BR traction instructor

A recurrent theme within Alastair’s book is the idea of raiding uplanders identifying with each other, whether Scots or English and regularly declaring for the other if circumstances dictated it advantageous (as did some of the farming families). Each raiding clan/tribe as bloodthirsty and as much a thief as the other. I’m only interested in ‘getting a handle’ on the cross border raiding…certainly not in attempting to resolve Scottish history. BeRTIe

I first expressed interest in the upcoming new chassis kit several years ago, when the idea was first mooted. The project was one of several under development concurrently and was hampered by the design of the RTR loco involved/time spent getting around resultant issues. Covid didn’t help. However, I wasn’t kept waiting cos I have so many other items to build/improve. A little forward planning by modellers usually removes time factors from the equation and allows small manufacturers to focus on producing their goods. I don’t hesitate to pre-order with these guys cos I know that the result will be right. I would never pre order from several large RTR manufacturers cos the errors can be large enough to make the model unrecoverable. BeRTIe

I wouldn’t describe them as romantic at all. It was a desperate period of Border history (the battle of Flodden apparently the herald), sometimes aggravated by those in authority for their own ends. Nevertheless, the terrain lent itself to what happened, the Galloway nag evolved as the ideal transport to navigate it and understanding what once was and why is my only interest. The book suggests that Hadrian’s wall was built as a firebreak to prevent the upland inhabitants from reinforcing each other and to allow safer policing of the often lawless terrain, ironically, by an invading force. Climate deterioration also appears to have played its part in the dramatic reduction of inhabitants/increasingly barren nature of the Borders today. BeRTIe

Getting lost in the depths of Alastair Moffat’s superb book ‘The Reivers’ and picturing a 16th century cattle raiding party of Scotts astride their ponies in the early hours amongst the wilds of Liddesdale loses some of its impact when attempting to follow their progress on a modern OS map. Most of the old place names are long gone and many small settlements completely erased. A second book ‘The Drove Roads’ of Scotland will recreate the tracks & trails as they were known in the 16th century and referred to in Alastair’s book. A visit to Galashiels and standing next to the superb bronze of a Reiver mounted astride his pony brings these characters swiftly to life. Sad to think that the ‘Galloway nag’ was lost as a breed in the nineteenth century, according to Alastair. BeRTIe

On the monthly drug run (girlfriend’s migraine pills) to Audlem today…a decent ride via Wybunbury and the H’s…Hunsterson, Hatherton and Hankelow, mostly via the back lanes. At Dagfields butcher on the return leg it turns into the curry run as six jars of a fab curry sauce are collected for upcoming meals. BeRTIe

More assault course than circuit on the Betley ride today. Several spots had remnants of trees across the road…this one nr Englesea Brook even had a stray telephone wire (visible at the top of the pic) staked into the hedge on the left with splintered wood, to allow tractors & trailers to get underneath. There were several lengthy flooded sections too. BeRTIe

Cycling alongside the firth from Anthorn past RSPB Campfield marsh towards Bowness on Solway and Burgh by Sands can only be described as delightful in decent weather. The church at Bowness is built from stone blocks removed from Hadrian’s wall (the western extremity was nearby). Reading tales of The Border Reivers describes a very optimistic attempt by Scottish reivers to steal the church bells. The escape route was across the mud flats of the firth at low water. Almost inevitably they sank into the soft riverbed. It was many years later that they were retrieved. Port Carlisle and the one time shipping canal alongside the firth to Carlisle can still be explored with the aid of a guide book and the extent of what once was, made clear. A much anticipated outing by bike/train/bus to Hexham to follow the route of the NBR from Border Counties jnc towards Reedsmouth and Riccarton jnc (Waverley route) is being heavily researched just now…Google Earth views (the former jnc at Reedsmouth visible in this one) being studied to get an understanding of what remains. Cassini Popular series 1920s maps being consulted to see which roads criss crossed the alignment. Various railway books/DVDs yielding period images showing the character of what once was. Evocative Peter Handford soundtracks of V2s etc pounding the grades through the wilds of Riccarton jnc mean that I’ll be including the Waverley route restoration base at Whitrope and the trackbed towards Newcastleton in my forays. Similarly, the lost industrial railways east of Whitehaven around Rowrah, Cleator, Distington etc have great appeal for me and will also be the subject of numerous cycle rides/walks etc. However, the thought of following remnants of the Cockermouth to Penrith railway alongside the busy A66 doesn’t ‘do it’ for me. Anyone reaching ‘The Greyhound’ at Burgh by Sands and wanting a railway natter whilst enjoying the views across to Scotland over a pint, can PM me, with a few days warning, from April. BeRTIe

The chap who normally deals with orders within this small company has been on holiday but is back in harness now and will be picking up any outstanding ones over the next few days. BeRTIe

With our move to Silloth getting close and many preparatory jobs either under way or done, it is good to sit down, look through some of the scenes that are a big part of the ‘draw’ to the area and order some heritage maps/railway publications etc that will make those cycle rides into the scenery so much more interesting. The wartime airfield and Roman mile castles/turrets extending from the end of the wall at Bowness, to Maryport will have me investigating Silloth too. The Caledonian railway viaduct across the firth towards Scotland from Bowness on Solway is just a few rusty remnants nowadays but a little research soon puts some flesh back onto its bones amid descriptions of ice floes in the firth causing structural issues and declining iron ore traffic (the main reason for its construction) conjuring up some wonderful imagery of its short heyday in the early 1870s. BeRTIe

I’ve dropped my Brassmasters contact an email alerting them to your posts and will add any reply from them. BeRTIe

Surely, having the widest possible range of mediums available enables the modelling message to reach out and entice the widest range of potential modellers? Utube modelling won’t appeal to everyone (no single approach does) but as long as it is a positive experience for those that enjoy it, then it must be a good thing. On a related theme I was struggling to replace a defective thermostat on my girlfriend’s car, so watched a Utube video on the issue and fixed it very soon after. Sometimes Utube is the ideal solution. BeRTIe

I’m exchanging emails with Brassmasters regarding a new chassis kit under development and aren’t aware of any issues. BeRTIe

Playtime… BeRTIe

A rewarding hour or so spent linking period images within Robert Robotham’s excellent tome to the 1953 Waverley route WTT has conjured up some of the consists that worked the diagrams. The Newcastle to Hawick via the border counties route to Reedsmouth & Riccarton jnc, crossing the lovely River Tyne bridge nr Hexham being just one example. The Newcastle to Riccarton jnc 1948 WTT sections are available within this Branches & Byways title. BeRTIe

A fascinating history to be discovered…these excellent titles all build insight and knowledge. BeRTIe

D5124-132 were 60A Inverness allocated in the 1966 Locoshed too. As were D5318-46 & D8032/33 D5124-132 were still 60A in 1970. D5330-5346 were the 60A 26s in 1970. There were no 60A 20s in the 1970 Locoshed. BeRTIe

…I’ve edited the link…try the current one. BeRTIe

Not just UK dramas. BeRTIe

Another source of period WTT information is WTT reprints of Doncaster. They recently supplied me with this 1953 Waverley route WTT from 1953. A Special Trains supplement with the WTT caught my eye…Officers Special saloon to be fully gassed and watered. The time lapse between the 1953 WTT below and the 1962 one above shows the change from train numbers to headcodes. The lead figure of the train number clearly indicating the class of train, as in the headcode style. An interesting feature of the 1953 WTT is the inclusion of spare crews/locos working to Control orders. BeRTIe

…it sort of highlights how varied our experiences will be in different parts of the British Isles and ‘storm Eunice’ didn’t sound as interesting…besides, watching a few hours of Vic of Dib looking for the episode involved is the perfect distraction to worrying about the weather. BeRTIe

Little sign of it here in Cheshire…so far. Normal Friday early shopping trip to Audlem/Sainsbugs done without incident…the pigeons seemed a bit on the large side though. BeRTIe

The new home visit by the Animals in Need charity is happening tomorrow, heralding the likely end of our time with Nala. Further updated…the visit happened today and went fine…Nala will be collected Saturday week (to give the Feliway diffusers chance to work in the new house). Her skin issue has disappeared now and she is very relaxed/playful, has a much bigger personality/character than in the days of Bruce. She stays downstairs with us (sleeps on the sofa) constantly, enjoys plenty of TLC (especially chin scratches), has a hazardous tendency to roll over for belly rubs on the stairs and only rarely runs for cover. We’ll be hoovering up her relatives later! More than one of our friends has asked whether she is the cat in the Specsavers advert, where the vet attempts to take the heart rate of a furry hat! BeRTIe

Just had this drop in the inbox. Derby Research livery? BeRTIe

Check that your trampolines are fastened down. BeRTIe