Aberbrothock

This post is allied to the Dundee and Arbroath Railway in general, not Arbroath in particular - does anyone have photos or other info. on the signal cabin at Stannergate on the eastern approaches to Dundee? The cabin controlled the former Stannergate station and the associated sidings, which seem to have been used for carriage storage as well as servicing the shipyards and industrial premises in the immediate vicinity. I'm looking at some of my layout photos with a view to adding more to this thread soon. Ken

Thanks Scott The loft is about 18' x 14' , with the access ladder very neatly placed in the centre. Some of the return loop sections lift up or lift out, mainly so that I can shut the loft door and stop creating a bottleneck in the hall below, which does not go down well with my dear wife, to whom I am greatly indebted for allowing me such a major indulgence. Ken

Hi JohnR Here's a copy of the layout plan photographed off the loft wall where it currently resides. Hopefully there is enough detail visible to satisfy any queries you may have, but if you need to know more, I'll try to help. Ken

That might be possible - I'll try taking a photo - this might be easier than scanning as the plan is drawn out to A2 format........ I'll see what can be done tomorrow. Thanks for the post. Ken

As it looks as though this topic is going to be bumped in the next day or so, I'm attaching a couple more photos of the layout...... My interpretation of the South signal cabin - too many windows in the front elevation, but it'll do meantime. Detail of the platform canopies with framing made from endless packs of Slaters Plastikard,(to whom I have no connection, other than appreciating their products.....). I'll maybe need to get etches made by York Modelmaking to overlay and line up these pesky holes! Ken

I've been browsing through my layout photos and thought these were worth posting.... Bachmann Class 40 (EE Type 4 to those who remember these things), heading north past the water tank/column and approaching the junction home signals - hope it's going to stop....... I must admit to liking altering photos to B & W or sepia tone as it adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the result - what do others think? This shot was taken on the line - I did have a track pass - looking towards the Guthrie Port bridge under the footbridge - must get a proper lattice variety! - and also showing the loco shed signal cabin protecting the loco yard entry and also the north yard points. There was a loco shed SC long ago when the sheds were on the up side of the line where the bulk grain wagons are unaccountably parked, and I've resurrected the name to cover my subterfuge in having the loco yard the other way round to what was actually built in 1910/11. Modeller's licence to the rescue. Ken

As the saying goes - "here's one I made earlier...." It's a little diorama of a fictitious halt somewhere in Angus, but near Arbroath which I put together last year for a hobbies and talents exhibition in St Andrews. It only took a couple of days to make, but was a nice diversion from the big project. More photos of the layout to come soon. Ken

You're quite correct - the goods shed was demolished as recently as November 2008, and the tracks are still there, although on my last visit an 8' high weld mesh fence had been installed along the side of the old platform 4, so it looks as though the goods yard is due for some development. The station was quite extensive, but makes a most interesting and challenging project - it's kept me amused for over 40 years now! Regards Ken

Hi John Guilty as charged! As modellers, we don't have to worry about the economics of unremunerative branch lines. We do our own thing...... Not only is the Forfar line still open, it still has double track, although in reality the line was mostly singled in the 1930's. The other reason for keeping it double is that in my configuration, the Montrose/Aberdeen lines run into six storage roads and then curve round to join the "Forfar" lines coming in, forming the northern return loop of a dumbell. At least there was a junction at this end, whereas at the south end, the lines run through the gullet under the Princes St/Colvill Place bridge before encountering what I've called Ladyloan Junction again leading to 6 storage roads representing the Dundee end. Although I lived in Dundee I did a lot of work in Arbroath during accountacy training in the late 'sixtes, so have fond memories of standing in the Giddings & Lewis Fraser factory offices looking down on the North Signal Cabin and the scissors crossover and on over the goods sidings to the North end of the passenger platforms. I could tell many a tale of the industries and life in Arbroath at that time - sadly much has gone to be replaced by supermarkets and other developments. If this thread proves interesting to others, perhaps I'll elaborate a bit more. Regards Ken

Just to correct the description of the level crossing gates - they are of course on the Wellgate in Arbroath, not Dens Road - sorry. Ken

Four more covering more of the layout area:- Old Wrenn A4, Empire of India heading South past St Vigeans Junc. SC and loco coaling stage. Bachmann A2, now renamed/numbered as A H Peppercorn 60525 on an up sleeper service. It's running past the loco sheds which I've naughtily re-modelled to fit my site and layout configuration. The old NBR goods yard is behind the train. (Please ignore the conflicting signal settings - more WIP!) A view over the high road bridge looking past Guthrie Port with the abbey ruins in the background. At the south end of the layout, a class 27, (Heljan), leans into the curve. Hopefully stimulating?

On the advice of Ben Alder, I've opened a layout page on which I'll add more pice as time permits - busy on domestic chores at the moment - must keep my long suffering wife onside! Ken

As promised - a couple of photos: A V2 awaits departure on a northbound service, with an NBL type 2 in platform 4. The main goods yard looking North.

Hoping this is in the right place......... Introducing my interpretation of Arbroath, (on the East coast of Scotland, 14 or so miles NE of Dundee, former fishing port, medium sized industrial centre, former Royal Burgh, famous for Arbroath Smokies - wood-smoked haddock, hung in pairs in a barrel, and quite delicious). Northern terminus of the Dundee and Arbroath Railway, Coastal terminus of the former Arbroath and Forfar Railway, both eventually linked to form a joint railway station, and developed by an NBR built line to Montrose. Still served by First Scotrail, East Coast Railways and Cross Country Trains, (formerly Virgin) and the Scotrail Sleeper service to London Euston. Like most stations, Arbroath has lost its freight/goods service and yards and its loco shed but is still in presentable condition with semaphore signalling and 1911 built platform buildings, many of which are being developed by local interest groups. My layout is set in the popular 1955/65 time frame, when steam was still common, but diesels were increasingly taking over. My loft has sufficient space to take in the line from its southern approaches, through the passenger platforms with the goods and coal yards alongside, over the Dens Road level crossing and on to the old NBR North Yard on one side and the loco sheds on the other. The tracks rise to St Vigeans Junction at which the Forfar and Montrose lines diverge. Both ends of the layout curve towards storage sidings. Layout building commenced in 1974 and after two house moves most of the work has taken place in our present house in Fife - I can see the Arbroath coastline from the loft window....... Plain track in Peco Streamline with most points and crossings hand built on copper clad sleepering. The template used for ordinary turnouts belonged to my father who use it in the 1930's to make metal-sleepered track for his outside third rail OO loft layout, (like father, like son!), and the sleeper spacing is not quite correct, but I'm not going to start re-making over 50 turnouts at this stage....... I'll add a couple of photos to my next post.

Hi JohnR There are lots of photos - more to come later. Regards Ken

Thanks John Arbroath, although only a shadow of what it was, still has some of the atmosphere of "the old days," and has been an obsession of mine for over 40 years - a layout of a lifetime, as the current saying goes. Here are another 3 pics of the layout which convey some of the feel of the past. Hope they bring back some memories - if you're old enough, that is......... Regards Ken

Hi folks I understand that some may not be able to open the image of my C16, and with Ben Alder's help I've put it into a jpeg format so the it's more easily seen. Here's a jpeg copy for your info., plus a shot of my Stevens style level crossing on the layout. Hope you enjoy them.

Here's my Sutherland Model Casters ex NBR C16 sitting in the main yard at my Arbroath layout. 67502 was one of the regular performers on the D & A locals. One of these days I'll get round to fitting the motor and couplings and putting it into service with a rake of Hornby Gresley or Thomson non-gangwayed coaches - when they arrive!!!!! C16.pdf