class26

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More work done on the freight yard at Thurso. By no means complete and as always , the rider that the backscenes are temporary and will; be replaced in the New Year .Looking at the photos on here i think I need to go over it with the hoover to puick up the static fibres that are lying a little too flat !

Thanks. As for the backscenes they are now very grubby but I do intend at some point in the future (I guess a new house will be needed for this) to recreate the layout with Forsinard, the Flows, Thurso and hopefully Georgemas space permitting but I will have those backscenes re printed as I have the original downloads

I decided to show Thurso so far . Again, the backscene will be changed

An update is well overdue I think so here goes. As some may know the layout originally was a roundy roundy with Forsinard on one side and the Flow Country the other. whilst i was happy with the scenic part operationally it was extremely limiting as there was no fiddle yard or hidden sidings for storage. Watching a 26 or 37 pulling a rake of Mk 1`s through north Scottish countryside is very enjoyable but there comes a time when more is needed so reluctantly I have ripped up about 60% of the Flows and in its place inserted Thurso and behind the Thurso back scene there is space for a reversing loop so trains going south from Forsinard can either wait (there is double track here) or return from where they went, presumably Inverness. Matters stalled over the summer due to work but now there are some developments which I show here. First the remaning section of Flow country which leads directly into Thurso. I don`t show the platform area yet as it is work in progress but am planning to tackle this next. Please excuse the backscene, it is still the old Flow backscene and will be replaced

The first and third photos have closer shots of Georgemas squatting at Altnabreac

Those with a keen eye will notice the station building at what is supposed to be Altnabreac is in fact that from Georgemas which gives an indication of where my thoughts are going but it is so difficult to do well. The branch to Thurso leads away at 90 degrees to the main line creating all kinds of issues with space but i have ideas for the future ......................

Here are the last photos of the Flow Country section , now partly removed to make way for Thurso. All the photos are taken by Jools1959 As can be seen the backscene is looking grubby and stained in places . It will be completely replaced. It was my first ever attempt at a backscene and lessons have been learned (rather expensively !)

Yes, i have been a little silent of late, mainly due to work flooding back as Covid receded. The layout in its previous guise was a simple roundy , Forsinard one side, the Flows the other but in my love for the scenic side of things had filled every available inch and there was no room for train storage which , as you can imagine is a little limiting. I reluctantly decided part of the Flows had to go to make way for Thurso and a reverse loop behind the station so trains going south from Forsinard can return from where they went. Hope to post more developments soon

I ought to add to the above that the two signal boxes at Forsinard are the first time the new boxes have had a public airing and are a commission fulfilled magnificently by Phil at Intentio and equally magnificently painted by Brian at Braeside Models. Thurso, only just began will get a different backscene in time.

which is EXACTLY the same as my order !

You could turn the argument that 75% of journeys start or end in London on its head. Maybe this is because this is where the fastest trains go and if they went to other destinations more would use them rather than drive or fly?

and the cost of building 140 mph railway compared to 200 mph railway is not huge and as you say, slower means more stock , more maintenance, larger depots, more land take etc, etc , etc which probably cancels out anything saved by only going for 140 mph

and the cost of building 140 mph railway compared to 200 mph railway is not huge and as you say, slower means more stock , more maintenance, larger depots, more land take etc, etc , etc which probably cancels out anything saved by only going for 140 mph

Waiting for the Inverness based 37`s, particularly the 37 / 0`s

Agree 100% with all comments above. I have used them for various aspects of my Forsinard layout and have been delighted with their products and service. Highly recommended, well worth taking some minutes to leaf through ALL their products, you may be surprised what they offer

Richard, thank you for all the photos , all extremely helpful and shows I am not too far adrift !

They are (mostly) thank you. The majority made it to Poland but they are devastated beyond words at their beloved country being decimated, and for what cause ?

Sorry haven`t commented on posts above recently , been slightly distracted due to events out in Ukraine and having family links. Shocked to the core and can think of nothing else. Pure barbarism. Sorry to bring politics onto these pages but this is beyond the pale. About freight on the FNL I will be the first to say i am no expert . Ben Alder of this parish is the man for this but it is certainly true the lines north of Inverness were and are time warps which in many ways is the beauty of them. I do have some rail freight vans as someone posted above and will get them out for some pics shortly. I am still in the process of assembling stock and once the Sutton Loco Works Highland 24`s are out I can back date some freight workings in any case. My freight stock has had less attention than the passenger stock but i will get there. i do tend to run what i want using rule no 1 although I try to be reasonably accurate. I do appreciate all the above comments re freight , thanks to those who took the time to post

Thanks, you are right of course and i was actually thinking that also, they are straight out of the "packet" as seen now . I`ll see what i can do.

Next photos I will get out of the depot 37114 !

now slowing for Altnabreac in case the request stop is required

further down the line in Flow Country

A few photos of an operating session at the weekend. Photos were taken by Jools1959 Firstly 37261 departs Forsinard taking the single line for Georgemas

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