FarrMan

Barnstaple to Ilfracombe for me, this time. Lloyd

I'll go for Hemyock as well, but it is hardly representative of the typical GWR branchline. Lloyd

Has to be Dovey junction. Lloyd

I agree with all the comments praising this effort so far, and it is only being very picky to point out a fault. As has been demonstrated, the general appearance is excellent. My concern is the edge detail. I cannot see the corner of the wall, but the edge of the window should be one brick (i.e. a brick laid lengthways) alternating with 1/2rd brick (i.e. one brick laid widthways) wide. Cut bricks would only be within the length of the wall. However, how to model this with English Bond would be very difficult using sheet materials. I suppose that if the vertical cut was in line with the edge of the headers (those showing 1/2 brick face) as long as 3/4 of the stretchers (those showing a full brick length on the face) was showing, would be acceptable, but may require the dimensions of the building to be slightly adjusted to fit. Stretcher Bond may be easier, provided the vertical cuts line up with the brick ends on alternate courses. Again, the overall dimensions may need to be slightly adjusted to line up at both ends and at window edges. Having said all this, from normal layout viewing distance, it would be hardly noticeable, and so probably hardly worth the effort. Is is only in close up photos like this that it would stand out at all. Lloyd

Going back to North and South, we found it amusing when we moved from Trowbridge (Wiltshire) to Portree (Isle of Skye). Joining the M5 North of Bath, we would find signs for 'The North and Gloucester', which gradually changed through Birmingham, Preston, Carlisle, etc., until we came to Auchtertyre (a few miles short of Kyle of Lochalsh) where the sign read 'Achnasheen and the North'. There is also a sign at Skiag Bridge, where the A837 from Lairg to Lochinver (on the West coast) meets the A894 to Durness (near Cape Wrath), which just reads for the different directions, 'North', East', and 'West', though I vaguely remember the 's' in 'West' rather appropriately had worn away. Lloyd

In that case, I will go for Joan Croft, whoever she was. Lloyd

Peer reviewing and proof reading are two different operations. Peer reviewing would always be beneficial, even if only to confirm what has been written, but the problems are time and finding a suitable candidate. Proof reading does not normally take a specialist, just someone who can spell and understands grammar, and should always be done if at all possible. i have seen numerous examples of bad grammar (e.g. sentences without a verb) even in professional magazines, that should never have got through to print stage. Proof reading does not ensure that all errors are spotted in time, though. I recall something that had been proof read by at least four different people, but it was the printer who noticed that an 'l' was missing from 'public worship', so that it was corrected in time - thankfully! Lloyd

Does Darlington count as 'wayside'? If so, I'll vote for that. Impressive looking station from the inside, at least. Lloyd

Ketton and Collyweston. I always liked the sound of it when the train stopped there. Lloyd

I'll go for Sandy, Beds, as I was always amused by the name. Lloyd

I have also noted that there are a couple of photos of 1432 in Peto. On p68 taken on 28/8/1952, still lettered GWR, unlined, and on p29 taken on 19/8/1959 (i.e. after last Heavy general) again clearly unlined. Lloyd

Tony According to Vol 3 of Peto's Registers, 1424 & 1454 were painted unlined green in early 1957. 1458 was painted in lined green a month later. It also states that a few of the last repaints during the early 1960's were in unlined green. 1432 received a Heavy General from Stafford Road works 26/11/58, and Light Casuals from Oswestry works 4/2/60, 13/4/61, and 18/5/62 before being withdrawn 27/7/63 and cut up 2 months later. It was allocated to Oswestry continually from April 1941 to withdrawal. Lloyd

That sounds like a long time to get a hangover! Lloyd

Thanks for pointing this out. I also notice the paragraph Whistle shields were fitted to 4160–79 when new, but only a few other locos received them. Two extra handrails were added on the strap over the boiler from circa 1945 onwards. This means that the two handrails attached to the 'tank strap' should be on 4154, but not on 6110. It looks to me as though they are omitted from both. Lloyd

That 'boiler strap' does not appear to be a boiler strap at all. Looking at http://www.gwr.org.uk/no-prairies.html about a third of the way down, there is a photo of 5120 which shows it quite clearly to be a substantial strap in line with the fronts of the side tanks. It looks clearly to be rectangular cross section. Would it be to hold the front of the tanks in place? Scaling off the copy of the official diagram in Russell, the width of the strap should be app 6" (2mm) but the thickness is too small to measure, certainly no more than 1" and probably more like 0.5". Lloyd

I agree with that. 6110 was built 08/1931 and is in the as built livery. 4154 was not built until 7/1947, and is also in the as built livery. I wonder how long before it was repainted to BR livery? Re the boiler strap, looking at the photos in Russell, The boiler strap is definitely proud, but you should not be able to see light between in and the boiler! It also looks too chunky to me, but I do not have any dimensions for it. Lloyd

That's a relief!. I though the South Coast lines had been diverted via Albania at least, if not Egypt! Lloyd

Sorry. That ferry stopped many years ago, I think about 1976. It was replaced with a car ferry to Raasay, first from Portree and then from Sconser. My car was the first ever car on that ferry. You could catch a bus from Kyleakin to Armidale, though might have to change in Broadford, or you could catch the Uig - Glasgow bus from Kyle to Fort William. Lloyd

Nice station, but not between Fort William and Glasgow. Lloyd

Helmsdale also has the distinction of having had an employee whose son was to become Lord Chancellor (Lord MacKay). That is why he was affectionately known there as 'The shunter's loon'. Lloyd

So many to choose from again in today's poll, but I think that I will go for Georgemas Junction, where the Wick (pronounced 'Wuck') and Thurso portions split. Certainly wayside as there is no community there. Also it has just had a new lease of life, as timber is now loaded there for a thrice weekly train to Inverness, possibly to be extended to Dalcross, to supply the OSB (Oriented Strand Board) plant nearby. I used to visit it when staying in Halkirk some nearly 40 years ago. Lloyd

Inverness is a terminus as well, and with 7 platforms, a loco shed and Lochgorm works, hardly a wayside station. I want a recount! Lloyd

Yes. It can get quite cold in the Highlands, even the Perthshire Highlands! Simple enough now - One line, one platform, and a timber yard. Lloyd

But history now, as HST's replaced by Azumas on the Chieftain. Short HST's replacing 170's on Inverness - Glasgow/Edinburgh, though. Lloyd

Getting onto my own home ground now. I would love to see a photo of my local station when it was open - Daviot, but for this one, I always like the look of Pitlochry station when passing through. Lloyd