'Spey Bridge' GNoSR Mid/Late 60's

[SHerr]

Welcome to my 3rd (and hopefully final) attempt at starting a new small, or now not so small Scottish 60's layout, based 'somewhere in GNoSR territory' in the mid 60's and drawing influences from the Speyside lines, the Coast lines and other pockets.

 

After planning a Moray Coast terminus which then turned into a West Coast terminus based around Tarbert I wasn't fully happy with either. They were starting to feel too crammed amongst other things and I started looking back to what got me interested in the layout in the first place. I really liked the idea of something based on the Cromdale on the Speyside line with a small station/yard and a distillery exchange including a Barclay tank engine, however I wanted a bit more operational interest than Cromdale offered.

 

After researching more it became clear that a lot of GNoSR through stations across Speyside, Coast line and main lines were fairly similar in layout and looks so I decided to go for something with a location that is not too specific but more likely to be in the Rothes area. The layout will feature a Distillery exchange and part of the Distillery complex but will also have sidings running off scene to allow the perception of a bigger complex that would have justified its own tank engine.

 

The layout will be Peco code 75, mainly using long radius and long Y points but the Distillery sidings will feature some short radius and short Y points to give a typical feel.

 

  

 

I've made a good start layout out the track and the main lines to the back are now fixed, I am assuming the line goes back to single track beyond the scenic break but the arrangement will save space as i want to try and operate up to 4 coach trains as fairly common in the 60's.

 

Loco's currently are classes 20, 21, 24/0,and 26. Hopefully these will be joined by a 24/1, 105 and possibly a Park Royal Railbus.

 

I am hoping the layout will help me hone my scenic skills ahead of what will be my main layout on the other side of the loft as well as actually maybe finishing something!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SHerr]

I thought i would expand a little more on my plans as the first post became a bit of a rush to get something posted.

 

To start with for anyone unfamiliar with the area a quick (or more likely several hours) look through the GNSR section of Ernies Railway Archive will give a good insight into where I am going.

 

Period: circa 1965 to 1968 assuming that all GNSR lines lasted until then which the Coast and Main lines did but the Speyside line didn't. This allows some Blue stock to appear in limited numbers, but the likes of class 21's are still going and class 24/0's start to appear alongside class 20, 24/1 and 26. 

 

Location: Slightly Flexible but main focus is the Elgin to Craigellachie section, this allows a mix of short local services and some slightly longer through services. I do though want to bring a feel of the fairly standard station/yard arrangements whilst having a mix of stock and formations. 

 

Traffic: Elgin to Aberdeen, Keith and Aviemore passenger services. I particularly like the Railbus replacement of class 24/1 or 26 plus one Stanier 3rd brake but also want to run slightly more substantial trains. Local goods traffic is a general mix of coal, vans, opens etc and maybe the odd Cattle van. As the 'pick up goods' ran to the end in these parts some shunting on the main line will add to the interest. The distillery see's coal, grain, vans and open wagons. Also the early morning passenger trains to Aberdeen will likely feature a couple of fish vans that probably originated at Lossiemouth.

 

Architecture/Buildings - most on the buildings in the photo's above are unlikely to end up in use, they are there to test size/space etc. I will where possible be trying to capture the GNSR feel and will likely be purchasing one of the Pop Up Designs stations, I'm not fully decided yet but erring more towards the Timber 'Longmorn' building as that seems to appear more widespread across GNSR territory.

 

The Ratio signal box although (cough splutter) GWR is pretty similar to the boxes seen at the likes of Carron. The Goods shed I am less decided on as something too large may struggle to fit. The Distillery buildings may be a bit of a challenge but the Scenecraft Brewery buildings will be modified to include the 'top hats' - not sure of the Technical term. Again Ernie's site has some wonderful aerial images of the complex at Carron.

 

The rest of the scenery bar the odd building will be fairly sparse as these are not densely populated areas and everything will be quite a leisurely operation.

 

I am also hoping that the Distillery will get one of the Hattons Barclay tanks.

 

I have a long standing love of the area having holidayed quite a bit around the Boat of Garten and Nethy Bridge area and generally want to portray the feel.

 

Operation will be via my existing NCE Powercab and hopefully most loco's will get sound (the 20 already has albeit as the standard Bachmann model you need ear defenders) however the Barclay may be a challenge.

[SHerr]

I've made some more progress on fixing the tracks through the Exchange sidings/loop, I started using Copydex on my last layout which after about 8 mins is fairly tacky with a good hold but allows you to fine tune and adjust, then weight down with some loco's and within an hour has stuck like the preverbial brown stuff to a blanket.

 

I have also made a start on the station/platforms which are faced with the Peco embossed stone. This looks pretty good from any sort of distance and will be toned down with some matt varnish and then weathered with dry brushing and powders. 

 

The Pop up designs Longmorn station has been purchased and whilst some of the timber framing needs slimming down I think its going to look pretty good. I also had one of the small stone cottages included which I started first to get the hand of them - I've posted some more pictures in the Pop Up traders section but they seem to come up pretty good so hopeful for the station.

 

I am still playing around with the best arrangement for the Goods shed/loading dock area and have not yet fully decided whether to have a loading dock or not as well as size of Goods shed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

[SHerr]

I've been making good progress with the station building. The photo in the previous post is the kit as supplied but with the inner through timber walls trimmed down, these are a slotted piece of wood but unaltered are quite 'heavy' and project through too far.

 

After pondering I decided I wasn't totally happy as the ply's once sanded are a little rounded, so I cut the piece back flush with the building and mounted some new ones with card that sat much better.

 

I could not do the same with the end pieces as they form the main ends wall, so these were carefully trimmed back. I then fixed some thin card for window cills and added some Will's downpipes etc as well as a plasticard ribbed roof to the end toiled block and stores.

 

 

 

 

The building was then painted, I started with BR cream but this looked too 'orange' so overpainted with GWR coaching stock cream. Its not quite as light as I wanted when you compare to photo's of Longmorn and Knock on the GNSRA website but felt best to leave and is a lot better than the first colour. The Brown is actually late BR Bauxite which comes up pretty good although I had problems with it adhering as the cream that was fairly old seems to have gone off slightly, whilst its covered well itself the coat above didn't, however another coat seemed to do the trick.

 

The roof has had ridge tiles made from plasticard paving scored along the middle/cut down but uses the top decorative ridge from the kit. The kits roof former protrudes through the tiles which is a pain so this area was then filled and tiles scribed. It looks ok but obvious that its not the same as the main roof. This is probably the biggest criticism of these kits that they are designed as 'slot together' which  whilst they fit very well and square are not to 'modelling standards'. You can get somewhere near with a bit of work but suspect they might appear more to modellers if the roof was re-designed.

 

 

 

 

 

A bit more detailing to be done yet but not looking too bad, and the building will sit towards the back of the layout.

 

The platforms are also progressing with Peco stone facing and copers, the stone looks fairly good but needs toning down with some matt varnish and weathering. The surfacing will be scatter or kids sand as most stations in this area were chippings.

 

Finally some shots of the front from the non viewing side, of note I am playing around with an old Ratio platform mounted signal box (shock horror of GWR origin) but overlaying the stone base with timber which is looking like a good representation of the box at Carron. The kit is quite old so I may purchase a new one if happy I can get the right results.

 

 

[David Bell]

Looking good.

Cheers

David

[SHerr]

I've taken the plunge and ordered one of the 3d printed Highland stone bridges which i believe are from 'son of pop-up designs' (apologies if this is incorrect).

 

It arrived today and it looks excellent, 'printing' lines nowhere near as visible as website photos etc show.

 

I'm using it as an overbridge at the scenic break but it looks like its supposed to be an underbridge as its fairly narrow and the parapets are too low, the parapets were fairly obvious from the website but the width not so much. Neither is an issue as its meant to be a track/country lane and I've started making some parapet extensions with Slaters embossed sheet which is very similar pattern to the bridges stonework. I particularly like the curved wing walls reminiscent of the Highlands and a feature of a lot of GNoSR bridges.

 

A couple of photos - untouched before Priming or anything.

 

 

[SHerr]

I've now completed one of the bridge parapet extensions, thick card/wood covered with Slaters embossed sheet, the Stonework pattern is almost identical to the bridge.

 

 

 

I have also made some good progress with the first platform. Copings are embossed plasticard painted in concrete colour and white line added. The surface is fine (N gauge) ballast, I wasn't sure I was happy with the surface as it seemed quite uneven in places but under the unkind eye of a camera it doesn't look too bad. Also looking at at some photo's of mid 60's stations quite a lot of the gravel platforms look pretty uneven. Gravel, copes and front walls need toning down with a bit of weathering.

 

The fencing is standard Ratio. I've left a gap for a waiting shelter/small building. Having had some emails with Andy at PopUp designs I have ordered part (half) of the Longmorn kit again and will butcher the front into one of the typical waiting rooms which seems to have a pretty similar window patterns as the main building. 

 

 

 

 

 

[SHerr]

As I mentioned above, Andy from Popup Designs kindly allowed me to purchase half of the Longmorn station kit which I planned to butcher into the smaller waiting room, many of which appear to have a similar window pattern to the main buildings.

 

The sheet duly arrived along with some extra sheets that were apparently lying around which was very generous and I will be able to use some of the doors etc.

 

I have made a start on the building, there is only room for this to be about 1/3 relief but it’s enough to get a representation of what were quite heavily sloped roofs, more details are still required including awnings left over from a Peco building from years ago.

 

The front is reduced in width and the sides use timbered sections from the rear of the building that is not needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SHerr]

The platform shelter has had a bit more work with batterns, fascia-awnings and roof completed. It now needs some paint to complete.

 

Shown below in situ. I’ve also started on the main platform and ramp, looking at photos of a few stations on the GNSR patch some seem to have a timber/sleeper enterance or ramp that extends onto the platform and up to the platform edge (Cromdale and Knock definitely have them). I presume they are to get trolleys, trailers or mail etc to the train. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

[BernardTPM]

If it's any consolation, the Ratio signal box, although based on one at a GWR station isn't an 'in-house' GWR design, but a McKenzie & Holland design which might be why it looks like a GNoSR one.

The ground level version is almost a dead ringer for the NWNGR box at Tryfan Junction.

Edited December 11, 2020 by BernardTPM

[SHerr]

The platform waiting shelter is now nearing completion and has been painted. 

 

 

 

Also the 3d printed bridge has had some progress. Parapets have been completed, the bridge has been sprayed with light grey primer, followed by a slightly thin coat of Railmatch Acrylic concrete (to let a hint of grey show through). I have then washed by brush with an Airbrush mix of Railmatch Frame Dirt which is then wiped off. 
 

It still needs a bit more grime/soot etc but fairly happy to date. The only slight thing I’ve noticed is that the last wash coat has brought out the printing lines as it’s stayed in the grooves when I’ve wiped it.

 

looks a lot worse in the close up than real life though.

 

 

 

 

[SHerr]

I’ve now added 80 years of soot and grime to the bridge. I’m not quite sure if the finish is a little too uniform or not but mid to late 60’s should be quite heavily weathered.

 

 

 

 

[SHerr]

The layout, after much deliberation has a name - Spey Bridge, generic enough to not make the location too specific but capture the area. There is a Speybridge which appears to be a very small village near Grantown on Spey  but there are enough 'Spey Bridge's' as in actual bridges to allow scope for more than one place of the same name.

 

Some photo's of the new platform shelter and bridge in place as well as the first name board! an old Modelmaster item with transfers which no longer seem to be available. A bit of cutting of a few locations and hey presto.

 

 

 

After taking some photo's I am toying with the idea of moving the station building a little closer to the right and maybe moving the Signal cabin to the other side of the level crossing. Its all just a bit too crowded for photos more than anything else.

 

This is the current arrangement

 

This is with building moved and Signal Cabin relocated.

 

2 Aberdeen to Elgin services cross each other, one in the hands of Class 26 D5332 and the other Class 24 D5085. The goods yard is fairly empty looking as D8113 has shunted most wagons into the reception sidings and will depart after the passenger service has departed.

 

 

 

 

[SHerr]

9 minutes ago, 27016 said:

Just discovered this thread and looks to be a great layout in the making.

 

Will be following with interest.

 

Regards

 

Mark

 

Thanks for the comment. I'm afraid there won't be much to follow as I've decided to scrap this idea and start again - See Foyers in the link below. 

 

Something just wasn't doing it for me as much as I'd made a decent start. I think it was just lacking some operational variety. 

[9C85]

I was just about to follow this one too.

 

Good luck with your new project.