RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted March 23, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23, 2019 Good morning, I have recently started research on a new 2mmFS project which will be an extract of Loch Awe in Scotland...beautiful setting! Whilst I appreciate the station was closed in 68 and reopened in 85 (I think!) I will set my project in my fave period of early 80’s so I can model both class 27’s in blue and Large Logo 37’s. There doesn’t seem to be an awful lot of photographic records of stock passing through the station (presumably as it was closed) however I am assuming that stock to and from Oban ran through the station. I have found a few pics of passenger, oil trains and some speedlink mixed freights but I was wondering if someone could suggest where I might be able to find more pictures to allow me to think about train formations - for instance I haven’t seen any images of parcels trains but I assume there would have been some. My blog is located as per below and I would be grateful if anyone could point me in the right direction! Many thanks in advance for your help Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium brushman47544 Posted March 23, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2019 (edited) I don’t think there were any separate parcels services. Any extra vans were simply tacked onto the scheduled passenger trains. Presumably there were trains of logs in your period, or is my memory failing and they were on the Fort William line only? Edited March 23, 2019 by brushman47544 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.snowdon Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 I used the Oban Line at least once a year through the late 70s and 80s, and as far as I can recall the basic workings were limited to passenger services, inevitably Mark 1s, and oil traffic to Oban and Connel Ferry. I don't recall any parcels stock and by then, as now, mail and parcels were all being handled by road deliveries from Glasgow. It was, by then, very much a passenger only railway west of Crianlarich. Such freight as there was, apart from the oil traffic, was all on the main West Highland line, and even then largely limited to traffic to and from Alcan at Fort William and the log traffic from Crianlarich to Corpach. Either Taynuilt or Damally (I think the latter) still had a small yard that was used by the engineers, and there was still a siding next to Oban station. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 I searched on Flickr for 'Oban 1980' and found this view of the yard, including tanks, 16t mins, and some sheeted opens of some sort. https://www.flickr.com/photos/117648855@N07/15615083609/in/photolist-pMRokt-p3DC2W-oqCTAU-6P41Fv-8sDr1b-5mrrM7-26CzXXf-qwKPv3-q3buzs-7osX6r-GE2DEC-9ZWco5-5mrpx5-dQ5Lnx-DuPSvt-24J283C-98f3fR-oqDayy-XFcoEd-NKYanp-LVLsWZ-oGRWWv-oqDCqD-oF6SVJ-oH8DJB-oqD3GP-oGRZHx-7hg8u5-oF6P7S-oH8LPZ-oqDheY-29bme7Z-c9swbU-5xXt8v-djD9ku-7KBRLG-oqD7Sn-M7Dq2u-dF1QDM-vtPGHB-rdrv2T-oGRTX4-ejruqH-oqD7CV-DQdrV5-dDhWwu-oqDEAF-4oMYgQ-ajyKsi-7eWto4 cheers 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted March 23, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23, 2019 4 hours ago, brushman47544 said: I don’t think there were any separate parcels services. Any extra vans were simply tacked onto the scheduled passenger trains. Presumably there were trains of logs in your period, or is my memory failing and they were on the Fort William line only? Thanks Brushman47544 - That sounds plausible although haven’t found any mixed trains like that yet. Not sure on the train logs either but it’s worth me trying to research... 4 hours ago, jim.snowdon said: I used the Oban Line at least once a year through the late 70s and 80s, and as far as I can recall the basic workings were limited to passenger services, inevitably Mark 1s, and oil traffic to Oban and Connel Ferry. I don't recall any parcels stock and by then, as now, mail and parcels were all being handled by road deliveries from Glasgow. It was, by then, very much a passenger only railway west of Crianlarich. Such freight as there was, apart from the oil traffic, was all on the main West Highland line, and even then largely limited to traffic to and from Alcan at Fort William and the log traffic from Crianlarich to Corpach. Either Taynuilt or Damally (I think the latter) still had a small yard that was used by the engineers, and there was still a siding next to Oban station. Jim Thanks also Jim - Mk I’s and oil sounds good...I think a few Mk II’s were threaded in to those passenger trains later on as I have a few pics of those. I had seen the log wagons in a few pics but that sounds like they were not on this stretch of line... 4 hours ago, Rivercider said: I searched on Flickr for 'Oban 1980' and found this view of the yard, including tanks, 16t mins, and some sheeted opens of some sort. https://www.flickr.com/photos/117648855@N07/15615083609/in/photolist-pMRokt-p3DC2W-oqCTAU-6P41Fv-8sDr1b-5mrrM7-26CzXXf-qwKPv3-q3buzs-7osX6r-GE2DEC-9ZWco5-5mrpx5-dQ5Lnx-DuPSvt-24J283C-98f3fR-oqDayy-XFcoEd-NKYanp-LVLsWZ-oGRWWv-oqDCqD-oF6SVJ-oH8DJB-oqD3GP-oGRZHx-7hg8u5-oF6P7S-oH8LPZ-oqDheY-29bme7Z-c9swbU-5xXt8v-djD9ku-7KBRLG-oqD7Sn-M7Dq2u-dF1QDM-vtPGHB-rdrv2T-oGRTX4-ejruqH-oqD7CV-DQdrV5-dDhWwu-oqDEAF-4oMYgQ-ajyKsi-7eWto4 cheers Thanks also Kevin/Kenny! That's a good reference pic so I can get some other wagons now for interest... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted March 23, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23, 2019 (edited) On this picture, it looks like an LMS 50ft van tagged on the rear of the train...? http://www.eastbank.org.uk/images/WHL/UK1708.jpg Edited March 23, 2019 by bcnPete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kylestrome Posted March 23, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, bcnPete said: On this picture, it looks like an LMS 50ft van tagged on the rear of the train...? http://www.eastbank.org.uk/images/WHL/UK1708.jpg If that picture was taken in the eighties it would be something of a rarity. My guess is that it was taken some time in the seventies. Oban's station building became unsafe in the eighties and trains used only the outside platforms. Maybe someone else can help with exact dates, but I started travelling regularly to Scotland from 1981 and the trains I were on never terminated or started inside the train shed. David Edited March 23, 2019 by Kylestrome Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted March 23, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23, 2019 23 minutes ago, Kylestrome said: If that picture was taken in the eighties it would be something of a rarity. My guess is that it was taken some time in the seventies. Oban's station building became unsafe in the eighties and trains used only the outside platforms. Maybe someone else can help with exact dates, but I started travelling regularly to Scotland from 1981 and the trains I were on never terminated or started inside the train shed. David Yep spot on David - looking again it says April 1977... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 There is a picture in the excellent book 'Diesels & Electrics on BR in the 1970s and 1980s' (Graham R.Jelly, Book Law Publications 2018), dated 17th July 1983, of a number of OBA wagons at Oban carrying bagged aggregate. Presumably this was a one-off or short term flow ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petesquire Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 Hi, maybe a bit late for your time period but definitely OTA timber wagons and TTA tankers at Oban in 1989. Oban had 2 fuel depots both still rail served. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 On a winters day in 1984, I took this photo at Queen Street. My memory suggests that it was an Oban service, which was one of the reasons for taking the photo. 3 Mk1s and no first class from what I can see. Loco is 37192. It may not be much help, but it gives me a chance to reminisce. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johann Marsbar Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 37 188 at Oban on a fairly longish train - 4th July 1984. 5 Mk 1's + the very rear coach is the (ex LMS?) observation saloon that was in use on the service that year. Photo was taken during the second week of a 14 day all-line rover that I was on at the time. Did the return journey to Glasgow in said observation saloon. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doilum Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 On 23/03/2019 at 11:17, bcnPete said: Good morning, I have recently started research on a new 2mmFS project which will be an extract of Loch Awe in Scotland...beautiful setting! Whilst I appreciate the station was closed in 68 and reopened in 85 (I think!) I will set my project in my fave period of early 80’s so I can model both class 27’s in blue and Large Logo 37’s. There doesn’t seem to be an awful lot of photographic records of stock passing through the station (presumably as it was closed) however I am assuming that stock to and from Oban ran through the station. I have found a few pics of passenger, oil trains and some speedlink mixed freights but I was wondering if someone could suggest where I might be able to find more pictures to allow me to think about train formations - for instance I haven’t seen any images of parcels trains but I assume there would have been some. My blog is located as per below and I would be grateful if anyone could point me in the right direction! Many thanks in advance for your help Pete On 23/03/2019 at 11:17, bcnPete said: Good morning, I have recently started research on a new 2mmFS project which will be an extract of Loch Awe in Scotland...beautiful setting! Whilst I appreciate the station was closed in 68 and reopened in 85 (I think!) I will set my project in my fave period of early 80’s so I can model both class 27’s in blue and Large Logo 37’s. There doesn’t seem to be an awful lot of photographic records of stock passing through the station (presumably as it was closed) however I am assuming that stock to and from Oban ran through the station. I have found a few pics of passenger, oil trains and some speedlink mixed freights but I was wondering if someone could suggest where I might be able to find more pictures to allow me to think about train formations - for instance I haven’t seen any images of parcels trains but I assume there would have been some. My blog is located as per below and I would be grateful if anyone could point me in the right direction! Many thanks in advance for your help Pete Many happy memories of holidays on Innis Chonain 1994-2003. There was a dmu service every couple of hours in one direction or the other. Guessing by the sound, there was a 37 on a freight working either late in the evening or early morning which was heard but not seen. We journied across the Connel bridge and traced the old line.to Ballachulish. I seem to remember timber wagons at Dalmally and perhaps 16T coal wagons, although it is a bit late for them. At thiis time there was a lot of tree cutting on the hills to the south of the loch. For those with a liberal take on chronology, Loch Awe was the location of one of the camping coaches in the ,,1960s. In the 90s there was a cafe operating from an old coach, but this may have stood on an isolated length of track in the carpark. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted March 24, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 24, 2019 6 hours ago, caradoc said: There is a picture in the excellent book 'Diesels & Electrics on BR in the 1970s and 1980s' (Graham R.Jelly, Book Law Publications 2018), dated 17th July 1983, of a number of OBA wagons at Oban carrying bagged aggregate. Presumably this was a one-off or short term flow ? Many thanks Caradoc - will try and get hold of that.... 5 hours ago, Petesquire said: Hi, maybe a bit late for your time period but definitely OTA timber wagons and TTA tankers at Oban in 1989. Oban had 2 fuel depots both still rail served. Thanks Petesquire - not sure who makes OTA in 2mm but that’s good to know... 5 hours ago, jonny777 said: On a winters day in 1984, I took this photo at Queen Street. My memory suggests that it was an Oban service, which was one of the reasons for taking the photo. 3 Mk1s and no first class from what I can see. Loco is 37192. It may not be much help, but it gives me a chance to reminisce. Thanks also Jonny - 37 + 3 Mk l’s is perfect for me - great pic of the good old days... 5 hours ago, Johann Marsbar said: 37 188 at Oban on a fairly longish train - 4th July 1984. 5 Mk 1's + the very rear coach is the (ex LMS?) observation saloon that was in use on the service that year. Photo was taken during the second week of a 14 day all-line rover that I was on at the time. Did the return journey to Glasgow in said observation saloon. Thanks also Johann - Helpful too - think it will be too long for my FY’s but good information on typical locos used and the train formation too... 1 hour ago, doilum said: Many happy memories of holidays on Innis Chonain 1994-2003. There was a dmu service every couple of hours in one direction or the other. Guessing by the sound, there was a 37 on a freight working either late in the evening or early morning which was heard but not seen. We journied across the Connel bridge and traced the old line.to Ballachulish. I seem to remember timber wagons at Dalmally and perhaps 16T coal wagons, although it is a bit late for them. At thiis time there was a lot of tree cutting on the hills to the south of the loch. For those with a liberal take on chronology, Loch Awe was the location of one of the camping coaches in the ,,1960s. In the 90s there was a cafe operating from an old coach, but this may have stood on an isolated length of track in the carpark. Thanks Doilum - A DMU would be a good addition - wonder what type it was - Met Cam perhaps? By all accounts the camping coach still functions there... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doilum Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 Not my specialist subject. Seem to remember they had blanked off corridor connections at the ends. A few pictures on google image. I recall ( from my Kirk Gresley days) finding an article, perhaps in Backtrack, on the camping coaches. I believe that Loch Awe lost its coach circa 1962. Having just looked on Google images, the cafe coach is as I remember it, and was a converted mk1. Interesting to see that they have opened a new station by the power station. A feature of this line were the semaphore signals controlled by trip wires to the catch fencing in areas prone to avalanche or rock fall. Modellers licence might see Oban as the steam terminus or how about a Harry Potter connection to the hotel! Just kidding, a great prototype. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Argos Posted March 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 24, 2019 53 minutes ago, bcnPete said: Thanks Petesquire - not sure who makes OTA in 2mm but that’s good to know... Chivers Fineline (now Slim Rails):- http://www.slimrails.co.uk/indexNgauge.html I'm sure one the associations axles could be made to fit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 7 hours ago, caradoc said: There is a picture in the excellent book 'Diesels & Electrics on BR in the 1970s and 1980s' (Graham R.Jelly, Book Law Publications 2018), dated 17th July 1983, of a number of OBA wagons at Oban carrying bagged aggregate. Presumably this was a one-off or short term flow ? bcnPete, something was nagging the back of my mind about that picture so I took another look, and the wagons described in the caption as OBA (wooden-bodied) are actually OCA (steel-bodied) ! I hope you haven't gone and bought a load of OBAs in the meantime....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Argos Posted March 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 24, 2019 57 minutes ago, bcnPete said: Thanks Doilum - A DMU would be a good addition - wonder what type it was - Met Cam perhaps? By all accounts the camping coach still functions there... Pete, There is the Mexican Bean a class 104 that operated out of Oban in the mid-eighties:- http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/page/class+104 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kylestrome Posted March 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 24, 2019 (edited) Here are a few of my photos taken at or near Oban in the 80s. Not greatest but hopefully of some interest. David 37112, Oban, July 1984 37403, Oban, April 1986 SC35029 with a rather tatty roof, Oban, July 1984 45030 Observation Car, Oban, July 1984 Edited March 24, 2019 by Kylestrome 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kylestrome Posted March 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 24, 2019 (edited) And here some tank wagons. BPO67472 TTA, Connel, July 1985 BPO87893 TTA, Connel, July 1985 Esso 56273 and BRT 57748, Oban, July 1984 TRL 70733, Oban, July 1984 Edited March 24, 2019 by Kylestrome 5 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted March 24, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 24, 2019 2 hours ago, doilum said: Not my specialist subject. Seem to remember they had blanked off corridor connections at the ends. A few pictures on google image. I recall ( from my Kirk Gresley days) finding an article, perhaps in Backtrack, on the camping coaches. I believe that Loch Awe lost its coach circa 1962. Having just looked on Google images, the cafe coach is as I remember it, and was a converted mk1. Interesting to see that they have opened a new station by the power station. A feature of this line were the semaphore signals controlled by trip wires to the catch fencing in areas prone to avalanche or rock fall. Modellers licence might see Oban as the steam terminus or how about a Harry Potter connection to the hotel! Just kidding, a great prototype. Thanks again Doilium - interesting to hear about the signalling re the rockfalls... 2 hours ago, Argos said: Chivers Fineline (now Slim Rails):- http://www.slimrails.co.uk/indexNgauge.html I'm sure one the associations axles could be made to fit. Thanks Argos - Good to have as an option... 2 hours ago, caradoc said: bcnPete, something was nagging the back of my mind about that picture so I took another look, and the wagons described in the caption as OBA (wooden-bodied) are actually OCA (steel-bodied) ! I hope you haven't gone and bought a load of OBAs in the meantime....... Haha! Not to worry Caradoc...just compiling wish lists at the moment, no money being parted with - thank you for checking though... 2 hours ago, Argos said: Pete, There is the Mexican Bean a class 104 that operated out of Oban in the mid-eighties:- http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/page/class+104 Blimey, thanks Argos - would have preferred it in BR Blue! I think I found an image of a Met Cam in Blue from the 70’s...assume the passenger trains were mostly loco hauled hence the need for the ETHEL’s... 1 hour ago, Kylestrome said: Here are a few of my photos taken at or near Oban in the 80s. Not greatest but hopefully of some interest. David 37112, Oban, July 1984 37403, Oban, April 1986 SC35029 with a rather tatty roof, Oban, July 1984 45030 Observation Car, Oban, July 1984 Many thanks David - these are all great images Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted March 24, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 24, 2019 1 hour ago, Kylestrome said: And here some tank wagons. BPO67472 TTA, Connel, July 1985 BPO87893 TTA, Connel, July 1985 Esso 56273 and BRT 57748, Oban, July 1984 TRL 70733, Oban, July 1984 And tanks a lot for these too... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanach Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 Hi . I model the Scottish highlands in 88. I have the 3 volumes of this series which cover early 80s to early 90s . This volume would be of most help to you . Also worth a view is W J Anderson’s ‘Scotland’s railways’ . He was up there quite a bit in your time period . There was no mail tracfic by 84. In fact there never really was . It was usually just bolstered by an extra brake (BSO, BFK , BCK) in the Xmas period . Passenger stock was predominantly MK1 stock often with a Mk2 BFK . In your time period the timber traffic was handled by early timber wagons of the bogie bolster type (can’t remember the classification !) which Cambrian produce . Oban yard occasionally played host to these . OBA wagons with various goods were an occasional visitor . Also Dogfish and catfish engineers wagons besides the TTA wagons others have mentioned. Ian 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Argos Posted March 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 24, 2019 27 minutes ago, bcnPete said: Blimey, thanks Argos - would have preferred it in BR Blue! I think I found an image of a Met Cam in Blue from the 70’s...assume the passenger trains were mostly loco hauled hence the need for the ETHEL’s... Electra rail do vinyls for the Mexican Bean, all you have do is source a 104! And apply the vinyls of course....... https://www.electrarail.co.uk/class-104-brcw-dmu-1907-p.asp It would save a lot of work though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clachnaharry Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 (edited) There was a daily vacuum braked freight to Obain in 1980. I spent a few days camping on the loch at the opposite side to the hotel, and I saw it run every day. Sometimes a mix of MCVs and vans, sometimes mainly oil tanks, The return working was sometime after midnight, so I heard, but never saw it. Edited March 25, 2019 by clachnaharry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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