The Far North Line

paul_l wrote:

Here are a couple of shots showing the difference. The Barneys boiler is smaller in diameter, IIR, and is pitched a good bit lower- it sits behind the splashers rather than level with the top as on the 812. I'm not sure if the image cathes it too well but the size difference ios notable to the eye.

 

Thanks all; just after I had finished the hack about Caley Coaches did a release of some of their brass fittings, including Macintosh chimneys, which were perfect for this job, so a quick recall to the works and they now have something to be proud of.....





And a shot of 57585 on passenger duty. Not uncommon in the Highlands, but these were mainly freight locos, and I haven't for instance seen any photos of its Helmsdale sister doing anything other than that or PW work.



On shed, resting after its day's exertions....

 

Christmas Greetings from the Far North Line. I did attempt a snow in winter layout scene but it was beyond my limited manipulation abilities, so here is one from my chair instead. At least it is coal fired, and while not raising steam, is heating the water......

All the best as well for the coming year, with lots of modelling time to you all...

http://www.click

 

I have recently laid a couple of these points to see how they worked and lifted a three way Code 75 point in the Thurso goods yard and replaced it with two bullhead ones.
Here is a shot of the one I lifted.



My track is laid on a 5mm hard foam base with points having an aperture cut out for them. The existing Code 75 ones have a Peco foam underlay base but the newer points are a bit flimsier so decided to use the firmer hard foam for them. This was cut out and given a coat of Copydex, then the point and ballast placed on top, weighted and left overnight to dry.









I cut the foam for the two points as one but split them to make life a bit easier, and this method gives an easy ballasted point unit ready to drop in place.



The edges were corked and Polyfillad to tidy them up and then a fillet of glue run along the sides and ballast scattered on it.I used a couple of veneer pins to hold them steady but the units have a degree of vertical movement, as does the plain track, which I find helps with wheel contact.





And the finished points in place.

 

Bit of housekeeping recently involved replacing some of the track leading from the new point to the far goods road - I had used a small piece that managed a bit of a hiccup at the join with the existing rail that was apparent to the eye as well as the camera, so a longer length was inserted with the join at the goods platform and not so obvious, or badly done.....
Here it is.

 

The main object of my attentions has been a rebuild of the engine shed, to give it a bit more Highland feel. Couple of shots here and I'll go in to it a bit more on the workbench thread sometime soon.

 

Thought I'd include this one taken some time ago to show a sort of before and after....

 

Thanks all - took a bit of clicking and allowing Javascript before I tracked down POTW- still not got the hang of this new place.....