NCB

Not sure if it would be classified as a light railway, but there was a double track 3' gauge railway from the aluminium smelter at Kinlochleven to a pier on Loch Leven. Electric locomotives with the power coming from the smelter's plant. The pier end could make an interesting model while avoiding having to build the smelter. There are some details on: https://hlrco.wordpress.com/scottish-narrow-gauge/constructed-lines/kinlochleven-railway/ Not sure about some of the facts stated, such as Kinlochleven not being connected to anywhere by road until the 1920s; I'm pretty sure the road along the north shore of Loch Leven existed in some form long before then.

If you look at the Lines in the Landscape thread under the Photography section, I've just put up 3 pics showing diesels on the branch, taken only a couple of weeks ago

Packed away (I must get it out and play with it!) I have 3-rail Dublo which started in the late 1940s when my brother was given the LMS 0-6-2T train set, followed not long afterwards by Duchess of Atholl and 2 LMS coaches, and a bit more track. After I took it over some further track was added, in the 1950s, and I also acquired a few bits and pieces later. From memory, there was usually a noticeable variation between different batches of track.

Was at the level crossing north of Burnside Station on the Oxenholme to Windermere line (the Lakes Line) a couple of weeks ago when I stumbled across The Lakelander. This was a shuttle service between Oxenholme and Windernere put on by West Coast Railways (good for them), after Northern had suspended their service due to the new timetable chaos. The train consisted of three coaches sandwiched between a Class 57 and a Class 37.

Colin Ashby took over the moulds of most of the Ian Kirk TT kits, from ABS who had acquired them a bit earlier. It appears most were suffering rust damage, but he did a short run of the 50' parcel coach sides (the moulds for the ends were damaged). So what you could have is those sides stuck onto a modified Triang coach. Pity the Ian Kirk kits disappeared. Quality might not be up to modern standards but he covered some useful prototypes. He did the 3mm Society B set but as a commission for the society, and I think it was slightly later.

There were 2 sources of LMS 50' parcel vans. Ian Kirk did a plastic kit. Sansome Docherty did some zinc etched sides. 3SMR lists some LMS corridor coach printed acetate sides. There might have been others in the past.

Some info on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_850_Class You may have come across this already. Nigel

Does Broadway Ltd Brass-Hybrid series count as brass? I've been staring at one of their Great Northern S2 class 4-8-4 locos; magnificent! Don't have the layout to do it justice, but tempting all the same! http://www.broadway-limited.com/2870GNS24-8-42579withopencabGlacierParkwithSound/DC/DCCHO.aspx

King's Cross plates do some: http://www.gcrsociety.co.uk/kingscrossplates.html

I use a gapped copper clad sleeper as a tie-bar. Drill holes just inside of where the point blades would go. Slightly countersink the underside of the holes. Insert a brass pin from underneath and bend the protuding bit horizontal. Solder horizontal bits to blades. You also need a hole in the middle to take the operating wire from underneath. The advantage of this method is that the blades aren't soldered directly to the sleeper, and the angle between blade and sleeper can vary as required because the pin can pivot.

Which of Kidner's books are we referring to? Nigel

Good council housing started in the late 1940s. Well built, good designs for the families they were to accomodate, even had decent gardens. Then standards slumped. Tower blocks became the fashion. Cram in as many as possible. The latter now the default for estates whether public or private. I know one bit of Reading where they bought the gardens of a number of the 1940s houses and crammed in new housing on those.

Looks like the correct address to me, and I've just received an email from him and replied to it. Nigel

What about the NRM?

Could explain why the roof wouldn't come off! So, to get at the interior, can the floor and interior be removed from below?

The Coronation surprised me; I didn't know anybody had built one. I presume it's scratch built, which would be quite a job.

Yep, very sad. I've had an interest in the Highland ever since I came across Allchin's locomotive book, and took an interest in what Andy was doing. However my current Cambrian interest has put it rather on the back burner.

The 3mm Society website has a new page covering secondhand, including Triang stock and spares. It has 4 pics giving an idea of the number of items available. See:- https://sites.google.com/site/3mmpublic/secondhand-spares Nigel

Think there's at least one Society member doing the Highland. I believe he had a few of the Lochgorm (currently closed) kits reduced to 3mm. The locomotives had clean lines so could be quite easy to scratchbuild as well. Nigel

There's a new page on the expanding 3mm Society website which gives a good overall idea of the quite large and varied second-hand stock and spares held by the 3mm Society. If you're interested, it's on:- https://sites.google.com/site/3mmpublic/secondhand-spares Nigel

Had one of the early Farish GP 0-6-0 tanks. Poor runner, and everything fell off. Probably still have it somewhere.

A good point. The question is, how right is right? Does it mean that if there's no existing prototype to measure/scan, then it won't be done? Great pity if that's the case. Does it mean that Bachmann won't do a Duke or Bulldog even though they've done a lot of the work with the Dukedog? Things start to get ridiculous. Me, I'm scratch building a Rhymney M in GWR days at the moment. All I've got to work on is the Trefor Jones drawings and a few pictures published by the WRRC in Rhymney Railway Drawings. For me that's good enough. So long as it conveys the overall feel of the locomotive I'm not worried if the odd bit of detail isn't 100% nailed on. Modelling should be fun. I'd rather more models with an honest attempt to get things right, than a lot fewer models which can't be faulted (although they always can be). Nigel

I'm beginning to wonder when the top-feed was fitted. If it wasn't there pre-war then maybe Farish would need to do a modified body. Was going to check in Pannier Papers but the relevant volume is still out of print. Nigel

Like the backscene. Ben Damh from across Loch Torridon if I'm not mistaken. Great spot. Loch Torridon could be a potential site for another Highland west coast terminus. Branch from Achnasheen thundering down Glen Docherty before swinging round above Kinlochewe towards Glen Torridon.

Bought it a few months ago. Like the description of the formidable landlady of the hotel in Lybster.