'CHARD

Can any of you rabid fans of this particular Type 4 please advise if Hornby has produced one in as-built, pre-TOPS condition? I ask, not because of fond memories of bunking them at school lunchtimes on 1O19? and 1E63, but because they traversed the Waverley Route, albeit infrequently, on diversion from the WCML. As a result I am considering acquiring one as a token gesture. Well, as that's my justification for having West Coast regular near-pristine Brush Blue D1958, then D404 or D419 in the same livery and condition would actually be rather awesome, despite needing a bit of work. Cheers chaps

Blessed be the forum without glitches: this is the third time I've begun to write this blog entry since the problems with UK2 manifested themselves. All being well, here is the concluding (sort of) instalment of what happened to my trio of Bachmann tri-grille 47148s, Hattons bargains tied up with string etc... Having tackled 1536 and 1547 in Early Blue, as Waverley Route visitors, and seeing Bruce Mac's evocative snatched shot of D1958 whizzing through Riccarton Jct with a single BG in tow, it's time to bite the bullet and get started on this example, that was shopped ex-works from Loughborough in the livery they call Brush Blue... Here's 47148 with a sister, just so we all know what we're dealing with: and for the fainthearted here's a what happened next photo-feature: The choices were stark: a) convert an available tri-grille BFYE 47148; b) buy a sealed-headcode Serck grille BFYE 47035 or c) repaint one of my to-hand Serck TTGFYE 1764s. As surgery seemed less daunting than two full scale repaints on that snowy morning, shortly before the kids were sent home from school I took a fresh sturdy Stanley blade to a brand new loco that had barely been run-in. Here is the easy to follow hit by hit transformation.... First, 47148 with its cooler group neatly filleted. The tri-grilles are separately applied parts, which they appear to be from outside the loco, but inside tells a different story, and some aggressive work with the blade is needed to remove the underlying structure. Two screw mounting points are sacrificed here, but with four other anchors I wasn't unduly concerned: Here is the Italian donor loco surrendering its Serck grilles: Reference to Class47 website showed me that the boiler ports on 1536 and 1547 are correct on the model. Delighted with this, a more appropriate solution for 1958 was sought from the donor: I think it's on the left of the donor in this shot, hard to see from the thumbnail as I type this draft... 1958 is weighted by the donor's ballast and that of another fallen sister as work starts on the decals. If I work this right, here's a picture inside 1958 with Serck rads No1 and No2 side installed, and the fan assembly back in place. I actually weathered the red fans with a spot of graphite while they were out of the loco: I'm sure there are a couple of steps I've missed here, oh - I spent a morning filing smooth all the windscreen surround bolts on the three blue Brush - only 1958's been retouched since. Not that you can see from this broadside shot: When I've had chance to review this over a brew I might add or swap a couple of pics, she is awaiting her boiler port blanking plate on the above shot, and the neat finish of the new port is worth showing.... Here it is - albeit at the far end of a dusty 1958 on the W/B: Close-ups will follow when she's tidied-up and painted with headcodes applied. As the light and my steadiness of hand have improved, here's a shot of Nos.1 and 2 end. I've finally found my plasticard stash too, so blanking plate will be fettled this afternoon. Outdoors is always good for cruel close-ups, ho-hum here we go anyway with the basically finished D1958, when I'm in the right frame of mind it's the turn of headcodes (using larger characters than on 1536/47), decal the No.2 side, detail and then paint/ weather.... And now for a couple of light-hearted insights: Rule 1 - always wash the bodyshell after filing has been completed, and leave to drain And here's the part-time eBay assistant, acting as workbench assistant on this occasion, displeased either at what's befallen the Brush, or what's drying on the radiator.

Easy to Smile - SENSELESS THINGS

There is a rather nice uncaptioned picture just here: D1971, one of the 64B nine, at a mystery location! Must confess, I made involuntary noises upon finding this. Not seen that angle of H***** station before, and the giveaway - yet misleading - headcode is a classic!

(Get A) Grip (On Yourself) - STRANGLERS

Not a peep by way of response from the vendor of my quartet; their two sisters from the recent batch are running a treat, making the poor mech and fit of the early ones even poorer by direct comparison. If there is still no response by the end of the month I shall be politely asking Heljan if they would have a word...

41 years have passed, yet on RMWeb discussion continues... This link takes you to a letter from a Mrs Madge Elliot of Hawick to Network Rail in relation to reinstatement of the line. All well and good, then look at page two, granted it's an nth generation copy but this and its context make it even more poignant. Two BFYE Claytons wait in the goods yard, which is seen from an angle I've never seen properly before, the extra bay platform (what use did this see latterly i.e. in '68, does anyone know?) and fan of sidings serving the extensive town yard just go to show why this location was the spiritual heart of the route. http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/scotland/consultation%20responses/e/mrs%20madge%20elliot.pdf Note, the pdf is a bit of a slow loader, when you go to page 2 rotate clockwise and zoom to fit the window.

The Saints Are Coming - SKIDS

That's not bad considering Langholm's population has always been around the 2,500 mark; the branch was a classic survivor, only outlived for local freight amongst its siblings by Kelso (pop 6,000), but outliving Selkirk (6,000) and Peebles (8,000).

My mistake - for some reason I thought the final allocation was Oliver C, some Black 5s and a small number of spaceships. I'm thrilled that there were 4MTs left, peculiarly they are a personal favourite of mine B) As 12A poked 20s up Langholm, laying over off 66A, it's surprising a Clayton never went there in similar circumstances. Perhaps one did, maybe even a Co-Bo, but right now I'm liking the austerity and plain vanilla of 4MTs and 20s. As a midlander, rural Borders branches aren't what I normally associate with EE Type 1s.

Working For The db's - UK SUBS

Thank you very much indeed for that, Bruce! Lovely pic, triffids and difficult sun notwithstanding, I can hear the 20 idling and the whole scene is assailing my senses. In fairness the followers of this thread will never tire of shots like this. How frequent was the freight at this stage, weekly or did it run as required, in reality? I love the fact that it was reprieved a few times, but its viability must've been fatally wounded by road hauliers - even along the A7 it was hardly a long trip for a coal lorry. Amazing that Carlisle turned out a steam loco for the trip as late as August - it must have seemed like a mirage! - I wonder if that occasion was marked in any way - don't suppose anyone knew it was the last until it was a fait accompli. I expect the sidings at Canonbie had fallen into disuse by this time.

In steam days the branch does seem to have been associated with a hard core of a few 4MTs: 43139 for example put in mileages that would've taken it to the moon and back, but what remained of the traffic latterly seems, as Ian says, to have been dished out to whatever Kingmoor had to hand. Steam was still extant at Kingmoor when the branch shut, but presumably nothing nimble enough for the duty. Would love to know when the last steam working was - Easter '67 is my guess (43139 natch!). Incidentally, I assume that the branch freight would not have originated in Kingmoor yard, but one of the surviving smaller local yards. It just seems that the nature of the few wagon loads would have no place really in amongst the inter-regional leviathans...

I think this 20 may well be the subject of the sequence in the 'Britain's Lost Main Line - The Waverley route' vid. I'll check it when I have chance (i.e. family out), if so, then there are several seconds where it's possible to get a better look at that bonnet/ bunnet.

Having just searched the CARHMS site that Jamie has so helpfully provided a link to, using 'Lady Victoria colliery' as search phrase, about half a dozen B&W photos were there showing this loco at work. Well worth a go!

Jamie, that is an awesome link, and the first time I've managed to get the site to work for me. The aerial photos are incredible - just shows exactly HOW MUCH was destroyed by Beeching. There are some B&W photos at this link, judging by the from-train shots behind D1970, they were taken on the final weekend. This is the first time I have seen the goods yard side-on (check out the vehicles), the formal gardens or, sad to say, the scale of devastation brought in the last few years by Asda and Tesco. http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/99782/details/galashiels+station+brae+galashiels+station/

While we're in the vicinity of Lady Victoria pit, let's take a look at the line as it passes here in 2007: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=13793 And rewind to 1971, disregard caption, for what purports to be Heljan D8529 alongside the colliery with a very modellable short raft of 16T coalers... http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=13792

That depends on the nature of the lease. A 'wet' lease includes the costs of scheduled overhauls, a 'dry' lease just covers the asset itself, with the lessee responsible for making overhauls happen. Handback Condition at end of lease is usually, but not always, full working order with fair wear and tear appropriate for the asset's age and its position in the routine maintenance cycle. I am unaware of the terms of DBS's lease agreement with Angel Trains (or what it's now called), but it's probably a dry lease with DBS responsible for overhauls. It won't be as simple as letting them drop and leasing the next new thing, because that would rely on speculative orders for locos, which is unheard of except for penny numbers of vehicles.

Happy New Year to all our readers. Starting this Saturday off with a bit of a catch-up, here's Leith Central for those of you who may have missed her. This station has a fascinating history, not least for being the home depot of the shunters and DMUs that plied the Waverley in its final 23 months... http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=16656 As we're in former station mode, here's Canonbie GS http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17786 Scotch Dyke http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17170 Gilnockie http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17135 The elusive Penton http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17119 Newcastleton http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17102 Shankend http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=18120 Stobs http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17974 Hassendean today http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=18117 http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=18100 http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17948 Belses http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17939 and last, St Boswells' remains http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17121 Elegant Tarras viaduct just south of Langholm, demolished in 1987, senselessly I suspect http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17949 Happliy Barnes viaduct lives on http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17944 Signalbox corner for Millerhill Boy, this time Hardengreen when it had neither junctions nor bankers to look after, note 2644SP http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17896 For Bernard, here's the Restaurant at Gorebridge with 64B-boy's D760X passing hauling the Hawick pilot, for one suspects, one of the very last few times... http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17882 Great poignant human stories Part 93, last Kelso - again: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17963 Ouch! If you missed it previously over on the Shankend SB thread: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=18011 A 4MT leaves Kingmoor, the Waverley down departure line clearly visible to right http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=18167 Bittern at Hawick http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=18064 And last for now, two incredible human story pics, I think Northern Maiden has modelled signal box flowers, how about tomato plants? http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=18007 http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=17983

Yesterday - possibly - I posed the question about what the rail-over-road span looked like by Arniston colliery, between Gorebridge and Lady Vic. pit. This is where the Route crossed the A7 and the area is today unrecognisable, following afforestation and road improvements. When I asked the question I could not recall the precise name of the location, despite reference to maps, but unaccountably it just came back to me: Shank Bridge. A Google search threw up the image at the end of this link: http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=160837 This is the A7 crossing the valley cut by the Gore Burn, looking towards the escarpment along which the Waverley runs left (Edinburgh) to right (Gorebridge). The picture was taken in the long hot summer of '76, and the road bridge was replaced during the next two years. I vaguely recall the old A7 here, both this crossing and the rail bridge were rather spectacular. Now there is only blandness. I am still hopeful that pictures exist of the lost structure barely 1/4 mile from here, the A7 must have been closed for a while for the demolition at least. EDIT: further text on the source page refers to another picture 'railway bridge visible in background.' Seemingly the new road crossing of the burn was built 29m west, but satellite imagery suggests that all trace of the Victorian structure has been airbrushed off the face of the earth.

I'm liking that, I couldn't manipulate the image earlier because the laptop threw a strop, but the last digit looked that way to me too. When I think on, there'll be a refresh of p80 of the bible* * 1968 combine (reprint)

Having just come off a similar project as it neared completion, I can kinda see both sides of this. The sponsoring party, more often than not a public body that must behave in a fair and impartial manner (and as custodian of public funds), is also locked into sensitive commercial and often tense legal discussions with affected third parties. Whilst it's unlikely they (Transport Scotland) could conventionally shut down a photo gallery through the courts, they may act (through a friendly word) to manage reputational and project risk by seeking to remove data that may act - albeit inadvertantly - as a rallying-point for objectors, dissenters and opponents of the project. In this case the affected gardens, or at Stow the house extension. Incidentally, I am unfamiliar with Law north of Kershopefoot, so what I just wrote may be entirely fallacious!

I just checked the Harris and the Leith Central allocation was created (on paper at least) in 02/67 by the reallocation en masse of the St Margarets 08s, many of which had been there since new in 1960. Those outbased at the time of the switch were doubtless unaffected until they were next towed back to the capital for exam. I must confess I knew of Leith Central suddenly acquiring Edinburgh's nomadic shunter responsibilities, but I wasn't aware it happened at this point! EDIT: and here's a picture of home in 1985 http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=16656

We have footage elsewhere of D3878 at Hawick (becoming 08711 later), so it may be that redoubtable beast again. Thanks for that link, awesome summary of jocko detail differences, cheers!

hehehe - you and I following each other round the live threads this afternoon, Phil! Here's a thought, while we're on Toton paintshop. If it were my business/ profit centre, I'd be generating income painting third-parties' rolling stock rather than incurring internal revenue expenditure with nowhere to offset it. To answer another point, and from experience on other fleets, you'd be looking at a good six-figure sum (yes) to get a pair of overhauled bogies these days.