Aberbrothock

A pair of Ivatt class 2's going about their duties in Arbroath yard. They look suspiciously clean.............

A - nother birthday took me to local model shop in Kirkcaldy to come away with a second Ivatt class 2 loco to match my other one acquired some years ago. They now nicely reproduce the "Arbroath Twins," 46463 and 46464, which alternated serving goods traffic to Arbroath. Some reasonably quick work with craft knife and methfix transfers renumbered the "donor" loco 46460, as 46464. Also pictured is a nice BR standard unfitted livery brake van, bought at the same time. Some weathering to do, but the "twins" will serve the layout very well.

Group 2: Queen Street and Victoria Street at their junction with Colvill Place which bridges the southbound main line. A trespassing shot looking along the southbound platform, (platform 2 as was, now platform 1). Newly "armed" bracket signal on the southbound line from Montrose with St Vigeans Junction signal box in the far distance down the hill. More than enough for just now - must get out into the sunshine, and the garden.............

Especially for Reinder, but for general consumption as well - some pics around the layout yesterday. Group 1: A warts and all shot of one half of the layout - you can see why my wife is always nagging me to tidy up beneath the baseboards. The loft access is on the LHS via an old but very good Slingsby ladder. The central loop line needs landscaping! Looking down on the main booking office and Keptie Street bridge. My version of the loco sheds with the former NBR North goods yard on the left - someone must have been cleaning out the ashpit - it looks too clean... A rural view of the Forfar loop line as it crosses Brothock Water.

Sorry for misreading your name - too impetuous by half! Glad you like Scotland - there's a lot to like.

Thanks for your kind comments, Reindeer - I've never spoken to a reindeer before.............. Is English your second language - only joking! I'll do some general view shots for you later, Sorry for misreading your name - too impetuous by half! Glad you like Scotland - there's a lot to like.

A long time ago it was suggested that I post a pic of my Arbroath North signal cabin at night on this thread - Here it is then......... Quite a big file, but there is a fair bit of detail.

Thanks for your kind comments, Reindeer - I've never spoken to a reindeer before.............. Is English your second language - only joking! I'll do some general view shots for you later,

.....And now the rest of the batch.

Some pics taken over the last couple of days showing signalling additions - ground discs, both red and yellow, and new block signals, (home and distant arms). That's my 10mb - more to come........

I've also done a set of ground discs in the new yard at the Carmyllie Fabrications factory one of which is shown here. Enough for today, I think.

I've been doing some "social home and distancing," with the signalling on the layout and some results follow. Looking down the hill on the Forfar line towards St Vigeans Junction. Block signals galore on the Aberdeen line, above and towards the Dundee loops, below. St Vigeans Junction box in the evening light with the approach line to the old NBR North Yard in front of the box, and the main line in the foreground. I'll do another couple of shots in another post as the file sizes are quite big............

Not a lot going on on Rmweb just now - presumably folk are either beavering away at their layouts - or maybe sunbathing? I've been adding a couple of signals at the new factory and put them in place this morning - they look fine but of course it shows how much needs to be done in landscaping and detailing. A number of ground shunt discs need to be made and added to protect all of the entry and exit options at the sidings as well. Point rodding would also look good.......... Anyway a couple of shots to show where we've got to:- Home and distant on the approach to Ladyloan Junction and Arbroath itself. Yard entry shunt arm and main line starter. A cruel view along the line - the track doesn't seem that bad when viewed in reality!

Have done some earth moving/landscaping around the 'box today, and it looks a bit more at home on its new site. The signalman has a good view north to the junction itself and also down over the old NBR yard sidings. Vey high winds today, with one gust lifting the roof off to reveal the inside of the 'box, which could do with even more bits and pieces installed, but while there is no internal lighting, there's no rush to do more just now. I have quite a number of signals to make from the Ratio kits I have in stock - as long as my eyes can see what I'm attempting to do........ At least the shot shows which levers have been pulled, but the signalman must have gone off with his train register which should be on his desk. I also managed to knock one of the dollies off the St V Junction post, so there's a repair to do - more work then!

Many thanks Les The box is predominantly plastikard, with only the brick finish being paper, In two different bonds, the toilet being covered in a different style having been added later. The roof is from Wills plastic slating, the chimney a "Metcalfe" style paper tube. The lever frame has a plastikard base with Smiths etched brass levers, all laid out in the required colours with the correct ones pulled for one train from Montrose and the other heading to Forfar. The windows include one at each end with an opening sash , with the frames and astragals painstakingly cut from microstrip - not all done in one session! There is also one on the back wall which should have a moving sash, but as it won't be seen by anyone, I did a plain frame - how lazy can you get?

The new St Vigeans Junction signal box has made its debut on the layout, temporarily sited until the earth moving is done slightly further up the hill towards the junction itself, but quite pretty nevertheless. Not entirely obvious, but the inside is quite fully furnished, with lever frame, desk, stove and instrument shelf - I know they're there!

Pretty well completed this reproduction of the signal box which formerly controlled St Vigeans Junction just north of Arbroath railway station. A very attractive prototype with the rafters peeking out from under the roof guttering - quite a pest to cut and fix, though............ It's not in its final position and I will need to do some earth-moving/site preparation to put it in its correct place, but it sits quite well in its present site. (More pics in colour on the Arbroath thread).

Hi Burnie A very similiar design to St V Junc and Knnnaber - my current challenge is producing the ends of the rafters peeping out beneath the guttering - I'll use doubled up microstrip, I think....

I became aware today that I hadn't run any trains for a while, and I gave 60011 a run down the hill to the station - some pics of the action:- Held at the Up Home signal at the old NBR North Yard. Passing Arbroath North SB. Awaiting the road at the station. St Vigeans Junction SB is progressing well and pics will follow quite soon, but not today!

Would that be the current, extended version, or the original bijou design? We can send each other bell codes to say what's due to arrive next............... Stay well. Ken

Much to do, but progress at least................. Digital images are cruel! Garden beckons, but evening awaits.

The St Vigeans Junction signal box is coming along nicely, although the real box clearly has been very camera shy, even although it lasted into the early 'sixties - some pics of the model to follow in a couple of days, hopefully. The other issue is that it's too big for the site of the current model which it will replace. I'm going to re-site the box on to the correct side of the line, which means a bit of earth moving and probable cutting back of one of the sidings in the old NBR North Yard, and the creation of a nice flat area to "plant" the model - just wish life wasn't so busy.......... Moving it to the Up side of the line also means that we'll see the front of the box, which is its prettier side anyway.

It's a fine pic, both to show the water crane itself and the wonderful hooked lever to lift the water hose up on to the tender - must try to make one sometime...........

A new overbridge has been installed beside the coal siding at the new factory. It combines a Wills vari-girder span over the main line with a scratch-built lattice girder over the sidings. It makes a visual stop at the end of the central loop line with tantalising glimpses through the spans of the loco sheds........ Passing by the other yard on the Forfar loop line, I caught J37 64602 waiting for access to the main line from the yard. Now I'll need to draw out the updated and more accurate version of St Vigeans Junction signal box - no rest for the wicked, then...........

Very unusual cloud effect in the sky above 47535................... A meteorological phenomenon?????