MacDuff999

And a year or so later still..........! I don't know about the cheaper way, but certainly the easier in some respects, I recently acquired a completed kit of the DJH class '439' (OK not quite a class 19) model at a price not much more than the price of the current kit alone! It has been rather nicely built, and I am at present waiting for news that a certain professional modeller has completed the painting/lining and weathering job on it. It will be numbered 55210, a 64C (Dalry Road, Edinburgh) loco, and its planned use will be as a pilot/shunter on vacuum-braked stock. One of the above comments refers to a works photo supplied to this thread. If that is the photo of 55124 via the link provided in their contribution to the thread, I think you will find that it was taken at Dalry Road shed (with roofs of Dundee Street tenements in the background) in the very early 60's, during the engine's last days. She was not a 64C engine really, based originally (or earlier) at Motherwell if my memory serves me rightly. Not had any further news on the M7 conversion project. Is it still on-going, or as often seems to happen, have other life-related considerations intervened?

Just discovered your post(s) J/Mund (OK 3 years later!). I have been modelling in 4mm for quite a while, but am seriously thinking of doing a feasibility exercise on a bit of outdoor 'O' gauge. Don't know how far (presumably) you have progressed since your initial post. I noticed you live (still?) in Cardiff, which is where I am. I guess you may have made contact with Cardiff Model Engineering Society at Heath Park by now? It would be interesting to know how far you have progressed to date.

Only just discovered this thread gents, and it is quite a tour de force you have embarked on Mr. Franks. Glad I only require 6 of your ex-LMS buffer stops for the size of layout I am working on! Going back a few pages, and on the subject of Ken Northwood and his North Devon Railway. I briefly knew Ken, and visited his 'Torreyford' a couple of times when I lived in Edinburgh in the 60's. It was fantastic and filled the loft at Ken and Lal's bungalow in Craigcrook. Ken was, I think, the 'inventor' of the pinpoint axle, and explained to me how he modified his 4mm axles manually by fixing them to a small piece of wood, and filing the ends down as he ran the axle/wood contraption up and down on the work bench. He must have spent many hours doing this, as he proudly told me his 8F would reverse an 80-wagon train through pointwork, without a hitch. Tedious but ground-breaking stuff. It was about that time I met Don Rowlands, who then worked on Robertson Avenue, Edinburgh, and lived near Dalkeith, where I visited his then developing 'EM' layout.

I may have missed it, as I have not read all 55 pages, but has anyone up-graded the chassis on one of these yet? I’m thinking about finer-scale wheels and probably metal valve gear. If so, would I be right in assuming replacement wheels would need readily available 3mm axles? Also, How much of a problem would it be to remove the smoke box number plate from the pseudo GWR version?

Just come across this topic, and could be very interested in your ‘812’ superstructures Knuckles. I am thinking of adding one to my stud, based on the early BR version to be brought out by a certain S. Yorkshire model emporium, the real one of which was a 64C loco. I will send you an eMail, and perhaps you can let me have one or two details. Looks excellent!

Well, 'Barclay', I have just been looking at and reading about your 'Saltport' layout, the name of which I found when reading the EMGS Newsletter article on your Neilson tank build, which I was in touch about by e-mail. I'm not so sure you should feel 'uncomfortable' about your scenic abilities, as in my view you have modelled what I would regard as a semi-urban, industrial scene rather well. The general appearance and image you have created is, I think, pretty realistic, with the varying levels, dividing walls, and a late 20th. century, almost post-industrial feel - a bit like Delph in Saddleworth, if you know the location. I particularly like the Scale Model Scene laser-cut building in the background; I think you might be hiding your light under a bushel there (perhaps the building itself to a degree). It certainly makes me keen to press on with my own project. In similar vein to yourself perhaps, I prefer to model the urban scene, feeling my interest and early stages ability is much more suited to factories, retaining walls and bridges, rather than fields, grassy embankments etc. Keep up the good work. Ian.

Thanks very much for your detailed responses guys. I did access the site suggested by beast66606's link, which gave me a couple of locations in the relevant area, but unfortunately the location I have in mind was between them (it was a relatively small site). I will look up the other two locations suggested by Caradoc, and thanks for the super colour photo Stationmaster. Ground disc control was one method I considered logical, but being unfamiliar with ex-Caledonian/LMS practice in particular, thought it best to ask the question.

The period I have in mind is 1950's, relating to the ex-Caledonian line to Carstairs from Edinburgh.

I would like to know how a trailing entry onto a main line from a rail-connected industrial site on the London Midland Region (ex-Caledonian) would have been signalled please. Details of both signal location in relation to the siding/main line and type(s) would be very helpful.

Sorry for tweaking the subject slightly gents, but anyone know of a similar drawing of a Fowler tender? I could really do with one for a 'Crab' if there is one which is reasonably accessible. Anyway, how does the Bachmann one that comes with the loco rate? I would have thought that the Comet one might be quite a reasonable representation, if an alternative were necessary.

I am trying to figure out the type of Stanier (I think) 4000-gallon tenders which would have been coupled with some ex-LMS 4-6-0's I am modelling - Black 5's and a Royal Scot. It seems there are three types - rivetted, part-rivetted/welded and plain welded tenders. As the Black 5's were such a numerous class, it would take the purchase of possibly three publications, in order to find out the tender type for my intended Black 5 locos (one of each of three variants within the class), apart from the Scot. Can anyone enlighten me with regard to some accurate information as to which tender types would have been coupled to loco numbers 45030, 45127 and 44994 please? Any information on 46146 'The Rifle Brigade' would also help; as far as I can ascertain, availability of the books with relevant Royal Scot details seems to be scanty. Any help would be much appreciated, including comments on the quality of the Comet Stanier tender kits, and ease of building.

Well Iain, really enjoyed reading through your thread, which I have only recently discovered. Your project is a real 'tour de force', both in terms of the scale of the location you are modelling, and of the task of producing a locomotive stud which - both numerically, and in terms of variety - will do justice to such an iconic shed in its steam years. I vividly recall a number of the locos you have modelled (or plan to), on frequent visits to the old Manchester London Road station in the later 1950's - either on down Euston expresses, or on running-in turns from Crewe works. Great days. I'm hoping to have a go at a Royal Scot some time soon, although I am still a relative novice at loco building. What gauge is the brass in the Comet chassis kits? I have tried one of their N2 n/s chassis kits before, and found the frame etches tended to bend a bit too easily. As my project is based on the Edinburgh ex-Caley shed Dalry Road (64C), I have 2 Hornby Black 5's to detail/weather, and a 'Crab', but am also tempted by the Caley Coaches class '812' kit, but it's a bit daunting with all that brass to work on! It's a toss-up between that and a Rails of Sheffield RTR version, although that is initially at least, more expensive. Hope you will continue with your thread, when your life becomes a bit more settled after the move.

Some good tips here gents, helped by the photos as a visual aid. Can anyone point me in the right direction though, to a thread I was on last night, started by Swindon 123, but included comments from Chuffinghell and ACJT about modelling Scottish distilleries (particularly Aberfeldy) featuring Barclays shunters?

Re other photos ACJT, would be interested to see those. My proposed project is hovering between the dairy topic I mentioned earlier, and a possible distillery diorama or similar. Nothing to do with the malt whisky of course!

Reply to AJCT, yes I do remember Mr. Julian of 'Homecrafts'. The shop was not far up Home Street from where my in-laws lived in Tollcross, when I lived in Edinburgh. I'm sure I got my first copy of Railway Modeller from there, and my first advice about more serious railway modelling. How much of a coincidence is it, that I have just bought a bottle of Aberfeldy 12-year old malt whisky today - the container for which depicts their old 'pug' shunter - and there within your posts on the subject, is a photo of the distillery! The image on their packaging is that of an industrial steam shunter type I recognise, but I have e-mailed them for any details of the 'pug' which might be in their archives anyway. As an aside, on a slightly different topic, does anyone (perhaps ACJT) know anything of the Edinburgh & Dumfriesshire Dairy plant in West Bryson Road, Edinburgh, in the 1950/60's? It was rail-connected I believe, and serviced I think by milk trains consisting of 6-wheel ex-LMS tank wagons. Information on layout, buildings, tank wagon livery, train schedules etc. would be a great help. Apologies for having gone off subject gents.

Did you manage to see the photos? When I have re=visited it more recently, it seems the photos are not available.

I remember the old Dalry MPD area fairly well, as I had family living in Tollcross, and it was part of the division I worked in as a police constable. I remember viewing the shed from the Dundee Street bridge on my way to West End Division HQ in Torphichen Place for my first shift. Has anyone any ideas as to the accuracy to prototype of the Edinburgh & Dumfriesshire Dairies tank wagon models produced by Dapol? Were the chassis a stamdard ex-LMS design, and how correct was the livery they used? Unfortunately, I don't remember much about the dairy itself, as Bryson Road was not an area where I usually was on duty, although I do just about remember Merchiston Station. I also have fond memories of the 'Caley' station, as that was where I arrived in Edinburgh on my visits, before I moved to work there in the early 60's.

As part of the planning process for a layout based on the 'old' Fort William station, can anyone please advise what the coach formations (types and numbers) were for the Glasgow, Queen Street (overnight sleeper ex Kings Cross) - Fort William 1950/60's steam-hauled services, also for the usual formation of trains going forward to Mallaig. I have a number of photos of typical 'mixed' trains on the line, but shots of the main passenger services are of litle help in determining the correct coach types in the respective passenger train consists. I think sleepers from KX terminated at Fort William, and that a restaurant car was also included in the ex-KX/Glasgow set, but did that terminate there too? Some photos show Gresley panelled main-line stock, others predominantly Mk. 1's. Also, does anyone know when the NB (what became class 29) diesels first appeared on the line?