Caley Jim

Laughing one's head off? Jim (windae picked as usual)

You do realise that the representation of the end door hinge is a figment of someone's imagination. How that could possibly work is beyond me (and others). The hoop should go right over the end spar, the latter having a metal plate on top at that point. You can see how it should be in this CR example. Jim

If that's 'bodging', then I'm some way off the bottom of the league! I too have an intimate relationship with this carpet! Probably spent more time looking for bits than it would have taken me to remake them. Having said that it always amazes me in what distant corner they eventually turn up! Jim (off to earn my own brownie points by making the coffee)

Is there a difference between 'Old fashioned country' and other types? Jim

To return to the original enquiry, I'm sorry to say that my efforts have so far drawn a blank!😒 Jim

There must have been a fly-over/dive-under early on as the Garrett and the streamliner swapped places! Which was ahead where would depend to some extent on the terrain, I suppose. Smaller wheels = more power for uphill, but less speed downhill and on level. Larger wheels = better high speed running at the expense of acceleration and climbing power. Jim

Nah! T-scale! Jim

I doubt you could etch a hole in something that small, let alone drill one! Seriously, though, a tip I was given for making small holes in thin material was to use a sharp point (centre punch, scriber, needle) to make an indent until a bump showed on the other side (much as you would to create a bolt or rivet head), file off the bump and repeat until a hole appears. That can then be gently opened out to whatever size is required (for which purpose dental root canal files are ideal, though probably not accessible to most!). I would think it would be easier to do this before filing the pin down to size. It has certainly worked for me in the past. HTH Jim

It's one of those layouts where the trains are almost incidental! (says he, never having seen it in the flesh) Jim

The Highland cleaners did the same sort of thing on flat surfaces. Jim

So, do you have a glass of water in front of you when you give the loyal toast? Jim

No nearer providing an answer, but i have put a query on the Caledonian Railway Association forum and will report back. Excuse me if I retain a degree of scepticism over AI colourised photos! Jim

Or Mons Meg? Jim

Is that Shimbleshanks? Jim

Clicks running in one direction are sometimes a (very) minor quartering issue. Jim

When I started in 2FS (1969) I decided that the first piece of track work I would built, having never built any track, was to be a turnout, pcb sleepers, chairplates and plain rail - state-of-the-art for the time. I made a set of rudimentary gauges and drew a template consisting of two parallel straight lines and two parallel curved lines, each 9.42mm (or thereabouts) apart, having no knowledge whatsoever of proper turnout geometry. To my great surprise, it worked and is still in situ at the end of the run round on Connerburn! Onwards and upwards! Jim

Piloting over parts of routes was not unusual. The heavier southbound expresses were often piloted from Glasgow Central to Carstairs, by which point the worst of the southbound climb to Beattock had been done. Shorter trains might have a pilot attached in order to get a light engine back to its home shed, rather than take up a path. Jim

Connerburn track was laid (indeed built in situ), on double sided tape onto ply. That was in the early '70's and I was given dire warnings that it would not hold. Still as secure as the day it was laid! Admittedly nothing has run on it for probably 12+ years, but it did go to a good number of shows, including Warley and Abingdon. The latter in the under-bed locker of a motorhome, so wasn't exactly cosseted! Jim

IIRC the HMRS photos are arranged by where the collection came from and there is a Pickering collection. As I said, I'll check when I'm home later in the week. Jim

There are also those modellers (David Jenkinson for one, whose example I follow) who create their own in recognition of their friends! Jim

Been alerted to this thread by @Compound2632 giving me a mention. Have you checked if there is a photo of one of the companies wagons in the HMRS collection? If it's a Pickering built one then the card record are with Motherwell library and that would give you the livery. I'm not at home just now but will check if I have any info. I can also check with a couple of Dundonians of my acquaintance. Jim

Sounds much more up-market than a stable! My gran used to call a garage a 'car shed'! Jim

So, my pregrouping layout is housed in a garage. Does that make it a stable layout? Jim

Do modern houses have parlours? Jim