Over the past weeks I experienced something that made me feel uneasy, rather like modelling withdrawal. After having spent a few months furiously building locomotives, the 'drive' was lost. Part of it must have been due to the fact I was confronted with several obligations that had to be seen to - I simply lacked time to work on my models.
The cure? Well, today I ran a few trains to the sequence timetable. Not just the coal trains which I used for running-in purposes over the months (they almost wore a groove in the track, but at least they kept the mainline clean), but all the normal service trains. I discovered the Leek & Manifold Kitson still ran very well despite having spent weeks out of sight in the return loop box over my desk, and the new Jintybash 'Brutus' makes an excellent station pilot at Dunalistair - a nice slow runner although it limps a little. And I experimented with new shunting moves at the colliery, involving the WD Baldwin.
Brutus as the station pilot at Dunalistair:
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The Leek & Manifold Kitson pressed into service on another coal train:
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The Baldwin having a chat with the Garratt, after slowly hauling the empties under the colliery screen:
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Building models is one reason to enjoy the hobby, but this is really what I am doing it for. I find running my layout is very therapeutic - it takes away the day to day worries and it gives me new ideas. I'm going to run more trains tomorrow. ;)
You could always start on the other end of the layout. Craigcorrie I mean.
Mal.
Like Ted I enjoy operating. I will often spend a couple of hours running trains on Westdorf. I do not have a sequence timetable or anything like that I just run the trains as I like. It takes a few minutes to clean the track and often the locos and rolling stock are away in the boxes as well so it will take 15 minutes or so to set up the four trains (two passenger two goods) the dozen or so extra wagons for shunting and the eight or nine locos. But sometimes I only set up a couple of trains, four locos and a scattering of extra wagons. It all depends on how the mood takes me.
I think a lot to do with the enjoyment is that the layout works very well indeed, if the locos kept stalling, de-railing or couplings coming apart it would be no fun at all, but as it is now it is all about running the trains.
Brian Meldon
Quote from: WALLSHIRTS on December 16, 2013, 01:16
You could always start on the other end of the layout. Craigcorrie I mean.
Mal.
I fear that will always be shrouded in mystery! Possibly the branch terminus will see the light in the future.
One thing that caught my attention is the bumpy track of Dunalistair, with a lot of old Fleischmann and even Lima N gauge track that should be replaced, although the running is still fair. Time for another big project soon, I think.
The introduction of several new locomotives led to the temporary withdrawal of others - the layout would become too full otherwise. I often played with the idea of running the layout in two modes: either small engine (Victorian) mode or big engine mode (post 1900), with some of the rolling stock taken off as well. It might even be a good idea to introduce a third mode (1930s) with railcars and early diesel locomotives next to a few big steam locos. This way the growing amount of stock can be managed on a layout that seems to shrink.
Just a few musings... ;)
It's all to easy to end up with more stock than a layout can handle, even on a relatively large layout like yours Ted.
I did the "multiple eras" idea on my large American HO layout before I left the UK. I used to model 1930-40's steam, but I used be a member of a modular group which modeled 1970's diesels.
I'd moved back up north where I could afford a house with a big enough basement to hold the sort of layout I wanted to build so had left the modular group, but still had all my stock I used to run there.
So I decided to try and keep the new layout era neutral so I could run either set of stock on it. However it soon became apparent that it was going to be far too much effort to take all one lot of stock off and put another on so I ended up compromising and running in a late 50's time frame so I could run some of each set.
I later decided that trying to keep a large steam fleet running in slightly damp basement conditions was too much like hard work and with the decision to go DCC started running made the decision to go all diesel and moved the era a few years later, but that's another story.
Anyway Ted, you are only changing a part of your stock, but my point is don't let it get too many or it will become a chore and you won't want to do it. Have you thought of adding some removable hidden sidings, with maybe two sets of tracks, so you can just run the stock you don't want there and detach it from the layout. Then swap in the alternative set of tracks and stock.
Tom
I'll probably end up adding ANOTHER lot of hidden sidings! ;D No seriously, Tom, I only have to exchange a few of the locos and put the bogie coaches into a branch siding, or out of view in the carriage shed, and it works.
Tonight I had another session on the C&DR, running the branch mixed from Dunalistair to Rae Bridge, meeting with the main line mixed from Craigcorrie, and doing some shunting at Rae Bridge.
Here the distillery's battery loco, which some of you may recognise as one of Tom's steeple cab electrics, brings a van to the tail end of the branch mixed. It has displaced old 'Chevalier' which is in need of attention. The branch mixed has been split, the coach and a fitted van continuing into the platform road whilst the distillery shunter does its job. The van of bottled whisky is bound for the standard gauge at Glenfinnan.
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Next, the branch mixed loco, which today is the old 'Maid', has set back against the stock on the main line, pulled it forward into the platform, then run round to get the container wagon waiting at the goods shed. This is marshalled in front of the brake van.
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This is duly coupled up, following which the loco runs round again, takes water at the big tank next to the main line. Then the whole train is set back from the platform past the junction points, and hauled up the gradient to the road section at the back of the station. I like to think this is an almost 1880s view:
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Meanwhile, the main line mixed is pulling out of Inverlochan on its way to Glenclachan and Rae Bridge, hauled by the big Hunslet 'Calabar':
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After a swift downhill run the mixed crosses the lower bridge in the gorge:
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And finally it ends up in Rae Bridge station, where a few passengers can catch the branch train which has happily been blocking the road behind the station for at least half an hour!
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All of this took me about an hour - taking the photos took only a few minutes. Posting them on here takes a bit longer!
I gave up worrying about having too many locos quite a few years ago now!
I do not leave the locos on the layout. They all live in the stock boxes and I just get the ones out that I fancy running.
Most of the rolling stock is also stored in the stock boxes, but as I have not made enough for all the H0e wagons several are left out on the layout, usually the larger bogie wagons. Although they do have a separate box the transporter wagons also normally remain on the layout.
To stop the dust and to prevent the colour in the layout from fading I have covers that go over the layout when it is not in use. These are made from good quality black dustbin bags cut into sheets and then held together with masking tape. They are just laid over the layout with enough overhang to cover the lower storage sidings. I find this works very well at keeping the dust out and because they are very lightweight they do not damage the scenery in any way.
However the section of the layout without scenery (the top NG station) remains uncovered and this is usually the section I use for testing locos.
Brian Meldon
Ted
I and probably many others envy you for having a layout permanently set up so you can 'retire' to the railway room and just operate it to your hearts content and dismiss life's worries and cares. Why not, enjoy your superb creation. Meanwhile I will get my test plank out and watch some loco go up and down it to see if it still works.
Roger
If you extend your test plank into a small station, with some scenery, you will have a layout. You have seen Nixnie - a long narrow layout of the same area, about 160 x 30cms, will make an acceptable branch terminus with a fiddle yard. Slot it together from two 80cms units and you can store it anywhere. ;)
Tonight, the operations were interrupted a few times so it wasn't as relaxing as I hoped for, but such is life! I ran a few trains and shunting moves though. At Dunalistair I used the station pilot (a.k.a. Brutus) to marshal the empty coal wagons. The Kitson proves to bump into the point lever base on the jetty, so that is banned from there in future.
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Meanwhile, at Rae Bridge the main line mixed had some work to do. A cattle wagon was set down in the works siding for maintenance, and Bert van Rhijn's exquisite Tralee & Dingle horse box was fetched from the carriage shed.
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Shortly afterwards 'Calabar' was spotted on the bridge near the distillery, making for Dunalistair.
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And here Calabar is passing the home bracket on the headland at Dunalistair, before meeting the Kitson which by now is waiting on the harbour road with the string of empties bound for Rae Bridge and Inverlochan.
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Ted
The plank is a plank, 4ft x 6ins wide ! Straight track from one end to t'other. A reverse curve to match the tightest curve on Tan-yr-Allt, two 12in radii points and one 9in point. If what I build negotiates the plank they are good enough to run on any layout. It can be seen on some of Mick's photos taken at Wigan when you were there with Rae Bridge.
Roger
That's a big one indeed, Roger! And with those reverse curves Brian M would have kittens! (sorry for poking fun at you Brian :P ). With some ballast and green stuff it might be turned into a shunting layout... ;)
Meanwhile, here the story continues as the empty coal train departs up the line from Dunalistair, hauled by the Kitson.
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At the same time, the Garratt sets off from Inverlochan with a loaded train. In the train two open carriages are included for the miners' convenience. These are marshalled behind the engine so they will provide some extra braking power.
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As the Kitson will come off the train at Rae Bridge and the new 0-6-4T will be put back on the coal services after minor attention at the works, we will now have a nice shunting puzzle to solve at Rae Bridge. There will be two long trains crossing, and engines having to be exchanged with the point into the works yard blocked by the up empties.
Here is the big 0-6-4 getting steam up outside the shed:
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Since the 0-6-4 points with the chimney towards Dunalistair, and all locos on the coal service (except for the Garratt) work uphill chimney first, it will exchange places with the Garratt on the down train so it can be turned at Dunalistair. After the Kitson has been taken off the empties, the Garratt will take these uphill to the colliery. So the 0-6-4 proceeds towards the goods shed siding which is on the side of the down loop.
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To clarify the shunting puzzle, here is a diagram.
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After the empty train comes in behind the Kitson, this is detached and it proceeds to the station limit to run round the train, to wait behind the brake van on the same track, since it cannot proceed into the loco yard. Meanwhile, the Garratt on the down train is held at the home signal beyond the road overbridge, with the guard walking back through Creag Dhubh tunnel to set a red flag at the tunnel mouth.
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Next, when the brakes on the loaded coal train have been set (a dirty job inside Creag Dhubh tunnel), the Garratt comes off its train and couples up to the empties waiting in the station.
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Now the 0-6-4 can pick up the loaded coal train held outside the station and proceed to Dunalistair, using the down loop.
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Finally, with the line clear, the Garratt can return to Inverlochan hauling the empty train, and the Kitson can proceed into the works yard to clean its fire and be put away to await its next turn of duty.
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Following the coal train operations, the afternoon mixed has left Dunalistair and is now shunting at Rae Bridge. The bogie wagon has been dropped at the goods shed, and two vans added. The rear end of the train is a brake third, and due to all the stock on the mixed being vacuum fitted, no brake van is needed. The unfitted stock is left behind for the evening goods. Here the coach is added to the rear of the train.
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Now the train sets off through Creag Dhubh Tunnel, and at the other end bursts out into the wild Glenclachan Gorge.
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After doubling back through another tunnel, climbing all the way, the train halts at the windswept Glenclachan halt. The loco stops out on the viaduct whilst one or two passengers drop off to start the three-mile walk to the village proper.
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Finally, after crossing the Moor, the train halts briefly at Inverlochan, where the Garratt is simmering at the water column between turns of duty. Shortly it will continue over the final few miles to Craigcorrie.
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At the other end of the line, the Dunalistair shunter is assembling a train of empty coal wagons for the next up service. This is headed out of the station by the new 0-6-4, with the customary two open carriages to collect the coal miners along the line for the late shift at Inverlochan.
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As the big tank engine hauls the train round the curve, a Western Isles panorama unfolds, with the off-lying islands on the horizon of a blue ocean.
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The train pauses briefly whilst the branch goods descends through the road section behind the station. Passengers carried in the austere brake third on the branch service may join the even more uncomfortable open coaches on the empty train for the trip up the line.
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Then the train sets off, crossing the Gorge on the lower bridge. After a long climb and a quick run across Inverlochan Moor, the empty train finally meets the loaded one that is waiting in the colliery loop. The cramped colliery yard now is occupied by three locomotives, including the recently acquired ex-WD Baldwin used as the colliery shunter, and the Garratt that will work the down train.
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Finally, here is a close-up of the empty train rolling across the level crossing leading to Inverlochan station.
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Here is one I forgot to post, showing the train stopped under the screening house:
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The branch mixed at work
The star of tonight's show is the old Darjeeling 'B' tank 'Shiva' which I built in the 1970s. Last time it came in on the branch goods, trailing Ian Turner's South African brake coach:
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First, a van bound for Craigcorrie is dropped in the carriage roads where it will be picked up by the evening goods up the main line. Next, the bogie wagon that came off the mainline mixed earlier in the day, now is taken out of the goods siding and replaced by the cattle van that came from the branch. All this, by the way, is controlled by the John Allen style markers on each vehicle.
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The distillery shunter shows up with the van of bottled whisky that will go down to the quay at Dunalistair. In addition, a wagon of steel sheet goes down to the Caledonia Foundry for cutting, after it was marked out for a heavy repair at the loco works. Finally there is a wagon of peat and a wagon containing another load for the Foundry. The ex SAR brake vehicle brings up the rear.
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Ready for the road!
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After a leisurely run downgrade, the train enters the outskirts of Dunalistair and rolls round the headland.
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After arrival, the old loco runs on to the turntable and is off to the ash pit and the water tank. Now 'Brutus' takes over for another shunting puzzle. The return load to Rae Bridge consists of a loaded cattle van and the horse box which has to be returned with one of His Lordship's horses. To prevent injury to the live cargo, both are put out of the way in the goods shed siding with as little shunting as possible. Here is a low level view of the harbour yard, and another view from the roof of the goods shed.
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Note the boiler on the bogie flat and the open wagon with the thing under a tarpaulin. These had to be removed from the quay siding, but will have to wait for the evening goods that will pack a bigger engine than the little 'B' class. Some joker decided that a load of steel drums (probably filled with midnight oil) has to go as a deck load on the steamer, so the bogie open is put in the headshunt and will have to be unloaded by hand whilst it blocks the run-round for the next train!
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Working long strings of goods stock over the curves in Dunalistair is no problem due to the sprung couplers. The only necessity is an extra man relaying the hand signals of the shunter along the wagons. And the level crossing to the dockyard seems to be eternally blocked.
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Here a shuffle takes place to rearrange the sequence of the wagons. The stock in the platform road will return to the quayside. The wagon of scrap will go to the foundry, and the brake has to be the last vehicle in the train, which will however be kept out of the way as the foundry shunter exchanges the stock for the foundry.
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Here the foundry shunter (the vertical boiler loco 'Jock') brings a wagon with repaired wheelsets. This is left on the harbour road. The shunter then continues to the turntable and switches to the run-round, where the wagon of scrap was left a while ago. This is the normal procedure of working the foundry traffic.
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Finally, the up branch goods has been assembled for the return trip!
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Continuing from yesterday, the branch goods has run up the line to Rae Bridge. Here the stationmaster found the flat wagon with the loco wheels was erroneously booked up the branch - funny, as this service usually shuttles between the loco works and the foundry. The route marker must have been exchanged by accident. So none of the stock went up the branch, as the cattle van and the horsebox were bound for Rae Bridge anyway. But there was a wagon of loco coal that suddenly had to go - it now has the marker that came from the flat!
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The goods is now waiting in the up road for the branch passenger to come down. The passenger is hauled by 'Inveraray'. Most of the train consists of what can be considered legacy four-wheelers - 1980s period of the C&DR. This is the regular branch passenger, usually between 4 and 7 vehicles as the mood takes me. The train descends the connecting line between the tramway terminus and the main line, then has to reverse into the platform road to clear the branch.
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Once the passenger is out of the way, the goods can reverse towards the junction and depart up the branch. The road section and a short stretch of line beyond are shared between the branch (a.k.a. the Glenfinnan Extension Railway) and the Creag Dhubh Mountain tram. There is a tram due down the mountain, but this seems to be delayed.
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After the goods has gone, the tram shows up. There is supposed to be a call box at the tram junction further up the line, for tram drivers to ask for clearance from the Rae Bridge signal box to proceed over the shared section of line.
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A tram passenger would see this - but note there is a bit of unpainted foundation under the back of the station building which I normally never see!
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After arrival of the tram, the passengers can transfer to the train waiting in the station. This then sets off down the line to Dunalistair, arriving the best part of an hour later.
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If you think there is a trace of Ffestiniog in the last picture, yes, that is what I was thinking of when I built the train 35 years ago. Only the scale is about 5mm or bigger...
Today's instalment continues at Dunalistair after the branch passenger has come in. Since the headshunt is blocked by the bogie wagon, the station pilot has to haul the train out of the platform to release the loco.
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After the train engine has been serviced, the return train has to lose a few carriages. The bogie wagon will be attached, so the weight would be too much for the little 0-4-0 engine.
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After a number of evolutions, finally the branch passenger goes on its way, climbing Kinlochalastair bank and carrying on to Rae Bridge, where it stops on the branch behind the station, to wait for the down main line goods.
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After its departure, the Dunalistair pilot removes the carriages to the siding next to the station. Meanwhile an unscheduled loaded coal train departs from Inverlochan. This has to clear the line before the down goods arrives.
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The coal train crosses Glenclachan viaduct - an unusual view enabled by the small size of the camera. After descending the curves down the valley and crossing the lower gorge bridge, the train slowly runs through Rae Bridge before continuing to Dunalistair.
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The down goods from Craigcorrie, hauled by the T&D Hunslet, comes into Inverlochan, bringing a few loaded wagons that have to be exchanged with the stock in the siding. The brake and a peat wagon are left on the main line. Often the length of the train exceeds the space to the starting signal. The line can be cleared since the coal train has left on a ticket issued by the signalman. Note the fluff on the signal in the unkind close-up!
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Then the goods can depart down the line, traversing the route just cleared by the coal train.
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Finally the train arrives at Rae Bridge. On the C&DR, passengers are allowed to travel on the brake van of goods trains - there is talk of more brake third carriages to put an end to this practice, but these haven't yet arrived. One or two passengers hurry to the branch train waiting behind the station...
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After a few moments the branch train will leave and operations may become a little less involved!
Many thanks, Ted - you're giving me and, I'm sure, a lot of others a lot of pleasure looking at the photos of your layout in action.
Thanks Hugh - I probably have as much fun myself doing this as you have reading it.
I may add one more instalment before Christmas is upon us and we'll al be busy celebrating!
Hello Ted, your story reminds me of past reads in the Railway modeller of the "Craig and Mertonford", and the good book itself by PDH.
Your story is very evocative, a joy to read, and truly inspirational to us aspiring modellers.
Please give us further episodes of this Fairy tale layout.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
With the kindest regards,
BrianT
This thread by Ted is titled 'What I am doing it for'........ Or rather what am I doing it for. The answer is for pleasure and a big thank you must go to Ted for sharing that pleasure with us on the forum. The C&D is a wonderful creation and as mentioned previously must be envied by some. Very few of us have the space for such a large layout hence the proliferation of small 009 layouts. Ted must be thanked for bringing to us the photos of his layout so we can share his enthusiasm and enjoyment. But then I am one of the lucky few from this side of the North Sea to have had the privilege of seeing the C&D in the flesh. It is as good as the photos portray the layout and it's operation.
Many thanks Ted for sharing and have a good Christmas and New Year and to everyone else here on the Forum.
Roger
I echo word for word what Roger (Krizzy) said!
I think I was the second visitor from UK to climb the famous vertical spiral staircase in Merelstraat to see the wonderland of the Craig & Mertonford "in the flesh" - all of 12 years or so ago now and I have made several repeat visits since (another one is overdue!). This series of instalments of the railway in operation is wonderful and as others have commented - I hope it continues, there are still a lot of different trains waiting to be seen!
A very happy and peaceful Christmas Ted and to all other fellow NG Modelling Enthusiasts on the forum.
Mick
Thanks, mates. I am glad you like this series, and with this bumper issue I intend to end it as well, because I'm burning the midnight oil as it is, and tomorrow is Christmas Eve, with lots of other things to do!
Yesterday the main line goods had come down the line to Rae Bridge, to connect with the branch passenger. Meanwhile, at Dunalistair the coal train is being put away for discharging on the coal jetty. This is still incomplete after 30 years, as there should be a traverser or a sector plate at the end, so the discharged wagons can be manhandled to the rear track. The procedure up to now has been to run half the train to the chutes, then park the other half on the rear track and exchange them when appropriate.
Here is Brutus handling six loaded wagons up the 1 in 15 to the pier.
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Note you're seeing the layout 'warts and all' - the indifferent lighting of the backscene is painfully visible in the second photo. Handling a load of wagons up a steep incline is nothing unusual - I have seen it done in South Africa to feed a gravity coaling tower at East London sheds. It makes for pretty fireworks, I can tell you.
The goods train at Rae Bridge is being taken apart by the Hunslet. Here a wagon or two is left in the works siding. Some involved shunting proved to be necessary, with the brake left in the distance. The peat wagon is bound for the distillery, and taken away by the battery loco. After about half an hour's shunting, the train is ready to continue to Dunalistair.
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Here the goods is seen arriving at Dunalistair. The loco is taken off, turned and serviced, and as the return service is a mixed train up to Rae Bridge, the carriages that were left by the branch train are picked up from the siding. Meanwhile 'Brutus' busies himself (he is a person to me!) in the dockyard, taking the train to pieces and picking up the return loads.
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Normally I would do the job in two steps to reduce the length of the shunting cut, but the N gauge couplings are dependable enough to do this and push the entire string through the curves if necessary:
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In the meantime, the Hunslet has run round the pair of carriages and waits for the goods stock to be put into the platform road. This offers a nice view of the slipway at MacQuarie's. The tank wagon and the flat are bound for the foundry - they will be exchanged by the foundry shunter the same way I showed last time.
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At last the goods stock has been worked into the platform and the Hunslet can couple up and start back up the line.
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At the other end of the line, the 'Dunalistair Mail' has set off towards Rae Bridge.
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As the 'Mail' is still a hour away from the intermediate station, we can see what happens there as the mixed comes in. The loco proceeds to the overbridge - the platform starter clears the way to the advanced starter - to run round the train. Then it pushes the carriages beyond the loop points, which clears the way into the works yard and to the carriage shed.
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Next, the train is taken apart again as befits a way freight, and the stock is put out of the way so the bogie flat carrying a spare boiler can be put into the works siding. There is quite a lot of stock waiting to be taken up the line, but most of it is empties, so the Hunslet can be expected to work the 12-wagon train uphill without stalling. In the second photo the train is waiting for the 'Mail' to come down the line.
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The 'Mail' comes barreling through the Glenclachan Gorge, and as soon as it arrives, the goods train has to get a move on to clear the station. The loco on the 'Mail' has developed an injector problem and the Inverlochan stationmaster has telegraphed for a replacement which has been getting up steam in the yard. The replacement is the new Kitson, E.R.Calthrop, which has been taken over from the Leek & Manifold Railway.
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Within a few minutes the locos have been exchanged and the Kitson hauls the 'Mail' out of the station. After descending the line to Dunalistair we see the train rounding the headland into Dunalistair station.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery52%2Fimages%2FIMG_5735.jpg&hash=32ecb38cfd4b9de98eed2d50fbfcf98a91437065)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery52%2Fimages%2FIMG_5741.jpg&hash=e995f52b7443d8b55c5a1d1c22bc5fe6205611c0)
Finally, the train slows to halt within a few yards of the buffer stop, so the passengers, the mail bags and express goods can transfer to the waiting steamer. Not long afterwards she will cast off her moorings and head down the loch to sea, then to Oban and Fort William.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery52%2Fimages%2FIMG_5746.jpg&hash=1263473acfcba96871c58c171a8d3f91bd423455)
This is the final instalment of this series, which was prompted by a feeling of modelling withdrawal, then turned into a project of its own. I hope you all liked it, and since it is already Christmas Eve, I wish you a happy Christmas from a rather stormy Netherlands!
Thank you Ted, and greetings too from a very battered, flooded and road-blocked Dorset. It was quite a storm last night, 5 power cuts during the evening and then one at midnight that went through to the early hours.
A great series, a pity that it had to end, but a very fitting and impressive finale instalment. On behalf of all those who have enjoyed this on both this forum and NGRM can I express my thanks and appreciation for your efforts which have kept me very much entertained during what you know has been a bit of a torrid fortnight for my family.
Have a great Christmas!
Mick
Thanks, Mick - I hear it has been quite a mess on the south coast. Here it's blowing a full gale, but not too bad right now.
Good luck to all who have to deal with wind, flooding and power cuts down there. I hope it doesn't mess up you Christmas.
A truly wonderful collection of photographs Ted. I've not done any real model building since May 2012 but have been running the L&TR - although not so much last year. During 2012 the Railway evolved a repeating operating sequence which takes less than half an hour to run - which gives me time to do any extra shunting and photography. It's the sort of timeslot that can be dropped into most evenings and keeps my hand in and interest up.
I actually have enough locos to run the railway with some redundancy for casualties so really there's no need to build any more; besides I need to ensure I have enough spare power units to keep the ones I have.
As for stock, there are some items I have yet to build or finish plus new loads for the wagons.
There's always scenery needing refurbishment of course and every now and again someone passes a comment regarding the lamentable lack of signalling...
Happy New Year everyone; here's wishing you clean rails and successful soldering and glueing!
Thanks Dave, and I hope you won't mind me rubbing some salt into the wounds by saying a few Ratio signal kits work wonders... ;D
Quote from: tedp on January 07, 2014, 22:12
Thanks Dave, and I hope you won't mind me rubbing some salt into the wounds by saying a few Ratio signal kits work wonders... ;D
For your slightly larger rolling stock perhaps, Ted. I keep looking at the Ratio stuff and wondering but it always looks as though it's a bit too big and cumbersome for my smaller profiles. For all three stations I have a set of signalling diagrams which I produced about 15 years ago but the usual 'never got any further' excuse kicks in! The two mock-ups actually look reasonably convincing in photos! Maybe one day...
I've been taking short video clips on the phone recently and dropping them onto Facebook so I really must see about You-Tubing them as well.
If people ask me nicely on Sunday I might play some of them...
Over Christmas and today, Boxing Day, I have been operating to my timetable once again. As I was at it, I thought 'why not make a photo report out of it'. So I got out the camera and made some photos in the process. We start as the 7:30am arrives at Dunalistair from Rae Bridge. This is a double-headed train as it takes the harbour shunter and a spare carriage into Dunalistair. 'Brutus' and 'Greta' haul an easy downgrade service round the headland:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1250.jpg&hash=29945a6dd3dc27a8c1b9973162f5bd2a2548b38b)
Here the train arrives in the platform:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1252.jpg&hash=669cddb0c830846565a14e9e8c750d3397cfdab1)
Meanwhile, the new loco 'Lyn' heads a coal train down the Glenclachan gorge:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1261.jpg&hash=c2b8a6c844e3778127acf093a0d2e6ab25812e69)
The spare carriage is detached from the passenger train and both it and the harbour shunter take refuge in the siding:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1263.jpg&hash=95076dfb5bcf7200fce6f7d479d1d5171a7f3df9)
All completed, and 'Brutus' serviced for the return trip, the passenger service heads back up the line at 8:20:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1268.jpg&hash=cbc3761b2e8e226545b13337af12f4c3f670d112)
Shortly afterwards, the branch mixed arrives at Rae Bridge, being held on the tramway behind the station. The coal train is held in the loop till the passenger arrives:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1271.jpg&hash=3df142f265e827679bf9a3fb7455a5cbca957d18)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1272.jpg&hash=7d5c4439c41eed0c3e0da4e77950970ba3c2a9ab)
This is rush hour at Rae Bridge, but not to worry, most of the station will be cleared soon:
More later!
Thanks for updating us - otherwise I would have probably never seen your phantastic layout - or may be after a long time digging into old threads. I really like your landscape and background, as well as the camera positions you are using. Just perfect.
Merry Christmas
Gerhard
Thanks, Gerhard! Here is some more.
After the passenger arrived, the road for the coal train was clear. Here 'Lyn' pulls away from Rae Bridge:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1276.jpg&hash=70901db5ed449f2b58b54d2962c5903bcf4d4c6b)
This frees the way for the branch mixed. Sir Theodore hauls the GVT carriages and a few goods vehicles hung at the rear end:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1283.jpg&hash=89c5a692a47796c8655bb5f4ee7e22f43c992456)
The water roars under the bridge after the recent rainfall, as Sir Theodore reverses into the station:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1299.jpg&hash=61925448f1585096d98687b130921778bc67620a)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1300.jpg&hash=6d2d8e017a2d293e68b42bdd67fa517263ad9c51)
'Lyn' arrives at Dunalistair with the coal train. Here the train comes into the harbour road, past the shipyard. The shunting engine simmers in the quay siding. Lyn will reverse the coal wagons on to the jetty without need for the shunter:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1304.jpg&hash=0e6f376c1a610ed17b551d9533f44fa3c60645fa)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1307.jpg&hash=01a970383f2ec2eee53b5207eb5375701117b74b)
After the coal wagons have been positioned over the chutes, Lyn reverses the brake van on its way to the water tank and the ash pit:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1310.jpg&hash=ad4e948ba97cc6c56bf242f5ba3bcd3726276615)
More photos tomorrow!
Hello and a happy Christmas Ted to you and your wife.
As ever, your pictures are very evocative and lifelike, and your modeling and story telling remind me of my inspirational gurus, the Reverend Peter Denny, and P J Hancock, I can give no greater praise, both there books should be on every railway modellers shelf.
One general comment that applies to all forum poster's.
When the pictures are presented to us on our screens, they are viewed from the top of the picture to the bottom.
Some people put there captions above the pictures, and some below the pictures.
As you travel through the series of pictures, the top captions of one picture can appear to become the bottom caption of another, and a quick shuffle back and forth has to be made, to ascertain which picture the caption refers to when you get into the middle of a series of pictures.
We all appear guilty of this, so perhaps some thought could be given to establishing a forum convention of top or bottom captions, with a line or a large space separating each picture or series of pictures that the caption refers to???
Kind regards to everyone,
BrianT.
Thanks Brian, same to you.
Perhaps I should clarify my captions by adding colons.
A slight delay as I spent most of the day operating pre-war 0 gauge tinplate in the Valkenburg museum. I made more photos yesterday, so here goes.
Sir Theodore came in with the branch mixed service which, as you may have seen, reverses from the branch into the platform at Rae Bridge. The main line passenger needed a van attached, so the tram engine was uncoupled and drew forward to fetch it from the goods shed, where it was blocked by three cattle wagons:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1312.jpg&hash=7e64a1e9cfd0aec2dfa01298b220326221ce9067)
Next, we see the passenger service in the Gorge, and later high above Rae Bridge passing the winding house ruin, before pausing at Glenclachan Road halt:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1319.jpg&hash=092b3f0fc5248d029df9c86c07b60d93af3e9ea0)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1330.jpg&hash=4c189c53e9c431fdaa9cf15b665f04aad70941e4)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1335.jpg&hash=1e60f6f1a4cb04ee696be51a91d22db1a2847fbc)
The final view of the passenger train is at the Inverlochan home signal:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1343.jpg&hash=640c9f3edf156551d45c76ff903492377dd59716)
Finally, here is the first mountain tram of the day departing from the Rae Bridge terminus:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1353.jpg&hash=8bf145e736a32e9be76feffe41de848f3536fd47)
More later!
I rather like this view of Sir Theodore sedately rolling round the curve on the Atlantic coast on the final leg to Dunalistair, around 10 in the morning:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1357.jpg&hash=ba61a76885b7765af18a9449bd7aeab1529e9c75)
Here is a highly improbable, but atmospheric view of Sir Theodore passing Lyn simmering in the siding. It's not often one can see a 2'4 1/2" gauge loco passing a 2ft gauge loco - one of the advantages of modelling 009!
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1358.jpg&hash=dbc000aaf97911184a5b97667e3fd0302d42e9b0)
A sudden ray of sun lights up Lyn during a shunting move in Dunalistair. I am very pleased with this loco:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1362.jpg&hash=fd6d5452ec6157b6d292917bd53fe5d11c2646cd)
An hour later, around 11am, the branch mixed has returned to Rae Bridge. Jamie the shunter opens the gate to allow the train to pass on to the tramway:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1372.jpg&hash=4b6f34229cb46d07b47bb78ca8a5d9a9ebe96f25)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1375.jpg&hash=a79ffa516026d4c878cb137fc22b8d7c159ff53a)
Some stock from the distillery has to be added to the rear of the branch mixed. Jamie confers with the driver of the distillery pug:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1386.jpg&hash=ce48ebaf80c26fc3f12bd18d9117ec73ecc53355)
A van and a wagon are placed on the main line so the mixed can set back to pick them up:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1390.jpg&hash=0f437ec63f1983060b6c9e12af0be2aa72055620)
Seen between the station building and the goods shed:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1397.jpg&hash=808d2317af269d4dfd9c33421b38660307390b48)
The gate is closed. Now the branch mixed has to wait for the main line service to arrive from Craigcorrie:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1401.jpg&hash=45e35d6d4435ffc565f8d2eecbd8ea0daccb9e5f)
More later!
Quote from: gtmspyder on December 27, 2015, 10:01
.....
One general comment that applies to all forum poster's.
When the pictures are presented to us on our screens, they are viewed from the top of the picture to the bottom.
Some people put there captions above the pictures, and some below the pictures.
As you travel through the series of pictures, the top captions of one picture can appear to become the bottom caption of another, and a quick shuffle back and forth has to be made, to ascertain which picture the caption refers to when you get into the middle of a series of pictures.
We all appear guilty of this, so perhaps some thought could be given to establishing a forum convention of top or bottom captions, with a line or a large space separating each picture or series of pictures that the caption refers to???
.....
*
Whilst I understand and sympathise with the point being made, I fear that the request for a convention that be observed by all will fail on two grounds and would be too simplistic a solution for what is a complex problem.
[1] What constitutes a caption? Something like -
"Locomotive XYZ seen at PQR on ABC date"
- is fine and might by existing print media convention rightly be placed beneath the image. But not everything is so simple.
[2] Sometimes pictures, diagrams, or other illustrations are introduced into a narrative in such a manner as for "captions" per se to be inappropriate. This is because they illustrate the text which is so as to speak "in motion". Indeed, such introductions are "intrusions" (in the positive sense of the word) that perhaps appear with a dash -
as the picture occurs
- and another where the narrative continues.
CP
Errr, I don't understand what it is you are saying. ???
Kind regards,
BrianT.
Sorry this is hijacking Ted's (excellent as always) thread, but I think what CP is saying is 'horses for courses'.
Ted's intentions are clear though. He has put a colon at the end of the line of text:
* to indicate that it applies to the photo that follows.
I'm not sure about the need for a forum convention, although I understand it may be puzzling if the text in a post refers to the photo below. Basically in my posts I write a short narrative, then use the photo to explain. I hope the clarification by using colons in the text helps. Therefore let's continue the tale of the operations on the C&DR, which in the end is what I'm modelling for! ;)
The 10am mixed service from Craigcorrie arrives at Inverlochan station, headed by 'Atlantic', with four cattle wagons and the American style clerestory 'combine':
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1404.jpg&hash=60ccd4496530ebac18e711a30ef569e2fa86eaa7)
Since all that is in the siding is an empty explosives van that always travels on the coal trains, the train continues to Glenclachan Road, then continues to descend through the gorge to Rae Bridge. First here is a side view of the loco crossing the bridge of Loch na Cailliche:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1405.jpg&hash=24b834cd6aace2aed2ab456e5f4d7014a973a823)
Next, the train is seen standing on the cast iron bridge at Glenclachan Road as one or two passengers board the coach at the rear end. After descending the spiral, the train reappears at the lower level just before entering Creag Dhubh tunnel:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1412.jpg&hash=dc0ed4fb1133e4f5eaf350adad840bb87c08db76)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1416.jpg&hash=8838b32dec91cf3cf1cd0bcae278e0912a0e3623)
At Rae Bridge, the empty coal train just comes in behind 'Lyn' - another case of prototype engines of two gauges (2ft and 2ft 3ins) happily mixing on the C&DR:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1419.jpg&hash=5a637881b5c5bcbbd81678c77f6fdad255bc808b)
Soon, 'Lyn' and its empty stock disappears up the line, and now is when the real shunting puzzle starts, as dictated by the waybills on or in the cattle trucks. For those interested, goods traffic operation on the C&DR is explained HERE (http://www.009dutch.nl/cdr/main/pages/eoperation1.htm).
Three of the four cattle wagons hauled by 'Atlantic' need to be dropped at Rae Bridge. Only one is loaded and livestock always gets priority, so this is dropped at the goods shed to be collected by a local farmer that same morning. Note the shed doors are closed against the smell. One of two empties is attached to two other empty cattle trucks that will go on the afternoon branch service. Another empty goes in the siding, and the last one will continue to Dunalistair. Here is 'Atlantic' at work with a long string of cattle trucks:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1425.jpg&hash=bdfea56a4aba67cf63afd58194cc1eafa3107cee)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1428.jpg&hash=63204aa36c0822ae9e759690e3ff0444f353f438)
The siding is too short, so the empty stock is moved to the carriage shed, already blocked with more stock, where Jamie inspects the congestion with some misgivings:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1434.jpg&hash=9547ab4030c584e9af10b2e203c35376896f7e1b)
Meanwhile, 'Atlantic' has picked up two closed vans to be taken to Dunalistair, and now waits for the clear in the platform road. Jamie and the driver exchange a few pleasantries before departure:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1431.jpg&hash=7181ddfdb0d49694241b4a70b39ff16b5c75f5a7)
After the train has left, Jamie and the stationmaster meet at the signal box to discuss the rolling stock situation. Since most of the stock is due to be shipped out later that day, it is decided not to book an extra train:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1432.jpg&hash=79722c8cf53ae3ce84e3c4f2f4fd500eda17847e)
More later!
Shortly before mid-day, the mixed arrives at Dunalistair. The shunting at Rae Bridge has resulted in a delay, and the return working at mid-day will surely be delayed as well. Here 'Atlantic' rolls towards the level crossing:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1442.jpg&hash=bcd82c8bb917192d7af294cd3f22cdf1098b8439)
Meanwhile 'Lyn' arrives at the colliery, where the tiny Bagnall is hard at work supplying the screen with coal from the pit. The other train is being loaded:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1446.jpg&hash=0856062794eee4d1cce27ea92eae4edee179a48b)
'Atlantic' rolls to a stop. The van at the buffers is a regular occurrence - it carries parcels to the ferry which are unloaded at the platform and put on a trolley to the ferry gangway. Most locos can just squeeze between the point blades and such a van. Next, the loco runs on to the turntable and reverses over the centre road:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1453.jpg&hash=0a66628a4555cb09d8c1bb0c7f0165170bca0d49)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1456.jpg&hash=f1acd0bee152329942d09c258d0b50d9320ef421)
The harbour shunter has been simmering on the quay, but now action is called for as the new arrival has to be split up and the wagons taken to their respective destinations. Any outward bound traffic is collected from the sidings first:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1464.jpg&hash=44b86f0b68a8b32a01a4cd5fb1811429a0720727)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1461.jpg&hash=0c4e9bceabf250231051598d1b0400aa886c4490)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1467.jpg&hash=663e61aa595c5476eac126b0b6cde305366406b8)
First, the coach is coupled up and the train put into the centre road. Then the newly arrived goods stock is collected and the single van removed from the buffer stop:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1474.jpg&hash=ffa701497fae80847118e280e12da3097ed3c4a1)
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After the van has been coupled to the front of the train in the centre road, one van is detached from the goods stock that just came in. Again, this is placed at the end of the track. Finally, the remaining van and cattle truck are taken to the quay siding:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1484.jpg&hash=ece4c1f15fc1747591a2c6c8ecc0782174fee45c)
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More later!
The mixed is seriously delayed, but apart from the connecting mountain tram at Rae Bridge this won't be a great problem. Knowing the tramway people, they will hold the tram until the mixed arrives. Shunting completed, Atlantic sets back the train into the platform road, and shortly afterwards the mixed sets off:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1495.jpg&hash=d1e90e2b1078382357e2e247403f0c5668312fa2)
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Meanwhile a loaded coal train departs from the colliery, hauled by the 0-6-2ST 'Craigcorrie'. Having pinned brakes at the summit, it continues down the line and crosses the viaduct, flanges and brakes squealing:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1497.jpg&hash=8ddd42ba64bb82115e4c6f50498b1cb52f5d5e79)
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(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1504.jpg&hash=165699c26c2923b1ea3949d9755ba1fc3abc51fe)
Here are two low level photos taken from the sheep dock at Glenclachan siding, as the coal train passes. They may be a little out of focus, but I love the atmosphere:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1507.jpg&hash=19c29b8329667638f7cc0d684add4a29dc3df0e5)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1510.jpg&hash=20b457f95abc2e024824d9979eb241b622063949)
And finally here is the train deep in the gorge, with the water roaring under the bridge and the loco whistling for Creag Dhubh tunnel:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1518.jpg&hash=205a4c1ea970ac45042217c93a80511c4153f41c)
More later!
Ted
Thanks for the latest chapter in the story of the C&D. Keep up the good work to inspire everyone to match your superb modelling.
Roger
Thanks, Roger. It's fun to do this and share with you the operating sessions I had over Christmas. Each time I find new angles to photograph even if the layout is over 30 years old by now. And sometimes I tie myself in knots over a shunting problem which is fun in itself. Then the next challenge is how to photograph it so the problem and the solution become clear to someone else!
Regrettably yesterday was very busy - no time to write anything more until now.
Following the last instalment, the delayed mixed and the empty coal train meet at Rae Bridge. The passengers off the mixed service transfer to the mountain tram that has been held to take them to the summit:
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The empty coal train has gone and 'Atlantic' has to solve another shunting puzzle. The look of the train changes completely - one of the vans is detached and a cattle wagon takes its place, together with a peat wagon and an ash wagon, and a wagon loaded with casks. Just now I realise all these loads are going the wrong way! Here are some views of the apparent chaos in the station:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1530.jpg&hash=5fc1285eb2ab4f629e3444332188d51ff18ca82f)
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Finally the train moves off and climbs through the gorge:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1542.jpg&hash=d9f3d7ebdc38e21f41908afdba28ab4c9151cc04)
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The previous picture and the next were taken from the upper end of the viaduct which is impossible except by using a camera. Here 'Atlantic', having dropped a peat wagon (that should have been empty) at the siding, is coming to a stop at the edge of the viaduct to let off a passenger at the lonely platform:
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Shortly after 1pm the branch goods descends from the tramway, trailing the usual 4-wheel coach for occasional passengers. This will be the subject of a further instalment:
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I have to make haste as I planned to conclude this series before the end of the year. More to follow!
As the branch goods came in, it was found the load down the hill was enough to warrant an extra brake van. So the clerestory brake, no. 8, was hauled from the carriage shed and marshalled behind the engine, with Jamie the shunter acting as an extra brakeman:
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Around 2:30, the goods arrived at Dunalistair, where an empty coal train behind no. 2 was waiting in the harbour road:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1568.jpg&hash=b74ce67846047f76e73ca973327fd365b5c701ae)
The empty coal train duly departed for Rae Bridge and Inverlochan. Here it is first seen climbing out of Dunalistair, then running slowly through Rae Bridge:
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Meanwhile, another shunting puzzle has to be solved at Dunalistair. The harbour shunter fetches the van blocking the headshunt before releasing the loco and making up the return train. The extra brake van is wrongly marshalled at the head of the train, which will complicate the shunting at Rae Bridge later on:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1581.jpg&hash=f65700b92afe43a0269658b0562bcbb21b05a508)
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And here, finally, the branch goods is on its way to Rae Bridge at its advertised time of 3.20pm:
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I will endeavour to complete the tale before the end of the year! ::)
Well - New Years Eve has arrived and I'm afraid I won't be able to complete the series in 2015. For one, celebrations are imminent and I just spent half an hour fighting the wireless network on the d**n laptop that chooses this moment to conk out.
Anyway, the branch goods was on its way to Rae Bridge, I seem to remember. It arrives here, with the extra brake van leading:
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It would have been easier to marshal it to the rear of the train, as now we have to move all the train clear of the yard point to detach it:
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Brake van gone, now the string of cattle trucks is attached, with Jamie looking on as it is drawn away. A flat wagon has to be left in the siding till tomorrow, as the train would be too heavy even for the Darjeeling 'B' which has phenomenal hauling powers over the branch:
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The loco visits the ash pit and the water crane before taking its place at the head of the train. Meanwhile, the mountain tram comes in:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1601.jpg&hash=9b6d37148ba88e36879a63ecd05e41782cb9aaeb)
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The goods has to wait for the passenger service, which is taken care of by the steam railmotor with its new trailer. This reverses into the platform before setting off down the line to Dunalistair:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1610.jpg&hash=273b11029f0ee46d0068a97c2b8824a69c44ba68)
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Note that the trailer was ordered from the Chivers Carriage & Wagon Company, across the border in England!
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We will now have to leave the railmotor on its way until the new year has arrived! I'm off to celebrate Hogmanay.
Happy New Year to you all, and have fun!
This has been a great series, Ted. Looking forward to next year's installment.
Jeff S.
Thanks Jeff, glad you like the series.
24 hours on, and a new year has begun - let us hope it will be a better one than 2015.
I hope you all had a good time yesterday night as we had!
We left the railmotor on its way down the line. Here it is descending the curve into Dunalistair with the driver in the leading compartment, controlling the regulator over a linkage, and the handbrake on the bogie below him. The fireman can just be seen on the footplate:
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Next, the trailer is detached and the railmotor, which just fits the headshunt, runs round to end up with the loco end leading:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1626.jpg&hash=c22de1d57600985a72d670a1dbad52078bf1880d)
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Meanwhile at Rae Bridge, 'Shiva' backs its train past the junction points before blasting up the connecting line. The distillery pug, which is the only other engine in steam at Rae Bridge, attaches to the rear end to give the heavy train a much needed shove up the tramway. Its tiny powers just tip the balance between stalling and success:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1635.jpg&hash=248e2e484205f1517a09391c5cff531433a2e199)
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The distillery loco turns back and the gate over the tramway is closed behind it:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1648.jpg&hash=36507d45f6c3a9efab2a6a0b235b3dc6951627a5)
Meanwhile the railmotor has departed from Dunalistair and an hour later ends up in the road behind Rae Bridge station:
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At 4pm, the main line goods has just left Inverlochan, trailing the customary coach for those not minding the delays during the endless shunting in intermediate stations. This is the pre-WW1 period, and little distinction is yet made between goods and mixed workings although they are mentioned separately in the timetable. You will note a famous wagon in the train. This came down from the Craig & Mertonford, and is at least 15 years older than the oldest stock I made myself - the open wagon and the carriage have their roots in the late 1960s:
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Tender first, 'Ariadne' rolls down the gorge, only a minute or so from Rae Bridge, where the branch service has been waiting behind the station. As the few passengers have changed for the branch, the railmotor departs:
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Now there is a lot of shunting to be done. More later!
'Ariadne' is fetching an empty van from the carriage siding, and two loads of steel parts and scrap from the works. Jamie is looking on as the loco couples up. Note the sag in the roof - the van may be due for a spell in the works:
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As the last mountain tram of the day departs up the hill at 6.20pm for passengers to brave the midges and view the sunset, the goods gets the right of way. It's a good idea to include a spare coach in the goods trains as this greatly enhances the service:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1690.jpg&hash=6797cddc4868ad223db9cf30c28acc4a8fc6134a)
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Arrival at Dunalistair, the best part of an hour later. Here a lot of shunting is to be done - the crew will barely manage to get away at 7.20pm. First we see the harbour shunter extracting the loaded stock from the sidings as the new arrivals still wait in the platform road. Note that 'Ariadne' has reversed the coach into the loco siding. Both coaches there will be attached to the rear of the train:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2015%2Falbum%2F2015december%2Fimages%2FIMG_1699.jpg&hash=4a4664985bf0bb50553fda6c5381e8b19dbfeddc)
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Next, after the new arrivals have been removed from the platform road and the up train is assembled in the harbour road on the left, 'Ariadne' has hauled the coaches from the loco siding and runs round the train to fetch water. Note that the coaches still have to exchange places as the third brake must be detached at Rae Bridge. That is a shunting challenge in itself:
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As the harbour shunter busies itself with two wagons, one of which has to go to the Caledonia Foundry, the up goods waits in the platform. The second photo shows 'Ariadne' at the head of the heavy train snaking through the curves out of Dunalistair. This is a big-boilered 0-8-0 well up to the heavy job:
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After the goods has gone, the Foundry shunter creeps along the coastal line with a load of cut steel plate, to fetch a wagon of scrap waiting on the harbour road. Despite its attractive livery applied by its previous owner, the Barclay is on its last legs. It badly needs overhaul but at the moment cannot be spared:
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Note that the vertical boiler loco 'Jock' isn't there yet in this pre-WW1 time frame - it is supposed to arrive only in 1915!
Somehow the light isn't right in some of the Dunalistair photos - I think it is time to install a LED strip and remove the small fluorescent tubes. This will also do away with the shadows in the 'sky'.
More later!
Another instalment continuing where the last left off. 'Ariadne' works the heavy goods into Rae Bridge, where more shunting will be needed if I look at the 'waybills' or route markers on the goods stock:
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Meanwhile a typical shunting move is underway at Dunalistair, where the foundry shunter drops one wagon on the main line to be picked up by the harbour shunter, then works onto the turntable and transfers to the harbour road where a load of scrap is waiting. This is then pushed to the foundry. Note the idler wagon made from an old GEM whitemetal kit, which has an Egger coupling at one end and an N gauge coupling at the other:
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Now let's have another look at Rae Bridge, where the long goods (or mixed, if you like) has stopped way past the footbridge to bring the coaches alongside the short platform. The brake third has to come off, and some wagons will have to be exchanged:
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The cattle truck is pushed beyond the loop point for coupling up to the front of the train. The train will be pushed forward to couple up, then drawn back into the loop. This is easier than having to draw the entire train clear of the other end of the loop. Something I learned soon enough when shunting long trains! Meanwhile, the down boat train which has left Craigcorrie at 7.40pm, is on its way to Rae Bridge over Inverlochan Moor:
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The last instalment will be here soon!
In the gathering dusk, the boat train hurries through the shadows in the Glenclachan Gorge:
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As the train arrives at Rae Bridge, it will be noted that the goods service it has to cross had to reverse to clear the loop points at the upper end of the station. This has moved the coach away from the short platform - inconvenient but unavoidable. The tail light and signal lights are starting to show up (Photoshop is my friend!) even though the hill tops are still in daylight:
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Next, here is the long goods train being hauled through the gorge, with an orange sheen coming from the cab as the fireman works hard to keep up the pressure:
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A short stop for shunting at Glenclachan siding where the sheep are being herded into the pen as the wagons in the siding are exchanged. Following that, the train draws forward to the tiny platform:
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We're leaving the goods which soon will be on its way across the darkening moor. The boat train now rolls into Dunalistair, as the last reflections of the setting sun are in the sky:
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Soon the train enters the gloomy station, at the end of which the steamer lies waiting, with steam up and navigation lights on. Soon the gangway will be hauled away and the passengers will be on their way to Oban and Fort William:
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This concludes the tale of what I am doing it for, having operated the layout on and off since Christmas. Apart from being a modeller, I am also a railway operator - I like to see them run and solve the shunting puzzles along the way.
Thanks for your interest in reading this thread.
A note on the photos: these were all made using a video camera that makes passable stills. The mean shutter speed is about 1/25th second which needs me to take three or four images before I have one that isn't blurred. The last photos in the series were given a working over using Photoshop, since there was little time to set up the elaborate lighting arrangements needed for night photos as I have done in the past, and I would have had to use a different camera and a tripod. Tweaking the colours, the saturation and the brightness, as well as filling in the lights with brighter spots, resulted in passable dusk photos.
Final note:
Long after the boat train left up the line, darkness had fallen. Then a mournful whistle sounded from beyond the headland, requesting the home signal to be cleared. This was the last coal train of the day, hauled by 'Lyn'. Here the loco can just be made out against the dark ocean, lit up by a stray patch of moonlight...
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And now I'm done! ::)
Super! Thanks Ted for brightening up these dismal dark wet days we have endured over Christmas and New Year.
All the best, Roger
Thanks Roger. It must have been the wettest Christmas ever in your parts! I hope you kept your feet dry.
Glad I provided a bit of entertainment.
Bravo, Bravo.
Your Modelling, Photography and Story telling are much appreciated.
Thanks for your reply, Andrew.
Very Nice Ted
Thanks, Brian. The last photo was really a case of a poor man's light studio, but it worked. I tried to photograph the train as a ray of light came in from a window in the door, but the backscene was too dark. So I put a lamp on the floor and the stray light just lit it up enough to succeed.
Thank you Ted, beautiful story telling, and descriptive pictures, this is surely worth a Peco book Mr Pritchard? and if it is ever in print, will be very quickly on every narrow gauge modellers book shelf, and well thumbed by any modeller looking for inspiration.
Kind regards,
BrianT.
Thanks all, for your interest and kind comments.
Regarding a book, Brian - I have written many pieces on the layout over the years, and I have many photos and drawings, but a book isn't something produced by simply throwing everything together. That's what is holding me back. Perhaps some time in the future, but not right now... ;)