vitalspark

David one thing to bear in mind ..the thread on 4mmSF is comprehensive and good reading as it gives a good insight into most aspects of fine scale track building and the difference between the fine scale standards however it also raises plenty questions regarding the 16.2 - 16.5 debate. We hand build our points to 16.5 fine scale with the correct flangways but leave the overall gauge 16.5 and have found it perfect for most stock from kit built to rtr Hornby / Bachmann etc. The area gets clouded with these issues and then they throw DOGA into the mix!. All a but confusing to know what to settle on but all would probably run what you ask..but thought I would advise that Alloa which is a large intensively run finescae layout is gauged at 16.5 Points are directly soldered to copperclad track is C&L. Attached a few pics which show the pleasing effect.. also the lack of chairs on the points doesn't show after ballasting with the soldered construction however in a shed area where there is no ballast it might be good to consider construction using chairs. Either way i am sure you will complete the track work to do the buildings justice. Great work Dave.

I have just discovered this post and have spent the last half hour following your progress. You have done a fantastic job and it brings back many memories of Sats spent around the place. Apart from the A4s.. 12 & 24 always seemed to be on shed.. Hyperion Blenheim and Book Law were regulars. The last time I saw Cicero was when it arrived at Waverley in filthy condition with the Queen of Scots Pullman in tow. It had probably replaced a failed diesel as it was a regular Deltic turn at that time..'62. Back to your project..it is outstanding. On the track work..please don't compromise this fabulous shed with anything other than finescale track. I would go for C&L and considering the skills you have shown so far I really wouldn't think you would have much trouble in turning out hand built points. Have go and I bet after a couple of attempts you will be very pleasantly surprised at your results..not only will they do your layout justice and be accurate for the trackplan they will be a fraction of the cost of ready built. Check out the excellent threads on this..also read the 4mmSF thread to make sure you obtain the correct gauges etc especially check rail plus of course Templot. As nothing will be passing through shed points at high speed even if one or two are a little out it is unlikely that it will matter too much. Again well done. Dave

On the higher top speed of the Peaks compared to the EE 40 I believe the balancing speed of the 40 was around 88mph so 90 would probably need a bit of downhill running..like Beattock bank! The Peaks had a higher balancing speed apparently and although both were given a 90mph max the 40s rarely achieved it whereas the Peaks often exceeded…great locos and don't know why both the WCML and ECML persisted with inferior power for so long prior to the AC locos and Deltics. Dave

Good to hear your memories of this line and interesting to hear about the long wait 'just past Crossmyloof'..this would make sense if the 1Co-Co1 was being changed as the junction from the original G&SW rote is just further on at Strathbungo Jct and the obvious place for a loco change. The Peaks were still in charge from Glasgow via the Sou West from memory until mid 70s as I used to see the 09.35 departure as it was then most mornings but in its last days the service was accelerated by using the direct route to Carlisle under the wires. I trust the corresponding down service was also using this route but don't know for sure. The overnight sleeper service was as far as I know still using the Sou West and certainly did on my return journey. I will have a determined search forn the slides..the film is easier but its not transferred although I have the means to do this so must get on with it too. I think my trip was '76 but I am 100% it was the last through service before the Nottingham curtailment. I am also pretty sure it was no longer advertised as the TCE but it was running exactly as it did when named. Will post some pics when I find them. Cheers Dave

It did call at Derby so that would explain it. Thanks for that. Dave

Interesting topic and brings back the memories. From previous posts yes the 1C0-C01 wheel arrangement was banned from the station throat at Glasgow central after a derailment al;though I think this may have been after the final TCE also mention was made of a loco change at Eaglesham..a nice conservation village on the outskirts of Glasgow and not rail connected..although it might have been as it was proposed back about 1900..I don't live far from there so a lovely thought but alas not possible. On the train itself I travelled on it many times from Glasgow to Carlisle and return as although it was slower as in time taken it was a far more interesting trip and coiuld be lively with speeds quite high with the 45 up front especially on the dash from Carlisle to Gretna Jct where the Peak could hit 90..a class 40 on the other faster route had no chance of matching that in fact I never timed a 40 at 90 ever!..88 being the max whereas with Peaks on the ECML I have noted sustained 90s north of York quite normal. I travelled on the very last up service from Glasgow to St Pancras and returned same night on the 21.30 through sleeper to Glasgow before the service was cut back to Nottingham and downgraded. We left Glasgow behind a Class 82.. 002 I think..as it was bib this time running direct to Carlisle then S&C etc. We travelled in the first coach from Glasgow a Mk1 compartment brake..the only 2nd compartment coach on the train as all others were opens. At Carlisle a Peak was attached to Leeds where we reversed and another Peak coupled on. I seem to remember a further two reversals Nottingham being one but I would need to dig out the notes if I can find them. I do known it was 100% Peak hauled apart from the AC to Carlisle. I filmed the journey on 8mm film but the camera packed up south pif Leeds but I do have some interesting footage. I also did take many slides but as my notes will have to search fro them. We returned same night on the 21.30 through to Glasgow including the G&SW all Peak hauled with a compartment to ourselves and a clear moonlit night over the roof of England..magic. Still have memories of the platform inspector when checking our tickets telling us we could go over to Euston and catch a later train and still be in Glasgow before this one…no wonder it wasn't patronised. As said I will now try to locate my film and slides which will give me dates and locos etc but as it was the very last through service and the reason we made the trip the date should be known..possibly a summer/winter timetable change? The afternoon 16.10 Glasgow Leeds was I believe at the same time extended to Nottingham and reverted to 47 haulage. Dave.

..also the single coach last train home from Mauchline to Catrine on a Saturday night with everyone on board the worse for wear including the crew who stopped for a blow up..one coach remember..and fell asleep to reawaken Sunday morning with the fire all but out.. or the 'foreign' driver when he reported to the signalman that the lamp must have blown out as the distant was unlit was told that it hadn't had a 'gless' in it for years! Great book even if some of the stories are probably just that. Dave.

Hi Alex..I've posted this before so you maybe have seen it..its not 8028 but it is green..or mostly! Polmadie late 70s I believe but could probably tie down date if needed. Cheers Dave

How things have changed right enough. It sometimes takes a landmark to know where you are in relation to old photographs of once complex locations. Dave

I trust you are referring to the layout and not the building in the photograph which I take to be Camden carriage sheds. This layout is called Camden Bank although there is another called Camden Shed. Camden Bank is not an exhibition layout being built by an individual in EM and is an extremely accurate model of the climb out of Euston including the dive under and 4th rail DC lines and all fully signalled. My photographs are over 3 years old and the layout fabulous as it was then has obviously progressed. I attach another couple of images again from 2012 showing the part of the layout which includes the Camden shed under construction. ..and the carriage sheds. ..lever frames under construction.

Yes..Davy Franks of 'Lanarkshire Modelling Supplies'..him of buffer fame! We have been selfishly badgering him for a while now to reproduce proper size and accurate scale loco and tail lamps primarily for pour trainset and he's finally given in. He had the first of his offerings at the EM show last weekend ..LNE round loco and LMS square. They are very pleasing and look better than anything that has been produced up to now. He will be following these with other versions including tail lamp castings. Don't known if it is too soon to view these on a website but they are bagged in packs of 5 and ready to go. We have ordered a bucket load! Dave.

Your layout looks to be progressing well. As requested a couple of pics of the stunning Camden Bank taken while under construction a few years ago.. can only imagine what its like now.

Well done and a well deserved award. We travelled down from Glasgow today and chatted with you earlier. We were well impressed and wondered how you had fared. Still cant believe the number of windows you had to cut out! Dave.

Further to last post there are 3 x B10m 55s in the garage but the one in First livery is I am sure reg no G545RDS and was new to Strathclyde buses. It stayed in the area all its life ending up at Parkhead garage. I will have a look through the stocklist for more info on the others. The garage currently has 99 buses and coaches listed there... plus 2 breakdown wagons…also 4x fire engines plus quite a few commercial vehicles. If you google 'GVVT stockist' you should be able to check everything out there. Cheers Dave.

Still looking through my images but will be down there next week and check it out. Get back to you. Dave

It looks suspiciously like it! Cant find a pic but have a closer look next week and take one then. Meantime cover of the trust mag for Spring clearly shows it in the line up.

What a stunning looking Daimler with what looks like another behind it. It must have been a long and costly exercise to get a result like this..beautiful. We only have one Daimler in the collection a CVG6..or it is now as it started life as a unique 30 ft long CVD6 before the Corporation converted it to all things Gardner which they did with most chassis except Leylands. I am also a member of the new Dundee Museum of Transport and have an old Vauxhall on display there. Its been in our family since new and the museum offered me a home for it which was very readily accepted. They also have a Dundee Corporation CVD6 on display which is I believe is undergoing some cosmetic treatment but hopefully we will see it on the Streets of Dundee again soon. I don't have any pics of the CVD6 but do have of the Cresta. Dave.

Wow thats stunning and love the livery ..I'm sure we could find you a space for that beauty in the garage up here! As you know Y types were very Scottish and very smart coaches and we have a few in the collection on various chassis. They certainly stood the test of time looking so modern and like nothing else back in early 60s and still looked great almost 20 years later..brilliant design by Alexanders. Someone needs to organise a national Y type rally and bring them all together. Pic of inside the garage with a cousin of your Leopard to the fore. Plus its big brother.. and when things go wrong what else but a Y tow wagon.

You have picked what is possibly the only non authentic liveried bus in the garage!..so sorry to disappoint. FVA 854 is an Albion Valiant coach 33 seats and started life with Hutchisons of Overtown in Lanarkshire in 1950. It was sold to Tuer of Morland Penrith after about 4 years and remained there until 1961 when it came north again to the fleet of Carmichael of Glenboig just north of Glasgow. Carmichjaels were taken over by Alexander Midland and the Albion was sold. After preservation it was painted in the colours of Western SMT..I think down to the owner..well its his coach! Think all this is accurate but apologies of I have some details wrong.

Apologies in case anyone might be looking out for classic buses running round Glasgow this weekend..the garage open day is not until October 10th / 11th. Dave

Apologies and yes of course it is a Leyland with that radiator..I was mixing it up with another decker from Geoffs layout..this ones definitely a Bristol! Carrog looks superb btw. Dave.

just to add its not all buses.. …and to get back to railway related things a pic of an exquisitely scratch built Bristol bus by Geoff Kent for his incredible Black Lion Crossing layout. Scratch built from plasticard..hard to believe.

They certainly do Phil and many in the picture will be running round Glasgow again this weekend as its another open days at the museum in fact I have just received a members e mail requesting volunteers for driving/conducting etc..its at times like this I wish I had a PSV licence. The group are very fortunate to have the sole use of a very large well equipped bus garage that was only built in the early 60s..donr know the exact date it closed with the corporation but it is an ideal base for the museum with great workshop facilities and plenty of offices. Obviously there are a large contingent representing Glasgow Corporation and other Scottish operators but also many more buses and coaches from other corners of the country including a Blackpool PD3 and several Routemasters…even a fully restored Thames from Malta.

…in saying that just had a look inside our local garage and seems we have a few too..

Mmmmm sounds like you have some nice old Classic buses down there..lucky sods!