sulzer27jd

Don't think we have mentioned Soul Asylum - Runaway Train

Isopropanol is my go to for plastic models and factory paint removal. Usually works first time and in a few hours. John

A little selection; All around the Water Tower - Jimmy Rodgers (I heard that) Lonesome whistle - Hank Williams I'm Moving On - Hank Snow Folsom Prison Blues - Johny Cash Rock Island Line - Johny Cash Smoke Along the Track - Dwight Yoakam Train a Comin - Steve Earle Mystery Train ptII - Steve Earle Railroads - Holly Williams No More Trains to Ride - Merle Haggard Hobo Bill's Last Ride - Merle Haggard

The list of suppliers of 7mm SR kits and bits etc. that I am using is seriously out of date. Can anyone advise of current suppliers of 7mm parts such as wagon axleboxes/axleguards and wagon buffers for SR and constituent companies? Thanks in advance John

Heading away from the station and back towards Fraserburgh, the branch passenger saunters past the yard at Rosehearty John

I have used John a few times now and always had excellent service and good advice. The decals themselves are indeed very fine and leave a great result. The map and fine text on this example came out really well. John

Many thanks for the kind comments. The layout is now long gone Stephen. I think the gallery pictures are still on this site somewhere and others are on Flickr. I learned a great deal from that layout, in particular that I prefer building to operating. Producing for a mainline ended up as more of a process and less of a pleasure. I have never gotten round to disposing of the stock but I probably should. I have now moved on to working in O gauge with the results in the link below and Here. thanks again John

Overlooking the goods yard entrance at Rosehearty. John

Really? Perhaps you should have a look, you might be surprised.

Apologies for the confusion. That should say it was worked by tablet. john

This is the situation I would have on the branch. The goods would work around the passenger services and be held at the terminus waiting for the passenger arrival, before then heading back towards the junction. That would mean the goods pulling up nearer the ground frame rather than waiting at the station. thanks John

A question more out of curiosity than any other reason. On a branchline, at a halt with no passing looping but worked by tablet, a ground frame is used to give access to the sidings. Would the key to unlock the ground frame be kept at the station or would it go with the tablet from the nearest signal box? The reason I ask is that my layout is based on the above. It is a single track halt with signals protecting a level crossing. They are operated from a separate ground frame at the station. At the other end there is a ground frame to provide access to the small yard. The pick-up goods will leave from the branch terminus and occupy the whole section until it reaches the junction box. On its way it will call at the halt to shunt the yard. If the key to unlock the ground frame is with the tablet then the train will pull up at the ground frame. If it is kept in the station then the train will pull up at the station and shunt from there. It really makes no odds other than where I park the brake van and the rest of the train, but I would like it to look right. Any suggestions? Thanks John

East coast top link passenger services from Edinburgh to Aberdeen changed engines at Dundee Tay Bridge station. There were a combination of factors, one being the supposedly poor water supply at the station but the other important factor was the NB and LNER allocating a locomotive and crew together. The introduction of the maximum working hours would mean a crew going out and back with a turn around in Dundee. The practice of changing engines continued right up to the end of steam despite changing working practices, so perhaps the water supply issue was still significant. John

Are all the Children in? Johnny Cash

A lone van resting in the yard at Rosehearty. John

I suspect rail cannot deliver this change on its own. It will require Government policy. The paradigm is currently that railways are for profit and roads are for free. Turn that on its head, especially for vehicles over a certain weight or travelling over a certain distance and you would see a change in fortune. Until policy determines otherwise the near monopoly of road transport will remain. John

The real problem is that this is simply not the case currently.

A quite country station yard. With a couple of coal empties waiting for the next days pick-up to collect them. John

It was the 47/7's that were known as discos - for the reasons you outline.

The pick-up freight waits for the Annett’s Key to be released from the ground frame. The shunted wagons will then rejoin the train which waits in the platform before continuing on its way to Fraserburgh. John

I just let it settle Tony. Having said that as I go over with additional layers or details I suppose it gets a coating of hairspray eventually.

If you can get hold of some fine soil or ground earth and blow that over, you want the texture of dust, it takes the shine off. I always do that when I am using static grass. John

I too would be interested in an accurate ratio of motive power. I have the details in 'The District Controller's View' for summer 1961, but; 1) how closely was that followed? 2) what about earlier years? & 3) what about weekdays and winter timetables? Any advice welcomed John

Another customer here!

Probably depends on which era you are thinking about. In the late 1980's I worked on the branch line to the ICI plant in Dumfries, which was served by a freight that reversed from the station. This was led by a brake van along the main line and then down the stump of the old 'Port Road', usually with a class 26 and a few wagons. John