Caley Jim

CR 8T and 10T wagons (goods and mineral) all had 4 planks. Most CR wagons also didn't have the number painted on the side, but had it on a plate on the solebar and painted on the end (fixed end only on end door wagons). Early wagons and some of the larger mineral wagons (including the 30T bogie ones) were the exception. Jim

When I was arranging a dog clutch to link the Faulhaber 0816 motor to the worm on my 2-2-2WT, I simply filed two flats in the end of the worm shaft, producing a 'screwdriver' shape, and then cut a slot into the end of the motor shaft such that the end of the worm shaft was an easy fit into it. That has worked well for 18 years now. Jim

Yes indeed. Country folk, even nowadays, are practically insensitive to 'fresh country smells'. After all, they are part of their everyday working environment. In Edwardian times it was agriculture which kept the economy of rural villages, and small towns, running, so the residents of CA are unlikely to complain. Jim

Re 812 lamps. It does not have any brackets on the front footplate (at least in CR livery), only one in front of the chimney and one either side of the cab. I'm out at the moment so not able to check what the lamp code was for a mineral train. Jim

Methinks routier du nord requires to go to a certain well known optician! Can't tell his 'i's' from his 'o's'! :-) Jim

That's the shoulder of Tinto! Jim

Ah jist wisnae shair a' oor parishioners wid ken whit a corbie wis. Jim

Just remember, Annie, that you can only use it on unfitted freight trains as it doesn't have the Westinghouse brake. The blue livery was used for Westinghouse fitted locos which, therefore, could also be used on passenger trains. Jim

Where's the 'groan' button when you need it! Jim

The 'crow-stepped' gables originated in areas where the local stone could not be easily cut on a diagonal. They became a feature of the 'Scots Baronial' style of architecture, widely used in public buildings in the Victorian period. Many Caledonian station exhibit this style, the most attractive probably being Stirling. On my phone, so not able to post any links or photos, but if I wait until I'm at the computer this evening we'll be several pages further on! Jim

Scottish goods yards, especially those in rural areas, often had a split level loading bank, the higher level to allow carts to be tipped directly into open wagons. When station platforms were raised from their earlier lower height, the windows and doors in the building might be altered to suit as shown in these two photos of Thankerton on the WCML (long closed) Compare the position of the door and window lintels and the window sills relative to the corner quoins. The upper photo is from the latter half of the 1880's (Central Station Hotel opened on 19th June 1885), while the lower is probably mid c20th. Friends of ours were the first owners of the building after closure and converted it into a house. They said that the window sills on that side were unusually high above floor level. Jim

I would suggest that your problem is lack of weight to provide sufficiently firm contact with the track. Try fixing a bit of lead between the driving wheels with some Blu-tac. You could also try sitting the body on top. How does it run if you hold it upside down and hold leads to the wheel treads? Jim

Well, you learn something new every day! The livery is pretty well identical! Jim

The 'United' ones are Scottish. They had several collieries in Lanarkshire. Unfortunately, I can't read the smaller lettering clearly. Jim

Aye, right. With a wife, two daughters and three granddaughters, what option do I have! Seriously, though, she thoroughly deserves the position. Can we not just pass it 'nem con'? BTW and for the avoidance of doubt, it wasn't me wot started this! Jim

Carlisle is just over an hour away! :-) Jim (on my phone so can't add emoticons)

I didn't mean any offence or to imply that I had anything against simulation programs or those who enjoy them. They are all part of the hobby and in some ways I would like to get into them, but life is just to short and Kirkallanmuir is my main focus. (Though I do get sidetracked into helping out with group projects etc from time to time) Jim

Pleased to see that you know your place, Nick. Dogs have masters, cats have staff. Jim

The 'white' in white paint these days is usually Titanium Dioxide, or tiox. Jim

As I've said before, I have no interest is simulations (I have little enough time for 'real' modelling) but this has just been noted on the CRA forum as being launched on Friday. As an aside, the 30t mineral wagons were not a success as they were too far ahead of their time and there wasn't the infrastructure to unload them efficiently. They mostly ended up with the Engineers dept as sleeper wagons or as general merchandise wagons. Jim

Re. providing coupling rods for Derwent. The important thing is that the crankpin holes in the rods need to be at exactly the same centres as the axles. The best way of ensuring this would be for SEM to provide an exact size 2D drawing of the rods off his 3D drawing which could then be used as a template to drill the rods. Jim

Deffe-er,Defe-er to The Lord High Project builder..... BTW, Katisha and Pooh-bah were both pointless answers for characters in 'The Mikado' in the Pointless final yesterday! Jim

Between you you have achieved something brilliant in a very short space of time. I'm sure Tabitha's teacher was well impressed, as are we all. Do not let us hear anymore of this ' I'm a rubbish modeller' nonsense! You can both be very proud of yourselves and your work. Jim

Looking superb, Ian. I would say that it is looking more than just 'acceptable'! Hope it goes well at the Show. Jim

Certainly looking very good! One small correction, they are SCOTS pines. Scotch is an amber nectar! Jim