West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout

[ISW]

2 hours ago, young37215 said:

additional buffer beam detail will have to wait until I have resolved the wire loops that I intend using to replace the tension locks.

Rob,

 

No thoughts of converting to Kadee couplings instead? A process than spans all the difficulties from dead easy through to nightmare scenarios, depending on age / type of stock.

 

Ian

[Dougjuk]

Hi Rob,

 

I was looking forward to the results of you iPhone speaker test for both sound and fit.  My solution as you know is the small zimo single dumbo with some filing down of sides and corners.  The resultant sound is very satisfying but the fit issues are the same a 1mm rise in the body.

 

I have got a few of the Youchoose speakers that I fitted to the class 33 that I intend to try out once I get my jmri panel back to how it was.  If the speakers sound as good and fit the loco better I will update you.

 

Regards

 

Doug

[young37215]

On 19/02/2021 at 10:03, ISW said:

Rob,

 

No thoughts of converting to Kadee couplings instead? A process than spans all the difficulties from dead easy through to nightmare scenarios, depending on age / type of stock.

 

Ian

 

I have'nt looked closely at Kaydees but from what I have seen I dont feel that they would dramatically change things. My aim in removing the tension locks is to get away from a coupling that sits on the bogies. Not only does the movement accentuate curves, it potentially damages any bufferbeam detail that I might add. I have had success with loops previously and feel optimistic that wider loops will provide me what I want. The loops are also cheaper than Kaydees and I have far too much rolling stock to consider ! 

 

On 19/02/2021 at 12:49, Dougjuk said:

Hi Rob,

 

I was looking forward to the results of you iPhone speaker test for both sound and fit.  My solution as you know is the small zimo single dumbo with some filing down of sides and corners.  The resultant sound is very satisfying but the fit issues are the same a 1mm rise in the body.

 

I have got a few of the Youchoose speakers that I fitted to the class 33 that I intend to try out once I get my jmri panel back to how it was.  If the speakers sound as good and fit the loco better I will update you.

 

Regards

 

Doug

 

The double Iphone is a better sound than the old unsealed unit but I am not overwhelmed by it. When added to the tight fit, the jury is still out on the Iphone. If I can find something better I will try that. Once we are able to meet up again you will have to bring one of your 20's with the single dumbo for comparison.

 

I took a couple of pictures yesterday of 20045, the best description I can think of is that it looks like it has been stung and swollen up.

 

 

 

Edited February 21, 2021 by young37215

[mallaig1983]

Been standing on my head for ten minutes studying your photos and I see what you mean. I was thinking about the double iPhone speaker for my 20 but on your evidence have changed my mind. I look forward to seeing your resolution. It is very tight in there.

Right, time for a sit down to let the blood return to normal.

[Dougjuk]

 

These are two different heights of this speaker 6mm and 7mm, I was going to try one of these in the 20, but they also do a double version of them.  The single dumbo I think is 8mm and needs a bit if trimming to fit.

 

I reckon the 6mm height is the right option if it sounds ok.

 

Doug

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

Apologies for the upside down pictures, these are an indearing feature of posting directly from my Iphone and I can not work out how to change them.

 

Enough faffing with speakers, decisions on what best to use can wait and its back to operations. Second train of the day, 7B02 0606 Sighthill to Mallaig Junction Yard hauled by 37081 follows along 30 minutes or so behind the sleeper and arrives at Garelochead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 23, 2022 by young37215

[David Bell]

Hi Rob,

Any chance of a video walk round of the layout. It would be interesting to see how you have fitted all these stations in and where they are placed in relation to each other.

Cheers

David

[03060]

1 hour ago, young37215 said:

Apologies for the upside down pictures, these are an indearing feature of posting directly from my Iphone and I can not work out how to change them.

 

 

I've also suffered with this until I noticed the little grey camera rotation symbol in the bottom right hand side when you are setting up to take the photo which tells you which way up the phone thinks the camera is, this is very sensitive on mine and depends on how you are holding or moving the phone around. There must be a way of turning this Auto-rotation feature off, which I haven't looked for, I just keep an eye on the symbol now and wiggle the phone around to get it the right way up.

 

Regards,

Ian.

Edited February 21, 2021 by 03060

[andyram]

1 hour ago, David Bell said:

Hi Rob,

Any chance of a video walk round of the layout. It would be interesting to see how you have fitted all these stations in and where they are placed in relation to each other.

Cheers

David

 

I would echo this post. I love the pics but would love to see how all of the locations fit together in the layout.

[young37215]

As requested a map and walk around video tour of WHL4. I doubt the camera work will win any prizes but it gives a different perspective to still pictures. The map is annoyingingly refusing to change to a landscape profile on uploading despite happily doing so in the original scan. Somewhere in RMWebs architecture I hope there is a tool that will enable the changing of picture orientation; it just needs someone to tell me where and what it is!    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by young37215

[David Bell]

Thanks Rob. That is absolutely brilliant.

Cheers

David

[tonyg3]

Thank you just a wonderful layout 

[mallaig1983]

Thanks for the really interesting video. Helps us following to get a good perspective of the layout and how everything fits together. It’s a wonderful layout.

 

Andy

[Neils WRX]

That's a really great layout, so much rolling stock !!!

 

The video helps make sense of it all.

 

Neil

[WolfofBadenoch]

Thanks for the video. Nice to see how it all fits together

 

Did you ever consder modelling Horseshoe Curve? I think it might have been good at one end but not sure how you'd fit it in with everything else?

[young37215]

On 22/02/2021 at 19:15, WolfofBadenoch said:

Did you ever consder modelling Horseshoe Curve?

 

I considered both the Horseshoe curve and Glenfinnan viaduct but decided that the vastness of space required to represent these lankmark features was neither practical or available. I wanted to include Bridge of Orchy station but one more station simply does not fit in without making it feel cramped.  The large area above Arrochar where the upper level line runs through to Fort William might change when I get around to the scenery but, again, the available space limits what is possible and I keep returning to the adage that 'less is more' when deliberating. 

 

37043 has charge of 1B11, 1254 Glasgow to Oban seen arriving at Crianlarich.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 23, 2022 by young37215

[BoD]

As others have said it is great to be able to see the overall picture.

I may have missed something but how do trains get from the lower level up to the Fort William/ Mallaig bit.

[young37215]

17 hours ago, BoD said:

As others have said it is great to be able to see the overall picture.

I may have missed something but how do trains get from the lower level up to the Fort William/ Mallaig bit.

 

On departing the main fiddle yard there is a junction where trains go right for Garelochead and left for the 1 in 50 climb to the upper level running behind the Garelochead section. The junction is visible at 20 seconds into the video and the start of the gradient at 35 seconds.

 

20045 was withdrawn from service yesterday with running issues caused, I think, by the poorly fitting double Iphone speaker which will be replaced in the next day or two. 37026 runs around 1T45 1245 Mallaig to Glasgow at Fort William on its journey south. 20085 and 37022 stand idle waiting their next turns.

 

[Alcanman]

Love those photos of Fort William. Great modelling.

 

It always seemed to rain when I went to Fort William!    

 

37112 at Platform 1

[mallaig1983]

8 hours ago, Alcanman said:

Love those photos of Fort William. Great modelling.

 

It always seemed to rain when I went to Fort William!    

 

37112 at Platform 1

1984 I’m guessing?

[Alcanman]

28 minutes ago, mallaig1983 said:

1984 I’m guessing?

Yes, you're right. I was waiting to board the Mallaig train powered by 37191. (see my photo in an earlier post)

[03060]

18 hours ago, Alcanman said:

Love those photos of Fort William. Great modelling.

 

It always seemed to rain when I went to Fort William!    

 

37112 at Platform 1

 

Super photo (again) ....which provides for some great weathering features from the loco roof downwards .....and some interesting platform accessories.

Edited February 25, 2021 by 03060

[SHerr]

Great video/overview - I've been meaning to ask for the same thing but never got round to it! Its a fantastic space you have but also goes to show what can be fitted in with a bit of thought. The split levels and scenery works way better than you would imagine. I'd be tempted to keep the tbc area as a fairly open bit of 'wilderness a la Rannoch Moor or similar' to allow some free running and a bit of thrash without being a specific landmark.

 

I think you might need some more 37's though!!

[young37215]

11 hours ago, SHerr said:

I'd be tempted to keep the tbc area as a fairly open bit of 'wilderness a la Rannoch Moor or similar' to allow some free running and a bit of thrash without being a specific landmark.

 

That is the current line of thinking, something along the lines of County March summit although nothing is set in stone yet. This is the one area that is not based on reality with trains on both the WHL and Mallaig extension crossing over it. A generic west highland setting is the best I can think of and, as suggested, it creates a section of running line without the interuption of a station. 

 

Mallaig is todays setting, 37022 arrives with the (not) steam hauled set before 37051 departs with 1T56, 1610 to Glasgow. I have been meaning to lift the Mallaig section back to the workbench for several weeks to complete the scenery but keep falling for the 'play trains' option instead!

 

 

 

 

[andyram]

Finally caught up on the video and great to see how the locations fit together. This layout really is a masterpiece. One suggestion, it would have been good to have had some kind of commentary to place explain each location etc. I have also caught up on the other videos uploaded on the previous page with the trains / light engine arriving and departing. I look forward to seeing more of these.

 You mention, in the last set of photos, that the Mallaig arrival uses the non-steam hauled stock. I noted  comment previously that you have added this to the sequence. Do you ever run it with steam?