portwey' has certainly given me a few ideas. I am looking forward to what you do next. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Further to the above comments I had a look on Amazon just now and they had one NCB loco left (at full RRP); I must admit ot not having seen Amazon sell these themselves although I have seen model railway items on sale form other vendors. In another 'flight of fantasy' the same advert shows them as having been available from July 2013! (See: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hornby-Gauge-Sentinel-Industrial-Shunter/dp/B00EE8RX36/ref=sr_1_2?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1392149255&sr=1-2&keywords=Hornby+sentinel) Again, I think it's a great model. Just hoping they don't wait too long before releasing a rod-driven one. To pick up on the starter-set idea (with suitable wagons), I think it could be a serious contender alongside the more serious Bachmann sets. I wonder if supplying the model on its own in unpainted grey would be a first for the UK market (although I believe it's fairly common in the US)? Regards, Alex.

Hi Jim, Still undecided about ModelRail. If I go, though, it'll be on the Friday. Can't usually do Sundays as they are a working day for me; they are sort of 'an occupational hazard' ..... Another from our shared past, Andy (aka 'Sparky Spice'!), will be there; if you're looking for him he'll be on the 'Scottish Modellers' stand or in the office. I wonder if he can be persuaded to change his username here to that? To return to topic though, what are you using for the stone and timber walling? Whatever it is, it does look effective. Regards, Alex.

Hi Jim, Nice to see that some things never change and that you are still experimenting! Indicators look great; how long did they take to put together? Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Have to agree with all the positive comments about this one. My layout uses small radius insulfrog points and I have no trouble with running at reasonably slow speeds. Just looking forward to the arrival of the green one, and then to see what Hornby do with it in 2015's catalogue! Regards, Alex.

Hi Rob, Yes, it does look very nice. Not tried my hand at a full resin kit before so it could be a good excuse/reason. Thanks for the suggestion. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Thanks for that information. I seen the book before but had never noticed that it included SDJR stock. Time to go finding names of coal companies from Somerset. Once more, many thanks. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, I have one of the above locos in SDJR livery (Bachmann's rtr product of 2013) and I am wondering what I can run behind it. Railway company stock is fairly straightforward, however I have no idea about private owner stock or brake vans? Can anyone point me in the direction of some suitable traders liveries (especially if available rtr), and also in the direction of a suitable brake van. As the loco is in SDJR blue, I am looking for stock from the late 1920s. Many thanks for any help offered. Regards, Alex,

Hi Jim, Great to see that this is still going. Some brilliant work on the gantries. Like the different elements of that layout drawn from various locations yet looking 'right' together. Regards, Alex.

Hi Jeff, Thanks for that. It looks like there was a fair degree of variety around the country. I'll have a closer look at photos from now on, as I have never really paid attention to that sort of detail before. I had also always assumed that the fuelling contracts would have been nationwide and for a longer period. Once more thanks for all the input. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Thanks for that link. The whole page is interesting, and not just that one photo. An interesting contrast, too, between the two visits. Once more, thanks. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, This is not so much "why I model BR blue" because at present I don't, but a rhetorical question along the lines of "why should I model BR blue?" It's the era I grew up with and it was the 'only' colour around when I became interested in the hobby and the prototype. It's memories of classes 06, 08, 20, 25, 27, 37, 40, and 47 and all in blue. It's memories too of occasional journeys by rail when plain blue 101s ruled the day (later I would see them in blue-grey, and with the odd 121 and 116 thrown into the mix). The era brings back memories of school and of a lack of worry about anything other than exams, music, girls, and why my Hornby green class 25 had 'died' again. Whatever era and area I model I always seem to find myself being drawn back to BR blue. Perhaps it's time to once more revisit my layout ideas ..... Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Thanks for all the input. I must admit I hadn't thought of such things as bulk deliveries of lubricants, nor of the need to dispose of sludge; thanks Al and Dave for that. Clive, that's helpful information about the differing flashpoints of the various fuels and oils; again, it's something I hadn't considered. As for the shale oil tanker, I am sure that I have seen a picture of one of those in a book somewhere; it was one I had borrowed but, if memory serves me right, it was one a series such as 'Working Wagons'. Brian, do you mean 'Pumpherston' in what is now West Lothian? If you do, it's an area I see regularly as the spoil heaps are visible not only from the line from Edinburgh to Bathgate but also the Glasgow mainline and the line to Carstairs. My more focussed areas of interest would be the LMR and ScR. Once more, many thanks for all the input. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Please forgive me if I am going over old ground (or, as is more likely, that my use of the search function wasn't as good as it should be ) but can anyone tell me what sort of rail tankers would have been used to deliver fuel to FPs or TMDs around the mid '70s, say from 1974 through 1977? I am interested to know: 1. what types (e.g. TTA, TSV, etc); and 2. what liveries (e.g. if oil company then which one, or if 'plain' black/grey & red). Any help, including pointers to other threads will be appreciated. Regards, Alex.

Hi Gary, Just came across this thread. Sorry to read of your job situation; hopefully something suitable will come along soon. Like this layout - nice simple design, and very helpful outlining of your thinking too. Once the job situation is sorted out, would it be worth looking at the 'Smallbrook Studio' close-coupled LBSC four wheeler set as a branch train? Regards, Alex.

Hi again, That faded backscene image really does work, drawing the eye away from the gate and into the 'distance'. I agree with the suggestion that there is an element of timelessness about this layout. As Hugh says it would also work very well in a 1970s setting, although I would suggest avoiding a scrapyard as it's been done to good effect so many times already; perhaps some general sidings with room for coal and perhaps a specialised trader? Again, a great layout and looking forward to seeing more. Regards, Alex.