Scalefour Forum

John is right. The Caledonian Sleepers are really the last example of carriage shunting en route and indeed of many other aspects of the old railway. Were we not engaged in a pandemic, the booked train service still involves combining/dividing at Carstairs (Glasgow and Edinburgh portions) and at Wav...

What a splendid idea and what a wonderful stimulating day resulted.
Hearty congratulations to everyone involved.

Jim

Thanks, Tony.
And your talk has made me resolve to get to terms with my Silhouette cutter tomorrow!
A beautifully clear exposition. Thanks.

Jim

And you remind me of ETHEL. She was the Electric Train Heating Ex Locomotive, a 'non traction' Derby Type 2, which was coupled inside the train locomotive, purely to supply heat for the Mark 111 sleeping cars on the West Highland, so that modern stock could reach the remote HIghlands. As I was sayin...

Yes, Rod. Nowadays one thing which has improved is heating of trains. Even if a coach is too cold or hot, you can generally move elsewhere nowadays. In the old days, no heat meant no heat anywhere. That said, when I was at terminal station in the days of DMUs, which had very cold cabs, I used to kee...

Hope you are enjoying your Scaleforum folks.
I'll be around from 1600-1700 for any comments on my talk, and will be looking in at other times.

Jim

The East of Scotland Area Group fully understands and supports the decision. We would particularly like to thank all those who have been working hard towards this year's event, only to see their efforts set at naught by the situation - well, surely only at naught for this year anyway. Jim Summers Ac...

Well, I certainly enjoyed admiring it, Andrew. Naked models - in the unpainted sense, you understand - have an attraction all their own, especially when so neatly finished as Tom's work.
Best wishes,
Jim

Thanks, Noel.
One can understand how its name lasted longest in publications associated with the rules and signalling.

Jim

Howard, Provocative, moi? Thanks for your word pictures of work in a busy box, renewing I hope our respect for the skill, stamina, and temperament of those involved. By the way, I commend the CD by the Signalling Record Society of the sounds of Stockport No. 2 during the rush hour in 1981. Not only ...

Just to go back for a moment to the question of when the RCH Regulations began to apply, I was brought up on the Green Book dated 1st October 1960 (you can tell I have it in front of me as I write, and it is full of stuck-in amendments). The Bell Signals therein, where they describe the trains, are ...

Having written "Signalling the Caledonian Railway", naturally I have been reading these postings with interest. Hindsight is of course a wonderful thing. Quintinshill was a modern box, but without track circuits. These were known at the time, and the company had considered them, but was ve...

David, This is not a show with trade, and indeed we are not allowed to trade under our agreement with the Low Port. It is an informal show for modellers to share ideas and enjoy what others have been achieving, a Skills Day, in other words. So, you'll only need some cash for lunch and perhaps a dona...

Here is the up-to-date list of the delights we have planned for the Skills Day this coming Saturday in Linlithgow.
All welcome!

Jim

Doug, I have only recently started mine, but I see I put a note in its box many years ago that Tim Shackleton wrote an article on building the crane in RailModelDigest No. 5. And before you ask, regrettably I no longer seem to have a copy, but someone might. I do however have a copy of the drawing o...

David inquired where the bus is leaving from.
I was checking the bus timetable on the website this afternoon, and I found it was the usual station forecourt (the bus stop in Station Way), as in the past for Scaleforum.
I will be waiting there anyway for the first bus.

Jim

Well, as no one else has commented so far, I will just observe that it is remarkable how much progress my mates can make when I am not there. And since you ask, I was in Watford, enjoying the Society AGM and the delights laid on by the traders and exhibitors there: it was a good day out. Some fine a...

Can't let Monday morning pass without thanking all concerned for another fine Scaleforum.

The chat, the demonstrators, the test track and the retrospective, together with the amiable traders and friendly layout operators, all made for that Scalefour experience which is to be treasured.

Jim

Jon, Regarding cylinders, if you find your way to the Forum of the Caledonian Railway Association Scalefour Society and find the thread on building a '262' ST class http://www.crassoc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=804 you will find how Alan Kirk does his fine work using somewhat more modern m...

The pedant timetabler in me has to point out that on Saturday the 0608 from Edinburgh Waverley is in Wakefield at 0923, which is a bit over three hours. True, not everyone can catch something that early from Waverley, but connections run into the 0707, due Wakefield at 1022. The service is hourly th...

I am no expert, but Euan Cameron is, having studied in depth and drawn such locomotives for many years. So, from New York, where he now resides, comes the following authoritative information in response to Andrew's query. I may add that Euan has supplied the beautiful drawings from which our fleet o...

Martin wrote about an incident some time ago, and things will of course be different now, but note he says: "when the guard sounded the buzzer to start . . . the driver immediately opened the regulator and set off". The Guard is due a disciplinary charge, even if the train did not come to ...

Back at the other end of the country again this morning (on time, of course), I just have to say once again that the travelling is all worthwhile. A well-thought-out show, with plenty opportunities to watch, listen, express views, sit, poke, prod, try out, be stimulated, and catch up with the Scalef...

Yes, Mark. It is Bo'ness. The teak we used has quite a history - a trunk of teak was found un-manifested (i.e. smuggled) on a ship sunk off Ireland. It was found 70 years after the sinking, but it's good stuff, teak. By all means use the photo but credit it to Dave Hall. I have dozens of my own, but...

Not 4mm, but here is some 12" to the foot modelling I get involved in and seems somewhat relevant perhaps.The table lamps are an anachronism, I know, but they are removable.
No transfers were used for the lettering.

Jim