Craig Watson

Was good to catch up Pete, the layout looked looked great. Cheers Craig

I assume you've seen this months Railway Modeller? Always nice to see comments like the above, its our club layout and a few of us have been working on it over the last few months to improve it even more for Model Rail, hopefully you'll enjoy it again.

Have been busy over the last couple of months getting the content for the show guide ready, now it's off to the publisher I can breathe out for a wee while before a very early start on set up day to escort the HGV thats bringing our largest ever layout to the show into the hall, the whole 70'x40' that is Mick Worrall's O gauge model of Eastfield TMD. In addition to Eastfield we have still managed to get another 51 layouts along with our usual wide range of demonstrators, traders and society stands, we've also got the popular ice cream stand in the corner, which always does a roaring trade (yes, even though its still February in Scotland!). Having already seen Eastfield in the flesh and also supplying some stock which will be running on it at the weekend I can honestly say the thought of seeing it being exhibited is giving me goosebumps already! Eastfield as it was in the mid 1980’s was always a highlight of a trip to Glasgow on the train for the then 10/11year old train daft me, the excitement started to grow after leaving Lenzie where Cadder yard always had something interesting to see, however that was just for starters, the main event lay a couple of minutes after leaving Bishopbriggs and coming out of the cutting, a seat on the left hand side of the train had to be acquired as soon as we got on the train at Falkirk Grahamston as that was where you got the best passing view of the highlight of the journey! Here's my Easybuild 101 passing the depot on my recent visit, I can still go back to sitting behind the driver, (hopefully he's got the blind up) with my eyes wide open taking it all in! Hopefully we'll see you at the show. Craig

Looking forward to it, will be there with my O gauge layout Glasshouse Loan on behalf of Bonnybridge MRC. Cheers Craig

Brilliant, looking forward to getting one of these.

Lots of diesels aren't class anything though, plenty of industrial designs to pick from.

Another Port Kembla update, Recent work has seen the basic sky backscenes fitted and the control panel built and wired with DCC Concepts switches and LED indications, next up will be fitting the cobalt point motors. I also scratchbuilt some of the overhead line structures so test fitted them tonight to check heights with the Tangara pantograph before I start to add the wire supports etc. I've also got a new Digitrax Evolution DCC system for the layout but it's a birthday present from my wife so has been hidden away for a couple of weeks!! Will hopefully get the trip shed painted over the next few weeks and get the lighting fitted to the rest of the buildings too. I've also accepted an invite to my local model railway exhibition here in Scotland for November 2024, more on that later! Some more pics below. cheers Craig

A round up of work carried out over the last month or so. With the layout being built in our clubrooms I only really get the chance to work on it during club nights so progress can be pretty slow at times! Since the first post I've been working on the station platform, using the excellent Westhill Wagon Works/DCC Concepts platform kit, suitably bashed to fit, the fencing they produce is very similar to that found on the Sydney rail network stations so will also be adapted to suit. I've also got the alignment pins fitted for the fiddle yard and the track wiring completed to allow the layout to be run, I've recently started the base weathering of the track before I start the ballasting. The main shed has also had its roof trusses and lights fitted, I've also got Scale Model Scenery LED lights to fit to the exterior, the other sheds will also be lit both inside and out.

Thanks, its run by Progress Rail now, they bought Downer EDI's Freight Rail rolling stock maintenance business in 2018.

Another layout project on the go to add to my Canadian HO and Scottish O gauge layouts! I have family who live in Narellan New South Wales and have visited a few times over the years, the last time being Christmas/New Year 2018/19, each time I have picked up a few models to bring back to the UK. On my last two visits we spent some time in Wollongong as the kids loved the beach there, it also let me disappear for a few hours to explore the railways around the steelworks at Port Kembla! On visiting the station and depot there it planted the seed for an eventual layout idea which has developed with work starting on the layout a few months ago. The layout is a representation of the station and depot with some compromises due to the available width I have as the boards are only 600mm wide, the complete layout will be 5.4m long (4.2m scenic with a 1.2m off scene fiddle yard. The boards are laser cut from Grainge and Hodder and i'm using Peco code 75 track. My fleet at present consists of around 18 locos and 2 Tangara sets, I've also got a BL loco on the way too. The layout is currently being built in my model railway club's clubroom, it'll eventually be set up in my garage at home. I've added some pics of my progress so far, I'll add more as it progresses too.

Did you get a pic of the TTA on Templegate at Glasgow last week? I should have came over and took one!

Due to a late withdrawal of one of the booked layouts I'll now be exhibiting my O gauge layout Glasshouse Loan at the show on stand B32. Hopefully we'll see you there.

Sorry Dave, had copied the list off the website as I was at work, have amended now and will let them know about the website too. Craig

The above lists are of course subject to change, there are a few extra trade stands I'm waiting on confirmation/information on, once I have it I'll update the lists above. Craig

Their products always go down well, even in Scotland at the end of February🤣

Trade and society stands, Accurascale – Show Supporter Bachmann Collectors Club – Show Supporter Hornby Hobbies Ltd – Show Supporter PECO (Pritchard Patent Product Company Ltd) - Show Supporter Back on Track Bill Hudson Books Brushes 4 Models Culcheth Model Railways D & E Videos / Realtrack Models / Leggobiffoman Sound Cheltenham Model Centre Cavalex Models Deltic Preservation Society Digitrains Douglas Blades Durham Trains of Stanley Ellis Clark Trains Footplate Gaugemaster Going Loco H &A Models Harburn Hobbies Heljan A/S Hornby Magazine JDM Models KMS Railtech Kytes Lights Langley Models Locomotion Malcs Models Mech Models Northumbrian Painting Services North Road Models Pennine Models Plus Daughters Primo Models Railstuff Rainbow Railways Realism Redefined Revolution Trains Road Transport Images Ten Commandments The Galloway Fudge Company The Junction Box The Model Centre T Gauge .com TTC Diecast Videoscene Vission Design Innovation West Hill Wagon Works Ltd Woody’s Ice Cream Society stands, Paddle Steamer Preservation Society Railfuture Scotland Scottish Railway Preservation Society Caledonian Railway Association Friends of the West Highland GNoSR Association Highland Railway Society Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway North British Railway Study Group RCTS Scottish Wildlife Trust Scale Society Stands, 2mm Finescale Association Caledonian Railway Association Double O Gauge Association G Scale Society Gauge O Guild MERG N Gauge Society Scalefour Society ScOONs – Scottish Area Group of OO9 Society Warley Exhibition Promotion

Modeling Demonstrations, Glasgow South Train & Tram Group Roland Turner Scottish Modellers Forth & Clyde N Gauge Group

Layouts, St Adian, Z Gauge Millig Creek, N Gauge Lammermuir, N Gauge Farmers Drove, N Gauge Gravelly Oak, N Gauge Depot des Camion, N Gauge Little Ashton, N Gauge Glenmore, N Gauge Helmstadt, N Gauge Gresten, Hoe Kaninchenbau, Hoe Eastern Iron Steel, OO Gauge Mailingpark West, OO Gauge Drumcross OO Gauge Hyndford, OO Gauge Cadham Bay, OO Gauge Friars Gate Depot, OO Gauge Deadmans Lane, OO Gauge Ballachulish, OO Gauge Studio Tour, OO Gauge Bristol Avon Bridge, OO Gauge Rossiter Rise, OO Gauge North Cornwall Brewery, OO Gauge Abbey Cove, OO Gauge Northbridge, OO Gauge Lockerbie, OO Gauge Kirkwood Central, OO Gauge Alloa, OO Gauge Waddon Marsh, OO Gauge Copper Wort, OO Gauge Dunsfold Road, OO Gauge Burntisland, P4 Garlieston, P4 Glasshouse Loan, O gauge Templegate Wagon Works O gauge Glebe Street, O gauge Cotesby, O gauge Laramie Engine Terminal, O gauge Deesyde, O gauge Bridgend, O gauge Puddle Bridge, O gauge Penrhyn Quarries, O 16.5 Blackhawk House, On30 Four Feather Falls, On30 Hartz Mountain Railway Experience, G Scale Playout, Lego railways with a difference Tamshooglie, An ideal place for young enthusiasts to visit Playcraft Railways, A trip down memory lane for more than a few of us!

Couldn't resist one of Rails bargain Heljan 31's so ordered one on Thursday night and selected DPD as the shipping option thinking it would arrive sometime next week, got an update email yesterday saying it was on its way with DPD and would be delivered next Wednesday which I was quite happy about. Got a further text at 10am this morning saying it was out for delivery, it was in my hands by 11am.

My copy of the 47/7 book also arrived today to join the 26 and 47/4 books, this one has went above and beyond, the section from our member Graeme Moyes on his recollections of driving the push pulls has put into print some of the memories he's told me over the years of our friendly driver/signalman banter!! As one of the members of SDEG from the start I'm really proud of how our wee group took the decision to back Andrew with the publication of this series, and having seen tasters of the next volumes I can't wait for these too. They're worth their weight in gold to anyone wanting to accurately model the variants covered by the book, they're a mine of information on the detail variations of the classes.

Another good day at the show, Glasshouse Loan packed up and out of the hall in under an an hour and 15 minutes later I was parked up in the drive. Thanks to Malc, Joe, Dougie and the rest of Falkirk MRC for putting on another good show👏👏👏

Had a good first day exhibiting my O gauge layout "Glasshouse Loan" under the banner of my club, the invite being rolled over from the cancelled 2020 and 2021 shows! As a long time exhibitor (and former member) at Falkirk MRC who's memory stretches back to being taken as a kid to their exhibitions in the old Drill hall at the top of Cow Wynd in the town centre I had harboured some doubts to myself about the new location beforehand mainly with the location being not that accessible by public transport however top marks to the organaising team for the bus service from Falkirk down to the stadium, the queue at opening time put my doubts to bed and the influx every time the bus arrived seemed to show that it was well used. The catering was never going to be as good as the big college canteen of old but the standard of food from the van outside was decent enough. I thought there was a good mix of layouts, both in scale and subject, there was decent trade support too which I'll be having a better look at tomorrow. Hopefully we'll see some more of you there tomorrow!

Dodgy O gauge layout owner who also dabbles in Canadian HO bottom right!!

Looking forward to exhibiting Glasshouse Loan at its first exhibition since Model Rail Scotland in 2020! I'll be moving the time period from the mid 70's to mid 80's throughout the show.

EMD rebuilt GP8. Some more pictures. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=149832