Smallwonder

Back to the 80s and Waverley. Not good quality, but I'll continue to add them on the basis that they are better than nothing. If you look closely enough at the first three they're not all the same. Unfortunately, I didn't record which services these were. 47610 (later 47823) departs on 17 September 1988. Recently named (see above) 47283 leaves at 1035 on the same morning. And later, 47231 departs Finally something arriving that morning; 47643. Early evening 18 September 1988; 47596 departs past 26046. 43073 catches the sun at 1810 on 18 September 1988. 43114 at the other end.

Still at the Kilmarnock open day on Sunday 11 September 1988 - Phil Collins top of the charts with Groovy Kind of Love: 20208 08735 looks as though its received some special attention for the occasion. I believe it was allocated to Ayr at the time. Another angle of 26024 and 20211. Motherwell TMD on the way home: 37373 and 37370 at 1645 37320 with 37321 behind- I can't remember which DIY store carpark it was that gave this access.

Open day at Kilmarnock in the old goods yard, next to the Andrew Barclay's works on 11 September 1988. My grandad was a signalman in Kilmarnock for years. 47604. The PCA was an exhibit too. 47423 with 26005 behind. 20211 and 26024. Someone had to keep the railway running. 47639 with a south bound service. 47283 with an appropriately black label newly revealed a few minutes beforehand. I think the Walker's bottling plant in Kilmarnock was still rail-served at that point - I remember seeing ferrywagons there when visiting relatives. There are some ferrywagons in the background of the third photo.

And now for the weather: On an SRPS railtour to Mallaig on 3 September 1988 We passed 37410 as it headed South at Ardlui at 11.35. 37412 at a gloomy Fort William having pulled us that far. 37406 is released from its train. 37403 and 37406 await departure. You don't see that weather modelled do you? We were steam hauled to Mallaig and back by LNER 2005 - my only photo is very poor. The rain was heavier there and I remember the station being partly flooded and the coast being a notional line on a map. The forecast is better for the next set when we head to an open day.

Millerhill: 26001 in the sun on Sunday 21 May 1989 at 1700. Same time, same place - 47356 (with a "Chemical Construction" sticker and 26011. 37065 further down the chute. Monday 2 May 1989 - 47492 heads north light engine at 2035. Control tower behind. It was decommissioned around this time. Hard to find clear photos of it. On the same evening 37222 having arrived from the south with a coal service at 2030. 08793 had removed most of the load and propelled it into the sidings; my notes say that the wagons were propelled in and left to roll to a stop. 08793 then attached some other wagons to the back of 37222. Later still and the light had deteriorated further by the time 37245 arrived with a load of TTAs. Presumably the 6E58 from Grangemouth again. The 8X99 was in the loops behind 37191 - unfortunately too far down for me to have taken a photo of it.

And some more low quality scans from Millerhill: 5 May 1989 - sun sinks lower as 37188 arrives at 2012 with the 6E58 (which I think was a Grangemouth to Jarrow service). A couple of weeks later 37170 sits in the loops with a track laying train at 1930 on 17 May 1989. I think it was then a departmental allocated loco and indeed four times in 1989 I spotted it on departmental trains.

Time to get this thread back up the list: Waverley 2 May 1989 - 47614 with its extended black cab surrounds heads East light engine at 1136. Millerhill South on 5 May 1989- 47311 heads for the ECML with the 6E89 - Norsk Hydro vans up front. A filthy 47 599 stabled at Millerhill at 2000 on 5 May 1989 alongside 47604. I understand this siding was called "the chute". From an earlier photograph I have seen of Millerhill this line used to be a secondary entry/exit to the depot, linking to the running lines. That explains why it seems a bit of a longish dead end and descends towards the running lines. 08720, 37184 and 47604 at the same time and place.

I'd suggest around 1989/90 judging by the Sprinter condition and livery and the vehicles that can be seen in the fourth photo.

Waverley 2 May 1989 47701 with the 1030 to Glasgow QS 47321 and 47595 heading LE East at 1044. 37405 with The Royal Scotsman - 1115 departure From another angle

Three more from Waverley on Saturday 29 April 1989 47636 about to depart with the 1245 to Aberdeen, 37185 with the 1222 arrival from Paignton (Edinburgh portion from Carstairs). Presumably an early start to the day for some on board. 37185 - a long walk later. It reappeared later to take the 1314 to Manchester (at least as far as Carstairs) And a couple from Millerhill on 30 April 1989 37065 47018 - apparently missing the "47" from its number; hard to tell from the photo, but that's what my record card says.

Unable to get to the shops for masking tape? Edinburgh Waverley platform edging April 1989.

Dull weather at Waverley on 29 April 1989 - The Bangles hang on at No1 with Eternal Flame, outselling Kylie and Simply Red. 08718 with some Motorail vans. 47630 heads home with the 1135 to Inverness. 47210 (ED) takes a break from hauling cement with the 1212 arrival from Manchester (presumably the Edinburgh portion from Carstairs). 47707 arrives at 1222, presumably from Glasgow QS,

Millerhill 19 April 1989 - At 1933 in the gathering dusk gloom, 37298 heads for the ECML and south with a freight service (6E89). First wagon is a tarpaulin covered Norsk Hydro wagon (which I think Revolution are about to produce in OO). I'll have the full consist recorded if anyone is interested. At the other end the headcode box was painted black. It reappeared on the same service on 30 May that year. 23 April 1989 - 47007 and 20066 23 April 1989 - 25035 and 26023 26 April 1989 - 37096 heads for the ECML with southbound 6E89 at 1947. That's our car at the other side of the level crossing. The police once stopped to see if we were stealing copper wiring. My spotter's notebook convinced them of our true purpose.

Yes, better pictures of it on page 27.

It's April 1989 and, at the top of the charts, the Fine Young Cannibals with "She Drives Me Crazy", replace Milli Vanilli ("Girl You Know It's True" (ironically their performance wasn't)). Dundee 8 April 1989: Quiet Saturday lunchtime - 26037, 47231, 47600. Millerhill 16 April 1989: Sunday engineering works sees some late afternoon arrivals -37242 (TI) heads for the shed, having arrived from the North with a departmental train. Millerhill - 16 April 1989 - 37162 (CF) arrives with ballast wagons from the North... ...before heading for the service point.

Early days. Proving concept before acquiring materials for baseboard. No prizes for guessing where I'm taking my inspiration from. Progress will be slow.

He seems to still modelling, but doesn't seem to have a layout thread. I think he sometimes contributes on an N gauge forum.

I have similar records etc. Why not start a separate thread with a link from this one? Someone else seemed to have scannable notes too.

58016 made it to Haymarket for the depot open day in August 1985, but presumably arrived light engine. In the summer of 1990 a number of 56s migrated up to Millerhill to take over coal traffic. As far as I am aware though, 56s were rare beasts in Scotland in the 80s. Therefore I was delighted with the extra Christmas present that emerged from under the Edinburgh city bypass on 28 December 1988 headed for Millerhill: Arriving at 1053 on the link from Monktonhall Junction at 1053, 56112 with the Blyth to Fort William Alcan train (6S56). Heading into the yard. Fleeing the cold north. Departing only minutes later at 1110, 56112 is about to join the ECML south at Monktonhall junction with the Alcan empties on the 6E46. It's not a working I often saw. I think it was usually a Scottish 37 that pulled it, but would be interested to know if anyone knows otherwise. I never saw a 31 north of the border though, but from the entries above they obviously made it.

Waverley 1988 again, but including something highly unexpected. At least it was to me . Firstly though, 47593 (Galloway Princess), a loco that seemed to always turn up. Behind 47004, this was my favourite 47. With 47461 (CRM) completing the top three. I'd make an educated comment about the InterCity Buffet, but I can't. Headed for EC on 12 August 88 at 2000. 08730 shunting Royal Scotsman on the morning of 16 August 1988. An unexpected visitor, 37356 Grainflow on 20 August 88 at noon before heading LE west. Why Graham Farish chose this for a model (as 37068) with its extra plaque above the nameplate which makes renumbering even more difficult is a mystery to me. Similarly the choice of Herbert Austin for a 47 with its additional plaque. 47665 on the same day. My notes say "Blue patch over Scottie". Looks as though it's about to depart. And our very unexpected guest. 45106 on a railtour that I knew nothing about. And pulling NSE stock as it arrives on 20 August 88 around 1430. Happy New Year when it comes.

Waverley 1988 A pair of red buffer beams on 08755 and 47595 on 4 August. I wonder how the buffer-stop ended up at that angle. 08730 and 47470 (a better shot than my previous one above) at 0910 on 16 August. 26005 with CE train on 4 August at 1203. 26003 at Millerhill South on 10 August at 1540.

Newer camera. Waverley East end remodelling ongoing in 1988. 26023 on 4 August with a ballast train (turbots I think). 26023, same end (of the engine), different side. By the time of this 8 August view it had turned round somewhere, but was still helping with the remodelling. A train of cement mixers? Views like this make me think someone somewhere must model Waverley East; look at that backdrop. Add in parcels, motorail terminal, ECS to EC, HSTs, light engines to MH... 20206 and 20208 leave Millerhill at 1605 on 10 August 1988 on the line towards Bilston Glen. Both had Eastfield Scottie/Westies The track in front of the lead loco looks a bit odd, but I think it's an optical illusion (but not of the scale of 08gate (in or out of the train); I have spent time over the holidays getting through some of Dave F's excellent photos on his thread). Anyway, they made it past. I never noticed before, but it looks as though the large shed on the left has a rail connection. Anyone know what it is; part of the electrification depot?

Good point. Have just checked; it was the Mallard in Dingwall that I was in. Looks as though it was named after the loco, but the duck connection obviously through me.

Today's batch. Still the poorer quality older shots. All at Waverley. 08755 (built 1961 Horwich) shunting the mail platforms 27 Feb 1988. Mystery 43XXX leaving at the head of a blue grey rake on 27 Feb 88. And the other end. 43XXX with an admirer above. Not a spot I ever tried. Winter grime on 47707 as it arrives on 27 Feb 88. And the other end. 47578 at 1030 also on 27 Feb 88. Looks as though I overestimated its rate of acceleration.

Yep. Impressive. 18 August 1988 having brought in the 0851 arrival from Dundee.