Caley Jim

So, if it was clockwork, why did it need tanks? To cover the mechanism, presumably! Jim

CR buffers were three bolt with a single rib on the outer side, so, yes, these could well be CR ones. Jim

These are Alex Jackson couplings. Jim

It is much easier to attach these parts while the underframe is still in the 'flat', i.e. before you bend the solebars and inner headstocks down at 90°. I design the axleboxes on my kits with a little 'handle' which is connected by a thin tag and can be broken off easily after you're happy with the positioning. Jim

Strictly speaking, Annie, the tank is acting as a pilot loco. A banker would be at the rear, pushing. Jim (in pedant mode)

The etch was received last Friday and I managed to make a start on it at our area group meeting on Saturday, (6th picture down). Since then Time has been a wee bit short, but by last night I had the four side units assembled. The two layers forming the lattice are pretty flimsy at first, but once the top, end and intermediate flanges have been added, they become fairly rigid. The tabs along the bottom will fit into slots in a sub-floor which also forms the lower flanges, while those on the lower ends are to locate the posts at the bottom of each stairway. Jim

Looks about right to me. On CR wagons the end of the dumb buffers had a slight chamfer with the strap sitting immediately inboard of that. Jim

In other words, in terms of this thread, not a lot has happened! 694 pages divided by 39 months (since the thread was started) = 17.79 pages/month, so 15 is well below average!! Jim

I think it was to give a larger area for contact and also extra depth to allow for the varying heights of the buffers on empty and loaded wagons. Jim

CR dumb buffered wagons also had this extra layer on top. Jim

Diagram 36 in the CRA reprint of 'Diagrams of Caledonian Railway Coy's wagons, Vans, Horse-Boxes Carriage Trucks Etc.' is a 'Diagram Showing Dimensions of the Authorised Loading Gauge' :- Width above platform level 9'0" Width below platform level 7'6" Width 3" above rail level is 6'6" (shown as the 'height to which ballast is heaved') Centre of rail to Platform edge 2'0" Height of platform above rail 3'0" Jim

Just gets better and better! Jim

The WCJS had dining saloons and sleeping cars in the same style, they all being built at Wolverton. Jim

After I had completed the first footbridge for the Dunallander layout it was pointed out to me that there was a second footbridge to the north of the station. A path led from the north end of the island platform and was linked to the west side of the town by this bridge which crossed the outer track of the island platform and the goods yard entrance. Originally it was a standard CR timber design, but at some point before the period of the layout (1960's) it had been replaced by a lattice structure. This was visible in several photos, but is long gone and there are no known drawings. from the photos and the outline Neil had drawn on the baseboard I was able to create this drawing. 2nd footbridge Drawing.pdf The different colours were to help me in working out the layers for creating the artwork for the etch. that went off to PPD ten days ago and I expect its deliver imminently. I will post its construction hre.

My choice would be for a variant of the sixth one down, that being very close to the livery applied by the Caledonian to non-Westinghouse fitted locos, though there were exceptions to the rule. The 492 class 0-8-0T's were one of those, being Westinghouse fitted, but painted in the 'freight' livery. The variation was that the boiler bands were edged white, with a red line down the centre. The 492 class were built for shunting trains of the 30T bogie mineral wagons, however these wagons were too far a head of their time to be successful. Jim

Like Ian, 16T mineral wagons are far too modern for my taste and I've never seen an etch like that. Coupling supports were the first thing that came to mind, but where to locate them? Why is there a series of slots at each end and what are the two longitudinal slots neat either end for? Mike did develope the MBM coupling which was like an upside down Tri-ang tension lock. Jim

I would suggest a grey/brown 'weathered wood' colour. I tend to use grey with a little 'natural wood' mixed in. I can't imagine that engineering department vehicles would look particularly well cared for! Jim

On behalf of the Caledonian Railway Company I refute that any such liason ever took place! Jim

Same applies to Aj's and you don't have to do a 'soft shoe shuffle' with them when uncoupling! Jim

So, for once we baby boomers are not getting the blame! Jim

Since I'm on holiday in Portugal, looking out of the window, it's brilliant sunshine ☀! Jim ( sorry about that)

Been there, done that, many a time and oft! To be fair, I usually find them eventually, but that is long after I've fabricated a replacement. All the etched kits I design, whether purely as one-offs or for others, have as many multiples of small parts as I can fit in. Jim

Happy birthday Annie. I had one yesterday! It's a proven fact that those who have the most birthdays live the longest. Jim

I used to have a poster on my study wall w which said; 'when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on'! Jim

And there's 4 of them! Jim