backwaterscotland

Strange goings on at Rannoch - seems that a Class 318 EMU managed to make it all the way to Rannoch today without electricity Andy 8)

Hi Mark, There was a discussion on a rerailing coach in yellow with Westies on the side on the old forum : http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=32461 which might be the one you are thinking of. Andy 8)

Am I missing something? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-LIMA-mk3-Intercity-Scotrail-sleeper-coaches-00-GAUGE-/161148339713 2 Lima Mk3 sleepers - one with intercity stripes on one side and Scotrail on the other. The second one has damage to the paintwork and there seems to be a bidding war going on Andy

Related to this, I was at the Almond Valley Light Railway yesterday and most of the stock is ex-mod from either RNAD Dean Hill or ROF Bishopton including wagons and locos. Unfortunately, WD40 was in the workshop so I could get any good shots but I've put photos of the wagons and other locos onto photobucket here : http://s1151.photobucket.com/user/backwaterscotland/library/Almond%20Valley%20Light%20Railway There is a stock book detailing the stock available for free as a pdf on their website : http://www.almondvalley.co.uk/Railway.html Andy 8)

Narrow planet are planning to produce a RNAD crew van to go with the shunter - there are details of the test build for the kit over on the ngrm forum. Andy 8)

Some more information here - http://www.southernregionmodels.co.uk/2013/04/next-4mm-kit-planned-is-the-class-508-and-the-507-313-etc-these-kits-will-be-to-our-same-high-standard-as-our-4mm-range-designed-to-take-the-spud-motor-bogies-one-piece-body-shells-interio/ Price is to be around £130-140 for the kit Andy 8)

Here's one to start with Andy 8)

Bing maps show the crane there as well : http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=stjht0gwbzjc&lvl=19.48&dir=354.5&sty=b&eo=0&where1=DE24%208UP%2C%20Derby%2C%20Derby%20City&form=LMLTCC and it looks like the van may be out on the road. Edit - bizarre - if you follow the link above the van and crane are the same positions as on google but if you go to the postcode and then go to birds eye view, the van is out on the road Andy 8)

Looks in box of electronics bits, spots small motor, strokes beard and ponders - don't give me ideas like that! What speed do we want gentle lowland breeze, highland hoolie or gale force? For those not familiar with the celtic tongue - http://www.waywordradio.org/blow_a_hoolie/ Andy 8)

A few years ago I photographed a Bruff at the Plym Valley railway which was awaiting restoration. Photos are here : http://s1151.photobu...ff Road Railer/ - I haven't been to the Plym valley for a few years so I have no idea if the restoration has continued or not. Vehicle registration B445 WPO, livery is yellow with Intercity brandings. Hopefully this will have some useful details for modelling. Andy 8)

Something like this? (Taken last May with my 37410 and Mark's 37425 - ignore the Barbie sleepers and 150 ). Andy 8)

Another year has passed since the last entry and the progress in that time has been.......nothing. Lots of ideas but zero progress. A few pieces of stock built but that is all. I was recently asked if I could show a layout at a local "arts & crafts" show so I took all the detritus off the layout and had a look. It wasn't good, the baseboard and one of the backscene boards were slightly bowed, I had a step in one track cross the board joint and a lot of work was needed to bring the layout up to a suitable standard. So, with a heavy heart, the decision was made to scrap the layout. The station building, goods shed and hut have all been rescued along with all but 1 length of track. On the upside, this layout in both it's incarnations has taught me a lot. I have learned to scratch build buildings, how not to build baseboards, loco conversions and many more skills. To the future? Well I'm off for an adventure doing something different - a distillery layout in Gn15 (1/22.5 scale, 16.5mm track representing 15" gauge) and I'm still building EMU and DMU stock for a Strathclyde based layout. For now I depart Kyle but who knows if I will return? A final picture, the layout as far as it got with some of the stock for my new project being tested : Andy 8) Cul Uisge - Kyle in 4 feet - 2006-2012

Looking good Pete, I particularly like that view looking up from the water which is very much like Kyle. Andy

Yes, same seller under different usernames - both auctions have the same seller details listed. Andy B)

Something odd about the kit master one - location is listed as being lancs,uk but all of his listing state that the item is outside the uk and will be delivered by airmail. Non-uk seller pretending to be a uk seller? Seems to have a fair number of positive feedback though. Andy B)

The auction has a reserve on it : So the bidder has put several incremental bids in until the reserve was met - looks odd because it's not seen very often. Andy B)

Not a UK vehicle but might be of interest as something we might get in the future. I spotted this earlier in the month in a very rainy Bergen, Norway. Unfortunately, it had moved on by the time I got closer. Andy 8)

At least that one is a known loco if slightly bizarre - LNER Y10 The first loco looks like someone stuck the back of a steam loco onto the front and chassis from an Electric unit? Andy B)

I got my motorbike insurance quote yesterday - increase was 100% When I phoned and asked I got some vague answer about last year being on an "introductory offer". Check around on comparison sites and I got a quote from another broker for the same as last year. There seems to be no enticement to stay with a broker/insurer, it seems to be a "catch 1st year and hope they don't check aroundwhen we send the renewal". Someone told me that the best way to get cheap bike insurance is to be over 60, keep the bike locked in a nuclear bunker and never ride it Andy B)

Looks very good - much better than my rendition which suffered from a good number of not quite square windows If you are looking for the correct canopy brackets and valencing, Lochgorm Kits do them for Kyle but they're not listed on the website yet. Andy B)

Any guesses on this one? : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BR-101-DMU-2834-KIT-BUILT-GOOD-CONDITION-RUNS-WELL-/220777894091?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item33676350cb Andy B)

I suspect a typo as he has another set (using the same photos) starting at £16.88 : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hornby-Meccano-Station-and-accessories-/270740188381 Andy B)