scottystitch

Beethoven's Seventh Symphony,

Ah, an ETHEL! A lovely ( and essential) touch. I think there were three, and all had plates ETHEL 1, ETHEL 2 and ETHEL 3. Looking good!

Thanks Rob, seemed like a logical conclusion, but having never seen the product from Lochaber, I couldn't be sure. Where would this traffic have been heading to then, do you know?

You're welcome, Mike. No idea with regards the load, but I suppose I'd guess at Aluminium. That is based purely on the Aluminium plant at Fort William. But it's hard to see if they are billets or material or maybe boxes of something?... Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along to help us out.

You might find this video interesting:

A great space you have there, similar to my 17.5ft by 9.5ft garage (pending) conversion for Glasgow North. I would agree to ditch the chipboard idea (does anyone still call it Particle Board, anymore, like my dad??) Good luck with the gutting and refurb of the room. Time and work now will pay dividends when it comes to building the layout in a nice clean environment. Keep us posted and thanks for sharing.

Yes, I agree with this. Looking good, well thought out.

I'm not sure if that is correct. The Poppy liveried example was £295. From memory, I think the Poppy version was a small amount more expensive than a standard 11-car example. EDIT: Having said that, i think that was the original early bird price.

A Farish 08 in BR Black? Not DCC ready, but there is at least one video tutorial on youtube showing how relatively simple it is to convert.

A good response and obviously thought through.

How about a variation of this, but instead of a turntable, a traverser. Have a number of stub lines parallel to the entry road to store locos. Drive a train into a vacant siding, remove the loco, move traverser and couple up another loco at the other end. Train ready to depart when required. As Phil says, manually swap any brake vans as well. If you use a loco lift or similar, no handling of the loco. Admittedly you'd still be handling the brake van, but that would be the same regardless.. Just another approach.

I would be inclined to go down the loco lift route as well, but the turntable solution obviously has merit. The constant turning of the whole fiddle yard might be a bit of a faff (technical word) but it all comes down what the OP is happy to operate. I'm sure Philip appreciates all the different ideas and thoughts everyone is providing.

Philip, With regards your last post, and hesitation with regards too much scenery, I would suggest, nae recommend, you focus on one station, and on the other wall, in lieu of the second station, just lay some twin track. This will get you running trains all the way around the room quicker, and allow you to see/imagine how a fully sceniced wall would look. If it;s not for you, nothing lost, you just lift the main line and build your station. Better that way than the reverse, where you find yourself lifting a big station and all the hard work you'd put into laying the track. Ditto the branch stations. Just build one and see how you get on with it. I think that's what I'd do if I had come up with your plan.

66 733 waits in the loop, north of Coatbridge Central, with the tanks from Fort William. 23/10/13

66 086 eases a trial train of whisky from Elgin to the Central belt for blending/bottling, just east of Kintore. 18/09/13

Here is the nls 25 inch map: http://maps.nls.uk//view/120896908 This is the latest revision in the 25 inch mapping, 1926, although published in 1928.

I would be inclined to agree with Chimer, it might be a better idea to only model one mainline station and have one "long" side of the layout given to a decent scenic run. That aside, it's a terrific space and I love the fact you have the ability (space) to put the fiddle yard on a peninsula. So it's another vote for go for it.

66770 heads south through Kensington Olympia with a stone working; 13/12/17

66 569, just north of Fordoun on a renewals possession, laden with old ballast and spoil; 21/01/18. The possession featured a DB 66, with fresh ballast, and a pair of DRS 66s top and tailing a sleeper train, further down the bank.

Forgive me if this has already been discussed, but is this a real location? Based on a real location? I can't find reference to this in the real world, so I am assuming not?

I would politely and respectfully disagree with the last statement. Freshwater lochs are often fed and drained by rivers. Just off the top of my head I can cite Loch Tay being fed by at least two rivers, Dochart and Lochay; Loch Tummel is both supplied and drained by River Tummel. Loch Rannoch is fed by at least two, Gaur and Ericht and possibly more, and is drained by River Tummel. These are only three that I am sure of so there must be more. (I appreciate you added a caveat about exceptions, but I think it is much more common than an exception) Best Scotty

Yes, this is on the Caledonian route to Oban, which left the old Scottish Central mainline, between Stirling and Perth, at Dunblane and then crossed under the West Highland at Crianlarich. The viaduct is in Glen Ogle, between Lochearnhead and Lix. A rockfall here in 1965 prematurely closed line completely, as far as Crianlarich, as it was deemed uneconomical to clear the debris and repair the line, particularly when there was an alternative route to Oban (the West Highland) from Glasgow. The route through Glen Ogle is now an established footpath. The viaduct from the other side

Coming on great, Anthony. As always your abilities and ambitions show no bounds, and you're not afraid to tackle what to many of us would e daunting tasks. An inspiration as always, particularly to us fellow n-gaugers. really looking forward to seeing how you get on with the hillside; it will be very imposing once complete. Keep up the good work. Best Scotty

How about trying to incorporate this: A little to the east of your area, and of Caledonian origin, this is the Glen Ogle viaduct.

This is on the Kyle line and is intended to protect the permanent way from rockfalls at that particular spot. You'll see the road shares the stricture, and it is customary to lean on one's horn as one drives through.