D6150

A couple from me from Inverness today. First off, a very ornate plaque recording the names of the directors of the Highland Railway (I presume). Currently beside the buffers at the end of Platform 4, but presumably it wasn't always here? Secondly 6 BT payphones on the wall between Platforms 1 and 2 and the main concourse. I can't imagine these get used very often these days. They still have the BT "Piper" logo that was replaced in 2003... Thanks Ken

221123 at Aberdeen this morning, with the 08:20 service to Bristol Temple Meads. I haven't been down to Arbroath/Dundee since June. Does anyone know when the Aberdeen CrossCountry service was cut back from Penzance/Plymouth to Bristol? Is this a permanent change, and does this mean it's no longer the UK's longest passenger rail service...? Sorry lots of questions! Thanks Ken

F100 slowly moving towards completion. Decals are taking a wee while to do, but about 75% there. I've had to chop them about to get the right serial numbers, which was fiddly. The Decals are from Hannants Xtradecal series, which includes a remarkable range of options for the F100 given that they left frontline service with most users around 40 years ago... Thanks Ken

Apparently there were 26 of the Inter7City sets originally, presumably now only 25. I'm not sure how many are needed day to day for the current timetable. How does this compare to the Class 68 and Mk5 sets? Thanks Ken

A couple of 158's at Inverness last Friday (25/08). 158713 (on the right) had just arrived from Wick. Given that these units are now 30+ years old, they are still quite comfortable for the 4 hour run from Thurso. A catering trolley would have been good if you are reading this Scotrail... 😉 I didn't have time for a better photo as I was running for the connecting Inter7City service to Aberdeen. Thanks Ken

Not really sure if this qualifies as a ghost. However.... Does anyone know long the mural of HR locomotive 68 has been on the wall behind the buffer stops at Thurso? The stops themselves also look quite vintage, including one which appears to have taken a knock at some point... Thanks Ken

F-100D slowly moving towards completion. Most of the paint done, and only a few pieces left to add. I've tried to replicate the scorched finish at the rear of the fuselage, which was a common feature of in-service F-100's. Lots of transfers for this one to match the original, so probably a few weeks to go yet. Kit came from Evilbay, and the seller had included a white-metal ejector seat which is a lot more detailed than the one that came with the kit. Quite pleased with the way this has come together so far.

Ok so not really a ghost, but here's 45690 Leander at Platform 7 North at Aberdeen today. I'd love to know just how much of the Station roof/canopy dates back to when steam was still in regular service. I know there have been a couple of refurbs since the 1960's. Thanks Ken

Definitely a lost opportunity to some extent, but that's hardly unique in terms of the Beeching cuts. There are still local bus services, but what's striking is the volume of HGV traffic from the distilleries, most of which would have originally been handled by rail. Some of the HGV's are run on LPG to try and cut emissions, which is quite unusual. Thanks Ken

Aberlour Station on the former Speyside line earlier today. A lot of original features still in evidence, just no trains. I think the far end of the building may be a newer addition? The goods yard behind where I was standing lasted long after trains stopped in 1971, but has now been redeveloped for housing. Rothes, just a few miles down the valley is unfortunately the opposite, with almost all traces of the Station having been removed. Thanks Ken

Stopped off at Gleneagles today for the first time. It's quite a sizeable Station given what I suspect are fairly light passenger numbers, although I realise now that the size of the site has shrunk quite a bit since it opened in 1919. Generally the remaining buildings are in good condition, with period features retained. I was intrigued by the square-faced analogue station clocks doubling up the modern matrix displays. They seem very familiar, but I can't remember the last time I saw one elsewhere. I would guess they are a 1960s or 70s design, and a quick google suggests they have been there since the 1980's at least. Thanks Ken

158702 at a (very warm) Aberdeen Joint Station today. Working the shuttle service from Inverurie to Montrose, which is now also seeing some 170's in use. Thanks Ken

221122 at Dundee this morning on the way to Penzance. Still not there yet either! I walked up to the front of the train for a slightly different view this morning. Thanks Ken

However you look at it, it's a very long day. 5 or 6 crew changes I think? There can't be many passengers who do the whole trip... Ken

Here's 221129 at Dundee this morning. The Aberdeen to Plymouth service has now been extended to Penzance again, and I think some of the intermediate stops in Fife have been restored (the service was non-stop from Dundee to Haymarket until recently). Quite a busy service this morning, with a good crowd waiting to board in Dundee. Thanks Ken

So here we have an EFE AY-type in Lincolnshire Roadcar livery. I think this was released about 15 years ago, and it's a Leyland Leopard, even down to the underfloor engine moulded into the base. The plan now is to convert this into VRG135L, an R226 new to Alexander Northern in 1972. Overall the EFE model is a fairly good match (I think!), with just a few details to alter. I'm going to try and alter the interior to include a representation of the front mounted engine. Thanks Ken

An old ESCI F100 D kit I'm in the process of putting together, for my second shot at a natural metal finish. Wish me luck. This will hopefully be finished as serial 52817 of the 48th TFW at Lakenheath in 1969. The real aircraft is scattered over a fairly wide area on Peters Hill in SE Aberdeenshire, where it crashed in August '69. Fortunately the pilot ejected after the engine failed. Probably scared the hell out of the Grouse population.... Very impressed with the Esci kit, excellent detail for it's age, and the plastic seems higher quality than a lot of more modern kits. Thanks Ken

Thanks both for the interesting feedback. I will keep an eye on Evilbay for a suitable donor model. Ford's bus and coach products seem to have largely disappeared since the early 1990's, which might not be a bad thing from the drivers perspective. I think 1 or 2 have survived from former Scottish Bus Group fleets. A couple of videos I've seen on YouTube featuring an ex-Strathtay R1014 confirm the ultra-floppy gear-shift, which is at odds with ford's car products from the era. Thanks

Here's a wee contribution from me. Heller Mk16e Spitfire, the first time I've ever made a spitfire model... This is a postwar aircraft, SL546, 8W-E, which flew with 612 Squadron from RAF Dyce in the very early 1950's. I thought this makes an interesting contrast to the usual WW2 camouflage colour schemes. 612 squadron switched to Vampire jets in 1951/52. RAF Dyce closed in 1957, but is now Aberdeen International Airport. Heller kit possibly showing it's age a little, fit could be better, and the plastic has a slightly rubbery feel. However the shape seems pretty good to my non-expert eye. My first attempt at a silver or natural metal finish. Thanks Ken

A quick update from me, rather than leaving the thread to drift... I suspect you could well use the Nimbus kits as the basis of conversions, etc. However (and it's a big one), this is a fair bit beyond my current abilities. The bits of the kit I started ended up as a mess of card and super glue, and I even stuck my fingers together at one point... Time for plan B. On the plus side, I do have a set of 1:76 wheels from RTI with the correct hub design for a Ford. So if I can find a cheap EFE Y type a model of the R1114 could still be possible. Ho-hum.

Here's a slightly wonky shot of 221129 at Dundee this morning. No catering on the Aberdeen to Plymouth service until Edinburgh, so I had to wait until Dundee for a caffeine hit. Otherwise an excellent trip with some very welcome spring sunshine. Thanks Ken

Thanks for this. Unfortunately the price of EFE y-types is generally higher than I'd like for a bit of a cut and shut exercise. We'll see how I get on. My parents still remember a trip to London on an Alexander bodied Ford in the early 70's. It was a last minute substitute for the regular motorway coach, and not well suited to the overnight run from Aberdeen to London (bus seats and plenty of noise).... Thanks Ken

Thanks for this. That makes sense. I'm guessing that would have been McWilliams the coal merchant who are still based beside the Station, although they have diversified into quite a few other businesses now. Presumably coal delivery by rail stopped in the late 1980's or early 90's? Ken

Thanks for this. I'm not sure if these are new tbh, the seller seems to specialise in old stock. Lots 1960s and 70s Airfix kits and the like. Thanks Ken.

Thanks for this, that's v interesting. Does anyone know how it escaped scrapping into the 1980's? Was it used for something at Huntly?