Thank you for re-opening the thread
Well, I've not done one before; so I'm going to do one of the advent things too now that I have enough locomotives... except, I'm going to do 3 weekly updates and then one little one at the end.
A quick recap on Fort George- I run any of: BR Steam, BR Green Diesel, Sectorisation/Privatisation crossover, early privatisation and the branch line on my layout can also run as a preserved railway. Rolling stock can be anything from coastal Scotland from Stranraer to Mallaig or Oban, Inverness and right round to Aberdeen in any of the above era's- so basically it's whatever I want
There's a loose Fort William theme as the layout track plan resembles it slightly with a mainline terminus and branchline deviating off somewhere.
Day 1(25)
View attachment 106571
My HST is the excellent modern Hornby variety, is DCC fitted and well-weathered by TMC. I've got trailers in IC swallow livery and virgin so it can run with either. It's definitely one of my favourite looking models, but it runs well too. I'm a fan of HST's so that's why it features and some of my favourite journeys have been up to Inverness on the HST. Ideally, I'd like Hornby to do a GNER version with the correct length MK3's in the future...
Day 2(0)
View attachment 106574
The DRS class 20 is DCC fitted and again is weathered by TMC. I've always liked class 20's, but travelling on the DRS Class 20 farewell railtour a couple of years back made me feel like I needed a mini version for posterity. The DRS 20 acts as a station pilot in modern times on the layout, is popular on the preserved branch during diesel gala's and will see future use paired with an upcoming advent locomotive on Nuclear Flask trains.
Day 3(7)
View attachment 106575
This 37 is one of the earliest loco's on the layout and is DCC Sound Fitted which I enjoy a lot. I did the weathering on it, but I will need to revisit it in the future as it doesn't meet my more current standards, although I think it looks okay. It's up in Fort George for testing and evaluation, but word is that they cause excessive track wear so might not be around too long. This loco is however popular with the preservation society so its future is secure.
Day 4(7)
View attachment 106576
The 47 is Bachmann is DC only, but works fine and I keep it isolated when not in use. This was an early attempt at weathering from me and it's not the finest to say the least, but it does look okay from a distance. This locomotive works Virgin Cross Country services with Mk2's.
Black Five Day
View attachment 106577
This Black 5 is Hornby, DCC Sound Fitted, TMC Weathered, has real coal and cab crew fitted. One of my favourite models, seen here on a train to the coast. The loco features on just about anything from passenger workings to rescuing failed diesel locomotives in BR days and can of course feature in preserved mode or even on the Jacobite steam service or a railtour.
Day 6(6)
View attachment 106578
The resident class 66 is seen departing Fort George with an engineers working. This locomotive is Bachmann DCC sound and weathered by me, but will be revisited in the future. The locomotive usually works light freight duties around the area and stables at the station from time to time. What I love about this locomotive is how smooth a runner it is, it's probably the smoothest I own and is really in a league of its own.
Day (6)7
View attachment 106579
I'm a fan of 67's and I've travelled behind 67016 before so it was the loco for me! It's DCC fitted and is a really nice model. Such a versatile locomotive more than earns its keep on the layout featuring on the Caledonian Sleeper, Postal Services, Virgin Cross Country services and railtours.