The Skarloey Railway 1942-1960: Scaca Fell Forestry Crossing

[Tom F]

A bit of a tricky day. My border collie had me up at 4am vomiting and had been sick while I’d been at work.

 

She seems ok in herself but it’s understandably distracted me this evening. In the last hour before I head off to bed, I’ve fitted the handrails to the first MoD van.

 

[Asterix2012]

19 hours ago, Tom F said:

A bit of a tricky day. My border collie had me up at 4am vomiting and had been sick while I’d been at work.

 

She seems ok in herself but it’s understandably distracted me this evening. In the last hour before I head off to bed, I’ve fitted the handrails to the first MoD van.

 

Nice kit Tom, crisp mouldings, who makes it?

[Gypsy]

Agreed, looks loads better than the truly shocking Dundas Snailbeach hoppers I stupidly bought last week!

[Tom F]

2 hours ago, Asterix2012 said:

Nice kit Tom, crisp mouldings, who makes it?

 

2 hours ago, Gypsy said:

Agreed, looks loads better than the truly shocking Dundas Snailbeach hoppers I stupidly bought last week!

 

Thanks guys. 

Incidentally, they are Dundas produced as a 009 Society exclusive. 

 

[Steph' H]

Still following this thread with interest! Looking forward to the next build with anticipation. How's your collie today? 

[Tom F]

48 minutes ago, Steph' H said:

Still following this thread with interest! Looking forward to the next build with anticipation. How's your collie today? 

Thanks Steph, and thanks for asking about Lass.

She's gone over 36 hours without vomiting and has enjoyed scrambled eggs for breakfast and tea. In fairness she's been fine in herself. I suspect she picked something up from our hike in the Lake District last Saturday.

 

 

 

Edited September 21, 2021 by Tom F

[Steph' H]

Aww, those eyes!  Good to hear she's keeping food down now.  Scrambled eggs are one of my human go to mild foods too if I feel under the weather Fingers crossed she's over it now! 

 

[Tom F]

Driver Bill Thwaite move's 'RHENEAS' under the aqueduct, while fireman Ben Taylforth does a check on the overflow pipe. He doesn't like the look of that steam leak around the frontend either.

 

It is 1940, and rumour is rife around the local hostelries, of the War Department's interest in Ward Fell.

 

[johndon]

The scenery work is on a par with the best I've ever seen but I do have one tiny suggestion, cut the pips off the end of the tie bars on the turnouts which would massively improve their appearance...

 

 

[Tom F]

3 hours ago, johndon said:

The scenery work is on a par with the best I've ever seen but I do have one tiny suggestion, cut the pips off the end of the tie bars on the turnouts which would massively improve their appearance...

 

 

Thanks for the kind comments, much appreciated!

 

I totally agree regarding the lugs. I’ll tell you why I’ve not removed them yet!

 

I attempted to remove the Forestry Crossing one a few months back, by cutting it off with a scalpel. I’d forgotten though that as I’ve used foam board, all I did was push the tie bar down until the switch blade came away from the rail….and I completely ruined the point.

 

So what I plan to do, is remove just the lug top half with sprue cutters, leaving the tie bar intact.

[Nick C]

33 minutes ago, Tom F said:

Thanks for the kind comments, much appreciated!

 

I totally agree regarding the lugs. I’ll tell you why I’ve not removed them yet!

 

I attempted to remove the Forestry Crossing one a few months back, by cutting it off with a scalpel. I’d forgotten though that as I’ve used foam board, all I did was push the tie bar down until the switch blade came away from the rail….and I completely ruined the point.

 

So what I plan to do, is remove just the lug top half with sprue cutters, leaving the tie bar intact.

Perhaps slide something harder under the tie bar to support it while you cut? A thin screwdriver if you've got side access, or even just a strip of metal?

[Sandhole]

13 hours ago, Tom F said:

Driver Bill Thwaite move's 'RHENEAS' under the aqueduct, while fireman Ben Taylforth does a check on the overflow pipe. He doesn't like the look of that steam leak around the frontend either.

 

It is 1940, and rumour is rife around the local hostelries, of the War Department's interest in Ward Fell.

 

This layout is a story in itself.
I look forward to every post.
Love and Hugs,
Chris.

[Tom F]

28 minutes ago, Sandhole said:

This layout is a story in itself.
I look forward to every post.
Love and Hugs,
Chris.

 

Thanks Chris, well in that case here's another for you!

 

 

My primary work as a peripatetic music teacher is currently the busiest it has been for several years, which is great and an absolute godsend. However, it makes me all the more enjoy my hobbies. I was home late tonight, but made sure I spent a little time with the layout taking a couple of photos.

 

It's great to disappear into another world.....for a little while at least.

[Tom F]

Simmering at the exchange sidings, after the 16 mile climb.

 

[THS92-GWR-NO]

38 minutes ago, Tom F said:

Simmering at the exchange sidings, after the 16 mile climb.

 

 

Truly stunning as always!

 

Parking Rheneas there made it look like you had smoke from the chimney, had to zoom in to check if it was true 

 

So the Diesel, are we talking Rusty?

[Tom F]

2 hours ago, THS92-GWR-NO said:

 

Truly stunning as always!

 

Parking Rheneas there made it look like you had smoke from the chimney, had to zoom in to check if it was true 

 

So the Diesel, are we talking Rusty?

Thank you! 
 

No it’s not Rusty. Rusty arrived around 1956-1958 period.

 

In unpublished works of Reverend Awdry he discusses that during the war, to help the two old steam locomotives, the Skarloey Railway were loaned two diesel locomotives to help with the increase in traffic (slate, timber and of course the W.D traffic).

 

For now I’m just depicting one of the diesels, of which I have the body kit, just waiting on the chassis.

[Asterix2012]

What diesel are you doing Tom?

[Mol_PMB]

A flameproof Hunslet would fit the bill quite well?

You could do some flat wagons to go with the vans too?

 

[Tom F]

3 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

A flameproof Hunslet would fit the bill quite well?

You could do some flat wagons to go with the vans too?

 

 

Very nice, I did look into this, but I don't think anyone does a kit in 009.

As for the kit I've gone for, I'm keeping it under wraps for now until it's built, painted and weathered. It could be some time until I've got a chassis though.

 

Another little visit in the early1940s....

 

A peak through the trees at Ward Fell.

 

The evening is fast approaching, with a real nip in the air. 'RHENEAS' shunts a pair of empty bolsters into the exchange sidings.

The build up of ash by the water tower, is from the clearing of any clinker from the firebox of No. 1 and 2. A common ritual over the years when the crew are waiting for a load of slate to come down from the incline.

 

[Tom F]

Last for today....

 

In the Ward Fell exchange sidings, No. 2 'RHENEAS' simmers patiently, waiting for the next load of slate waggons to come down the incline, circa 1943.

 

[Steph' H]

13 hours ago, Tom F said:

Last for today....

 

In the Ward Fell exchange sidings, No. 2 'RHENEAS' simmers patiently, waiting for the next load of slate waggons to come down the incline, circa 1943.

 

Love this photo Tom. I can feel the Skarloey/Talyllyn railway atmosphere from here. The colour balance and palette of your scenery work, materials and locomotives harmonize really nicely and it really shows in the black and white images as the monochrome tones work well. I am one of those people who would incline to painting everything, grass, trees, ground etc to unify (seen more in armour modelling dioramas and the like) it but seeing this proves to me it's not necessary with good choices of materials, colours etc.

 

Keep the photos coming please!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 24, 2021 by Steph' H

[Tom F]

With the loaded slate collected, 'RHENEAS' begins to descent along the mineral extension to 'Skarloey', the passenger railway terminus.

 

 

 

[Tom F]

It looks like the War Department have arrived on the Skarloey Railway. I'm going to fabricate a headstock in styrene under the ends for the buffers.

 

[AdeMoore]

16 hours ago, Tom F said:

With the loaded slate collected, 'RHENEAS' begins to descent along the mineral extension to 'Skarloey', the passenger railway terminus.

 

 

 

That’s a stand out image for me Tom. Nothing to give it away that I can see.

Brilliant stuff.

Cheers.

[Tom F]

1 hour ago, AdeMoore said:

That’s a stand out image for me Tom. Nothing to give it away that I can see.

Brilliant stuff.

Cheers.

Thanks Ade

It was a shot I'd not done before, so figured it was worth a try.

 

The basic body is now together on three of the WD vans. They've gone together really well (and a third of the price of the new Bachmann vans, which aren't out yet).