ardbealach

All the pics I have seen of the branch had mixed trains. Although I am thinking that as the 16T mineral wagons for the Loch Tay Shed coal (and return ash) were unfitted they may have ran with loco / wagon / brake. And I think there was a run round loop at the shed, or certainly the 16T mineral wagon lay there on the adjacent road at the shed from pics I have seen. The only increase in freight traffic on the branch would have been the vans with the cement for the hydro electric construction when BRS lorries were used to transport the cement from the Killin yard to the site - as shown in the contempary film of this operation. [Alisdair]

I have certainly enjoyed all the responses on this topic I started, and I now have bit more understanding about the running my Hatton's Barclay on my layout with a couple of wagons and no brake van. I am one of those pedants who enjoys following proper operating practices on my layout. [Alisdair]

Harlech Castle from the FR although the trees may have obscured the view in more recent years. (Alisdair)

And would the non-BR crews need to be aware of the local WTT? They just couldn't travel over BR track without due authority. Or were they given authority between certain pre-arranged times? And what if BR were running extras or BR trains were late or out of timetable sequence? (Alisdair)

Don't suppose Derby Castle in Douglas counts. Two separate rail lines there. Manx Electric and horse trams? (Alisdair)

Thank you Wheatley for the detailed description. I agree that it would have involved the walk to collect the tablet. I presume it would have been in the form of an Annett's Key to unlock the frame. It never fails to astound me the knowledge out there on RMweb. (Alisdair)

Thank you Mark and the Johnster for your comments. I go along with your replies, especially if it was all within station limits. But a driver, a fireman and a shunter / guard on a Barclay Pug would leave little space to operate it, methinks!!! [Alisdair]

Researching my cameo layout of a distillery I read that Dailuaine Distillery was registered to run their Barclay Pug for half a mile over BR metals from the distillery to the BR sidings. Here the Pug shunted the distillery wagons for onward delivery on the BR network, and brought wagons back to the distillery. Now my questions are 1 Did the engine crew require a pilot while running on BR metals? 2 It is presumed that the wagons were unfitted - the Pug certainly was - so did it all require a brake van in the event of runaways -which would also require a guard? 3 How did it all fit into the BR working timetable? I suspect, somehow, that being located away from BR head office they just got on with the job. I would welcome any thoughts. Thank you in anticipation [Alisdair]

More likely to protect the bobby from falling when they cleaned the outside of the windows, standing on the decking. Alisdair

It is quite fascinating to compare the overall size of these old American cars and our cars of the Sixties. In recent years their footprint has reduced and ours increased to meet somewhere in the middle for size of vehicle. And yes 2.4m x 4.8m for a car park space has not really changed since the late 60s in the UK. Driving in the US it was so easy to park up in a shopping car park compared with the UK. Alisdair

By coincidence I saw this Mini Cooper in my local supermarket car park today. Had one back in the Sixties an 850cc version and not a Cooper. I do wonder how we ever fitted inside them! And how much less room it takes up in a standard car space. Alisdair

The CX was the most comfortable car I ever owned - and the most unreliable. The first time I hit the brake pedal nearly put me through the windscreen as it had such a short travel distance. And those finger operated rocker switches to cancel the indicators. ..... Alisdair

Sorry Bomag, but I cannot see South West Scotland gaining your perceived economic benefits with an upgrade of the A75 constructed principally to carry artic-wagon loads of goods to and from Ireland, unless the locals find employment in a series of truck stops and coffee shops on the route. The current Birkenhead - Belfast ferry with its timings do give the wagon drivers their regulatory breaks from driving when they are on board. I am certain the opening of the Port Road is even further away - even the principal towns in the area were branch lines miles off the main route. Without being impolite, may I ask if you have knowledge of the geography of Galloway and south west Scotland? It has always been an economically deprived area - even the Whithorn Branch lost its passenger traffic within a couple of years of nationalisation, the government of the day back then seeing little financial benefit from a sparse population. [Alisdair]

Thoroughly enjoyed Lynton LnB and Leipzig. Loved the birds eye drone pics of the LnB. Alisdair

The Denmark to Malmo bridge tunnel link makes a regular appearance in this posting as a comparison to the thoughts on the Irish and Scottish link. Having travelled by train from Copenhagen to Malmo, it certainly is an engineering masterpiece. And like the other Danish tunnel projects in the pipeline - pardon the pun - they make good economic sense. The Irish link would only make sense if say there was a large urban community like Glasgow located at say around Dumfries with a fast rail link to the WCML and the south. Like Malmo to DK it would then be an economic two way route benefitting both communities living in one country and working on the other. But the reality is that in every direction of travel for the best part of 2 hours from Stranraer is nothing but moorland. Why was the Port Road only ever a single line with passing places and certainly not economic to operate? It only came into being because of the combined resources of the LNWR MR CR and the Sou West chasing the Irish traffic. I am sure the LNWR had a better return on its Holyhead route. Alisdair

Thanks for that info, amwells. Alisdair

Here is the other shot I have of the DMU - which looks as if it is ex works - and there are BR double arrow signage on the platform. [Alisdair]

It all looks very new to me so it could be late Eighties? [Alisdair]

Just found this undated slide of Conwy Railway Museum. From 80's or 90's - does anyone have any idea of the date it was taken? [Alisdair]

Central 158 at Barmouth and Fairbourne Railway passenger stock at Barmouth Ferry caught together back in the Nineties. [Alisdair]

Scanning old slides I found this one taken in the mid-1990's at Levisham on the North York Moors. Maybe the three might be able to identify themselves? [Alisdair]

I was fortunate enough to have travelled on this special, "The Jacobite" - not to be confused with the Fort Bill / Mallaig steam version of today. The trip, organised by the Scottish Locomotive Preservation Fund, was to be the last occasion of a steam hauled passenger train from Queen St to Mallaig and back with NBR 256 Glen Douglas and J37 64632 for the first leg of the journey. For the record the double headed train was banked out of Queen Street by NBL D6126. As noted 64632 failed at Gorton on the outward journey and we were rescued by NBL D6137 that took us onward to Fort Bill, as far as I recall, with the two steam locomotives. In FW Glen Douglas was failed. On the run up on the Mallaig Extension we had J37's 64592 and 64636. One of these then failed at Glenfinnan, but we limped on into Mallaig. Class 27 D5351 brought us all the way back from Mallaig to Glasgow, where we arrived two hours late after midnight. BR had to organise taxis for the onward journeys home for passengers. Details of the trip can be found on the Six Bells Junction website for 1 June 1963. Attached are images of the two J37's on Mallaig pier having finally made it, of checking the problems at Glenfinnan, and of D5351 heading the train ready for the return trip to Glasgow. (Alisdair)

Back in the early 60's in my train spotting days I seem to recall the Glasgow London Condor had a pair of Metro Vick CoBos in charge. Never saw it with a NBL at the front. (Alisdair)

Try downloading nanocad. Free and uses dwg format. And you can draw with it as well. I have been using it since Autocad decided I couldn't continue using theirs although I had a licence and grandfather rights. (Alisdair)

Did that signal survive the Canopy Nudger? Alisdair