Silver Sidelines

Following on from my last Post I am showing some more pictures of the Main Junction Station concentrating on the ‘through’ tracks that form the Mainline. The Main Junction – overview with two Bachmann Scots in the centre two way road To help locate the pictures I have turned the track plan presented in my last post from the vertical to the horizontal. The Main Junction – not to scale The preferred through routes I have labelled as Up and Down Main. First some trains passing on the Down Main. Hornby Princess Royal on Bachmann Mk1s approaching on Down Main Bachmann Class 20s on fitted freight passing on the Down Main Now some trains on the Up Main. Bachmann Super D approaching on the Up Main The latest arrival from Bachmann with a ‘Parcels’ at the Up Main When playing trains I think it helps to have lots of places to store whole trains. These arrangements are not unlike the UK railway system in the 1950s and early 60s when there...

I thought this a suitable occasion to reminisce.   What railway models did I treat myself to in the past? 46115 ‘Scots Guardsman’ – Mainline Pallitoy model on Bachmann chassis One of my all time favourites was ‘Scots Guardsman’.   This was purchased new from Kings Cross Models at the end of November 1983 for the princely sum of £27.64.   The scanned image below shows the model shortly after purchase with black painted wheels. 46115 ‘Scots Guardsman’ – Mainline Pallitoy model on early Mainline Royal Scot chassis (937 088) Pallitoy’s Scots Guardsman was one of the first Mainline models to be fitted with the new slimmer profile wheels.   I seem to recall that I had serious issues with the quartering of these wheels and that Scots Guardsman was soon given a replacement chassis from an original Royal Scot model with a damaged body that I came across in Trent’s Toy shop in Swindon.   I had a similar issue with Jubilee Class ‘Mars’...

I have long admired the ex LMS rebuilt Royal Scots.   This little note details some improvements that I have found necessary for some of my Bachmann models. First a couple of views of the prototype from the 1960s, 46132 at Carlisle Citadel (04/08/62 ) 46154 at Lime Street maybe in 1962 No surprise then that when I returned to the hobby that my first purchase was a Mainline Royal Scot.   This came from the Morpeth Model Shop in August 1980 and cost £19.00.   This was followed in November 1983 by Scots Guardsman from Kings X Models.   This came with thinner profile wheels and a semi gloss paint coat for a cost of £27.64.   However it still had a Mainline chassis, probably more than one if I remember rightly.   I have included below a scanned image of Scots Guardsman taken when new. Fast forward now to 2008, Scots Guardsman lives on and is now fitted with a replacement Bachmann chassis.   The origina...