St. Rollox Road: a Glasgow area Stabling point c.1970

[61656]

This is looking really great now. Such a great choice of period and location too, such a wealth of locos and liveries to choose from. Always nice to see something a bit different. 

[Signaller69]

1 hour ago, 61656 said:

This is looking really great now. Such a great choice of period and location too, such a wealth of locos and liveries to choose from. Always nice to see something a bit different. 

Thanks, I must admit that was a big part of the attraction, with all the variety. 

 

Martyn.

[Signaller69]

Still no sign of the switches so a little more scenic work happened today. Further weathering of the track has taken place, particularly the oil soaked stabling area which was a common sight in the 70s but wouldn't be tolerated today!

I've also added some rather old style cosmetic yard lamps from the spares box. These had the plastic bases removed and brass rod "pins" inserted in drilled holes, before planting them in further drilled holes.

 

 

 

And some fairly limited greenery away from the fuelling and stabling areas, as photos show that even weeds struggle with oil soaked conditions!

 

 

Crinan's trusty old Bachmann class 20 has been re-weathered too as I was unhappy with the roof and bogies, but it is looking better now. From photos, this one seems to have carried the small yellow panel beyond 1970; washing plants tended to keep the sides of the roof quite clean at this time too. 

 

[Signaller69]

I think I have identified a location for the layout, after looking at various photos along the axis of the Buchanan Street - Robroyston former mainline. When Buchanan Street closed in 1966 the line was cut back to St. Rollox; with the junctions here going North (towards Cowlairs/Eastfield), South (towards Glasgow Central & WCML) and East (Robroyston Junction & Edinburgh), not to mention the adjacent St.Rollox works, this seemed a good (if prototypically unlikely) location to imagine a small stabling point could exist, on the track bed of the line towards Buchanan Street. 

 

Then I found this www.rail-online.co.uk photo:

 

https://www.rail-online.co.uk/p494075681/h116B21F5

 

The former line to Buchanan Street is behind the withdrawn Clayton, running into a cutting which is seen to be overgrown; the works I think is to the left of the loco. Also it appears the former St.Rollox station building (painted white, on a short tunnel over the former line, with a low block of flats beyond it) is still in situ too. The more modern buildings on the "other side" of the line were part of the Goods depot I think, but the similarity to my backscene shed struck me and I could add the office block as a flat, and with the "platform" the Clayton is stood at being similar to the one I have modelled at the front of the layout....though we are talking major compromise here rather than any sort of exact replica.

 

However, it does mean my "fiddle yard" as it stands is technically at the "wrong end" of the layout.......so yet more compromise and possibly some minor track alterations might be needed, but the jury is very much out on that one....

 

However it adds scope for shunting the odd damaged or withdrawn loco into the mix, which is appealing.

 

As for a name, "Back o' Rollox" has a certain ring to it, but it might not be to everyone's taste....(or may even have been used already)?

Edited February 28, 2021 by Signaller69
Edit info.

[5BarVT]

Charles Street?

It wasn’t on the old main line that went under Springburn Rd, but the south side of the works where the line went over Springburn Rd to goods yards. My office was there for 3 months in about 1990\91 with the lines (then just sidings) between it and the works.  Suitably non descript, but locationally reasonably accurate, especially to those in the know!

Paul.

[Signaller69]

33 minutes ago, 5BarVT said:

Charles Street?

It wasn’t on the old main line that went under Springburn Rd, but the south side of the works where the line went over Springburn Rd to goods yards. My office was there for 3 months in about 1990\91 with the lines (then just sidings) between it and the works.  Suitably non descript, but locationally reasonably accurate, especially to those in the know!

Paul.

Hi Paul,

Looking at a map Charles Street would make a good location yes, I'm not aware that I have seen any photos of that area, will have to have a look.

 

Thanks,

Martyn 

[Signaller69]

The switches arrived eventually so the control panel is ready for lots of soldering of wires now. A 20mm square wood frame has been made so it can be attached at the front or rear of the layout as desired. I have decided not to alter the track work, as it is way too much work, but I will probably add the low relief office block seen in the previous photo link at one end of the layout, and the bridge at the left hand end may be altered or replaced. Location wise it is to be set "around St. Rollox", as generally locos/stock I have been working on, or are awaiting attention, tend to feature in most of the photos!

 

 

 

[Signaller69]

The control panel is now temporarily attached to the front of the layout and wiring complete, other than a couple of feeds to the fiddle board and adding the CDU into the points circuit.

The connecting umbilical cord will have a cable tidy added to protect the wiring, which in turn will be anchored to the woodwork. By removing the control panel and swinging it under the layout it is correctly orientated for fixing to the back for rear operation if required. Just need to add a facia along the front of the baseboard now.

 

 

Testing has taken place and thankfully, all worked as it should first time, apart from a slightly tight point motor - slackening the fixing screws a fraction solved the problem though.

This meant the Bachmann 24/1 and SLW 24 could be tested under power for the first time too; both performed as expected. I even gave a 126 set a test run to check haulage capacity (as a non traction tyred Hornby 156 Motor Bogie was added a while back - it was previously unpowered).

 

 

Very happy that that stage is done. Just need a couple of lengths of track to complete the fiddle yard, and connect the wires via a plug & socket before full operation is achievable.

 

Otherwise, on with the scenics!

 

Thanks for looking,

Martyn.

[Auchend1nny]

Great looking layout and locos and an era not often modelled. Track work is looking terrific. Look forward to seeing it progress.

Mark

[Signaller69]

3 hours ago, Auchend1nny said:

Great looking layout and locos and an era not often modelled. Track work is looking terrific. Look forward to seeing it progress.

Mark

 

Thanks Mark, most kind. Hopefully progress will pick up again now the wiring is more or less done. I'm looking forward to the detailing stage!

 

Martyn.

 

 

[Signaller69]

A class 24 stands outside the works, ready for a renumber! I have decided on this becoming (numerically) the last 24 of all, 5150 as the details are right for this loco and timespan; it was blue by 1968 and based at Eastfield from 1971. It also carried 4 numbers and 5 BR double arrows......! A post on FB produced 3 photos of the loco in this period which was most helpful. Cotton buds and cream cleaner were used to remove the TOPS identity.

[Signaller69]

I bolted the fiddle yard onto the layout this afternoon and fixed what spare track I have down using contact adhesive.....why is it you always end up literally one yard of track short? Well, I do have some concrete sleeper code 75 but I think it would look odd, so will wait until my local model shop opens again as I need rail joiners in any case. I have enough down to add the feeds to each road though, which was the object of the exercise, and the main 2 lines are the full 2-car DMU length to use in the meantime, which improves the playability.

 

 

[Signaller69]

A quiet Saturday morning in the yard.

 

 

 

Edited March 20, 2021 by Signaller69

[Signaller69]

The 24 has now had its identity applied as, numerically, the last 24, 5150 and awaits varnishing etc.

 

One of the final local class 105 DMU vehicles still in green livery awaits works attention, though it may retain these colours; its partner is in for major work and will be outshopped in blue livery.

[61656]

On 19/03/2021 at 11:00, Signaller69 said:

A class 24 stands outside the works, ready for a renumber! I have decided on this becoming (numerically) the last 24 of all, 5150 as the details are right for this loco and timespan; it was blue by 1968 and based at Eastfield from 1971. It also carried 4 numbers and 5 BR double arrows......! A post on FB produced 3 photos of the loco in this period which was most helpful. Cotton buds and cream cleaner were used to remove the TOPS identity.

As this isn’t the BBC, can you share the brand of cream cleaner? 

[Signaller69]

7 hours ago, 61656 said:

As this isn’t the BBC, can you share the brand of cream cleaner? 

Asda lemon scented cream cleaner, but any similar household cream cleaner should do the trick.

[61656]

15 minutes ago, Signaller69 said:

Asda lemon scented cream cleaner, but any similar household cream cleaner should do the trick.

Definitely worth asking. I would have been searching model shops for a specialist cleaning cream!

 

I’ve been having limited success with a variety of methods, so I’ll give this a go. 

[sulzer71]

On 19/03/2021 at 11:00, Signaller69 said:

A class 24 stands outside the works, ready for a renumber! I have decided on this becoming (numerically) the last 24 of all, 5150 as the details are right for this loco and timespan; it was blue by 1968 and based at Eastfield from 1971. It also carried 4 numbers and 5 BR double arrows......! A post on FB produced 3 photos of the loco in this period which was most helpful. Cotton buds and cream cleaner were used to remove the TOPS identity.

Good job you didn't try the IPA removal method as I think it would have caused you issues on this particular model , the one i'm converting to an early 25/0 was devoid of all paint in around 30 minutes when the bodyshell was dunked in IPA , normally I have to leave them 24-48 hours 

[Signaller69]

7 hours ago, 61656 said:

Definitely worth asking. I would have been searching model shops for a specialist cleaning cream!

 

I’ve been having limited success with a variety of methods, so I’ll give this a go. 

I see, no nothing expensive required! For just removing numbers and logos cream cleaner works well, just rubbing gently with a cotton bud. For more stubborn areas I have used the cream cleaner with a softwood coffee stirrer cut to a pointed end, but again not applying too much pressure. T-Cut vehicle polish works in a similar way and can also be used. The slightly abrasive nature of these basically polishes the top surface away, in this case the numbers etc, but will take a little of the surrounding surface too so care is needed not to overdo it. The polishing nature leaves a glossy surface, but I tend to paint over the area with gloss varnish before applying transfers, then matt or satin varnish the area after.

6 hours ago, sulzer71 said:

Good job you didn't try the IPA removal method as I think it would have caused you issues on this particular model , the one i'm converting to an early 25/0 was devoid of all paint in around 30 minutes when the bodyshell was dunked in IPA , normally I have to leave them 24-48 hours 

Crikey, perhaps it is softer paint compared to older models? Saves waiting around for it to work I guess!

 

Martyn.

[Signaller69]

A yard full of DMU's today! Plus a solitary Tamper...

 

 

 

 

[5BarVT]

1 hour ago, Signaller69 said:

Plus a solitary Tamper...

And a suitably old looking one too (by today’s eyes).

Paul.

[luckymucklebackit]

Look familiar?

 

 

[Signaller69]

17 hours ago, 5BarVT said:

And a suitably old looking one too (by today’s eyes).

Paul.

Hi Paul,

Yes a Plasser Duomatic type from the late 60s, there seem to have been a few variations. I believe they had a built-in hydraulic jack used for turning the machine 180° for transit moves (they certainly did on the continent).

[Signaller69]

13 hours ago, luckymucklebackit said:

Look familiar?

 

 

Hi Jim,

what a wonderfully evocative photo, taken around 1967 at a guess? What looks like 2 NB class 21s present (including the only one painted blue, judging by the single plume of exhaust - 29s had 2 exhausts) and also possibly a green 08 with double arrows? Nice mix of liveries, coaling tower, tower blocks and flats and pre the rebuilding of the depot c.1970. The track shows the look I am trying to copy, ash, coal dust and oil nicely mixed. 

If only I had the space!

 

Thanks for sharing,

Martyn.

[Signaller69]

The layout had been packed away for a few weeks due to other household priorities but was set up last night so that a Gaugemaster CDU could be added into the wiring, along with some neo magnets for uncoupling in a couple of locations. A fair bit of running then took place, just to check both worked as intended, obviously!

 

A little paint and scenic treatment will hide the magnets, a figure or barrel (or similar) will be used Trackside to mark their location.

 

And some shunting around! Hornby rebuild 6107 is currently unmotorised so was a useful Guinea pig for this.

 

Testing showed one of the Seep point motors now needs the throw adjusting as the frog switch isn't quite in reliable contact.

 

The former E&G blue/grey class 126 DMBS was tested again after having the Lima 117 dummy bogie wired through to the Hornby motor bogie to improve running, and having its front coupling reinstated.