Bit of a cheat blog as the build-up to the Christmas festivities have limited modelling time, the first track is laid though, hopefully I can provide photos later in the week.

We are fortunate to be able to get a weekly dose of live steam as a few hundred meters from out house is Rudyard Lake which has a 1.5 mile 10½ inch gauge railway running along it http://www.rlsr.org/ They are currently running there Santa Trains which sounded like a great excuse for a family day out.

The Railway brings out all its carriages for these specials so Double heading is required up the grade (1in168) out of the station:-

The railway has some great little engines (apologies for the quality of the pictures, these were taken on my camera phone).

And of course the reason why we were all there

Having spent the past few years running and cycling (as well as the occasional train ride) alongside the tracks, I wouldn’t be able to call myself a railway modeller if thoughts had not strayed to the creation of a model!

Obvious all the stock would require scratch building but 6.5mm track in 7mm scale or 9mm track in 10mm scale should work. I guess that’s another one for the future projects pile!

As an example of how it can be done, and very well at that! I can thoroughly recommend Colin Peake’s blog:- http://o9modeller.blogspot.co.uk/

Anyway, I am supposed to be dealing with a 2mm boxfile layout so on with the plot!

The thorny question of stock has been investigated, as with virtually all scales there are limited Scottish Prototypes available RTR, this creates the challenge of modelling, however 2mm is not as badly off as it might at first appear.

Whilst in my eyes many lines get less interesting through time from the pre-grouping age, the Killin branch does the opposite.

Initially the line was operated by two Killin Pug locomotives. These were built by the CR specifically for the line, essentially a standard CR pug, made famous by Hornby (unfortunately not a scale model,) with a trailing axle to support extended coal provision. These were quickly shown to be inadequate for the line’s steep grades (1 in 50) and were replaced by Caley 171 0-4-4 tanks which ran the line through to the transfer of 15103 (the last of her class) to the Highland lines in 1932. She was withdrawn in 1944. From this point on 439 0-4-4 tanks and 0-6-0 Jumbos ran the line before being replaced by 2-6-4t standard 4s in the early 60s. It is the later that captured my imagination pulling their single 52ft coach up and down the 1 in 50 grade. The model will be set in the later change- over period 1958-1964.

So intended locos for the layout:-

· Macintosh 439 0-4-4t 55222, the cover shot for Backtrack magazine November 2000 (http://andibradley.c...roducts_id/4194) shows this loco in colour under the signal at Killin, this is the inspiration. etches available from Worsley Works http://www.worsleywo...m_Loco_Kits.htm

· Drummond 294 Jumbo 0-6-0 57246 etches also available from the Worsley works

· Standard 4 tank 2-6-4t 80126 allocated to the line 1962 until closure in 1965, not sure how to do this one as I don’t want to merely re-wheel N gauge products. That said if I’ve got the skill to build the chassis and valve gear in fine scale the body should be a doddle! The older bodies are available from BR Lines and the Worsley Works has a 3mm chassis designed for 12mm gauge which might be worth investigating if it could be made to work in 2mm once short down (The gauge wouldn’t matter as it would be rebuilt on a split chassis principle.)

Coaches (accurate coaching stock seems to be often overlooked)

· Thompson non-corridor brake 3rd 5 comp D361 (SC87309E) used in 1962 -64 a similar 4 comp was used in 1965.

· LMS P3 Steel sided brake 3rd 6 comp D1964 (SC20156M?) used upto 1962 (I think it’s a P3, it could be a P2 equivalent).

Both these coaches are available from the Worsley works and Etched Pixels http://www.ultima-mo...index-lner.html the Thompson is listed as a future product from Masterclass models http://www.mastercla...an_diagrams.pdf

Prior to this I believe a WCJS 45ft brake composite was used though I cannot find the reference to this again and I don’t know when it was replaced. In the previous entry Julian passed comment that Thompson Brake Composites were used on the line, these are similarly available from the sources above but I’ve yet to find a clear photo of one in action so remain to be convinced. Also through the period an older (LMS period 1?) 6 compartment brake was used for the school train to Callander (presumably increased capacity was required). I need to do a bit more research on this (LMS carriages are not my strong point!)

During the period modelled parcel traffic was quite busy :-

· Mk1 CCT available from the 2mm shop http://www.2mm.org.u....php?shop_num=3

· M1 BG (In blood and custard livery) available from the 2mm shop

Space restriction will probably dictate only the CCTs will be modelled.

The line was also visited by DMUs on the Six Loch’s tour, this was formed of two 3 car sets so will not fit; the six coaches would be nearly as long as the layout! That said a single DMU unit was photographed in the Killin yard, so it could be a “might have been”.

I am also reliably informed that a Class 20 and 27 visited with an excursion train prior to closure.

As “might have been” I may also include a Class 27 (re-wheeled Dapol when it’s released) to get me up and running and act as a reserve once the 2mm stock is constructed and a Class 21 from the Worsley Works (a personal favourite).

Possible alternate steam locos which were recorded in the locality, if not on the branch would include:-

4F available from the 2mm society shop

Black 5 2mm Society kit also from the 2mm Society shop

Fairburn tank Worsley Works etch and N Brass Castings.

All in all the line is well catered for in 2mm.

I’ll deal with wagon types in a later blog in the meantime I’d better break out the soldering iron!