BoD

This is a superb little layout. The photographs could easily have come directly from Ian Peaty’s book ‘Iron Rails and Whisky Trails’ which I’m guessing you have read. Well done.

Next was the signal box - I told you I was doing it in a strange order. and the old (I believe) station master's house. Next up - doubts.

Ok, as promised an update on ‘Inspired by Crianlarich’ which is still has no name. Before the update though, and bearing in mind that many of the photographs previously posted have been ‘lost’, I thought it might be worthwhile doing a quick update as to how far I had got. It began a good few years ago with the idea of creating a model of Crianlarich and to that end I started creating items for the model long before the model itself appeared. The first items I built were the signals. An unusual approach but it gave me something to do as a relief from ‘work’ As the layout progressed I started working on some of the buildings. As far as possible I worked from plans and photographs. The old engine shed. It was when I started the planning, baseboards and trackwork, and constructing the station buildings doubts entered my mind about an exact copy of Crianlarich, hence the change to inspired by Crianlarich. More of this when I find some more of the photographs that have since disappeared.

This evening we got back home from a few days in the West Highlands. Upon unpacking a bag I have come across some Lorne sausage, haggis slices and scotch morning rolls. Now how on earth did they get there? And what should I do with them?

… and if you ever do need to do that, don’t forget that you are meant to take them out of the foil first.

This morning I was at Crianlarich just checking things out and taking photographs, as you do, when it struck me that, whilst progress on the layout has been steady, but slow, I hadn’t updated this thread for a good while. Watch out, anything can happen in the next half hour few days.

Yep. A few days here then moving further north.

I know the feeling.

Well, dear readers, you may recall that earlier this year I was a little downbeat because my HbA1c blood sugar level was high. Entirely my own fault as I admit I wasn't being a sensible diabetic. After a recent re-test (it takes about 12 weeks for the old haemoglobin cells to 'die') my level was 43 mwhatsits/mol. This is not very far outside what is normal for non diabetics. As a side effect I have lost over two stone too. To say I'm chuffed is an understatement. I guess I'm also living proof that, for some, type 2 diabetes is as much to do with lifestyle as anything else. Note to self - this needs to be a lifetime change not just a flash in the pan. I apologise for not being up to date but we are 'away' at the moment. Last night I sat watching this develop ... I even allowed myself a glass of wine whilst watching it. I'm well content at the moment.

I’m addicted to brake fluid … but don’t worry, I can easily stop.

Just caught up with this news. I (along with lots of others, I’m sure) will greatly miss it.

That must be a good feeling. Or does it just become part of the job… Which ever, well done.

… but how many are on your layout at the same time. And how many are likely to be moving at the same time.

It was a Firkin big one.

Many happy returns, Stewart.

Well that definitely decides it then … https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-65446354

What? You stayed there?

I was doing my volunteering stint at a NT property today when a young(ish) gentleman asked “Did you used to teach at ******** school?” I tried to deny it - but he had me bang to rights. “You used to teach me” he said. ”… and my mam”. ”… and my gran”. You can quickly go off people.

Belated birthday wishes to @Dave Hunt I do hope my tardiness hasn’t turned him into a Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells.

Or it might be due to a cold northerly wind/arctic blast*. There is already a light covering of snow on some of the Scottish hills. Might @tigerburnie be able to see some I wonder. *Delete according to how sensationalist your forecaster is.

Out of interest I once went to the local library to borrow a book on conspiracy theories. They didn’t have any. Strange.

When reading CVs the motor of a loco does ‘pulse’ in response, often forwards and reverse. This is a normal part of the process. How much the loco actually moves depends on the loco, it’s motor and gearing. I recently read the all the CVs on a new Hornby V2 and had to physically move the loco back to the centre of the programming track a couple of times. It was a loksound decoder so there were lots of CVs to read. Other locos with loksound (as well as other decoders) did move but not nearly as much - so it does vary.

That’s what happens when you put an HO carriage in your OO train.

We had a mostly positive experience with the NHS today. I took Valerie for a further checkup after she fractured her foot earlier this year. Her appointment was 9.30 but we arrived at 9 as we hadn’t been to this particular hospital before. We checked in and within a couple of minutes she was called. Not long after she was back with me having had three x-rays and her check-up - all completed before her actual appointment time. We thought she might have been discharged but, even though the bone is healing nicely and ‘growing’ correctly, they want her back for a further check up in case any problem develops. Very positive experience so far, yet I only said we had a mostly positive experience. The negatives were, in the overall scene of things, minor ones. We missed the twenty minute free ‘drop off’ parking by five minutes and were charged £4 parking. Curdyturses. The other point which confused me somewhat, was that it seemed that the Orthopaedic Outpatient/Fracture clinic was as far away from the main entrance doors as was possible in the hospital - resulting in quite a long walk. Someone hadn’t thought that one through methinks.

It looks rather pretentious for a soldering iron stand.