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Whinburgh and Slitrigg - Main line across the border


coronach
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How long have you been building the layout? You have all the basics in place and the potential to produce a sensational landscape. The view of the viaduct, hillside and passing 2-6-0 should be inspiration enough.

 

Very enjoyable and something I can relate to as my last effort - about to be scrapped - took 8 years!

 

Jeff

On and off for about 10 years, although most of the progress has been in the last 5 years. I'm determined to finish a part of the layout before I move on to other areas - hence all the effort on scenery at Whitrope.
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Very nice work, particularly the wagons and that Clayton! I remember a certain amount of dashing between controllers on "Wetherby" !!

Thank you John. I am on the hunt for a green (unpowered) clayton, or even just a green loco body, to make up a pair. They didn't let them loose on their own!

 

Regarding the dashing about between controllers, the only real problem is the potential of falling through the loft hatch in haste!! LOL. Thankfully, the distance between Whitrope and adjacent stations means that there is no need to run!

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A news update.....

 

Not a lot has been happening between Whinburgh and Slitrigg recently and I expect that the local 'Pway' and will have to go around with a brush and vacuum cleaner before too long. Also, the running department will have to sweep out the coaches and wash things down a bit too!

 

I understand that some Thompson non-corridor coaches have arrived at Hawick. These will be used on stopping trains to augment the older Gresleys.

 

The winter timetable change has introduced through coaches to Edinburgh from Bournmouth via Carlisle, which will result in the appearance of Bullied and Maunsell stock over the line from time to time.

 

I have also heard on the grapevine that a D11/2 Scottish Director may be allocated to Waverley Route workings by St Margarets shed after Christmas. Negotiations on this matter are ongoing.....!

 

Whitrope Up Home signal has been renewed this year (using MSE parts).

 

Projects planned for this winter (weather permitting) include finishing off the scenery around Whitrope and making further improvements to the goods yard environment at Slitrigg.

 

Photos to follow in due course!

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Coronach and son have successfully completed the first 11 train movements of a new operating sequence starting from 03:00 to 06:59.

 

Trains passing Whinburgh included:

 

Down trains:

  • 2:15 am Carlisle Canal to Edinburgh Meadows class E (K3)
  • 4:8 am Carlisle Citadel - Edinburgh Waverley parcels (Britannia)
  • 9:5 pm St Pancras - Edinburgh Waverley sleeper (EE type 4)
  • 4:20 am Carlisle Canal - Edinburgh Portobello class E (V2)

Up trains

  • 10:5 pm Dundee - Carlisle Canal class C (EE type 4)
  • 8:20 pm Aberdeen - Carlisle class C 'fish' (A1)
  • 0:55 am Inverkeithing - Carlisle Canal class C (K3 + banker)
  • Light Engine
  • 6:15 am Hawick - Newcastle Central via Hexham passenger (LMS 2MT 2-6-0)

 

No serious incidents reported however things were becoming a bit frought in the fiddle yard area so we came downstairs for a couple of beers. The Transport and Works Act prevents any further operating tonight!!

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Here are some photos taken today of the expanding moorland around Whitrope summit.

 

Looking good at Whitrope Summit 60093!

 

I like the highly individual buildings with a distinctive Scottish look about them. About as far removed from 'Ready to Plonk' as you can get? (unless Skaledale or Scenecraft have expanded their ranges yet further?!)

Edited by LNER4479
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Looking good at Whitrope Summit 60093!

 

I like the highly individual buildings with a distinctive Scottish look about them. About as far removed from 'Ready to Plonk' as you can get? (unless Skaledale or Scenecraft have expanded their ranges yet further?!)

One of the advantages of modelling the Waverley route is that there are very few buildings, and those that do exist are pretty basic and functional - oh, and there aren't many trees either.

 

We were definitely operating the winter timetable last night - it was pretty chilly (in the loft) at Whitrope between 3 am and 7 am!!

Edited by coronach
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The layout is really coming along nicely with bags of Waverley Route atmosphere. The locos and stock are nicely weathered complementing the scenery which captures the area off to a "T". Hope to see more photos of the train workings soon!

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Here are some pictures of the 9:5 pm London St Pancras - Edinburgh Waverley Sleeper (the Night Midland Scot) passing Whitrope Summit and descending through Slitrigg at around 5am.

 

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Prior to this, the Aberdeen - Carlisle fish train (class C) was brought to a stand at Whitrope summit up home signal.

 

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A down class J unfitted freight has been waiting for the sleeper to overtake at Whinburgh and draws forward into the station before starting forward towards Whitrope Tunnel. We see a variety of wagons making up the train and in the sidings at Whinburgh.

 

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Edited by coronach
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Very nicely done. There will be some cursing from the footplate of the A1 rostered to the 'fish' as she struggles to get her train back underway on the rising grade I imagine!

 

Yes perhaps, although in this case there are only about 12 vans. More likely to be cussing about exposed position of the signal at the end of the viaduct and why they haven't been allowed to draw forward to the SB.

 

Even the fireman can't use the excuse of being required by the rule book to walk to the (nice and warm) SB to remind the signalman of the presence of their train because the signal is fitted with a white diamond (the real signal wasn't because there weren't any track circuits at Whitrope).

 

I don't suppose that there was any electricity supply except for block system and omnibus telephone batteries)

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Here are a few pictures of the Leeds - Edinburgh relief to the Waverley, which was usually formed of LMS stock.  On this occasion, the usual A3 pacific has failed and we find a Kingmoor Jubilee standing in.  What a sound that would have made climbing to Whitrope summit!

 

(In modelling terms, Hornby has come up with the goods (or coaches!) with its excellent stanier 57ft stock and I am looking forward to adding Bachmann post-war porthole stock later in the summer.

 

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Later in the day, the restaurant car of a diverted ECML express is glimpsed passing through Whinburgh on its way to Waverley. 

 

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Finally for now (the camera batteries ran out!), we return to Slitrigg and see one of the St Margaret D11/2 Directors setting out with a Carlisle bound stopping train

 

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Edited by coronach
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Some more pictures of winter train operations between Whinburgh and Slitrigg:

 

Firstly, an Edinburgh to Carlisle stopping train calls at Whinburgh in the loop platform.  It is formed of 3 Thompson coaches, hauled by St Margarets B1 61347, which is overdue for overhaul at Glasgow works (in order to receive a Comet chassis and new motor!).

 

The coaches are early Bachmann examples fitted with Comet sides and roof fittings to improve their appearance. 

 

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Next we travel down the line to Slitrigg and observe a Sulzer type 4 passing through non-stop hauling the up 'Waverley' from Edinburgh to London St Pancras via Carlisle, Leeds and Sheffield Midland. 

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Soon afterwards we catch a glimpse of the train crossing over the road close to Whitrope signalbox.

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Half an hour later, the morning pick-up goods arrives at Slitrigg from Hawick.  Today it is hauled by a Sulzer type 2 (class 24), which uncouples from its train and shunts over the level crossing to gain access to the sidings.

 

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After attaching to some wagons, the loco draws forward and is stabled whilst the crew visit the local hostelry for their lunch!!  In the meantime, a J39 proceeds carefully down the bank with a train of household coal bound for Hawick.

 

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More to follow in due course :-)

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by coronach
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Its downstairs in the warm!!!

 

Joking aside, there is alot of scope for more scenic work at Slitrigg.  I was looking at photo's of Newcastleton (I think) where the station is at the centre of the town, which gives me some ideas for further buildings and a backscene - so a pub may well appear in the future.

Lovely set of atmospheric shots there, can't wait for the next selection. :blum:

 

I take it the hostelry is 'off stage' ?

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And please ignore 'Alston SB' lurking in the background!  In fact, Slitrigg SB is actually Lambley SB with an extended base.  My last layout was of the Alston branch and it seemed a waste not to use it.  Eventually I will build a North British SB to replace it.

Its downstairs in the warm!!!

 

Joking aside, there is alot of scope for more scenic work at Slitrigg.  I was looking at photo's of Newcastleton (I think) where the station is at the centre of the town, which gives me some ideas for further buildings and a backscene - so a pub may well appear in the future.

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Aye, The Holm (Newcastleton) was laid out to a grid pattern basically in the late 18th Century by the Duke of Buccleuch (for those readers unfamiliar with the Waverley hinterland).  Its station ended up fairly central but out on the north-western perimeter of the village when the railway was surveyed.  In the main square you've The Grapes and the Liddesdale, either of which with a wee bit of licence could easily fit into a backscene or half-relief.

 

From Melrose the Station Hotel would make a nice neighbour for any Waverley-based stopping point.

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