Caley Jim

They're nothing compared to some of the ones round here! One of these days someone is going to fall into one and come out at your side! Jim

From at least the early 1880's the Caledonian applied 'C R' in either 9", 12" or 15" high letters to all wagons which had a deep enough side. Slatted vehicles (cattle wagons etc.) had an infill between two slats to accommodate the letter. Prior to this date small letters in a script form appear to have been used. Wagon numbers were painted on the side or solebar until the introduction of cast plates on the solebar in Drummond's time, though some mineral wagons had them painted as well as the plate. The number was also painted on either end (fixed end only on end door mineral wagons). Jim

Yep! That's the sound a diseasal makes! Jim

Surely 1950-52 would be nearer the mark? Jim

Her name was Sandra and she had it on a separate badge! Jim

A patient of mine used to stand just inside the door of ASDA wearing a badge with 'Greeter' on it. i used to ask her what she was greetin' about today! Jim

The path leading from the end of the island platform to the footbridge was bounded on either side by standard picket fences, another item I put on the etch. They have been the next items to be assembled. Some of the posts have 'peg' extensions to their lower ends to fix them place. I mis-counted the number required to make these every alternate one, which is why the nearer fence has fewer of them. Jim

Apropos the last paragraph in my previous post, after having given it a lot of thought, I've decided that it will be easier and, from the point of view of not getting it wrong, safer, to wait until I have the supporting columns before making a base to facilitate fitting things together. In the mean time I have made up the bases for the pillars (these were set on plinths which appear to have been the same height as the platform, I presume because the pillars were designed for a bridge mounted on a platform and so would be too short to be set at ground level), the jig to ensure that the pillars will be vertical on the plinths and the arched cast brackets under the landing. L-R: Plinth for the 4 pillars supporting the corner landing; plinths for the 2 pillars under the half landing, jig to help get the pillars mounted vertically (the plinth(s) sit between the lugs at the near end and the notches at the far end will, in theory, hold the pillars in the correct alignment) and the representation of the cast arched brackets under the corner landing. I also have made up another arched bracket which goes between the tops of the 2 pillars under the half landing, but forgot to put it in the photo. So, now I'll move on to some other items on the etch sheet. Jim

Try www.stenlake.co.uk. Select places from the menu, then Lothians. HTH Jim

But some were more superior than others! Jim

Re-read the post! I mentioned that the wagon was neither HR nor GNSR (Alisdair has leanings towards the latter for some unaccountable reason), so, counting myself as being CR, that only leaves two! (at least in the arithmetic I was taught!) Jim

Stranger things have happened. I've even heard of carriages lit by electrickery! Jim

The Newsletter of the HMRS dropped through the letterbox this morning. those of a Southern persuasion my be interested in the book advertised on the cover - 'LB&SCR Carriages Volume 3 Bogie Stock 1897-1907' Described as 'Due out any day'. Jim

If i may indulge the Parish Council to go back 4 pages, I have now consulted with my fellow 2FS modeller Alisdair Campbell, who is the drawings archivist for the HR society. It is neither HR nor GNSR, but could be a PO build by either Hurst Nelson or Pickering, who both arranged the outer layer of door planks vertically. As he and I are followers of the true associated faiths of the HR and CR respectively, we are not in a position to comment whether or not the vehicle may be associated with one or other of the two other (inferior) Scottish companies. (If we were to mention their names we would be required to undergo purging and absolution! ) Jim

Stairway from the platform now assembled. You can just about make out the added 'overhangs' on the steps. The photos show that I need to do a wee bit of infilling with solder on the slots/tabs locating the inner part of the 'T' section arch. I now have to make up a template to help me locate the two sections accurately together in the correct relationship in all three planes as they are not at right angles to one another and the two ends are at different levels. Jim

I was torn between 'craftsmanship/clever' and 'Friendly/supportive' but went for the former. Been there done that..... Jim

On behalf of the 2FS fraternity, I thank you for that, James. After speaking with a member of the press at the Glasgow Show some years ago, her piece described us as the 'Wee Free's' of the modelling world. We were happy to go with that! (For those not familiar with the history of Scottish Presbyterianism, PM me and I'll give you a lengthy explanation) Jim

That's the Drummond /Stroudley influence. Jim

The doors certainly are typical of both CR and NBR mineral wagons, but they usually had heavy, outside framed end doors (at least all the CR mineral wagons did). The axleboxes have a top lid like CR, NBR and HR ones, but they all were more bulbous and rounded at the bottom. All CR 8 and 10 ton wagons had 4 planks. It wasn't until the Dia 52 14T wagons that they used 5 planks, but on them the top two planks were through. Having said that, there was a batch of 8T wagons the company took over from a private owner which were built by Hurst Nelson and had 5 planks, however they had the aforementioned end doors and the outer layer of the side doors was vertically planked. So, not an exact match for anything of which I am aware. Jim

Bolts look OK to me! As to the nut, though.......... Jim

More progress. End posts and 'T'-section arch and side braces added along with the top surface of the deck. Now to start on the other flight of steps. Jim

Many railway photographers appear to have been very lax in that respect! Jim

There has been a slight hiatus in work on the bridge while I assembled some items which I had been asked to do for another project. they have now been passed on and i will leave it to the recipient to comment on them should he so wish. To let the good folk here see what the prototype looked like I should have included this photo from the Norris Forrest collection held by the CRA, which is about the best one we have. The sides have now been added to the sub-floor of the main span and the steps fitted. Not obvious in the photo is the piece of fine wire soldered to the front top corner of each step to replicate the step overhanging the riser. I was more than half way up the flight before I managed to evolve a way of making a neat job of this! Jim

Drawing the thread over a candle (or other wax object) can take the 'hairiness' out of it. Jim

Consulting Mike Wiliam's book on CR wagons, the CR had a heavy duty self contained type which looks very similar to the left hand one in the photo. The drawing has neither a scale nor dimensions, but assuming the head to be c1'1" in diameter, I estimate the body to be around 9" diam. Jim