Aberbrothock

Work done on the new industrial buildings on the loop line has produced a factory named Carmyllie Fabrications Ltd., which gives it a local flavour and is also a play on words with Fabrications being a manipulation of facts to suit the ends aimed for - which is exactly what we modellers are always up to, of course. Anyway some pics taken this evening.......... Obviously more to do, but progress by any other name.

Hi Les The loft is still the same size! The line I'm working on runs down the centre of the loft and is part of the "South Loops" leading to the lower, (Dundee), storage sidings. Until now it's just been a plain line of double track with a trailing crossover and point leading off to one side, with the track ballasted but no scenic work done, and that's what being done now. Hope this makes sense....... The Up signal bracket opposite the loco shed's dimensions are: Total Height - 35 feet; Ground to bracket girder - 17 feet 6 inches; Main Line post with Home and Distant arms - 17 feet; Centre Dolly with two shunt arms - 7 feet; Right Hand Dolly with one shunt arm - 4 feet. The width of the bracket girder is 19 feet 6 inches. Hopefully helpful. As to the signal box, it's done to a generally standard design of the boxes that used to be in the area and is all right for my purposes as I don't have a photos of the original box, but it does look fine. Happy modelling! Ken

Making some progress today - track ballasted and then backscene pasted up. Now we can get on with the more pretty bits and add some sort of low relief factory to be served by the loop/siding. Watch this space! Les - I'll measure my Ratio kitbashed signal to get a working measurement for you.

Hi Les Good to hear from you again. Even although we're "up North", we're managing pretty well, but self-isolating of course. Your warehouse looks most impressive and will be even more so when completed. Keep well. Regards Ken/Aberbrothock

Hi Manna It's one of the International Models series in a smaller size at 9 inches tall compared to the ones behind the sheds which are 15 inches, but as you say, very useful. They haven't been fixed in place yet, but that should happen very soon, given the current isolation situation. Hope you are keeping healthy.

PS I have sorted the point blades in the foreground - the solder on the lever at the control panel had gone dry, but a quick "squiz" with the soldering iron did the job. Current project is to add in a loop for another unspecified "industry" on the central loop line - some pics showing yesterday's progress with a works train on site, together with out of scale tools needed for the job.... Much to be done!

A beautiful example of bucolic greenness and peace............

Caley 0-6-0 visiting the coaling stage today. Just one seagull swooping over the building, but one is all it takes! Wear a hat to avoid "fall-out."

Just OOOOzes atmosphere............ I sometimes wonder if, now that we have forensic digital photography, we should be thinking about "dotting the eyes" of our people which would give them more personality? I have to say I haven't done it at Arbroath - yet! I'm NOT being picky - just observing.........

Does anyone have a solution to the erratic running qualities of the IAP Stove R 6 wheeled van? It has pivots on the outer axles and loads of sideplay on the centre axle, but doesn't want to negotiate my pointwork, which isn't terribly bad! Does it need a bit more vertical movement on the centre axle as the van tends to bounce around on the centre axle? Any surefire remedies?

Guilty as charged - one good build deserves another............. As you say the lamps do add a certain je ne sais quoi.

A2 and V2 caught passing on expresses today.

Two shots from Arbroath yesterday. Detail shot of Inverbrothock Yard:- Looking across to the north end of platform 3:-

Wandering around today and took two shots at the Inverbrothock Yard and one of the the North end of Platform 3 with a V@ about to depart.

Actually ran some trains this morning, generally without incident - my track maintenance team must have been busy......... B1 heading down the Forfar line: J39 still in LNER livery on an up goods passing the sheds: ...........and in colour: Having passed through Arbroath, now heading for Dundee: Back to the shed area, with an Ivatt class 2 heading towards Forfar: Quite a busy morning, then!

Caught a C16 with an Ivatt class 2, no.46463 for company at Arbroath today. (The C16's were the mainstay on local D & A services in the 'fifties).

Enough of all these intimate close-ups - how about a long view for a change? Arbroath in the sun taken with a drone, of course!

I was wandering round Arbroath today and took the pics below to pass the time...... All quiet at Ladyloan Junction: At the coaling stage.......... A new warehouse at Inverbrothock Yard........ Peering into the Arbroath North 'box ............. Time for bed, said Zebedee..........

Hi Les Great to hear from you - you are allowed time off for good behaviour! I do the same regularly, otherwise you can get too focussed, if such a thing is possible. I've been doing general tidying up, but there's still lots to do to get the layout to the stage I have had "in my mind's eye" for many a year. Kind regards, Ken

Everything beautifully caught, including the "casual concentration" of the loco driver as he goes about his business. I've gone far too far in OO gauge to consider changing at this stage in life, but your O gauge scene is so full of well-observed detail......... Looking forward to more.

I've been aware for some time that most of my locos have not been carrying the correct lamp codes, and in some cases, inappropriate numbers for the Arbroath area, so daughter came to the rescue with the supply of some sets of Springside BR, LNER and LMS lamps most of which have now been attached to the layout's locos. Brake vans and rear coaches on passenger rakes remain to be so treated, but that hopefully will come soon........ Some posed shots to show the results - much shunting and remarshalling of locos and stock now required to restore the "status quo" before running can recommence. In the station goods yard, improbably........ Another batch in the loco yard. In the very bare storage sidings. ..........and one of the diesels got a new number, as well.

Over four days LNER are running a Farewell to the HST set of trips, and this leg was caught (pulled!), north of Arbroath.

Recently repainted two ex-Caley 0-6-0's in BR "weathered" black and caught them on the ex-Arbroath and Forfar Railway double-heading a north-bound goods. A fine, sunny day as well..............

Now both numbered and "crested", 57404 and 57329 stretch their legs on the Forfar line...... They look quite at home on the erstwhile Arbroath and Forfar Railway.............

If anyone remembers Jamieson loco kits, I have a couple of examples - ex CR Lambie 0-6-0's, both motorised, but not in very good running order, but they fill a nice space in the loco yard. They were in CR livery, but I've overpainted them in BR "dirty black," and will add numbers and BR totems when I find the transfers in the loft......... (too big a loft, maybe?). Or in black and white - more authentic?