mid 1980s fish movements - under rule 1

[guest311]

I have a question, although as it's under rule 1 it's more a case of peoples thoughts.....

IF fish was still being landed on the west coast of Scotland in the mid 1980s and ........

IF it was still being moved by rail ........

what wagons would be used ?

blue spot fish vans ?

40' reefer containers on container flats ??

or what

thinking of the Kyle line to / through Inverness and then onwards 

suggestions ........

cheers

alan

[D1042 Western Princess]

What if? Always an interesting question; below is my attempt at an answer.
Given that when the old 6 wheeled milk tankers were withdrawn in the late 197s or early 1980s they built new tankers (hardly, if ever used, but they were built) is there not a chance that new fish vans would have been constructed just for this traffic?
They would probably have been based on the design of the old fish van but, presumably, with a longer wheelbase, maybe even bogies, for higher speed, refrigerated and air braked.
I honestly doubt container traffic for the cargo as container flats tend to be semi permanently coupled sets of five (or so) and I think it unlikely a train of that length would be needed.
Of course all this is speculation but, as I said, those new milk tankers were built so who knows?

Best wishes,
Greg.

[guest311]

hi Greg,

thanks for your suggestion



VGA with a chiller unit in one end ?

alan

[joe cassidy]

I believe that fish was shipped south from Aberdeen in containers in the 1980s.

I say that because I work for a paper company and we had some complaints at the time about our paper smelling a bit fishy as it travelled in the same containers (not with the fish but on subsequent journeys).

Best regards,


Joe

[guest311]

many thanks for that Joe,

perhaps the paper should have been used to wrap fish and chips 



alan

ps just had a thought .....

I've got several 40' MOL refrigerated containers on semitrailers, and they are white.

looks like a go with the T-cut to remove the lettering on the sides and I might be on track to a rake on an FGA+FFA+FFA+FGA set 

should they have a blue spot on them ??

[PostModN66]

Just in practical terms why not use the Dapol Cargowaggons?  You could make up a nice imaginary livery, in the same way that the Taunton Cider or Blue Circle ones were done.

Cheers  Jon 

[D1042 Western Princess]

I believe that fish was shipped south from Aberdeen in containers in the 1980s.

I say that because I work for a paper company and we had some complaints at the time about our paper smelling a bit fishy as it travelled in the same containers (not with the fish but on subsequent journeys).

Best regards,


Joe

Perhaps, but would there have been enough fish to justify container traffic from the West Highland line or the Kyle of Lochalsh which were my thoughts.

[D1042 Western Princess]

perhaps the paper should have been used to wrap fish and chips 

  I love your thinking! 

[Chris]

Alan do I detect another of your wacky commission projects heading my way?   

[guest311]

Alan do I detect another of your wacky commission projects heading my way?   

well you have risen to every challenge so far 

thinking of PostModN66's suggestion, would it be feasible for cargowaggons to a. be insulated, and b. be fitted with a refrigeration unit at one end ?

following that idea I'd assume a white scheme, basically an up to date blue spot fish van.

so, go on Chris, break out the photoshop 

alan

[guest311]

to add to my 'fleet' of the LSMs to become ferries, and tugs to donate superstructures to the ferries, I've recently acquired 3 of the Revell 'Ross Jackal' trawler kits.

I don't know what sort of weight of catch would have been landed from one of these size ships in the mid 80's, but that was the trigger for this question.

alan

[Papyrus]

to add to my 'fleet' of the LSMs to become ferries, and tugs to donate superstructures to the ferries, I've recently acquired 3 of the Revell 'Ross Jackal' trawler kits.

Do you need another one? I have one that is surplus to requirements. It is the 'Arctic Corsair', but appears to be the same model. PM me if you are interested.

Cheers,

Chris

[guest311]

looks like the fishing fleet is growing 

unless of course I build a sodding great mast on it and call it Radio McCaroline 

[D1042 Western Princess]

looks like the fishing fleet is growing 

There used to be quite a few kits of ships around that size not so long ago, along with the fishing boat a coastal tanker, lightship and (I think) small cargo ship, all to roughly N gauge.

If they are bringing the fishing boat back then maybe the others? Given the popularity of small harbours as justification for layouts I am surprised there are not more ship kits like these available.

[bluedepot]

what refrigerated vans were there / are there on british rail?

maybe vga could have been used and fitted out...


tim