'CHARD

Scotch Dyke was long-closed to passengers by then, and judging by the dates of much of your photographic records you were out pretty solidly during late '68 capturing these wonderful evocative images for posterity. Was this a marathon road-trip on the trusty two-stroke? It would have been a good half-hour walk from Longtown...

Indeed, this legendary episode in the disgraceful closure process is captured in several pictures, including by one of the papers, if I'm not mistaken. The daytime and Downing Street elements of the protest ae also well catered for. However, as my layout will be the line in suspended animation in late '68, I will never have cause to model this in 00! I wonder at what point in the procedings this picture was taken, because the constabulary seems to outnumber the protesters here!

Mate, great spots! I'm not conversant enough with Flickr to search the site effectively, and fortunately I am pedestrian enough to trawl Railbrit - as Pennine says it's a bit user-fiendish. The closure notice is awesome, it lists two dozen 'stations and halts,' including Whitrope, which was presumably staff-only (so why list it, as there won't be any jobs there on 6th Jan '69?), and the inclusion of Harker suggests that there was still a staff service, presumably into Carlisle, at this date, including non-Waverley staff who would still be required to turn up for work on Black Monday. Parkhouse RAF personnel were the other non-public affected. Ian, the appearance of another 31 on a troop special doesn't surprise me at all, but 28s and 29s remain in the tantalizing basket. [EDIT: there is no evidence that either of these classes, nor any other pedal-cars ever rode the Waverley's metals.] Incidentally, like 31s, I do not want any evidence they were even intermittent performers on the line. Regarding the 24 i.d - yep those two do tally with my notes, I'll double-check the position of livery elements as these may be subtly different on them. Phil, I'm no expert on 26 works visits, but now you mention it 5307 is that odd-man out, shame that in detail she differs from the HJ model, as she's probably the essential 64B specimen. You just know that last comment I made will trigger more W/B tomfoolery... Cheers for the comments guys, guess the Bank Holiday bounce brought it to the attention of more people.

Bust the Bank Holiday Blues with this selection of links to awesome pictures of the Waverley route on the Railbrit site, including some great signalbox pics towards the end... PESCO special ??“ sounds like something from Wallace & Monument, sorry Gromit! One of my fav people shots on the line: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24638 Did I link to this V2 already? If I did, look again and check out the concrete sand? bin foreground: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24617 Ok, who hasn??™t stood here yet? http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24607 Five days before my DOB! http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24525 Pair of V2s on the seldom recorded stretch south towards Barnes http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24510 ??¦and as the driver??™s eye view looks today: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24492 I have never seen this location before: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24346 OR, incredibly, Newtongrange ??“ last station to see a photo of? http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24342 Shankend Peak ??“ signature Waverley http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24320 How about THIS little piece of history, was the fare expensive for ??™68? http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24272 Newcastleton box, incredible record shot http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24239 Falahill http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24216 Kershopefoot box http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24172 Longtown box and Mossband chord http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24154 Shankend box and refuge http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24143 Scotch Dyke box http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24135 Tarras Viaduct on the Langholm branch, visited here but never heard it called by that name, wonder if the 4MT is 43139 or 43106! http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24093 St Boswells Sth box http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24063 BRCW on special 4th January ??™69, Riccarton http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24052

Meld, 1967 http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24478 NBR Scott at Hawick http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24437 1969, one of the legendary 64B ???nine??™ http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24432 Hawick, redevelopment encroaches, and blue-brick parapets! http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24373

I think you're right. When I look at this in the context of the Corporate Image guidelines I think the intention was to go uber-corporate, in the Swinging Sixties, and everything's a bit - well - weird, really. It totally shouts '1968' though, and therefore that's perfect for me Imagine the cruel knowledge that this shiny Standard Type 4 at the head of some corporate Blue & Grey MkIs represented the future of everyone else's main line, but not your lifeline... In other news, Class 40s are doing my head in, I just looked at details of individual cab ends on the 260-266 batch and I need to lie down.

There's a pretty masthead for a blogger, eh! 1547 was i.d-theived yesterday, the method for mechanical removal of Bachmann's tampo printing is now pretty efficient, extending to the headcode glazing. I really like the side view of this livery, it is prototypical and looks plain wrong. In the sense that compared to two-tone green it's plain, and in location of all the decals it's so wrong compared to the standard blue of December 1968 on... You can imagine it in the drawing office after Beeching's edict of corporate inflexibility: 'Yes, the numbers have gotta be squashed right up there by the TOPS panel, those double-arrows, well there have to be four - push them up as close to the doors as you can get them.' 1547 was allocated to D05 (Stoke Divn: Crewe) at this time and was probably a familiar sight on the WCML and through to Edinburgh either via Carstairs or the Waverley Route. What we are hoping to achieve here is the ambience of the prototype (I reckon) as pictured at Melrose on my Waverley photo image links thread. She's got a completely blank headcode in that picture, posing a whole new challenge. As yet the mod to correct the bogies remains outstanding. Once the headcodes are done, the pair's bodies are going back on for light weathering and correction of boiler-port details. EDIT: the grey showing through bodyside windows wasn't sitting happily, so permanent marker on the chassis block has taken care of that on 1547, compare with 1536 in this photo: While we're inside here let's show the readers where the chassis block gets blacked, and also our guilty secret for i.d-ing the chassis itself: The decision Dynamis vs NCE Powercab is still unmade, so these two won't be chipped for now. In an unusual move, possibly triggered by Hornby's announcement to release the Lima 40 in the Railroad Range, a random specimen has appeared on the W/B where she sits tremulous about what might happen next....

The extensive Railbrit archive is not the easiest to navigate nor the most searchable, thus it rewards persistence. Because it is, as we all know, a goldmine. The past two days' work has enabled me to definitively i.d 1547 as my second Early Blue Brush. I say this with 60% certainty, which is sufficient for decaling and detailing purposes. Pictured at Melrose and photographed when I think, the last digits suspiciously look like 47 after I manipulated the image as a screengrab, she would have been a DO5 (Crewe) machine at the time, and therefore very plausible indeed. Now to research the i.d of the 24 at Whitrope with the early style serif D-numbers.

Fortunately, due to contaminated mazak, this unwelcome insurgent disintegrated near Melrose and was cut up on site in Darnick Siding during 1960. http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24644

Any sane, joined-up plan would question the closure of a railway serving towns that were clearly experiencing growth. Here??™s a very tasty 40 role-playing a vulture at Burnfoot in ??™72: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25060 Where do you start with signature Waverley like this at Kelso Jct?: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25032 Pretty shot of a Type 2 entering Gala, around the time of rationalization: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24991 Fancy weathered twenties? Here??™s a rare Langholm branch shot: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24986 Stobs Camp ??“ scars of MoD tramway on Acreknowe hillside: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24980 Round Arnton Fell, today this would rival the beauty of the West Highland: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24960 I lingered here eating lunch in 2003. I saw my only ever red squirrels, but no GSYP EE Type 1s came past: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24958 Pass the remote: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24956 http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24860 Read the caption, it??™s my branch??™s entire raison d??™etre: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24948 To the other Mr McCartney, a knighthood surely awaits: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24941 http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24942 Enough to bring grown men to tears: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24868 Stobs with one of the 64B GFYE ladies (1968/9 0r 72), suitably informative headcode but this is 2M54 http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24864 Gresley N2 at Hawick, it says here: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24829 Caption caution, mid-60s must be pre-'64 if Riddings Sta is open, as it appears to be, now check out the smoke from this 12A Black 5! http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24585 Steele Road, with only a handful of trains left to call, this station building makes a very tempting model... http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24553 Hawick then and now, note oval wheel on the Vauxhall Omega! http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=24768

A few more for Boxing Day: Peak at Newcastleton towards the very end: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25212 Some B1 action: Hawick http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25704 and Hassendean http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25674 action of a different sort at Hassendean http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25176 Clayton near Dalry with Ardeer gunpowder vans? Yes, I know it's not the Waverley! http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25556 Merlin at Gala http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25559 Rare locus episode 35: Bowland box http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25514 Rare locus episode 36: Riddings four years after closure http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25141 and on the branch at Canonbie http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25080 Read the captions and weep http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25235 http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25223 Read the poster and weep, I had forgotten Kelso lasted this long: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=25192

The 40 at Heriot shot is worth a second look. The caption is only half right, because far from passing through the station with a party of students on board, one of whom is taking the picture (because he later turns up taking a picture from the train itself entering Whitrope Tunnel), at the time the shutter is pressed the driver is actually setting back into Heriot refuge siding to detach a wagon that was running a hot box.

And the next set, now with added detail: 3-car Met-Cam near Selkirk Jct on 4/1/69, this is the very essence of Waverley and the houses are spot-on the style of my semis! http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26427 The less-photographed Deltic special with 9002, in a very rare photographic locus, approaching Gala from the south, telegraph pole and signal cabling in evidence: http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26402 BFYE D5337 at Penton in the frost just before the end: http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26387 Shankend on 1/4/71 with D5307: http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26380 Lyneside SB, this will blow your mind, Millerhill Boy! http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26353 Subject of recent frothing, City of Truro on the border ECML-style: http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26332 Green EE Type 4 at the very start of the Waverley in Carlisle, Dec '68: http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26316 Scotch Dyke http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26311 Looking back at Gala from a Clayton cab: http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26307 Ballymoss on Shankend 1967, load 13 ECML diversion: http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26286 80113 Hawick http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26260 A 50 glimpsed from a Waverley service http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26254 Border Counties trackbed, Plashetts http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26241 The last Hawick freight, April '69. Beyond poignant, these Clayton pics - http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26237 http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26182 Last Hawick freight at Millerhill, with awesome period cars in shot: http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26210 Heriot and a BFYE 64B 40, this shot is as good as it gets?? http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26200 B1 approaching Hawick: http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26146 Holy grail time: Early Blue 1536 at Copshaw Holm, note carriage boards http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26129 A4, Whitrope, snow aplenty http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26065 Sir Visto, Hawick http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26037 Seldom photographed: Longtown http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26026 Tudor Minstrel, Shankend http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26011 D49 at Hawick (see, I'm not biased!) http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=25948 That's all for now, it's turkey time! Enjoy!!!

Been trawling the inestimable Railbrit archive again, and thanks to the usual legends, here are links to, Waverley before and post-closure, a 37 at Whitrope, Clayton taking water at Carstairs, Ilfracombe being demolished, and a 26 on single line at Whitrope on April Fools Day 1971. EDITED 28th December to include caption highlights. And an Early Blue 47 at Melrose (image 26778), check out the headcode, I would LOVE confirmation that this is 1547, that I have now based a Bachmann i.d. tweak on, as covered in my W/B Blog. Enjoy... http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26820 Keshopefoot looking north towards L/C http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26778 1547 (?) at Melrose, check out headcode http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26771 GRCW at Leith Central DMU shed http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26756 Selkirk Sta 1970 http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26755 http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26736 St Boswells northwards view http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26733 D2720 ready to lift Kelso - Tweedmouth section http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26719 Riccarton from Up Peak-hauled Class 1 http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26663 Early Blue 24 at Whitrope, i.d. confirmation sought http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26600 Up view into Whitrope from 40-hauled 4M45 http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26572 5307 at Whitrope, obbo special April 1st 1971 http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26541 Class 37 D6838 at Whitrope December '68 RARITY http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26522 Non-Waverley: last Corstorphine DMU at Waverley http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26493 Class 08 across Hawick rooftops, demolition 1971

Here's a festive post for the vanishingly small number of you who have ever heard of 'Early Blue' on Brush Type 4s, and the swelling ranks of Waverley Route afficianados. Take one Bachmann 47148, in Bachmann's esoteric original 'tri-grille' configuration, the trailing edge of a Stanley blade, pencil eraser, screwdriver and sheet of Howes rub-down transfers for a real retro modelling feel. The end result, as applied to fewer than 20 locos, but representing a York machine that worked the line in its final week(s), has made me feel so strange I'm off to prepare winter vegetables and calm myself down. Next pics when headcodes are done. Enjoy. EDIT: the extra 'class 57' pipe loops on the secondman's side were also removed at this stage, but I've opted to leave the screen rivets/ bolt-heads alone. All being well, when an awry '1S64' is wound-up on one end and 2M52 the other, the eye won't be drawn to the screen surrounds at normal viewing distances/ speeds.

I'm Against It - RAMONES

Unfortunately, their 'Clayton replacement chassis' department are still hiding under the duvet, where they've been for several weeks now.

This blog is to act as a conscience and reminder to crack on with the Sulzers now crowding onto the workbench, a return to working on locos in earnest after a few years' gap, and the first time I've had the nerve to open up new generation diesels. First up are a quartet of Bachmann Brush Type 4s and a BR/Sulzer Type 2, which despite only coming onto the bench last night progressed rapidly today. D5233 - D7603 tweak. The output: 64B non-boilered 25/3 D7603 Waverley machine, from Bachmann D5233 boilered loco. We are eventually aiming to capture something iconic like this: http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=17882 Ingredients: 25279 underframe (body sold on eBay) and cheap spare body D5233 (from eBay). Old Revell 47 matt grey (needs replacing with new tin), Howes Railmatch transfers, rub-down for instant result, Fox 3.7mm headcode figures (for the number '8' at No.1 end only), printing label self-adhesive, clear plastic for replacement headcodes. Key challenges - remove roof detail and make plain at No.2 end, change headcodes (note this is the non-lights model), also darken the cantrail grilles at this stage. To remove headcodes either prise out with edge of scalpel blade - carefully not damaging beading, or drill through in centre and then lever out. Paint recess matt black. Hole in roof left by boiler arrangement filled with portion of Thompson buffet roof cut to size, headcodes removed from this, a non-light-fitted example of the breed. This is repainted grey and will need going over again with very fine sandpaper and local repaint prior to weathering. Roof comprehensively filed flush after filling, Revell 47 Matt grey is a match for your average Bachmann Sulzer Type 2 roof. Headcode swap effected. This is a typical 64B Waverley headcode configuration. The other is even better, dare I say, need a decent photo. Old headcode insert used as template for cutting clear plastic roughly to shape, then filed for an interference fit. The non-standard headcode 'characters' are reversed out of tiny strips of plain white printer label with the aid of a 0.1 fine line permanent black marker. Here's No.1 End, cruelly over-exposed by the flash, but you get the idea. The slight bleed of black around the headcode will be swept up during weathering, but change of and correct i.d application across the fleet is number one priority this Christmas. To which end D5211 has taken the place of D7603, ready for removal of its last two digits, fourfold, and headcode work. Next up: Bachmann 47148 gets the retro treatment as we tackle 'Early Blue' on D1536.

Oh dear, no I hadn't - but I had seen this less than a decade later, and between them they pretty well define the fuel-point decay I'm after. The Clayton at Gala is truly awesome, well truffled Dave! http://jerrysgallery.fotopic.net/p62586597.html EDIT: You don't often see pics of THIS special with a Deltic on the front: http://dwb.railsteamgallery.fotopic.net/p54752198.html

I am simply lost for words... Jeremy, your pictures have just answered so many questions for me. I had never seen Galashiels station building before, and that's what Teviotbank (my principal station) building is being based on. Also the approach to Bowshank tunnel, pretty much as I remember it the very first time I ever caught a glimpse of the lamented line. Thank you so much.

If you liked the Fountainhall shot, try this: http://www.geoffspages.co.uk/raildiary/image.asp?waverley/09.jpg

London Lady - STRANGLERS

Silver Lady - DAVID R.SOUL

Almost Red - KILLING JOKE

Killing In The Name : Rage Against The Machine, Christmas No.1