Dunmar

Hi, As previously mentioned, it will be tight as can be seen by this photo. This train has taken up almost 5ft of baseboard. I'm going to have to make compromises along the way but I've made the decision to continue with Helmsdale. Bill.

Hi, Thought I might have a go at laying down some templates and see how the points will fit, it's going to be tight, but I think I can pull it off. The first photo shows the line from Wick, excuse the piece of card as I have run out of plywood. Not sure if I can accommodate the siding ( centre of photo) that originally went into the goods shed and remained there for some time. The second photo shows the cross over at the end of the platform at the north end. Finally, the third photo shows the approach from Inverness from under the road bridge. Hope this makes sense. Bill.

Hi, Photos of Helmsdale are thin on the ground, unless I'm not looking in the right places. But boy when you come across them , what little gems they turn out to be . Like this one from Scott Borthwick of 26 037 at Helmsdale in 1985 and after having round empty stock off the unadvertised Wednesday only Inverness to Dunrobbin Castle waits for clearance. Or how about this one from David Mason of 37 414 arriving at Helmsdale in 1987 and having stopped just around where the signal box is , I would assume the rear of the train must just about have cleared the road bridge. I hve downloaded some more photos from these talented photographers who have given me permission to use them. Bill.

Hi, Had an idea that might be the reply ! My problem is not with the length of the platform but more to do with the length of the cassettes. The platform will be shortened in any case, and using good old modellers licence, the odd coach will be dropped depending on passenger numbers and time of year. And oh ! I plan to set the time of year around the Autumn. Fancy having a go at something different in the way of colours. Bill.

Hi , Thanks for that. It helps me to understand better the layout as was back in the day and how I want to set out my track plan. Bill.

Hi, As I am planning to fit Helmsdale into 10ft due to space restrictions when operating at home I will have to reduce the length of the platforms. Can anyone give me an idea of how long they might be in relation to train size, ie. the number of coaches + loco. Although to be fair trains would have consisted of a varied number of stock. Under normal circumstances I would have planned a trip to the location, but this is not normal!!! Bill.

Hi, Almost completed the construction of the two scenic boards. As they were glued and screwed the second one is going through the drying process, once this is done they will both be painted in a mid grey undercoat to seal them . The next stage will be to see if my proposed plan will fit using my templates which I have downloaded from the Peco website. I have yet again amended the track plan to include the siding on the UP line and re-introduced the crossover pointwork along with the siding on the Down line to accommodate the goods shed. I feel that this will create more operational interest. Bill.

Yes, all rather confusing David. I did a bit more digging on the subject and it seems that the UP is referred to the train travelling to its base or Major city and the DOWN is referred to a train travelling away from its base or Major city. It would make more sense if I referred to Helmsdale as such!

Hi, I'm not too good at reading track diagrams but can you tell me why if travelling North to Wick the line through Helmsdale from Inverness is not called the Up Line and not the Down Line as on the drawing and vice versa. I'll get my coat shall I.?????.

Hi, This is as far as I have progressed. It has taken me an absolute age to get this far. One scenic board completed 5ft x 20 inches, only one to go. You will notice the softwood braces in the centre, by this stage I felt I had enough of making up plywood supports. Yes its nice and light, and it's solid and will stand up to the rigours of exhibition abuse ( if I ever get there) but oh! It's a lot of work! Have also decided to change to cassette storage as I did for Kinlochewe, and to employ four removeable legs for one scenic board with the other connected and supported on two legs. I can safely say without fear of contradiction that I hate this part of the hobby, it seemed a good idea at the time. Glenfinnan was built with the aid of Tim Horn, enough said!!! Bill.

Hi, This is how it's meant to look! I haven't done a baseboard like this before and I have been reliably informed that I should take great care to make sure that the top edge is flat before attaching the top board as it can go horribly wrong and you could get some warping of the board. Well here goes ! Bill.

Hi, Finally decided on a totally plywood girder style baseboard. There will be 2 x 4ft scenic sections, both will have a fixed angled extension added at each end to accommodate a curved fiddle yard left over from a previous layout. The final length of those extensions have not been decided yet. Will draw up a plan when that happens. Bill.

Hi, Been doing some research into the signalling and it appears that both lattice and round post signal styles were in use as shown in both these photos kindly provided by Arnie Furniss. I have already built the lattice versions and am now looking at the Dapol round post versions of which I have two and hoping I might be able to use them. I am continuing to trawl through some fascinating photos of the line around Helmsdale and learning a lot whilst slowly trying to organise the materials for the baseboards ! Bill.

Hi, Sorry to keep everyone waiting , but I'm just waiting on a few guys getting back to me with permission to use some photos for this project. The other problem I have is I don't have proper heating in my loft and that is where the baseboards are being constructed. When I think back to 2014/15 when I was building Glenfinnan it was round about the same time, and just as cold!!!!!!!!!! So bear with me , it will be worth the wait. When I set out to look at what I was going to do next I wasn't quite sure that Helmsdale would fit the bill, after some thought, I'm certain it will. Let the build COMMENCE !!!!!!!!!! ALL THE BEST , WHEN IT COMES, HERE'S TO A BETTER 2021.

Thanks Rob, this is the kind of stuff I'm looking for! Bill.

Great photo. Can you point me in the direction that photo came from ? I have a Flickr account and have recently got in touch with a couple of guys but still having trouble tracking down photos of Helmsdale just like that . Brilliant! Bill.

Hi, Please if anyone else has any information or details, especially photos of Helmsdale station, please feel free to post them here. Or , if you just want to point me in the direction of photo albums or references, then I would really appreciate it. Cheers, Bill.

Hi Ben, Once again you have come up trumps!!! That pic speaks a thousand words! have you got anymore of them at home. It really tells me a lot. I'm also looking for a photo of the south end of the small road overbridge, I have the odd pic or two from a distance but I did come across a full on view but failed to record it and am now unable to find it. It will be used as the scenic break from the south end. The more I delve into this project the more excited I get. But, I musn't get carried away and keep to my original remit. With regards to the box at the north end I may model that in its last days of existance. Thanks once again. Bill.

Hi, Sorry about the missing amended track plan. Since I made the changes on a programme not recognised on here it wouldn't accept it. I had to re-do it. Bill.

Hi, Further to my question with regards to the track plan . After ploughing through loads of pics I'm no further forward to finding out what it looked like at the different stages it went through ie, which parts were lifted and when. My amended track plan shows the removal of the cross - over at the end of the North end of the platform and the removal of the siding from the up line, ( marked here as down ). I still don' t know when the box was taken out of use at the north end either. The lower signal arm has also been removed from the corresponding signals as they are no longer required. My reasons for these changes are as follows; My hope is to place the station on 2 x 20" x 5ft boards so as to show off the flowing curvature on the approach and departure from and through the station. I intend to shorten the platform accordingly, but I still want to have the feeling of length to the station and trains. I also want to be able to position the signals at a realistic distance so as to be in keeping with railway practice. The last time I was faced with such a dilemma was when I was building Kinlochewe, which was based on the track plan at Mallaig , it worked then, let's hope I can do it again. I look forward to your comments, and hopefully some answers. Bill.

Hi David, Wow! You've certainly given yourself a mamoth task there! I take it you have a ' cunning plan '. I haven't been as active on here as I have been in the past, however, I have been hankering after a new project and the time as arrived. With regards to the track , as I 've said I haven't made a final decision yet ! But thanks for the photos. Bill.

Hi Andy, Thanks for the comments, its so difficult to let go of the West Highland its been a passion of mine for so long. It seemed a natural move to the Far North considering the stock I have with more on the way from Accurascale with the release of their 37's. I've been following your progress on Mallaig , all be it from a distance . Bill.

Hi, In my efforts to formulate a working track plan based on the drawing so kindly supplied to me I have cunningly joined the two together , correctly I hope. Modelling skills I have in abundance, alas, understanding railway practices, eh! No! As my stock is primarily 70's to late 80's corporate blue and L/Logo it looks as though I may have to lay most of the pointwork which is shown in the drawing. I probably will have to include the North box, incidentally when was this taken out of use ? Which brings to the subject of track. Although I haven't made a final decision, I have a surplus of Code 75 Peco streamline track and curved points which would do nicely and would blend in with the flowing curves required on the south approach and the exit north. However, I could also use the Code 75 pointwork with the new bullhead rail, thats if one can get a hold of it ! Has anyone on here tried this combination? Baseboards!!! Yes! Apparently there is an acute shortage of wood! Covid!! Bill.

Hi, No I wasn't aware, keep throwing all these gems at me. I've spent the last 20 or so years modelling the West Highland I didn't think anything else existed. Will have a look later. Cheers, Bill.