scottystitch

I've added the Branch to the above drawing and also faded in the SJ maps.

Thanks Mallard, I must say it was your thread, SOS Junction, that got me wondering if SJ would fit in N, uncompressed. So thanks for the inspiration! I'll take a look at that webpage. Thanks. Best Scott

Thank you for your reply! The Nelevator is the isolated twin tracks just below the word. As I say the storage yard area is just illustrative. Re return loops, thanks I hadn't thought of that. Something like this? The right hand set of staging is 3 inches above the left set to allow the loops to fit and still have 11/12 coach trains staged. I've removed the Nelevator. As you say this would allow trains to pass and return. EDIT: I've done it that way because I understand the right hand tracks began a rather steep climb towards Sidmouth Honiton? The gradiant on the trackplan is 2%.

Yesterday afternoon, once again I found myself with the early signs of my mind not quite firing on all cylinders, and with clouds appearing over the mental horizon I've learned to take myself away from life; one of the most effective activities being pottering around with track plans. Presented below is an AnyRail rendition of Seaton Junction, placed in a 210" by 114" room ( my railway room), with no compression. The track plan has been overlaid on top of the excel;lent NLS 25 inch map which was adjusted for scale using their online measuring tool. The map online only shows the original twin track arrangement (not quite original, as I understand when first built the line was single track), and so I've tried to figure out as best as I can, using contemporary photographs, how the layout would have looked in the early 60s. If anyone can correct any glaring errors, then constructive feedback is encouraged. Also included, by way of an incline is Seaton itself, above the storage area. Again this is uncompressed, and based on the NLS map, so accuracy could be called into question, but at the very least it looks pretty close. The Nelevator has 20 tracks each capable of holding a 6ft train, or a combination thereof. I've added a further 4 up and 4 down 6ft storage tracks. The storage/fiddle yard could of course take any form you like. The one drawn is merely illustrative. I am very unlikely to build this, as I've invested too much time and effort in Scottish Region stock, but it might be of use to someone and I'm happy to send on the ANyRail file to anyone who has the time, space and inclination to give it a go. The important thing is it's good for my health, and it's good to share. Best Scott

I appreciated the South-west required diesel or bi-modes, but perhaps didn't appreciate Cheltenham, Hereford, etc. That said the drag option might have meant fewer IEP would have had to have their configuration changed to bi-mode. Anyway, I appreciate the responses; curiosity satisfied!

I love that route on the PS4 TSW, but by 'eck, the Peak struggles uphill, eh? Cab Window open - Check TV Sound up High - Check Thrash open the throttle - CHECK

Welcome to SE4 and glad you've taken to it! Did you get the extra add-on side mission package with it too? I have to admit, I still haven't finished it, RDR2 and Golf (for real, in a non-simulated world - at least I don't think it's simulated - Not sure which colour pill I'd take.......) got in the way. But Winter, as they say, is coming......... Incidentally, I picked up the free download of Detroit Becoming Human. Loved Heavy Rain in the past, struggled with other one...Something Souls? But Detroit looks pretty good on the basis of the first two or three scenes.

This is probably a stupid question, so apologies if it is and apologies if it has been discussed elsewhere previously. With regards the issue of not electrifying between Cardiff and Swansea, and the Swansea service thereby requiring bi-modes (if I've understood that correctly), would it not have been more cost effective and/or convenient to use a pure electric IPE and couple up a high powered Diesel Locomotive to the front at Cardiff to drag it to and from Swansea? Between London and Cardiff, the IPE would not then be carrying the dead weight of diesel engines, just for the final portion of its journey?

I think the most important part of the "feedback" is in the follow up. It's how the "critic" responds to the modeller's reply. If someone were to inform or suggest that my particular number of Standard 2MT had a late crest and not an early emblem by the time my layout is set (just for example), my reply might be a) Thanks for letting me know, I'll take it under consideration; b) Thanks, I know, I just haven't gotten around to changing it; or c) Thanks but I'm happy with it as it is, because it's just representative and not a 100% accurate layout - some 2MTs DID have early emblems and I'm just going for a flavour of the time. The response to all three options should be, to my mind, words to the effect of "fair enough". Certainly nothing derogatory.

As always, your short essays on the ECML's finest are fascinating and interesting in equal measure. Thanks for your measured thoughts. As it happens I'm inclined to agree with regards A3s deflectors, much more handsome than sans. They add a bit of balance. When I was a boy, growing up in the 80s, I was smitten with the A4, having encountered 60009 a number of times at Perth General. However, as I grew up and began to appreciate different things in life, and then drifting towards an engineering career (admittedly aeronautical in general and helicopters in particular) I found myself re-evaluating. There is something about the A4 that doesn't quite sit right. With a more mature head on, I find them too compact, and that long french curve from footplate forward towards the cylinders jars. I'm not even convinced it looks better with the valance attached! I appreciate this may be viewed as heresy on this thread, but I am now firmly in Princess Coronation camp these days. In my opinion the most handsome and purposeful British Pacific ever built. To me, a perfectly balanced locomotive, aesthetically speaking. And am I correct in thinking they were the most powerful (excluding the P2) ? How would Stanier's finest have fared on the ECML, do you think? Where do you stand on them in general? Best Scott

Should one ask how one knows?.......

that second image is outstanding! Thanks for sharing. Best Scott

Tornado drifts down through The Mearns with the return Aberdonian for Edinburgh:

Anthony, you're making great progress and it must be awfully satisfying to see the mountain take form over the chicken wire. It's a simply imposing structure, and I applaud your ambition. I think we can all see it will look incredible when finished. A true "railway-dwarfed-by-the-landscape" example. As always, thanks for sharing with us. Really inspirational stuff. Best Scott

Is it perhaps one of these? https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brfreightlinercontainer/e170cf320

I'm wondering if anyone has any images or knows of where images might be found of Edinburgh's Haymarket station prior to the modernisation, and possibly even further back when the bridge from the main station building was extant? I'm also interested in the access to the platform side which had the original bay. In what I've seen it looks like it used to be a ramp, but it's not entirely conclusive. Best Scott

Great work, looks very neat and tidy.

Instantly recognisable as Aberdeen/Clayhills derived. Looks great so far. Best Scott

Hi Fran Thanks for your reply and response, all of which is duly noted. My comment was not intended as a complaint in the traditional sense, just an observation that my hopes were raised on the first question, where it looked like you might be interested in producing N gauge models, that's all. I've always considered Accurascale an OO and O manufacturer without any quibble. Best Scott.

It was a bit disappointing to see N gauge in the list of gauges modelled, and then find out, if you didn't also model O or OO, the rest of the survey was irrelevant. I certainly applaud the initiative, but didn't see the point of mentioning N gauge at the start if you've no intention of entertaining the gauge (for very valid reasons, I'm sure) when asking for suggestions. Best Scott

Yes congratulations on what I am sure is hard earned retirement. The mountainside looks very imposing.

Not as much as : "Have you seen my pet spider??!! He WAS in this matchbox!"

Seconded. Following with great interest!

I really enjoyed seeing this (I can't remember if it was Model Rail Scotland or Warley), but made the cardinal (pun intended) sin of asking if it was Spanish.......... Thoroughly looking forward to seeing it again, nice and bright and colourful.

CME, If I have misquoted you then it is inadvertent. If you could advise which part of my post does so, and I can amend accordingly. Best Scott.