sulzer27jd

Certainly not common or regular on the Dundee - Edinburgh but there was a regular working from Glasgow QS to Arbroath which would often produce and ex-works type 2 of various form which was always piloted. Didn't exactly show confidence in St Rollox but was good fun for us. J

Storm clouds gather over Fife as 47009 works the Oxwellmains to Dundee cement (6L58) passed Balbeggie Sidings. 2 paths are allowed for this service with one to Dundee and one to Aberdeen. Empties will be worked back tomorrow. 009 is a Haymarket engine and has been given a light grey roof, although you wouldn't tell from the work stained appearance. JD

You can see the station pilot tucked in behind the signal box.

The track arrangement at Dundee at the time was far more complicated than it is now and the regular process was for the train to arrive, usually into platform 3, class 08 to collect the stock and proceed out. The train engine would follow the stock out to the starter signal at the end of the platform. The stock would then be set back into platform 2 and the loco would then head out from the end of the platform before backing down onto its stock. At some times both platforms would be occupied and the train engine would pull completely away from the platform ends. If memory serves me right they were able to go out either side of the signal box, going beyond the incoming signals in order to be signalled back in. (if that makes sense) JD

Standing where the photograher would be , you would hear the echo for miles. A westerly wind whipping past, a few sheep, a buzard or maybe even an eagle overhead and a little Sulzer spluttering up against the grade. very evocative, great modelling , superb. keep up the good work JD

very nice jd

Thanks Peter - I'd been mucking about with those awful pick-ups that Heljan fit and obviously not paying attention! Cheers J

Ok - the car park at the end of the yard at Balbeggie Sidings is handy. It is just before the level crossing and gives good access to the line. There before mid-day hoping to catch a couple of freights. Just after arrival a Perth - Edinburgh service passed - 47408; First freight was the Millerhill to Dundee 7L30 - 37403 in charge; This was followed just a couple of minutes later by the empty cement train from Aberdeen and Dundee. 47006 working this; An Edinburgh - Dundee local passed but missed a photo. The next action came through the loops - 37694 on loaded HAA's from Kingslaw Loading plant; Not a bad way to spend an hour so at lunchtime! JD

Very useful. Some food for thought - thanks. John

These shots are really interesting to me Bruce. 6D22 seems to be what became of 6K73 a Millerhill service which I have in the 1981 WT and 6D36 in the 1984 Speedlink WT. The mix of wagons is useful as this is exactly what I am trying to achieve with Balbeggie Sidings. Any other shots taken of Fife or services running through Fife would be very much appreciated. John

Very nice - love the tractor in the shed. Looking forward to a few more pics - please JD

You've captured the time and place very well. It feels right. All that is missing is the rain running down the back of your neck. Well done. Any chance of a few more pics? JD

Mark, good progress and you really are capturing the feel. Most people will have no idea of how desolate the real location is. The overview photo puts me in mind of the view when you cross the bridge onto the station. keep up the good work John

Couldn't agree more Gary. I take the train regularly between Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow and catching a glimpse of a freight is really the only highlight. Looking back I really am frustrated that I didn't make more of an effort to record what at the time seemed mundane. I'm so glad other did though. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos, your comments are appreciated. John

JD

Looking good, that is a sweet piece of trackwork on the viaduct. 9F also looking good, work stained but not overdone. Hope to see more soon. j

Chris - coming from yourself, that is probably the best compliment anyone could ask for. Big fan of your work, so very much appreciated. Thanks John

The first bit of the layout thread was on the old site, here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=37887 with some more here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/1353-balbeggie-sidings/page__p__137627__fromsearch__1entry137627 there is a trackplan on the first thread. The layout is about 30 x 9. thanks John

Thanks to the nonsense going on at Photobucket, this thread has had no images for some time. I have tried to reinstate them. John For the trainspotters out there. When I started designing Balbeggie Sidings I wanted to recreate the many happy hours spent at the side of a railway watching trains going past. So I'm heading back to the 80's (with a bit of licence re exact dates), camera in hand to watch trains. Balbeggie Sidings, not far from Kirkcaldy Fife arriving just after 2.30pm. The small yard has three ballast wagons and a couple of other wagons. Up signal turns green. This is the 12.40 Aberdeen to Edinburgh (1G64) 47408 No sooner has the last train cleared and the up signal again turns to green; This time it is a Thornton Yard to Rosyth van train. 6F17. 26028 in charge. It has just turned 3.00pm and the distinctive whistle of class 20's can be heard. This is a train clearing the nearby coal loading facility. 20213 and 20199. As the loaded MGR is held in the loops it is passed by an hourly Dundee to Edinburgh service. This is the 14.25 Edinburgh Waverley to Dundee 2L44. 27105 up front; As the MGR waits for the section to clear before heading to Thornton, the up line clears again. This time for the 14.20 Dundee to Edinburgh, 2G68 with 26031 in charge; Again it seems that no sooner has the up line cleared before it is showing green again. The Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh DMU service uses mostly 101 class units that get fuelled at Thornton. Here is the ECS move back to Kirkcaldy. 5G71. There is a bit of a lull and we have been here for an hour. The down line clears and just about 20 to 4 the 15.00 Edinburgh to Aberdeen service storms out of Kirkcaldy and past us. 1A38 with 40037. If everything is running to time 4 o'clock should see the Inverness services pass within a few minutes of each other. First the up line clears, then the down line. First up 1G73, the 12.40 Inverness to Edinburgh. 47630; Followed closely by 1N30 the 15.25 from Waverley to the Highland capital 47464; About 10 minutes later and the same thing again, both lines clear. From the Kirkcaldy direction comes 2L47 the 15.30 Edinburgh service to Dundee. Haymarket are obviously filling in as 47711 Greyfriars Bobby is being used; [/url] As it heads away it is passed by 2G75 the 3.20 from Dundee. 27041 leading. It is now just 4.15. Not quite 2 hours but we've seen a bit of action. Hope you enjoyed. John

Some really nice touches there Westerner, I like the close ups and the cameos - especially the road bridge. As much as I think scale track etc is desirable and of course should be available RTR, I think the important thing for a layout is atmosphere and that is very difficult to capture. It is also extremely difficult thing to explain. From the photographs you have shown us I think you have captured the feel for the area, your layout describes what is going on and shows what can be done with items that are available to pretty much everyone. keep the photos coming. John