Now for a few words now about the location of the layout. This I find one of the most interesting bits as I enjoy the background research.

Whilst at school I discovered in the library some dusty, unloved, old railway books, among them was an early edition of John Thomas’ Callander and Oban Railway. This quickly became a favourite line; the Killin Railway in particular always drew my attention. So for this model I will be turning my back on my turn of the century LNWR fetish for something different; the Killin Railway.

Over the years I have amassed a collection of magazine articles and books on the line, the tinterweb provides a few more images (www.railbrit.co.uk type in Killin) and holidays in the locality have resulted in a few trips along the line, sadly on foot and bike.

I have a plan drawn up, whilst on business in Berlin of all places, for the whole line in 2mmscale in a 6ft x 4ft space (a future project? see below), so, to avoid repetition I am delving into the rich world of “might have been”.

I have re-done the whole lot in Templot so I know it does work!

The Killin Railway existed in independence until grouping and was in fact one of the last lines to be absorbed as they held out against the might of the LMS for a better settlement for shareholders. This was quite remarkable for a line which never declared a dividend and relied on the good will of the Caledonian Railway to support it and provide Locomotives and stock for operation (for which it kept the majority of the receipts).

It did however dream of expansion along the banks of loch Tay. My layout imagines such expansion has taken place and resulted in a small terminus a mile short of the village of Fearnan on the East end of Loch Tay with an additional intermediate station at Lawers. (Peter Fletcher modelled such an extension in the 80’s with an imagined terminus at Lawers. The layout appeared in the September 1982 railway modeller). The layout will be quite basic, a loop and two sidings (drawings to follow in a future post).