Leaderboard

Like @ba14eagle I've been making the most of the fine weather today by spending time in and around the garden layout. I seem to have been through the sorting out of stock stage many times already but today was another day for that and now that I've got a good selection of locomotives I want to get the coaches together in suitable rakes so that I have easy access to them and don't have to worry about taking them out of individual boxes. The standard rakes of blue/grey Mk1's, Mk2's etc are fairly straightforward as are the Kyle line and West Highland green & cream sets but occasionally it's nice to be able to run something different such as excursion rakes. It would also be great if I could replicate something like the Royal Scotsman but there aren't really any suitable coaches available RTR so I keep thinking about creating my own 'special' train - coming up with an appropriate title for it and then selecting suitable vehicles from those I have available. Working in the shed it's quite handy that I can pop the camera on a tripod just outside the shed door and get a great view along Low Shott viaduct towards the spring points and the start of the double track section. I'm able to film trains leaving and entering the shed over the viaduct without having to do too much. So that's what I did today while sorting out some coaches. And yes, the spring points still work brilliantly saving a lot of hassle. In fact I think Peco should manufacture some that operate like that. Firstly 37254, the loco that kept stalling on the curve just the other side of Low Shott viaduct a few days back, is now running sweetly and is seen successfully hauling some standard Mk1's with the addition of an Inspection saloon on the rear. Passengers must pay a small premium to ride in the saloon. D6607 (37403) 'Ben Cruachan' is on a mixed rake of Pullman coaches including some blue/grey Mk1's and the Nightcap Bar 37248 'Loch Arkaig' can be seen hauling the 12-wheel Pullman coaches - superbly smooth runners. I wonder if the real things were just as comfortable a ride? I do need to add a signal on the double track section before the sprung points to hold an approaching loco while the absence of trap points is a little concerning..

Some freight action, captured today, at Summer Hampton.